I am a fairy in Journey to the West

"Fellow Daoists, you have arrived." The Buddha clasped his hands together in prayer.

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "What that monk said makes a lot of sense. Why would you let him go hungry?"

The Buddha smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhuang is asking a question he already knows the answer to."

Zhuang Yan asked in surprise, "Why do you say I'm asking a question I already know the answer to?"

The Buddha asked, "When the wind blows the leaves, is it the wind that moves, the leaves that move, or the mind that moves?"

Zhuang Yan said, "The wind blows the leaves, which is the way of nature. When the wind moves, the leaves move, and when the leaves move, people's hearts move as well."

"Hahaha." The Buddha laughed, looking up. "This is the wonder of movement and stillness, the principle of nature. Everything exists within the natural world, and all things cycle, naturally moving and still. It's laughable that monks nowadays attribute everything to the 'mind,' truly putting the cart before the horse."

Zhuang Yan asked, "Isn't the heart important?"

"Of course, the mind is important." The Buddha said, "All things move and are still, but the mind is one. Without movement or stillness, one can sit still and be at ease."

Zhuang Yan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Master. I understand now."

The Buddha smiled and waved his hand. Whether Zhuang Yan was enlightened or not was no longer so important. On the contrary, the Buddha knew in his heart that Zhuang Yan's cultivation and power far surpassed his and Laozi's.

"Fellow Daoists, please come to Lixue Pavilion for tea," said the Buddha.

Inside the Lixue Pavilion, Laozi, Tathagata, and Zhuang Yan sat down. Tathagata personally brewed tea, and Zhuang Yan took out a ceramic pot.

"I just took in a heretic, a Great Awakened Golden Immortal. Judging from his magical power, he should be of the 'Lesser Yang Qi' type," Laozi said, pointing to the pottery jar.

The Buddha said, "So, this person must have come from the 'Four Symbols Heavenly Path'?"

"It's probably true." Zhuang Yan pushed the pottery jar in his hand in front of Buddha. "It's not good for me to carry it with me. Please find a place to put it, Buddha."

“Eh.” Buddha Tathagata quickly put his palms together and said, “I can’t accept Fellow Daoist Zhuang calling me ‘Buddha’.”

Zhuang Yan laughed heartily and pointed at Lao Jun, saying, "He is the Daoist Master, I am Master Zhuang, and you are the Buddha Master."

The Buddha looked surprised, but he quickly understood the reason with his powerful senses and couldn't help but smile.

"Alright." Buddha picked up the earthenware jar and casually put it into his sleeve, saying, "Suppress it in Leifeng Pagoda later."

Lao Jun asked, "Can a single pagoda suppress the Great Enlightened Golden Immortal? We mustn't let him escape."

The Buddha laughed and said, "There are already two heretics under Leifeng Pagoda. They are two heretics I captured not long ago, and they are also Great Awakening Golden Immortals. One is called Shao Yinmi, and the other is called Xia Yuan. Shao Yinmi should also be a Great Awakening Golden Immortal of the Four Symbols Heavenly Dao. As for Xia Yuan, it is hard to say. As for Leifeng Pagoda, with my Great Grade Golden Lotus suppressing it, let alone a Great Awakening Golden Immortal, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would not be able to escape without some good methods."

Lao Jun nodded, took a sip of tea, and said, "That's good then."

At this point, the Buddha said, "I have discovered something: while these heretical Great Enlightened Immortals are easy to find, those Great Luo Immortals are difficult to find."

Lao Jun nodded and said, "That's right. These heretics entered my Pangu's mortal world through the Six Paths of Reincarnation. They were reincarnated as beings of Pangu's Heavenly Dao with their original cultivation and power. If they have been hiding, it will be really difficult for us to find them."

To enter the present world of Pangu through the six realms of reincarnation is to say that one has "registered" with the Pangu Heavenly Dao and become a being under the Pangu Heavenly Dao.

