Journey to the West: Black Six Ears

011.Xuan Zang’s night meeting with the old master of the hospital

Now, let's talk about Xuanzang and his three companions.

We must be down-to-earth and take one step at a time to get out of Shepanshan.

Parting the fallen petals, the four finally saw the shadowy pavilions and towering halls.

Xuanzang dismounted from one of the men and looked into the distance, saying:

"Wukong, what do you think that place is?"

"You old monk, stop talking nonsense and you'll find out soon enough."

Sun Wukong, wielding his iron cudgel, roared angrily.

Ignoring Xuanzang, they simply led the way forward.

Xuanzang sighed helplessly, glancing at the tiger-skin hat hanging on Sun Wukong's waist.

How did this vain monkey manage to see through the golden headband?

The day the monkey left, Xuanzang met the Bodhisattva in the blink of an eye.

According to Guanyin Bodhisattva, Xuanzang received a golden headband and a special incantation to subdue the monkey's head.

In Xuanzang's view, since this monkey was so vain that the first thing he did after leaving the mountain was to make a tiger-skin coat, he wouldn't miss out on the tiger-skin hat that the golden headband had transformed into.

However, as soon as the monkey returned, its eyes blazed with fury, scanning him up and down before finally settling on the tiger-skin hat in his palm. It sneered:

"Master, were these clothes and hat brought from the East?"

Xuanzang readily agreed:

"This is what I wore when I was a child. If I wear this hat, I can recite scriptures without being taught them; if I wear this clothing, I can perform rituals without being taught them."

The pilgrim said, "Good master, I'll keep this good stuff with you."

After saying that, Wukong reached out and snatched the tiger-skin hat from Tang Sanzang's hand, fiddling with it incessantly.

Seeing his interested expression, Xuanzang felt nervous, hoping that Sun Wukong would hurry up and put the golden headband on his head.

But Sun Wukong just grabbed the tiger-head hat and tucked it into his waistband.

Xuanzang couldn't help but ask:

"Wukong, why don't you try it on?"

"Master, your tiger-skin hat is of uneven length; I'm afraid it won't fit you."

Wukong's anger flared. He knew very well what the golden headband meant. Tang Sanzang was urging him to wear it so that he would be severely controlled.

For Sun Wukong, who had been controlled for over five hundred years, being deprived of his freedom was the most unacceptable thing for him.

But Sun Wukong wasn't stupid; he could still remember what the old Dragon King had said.

This golden headband was given to the Bodhisattva by the Buddha, and then given to Xuanzang by the Bodhisattva.

He could attack Xuanzang and was not afraid of Bodhisattvas, but Sun Wukong dared not disrespect the Buddha.

Sun Wukong will have to stay in the pilgrimage team until a solution is found.

"Master, let's continue our journey to the West."

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he ignored Xuanzang and walked towards Mount Ling on his own.

The recollection ended there. Xuanzang looked at Sun Wukong, who was leading the group, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts, and could only sigh:

"Why did the Bodhisattva assign me such a disciple?"

If only I had an obedient apprentice.

With that in mind, Xuanzang could only follow in Sun Wukong's footsteps and head towards the temple.

Upon entering, the four discovered that the place was brightly decorated and filled with joy.

Xuanzang's face lit up with joy, and he recited a poem:

The upper temple is nestled in a verdant valley, and the scenic beauty of the temple rivals that of the Buddha.

Indeed, pure lands are few in the human world, and famous mountains are mostly occupied by monks.

Wukong, who loved excitement, immediately stepped forward and stopped an old man:

"Old man, why is it so lively here?"

The old man wasn't angry when he was stopped; he just laughed and said:

"You ugly monk, don't you know I have a Guanyin Temple here?"

Being called an ugly monk made every hair on Sun Wukong's body stand on end, his face contorted with rage, and he shouted:

"You old fool, you have no sense of propriety at all! I am the Monkey King of the Water Curtain Cave on Flower and Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country of Dongsheng Shenzhou."

The old man simply shook his head.

Xuanzang quickly stepped forward and bowed to the old man:

"Please don't be offended, sir. He's quick-tempered, and he got angry when he heard what you said. He's my apprentice."

"How could you possibly take such an ugly and grotesque person as an apprentice?"

The old man stared at Wukong, looked him up and down, and shook his head more and more.

These words startled Xuanzang, who quickly interrupted:

"Old man, what festival is this place, that it is so prosperous?"

"Oh, you outsider monk, you don't know, but the old abbot of Guanyin Temple has received a new kasaya."

New cassock?

Xuanzang looked around. The reason for all this noise was simply because the old abbot had received a new kasaya.

"That old abbot must be someone everyone respects."

This was the only reason Xuanzang could think of.

Upon hearing this, the old man pointed to the mountain gate:

"If you have some free time, monks, you might as well go up and take a look. Today, Guanyin Temple is hosting a grand banquet for guests, and all monks who come and go will benefit."

Amitabha.

Xuanzang clasped his hands together and followed the traveler into the mountain gate.

