togophonebook Chapter 12: Xuanzang Betrays Buddhism, Flower Fruit Mountain Renews Its Vitality
Chapter 12: Xuanzang Betrays Buddhism, Flower Fruit Mountain Renews Its Vitality
Chen Xuanzang looked at Chen Fan, then at the steamed bun in his hand, and finally his gaze fell on the name Huaguo Mountain.
"Flower and Fruit Mountain..."
He muttered to himself, "It's a place I've only ever heard of in myths and legends."
"Will we really be able to get enough to eat there?"
When Chen Xuanzang asked that question, he himself found it somewhat laughable.
He, a dignified high monk of the Tang Dynasty, the abbot of Jinshan Temple, and the pilgrim personally chosen by Buddha, was most concerned about whether he could have enough to eat.
"Whether you can get enough to eat or not, you'll find out when you get there."
Chen Fan stood up and said no more.
The bee that Sun Wukong had transformed into flew over, buzzing.
"Bro, what are you dawdling for? Just knock him out and take him away!"
"Great Sage, don't be in a hurry."
Chen Fan transmitted his voice, "His mind is already in turmoil. We need to let him choose for himself and go willingly. This is called winning his heart."
Chen Xuanzang struggled to his feet. He glanced at the brightly lit city of Chang'an, then at the mysterious Taoist priest in front of him.
On one side is a false Buddhist paradise, and on the other is an unknown mountain of demon kings.
He made his choice.
"I...I'll go with you."
Without further ado, Sun Wukong revealed his true form and grabbed Chen Fan and Chen Xuanzang.
"Get out of here!"
He rode his somersault cloud, transforming into a golden light that soared into the sky, heading straight for the Eastern Continent.
Chen Xuanzang had never seen such a scene before. He felt a gust of wind whistling in his ears and the ground rushing backward beneath his feet. Terrified, he closed his eyes tightly and clung to Sun Wukong's leg.
In just half an hour, the three of them landed on Flower Fruit Mountain.
At this time, Flower Fruit Mountain had undergone a complete transformation.
Thanks to the efforts of the monkeys, the charred trees were cleared away, and new fruit trees were planted.
Although it is far from the fairyland it was 500 years ago, it exudes a vibrant energy everywhere.
"My children, your old grandson is back!"
Sun Wukong shouted, and all the monkeys on the mountain cheered and surrounded him.
"The King is back!"
"Your Majesty also brought two people back!"
Chen Xuanzang looked at the monkeys covering the mountains and fields, feeling somewhat at a loss.
Although these monkeys look lively, most of them are skin and bones, and their eyes reveal a wildness.
Sun Wukong pushed Chen Xuanzang into the monkey troop.
"My children, this is the new tutor I've invited!"
"From today onwards, he will teach you to read and write, and he will teach you the principles of being a good person!"
The monkeys looked at each other, wondering, "What is 'sir'? Can we eat him?"
Chen Fan walked over to Chen Xuanzang and patted him on the shoulder.
"Master Xuanzang, no, I should call you Mr. Chen now."
"Your podium is right here."
Chen Fan pointed to a large blue stone in front of the Water Curtain Cave, "Whatever you do, don't talk about those vague Buddhist teachings. Just teach them how to count, how to identify fruits, and how to build a more sturdy house."
"Teach them why people wear clothes and why they need to maintain hygiene."
"Teach them what is right and what is wrong."
Looking at the bewildered little monkeys, Chen Xuanzang felt a mix of emotions. Was this his new mission?
How do you teach a bunch of monkeys to be human?
He took a deep breath and stepped onto the bluestone.
At first, he found it very difficult to adapt.
But when he saw a little monkey, under his guidance, write the first "one" on the ground in a crooked and awkward way, he suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
This sense of satisfaction is far more real than the applause he receives when he preaches.
The days passed by.
Xuanzang began to systematically teach the monkeys.
He separated the monkeys by age, with the older ones learning to hunt and build, and the younger ones learning to read and do arithmetic.
