Journey to the West: Don’t mess with that monster

Monkey really wanted to help Zhang Qingdi.

But now he couldn't even turn over, so helping Zhang Qingdi was simply a luxury.

"Oh, I don't know when I can get out." The monkey sighed.

Zhang Qingdi, who was in seclusion, was disturbed by the old monk.

After Zhang Qingdi went into seclusion, Yang Erlang also returned to Guanjiangkou.

The bastards of the Sima family did not disappoint. After Sima Yan died, his stupid son Sima Zhong ascended to the throne. Then the Rebellion of the Eight Princes began.

When most of the bastards in the Sima family were dead, everyone thought that the disaster was over.

did not expect!
This is the beginning of the disaster...

The prelude to the Five Barbarians' Invasion of China began. Xiaosheng and his companions saved many people, but there were more people who were saved too late.

This made the compassionate little saint feel very uncomfortable.

Unexpectedly, he broke through the realm of true immortality at this time and became a celestial immortal.

But even so, he still felt deeply powerless.

The little saint went to find Zhang Qingdi.

But since Emperor Zhang Qing was in seclusion, he dared not disturb him again.

During this hundred years, the Southern Continent has been divided and united.

That really is the changing of the king's flag on the city wall.

Now the Southern Continent is gradually stabilizing.

Southern Liang! Eastern and Western Wei! They were fighting against each other.

The little toad saw how fast Buddhism spread in Jambudvīpa. But the old monk said that this was not the real boom.

The old monk had no idea how many times Jin Chanzi had been reincarnated.

No wonder he is the Buddha of the past.

In terms of planning and organization, he is really far behind Tathagata.

But he was finally caught by the old monk!
The old monk went directly to the Qingdi Palace.

Emperor Zhang Qing sat cross-legged, with the sun and the moon revolving around his body.

Suddenly Zhang Qingdi opened his eyes.

"You'd better be okay, otherwise..."

"What else can you do?" asked the old monk dissatisfiedly.

"Otherwise, I will go and cause trouble for other bald guys." Zhang Qingdi said tactfully.

"Huh!" The old monk snorted coldly.

He had a request to ask of Zhang Qingdi, so he did not pursue the matter any further.

"I finally found the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi."

"He has been reincarnated for so many lifetimes, and you just happened to discover him this time. What do you have to be proud of?" Zhang Qingdi said sarcastically.

The old monk was speechless...

"What if Tathagata did it on purpose?" Zhang Qingdi said again.

The old monk shook his head with certainty, "No!"

"Then why did you ask me to come here? You don't want me to capture that person's soul, do you? Then I think it would be more fun for us to fight on Lingshan Mountain.

Go and release the monkey first and let him be the vanguard!" It was obvious that Zhang Qingdi was very unhappy about being interrupted.

The old monk has not only recovered the strength of the ancient Buddha Dipankara, but has even made progress.

But without Tathagata's promise, no one could release the monkey.

Even the old monk can’t do it!

Zhang Qingdi's words are very heartbreaking. He knew that the old monk couldn't let the monkey go, but he still said so...

"You!" It seems that the old monk is going to give up Buddhism again.

"Then what does Master want me to do?" Zhang Qingdi immediately changed the subject.

"I want you to go with me to see that man."

"Do you want to convert him?" asked Zhang Qingdi.

The old monk nodded directly.

"Won't Tathagata be angry?" Zhang Qingdi couldn't help asking.

The old monk glanced at Zhang Qingdi and asked, "Why, are you scared?"

"I follow the ancient Buddha, how can I be afraid!" Zhang Qingdi said with a smile. "Who is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi?"

"Xiao Yan of Southern Liang!"

Hearing this name, Zhang Qingdi felt that everything made sense.

Xiao Yan!

He was a versatile and knowledgeable emperor.

His political and military talents were outstanding among the many emperors of the Southern Dynasties, and his achievements in academic research and literary creation were even more outstanding.

The history books said of him: "He was proficient in the six arts, was an expert in chess, and was good at yin and yang, divination and fortune-telling."

He started out as a martial artist in his early years and believed in Taoist teachings. Later, he converted to Buddhism and became a devout Buddhist disciple.

He also issued an edict ordering all the people to worship Buddhism, and Buddhism became a fashion during the Liang Dynasty.

As a result, there were more than 2,000 Buddhist temples and more than 820,000 monks and nuns in half of the Liang Dynasty.

It is recorded that in his later years, Xiao Yan only ate one meal a day, without any meat, but only bean soup and brown rice.

Later, he stopped having sex and stayed away from his concubines.

Normally, he wore plain clothes, did not sing or listen to music, and did not hold any meetings or banquets except for offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple.

Do you think this is a virtuous king?
However, under his rule, the Southern Liang government became extravagant and corrupt, and the military was lax. One of his nephews attempted a rebellion but failed, so he pardoned him.

Hou Jing, who later proclaimed himself the Great General of the Universe, turned Southern Liang into a real hell on earth due to Xiao Yan's indulgence and misjudgment!
And Xiao Yan was eventually starved to death!

"How do you plan to ferry him across?" asked Zhang Qingdi.

"Let's go and take a look first." said the old monk.

Zhang Qingdi did not delay and followed the old monk to Southern Liang.

On the way, the old monk told Zhang Qingdi about the achievements of Little Toad and his companions over the years, and that they had indeed saved many people.

Zhang Qingdi sighed after hearing this. He was just doing this to make himself feel better.

Soon they arrived at the capital of Southern Liang. The old monk looked at the countless pagodas and temples, but there was no smile on his face. Instead, he sighed.