If Shao Yangzun hadn't wanted to test Lao Jun, Lao Jun would never have noticed him among countless beings, because he was just like all other beings, a being with the identity of Pangu's Heavenly Dao.

Shao Yangzun was arrested for two reasons. First, he plotted against Laozi, and Laozi exposed him. Second, as a Great Awakened Golden Immortal, his every move was difficult to conceal from a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

But those Great Luo Golden Immortals are different. Even if they schemed against Laozi, they still have the ability to conceal the secrets of heaven. At least it would be difficult to find them out as quickly as it was to capture Shao Yangzun.

Zhuang Yan has now attained the 'Heavenly Dao' position, but he is still considered an outsider to the Pangu Heavenly Dao. The 'Heavenly Dao Mode' cannot be opened at will; the feelings of the Pangu Heavenly Dao must be taken into consideration.

Moreover, since those heretics entered Pangu's present world through the Six Paths of Reincarnation, they had legitimate identities with Pangu's Heavenly Dao. Furthermore, with the combined protection of the Great Evolution Dao Lord and others, even Pangu's Heavenly Dao could not detect them. Otherwise, the three of them would not have needed to descend to the mortal realm in person.

"In my opinion, we only need to find those Great Luo Golden Immortals. As for those Great Awakening Golden Immortals, let's leave it to our Great Awakening Golden Immortals who are the reincarnation of Pangu. What do you think?" Lao Jun asked.

The Buddha nodded and said, "Yes, that's fine. We can use this opportunity to finalize the titles and ranks after the creation of chaos."

Although Pangu's Heavenly Dao has already obtained the qualification to create chaos, the beings that Pangu manifested in the world can enter the new world after the creation of chaos.

After the chaos is created, the new Heavenly Dao will inevitably overthrow everything except the Great Luo Golden Immortals and start anew. At this time, titles and ranks will be very important.

The innate rank is definitely superior to the acquired rank, and the acquired rank is superior to the rank of mortal spirits.

The so-called innate status refers to becoming an 'innate being' in the new Heavenly Dao, that is, a powerful being among the first batch of innate beings.

The acquired status refers to the acquired beings who, after the creation of chaos and the establishment of new laws of heaven, are second only to the innate beings.

As for 'mortal spirits', they are those who are 'reborn' in the new world when the new Heavenly Dao appears, starting their cultivation anew as mortal beings.

But regardless of whether it is innate, acquired, or mortal, it will retain everything except its cultivation and magical powers, including memories and all existing possessions.

The reason for not retaining one's cultivation and magical power is naturally to redefine one's status and position; otherwise, how can it be called starting over from scratch?

But all of this excludes the Great Luo Golden Immortals, or rather, the current Great Luo Golden Immortals are already predetermined innate beings born after the creation of chaos.

"Alright." Laozi agreed without hesitation. The titles and ranks of all beings below the Great Awakening Golden Immortal level need to be redefined, and this matter may be an opportunity.

Zhuang Yan then said, "In that case, we can discuss this matter with the Great Celestial Venerable."

Laozi and Buddha immediately understood Zhuang Yan's meaning, nodded, and then each sent out a golden light that went straight up to the Great Luo Heaven.

Soon after, two golden beams of light descended from the Ninth Heaven and flew straight into the hands of Laozi and Tathagata.

After reviewing the document, the two breathed a sigh of relief. "The Great Celestial Venerable has agreed. From this moment on, the souls of all those who died during Pangu's descent into the world will be directly preserved by the Heavenly Dao for Great Awakening Golden Immortals. The souls of male immortals below the Great Awakening Golden Immortal level will be preserved by the Eastern King Duke, and the souls of female immortals will be preserved by the Western Queen Mother. As for all mortal spirits below the level of immortals, their souls will return to Fengdu after death and be preserved by the Fengdu Emperor. After the creation of chaos, their names and positions will be reassigned in order."

