Chapter 841: 545 chapters, returned to original form

545 chapters, returned to original form

545 chapters, returned to original form

――――A red apricot branch protruding from the wall

Speaking of, on West Mountain the two little demons who served the Demon King, carrying the Red Gourd and Jade Pure Bottle, came down the mountain to capture Sun Wukong; halfway they met the old Daoist into whom Sun Wukong had transformed. When they saw Sun Wukong's red gourd made from monkey hair, they were very envious, and hearing that this monkey‑hair red gourd could hold the heavens, they at first hardly believed it, but later Sun Wukong, using the spell taught by the Supreme Elder Lord, it proved true.

Actually, the bottle that Sun Wukong transformed from monkey hair, which could supposedly hold the heavens, was merely a trick to fool the two little demons. Sun Wukong used the Supreme Elder Lord's words to befuddle the two little demon leaders, making them lose sense of direction, as if heaven were high and earth deep; he was just muddling the little demons.

Readers might ask: Is the Supreme Elder Lord really that powerful? He can make people's heads spin and eyes blur, he can make the heavens dark and the earth gloomy. Yes, he certainly can. Looking back, when I first began studying the Dao, I deeply felt it, I suffered greatly. His words drove me into deviation, I lost my bearings, almost refusing to eat mortal food. It's like the saying 'Ye Gong loves dragons'—all day I clung to delusion, murmuring words nonstop——

"Favor and disgrace cause alarm; high status brings no trouble to the self. What is favor and disgrace? Favor is lowly; gaining it alarms, losing it alarms—this is favor and disgrace causing alarm. What is high status bringing great trouble? Only because I have a body; if I had no body, what trouble would I have? Therefore, valuing the body as the world, one may entrust it to the world; loving the body as the world, one may entrust it to the world." All day dazed and confused, if I hadn't mended my ways and turned back, my friends wouldn't see these words I've written facing you. Since early I have retreated into the deep mountains, holding a piece of wood, facing the wall, reflecting on my faults, all four elements empty. Now I am in the red dust... Clearly the Supreme Elder Lord's teachings are not to be read. Especially young people, never read Laozi and Zhuangzi, for they harm people, making them lift their own heads to leave Earth. Look at these two little demons: they can be demons and should have some basic Daoist practice; after hearing Sun Wukong recite a few scriptures, their heads become muddled.

The little demon said, 'Old Daoist, stop chanting, quickly release the heavens, we're about to suffocate.' Sun Wukong chanted a few more lines of the Classic of the Way and Virtue, and the heavens emerged from the red gourd.

"Oh dear, just now it was dark heavens and gloomy earth, in an instant it became bright sunshine. What a fine treasure. Old Daoist, just give us your red gourd." The two little demons said in unison.

"Two for one, you won't regret it? No going back?" Wukong asked.

"No regret, no going back. Whoever goes back is a grandson, not raised by humans." The two little demons said firmly.

Wukong said, 'Dealing with you demons and monsters, I can't be at ease. You're crafty and slippery, with all kinds of evil thoughts and bad ideas. You only care about profit; if it benefits you, you ignore others' interests; you only care about money; if you can make money, money is your dear father, and for money you'll do anything wicked. We can't trust what you say. I still want to make a contract with you, holding something as leverage, so if you later renege, I can sue you.'

The two little demons said, 'In these deep mountains and old forests, where would we get pen and paper to write a contract? How shall we make a vow?'

"How to vow?" Wukong asked the little demon.

The two little demons pointed at the mountain and vowed: 'Now we take the Red Gourd and Jade Pure Bottle to exchange for the heaven‑holding treasure red gourd of the old Daoist of South Mountain. If we renege, we will later return it and exchange back the original, bringing wealth all year round.' As they spoke, they handed the Red Gourd and Jade Pure Bottle to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong took the Red Gourd and Jade Pure Bottle handed over by the little demon, also handed his own monkey‑hair red gourd to the two demons, and vowed: 'Now I exchange my monkey‑hair red gourd for the Red Gourd and Jade Pure Bottle of the two little demons of West Mountain's Lotus Movement Cave; if I later renege, I will travel everywhere unopposed, every day good fortune will walk with me, wherever I go wealth will follow…' After finishing the vow, Wukong took the two little demons' Red Gourd and Jade Pure Bottle, wiped his face, resumed his true form, and somersaulted on a cloud of clouds beyond the cloudy heavens.