Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong's fate-Chapter 71 - Black and White Impermanence Takes the Soul
71: Chapter 71 Black and White Impermanence Takes the Soul
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“Now that the Ruyi Jingu Bang has fallen into the hands of Sun Wukong, it is time for the Bodhisattva to make a trip to the Underworld!”
Sakyamuni Tathagata looked toward Guanyin Bodhisattva.
All would progress along its predestined course.
Guanyin Bodhisattva stood up, holding a Cleansing Bottle in one hand and erecting it in front of her, she said, “Amitabha Buddha, I shall carefully follow the Buddha’s Order of Law.”
Afterward, Guanyin rode the Lotus Platform out of the Great Thunderclap Monastery and disappeared into the horizon.
Underworld Hell.
The sky here was gloomy, devoid of sun, moon, and stars, only countless Wandering Souls and Fierce Ghosts roamed around.
Piercing shrieks resounded continuously, turning one’s complexion upon hearing them.
Underworld Hell had existed since the Ancient Chaos, birthplace of the Ancestor River Styx.
It was also the final resting place for countless Wandering Souls and Fierce Ghosts after their deaths.
In Ancient Times, the Ancestor River Styx even created the Asura using the Wandering Souls, Fierce Ghosts, and the malevolent aura of the Blood Sea.
Latterly, during the Calamity of Measurement between Sorcerers and Monsters, brutal slaughters led to the death of countless living beings, causing Underworld Hell to be filled with countless Wandering Souls and Fierce Ghosts, making the entire Primordial Continent resound with cries and howls of despair.
Empress Houtu from the Shamanic Tribe responded to the cries of Wronged Spirits without a place to go, incarnating herself into the Six Paths of Reincarnation to mend the cosmos.
This led to the current manifestation of Underworld Hell.
By now, the cosmic balance of yin and yang was settled, and lost souls found their destinations.
Following Empress Houtu incarnating into Reincarnation, both the Shamans and Monsters perished together, and the Human Race rose to prominence.
Since then, the Six Paths of Reincarnation had fallen into the hands of the Celestial Court.
At this moment deep inside Underworld Hell.
Outside the Fengdu Ghost City, adjacent to the expanse of the Underworld Blood Sea.
A Buddhist Temple was situated amidst this, radiated by Buddha’s Light.
Any Fierce Ghosts and Wronged Spirits enveloped in Buddha’s Light showed a gentle expression.
Meanwhile, Shami clad in monastic robes intermittently entered and exited the Buddhist Temple.
Compared to Underworld Hell, this place was a diametric opposite.
This was the site of the Dojo of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism.
Although Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was only a Bodhisattva in rank, his Cultivation Level could still rival that of a Buddha.
Only because he had made a profound vow in the past,
Hell is not empty, I vow not to attain Buddhahood.
Thus, he resided only as a Bodhisattva even now.
Deep in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Buddhist Temple, clad in a Kasaya, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sat in meditative serenity atop the Lotus Platform, his body surrounded by an immense Buddha’s Light, far stronger than that of the Sunlight Bodhisattva and the Moonlight Bodhisattva.
In the past, it was always him alone but today, facing him was another figure of a Bodhisattva, none other than Guanyin Bodhisattva, here to deliver the will of Buddha.
“Has my Buddha asked me to intervene, to bring Sun Wukong into the Underworld Hell?”
After listening to Guanyin Bodhisattva’s words, Ksitigarbha nodded his head.
He had already been aware of this matter, so he was not surprised by Guanyin’s notification.
It was merely about leading the soul of a Macaque into Underworld Hell and letting it create havoc there, just letting Black and White Impermanence take care of it was sufficient.
“Indeed, this matter is of great importance, concerning the grand flourishing of Buddhism.
I hope that Ksitigarbha Pusa will not neglect it!”
Upon hearing Ksitigarbha’s words, Guanyin Bodhisattva sternly said.
“It shall be so, Amitabha Buddha!”
