The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 62 The Three Immortals of the Upper Cave

Three hundred years of war and chaos, with endless battles fought across the land.

Today I conquer a city, slaughtering all those who resist. Tomorrow you will retake the city, and I will slaughter them all again, killing all those who have sided with me.

In this back-and-forth, the common people often lost their entire families when they died. Coupled with the soldiers entering the city who burned, killed, raped, and looted without any restraint, it was common for a city of one million people to be reduced to only a few hundred thousand.

The plight of the people during the Northern and Southern Dynasties was far more tragic than the description of "nine out of ten houses empty".

Only if the powerful families remain standing will the ultimate success of any winning team require their support. Their strength will be used to organize tax collection and rebuild order.

Those who ultimately triumph often find that, apart from established families, they have no one else they can rely on.

This is why Cui Peng angered Yang Jian, but was only punished with a beating and not dismissed or punished.

After listening to the Jinghe Dragon King's account, Jiang Feng discovered that things were far worse than he had imagined.

Even Emperor Jing, who died twenty years ago, couldn't get through the gates of hell, so what about those who died after him?

No wonder the resentment and bloodlust in the human world are so heavy; it turns out that too many people have died, and the wandering ghosts have no idea where to start their queue...

Jiang Feng snapped out of his daze and said to Cui Ying, "Go find your master and have him summon the Taoist masters to the capital. I'll go find Master Jizang and have him select eminent monks to hold the Water and Land Dharma Assembly. This matter cannot be delayed."

Cui Ying quickly agreed and used her magic to leave the Cui residence.

Jiang Feng then went to Daxingshan Temple and found Jizang organizing Buddhist scriptures in the scripture room.

"Master Jizang, how many capable disciples do you have?"

Jizang seemed to have known he would come. While arranging Buddhist scriptures on the ladder, he said, "Birth and death are impermanent and have their own destiny. I will have three thousand disciples. This is also destiny."

I am very pleased that you came to me today to ask for my help in organizing the Water and Land Dharma Assembly. But I am very angry that you didn't even address me as a Holy Monk.

Jiang Feng, completely bewildered, asked, "So, are you happy or unhappy?"

Jizang turned and glanced at him: "Neither."

Jiang Feng: "..."

Seeing his reaction, Jizang's lips curled slightly, and he continued, "Neither born nor dying, neither permanent nor impermanent, neither one nor different, neither coming nor going. You claim to have read the entire Tripitaka since childhood; do you know the meaning of these words?"

Jiang Feng's eyes sharpened: "Master Jizang wants to debate with me on Buddhist scriptures!"

Jizang didn't say anything, and slowly climbed down the ladder, but stopped halfway down.

Jiang Feng's gaze sharpened as he looked at the now still body and said, "Master, you are talking about Nagarjuna's Middle Way theory. Emptiness and existence should not be taken as extremes. We should look at all things dialectically."

Just like whether you want to go down or up the ladder right now, it's all in a state of uncertainty.

Jizang chuckled, then veins bulged on his forehead: "I'm stuck on the ladder, please get me down!"

Jiang Feng: "@#￥%￥#@……"

A moment later, Jiang Feng rescued Jizang from the ladder.

After sitting down to catch his breath, Jizang said, "I have three thousand disciples, but only seven or eight of them can help you succeed. I will have them handle the miscellaneous tasks for you."

Jiang Feng nodded and said, "Then thank you, Master."

"No need to thank me. The Buddhism I practice is about cultivating Bodhicitta and walking the Bodhisattva path. It is my wish to bring peace and happiness to the world and help all sentient beings. If I can do something for the people of the world, I will be very gratified."

After Jizang finished speaking, he looked at Jiang Feng, who had a calm expression, and a hint of doubt appeared in his deep eyes. He asked, "Holding a water and land ceremony to deliver the souls of the dead is a good deed. Why do I see that you have many doubts and seem unwilling to do this?"

Jiang Feng sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to do it, it's just that I feel like someone is plotting against me, which makes me uneasy."

Jizang fell silent, closed his eyes, and after his expression changed several times, he reopened his eyes and said with a complex look, "The Buddha dwells in the world forever, never entering Nirvana. Do you understand?"

Jiang Feng understood and knew that he was saying that someone was secretly monitoring their conversation. He smiled and said, "Master, I have heard that you have unique insights into the Madhyamaka-karika, the Dvadasanikaya-sastra, and the Sata-sastra, and that the school you founded is known as the Three Treatises School."

I have a treatise today entitled "The Buddha's Discourse on Capital," which I'll show you; it should be enlightening!

As he spoke, he took a book out of his hand and handed it to Jizang.

Jizang was overjoyed and thanked Jiang Feng repeatedly. Only after seeing Jiang Feng off and feeling the surveillance disappear did he let out a slight sigh.

"Huiyuan, you must obey Jiang Feng's orders, no matter what he asks you to do, do you understand?"

Standing to the side, Huiyuan looked doubtful: "Master, if he sides with the Taoist sect, am I also required to obey his orders?"

Jizang roared, "Get out and face the wall! You've followed me for so many years, can't you even tell what's important and what's urgent?"

Huiyuan turned pale with fright and quickly apologized and left.

This was the first time he had ever seen his master so angry. Although he didn't understand why, he knew he might have broken a rule, so he voluntarily went to the solitary confinement room to face the wall.

After he left, Jizang looked helplessly towards the west and sighed, "Mahayana Buddhism, if everyone can become a Buddha, why distinguish between Mahayana and Hinayana..."

After leaving Daxingshan Temple, Jiang Feng arrived at the post station and found Zhang Guo.

At this moment, Zhang Guo was watching the Western Region dancers perform songs and dances, swaying his head and body to the rhythm of Hu Le.

Jiang Feng stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder.

Zhang Guo shuddered, turned his head and saw that the person who came was Jiang Feng. He immediately said in an annoyed tone, "Coming to disturb my enjoyment can't be anything good!"

Jiang Feng laughed and said, "You've guessed wrong. I observed the stars last night and calculated that you are a person of destiny, destined to go to the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain to obtain the scriptures and become one of the Three Immortals of the Upper Cave!"

Zhang Guo was taken aback, then his eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "What Three Immortals?"

Jiang Feng said sincerely, "The Three Immortals of the Upper Cave are Potato Celestial Venerable, Eggplant Immortal, and Green Pepper Celestial!"

Zhang Guo: "@#￥%￥#@……"

These divine titles sound rather unorthodox, don't they?

Seeing him in a daze, Jiang Feng continued, "I have already sent people to select the most accomplished Taoist masters in the world, and have them come to Daxing to hold a grand Taoist ceremony. At that time, I will recommend you as the Holy Son of the Taoist sect and send you to Kunlun Mountain to obtain the scriptures!"

I am a holy son of Buddhism, going to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures!

At that time, you and I will be the supreme beings of Buddhism and Taoism, and the Three Realms and Six Paths will be under our control!

Such a good thing, are you willing or not?

Zhang Guo looked completely bewildered: "..."

I rode a donkey, ate sugarcane, and came here to join in the fun. Suddenly I became the supreme master of the Taoist sect?

This is a huge pancake, I can't eat it all!