Chapter 289

Zhao Si

Bodhi Ancestor

These two iconic figures have both appeared, so it must be Journey to the West, right…… But why does it look nothing like it no matter how you look at it?

As the plot progresses, first there were the Four Continents, then the monkey who went out to sea, and now the monkey has actually met Puti Laozi, and even learned the Immortality Technique……

Zhunti

the Great Dao

Immortality Technique

Contemplation Method

Four Great Continents

If we could confirm his identity, even ask him directly about the world's background, we could certainly shorten the puzzle-solving process and establish a complete worldview as soon as possible……

Zhao Si thought this way, and even now he has not connected this chapter with the previous three, because the difference is too great, to the point that it seems completely unlike the same world.

Spirit Mountain

Xiniu Hezhou, located in the west among the Four Continents, in Journey to the West this place has many monsters and beings of great supernatural power—Mount Lion-Camel, Ling Mountain, Wan Shou Mountain…… all are here, truly a land of outstanding people and spiritual potency, where great demons and immortals gather.

Among these countless powerful beings, Puti Laozi is the most mysterious; other powerful beings are at least known to outsiders, and the Heavenly Court still invites them to banquets on holidays…… Only Puti Laozi is an exception—throughout the text, only Sun Wukong knows him, while everyone else has never even heard of him, which is truly strange.

And in this worldview, you haven't yet learned whether other gods and monsters exist, but you have already heard the name of Puti from the monkey!

And such a great immortal, would they really take you as a disciple?

With a nervous heart, you rowed the boat ashore and, following the direction the monkey pointed, step by step you made your way there...

"What is the Patriarch's temperament?"

As you walked, you anxiously asked the monkey about the Patriarch, intending to make some mental preparations beforehand.

"The Patriarch grants every request, and with just a few words can make one enlightened; he knows all truths in heaven and earth… Even I can understand him, so you have nothing to worry about!"

The monkey laughed heartily: "Once we both become immortals, we'll go to the heavenly realm to roam freely, forever free from worldly troubles!"

Your mind eased a little, but you still doubted whether the Patriarch would accept you as a disciple, after all you are already old in years, not only aged but also dull-witted, unable even to master a Contemplation Method…

So you asked it again: "What did the Patriarch teach you? Is it the Contemplation Method?"

"Contemplation? No."

The monkey shook its head and said disdainfully: "What the Patriarch taught me is the true art of immortal cultivation for longevity… The Great Dao is only a couple of sentences—why bother practicing those illusory Contemplation Methods? That's putting the cart before the horse!"

"However, you need to pay attention to this point."

The monkey said solemnly.

"The Patriarch is omniscient and omnipotent; nothing in the world can be hidden from him, he knows all your thoughts, so you must never lie to him—answer whatever he asks."

Hearing this, your heart tightened; you resolved not to lie, and to reveal to the Patriarch your most sincere and genuine heart of the Dao…

You had even begun to prepare an opening line in your heart, to be spoken truthfully when you met the Patriarch: "Disciple Lin Liu, a person of the Southern Continent, whose family has been pure and upright for generations, never committing wickedness… I come with a heart of Dao wholly pure, able to endure hardship and difficulty; I hope the Patriarch will show mercy."

You had prepared everything…

After traveling on land for several more months, you, in a sorry state, finally arrived at the foot of Lingtai Fangcun Shan under the monkey's guidance.

…

"This mountain is Lingtai Fangcun Shan!"

The monkey laughed: "Here ancient trees are lush, auspicious clouds abound, cranes wheel and fly… Thanks to the Patriarch finding such a fine place for his abode, the Xieyue Sansheng Dong lies within the mountain; come with me, I'll take you to seek an audience with the Patriarch!"

It strode forward with big steps, but you remained completely still…

"Benefactor? Why aren't you moving?"

The monkey looked back at you, puzzled.

Your eyes flickered, as if you were struggling with something; after a long while you murmured, "Monkey, are you not playing a trick on me?"

"A trick? Benefactor, why do you say that?"

The monkey was utterly bewildered; it had meant to repay your kindness in good faith, yet now Lingtai Fangcun Shan was right before your eyes—why did you not only refuse to go, but also accuse it of deceiving you?

You stared blankly at the sincere monkey, then examined the so‑called Lingtai Fangcun Shan more closely…

"A mountain? Where is any mountain?"

You rubbed your eyes and looked again: there was nothing there, clearly just a… cliff!

To verify that your vision was fine, you tentatively threw a stone toward it: the stone fell normally, with no obstruction whatsoever.

This is indeed a cliff…

…

Regarding your perception that Lingtai Fangcun Shan is a cliff, the monkey was also at a loss, even trying to walk past it.