He also used the cloth he had looted from the Guanyin Temple to sew simple clothes for the monkeys.
Under his management, Huaguo Mountain actually began to show a hint of civilization.
Sun Wukong was happy to have some free time, spending his days patrolling the mountain or drinking and bragging with Chen Fan.
"Bro, your trick is brilliant!"
"If we make this monk a teacher, who knows, our Flower Fruit Mountain might produce a few monkey scholars in the future!"
Sun Wukong laughed heartily.
Chen Fan smiled as well; he knew this was just the first step.
He wanted to fundamentally transform Tang Sanzang into one of his own.
However, the peaceful days didn't last long.
One day, Chen Xuanzang was telling a story to a group of little monkeys when suddenly his face turned pale and he clutched his head.
"ah--!"
A piercing scream escaped his lips.
He clutched his head and rolled on the ground in agony, the golden headband on his head radiating a blinding golden light as it contracted inwards in circles.
"My head... my head is going to split open!"
Blood was seeping from Chen Xuanzang's eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, making him look extremely terrifying.
The little monkeys were so frightened that they scattered and ran away.
"What's going on?!"
Sun Wukong somersaulted over and saw Chen Xuanzang's appearance, and was immediately enraged.
"It's that golden headband!"
"That old maid Guanyin! She actually had this trick up her sleeve!"
He wanted to help, but didn't know where to start, and was so anxious that he scratched his head.
South China Sea, Mount Putuo.
Inside the Chaoyin Cave, Guanyin Bodhisattva's face was ashen, and she was chanting incantations.
"Does that demon monkey think that by taking people away, it can escape the control of our Buddhist sect?"
"ridiculous!"
"Jin Chanzi, this golden headband was prepared just for you!"
"If you disobey, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
"I'll see how long you can hold out!"
She intensified her magic, chanting the incantation even faster.
On Flower Fruit Mountain, Chen Xuanzang's screams grew even more agonizing; he was on the verge of dying from the pain.
"Guanyin! Stop it, you old Sun!"
Sun Wukong summoned his somersault cloud, grabbed his staff, and was about to rush into the sky to fight Guanyin.
"Great Sage! Calm down!"
Chen Fan stopped him.
"If you go now, you'll fall right into her trap! She wants to force you to send him back to her!"
"What are we going to do? Are we just going to watch him die from the pain?" Sun Wukong roared.
"Don't worry, she has her clever plan, and I have my countermeasures."
Chen Fan's expression was calm.
"It's just a broken circle, right? Watch me break it!"
He silently chanted in his mind, "System! Shop!"
It's time to put my newly acquired 5000 pilgrimage points to good use.
He quickly browsed through the dazzling array of goods, and soon, one item caught his eye.
【Product: All-Purpose Unbinding Charm (Disposable Item)】
[Effect: Can break the binding relationships of all magical artifacts, restrictions, and curses below the level of a saint, rendering them ownerless.]
[Price: 2000 Journey Points.]
"This is it! Redeem it!"
[Ding! Exchange successful. 3000 Journey to the West Points remaining.]
A talisman shimmering with seven-colored light appeared in Chen Fan's hand.
Without the slightest hesitation, he rushed to Chen Xuanzang's side and slapped the talisman directly onto the golden hoop.
"Imperial Edict!"
The talisman transformed into a beam of light and merged into the golden hoop.
The golden hoop, which had been shining brightly and constantly shrinking, suddenly went out with a "hum" sound.
"Clatter".
The golden headband slipped off Chen Xuanzang's head, fell to the ground, and turned into an ordinary golden headband.
Chen Xuanzang's screams stopped abruptly. He was panting heavily, his whole body drenched in cold sweat, as if he had been pulled out of the water.
Almost at the same time.
Guanyin Bodhisattva, far away on Mount Putuo in the South China Sea, suddenly spat out a mouthful of golden blood!
She felt the connection between herself and the golden headband being forcibly severed by an incomparably domineering force!
"puff!"
The willow branch and the vase in her hands fell to the ground.
