36: Buddhist magic tricks

Tang Ku felt there was a big secret here!

Otherwise, Yang Jian and Nezha wouldn't have been stumped by a single sentence from the Old Bull!

“Sigh…”

Yang Jian, who was always arrogant with a hint of conceit, actually lowered his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade, looking dejected and speechless.

The Bull Demon King couldn't help but sneer, “What, can't answer? Heh heh, Yang Erlang is arrogant by nature, and I don't think he would be threatened by me. Since you're unwilling to speak ill of the Heavenly Court, that's fine, but you must understand that you high and mighty folks in Heaven are not as great as you think.”

Yang Jian gritted his teeth, wanting to say something, but couldn't bring himself to speak.

Being stumped had already made him lose Face, and not daring to admit it made him feel utterly disgraced.

“Hmph, what you said, does that mean there isn't a single good person in my Heavenly Court?” Nezha pouted and said, “At least my Li family doesn't have those who occupy positions without performing their duties. My Father manages soldiers, and they don't move unless there's a war, and I don't manage anything, so I haven't let the common people down!”

“Back then, you acted recklessly, causing the East Sea Dragon King to flood Chentang Pass. You committed so many wrongs, so how did you end up achieving Immortal Ascension with your Father's Physical Body?”

The Bull Demon King immediately brought up old grievances. Nezha wanted to retort, but thinking about his own reckless actions that indeed brought disaster to the people of Chentang Pass, he was choked into silence.

“Cough, ahem, Niu Mowang, Poor Monk hasn't offended you. Your statement about all the Heavenly Gods and Buddha has included me in the scolding!”

Tang Ku lightly coughed and said with a wry smile.

“Monk, I know you. You made a grand vow to retrieve scriptures and return to Great Tang, for the sake of saving all sentient beings. You yourself are flawless. But don't forget that your scripture transmission is one thing, but the Western Buddhist Realm's people consolidating their faith is another. If it weren't for the widespread propagation of Mahayana Buddha Dharma within the Great Tang, do you think Old Man Tathagata would give you the scriptures?”

The Bull Demon King sneered, “How precious are the Buddhist Realm scriptures? They are imbued with the Buddha's Dharma power and spirit. What do you think is a suitable exchange for them?”

Tang Ku was immediately stumped as well. He couldn't help but frown and say, “According to you, there isn't a single selfless good person among the Immortals and Buddhas in this world?”

“I didn't say that. I said from the beginning, ninety percent…” The Bull Demon King slapped his thigh and said, “Among the Daoist sect, I most admire my brother's first teacher, the one from Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave. In the Human Race, the Three Saints of Fire Cloud Cave are all individuals with great Karma for Heaven and Earth. As for the Buddhist Realm, Ksitigarbha is the most admirable. As for the rest… Heh heh, Old Bull won't say more, lest he be resented!”

As he spoke, he looked pointedly at Yang Jian and Nezha.

Tang Ku suddenly smiled, “Humans die for wealth, birds die for food. No living creature can escape vulgarity. Niu Mowang, well said! Then I also have a question for you, but I wonder if you can answer it!”

“Speak!” The Bull Demon King looked at the Monk indifferently, thinking to himself: I'll see how eloquent you, a Monk, are. Today, I'll witness your Buddha Dharma.

“As long as there is life in this world, selfish thoughts will always exist, because whether it's Immortals, Devils, or Humans and animals, they all need to survive, they all need to live, unless Heaven and Earth return to Chaos!” Tang Ku said, “Selfishness gives rise to desire, and desire is the suffering of all beings, it breeds evil. So, the question is… When you scold all the Heavenly Gods and Buddha, have you ever considered that your own desires are, in fact, also evil?”

The Bull Demon King burst into laughter, “I thought you were going to say something… Hmph, I, Old Bull, am fond of drinking and women, and my gluttony is also extremely inflated. If you say it's evil, that's fine, but I have never killed a single Mortal, which is much stronger than those Immortals and Gods who inflict punishment on Mortals for a small matter! I once heard that you passed through Fengxian County on your journey to retrieve scriptures, do you still remember the story of the Jade Emperor not letting it rain in that county?”

