8mi #1762 - The truth is revealed, the visitor from the west
#1762 - The truth is revealed, the visitor from the west
Although the Buddha statues in Cijue Temple were torn down, the building still remained and was converted into a school.
Moreover, the Buddhist scriptures inside were not destroyed either. In Tang Sanzang's view, the Buddhist scriptures were not wrong; it was the people who chanted them who were at fault.
Chu Hao's words made Tang Sanzang fall into contemplation.
The scene of ten thousand demons attacking the city was truly rare, and the timing of its occurrence was too coincidental.
He came to Cijue Temple and found the place where the Buddhist scriptures were piled.
Now, these Buddhist scriptures have become reading materials for children. They learn knowledge from textbooks and the principles of conduct from Buddhist scriptures.
Coming to the Buddhist scriptures, he disregarded his image and immediately sat on the ground, beginning to flip through the scriptures one by one.
Western Paradise, Mount Ling, Great Thunderclap Temple.
Guanyin reported today's events to the Tathagata.
The Tathagata was greatly shocked: "All the demons failed?"
"Yes, Buddha. Moreover, after that Tang Sanzang chanted Buddhist scriptures, attracting the worship of ten thousand people, he then destroyed their faith himself," Guanyin truthfully said.
"This Tang Sanzang's way of doing things is indeed unpredictable," a Buddha said.
The Tathagata sat upright on the lotus platform, his gaze sweeping across the Buddhas, and asked, "What do you think should be done?"
"Buddha, I think we should send someone again," a Buddha said.
His Buddha statue was destroyed, and he could not endure this grievance.
However, the Tathagata said, "The matter of Zhu Zi Kingdom has had too great an impact. Now that the demons sent out have returned defeated, seeking peace is not necessarily impossible."
The Buddha has spoken, and the other subordinates naturally immediately echoed him. One of the Buddhas said, "Buddha's words are very true. After all, Zhu Zi Kingdom has believed in Buddhism for many years and cannot be changed overnight. Now, as long as we slightly display a miracle, they will inevitably be conquered."
"That's right, we can send a Buddha to go. When the time comes, with a little trickery, we can make those mortals return to their respect for us," another Buddha said.
"But Buddha? After all, that Tang Sanzang is still in Zhu Zi Kingdom," Guanyin said.
"It doesn't matter. When that Tang Sanzang sees a Buddha from my Mount Ling, he naturally won't be impulsive. When the time comes, let him go to the Western Paradise earlier," the Tathagata said.
He understood Tang Sanzang's temperament. Although he had become demonized, he would definitely not attack the Buddhas of Mount Ling. Otherwise, if he incurred public anger, he would not be able to end things well.
On the other side, within Zhu Zi Kingdom, Tang Sanzang stayed awake all night. When the morning sun rose, he fell asleep tiredly.
When he woke up again, he looked at the scattered scriptures around him, and a trace of anger suddenly appeared on his face.
Then he immediately walked towards the palace and asked the king to call the people to the square again.
He scanned the crowd and then said, "Everyone, I have figured out the matter of the demons yesterday."
As soon as these words came out, the people present immediately began to discuss.
Yesterday's events seemed to be still vivid in their minds, and now, thinking about it, they even felt some lingering fear.
They naturally also wanted to know why the demons suddenly attacked the city and whether it would happen again in the future.
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang said loudly, "These demons came from Mount Ling in the Western Paradise!"
As soon as these words came out, the crowd was shaken. They looked at Tang Sanzang above in surprise, seeming a little unable to believe it.
But Tang Sanzang said with a firm gaze, "Yesterday, I consulted various Buddhist scriptures and finally found the origin of those demons."
Immediately afterwards, he began to quote scriptures, explaining all the words described in the Buddhist scriptures.
In his description, the giant bird that appeared earlier and the great demon that looked like a bat were both mounts of certain Buddhas.
In order to prove its authenticity, he also specially asked his disciples to send the obtained Buddhist scriptures to the people so that they could read them themselves.
After Tang Sanzang finished speaking, everyone understood that this was actually a plan set by the Western Paradise to punish Zhu Zi Kingdom, with the purpose of making them respect the Buddha again.
This angered them.
"The Western Paradise is too much. These Buddhas are too much," someone shouted.
"That's right, a bunch of hypocritical guys. We have been worshiping the Buddha for so many years in vain," someone said excitedly.
"Will those demons come again?" Some people felt hesitant.
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang said, "Don't worry, I will stay here temporarily unless the Western Paradise guarantees that they will not harm you again, then I will leave."
He gave up his plan to go to the Western Paradise, preparing to use this as a threat to exchange for the peace of Zhu Zi Kingdom.
The people naturally trusted him, the national teacher, and had also seen his power. Hearing this, some hesitant people also felt relieved.
"That's great. With the national teacher here, we have nothing to fear," the people shouted.
Everyone was extremely enthusiastic, and under Tang Sanzang's explanation, their determination to abandon the Western Paradise became even firmer.
At this moment, the image of the Buddhas of the Western Paradise in their hearts changed from tall, great, and sacred to insidious and cunning, and the image they had previously admired disappeared.
After Tang Sanzang finished speaking, he returned to the palace.
He had already made up his mind not to leave, and he expected that the Western Paradise would also take action.
Three days later, Zhu Zi Kingdom once again returned to its former prosperity and bustle, and the haze brought by the previous demon attack was swept away.
On this day, outside the city, a monk wearing a kasaya walked over.
His face was compassionate. Looking at this scene, he shook his head slightly and then walked into the city.
"Wait, which farmer are you working for, monk?" The general guarding the city stopped him and asked sternly.
Now, the whole country is extremely angry with the Buddhas of the Western Paradise. Seeing a monk, they naturally have to ask him if he is farming. Otherwise, according to the laws of the royal city, he would have to be dragged to the farmland.
The monk put his hands together and said, "I have come to save the world and do not engage in agricultural work."
"Hmph, don't you know that my Zhu Zi Kingdom doesn't need monks? Since you have nothing to do, then I will arrange for you to do something," the general sneered and then ordered his subordinates to arrest the monk.
However, the monk only glanced at him and suddenly burst out with amazing power, instantly repelling the soldiers who wanted to arrest him.
Everyone present was shocked.
"I come from Mount Ling in the Western Paradise to meet the king of Zhu Zi Kingdom," he said calmly.
"Mount Ling in the Western Paradise?" The general's face was pale. Hearing this, he quickly went to report.
After a while, the soldiers sent a message, telling the monk to go to the palace himself.
The monk frowned, thinking, 'I am a dignified Buddha from the Western Paradise, and I have to walk over myself? Shouldn't I be greeted with great courtesy?'
He decided to stand here and see what the king of Zhu Zi Kingdom would do.
As a result, the sun rose three poles high, the sun was shining brightly, but the king of Zhu Zi Kingdom still did not move, and the others also selectively ignored him.