"How...is this possible?!" Guanyin's face was filled with disbelief.
The Golden Hoop is a treasure bestowed by the Buddha himself, containing the highest Buddhist principles.
Apart from her and Buddha, no one in the Three Realms can understand this!
But now, that insurance she was so proud of has been so easily broken!
Unconvinced, she endured the stinging pain emanating from her primordial spirit, and once again performed the hand seals while chanting incantations.
However, the message disappeared without a trace, receiving no response whatsoever.
Her connection with the golden headband was completely severed!
"Who is it?!"
"Who is it?!"
Guanyin could no longer maintain her lofty and aloof demeanor, and lost all composure.
First, the Six-Syllable Mantra was broken, and now the Golden Hoop Curse has been removed.
The mysterious person hiding behind Sun Wukong and Chen Fan uses increasingly outrageous methods!
This is no longer a provocation; it's a blatant slap in the face to Buddhism!
"No, this matter must be reported to Buddha immediately!"
Guanyin wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, picked up the jade bottle and willow branch, her face extremely pale. She transformed into a stream of light and headed to Mount Ling once more.
At this time, Flower Fruit Mountain presents a completely different scene.
Chen Xuanzang collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, and it took him a long time to recover.
He touched the top of his head with trembling hands.
The tight band that had bound him, making him wish he were dead, was truly gone.
He looked at Chen Fan, his eyes filled with gratitude and awe.
"Master Chen... Master Chen, thank you for saving my life."
"It's nothing."
Chen Fan waved his hand, picked up the golden hoop from the ground, and weighed it in his hand.
It's pure gold and quite heavy. If you take it to a pawn shop in the mortal world, you could probably get a lot of silver for it.
Sun Wukong came over and circled Chen Fan twice, his face full of curiosity.
"Hey bro, who are you? How come you have all sorts of weird and wonderful things?"
"Even when I was in heaven, I never saw such a domineering talisman."
Chen Fan smiled mysteriously.
"I have a brilliant plan, Great Sage, you need not ask further."
He can't exactly say he cheated, can he?
[Ding! Detected that the host has completely destroyed the key Buddhist plot item "Golden Hoop," severely disrupting the Journey to the West's causal chain. Reward: 2000 Journey Points!]
Chen Fan was overjoyed.
All in all, I only spent 2000 points and got a golden headband for free, and also maxed out Tang Sanzang's favorability. What a steal!
He casually tossed the golden headband into his storage space, then helped Chen Xuanzang up.
"Mr. Chen, how are you feeling?"
"This humble monk...I'm alright now."
Chen Xuanzang stood up and bowed deeply to Chen Fan.
"The Taoist priest saved me from danger twice. I will never forget his great kindness and virtue."
Having survived this brush with death, his last shred of hope for Buddhism was shattered.
Compassion and salvation are all bullshit!
In order to force him to submit, they actually used such vicious methods to torture him.
It's better not to believe in such a Buddha!
"From this day forward, there will be no more Master Xuanzang in the world, only the schoolteacher of Flower and Fruit Mountain, Chen Xuanzang!"
He said it with conviction.
[Ding! Tang Sanzang, a key figure in Journey to the West, has completely changed his mind and broken free from the control of Buddhism. He is rewarded with 3000 Journey Points!]
Chen Fan was in high spirits as he looked at his Journey to the West value, which had soared to 8000 points.
Successfully turned Tang Sanzang to the enemy!
Lingshan, Daleiyin Temple.
When Guanyin appeared here for the third time in a disheveled state, even the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas began to whisper among themselves.
"What happened to Venerable Guanyin? How did she get injured again?"
"I heard it's because of the pilgrimage to the East, and it seems there's been another mishap."
As the Buddha looked down at Guanyin, a barely perceptible ripple flashed in his enormous eyes.
"Venerable Guanyin, what is the matter that causes such panic?"
"I hereby report to Buddha!"
Guanyin knelt down and recounted in detail how the golden headband spell had been broken.
