Chapter 122: Liu Huaizhang, the Magistrate of Shangjing

The teahouse bustled with activity, yet when the Storyteller smacked his wooden clapper it instantly fell quiet.

“It truly is amazing… those Fiery Golden Eyes…”

“And then what?”

“Does the Celestial Court really exist?”

“What about the Immortals? Are they real? Truly real?”

The listeners murmured among themselves, growing more and more enthralled. When they heard about the hundred thousand celestial soldiers and generals, they were gripped by tension. It was like a grand scene unfolded in their minds, making their hearts tremble.

Xian Yue was also puzzled and asked the man beside her, “Mr. Chen, is this story really just a story?”

Chen Changsheng looked at her. “It is just a story.”

Xian Yue paused, then nodded. “You didn’t finish last night. Did the Great Sage become a Buddha in the end?”

“The Victorious Fighting Buddha.”

“But Xian Yue feels the Great Sage probably never wanted to become a Buddha. And Xian Yue still doesn’t understand something. When he wrecked havoc in the Celestial Court, even the entire heavens couldn’t handle him. Why then, after leaving the Five-Finger Mountain, could just a few Monsters block his way?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Actually, from the very beginning, it was all a scheme. The Western Continent of Cattle-Gift was splintered, divided. Taoists, Buddhists, all sorts of powers carved out territories there, acting like petty kings and rulers.”

“But as Buddhism grew stronger and stronger, Tathagata finally decided to unite the Western Continent. The journey to obtain scriptures in the Western Paradise served two purposes: to spread the Buddhist faith, and to end the fractured state of the Western Continent. The sacred scriptures themselves were merely a pretense.”

Xian Yue paused after hearing this. “Isn’t Buddhism supposed to be free of striving?”

Chen Changsheng replied, “Without spreading the faith, how can there be doctrine? Spreading comes first, the doctrine follows. The most hypocritical figure in the whole ‘Journey to the West’ is Tathagata. He talks constantly about avoiding greed but doesn’t truly understand it.”

Xian Yue nodded, seeming both to understand and not understand, and then began to ponder what the Master had told her the night before.

It did seem that way. That Western Continent… it was crawling with Monsters everywhere, yet Tathagata spoke of it being a place free from greed and killing, nurturing spirit and life…

Utterly hypocritical.

Xian Yue continued listening to the Storyteller on the platform.

A moment later, however, a teahouse waiter suddenly approached.

Upon seeing Chen Changsheng, the waiter spoke up: “Honored gentleman, there’s a guest upstairs who wishes to speak with you.”

Chen Changsheng paused at that, then turned to look towards the upper floor.

An elderly man sat on the second floor, raising his cup towards Chen Changsheng in greeting.

Xian Yue followed his gaze. She thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “I think… I’ve seen this man before…”

“We’ll know when we go up.”

Chen Changsheng walked forward, guided by the teahouse attendant towards the stairs.

Xian Yue followed closely behind, climbing up the stairs.

Chen Changsheng reached the table where the old man sat. The old man then spoke: “I heard you downstairs just now, young man, talking about Buddhism. Impulsively, I had the waiter invite you up.”

“I see,” Chen Changsheng said.

He sat down, then eyed the person sitting opposite him.

The old man before him wore exceptionally simple clothes, patched in places, looking like he lived a very frugal life.

“Are you interested in Buddhism, Elder?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Liu Huaizhang smiled. “Ah, not quite. This old fellow is merely interested in the story. I’ve only listened to parts of ‘Journey to the West’ for a couple of days. It contains some profound wisdom. But what you mentioned, this journey for the scriptures in the Western Paradise… I haven’t heard of it before. It piqued my curiosity.”

Chen Changsheng explained, “The journey for the scriptures is a later part of the story.”

Liu Huaizhang’s eyes lit up. “A sequel?”

“Have you heard it before?” Chen Changsheng inquired.

“I’ve read the books.”

