Chapter 2

Master and apprentice are indifferent

The Demon God comes out of the mountain

After giving instructions to the three demons of tiger, deer and sheep, Lao Zhu asked Zhang Sheng again: "Zhang Sheng, where is that guy Xiong Fu now? Why didn't he come to see me?"

Zhang Sheng said: "I have come to my master. Since the arrival of the three real people Xuanfa, Hu Lizi, Lu Lizi and Yang Lizi, General Xiong saw that the power was enough here, and he was also worried that the Yunzhan Cave of Chaotian Peak, the former residence of our master, was unattended to take care of it, so he stayed on Chaotian Peak. He occasionally came to the temple to check one or two, so he didn't know the news of our master's arrival. Do you need to send someone to inform General Xiong?"

Old Zhu shook his head and said, "I only showed my appearance this time. Forget that guy Xiong Ju is not here, there is no need to greet him anymore. You are here to preside over the temple, so I will leave first."

After saying that, the eyes of the statue of Lao Zhu dimmed, but the trace of divine consciousness was silent again. After all, the trace of divine consciousness that remained in the Tianpeng Palace was too far away from the deity, and it was difficult to replenish it if it was consumed. I could only borrow a little incense offered by the believers to slowly recuperate and recover. Therefore, as long as there was nothing wrong, this trace of divine consciousness would sink into the statue and enter a deep sleep state to rest, and this time was no exception.

Seeing that Lao Zhu's divine thoughts were silent, Zhang Sheng and the three demons of tiger, deer and sheep got up and retreated from the hall to carry out what Lao Zhu ordered. The believers also got up from the ground and discussed the fact that Lao Zhu showed his spirit and what Lao Zhu said about the title of Buddha and the name change. While they were shocked, their belief in Lao Zhu became more and more pious.

Turning back, Lao Zhu, who was listening to Lingshan, passed on his thoughts to the divine thoughts left in the Tianpeng Palace in Fuling Mountain, he calmed down and listened to Sakyamuni preaching and preaching the Dharma. Sakyamuni spoke for seven days in a row, and Lao Zhu also listened carefully to the seven days of speech.

I don’t know why, although the Western Paradise is relatively self-contained, and the change of day and night does not need to be affected by the fairy world, the length of day and night in the Western Paradise is the same as that of the heaven. In other words, Lao Zhu listened to lectures in Lingshan for seven days, and the world has been in the spring and autumn for seven years.

After these seven years of listening, although Lao Zhu was not proficient in the practice of Buddhism, he was still considered to be a member of the school. After consolidating the foundation, Lao Zhu's understanding of the Buddha's Kingdom became more profound, and he became more proficient in the golden light relics of the ancient Buddha of spontaneous burning lamps, and built the Buddha's Kingdom in it more perfectly.

Seven days after the preaching, Buddha Shakyamuni stopped speaking and said to the Buddhists who were listening to the following lectures: "I will end this time, let's disperse each one."

Hearing the words of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Arhats, and Bhikkhus Kalan, and others immediately saluted to Sakyamuni Buddha. Then they all left the Main Hall and returned to their residences. Lao Zhu and others followed the crowd and left the Main Hall. But as soon as they left the Main Hall, Sun Wukong and his brothers were stunned. They had just been enthroned in the fruit position, and no one assigned them a residence. Where should they go?

At this time, Tang Seng saw the embarrassment of his brothers and walked over and said, "Wukong, Bajie, Wujing, Bailong, if you have no place to go, you might as well follow me. I had a residence on Lingshan in my previous life. Now I think I should still be there, so why not stay there for a while."

When Sun Wukong heard this, he immediately looked happy and said, "Okay, Lao Sun, I'm worried that I have no place to go, so I just took this opportunity to go to Master's place to play!" Lao Zhu, Sha Seng and Xiao Bailong also nodded in agreement.

Tang Monk said to Sun Wukong: "Wukong, it was for the convenience of obtaining scriptures in the past, so Guanyin Bodhisattva arranged for you to join me and take on the title of master and disciple. In fact, I have not taught you any of the methods of practice, but rely on you to successfully complete the journey of obtaining scriptures. How can I be qualified to be your master? Now that I have achieved great merits in obtaining scriptures, Wukong and Bajie are even more in the Buddha class like me. Let's stop following the names of the past, just let's get along with peers."

Listening to Tang Seng's polite words, Lao Zhu and others were slightly stunned, and then they felt a little strange. Is this still the master who taught them with great sincerity? Or the master who shared the joys and sorrows along the way with them? Why is there a little less intimacy, but a little more sense of alienation?

At this time, Lao Zhu suddenly realized that Tang Monk was no longer the master who was the mother-in-law who was powerless but took these disciples to heart, but had become the Sandalwood Merit Buddha who had reached the realm of Daluo and awakened his past lives! The Tang Monk now may be more of a golden cicada, not Tang Sanzang.

"Master, how can you say that? As the saying goes, one day is a teacher and a father for life. Don't say that we have only attained the fruit of Buddha and Bodhisattva now. Even if we become Buddhas, you are still our master!" Sun Wukong felt disheartened when he heard Tang Seng's words and shouted unhappily.

Sha Seng also said: "Master, Senior Brother is right. A Buddhist fruit position cannot separate the relationship between master and disciple! Even if we become Buddhas and ancestors, you are still our master!"

