The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 45 - 0 The Jade Emperor Pacifies Flower-Fruit
Chapter 45: Chapter 045: The Jade Emperor Pacifies Flower-Fruit Mountain
Chapter 45 -045: The Jade Emperor Pacifies Flower-Fruit Mountain
Sun Wukong and the others greatly defeated the Heavenly Court’s Constellations and then returned to the Water Curtain Cave for a lengthy bout of drinking.
Although Yang Jian had been granted a divine position, his relationship with the people of the Heavenly Court was superficial, because the Jade Emperor, lacking compassion, had pinned his mother under Peach Mountain. If it weren’t for Yang Jian’s great achievement in cultivation, allowing him to split open the mountain to save his mother, he might still be suffering. Therefore, when Wukong and his group killed six beings of the Western Constellations, Yang Jian didn’t feel anything unusual; rather, he was slightly worried.
“Brothers, those six were constellations. You’ve killed them, and I’m afraid they’ve already reported this to the Jade Emperor! When the Heavenly Court’s army pressures us, what should we do?” Yang Jian asked.
“Let the soldiers block when the armies come, and pile up the earth when the waters rise. Brother Yang Jian, there’s no need to worry. The Heavenly Court might be formidable, but we, the Seven Great Saints, are not afraid of them,” laughed the Jiao Demon King. He lay flat on the stone table, a jar of wine on his chest, too lazy to move, sucking the wine into his mouth whenever he felt like drinking.
Wukong then said, “Brother Yang, don’t worry. Although the Heavenly Court has a profound foundation, most of its people are just superficially compliant with the Jade Emperor, secretly defying him. Moreover, the troops of the Heavenly Court have long been out of practice in battle, and those who are formidable do not obey the Jade Emperor’s commands. If they dare to come, we’ll ensure they regret it!”
The Ox Demon King loved to hear such bold words; he couldn’t help but slap his chest and exclaimed, “When they come, I’ll just go to my wife and grab the magical treasure, and fan them all back to their grandmothers’ houses.”
The Jiao Demon King said, “We haven’t met Big Sister-in-law yet. When the time comes, please bring her over, Bull, and introduce us.”
The Ox Demon King replied, “My wife is a shrew; it’s better not to disturb her unless necessary, in case she fans me all the way back to my grandmother’s house.”
Everyone burst into laughter, already knowing that the Old Bull was afraid of his wife. Of course, Wukong knew what magical treasure the Ox Demon King was talking about — it was the Banana Leaf Fan used by Laojun for alchemy. He speculated that this Old Bull must have a close relationship with Laojun; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to regain his freedom after being captured. Clearly, he had a powerful backer, and even Tathagata had to show him respect. However, at the moment, Wukong pretended not to know.
Yang Jian then said, “I didn’t expect that you, Brother Bull, fear neither heaven nor earth but your own wife!”
Embarrassed, the Ox Demon King blurted out, inadvertently revealing his significant flaw.
The brothers drank wine and ate meat heartily. Group after group of little demons continuously brought in trays of food without end, and they indulged for a full three days and nights before feeling completely at ease. The Jiao Demon King, barely managing to keep his eyes open, sucked dry the jar of wine and fell asleep on the table, utterly drunk.
“Brothers, Brother Yang and I will take our leave first. After all, we can’t delay the matter of the Buddhist sect migrating to the West Cow He State for too long, and the journey back and forth will also take some time,” said the Daoist Equal to Heaven, standing up and bowing to the others.
“Go ahead, brother. If anything comes up, just let us know, and we’ll be right there,” said Yu Rong King.
Daoist Equal to Heaven and Yang Jian thus bid farewell to all the brothers, got hold of the Samsara Pen, had another round of feasting, and left very contentedly, slowly making their way towards the Southern Toad Continent on their clouds.
Yang Jian sighed, “You all seem to be quite at ease! Yet here I am, still constrained by the Heavenly Court, obeying the Jade Emperor’s orders.”
Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed and said, “Brother Yang, do you regret ascending to the Heavenly Court to become an immortal? During the Ancient Divine Enthronement, nobody wanted to enter into the Divine Way, yet you insisted on using your mortal body to become a saint and ascended to become an immortal. You see, those people fear becoming immortals because they will rarely be free and easy. Now that your name is on the Investiture of the Gods, it’s too late for regrets.”
Yang Jian could only give a bitter smile. His ascension to the Heavenly Court to become an immortal was to comply with the Heavenly Dao. The Jade Emperor wanted the twelve celestial chiefs to submit, and this was a contest leveraging the killing calamity against Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch. Moreover, with his mortal body becoming a saint and his name inscribed, it could be said that he was doing this to resolve the killing calamity for his teacher, True Man of the Jade Tripod. Yang Jian valued filial piety highly – once a teacher, always a father. Additionally, with the twelve celestial chiefs under Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch submitting to the Jade Emperor, what face would his teacher have if not? Thus, no matter what, Yang Jian still had to make an appearance on the Divine Enthronement ranks. But it was all right for him since being an immortal did not require daily roll calls, and since he did not get along with the Jade Emperor, he only needed to appear but not attend, avoiding his uncle’s displeasure in the Heavenly Court.
