Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

Facing her adopted son's instinctive indifference, Wen Jiao smiled awkwardly, took out a piece of white paper, and cut out two white paper horses in the blink of an eye with her fingers like knives: "The future is dangerous. Although your horse is a gift from the emperor, it can't stand this setback. Mother will take it back for you. These two paper horses are for you to ride alternately. They are no worse than the imperial horse."

After thinking about it, he felt that it was still not nice enough, so he took out a Thousand Mile Sound Transmission Talisman from his sleeve, "This talisman was given to me by the two generals, Turtle and Snake, when they saw that my mother was losing miserably while playing chess with me. I only have one pair, so I'll give one to you. Don't say that I don't love you, remember to talk to me often in the future."

Xuanzang finally smiled and said in confusion, holding the paper horse and the Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Note: "Thank you, mother, but how do I use these things?"

Wukong took one out of his hand and blew on it. The palm-sized paper horse fell to the ground and rolled, transforming into a horse with snow-white fur, complete with saddle and bridle. Wukong squatted in front of the horse's head and looked over: "It looks a bit like Zhang Guolao's paper donkey."

Wen Jiao smiled but said nothing. If Tang Seng's character was not riding a white horse, she could really make him a pile of paper donkeys. One for each month, no two are the same.

"As for the Thousand Mile Sound Transmission Notes, they are always in pairs. Since Master gave it to me, I think the one I have in my hand has already recognized the master. Master will drop a drop of your blood on this one, and it will also recognize the master. Then I can talk to Master at any time." Wukong instructed.

For the first time, Xuanzang felt the convenience of accepting this disciple. He had not yet seen the means of exorcising demons, but this know-it-all was really convenient. He bit his index finger and dripped blood on it, then put it to his mouth and tentatively called out, "Hello?"

Almost at the same time, he heard a "Hello" voice coming from Wen Jiao's sleeve, and it was his voice. Xuanzang was startled by this magical scene, and Wen Jiao was also amused by his startle: "This thing is very responsive. Whenever you talk to it, I can hear it immediately no matter how far apart we are. But you don't know what I am doing, so it's not good to speak rashly. How about this, we set a time, every night at 15:30, if you have nothing to do, you can talk to me, your old mother, how about that?"

Xuanzang nodded: "Yes."

In the following days, Xuanzang would report to Wen Jiao almost every night about what he had seen and heard that day.

"Today, we traveled in the wilderness for a whole day without seeing any human habitation. Wukong somersaulted to get some vegetarian food from somewhere else, and only then did he stop suffering from hunger."

"Last night we encountered a pack of wolves. Before I could even start, Wukong bared his teeth and the wolves scrambled to escape. I want him to stop chasing the wolves next time and let me practice my skills. I'm also afraid he will laugh at me, his master, for having only superficial martial arts skills and showing off my skills in front of him."

"With Wukong, I can't even find a chance to swing the staff. My martial arts skills are about to become rusty. I really let my uncle down."

Wen Jiao couldn't help but comfort him: "You are a mortal, he is Taiyi Jinxian, it would be a miracle if your martial arts could catch up with his. It's too boring for him to use this to laugh at you. But you, there is such a fighting god-like figure in front of you, why are you shy? What's wrong with asking him to teach you a few tricks? It's hard for me to want it, but I don't have the opportunity and blessing like you."

"Just tell him frankly, what's wrong with leaving a few beasts for you to practice with? It can strengthen your body and stretch your muscles, and it will save him from illness and disaster, and it will also save him trouble, right?"

On another day, Xuanzang's message changed its content: "Wukong brought a wild bull to practice with me. I struggled for a long time before I finally tripped it. Wukong clapped his hands and ran to the extreme south to pick a bunch of fruits for me as a gift to celebrate my victory. The fruit smelled very bad, but the flesh was sweet. Wukong said it was called durian."

"Wukong said he picked too many in a fit of rage, so he's eating durian today."

“Let’s eat durian today.”

“I ate durian today.”

"Let's continue eating durian today."

"Everything my child smells now smells like durian, which makes me very distressed."

When Wen Jiao thought of this, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Time flies by unknowingly, and it is early winter in the blink of an eye. A bitter cold wave moves southward, and the howling cold wind lingers in Chang'an day and night, blowing purple on the cheeks of countless people.

The season when the breath turns into ice is always hard for the old man. On a night with howling cold wind, Fu Yi died suddenly at home. This Taishi Cheng, who was against Buddhism all his life, still adhered to his style of being both a Confucianist and a Taoist before his death. He ordered a simple funeral, without burying gold, jade and pearls. He only had a thin coffin, a cloth, and a zither that he loved very much in his life placed in the coffin. But he was free and easy. His former relatives, friends and Confucian scholars admired his noble character and helped him to make the funeral a grand one.

Yin Kaishan and Fu Yi had served in the same palace for many years, so the Duke of Yun's Mansion naturally had to come forward to offer sacrifices. Wen Jiao had met Fu Yi several times since she took charge of the Taoist Scripture Office, so she also set up a mourning tent and came to pay her respects in person.

When the coffin passed by, she saw Li Chunfeng, who was now a doctor of the Imperial Household, wearing mourning clothes, and Lü Cai, who was also dressed in mourning clothes, standing in the line of family members to bury Fu Yi. He still looked so elegant and clear, as if the years had not left any traces on him. But his eyes became more and more cold and distant.

"During the time when Brother Chunfeng was developing the Huntian Zodiacal Instrument, Fu Taishi gave him many suggestions. Brother Chunfeng also admired Fu Taishi's knowledge and character, and was happy to become his disciple. Fu Taishi often said to people, 'For astronomy, look to Chunfeng, and for five tones, look to Lu Cai. These two doctors are the heroes of our school.'" Yuan Tiangang's words passed by his ears inadvertently.

"I am already half buried in the ground, so I can't wait to see what happens to you. But I have already taught a few of my favorite students, and they will slowly fight you in the future."

"Master Jingrong, those beasts of the Buddhist family who have no king, no father, and no mother are about to bully the Taoist sect. As the chief of the Taoist Scripture Department, the descendant of Laozi and Zhuangzi, and a disciple of the Emperor Xuantian, how can you tolerate this?"

The old man's passionate and impassioned questions were still lingering in her ears. Wen Jiao put her fingertips into her sleeves. She had never felt the heavy weight on her shoulders so clearly as she did at that moment.

The rise of Buddhism is God's will, and the eastward expansion of Buddhism is even more Buddha's will. As luck would have it, taking away the surplus and making up for the deficiency is also God's will. After all, she is still a Taoist. As a Taoist who holds the seal of the Taoist, no matter how clear she is, she can't just sit there and watch.

But is it so easy for this little mantis to stop the wheel of Buddhism from advancing eastward?

The frosty white spirit flags fluttered in the wind, and paper money was flying. One piece flew in front of Wen Jiao. She brushed it away, exhaled a breath of white steam, and seemed to have an epiphany in her heart.

Is it true that the Lord of Subduing Demons is willing to accept her as his disciple just because she has a strong and kind character and an unwavering devotion to the Tao?