Traveling Through Journey to the West: I Am the Dragon King

The slope wasn't very long. It was just that the fog obscured the view, making it impossible to tell how steep it was.

Before long, Chonghua had arrived at the bottom of the slope.

But what he saw before him startled him.

There's nothing scary at the bottom of this slope.

On the contrary, this place is full of exotic flowers and rare herbs, with cranes flying and butterflies dancing. The clouds and mist at the bottom of the slope are also thinner than those at the top, and can be seen clearly. This bottom of the slope is a wonderful paradise.

A colossal ancient Bodhi tree stood there, lush and verdant. The Bodhi tree seemed to emanate a halo, radiating a seven-colored glow. Gazing upon it calmed even the most restless heart.

What surprised Chonghua was that there were many people meditating under the Bodhi tree.

Chonghua approached and took a closer look. These people included monks and laypeople, Confucian scholars and Taoists, each with their own distinct identity. All of them sat cross-legged with their five hearts facing the sky.

After searching, Chonghua saw that Wukong was also sitting there in a meditative state.

When Chonghua approached to touch Wukong, he was blocked by an invisible barrier. Although the barrier repelled him, it did not harm him.

Chonghua tried calling out, "Brother! Brother!" But no matter how he called out, Wukong did not respond, as if his five senses were sealed off.

At this moment, Yun Chonghua seemed to understand something. He picked up a pebble from the side, looked around, and then threw it at one of the monks who was in meditation.

The stone was also blocked by the barrier.

Upon seeing this, Chonghua couldn't help but sigh.

Looking at the enormous Bodhi tree before him, he thought, "The Crescent Moon and Three Stars Cave must be within the Sumeru miniature world set up by Patriarch Bodhi. It seems the Patriarch was unwilling to accept me as a disciple, so Monkey King's spirit went to the Crescent Moon and Three Stars Cave to learn. I, on the other hand, was left outside. Oh well, since I am not destined to be with Patriarch Bodhi, I shouldn't force it. There are many renowned masters with magical powers in this world; I can simply seek someone else."

Although Yun Chonghua was frustrated by his unfulfilled desire, he dared not act presumptuously in front of Patriarch Bodhi.

Chonghua glanced at the Great Sage and thought, "According to the original description, it will take Monkey at least eight or nine years to learn his skills. I don't need to wait here foolishly. I might as well go back to the Xiang River, become a demon, and cultivate for a few years to integrate the magic Nezha taught me. As Nezha said, I should first find a way to cultivate into human form. After Monkey has finished his training, I will go to Flower Fruit Mountain to find him. Then we can go to the Dragon Palace together to seize the treasure and get revenge on that old mudfish."

With that thought in mind, Chonghua didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.

After all, the people of "Xiniu Hezhou" are "neither greedy nor murderous." Powerful demons roam the land. He dared not linger here.

Now that he's all alone, he's less likely to be captured by some demon while searching for food.

Instead of ending up on the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother's table, he ended up in the mouths of those beasts.

Therefore, it would be best to leave as soon as possible and return to the East.

But after taking only a few steps, he turned back. Looking at Wukong, he thought, "I've spent several days with Brother Monkey. Although he's entered a meditative state, it wouldn't be good for him to just leave like this. I should leave him a letter."

Then Yun Chonghua found a stone slab nearby and used his sharp dragon claws to carve a line of words on it: "I am not destined to follow the Dharma and will not disturb your cultivation, brother. I will return to the Southern Continent to await good news and meet again in the future."

Then he placed the stone slab in front of Wukong.

Although I don't know if Wukong will see this, it's still a matter of courtesy.

After finishing all this, he turned and went uphill, preparing to leave and return to Jambudvipa.

After Chonghua left, a golden light appeared on the ancient Bodhi tree. Within that halo stood an venerable ancestor with an air of otherworldly grace and a celestial child with pigtails.

The celestial boy, watching Yun Chonghua climb the slope, asked the old ancestor beside him, "Master often speaks of 'fate.' All those who have met me, received my guidance, and come to this place are destined to be with us. Why did Master allow that stone monkey to join our sect, but singled out this little dragon to leave?"

At this point, the fairy boy sighed and said, "That monkey is quite loyal and righteous. When he saw that his good brother was not there, he searched for him quite thoroughly in the Sumeru Realm. When I opened the door for him, he even talked about his good brother who came with him to learn the Dao. If I hadn't tricked him by saying that the little dragon had other opportunities, he would still have been making a ruckus in the cave."