Liu Huaizhang stated, “Unfortunately, it stopped after the Great Sage Equalling Heaven was trapped under the Five-Finger Mountain.”

“From what I know, ‘Journey to the West’ has been around for over two years, yet there hasn’t been a sequel. How do you know what comes next, young man?”

Chen Changsheng smiled gently. “I just happened to hear about it.”

Liu Huaizhang poured some tea and handed the cup to Chen Changsheng in front of him. “Could you tell me about the rest of the story?”

Chen Changsheng said, “The eighty-one trials… to tell them in detail would likely take many days.”

“There are that many!”

Liu Huaizhang was also surprised. He pondered for a moment. “Young man, are you… usually free?”

“To be honest, I am truly fond of this story. If you are willing… perhaps when you have free time, you could come by this teahouse? I am often here. If we meet, you could tell me one part. What do you think?”

Chen Changsheng was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the man to be so fixated on the tale.

Seeing his hesitation, Liu Huaizhang added, “Of course, it wouldn’t be without some repayment. I would offer a little silver, as payment for your storytelling.”

Chen Changsheng chuckled at that. “Oh, payment’s not necessary. I, Chen, am largely free these days. I can certainly chat with you. However, if I could get a free cup of tea here, that would be acceptable, wouldn’t it?”

Liu Huaizhang, seeing him agree, smiled broadly. “Certainly acceptable! Certainly acceptable!”

Chen Changsheng smiled too and took a sip of tea.

Xian Yue, standing to the side, suddenly remembered something and whispered to her master, “Mr. Chen, I’ve just recalled. Years ago, when I attended court, I saw him a few times. He’s Liu Huaizhang… the Magistrate of Shangjing!”

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Chen Changsheng turned to look at her, then paused.

Hadn’t he heard that name mentioned before as well?

Liu Huaizhang couldn’t help but ask, “What are you looking at, young man?”

Chen Changsheng turned back and smiled easily. “It’s nothing. Just looking around.”

Liu Huaizhang nodded, thinking nothing much of it.

Chen Changsheng proposed, “Shall I start from where the Great Sage Equalling Heaven was trapped beneath the Five-Finger Mountain?”

“Please,” Liu Huaizhang invited.

And so Chen Changsheng began the tale.

Xian Yue, with nothing to do, also listened.

The previous night she had been rather distracted looking at her master and had missed much. Hearing it again now, she shouldn’t miss out this time.

“…and lo, there coiled the Heavenly Dragon, amidst a shower of blossoms. Truly: A meditative heart shines clear as the moon on a thousand rivers; The true nature serene encompasses the skies for ten thousand miles…”

“After Tathagata finished speaking, he addressed the assembly: I have observed the Four Great Continents, their living beings’ virtue and vice, each differing. The Eastern Continent of Superior Body: They revere heaven and honor earth; their hearts are pure and their spirit is calm. The Northern Continent of Kuru: Though inclined to kill, it is merely for nourishment; their nature is blunt, their feelings sparse; they inflict no undue harm. My Western Continent of Goats… It harbors no greed, no killing; it nurtures spirit, nourishes life; though its folk lack profound truth, each enjoys a firm lifespan…”

“…”

He then spoke of Jiang Liu’er’s origin, of Yuan Shoucheng and the Dragon King of Jing River, of the Emperor Tai Zong’s return to life, continuing steadily along the narrative path.

.

.

After falling silent for a moment, Liu Huaizhang finally spoke. “Jiang Liu’er certainly had a tragic life. But fortunately, things smoothed out later, and with the Emperor Tai Zong returning to the living, the Buddhist Sect gained momentum. So, moving forward smoothly, the western journey was set.”

As he spoke, he suddenly frowned. “Looking at it this way… it rather seems like a staged affair, like a chess game.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “This plan was set in motion from the moment Golden Cicada reincarnated.”

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PS: I went to pick up my kitty today. It took so long! I’m tired, so a break day it is. Just two short chapters today. Hope you’ll bear with me on this one, dear readers.