Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 202: The White Horse Temple

South Shambhala Continent.

After the Divine Enthronement, deities disappeared without trace.

Although various myths and legends have continuously been passed down in the world of mortals, the chances for mortals to actually see deities have been exceedingly rare.

To be precise, it is not a case of not seeing them, but rather not recognizing them when in their presence.

At this moment, Sun Wukong, Ao Lie, and Wu De Star Lord had arrived outside Chang’an City, unnoticed by anyone.

As the Ziwei Great Emperor worshipped by the emperors of the human realm, Sun Wukong could tell at a glance that this human dynasty’s imperial capital was shrouded in a golden aura of human fate, yet this aura showed signs of dispersing, clearly indicating the dynasty’s numbered days.

Looking closer, one could see remnants of flood damage everywhere, with countless towns, farmlands, and forests outside of Chang’an City still ravaged by floods.

Bodies could be seen everywhere, and plague was about to break out.

Besides countless panicked domestic and wild animals, there were even more despairing humans.

"How many merit points must have been missed for such a great flood to occur?" Sun Wukong scratched his hand, his heart growing even more resentful towards those who had schemed all of this.

"Your Excellency, should we not go to the Jing River Dragon King’s Palace to investigate? What are we doing here?" Wu De Star Lord asked.

"Just looking," Sun Wukong said, glancing at him expressionlessly.

Wu De Star Lord bowed respectfully again, not daring to speak more.

Ao Lie, witnessing everything before him, grew even more worried. With such a great flood, it was no wonder His Majesty directly sentenced his uncle to death, but he still did not believe his uncle was the perpetrator.

"Hmm?" Sun Wukong suddenly noticed that among these people, many were murmuring something under their breath.

Listening closely, they were all repeating the same phrase—Amitabha Buddha!

This aroused his suspicion. Could it be that the Buddha Sect had already spread Buddhist Law to the South Shambhala Continent?

"Disciple, go and inquire why they are chanting the Buddha’s name," Sun Wukong said.

"Yes!" Ao Lie left to carry out the order.

His human form was that of a young man dressed in white, and in the eyes of those people, he was a noble young master who was treated with great respect.

Therefore, after a brief inquiry, he learned the truth.

"Master," Ao Lie returned to report, somewhat indignantly, "These humans said that the monks from the White Horse Temple in Chang’an City told them,

that if everyone in their village chants Amitabha Buddha once a day for ten consecutive days, the flood in their village will recede.

If they chant for a hundred days, the plague will not break out, and they will receive great blessings."

"A clever trick indeed!" Sun Wukong sneered.

Just as the netizens on Wisdom Web have said, the Buddha Sect has indeed changed its plan for spreading the law and has now commenced it ahead of schedule.

The human dynasty is clearly not yet in the Eastern Han period, but the White Horse Temple has already been established.

If the Jing River Dragon King is really part of their scheming, then these methods of spreading the law before them are nothing but committing evil first, followed by playing the part of the benefactor!

Of course, to be exact, this is not spreading law but merely to extol the name of the Buddha Sect.

Ao Lie went on to say, "Master, I also found out that this White Horse Temple will be holding a sutra-chanting Dharma assembly in Chang’an City, claiming to pray for blessings for the human race and to deliver the souls of those who died in the disaster."

"A sutra-chanting Dharma assembly?" Sun Wukong’s animated eyes spun around, "Since we’ve stumbled upon it, let’s go and enjoy the spectacle."

Afterwards, they entered Chang’an City.

And aside from asking an initial question, Wu De Star Lord remained silent throughout.

Sun Wukong couldn’t help but be curious; this fellow really knew how to keep his cool!

After some inquiry in Chang’an City, they learned the whereabouts of White Horse Temple.

However, for the sake of caution, Sun Wukong did not go there directly but found a Land Temple beside the great market street and led the two straight in.

Without showing the slightest bit of his aura, he still scared the Earth Deity of the city into a state of fright and trepidation.

Ao Lie spoke with gravity, "This is the Great Sage Equalling Heaven of the Central Heavenly North Pole Purple Tenuity Emperor."

The Earth Deity became even more terrified, having never seen such a lofty divinity, and bowed in greeting, "This humble deity pays his respects to Ziwei Great Emperor, please forgive my late reception."

Having said that, he was about to inform the other temple deities of Chang’an City, so that they too could come and pay their respects.

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "Do not let the news leak, Old Sun is here on a secret visit, I will stay here for a few days before returning to the Heavenly Court."

The Earth Deity hurriedly agreed and attended to them with care.

Sun Wukong then asked, "Now, tell me about the situation at White Horse Temple."

Upon hearing this, the Earth Deity immediately began pouring out his troubles as if he had found his mainstay.

"Great Emperor, you must stand up for us lesser deities, ever since White Horse Temple was established, the citizens of Chang’an City no longer come to burn incense in our temples, and we lesser deities, without the incense offerings, are becoming increasingly miserable."

Following that, the Earth Deity detailed the circumstances of White Horse Temple.

Firstly, White Horse Temple was built two years ago by decree of the Emperor of the Great Han, who was said to have dreamed of a golden figure in his sleep, prompting him to send envoys to the west in search of the Buddhist Law,

Before long, the envoys brought back two monks from Tianzhu, named She Moteng and Zhu Falan, who also transported scriptures on a white horse, creating quite a spectacle.

Secondly, White Horse Temple, as the first temple of Buddha Sect in the Southern Continent, was not built in the bustling heart of Chang’an, but in a remote location.

Yet even so, the temple’s incense offerings were flourishing.

In just two years, from high-ranking officials to ordinary merchants and soldiers, many had become patrons of White Horse Temple, because the temple indeed granted whatever was prayed for.

Whether it be for marriage, offspring, curing diseases or averting disasters, as long as one came to White Horse Temple, whether through burning much incense money or reciting countless times the Buddha’s name, their wishes could be fulfilled.

Now, with floods ravaging the outskirts of Chang’an, an increasing number of disaster victims knew that reciting Buddha’s name could alleviate calamities.

And White Horse Temple had released news of a sutra chanting ceremony to pray for blessings for the Human Race, naturally attracting even more devout patrons.

After hearing all this, Sun Wukong began to mock, noting that the Buddha Sect was really going to great lengths to spread its teachings and fame.

The method of having the Emperor of the Great Han dream of a golden figure was consistent with the original timeline, though it was unclear which emperor it was.

At that thought, Sun Wukong instructed Ao Lie and the Deity of Martial Virtue to stay temporarily at the Land Temple, while he himself quietly proceeded to White Horse Temple.

...

Upon reaching the north of Chang’an City, he saw a tall temple situated in a quiet spot by the mountains, with numerous patrons and believers coming and going without cease.

"Heh heh, transform!" Sun Wukong turned into a moth and after a round of investigation, he spotted the so-called monks from Tianzhu, She Moteng and Zhu Falan, in the backyard of White Horse Temple.

He could tell at a glance that the ascetic monk with a pained expression was none other than Jia Ye, the Supreme One and the great disciple of the Buddha, transformed, and the other round, plump monk must also be a high-ranking monk from the Buddha Sect.

After listening a bit more, he found out that the other person was Ananda, also a disciple of the Buddha.

At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar arrived in the backyard of White Horse Temple, led by a young monk seeking an audience.

"Wang Mang of Xindu, requests an audience with the two Holy Monks." The middle-aged man bowed and paid his respects, with every gesture adhering to the proprieties.

Jia Ye and Ananda exchanged a glance, and with their strength, they could tell that this Wang Mang was no ordinary figure, and so they stood up immediately to welcome him.