Inside the mountain gate, the main hall bears four large characters: Guanyin Zen Temple.

Xuanzang was overjoyed:

"I, your disciple, am deeply grateful for the Bodhisattva's holy grace."

After Xuanzang finished his prayers, the monk came out and addressed the four of them:

"Where did this wandering monk come from? Please come into the abbot's quarters and we'll serve you tea."

Without giving Xuanzang a chance to speak, Sun Wukong jumped onto the main hall to strike the bell.

The monks were startled by him, and when they saw his appearance, they were even more frightened. They scrambled to their feet and crawled on the ground, crying out, "Grandpa Thunder God!"

Wukong, who was looking for trouble and wanted to knock down the Guanyin statue in the Guanyin Temple, was met with a rebuke from the monks. With nowhere to vent his anger, he could only bang the bell a few times before stopping.

At this moment, a hall master named Guangmou stepped forward and bowed to Xuanzang:

"I just heard from the servants that a sir has come from the Tang Dynasty in the East, so I came out to pay my respects. My master is old and is resting in his room right now. He will meet the sir tomorrow."

"I have carelessly created a treasure mountain, unaware of its value. Please forgive me."

Xuanzang simply returned the greeting.

"No, no, please come in."

Guangmou gestured and led Xuanzang and Wukong into the Guanyin Temple.

After passing through the ornately decorated buildings, Xuanzang asked:

"How old is the former abbot of this temple?"

Guangmou said, "I am two hundred and seventy years old."

Upon hearing this, the pilgrim immediately exclaimed, "This is my great-grandson for generations to come!"

Guangmou, seeing Wukong's hairy face and thunder god-like mouth, couldn't make out his appearance, and asked curiously, "Master, how old are you?"

Wukong laughed heartily: "I dare not say, I dare not say."

Guangmou dismissed it as madness and turned his gaze to the two followers: "Are these two generals from the Tang Dynasty in the East?"

"I don't deserve such praise; I'm merely serving you."

The two men clasped their hands in greeting.

Seeing this, Guangmou nodded, then suddenly changed the subject:

"Sir, you are from the Celestial Empire, a country of great learning and versatility. There is something I must trouble you with."

"Oh? What is it?"

Xuanzang was curious.

Guangmou's sudden remark caught Xuanzang's attention.

Guangmou smiled slightly:

"Master, tomorrow there will be a treasure viewing event at my Guanyin Temple. Please stay and take a look so that the disciples can distinguish what are truly rare and precious items."

"In that case, I'm sorry to have bothered you."

Tang Sanzang had been traveling for several months and finally found a temple. He wanted to rest for a while, so he agreed.

Guangmou was overjoyed and immediately waved to the outside:

"Quickly, bring out vegetarian food and add more bedding so that the master can rest well."

Even Wukong, standing to the side, couldn't find fault with this attentive attitude.

The meal was a pleasant one for both the host and guests.

The four of them also spent the night in this Guanyin Temple.

It was late at night, and the starlight was dim.

Inside the Guanyin Temple, wisps of smoke curled upwards, and candles crackled as they burned.

"Master, please rest."

Several monks brought in basins of water, then turned and left respectfully.

Upon seeing this, Xuanzang couldn't help but sigh:

"This place is truly wonderful, with its delicious food and exquisite tableware."

"Although it is not as grand as my Great Tang Dynasty, it has its own unique charm."

The two attendants nodded in agreement. These past few days, they had been carrying Xuanzang out of the mountains, and their fondness for the temple that offered them rest had grown even stronger.

Only Wukong, despite his various methods, failed to provoke the monk's anger, so he had to find another way.

Xuanzang recited the Peacock Sutra under the lamp for a while, and sat there until the third watch of the night before putting the sutra in his bag and preparing to go to sleep.

There was a loud hissing sound outside the door, followed by a sudden gust of wind.

Xuanzang blew out the lamp, wrapped himself in the quilt, and immediately felt sleepy.

But in the dim light, Xuanzang heard a voice say "Master".

Suddenly, he looked up and saw an old man standing outside the door. He looked completely lifeless, with tears in his eyes, and kept calling out "Master".

Xuanzang bowed, trembling as he clutched the blown-out candle:

"You monstrous demons and monsters, why do you come here to toy with me in the dead of night? Get out of here! If my disciple sees you, he'll be pulverized and reduced to dust. You'd better flee far away and never set foot in my temple again."

The old man, instead, leaped two steps forward and collapsed before Xuanzang, crying out in anguish:

"Master, please save my life."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang exclaimed in surprise:

"I am an upright monk, sent by the imperial decree of the Great Tang Dynasty to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. How could I possibly save you?"

The old man simply covered his face and wept, saying in a trembling voice:

"My lord, you may not know this, but I am the former abbot of this Guanyin Temple, with the Dharma name Elder Jinchi. A few days ago, I was harmed by a demonic monk. That demonic monk possessed my body, leaving me a wronged ghost. I beg you, my lord, to save me."