Lao Zhu didn't say anything, but just looked at Tang Seng's reaction quietly. He wanted to see if Tang Seng said the wrong thing for a moment or if he really changed. If his attitude towards them was as sincere and kind as before, even though the pursuit of the scriptures had ended, Lao Zhu would still recognize Tang Seng as his master. After all, the relationship between master and apprentice for more than ten years cannot be fake, and it is not that it will be gone. But if Tang Seng is no longer the master who truly loves them, he will no longer be attached to the lost relationship between master and apprentice.

After hearing the words of Sun Wukong and Sha Seng, Tang Monk showed a hint of shock on his face. He seemed to have not expected that Sun Wukong and Sha Seng, who had already attained the Buddha and Bodhisattva, were still entangled in their master-disciple relationship. Then he smiled warmly like the spring breeze and said, "You are too entangled in the past. The road of cultivation is long, so why should we never forget the experience of just over ten years? Now that I am entering the door of my Buddha, we should take my Buddha as our teacher, and we will interact with each other, so there is no need to mention the words of the master-disciple."

Seeing Tang Monk's attitude, Old Zhu knew that Tang Monk had really changed. Now Tang Monk is already a Sandalwood Merit Buddha, no longer the same as Tang Sanzang. For a moment, he felt very sad and couldn't help but feel relieved. He no longer had the intention of visiting Tang Monk's residence. He clasped his fists at Tang Monk and said, "Sandalwood Merit Buddha, I'm really sorry. I haven't met my wife Lan'er for more than ten years. I'm worried about it. Now I'm going home and visit me, but I won't go to the Buddhist friends. I will definitely come to visit again if I have time in the future. Please forgive me if I have any rudeness!"

When Tang Monk heard this, his expression froze slightly, but then he calmed down and smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay, it's normal. Since the Free Heavenly King Buddha is eager to return home to visit his beautiful wife, I won't keep you. Let's find an opportunity to get together again in the future."

"Brother Monkey, Junior Brother Sha, Bailong, I, Old Zhu, will leave first." Old Zhu said and then clasped his fists to Sun Wukong and others. Then he didn't stay for a long time, and immediately turned around and drove up a cloud light to fly out of the Western Paradise.

Looking at Lao Zhu's departure, Sun Wukong, Sha Seng and others couldn't help but sigh in their hearts. They could vaguely feel Lao Zhu's disappointment and reluctance, because not only Lao Zhu, but they actually have this feeling in their hearts now. They just don't act as thoroughly as Lao Zhu because of their affection.

"Wukong, Wujing, Bailong, Bajie left in advance. You will never give me the face, right?" Tang Seng said to Sun Wukong and the other three with a smile. It was not difficult to see from his tone that he was still very dissatisfied with Lao Zhu's refusal to leave.

"Master, don't blame Bajie. Don't you know that Bajie is a family lover. On the way to obtain the scriptures, he always uses an excuse to run home, thinking about his wife all day long? Now that he has become a Buddha, he still has no future! Hehehe..."

Sun Wukong heard the dissatisfaction in Tang Seng's words and made a statement to defend Lao Zhu. He still cherished this relationship between the master and the disciple. Although he felt that Tang Seng seemed to have changed, he still tried his best to maintain this master and disciple relationship, and was unwilling to see a rift between Tang Seng and Lao Zhu.

However, some things are not transferred by human will. Tang Monk, who has now recovered his memories of his past lives, is no longer the overly rich Tang Sanzang on the way to obtain the scriptures. He is also clear-headed and has his own judgment on everything. How could his thoughts be reversed by Sun Wukong's words? After hearing Sun Wukong's words, Tang Monk just smiled faintly and said, "Let's not talk about him for now. Wukong, have I told you? In the future, we are all disciples of my Buddha Tathagata. We should communicate with each other with the rituals of the same generation. Don't mention the title of Master. If you think the name of Buddha is awkward, you can also call me the Dharma and call me Elder Xuanzang."

When Sun Wukong heard this, his expression changed a few times. Then he bit his monkey teeth, put his palms together and bowed to Tang Monk and said, "Elder Xuanzang, I remember Lao Sun, I will never call him wrong again."

When Tang Monk saw that Sun Wukong finally changed his words, a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. The reason why he insisted on insisting that Sun Wukong and others change his words was his own consideration. As Jin Chanzi, who is known as the first disciple of Sakyamuni Tathagata, how could Tang Monk in his previous life be a stupid person? He had known for his actions that would inevitably make Lao Zhu and others sad, leading to Lao Zhu and others alienation from him. However, this effect was exactly what he wanted.

Tang Monk knew very well that although Lao Zhu and others entered Buddhism through the pursuit of scriptures and attained the fruit of their lives, they were destined to be aliens in Buddhism. As a Taoist sect, how could the Buddhists trust him? Cold reception and exclusion are indispensable. Although Sun Wukong was personally arranged by the Buddhist master to obtain the scriptures and protect the Dharma, with his rebellious nature, it is normal to offend people. Sha Seng's situation is similar to Lao Zhu, but the background was changed from Taoist sect to Heaven. So in detail, Lao Zhu and other brothers are actually problematic characters. If Tang Monk gets too close to the three of them, it is likely that he will be implicated and isolated by other people in Buddhism. This is what Tang Monk does not want to see.

But Tang Seng could not completely break off relations with Sun Wukong and others. After all, the three brothers and two Daluo Jinxians, and one top Taiyi Zhenxian was a force that should not be underestimated wherever they were placed. It would be a pity to abandon it like this. That's why Tang Seng adopted this seemingly intimate and polite attitude, in order to maintain his relationship with Lao Zhu and others at a different distance and not be affected by several people, and at a critical moment, he could win over the three people as a subtle level of helping.
Chapter completed!