Zhuang Yan nodded and smiled, "In that case, there is nothing to worry about. I will now issue a decree to the Fire Spirit True Immortal, instructing her to summon all the Great Awakened Golden Immortals of Pangu in the name of the Mortal Jade Palace, to jointly capture the heretical Great Awakened Golden Immortals."

Laozi and Buddha exchanged a glance upon hearing this, then smiled and said in unison, "Good."

On this day, Zhuang Yan received an invitation from Li Gongfu, saying that his brother-in-law Xu Xian was getting married and he was invited to come and have a drink at the wedding.

"Are you going?" Zhuang Yan asked Laozi and Buddha.

Buddha shook his head. "I, a monk, won't go. It would be inappropriate for a monk to attend such a joyous occasion." "And what about you?" Zhuang Yan then asked Laozi, "Are you going or not?"

"I won't go either," Lao Jun said, shaking his head. "Even Taoists shouldn't go to that kind of event. I'll just go for a walk with the Buddha."

"Alright," Zhuang Yan said, "Then I'll go have a drink at the wedding first, and I'll come find you later."

As Zhuang Yan was about to leave, an old monk walked in. The old monk glanced at Zhuang Yan, then snorted coldly and walked straight toward Tathagata.

Zhuang Yan was somewhat surprised. Wasn't this the stubborn monk from that day? Why was he reacting like this upon seeing him? He didn't think he had ever met him before.

However, Zhuang Yan didn't pay any attention to it. He nodded to Laozi and Tathagata before leaving.

The monk then knelt before the Buddha, who asked, "Fahai, have you attained enlightenment?"

Fahai said, "Master, I still think it is my heart that is moving. It is my heart that is moving, it is my heart that is aching, and it is my heart that is hungry. It is all the desires in my heart that are causing this."

The Buddha asked, "If that's the case, then let me ask you, if your heart is full of desires, is it still a heart?"

Fahai said, "As long as you eliminate all desires, you can return to your original nature."

Laozi, standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh, "You monk are really stubborn."

Fahai merely glanced at Laozi, then said to Tathagata, "Master, I have decided to enter the world to temper my mind and eliminate all desires."

Seeing his reaction, the Buddha said nothing more, but simply waved his hand and said, "Go."

"Yes, disciple bids farewell to Master." After saying this, Fahai bowed to Tathagata and then turned to leave.

When Zhuang Yan arrived at the Li family, he found that there was no grand banquet; Li Gongfu had simply arranged a simple home-cooked meal.

Upon entering, he was greeted by a woman dressed in a jade-green jacket and skirt. The woman was quite charming. When she saw Zhuang Yan enter, she immediately stopped and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Looking for Li Gongfu? Where is he?"

Upon hearing this, the woman immediately called out inside, "Master Li, someone is looking for you."

"He's here." Li Gongfu's voice came from inside. "He's here, he's here." When Li Gongfu ran out and saw that it was Zhuang Yan, he quickly ran forward and bowed, saying, "Uncle Zhuang."

The woman looked surprised. "What? Mr. Li, you look older than him, and you call him uncle?"

Li Gongfu turned around and said, "Can't you talk properly, you young girl? Am I that old?"

Xiaoqing pointed at Zhuang Yan and said, "He's at least older than him."

"Hmph," Li Gongfu said, "This is my father's sworn brother. He's younger but of higher seniority, is that not allowed?"

"Oh, oh." Xiaoqing nodded and smiled, "Then they must have become sworn brothers with the old man while they were still in their mother's womb."

"Hey you." Just as Li Gongfu was about to speak, Xu Jiaorong came out from the hall to greet him. "I said, stop chattering. Uncle Zhuang is here. Aren't you going to invite him in for tea?"

Li Gongfu then realized what was happening and quickly said to Zhuang Yan, "Uncle Zhuang, come in and have some tea."

