Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System
Chapter 80: How to Deal with Buddhism

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: How to Deal with Buddhism

Sun Wukong quickly found out the reason for the Jade Emperor’s summons.

"Hehe, interesting, interesting," he sneered, "Old Sun hasn’t even dealt with the Demon Sect yet, and now the Buddhists show up first, demanding the method to refine my spiritual guidance device?"

"Please forgive me, Great Sage," Taibai Jinxing spoke again, "For fear of Sun Buddha’s repeated requests, His Majesty was overwhelmed, so I had no choice but to suggest that the Great Sage come and clarify things with them in person."

"No offence taken, no offence taken," Sun Wukong waved his hand, "Old Sun has been wanting to spar with them!"

He hadn’t forgotten about the pilgrimage project mentioned by a Zhihu netizen. According to what the Zhihu netizen had said, the Buddhists had already listed him as the core talent of the pilgrimage project team.

This act of meddling in his future without his consent disgusted him immensely.

He then proceeded with Taibai Jinxing to Tongming Hall.

Along the way, Sun Wukong thought to himself that this must be his first formal confrontation with the Buddhists.

The time he was summoned by the underworld didn’t count since he didn’t know the Buddhists had designs on him at that time, and he only argued with Ksitigarbha King for a few moments before Meng Po intervened.

However, since learning about the Buddhists’ pilgrimage project, he knew that he would eventually come face-to-face with them.

"Then let it begin today," Sun Wukong’s eyes flashed fiercely, yet his mind remained calm.

He felt that he should first consult the Zhihu netizen before proceeding any further.

As he thought about it, he opened the Listen-to-Advice System, his consciousness traveling through myriad dimensions and finally anchoring in a timespace where he connected to the Zhihu platform.

With a thought, he posted a question.

"I am Sun Wukong. My spiritual guidance device shone brightly at the martial arts conference, and now I’ve caught the eye of the Buddhists. Distinguished seniors, what should I be wary of when I meet Sun Buddha shortly?"

He also attached the matter of Sun Buddha asking the Jade Emperor for the law to his question.

Soon, many netizens replied.

Kerning the World: "Baldy has thick skin, so slap him hard and ask if it hurts."

[You have received a new suggestion: Give Sun Buddha a slap. Completing this suggestion will earn you a Seventh-Rank Treasure Box.]

"This suggestion is exhilarating, but Old Sun doesn’t have the strength," Sun Wukong scratched his head, knowing that those who could become Buddhists in the West are not so simple.

Sure enough, the subsequent netizens voiced his thoughts.

Xi Men Chui Fei: "Are you joking? The Buddhists are at the Quasi-Saint level. Sun Wukong’s slap wouldn’t even reach his face before he’s pinned to the ground."

Understanding of the Bottle: "I think he meant a figurative slap, not a literal one, brothers of Zhihu, you know what I mean."

Mist Spirit: "Speaking in riddles, it’s just the difference between verbal sarcasm and physical attack."

Heroic Spirit Arkham: "It’s quite satisfying to see Monkey Brother talk back, but I still want to see him give a big slap."

[You have received a new suggestion: Engage Sun Buddha with verbal sarcasm. Completing this suggestion will earn you a Third-Rank Treasure Box.]

"Hmm, this suggestion is simple, simple," Sun Wukong’s bright eyes blinked.

He continued reading the replies.

Donkey of the Production Team: "You should give him a piece of your mind, but be careful not to break ties with the Buddhists outright. After all, we all live in the same universe, and courteous surface encounters are still necessary."

All-knowing Hongmeng: "Makes sense, even the Jade Emperor has to maintain appearances with the Buddhists,

The protagonist can let Sun Wukong use a common bureaucratic tactic at this moment—Stalling Tactic—to handle Sun Buddha’s shameless demands, and ideally, throw the problem back at them, leaving the Buddhists speechless.

This can be done as follows..."

Digging but not Filling: "You are committing a crime, do you understand? You’re making our Monkey Brother turn into an old slick bureaucrat! Ah, this is not my idea of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven!"

[You have received a new suggestion: Use the Stalling Tactic against Ju Li Sun Buddha and shift the problem to the other party, completion of this suggestion will yield a Fourth-Rank Treasure Box.]