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva brought his palms together and chanted a Buddha’s name.
However, he also learned from Guanyin about the matters concerning Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva.
Normally, these matters should have been handled by the two, and they should have been the ones to inform Ksitigarbha.
His realization that something was amiss came the moment Guanyin appeared.
Because of concerns about Sun Wukong, he had abandoned his duty to watch over him.
This position in managing the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West was indeed considered a lucrative post.
Had he not made a grand vow back then, he would have taken on this profitable task himself.
After all, once the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West was completed, there would be tremendous benefits, and he could also achieve merit.
“Amitabha Buddha, since the Bodhisattva is aware, I shall take my leave first!”
Seeing that Ksitigarbha Pusa had agreed, Guanyin nodded her head, the lotus platform beneath her shone brightly, instantly taking her back to her own dojo.
It wasn’t just with Ksitigarbha, Guanyin had also instructed the Ten Yama Kings.
With the start of the Calamity, Buddhism had to take matters seriously.
Months passed in the blink of an eye.
After Sun Wukong received the Ruyi Jingu Bang, although it was initially a good fit for him, he still remained vigilant.
Once assured that the Ruyi Jingu Bang had nothing unusual about it, he let his guard down.
After all, it was not a gift from the Dragon King, so he had no karmic ties with the Dragon King to speak of.
He fiddled with it daily, quite fond of it.
To celebrate his acquisition of the treasure, numerous monkeys and macaques brought countless good things, and after a grand feast, Sun Wukong was drunk.
Many monkeys and macaques also got drunk and simply lay on the ground.
Sun Wukong too lay on a stone chair and fell asleep.
Soon, a tremor appeared in the void near Sun Wukong, and two figures emerged before him, one in a black robe and one in a white robe.
The figure in the black robe had a fierce look, with the words “Peace Under Heaven” on the tall hat atop his head.
The figure in the white robe was all-smiles, with the words “Make a Fortune” on the tall hat on his head.
“Is this Sun Wukong, whom Lord Yama instructed us to handle with care?”
White Impermanence looked at the monkey before him, somewhat worried.
Although Mount Huaguo had formations, they were naturally of no concern to beings like Black and White Impermanence.
Despite their appearance, Sun Wukong showed no reaction.
Mainly because nothing unusual had happened recently, and having received the treasure, his mood was somewhat relaxed.
“Enough talk, this is a task handed down by Lord Yama.
We simply follow orders!”
Compared to White Impermanence, Black Impermanence was somewhat impatient and, after speaking, took out a talisman from his chest and directly pasted it onto Sun Wukong’s forehead.
He then raised his hand and threw out an iron chain, and with one pull, Sun Wukong’s soul was separated from his body.
“Lord Yama said that Sun Wukong is very cautious, and we need to be careful not to be discovered.
It seems he isn’t so cautious after all!”
When White Impermanence saw that Black Impermanence had already hooked out Sun Wukong’s soul, he couldn’t help but twist his mouth, looking somewhat relieved.
Though Black Impermanence had hooked out Sun Wukong’s soul, he still spoke cautiously.
“We should still be careful, just in case Sun Wukong escapes.
If we return after that, Lord Yama would likely punish us severely!”
Both beings became alerted, but since they had so easily hooked out Sun Wukong’s soul, they also felt a glint of joy in their hearts.
Following that, they owed Sun Wukong as they headed towards the Underworld.
This was also because Sun Wukong, while constantly cultivating and having let down his guard after receiving the treasure, might otherwise have detected these two Underworld Envoys as soon as they appeared.
In the Underworld, the sky was still a murky, starless gray without sun or moonlight, filled only with an undispellable ghostly aura of the Underworld.
Even a sense of haziness was present, making it hard for one to see the path ahead.
Just then, a flash of golden light sparked in Sun Wukong’s eyes.
“Where is this?
How did I get here?”
Sun Wukong awoke, then saw Black and White Impermanence walking ahead of him.