Zhuang Yan smiled and stepped forward. Xu Jiaorong quickly bowed and said, "Uncle Zhuang."

Zhuang Yan smiled slightly and asked Xu Jiaorong, "Where are the bride and groom?"

Xu Jiaorong hurriedly called into the house, "Hanwen, Suzhen, come out and pay your respects to Uncle Zhuang."

Xu Xian, who was inside brewing tea, serving dishes, and arranging tables and chairs, heard this and immediately came over with Bai Suzhen. They bowed to Zhuang Yan and said, "Your nephew Xu Xian (Bai Suzhen) greets Uncle Zhuang."

Zhuang Yan looked at the two of them, nodded and smiled, "They really are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."

After saying this, Zhuang Yan suddenly paused. In the blink of an eye, he had figured out Bai Suzhen's background. The Heavenly Court strictly forbids love between humans and demons. Bai Suzhen, a snake demon, actually came to marry a mortal.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Yan's eyes shone brightly, instantly seeing through Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian's past and present lives of nearly a thousand years.

More than 1,800 years ago, a little white snake was caught by a snake catcher and then rescued by a boy. The white snake then cultivated and attained enlightenment, receiving teachings and elixirs from the Old Mother of Lishan, and was also guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva to repay her kindness.

Hmm? Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested and preached at the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra's sacred site on Mount Emei?

Zhuang Yan immediately sensed something strange about the matter, as if someone was manipulating cause and effect. Thinking of this, Zhuang Yan said nothing, but took something out of his sleeve and presented it to Bai Suzhen.

"This is a 'Harmony Talisman' I brought from 'Jinshan Temple'. It will help you two grow old together in harmony and happiness for a hundred years," Zhuang Yan said with a smile.

Bai Suzhen took the harmony talisman and immediately bowed to Zhuang Yan with Xu Xian to express their gratitude.

Then the family invited Zhuang Yan into the hall and seated him in the seat of honor. To Zhuang Yan's left sat Li Gongfu and his wife, and to his right sat Xu Xian and his wife, while Xiao Qing sat at the very bottom.

Li Gongfu and his wife, and Xu Xian and his wife, each offered Zhuang Yan a cup of wine. After Zhuang Yan drank it, he put down his cup and first asked Li Gongfu, "Is your family well-off?"

Li Gongfu laughed and said, "Although my monthly salary as a constable is not much, it is enough to support my family."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "After all, you call me uncle, and since this is such a joyous occasion, I'll give you a gift as well."

As he spoke, Zhuang Yan took out two gold ingots from his sleeve, gave one to Li Gongfu and the other to Xu Xian, and said, “I don’t usually give you anything, but today is Hanwen’s big day, so this is my gift. If you don’t accept it, you are disrespecting your uncle.”

The Li Gongfu couple, who were already stunned by the gold ingot, were about to refuse, but upon hearing Zhuang Yan's words, they swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues.

But that ingot of gold was too frightening, and Li Gongfu hurriedly said, "Uncle Zhuang, this...this ingot of gold is too much."

"Not much," Zhuang Yan said with a smile. "Only fifty taels, and this is pure gold bestowed upon Lingtai Palace by the imperial family. But you must remember, don't flaunt your wealth."

Upon hearing this, Li Gongfu quickly glanced at the bottom of the gold ingot and saw that it indeed bore the six large characters "Imperial Gift to Lingtai Dao Palace".

Li Gongfu stuck out his tongue. He dared not take the gold out to use directly. Even if he wanted to use it, he would have to melt it down or cut it into pieces before using it.

Mr. and Mrs. Li Gongfu put away the gold, and Mr. and Mrs. Xu Xian did not refuse. Everyone then began to eat and chat amicably. However, Xiao Qing, who was below, heard that Zhuang Yan had a connection with the Lingtai Dao Palace, immediately sat up straight, lowered her head, and just ate her food without saying a word. (End of this chapter)