“I naturally remember that, but for Niu Mowang to say he has no evil, that's a bit of sophistry!”

Tang Ku narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “You abandoned your wife and child, took a new wife, causing your husband and wife to turn against each other—isn't this evil? Although you yourself don't kill people, you allowed Red Boy to be a Devil, eating countless people. A child's fault is the father's fault—isn't this a sin? Although Poor Monk is not a Great Master, my journey to retrieve scriptures is for the salvation of all sentient beings. Passing through Flaming Mountain, I instructed Wukong to borrow the Palm Leaf Fan. Besides clearing the path, it was also to allow the people of this country to live in peace and contentment. But you obstructed us all the way, causing Flaming Mountain to remain unextinguished for a long time. Isn't this a sin? For a long time, the local residents have been suffering due to Flaming Mountain, and your wife, Rakshasa, has no compassion, clearly able to save sentient beings from distress, yet she watches them die of thirst, hunger, and heat. Isn't this a sin? You constantly speak of revering Ksitigarbha and other Immortals and Gods with Karma, yet you yourself are unwilling to emulate their actions. Isn't this hypocrisy? Self-reflect before criticizing others. If you haven't done it yourself, how can you expect others to do it?”

Old Bull was now speechless. Although Tang Ku's theory was sophistry, he had to admit that he was left speechless and had nothing to say.

Nezha and Yang Jian had witnessed Tang Ku's verbal combat skills before, but this was the first time they felt such immense relief.

The Bull Demon King also wanted to retort, but ultimately couldn't utter a single word. He couldn't help but sigh and say, “People of the Buddhist Realm are all eloquent. Today, I've truly witnessed it!”

“Benefactor possesses great wisdom, and originally I didn't need to say these things!” Tang Ku said, “Ultimately, every life will inevitably have desires, and no one can escape them. Even Ksitigarbha, whom you mentioned, wishes for Hell to be completely empty and for there to be no more evil people in the world. This kind of wish can actually be considered a form of desire. The Three Saints spread writing and taught the Human Race slash-and-burn cultivation, hoping for the Human Race to develop greatly. Isn't this desire? And Patriarch Bodhi, who enlightened the unruly and accepted Disciples from all over the world, guiding them to do good and accumulate Karma, with the aim of enabling more people to have the ability to resist the natural forces of Heaven and Earth. Isn't this desire?”

“Everyone has desires; the only difference lies in their fundamental purpose and how to grasp that limit!”

Tang Ku stood up directly, walked to Nezha's side, took the Palm Leaf Fan, and slowly handed it to the Bull Demon King, saying softly, “Among Immortals and Gods, there are evildoers, and among Devils, there are also benevolent beings. Among all living beings, good and evil cannot be judged by desire; one must look at what they have done and evaluate comprehensively. Doing good and eliminating evil is always the Great Dao, Niu Mowang, don't you agree?”

The Bull Demon King stared blankly at the extended Palm Leaf Fan, then suddenly lowered his head and gave a bitter smile, “I never thought I would be educated like this by a Buddhist Disciple… Monk… No, Holy Monk, you are right. If it weren't for my lack of concern, Rakshasa wouldn't have disappeared. This is all my fault… Alas, I don't know where to go from here. I hope Great Master can give me some guidance!”

“Excellent! Excellent!”

Before Tang Ku could speak, Shi Jingmo, who was beside him, clasped his hands together and said to the Bull Demon King, “My Master's words are actually very clear. Can Niu Mowang still not awaken?”

The Bull Demon King instantly understood, looking at Tang Ku's benevolent smile, then immediately grasped the Palm Leaf Fan and solemnly said, “I understand… Holy Monk, though I, Old Bull, cannot convert to the Buddhist Realm, if there is any task in the future, I will certainly not hesitate to die for it!”

Tang Ku did not let go, and said faintly, “Poor Monk does not want your unwavering help, but rather hopes that you can find your wife. But don't forget, your son is with Guanyin. If all the Heavenly Gods and Buddha…”

The Bull Demon King then remembered, and couldn't help but exclaim, “My child, could it be that he also…”

Tang Ku then let go, narrowing his eyes and saying, “It's too early to draw conclusions now, but… we must join forces to find out!”