Upon hearing this, the patriarch stroked his beard and gazed at Yun Chonghua's figure, saying, "'The body is like a Bodhi tree, the mind like a bright mirror; constantly wipe it clean, lest dust should alight.' It's not that I rejected him, but rather that he himself couldn't enter this gate. His heart is filled with distracting thoughts, and his brow is etched with hostility. This clouded state of mind has obscured his 'inner eye,' naturally preventing him from seeing the innermost space of his mind, the slanting moon and three stars. Unable to find this path in his heart, he cannot enter my gate. It can only be said that he is destined to meet but not to be parted."

The fairy boy, hands on his hips, looked at Yun Chonghua and shook his head with a sigh, "Alas! All who find this place are destined. But he couldn't find the Heart Gate. What a pity."

The old ancestor felt sorry for him upon hearing this.

Immediately, he activated his Bodhi Wisdom Eye, wanting to see the little dragon's past and present life.

The old ancestor had bright eyes, one white and one red, like the sun and moon.

The Bodhi Eye of Wisdom can see both the past and the future in a single glance. It is a great supernatural power that can perceive the secrets of heaven.

Bodhi Patriarch wanted to see what the reason was that this little dragon, despite having the potential, was unable to enter the gate.

As the saying goes, "No one is perfect." If it were just a minor mistake, he could send a celestial child to transform and enlighten Chonghua, guiding him back to this place and re-enlightening him.

But after the old ancestor opened his all-seeing eye, his expression faltered. He exclaimed solemnly, "How strange, how strange!"

Seeing the old ancestor's amazement, the celestial child asked, "Master, why are you so amazed? Could it be that this little dragon truly possesses some great destiny?"

The piercing light in Bodhi Patriarch's eyes faded, and they regained their usual kindness and amiability.

The Patriarch replied, "The Three Realms and Six Paths, all the gods and ghosts, all things in heaven and earth, past and future—none can escape my discerning eye. But I alone cannot see through the mystery of this little dragon. He has neither past nor future; all he sees is chaos. Just as Pangu saw the undifferentiated world before creation. He is an anomaly in the universe, outside the Three Realms and Six Paths. It seems that his decision not to join the Bodhi Sect today must be due to some other opportunity. I just don't know whether this is a blessing or a curse for all living beings."

Upon hearing this, the celestial boy said, "Alas! It seems my words have unfortunately come true. I never imagined that the origin of this little dragon would be even more extraordinary than that of the naturally born stone monkey. Now I can say for sure that I didn't lie to that monkey. I feel much more at ease now."

Upon hearing this, the old patriarch gently tapped the celestial boy's forehead with his whisk, then smiled kindly and said, "Hehe. Although you unintentionally came true this time, such boastful talk is not good; remember it for the future!"

The boy rubbed his head and then said to his master with a grin, "Hehe! This disciple will obey Master's orders."

But just as the master and apprentice were talking and laughing, they heard the cry of a falcon.

Hearing the sound, the fairy boy looked up and said, "Hmph! That little bird is here again. He just happened to have a cheap uncle, and he's always so arrogant. Everyone knows he's here. Wait! Could it be that he discovered there's a dragon here and came looking for food? We can't let it harm people! Disciple, I'll go and chase it away right now."

As he spoke, the fairy boy was about to leap out of the ancient tree.

But the Bodhi Patriarch didn't even glance at that wicked creature. He simply used his whisk to stop the celestial boy.

The patriarch looked at Yun Chonghua, who was struggling to climb upwards, and said, "So be it. Although he has not entered my sect, his coming here is also a matter of fate. Let me give him a helping hand."

Then the old ancestor lightly flicked his whisk, and a verdant Bodhi leaf floated down from the ancient tree, flew straight to Yun Chonghua, and then dissipated into spiritual energy.

After obtaining the Bodhi leaf, Yun Chonghua, for some unknown reason, suddenly felt invigorated and refreshed, and his departure became even faster.

Meanwhile, the Golden-Winged Roc in the sky frowned, thinking, "Strange! I just heard from my disciples that there was a wild dragon nearby. I could still smell its aura just now, how come it suddenly disappeared?"

Unable to find any prey, the Golden-Winged Roc turned around and headed straight for Mount Ling.

Then the halo that appeared on the ancient Bodhi tree slowly dissipated, and the figures of the patriarch and the boy also disappeared into it.