The entire Great Thunderclap Temple fell into a deathly silence once again.
If the first time was shocking, this time it's horrifying.
It can even break the golden headband?
Who exactly is this mysterious person?
"May Buddha have mercy! That Jin Chanzi is stubborn and unrepentant, and with the help of a demon, this disciple is truly powerless. I beg Buddha for guidance!"
There was a hint of helplessness in Guanyin's voice.
The Buddha remained silent for a long time.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"That's enough."
"That variable force is beyond our imagination and cannot be solved by brute force."
"Since Jin Chanzi has already fallen into the demonic path and is no longer of great use, let's abandon his identity as a pilgrim."
Guanyin was taken aback: "Abandon? Then what about my plan for the great revival of Buddhism...?"
"The journey to the West must naturally continue."
The Buddha's voice remained steady.
"In the great Tang Dynasty of the East, there are many talented people, and Chen Xuanzang is not the only one with wisdom."
"You shall return to Chang'an and select another monk of upright character and firm will, bestow upon him a Dharma name, and let him complete this journey to the West in place of Jin Chanzi."
"As for that demon monkey and Jin Chanzi... since they want to establish their own territory, let them be."
"Once the pilgrimage to the West is successfully completed and the fortunes of our Buddhist sect soar, we will then settle accounts with them for disrupting the heavenly order!"
The Buddha's words were tantamount to giving Chen Fan and Sun Wukong a reprieve.
Guanyin immediately understood the Buddha's meaning.
This means completely abandoning Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang and starting from scratch!
Although I was unwilling, this was the only way.
"Disciple, obey the law!"
Guanyin accepted the order and left.
A storm targeting Chen Fan and his group has temporarily subsided.
But a new conspiracy is quietly brewing.
On Flower and Fruit Mountain.
Chen Fan was unaware that the Buddhist sect had changed its strategy, but he knew that things would not end so simply.
"Great Sage, Mr. Chen."
He summoned the two to the Water Curtain Cave.
"The Buddhist sect suffered a great loss this time and will certainly not let it go. Although we are safe for the time being, we must strengthen our forces as soon as possible."
Sun Wukong, carrying his staff, said in a carefree manner.
"Brother, what do you say we do? I'll do whatever you say!"
Chen Xuanzang nodded: "Daoist Master, your wisdom and strategy are unparalleled. I am willing to obey your orders."
Chen Fan took out a simple map and spread it on the stone table.
"Great Sage, do you remember what I said about the journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures? Besides you and this monk, who else was in the group?"
Sun Wukong scratched his head.
"It seems... there's also a pig's head, a big beard, and a white horse?"
"That's right."
Chen Fan drew a line on the map with his finger.
"Let's leave Pigsy and Sandy aside for now. One is Marshal Tianpeng, and the other is General Rolling Curtain. They are both registered in the Heavenly Court. Going to them now would easily alert the enemy."
"But that horse is a good target."
Chen Fan pointed his finger at a place called "Eagle's Sorrow Stream".
"That white horse was originally the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King. He was sentenced to death because his father reported him to the Heavenly Court for burning the bright pearl in the palace. Later, Guanyin pleaded for him and spared his life. He is now waiting here to serve as a mount for the pilgrims."
"He has all sorts of skills, yet he has to transform into an ordinary horse and carry an ordinary person for 108,000 miles. He must be burning with anger."
"If we go over there now and win him over, wouldn't we gain another powerful ally?"
Sun Wukong's eyes lit up.
"That makes sense! I've heard about the White Dragon's abilities too, but he was placed there by Guanyin. Can we persuade him to stay?"
"Instead of letting him be someone else's slave, why not come to my Flower Fruit Mountain and become the Grand Admiral of the Navy!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanzang also thought the plan was feasible.
More people mean more strength.
"good!"
Chen Fan slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
"Without further ado, let's set off now!"
"Great Sage, take Mr. Chen with you, let's go and meet that Dragon Prince of the West Sea!"
"Target: Eagle's Sorrow Gorge!"