Then you saw it vanish without a trace for no reason…

After a long while, you saw it suddenly reappear in the same spot, with no sign whatsoever beforehand, the scene utterly bizarre…

It seemed the monkey hadn't deceived you; there truly was a wondrous realm hidden beyond the mundane world. But you tried many ways, yet could not reach that realm—including letting it grab you and then walking step by step forward.

But it would always disappear mid‑walk, leaving you alone staring blankly at the cliff's edge…

After trying every method, you finally concluded: the monkey had not deceived you; to it, there truly is a Lingtai Fangcun Shan, within which lies a Xieyue Sansheng Dong, and inside that cave dwells an omniscient, omnipotent old immortal.

But to you, there is nothing there—only a cliff!

You even found locals living nearby and asked them about Lingtai Fangcun Shan.

Upon hearing your words, they stared at one another, all saying there was simply no Lingtai Fangcun Shan here—there had always been only a cliff, and every year people and livestock lose their footing and fall to their deaths…

In the end you received a laughable answer: only the monkey is special, and aside from it being able to see Fangcun Shan, no one else can.

Including you!

Thus, your originally boundless hopes of seeking immortality and taking a master came to nothing…

…

Standing at the foot of the so-called Square Inch Mountain, Lin Liu's body, already frail from old age, has become even weaker.

His eyes were filled with bewilderment and emptiness: holding that sincere ideal, he endured nearly six years of arduous travel, with his frail old body crossing the ocean, from South Jambu Continent to Xiniu Hezhou…… the cost was so great, yet he gained nothing in return.

Even if he had the most steadfast Dao heart, it would now be shattered into pieces.

He couldn't help but ponder whether the second half of his life had been meaningful.

The answer is, there is not a shred of meaning……

Immortality is but an illusion; years of hard work are utterly useless.

"Is it that Patriarch Bodhi is unwilling to take anyone as a disciple?"

Lin Liu couldn't help muttering to himself.

This is one of the few reasons he could think of; otherwise, there would be no way to explain why the monkey can see Square Inch Mountain while others cannot.

It seems the Patriarch looks down on others, so he used magic to conceal his traces.

Or perhaps the monkey itself is special? Lin Liu couldn't think of a reliable answer……

"Benefactor…… I have asked the Patriarch."

At this moment, the monkey that had just returned from Square Inch Mountain cautiously said to him: "The Patriarch said, it is because of the 【heart】……"

"Heart?" In Lin Liu's dazed gaze, the monkey said, half-understanding: "The Patriarch said, the 【mind's square inch】 is the heart, the 【slanting moon and three stars】 is also the heart; the reason I can come here is because my heart differs from others……"

"The heart differs?" Lin Liu became even more dazed; the immortals' words are always so profound, and this mortal truly cannot comprehend……

"It seems I lack the affinity for immortality, and my heart is not right……"

Lin Liu gave a bitter smile.

"That won't happen, benefactor!"

The monkey grew anxious:

"You can see me with a mortal body, which shows your heart is different from others…… you should also be able to enter!"

"But I cannot."

Lin Liu shook his head, looked back at that cliff again, and finally let out a faint sigh……

"I am leaving."

He said quietly: "Since my quest for immortality has failed, I will return to my hometown to spend my remaining years……"

After his ideal was shattered, he began to long for everything in the fishing village, for his family…… that was his sole psychological reliance.

"Benefactor, you cannot go back now!"

The monkey anxiously shook his head:

"Traveling from South Jambu Continent to Xiniu Hezhou is smooth sailing; as long as you follow the right route, you can reach it."

"But if you want to go back the opposite way, it's against the wind and current; relying solely on rowing, you'll never make it in a lifetime!"

"Moreover, you were already old and frail, and now you've lost your spirit……"

The monkey grew more worried as he spoke, but Lin Liu's resolve to leave was firm: "I don't want to die alone in a foreign land; even if I can never return home in this life, I want to die on the road!"

Lin Liu, whose hopes had been dashed, had lost interest in everything; even knowing he could never return home, he was determined to walk back……

【The monkey cannot dissuade you, your resolve to leave is set.】

【You spent several more months walking back to the seaside, but compared to the high spirits you had when you came, you are now listless…… and since long journeys age one quickly, after completing these months of return, your hair and beard are completely white, your face full of wrinkles, you have aged at least ten years more than a few months ago!】

【When you again set out to sea in your fishing boat, the seaside fishermen were greatly astonished, not understanding why someone of your age would still go out to sea alone……】

【You paid no heed to this; the monkey followed beside you, offering advice, but you also ignored him.】

【The small boat set sail once more, aiming for that distant hometown…… but everyone knows you will never reach home, including yourself.】

【An old man with little life left steers his boat toward the vast ocean, beginning his life's final voyage, a journey destined to end in death……】

……

(End of Chapter)