Clearly, the Saint’s schemings proved slightly superior. The Jade Emperor didn’t manage to make the twelve celestial chiefs submit during the killing calamity, but he still reinforced his authority. However, since then, he dared not openly challenge Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch anymore.
As Daoist Equal to Heaven and Yang Jian continued on their journey, let us leave them be for now.
Above the Heavenly Court, twenty-two constellations jointly submitted a memorial to the Jade Emperor.
The memorial read:
The Supreme, Most Honored Jade Emperor of Golden Que of Vast Heaven, Natural Lord of Marvelous Being and Infinite Truth. We, the constellations, numbered twenty-eight, govern the four directions: east, south, west, and north, divided among the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Xuanwu. Recently, the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, of Flower-Fruit Mountain created a disturbance in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace whilst seizing treasures. The Metal White Tiger of the West, where Star Lodges encountered this matter, found no reason to sit idle and conflict ensued, leaving them injured by the demon monkey. Subsequently, Metal White Tiger gathered six comrades from the West and went to Flower-Fruit Mountain to seek justice, demanding fairness. However, the demon monkey had already rallied six great demons, recklessly using martial prowess to defeat the six comrades. Today, of the Metal White Tiger Star Lodges, only Star Lodges remain. Your humble servant is fearful and beseeches Your Majesty to dispatch the Heavenly Soldiers to flatten Flower-Fruit Mountain and elevate the majesty of our Heavenly Court. Humbly submitted.
Upon reading the memorial, a joyful thought arose in the Jade Emperor’s heart. He pondered, Who would have thought this Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain was so formidable, gathering such experts and leaving these Twenty-Eight Constellations in complete disarray! If I could recruit them to my ranks, why would I ever worry about lacking capable subordinates? Yet, these seven are hard to control, and having defeated six constellations, if not handled well, even my own reputation could suffer.
The Jade Emperor asked, What do you all think?
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Pagoda-bearing God Li Jing stepped forward, his voice solemn. Your Majesty! The demon monkey Sun Wukong of Flower-Fruit Mountain is rampantly evil and bullies our Heavenly Court for being unguarded. I earnestly request Your Majesty dispatch troops to flatten Flower-Fruit Mountain.
The Jade Emperor said, This demon monkey is nurtured by nature, born from Goddess Nu Wa’s five-colored crystal stone. To us, he also carries a karmic debt. After all, he possesses a slight virtue from Nuwa’s heaven-mending, is a spiritual being, and has now attained the Dao of Immortals. Should we slay him, it would be against the Heavenly Dao as Heaven leans to the virtue of life!.
Li Jing countered, Your Majesty, we cannot calm the fury of the officials without slaying the demon monkey! I plead with Your Majesty to issue an order to capture this demon monkey!
The Jade Emperor’s expression chilled as he said, I have already made it clear, that demon monkey is tied to the mending of heavens and is not to be slain lightly! While he has committed many evils, Heaven tends towards benevolence and, being saved by Nu Wa in the past, we ought to extend our leniency. Issue an edict immediately to extend an olive branch to the demon kings of Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Li Jing dared not say more, merely nodding and moving to stand aside, yet in his heart, he did not agree, considering himself a true servant of the Heavenly Dao and having the highest disdain for these demon-born immortals.
In any royal court, disputes are inevitable—just as the mortal realms speak of “political enemies,” so does the Heavenly Court naturally have its disagreements. Most righteously appointed immortals look down upon those born of demons, thereby exerting oppression upon them.
The Jade Emperor immediately issued an edict, assigning White Gold Star Li Changgeng to journey to Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Dongsheng Immortal State and attempt to recruit Sun Wukong.
The decree stated:
Within the Upper Sacred Three Realms, any being with the Nine Openings can cultivate immortality. This monkey, nurtured by Heaven and Earth, blessed by the Sun and Moon, who reaches the heavens and bathes in dew, has now cultivated the Dao of Immortals and has the power to subdue dragons and tigers. How is he different from the ordinary humans? Moved by the compassionate nature of the Heavenly birth and nurturing, I specially issue this decreed to offer amnesty to the Monkey King. If he accepts the Heavenly command, further rewards will follow; if he defies the decree, he shall be apprehended. Let this be respected and executed. Issued!
White Gold Star could only accept the decree, and once the Jade Emperor had written the decree and stamped it with the Great Seal, an attendant Immortal Official handed it to him. With both hands, he took the decree, bowing deeply, Your Majesty’s compassion stirs the Three Realms. I, Li Changgeng, accept the command!
The Jade Emperor smiled and said, Well done, well done. Changgeng, you have a challenging journey ahead.
White Gold Star humbly pleaded otherwise.
After the court was dismissed, the assembled officials were abuzz with discussions and felt that the Jade Emperor’s handling of this matter was particularly improper.
Li Changgeng too had his own reservations, wondering how so easily he could reconcile with this Monkey King.
To find out what happens next, please tune in for the next chapter.