"Master, my son has been very smart since he was young. Please keep him by your side as a boy." The man who was about to sell his son pleaded.

The old monk took out some dry food and said, "Go home. You already have food at home."

The man looked at the old monk in disbelief.

Zhang Qingdi sneered and glanced at the towering pagoda.

"I really want to destroy it, but if I destroy the pagoda, the people will suffer in the end. After all, these bastards will force the people to rebuild it."

At this time, a whip sounded.

The people were frightened and fled in all directions.

It turned out that it was Prince Xiao who was traveling.

Emperor Zhang Qing wanted to save him when he saw this grand scene!
"Master, can you help him to be liberated?" asked Zhang Qingdi.

"I'll go see Xiao Yan first."

"To be honest, I don't think there's any point in meeting him." Zhang Qingdi said.

"Everything depends on human effort!" the old monk insisted.

The old monk walked towards the prince's procession.

"Who dares to disturb the prince's carriage!" the guard shouted.

I hope they can have such momentum when facing the great general Hou Jing.

The old monk put his hands together and said, "This old monk greets donor Xiao Yan."

During the Southern Liang Dynasty, people worshipped Buddha, so the status of monks was naturally very transcendent.

But there was really no monk who called Xiao Yan by his name.

"Who are you and why do you want to see my father?" Xiao Ji asked as he came out of his own carriage.

"I am just an ordinary monk. I am glad that Mr. Xiao has some true scriptures and methods to pass on to him." The old monk bowed and said.

Xiao Ji thought that the old monk might be a liar and prepared to have him driven away.

At this time, golden light shone brightly on the old monk's body.

"You mortals with mortal eyes cannot recognize the true Buddha. Then let me show you what the true Buddha is!" said the old monk.

There were bursts of Buddhist chants, and he took a step forward, and a golden lotus pulled his monk shoes.

Xiao Ji was so frightened that he immediately bowed.

Zhang Qingdi sneered at the side, not knowing where the great general of the universe was.

This great general of the universe was not something Zhang Qingdi made up, but was a title given to himself by Hou Jing.

Xiao Ji immediately returned to the palace, and soon Xiao Yan came out to greet him in person.

He was wearing a simple monk's robe and looked really handsome.

But how did this guy govern the country like this?
"Amitabha, Xiao Yan greets the Master."

Xiao Yan was naturally very well versed in Buddhism, but he still had some doubts about the old monk's identity.

He started by asking the old monk a few questions about Buddhism.

It was difficult to ask Lord Qingdi to repeat the question because it was too difficult to understand.

But the old monk answered very thoroughly in just a few words.

Xiao Yan was convinced and bowed again.

This time he couldn't help showing off to the old monk.

"I have built many temples, ordained many people to become monks, and spared no effort in writing Buddhist scriptures and making Buddha statues. What merits have I gained from all these?"

The old monk replied: "There is no merit."

Xiao Yan immediately became unhappy.

He looked at the old monk and said, "It is obvious that I have done great merits, why do you say I have no merits?"

"Your merits and virtues seem great, but they are all leaking, so your blessings also have leaks. As a result, they are just small fruits of heavenly beings, without real merits, but just empty appearances." The old monk still had some patience with Xiao Yan and explained.

Xiao Yan was a little unconvinced, and he continued to ask, "Then what is true merit?"

“One should not be attached to the appearance of merit and virtue. Instead, one should purify one’s mind and empty one’s body. One should not be attached to greed and should not seek worldly things.” The old monk answered with his hands clasped together.

"Hmph!" Xiao Yan snorted in dissatisfaction.

The old monk shook his head. He had originally wanted to try to convert this person.

Now it seems that Xiao Yan rarely finds the true path.

According to historical records, after Hou Jing besieged the capital of Southern Liang, Xiao Yan was finally at a loss and had to kill a white horse to sacrifice to Chi You, hoping that the god Chi You would help him fight off Hou Jing.

Do you think this guy is truly pious or just pretending to be pious?

The old monk shook his head in disappointment and turned to leave.

"You monk are so ignorant of etiquette. My emperor treats you so courteously. But you speak wildly and badly! Left and right! Capture him!" Zhu Yi, the favorite minister beside Xiao Yan, shouted.

As Xiao Yan's favorite minister, Zhu Yi was very good at observing people's words and expressions.

Seeing Xiao Yan's displeasure, he immediately stood up and scolded the old monk.

The old monk naturally would not argue with him.

But Master Qingdi can’t do that!

This old monk can bully himself, so why should others bully him?

"Your master frowned, and you impatiently came out to bark like a dog! What are you barking about! What are you barking about!" Zhang Qingdi scolded.

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards surrounded them.

The old monk enjoyed Zhang Qingdi's protection of him.

Xiao Yan looked at Zhang Qingdi and the others expressionlessly. He originally wanted to magnanimously pardon the two men, but a few words from Zhang Qingdi made him give up the idea.

"Xiao Yan, you old bastard, listen to me clearly!

If you waste your time and money to build another pagoda, I will beat you up!" Zhang Qingdi yelled.

As he spoke, he flicked his finger and the towering pagoda disappeared.

The guards who were about to arrest them immediately stopped.

"It was I, Zhang Qingdi, who destroyed this tower. If you dare to let the people rebuild it again, you'll have to give it to me." Zhang Qingdi waved his hand, and a gust of wind blew.

The soldiers and Xiao Yan and others were blown all over the place.

The strong wind dissipated, and Zhang Qingdi and the old monk disappeared. (End of this chapter)