"Stalling Tactic?" Sun Wukong scratched his face thoughtfully.

...

It was eerily quiet inside the Tongming Hall.

The Jade Emperor held a scroll in his hands, completely oblivious to those around him.

Ju Li Sun Buddha and Jin Chanzi stood waiting below, the former holding a rosary and smiling, while the latter frowned in contemplation.

Having waited for what seemed like an eternity, noise came from outside the hall before Sun Wukong dressed in golden armor strode in within a few steps.

"Great Sage, slow down, slow down," Taibai Jinxing anxiously followed behind.

Upon entering, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven seemed not to notice the two eminent Buddhist monks and went straight to the Jade Emperor to bow in salute.

"Sun Wukong," the Jade Emperor asked emotionlessly, "Ju Li Sun Buddha requests the method of refining spiritual guiding instruments on behalf of Buddhism. Would you concede to his request?"

"Oh?" Sun Wukong scratched his face, looking around with his chin raised, "Ju Li Sun Buddha? Where is he? Let old Sun take a look at how big his face is."

The Jade Emperor and Taibai Jinxing exchanged glances, happy with the mood this response created.

Ju Li Sun was only slightly taller than Tu Xing Sun, and truly inconspicuous unless one looked down, despite his notably plump figure.

He certainly knew that Sun Wukong was doing this on purpose, but he wasn’t annoyed, and, not confining himself to a Buddha’s decorum, still approached with a smile on his face saying, "Patron Sun, this humble monk is right here."

"Hey, your face isn’t that big after all," Sun Wukong said looking down at him, "I’ve heard that Ju Li Sun Buddha once belonged to the Chan Cultivation, then defected to the West. What happened, the West doesn’t feed you, and you have to come begging to the Heavenly Court?"

"It’s not about defection," Ju Li Sun said with an easy smile, "During the Divine Enthronement, I grew weary of fighting, and Buddhism, which advocates compassion and persuades people to be virtuous, perfectly matched my aspirations.

As for begging, indeed, the West is in difficulties, so like other Buddhist disciples, I too must beg from place to place to enrich the West and hasten the day when beings there no longer suffer."

"Haha," Sun Wukong chuckled, circling around Ju Li Sun, "Are all Buddhist monks like you, eloquent and versed in speech?"

"Traveling far and wide, one must have some skills," Ju Li Sun laughed.

"The thickness of a Buddha’s skin, old Sun admires, truly admires," Sun Wukong bowed slightly.

As his words fell, a prompting sound rang in his mind, delighting him inwardly, though he showed no outward sign.

[Congratulations on completing the suggestion: Verbally mocking Ju Li Sun, you have obtained a Third-Rank Treasure Box.]

"Patron Sun flatters me," Ju Li Sun replied with a single palm raised, "I still hope that Patron Sun, with a compassionate heart, will bestow the technique of refining spiritual guiding devices to the West to relieve our suffering. Our entire Buddhist community would be eternally grateful."

"Heh heh, interesting, truly interesting!" Sun Wukong sneered, "My Fruit Mountain is still so poor that it echoes hollowly, old Sun’s monkey kin are still starving, and the weapons they use are but rusting iron from the mortal realm.

Your Buddhist realm may be the masters of the Western Skies, so how about showing great compassion by aiding Fruit Mountain? That would indeed fulfill your great vow of saving all beings across the world, wouldn’t it?"

"Amitabha, well said, well said," Ju Li Sun chanted a Buddha’s name, "This humble monk will report the hardships of Fruit Mountain truthfully to the Heavenly Buddha Ancestor."

"No sincerity, no sincerity," Sun Wukong waved his hand, "When the West helps old Sun relieve the suffering of Fruit Mountain, come then to talk about the technique for refining spiritual guiding devices."

Ju Li Sun’s smile faltered, stumped.

Fruit Mountain was in the Eastern Victorious Divine Continent, a domain of the Xuanmen; the Buddhist community had no chance to aid Fruit Mountain in its hardships!

Besides, he was merely following Sun Wukong’s words in saying so.

Fruit Mountain was nowhere near impoverished; it was a heaven and a blessed land!