Chapter 4

On this day, Yang Zhen had just climbed a high mountain. Although he did not encounter any hermits or sages, he saw another immortal mountain in the distance.

He saw a thousand peaks like spears, and ten thousand ridges like screens. The sun cast a light that gently locked the green, and after the rain, the dark green contained a cool blue. Withered vines entangled old trees, and ancient ferries marked secluded paths. Strange flowers and auspicious grasses, tall bamboo and towering pines. The tall bamboo and pines, evergreen for ten thousand years, rivaled the blessed lands; the strange flowers and auspicious grasses, never withering in the four seasons, rivaled the immortal realms. The sounds of birds were nearby, and the clear water of the springs echoed. Valleys were surrounded by orchids and moss, and cliffs were covered with moss. The undulating mountains had good dragon veins, and there must be a sage living there in seclusion.

Seeing the beautiful scenery and the deep, secluded forest, Yang Zhen felt a sense of joy in his heart. In recent years, he had never seen such a mountain. He saw strange flowers and auspicious grasses, and the mountain was filled with immortal energy. If there were really immortals, they would surely live in such a mountain.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhen could not wait to go down the mountain and quickly ran towards the immortal mountain. At this moment, Yang Zhen suddenly had a realization, as if the thing he had been seeking for six years was right in front of him.

After entering the immortal mountain, Yang Zhen heard a song coming from a distance:

"Watching the chess game, the woodcutter's axe rings, slowly walking in the valley by the clouds. Selling firewood for wine, laughing wildly, enjoying the moment. In the deep path, the autumn is high, resting on the pine roots, waking up at dawn. Recognizing the old forest, climbing the cliff, cutting the withered vines. Collecting them into a load, singing in the market, exchanging for three liters of rice. No competition, the price is fair, no cunning, no honor or disgrace, living a peaceful life. Wherever we meet, it's either a sage or a Taoist, sitting quietly, discussing the *Huangting Jing*."

Hearing this song, Yang Zhen felt even more delighted.

It is known that if a hermit or sage wants others to know about them, they will teach the nearby villagers to sing certain songs. Just like when Liu Bei first met Zhuge Liang, he heard someone singing a song composed by Zhuge Liang upon arriving at the Sleeping Dragon Ridge. In *Journey to the West*, when Sun Wukong first came to the Mountain of the Ten Feet of Square Inch, he heard a woodcutter singing a song taught by the Patriarch Subhuti.

At this moment, Yang Zhen felt refreshed and clear-minded.

Following the song, Yang Zhen entered the forest. Before he had walked far, he saw a woodcutter arguing with a monkey.

Indeed, the woodcutter was arguing with the monkey.

He heard the monkey say, "If you are not a sage, how can you speak the words of a sage?"

The woodcutter replied, "What words of a sage did I say?"

The monkey said again, "I was just by the forest, and I heard you say, 'Wherever we meet, it's either a sage or a Taoist, sitting quietly, discussing the *Huangting Jing*.' The *Huangting Jing* is a true Taoist scripture. If you are not a sage, what are you?"

The woodcutter laughed and said, "To be honest, this song is called 'Full Court Fragrance,' and it was taught to me by a sage. The sage lives next to my house. He saw that my family was hardworking and often troubled, so he taught me to recite this song when I am troubled. It helps to relax and relieve stress. I was just thinking about something, so I recited it. I didn't expect you to hear it."

The monkey king said, "Since your home is next to a sage, why don't you practice with him? Learn the art of immortality, wouldn't that be great?"

...

After listening for a moment, Yang Zhen finally realized. This... isn't this the scene when Sun Wukong first came to the Mountain of the Ten Feet of Square Inch? Could it be that he had really come to the world of *Journey to the West*? Is that monkey Sun Wukong?

Thinking of this, Yang Zhen quickly jumped out and asked the woodcutter, "Since you are a neighbor to a sage, please point out where the sage lives. I would like to visit him."

The monkey, hearing this, also hurriedly bowed and said, "Exactly! Exactly!"

The woodcutter, hearing this, laughed and said, "Not far, not far. This mountain is called the Mountain of the Ten Feet of Square Inch. There is a cave called the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave. In the cave, there is a sage named Patriarch Subhuti. The sage has countless disciples, and even now, there are still thirty to forty people practicing with him. Follow that small path to the south for about seven or eight li, and you will reach his temple."

Hearing the woodcutter's directions, Yang Zhen nodded and said, "Thank you, thank you!"

The monkey originally wanted the woodcutter to go with them, but was refused. Seeing this, the monkey did not persuade further and quickly walked to Yang Zhen's side, asking, "Kitty, are you also here to learn the art of immortality?"

Seeing Sun Wukong take the initiative to ask, Yang Zhen also wanted to build a relationship with Sun Wukong, so he said, "Yes, I have had consciousness for several years, and it is only today that I have found the sage's cave. If I can become a disciple, I will certainly study the methods of cultivation diligently."

"Where are you from? I am from the Eastern Continent of Shengshen, the country of Aolai, the mountain of Huaguo, and the Water Curtain Cave," the monkey asked.

Hearing this, Yang Zhen shook his head and said, "I don't know. My birthplace has no fame, but I guess it is in the Western Continent of Niuhu."

Yang Zhen and the monkey walked about six or seven li and indeed saw a cave. It looked like this:

The mist and clouds scattered, the sun and moon shimmered. A thousand old cypresses, ten thousand tall bamboos. A thousand old cypresses, with rain, were half green in the sky; ten thousand tall bamboos, with smoke, were dark green in the valley. Outside the door, strange flowers were spread like brocade, and by the bridge, fragrant grasses emitted a sweet scent. The stone cliffs were prominent and moist with green moss, and the hanging walls were high with long green moss. Occasionally, one could hear the cries of immortal cranes, and often see the flight of phoenixes. When the immortal cranes cried, their voices echoed far into the sky; when the phoenixes flew, their feathers shone with five colors of cloud light. Black apes and white deer appeared and disappeared, and golden lions and jade elephants roamed freely. Carefully observing this blessed land, it truly rivaled paradise! The cave door was tightly closed, and it was quiet and desolate. Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a stone tablet on the cliff, about three zhang high and eight chi wide, with ten large characters: "The Mountain of the Ten Feet of Square Inch, the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave." [Excerpt from *Journey to the West*]

Seeing this, the monkey was very happy and said, "The people here are indeed simple. We have really found the sage's cave."

"Monkey, go knock on the door," seeing that this was indeed the Patriarch Subhuti's temple, Yang Zhen, feeling delighted, asked the monkey to knock on the door.

The monkey listened and walked to the door, raised his hand, but did not knock for a long time. Looking back at Yang Zhen, the monkey asked, "Kitty, why don't you knock?"

Hearing this, Yang Zhen helplessly raised his front paw and said, "I can't reach it!"

"..." The monkey.

Before the monkey could knock, the cave door opened with a "creak!" and a celestial child walked out, truly with a noble and extraordinary appearance. The celestial child asked, "Who is disturbing here?"

The monkey quickly darted to the celestial child, bowed, and said, "Celestial child, I am a disciple seeking the Dao and immortality, and I dare not disturb here."

The celestial child laughed and said, "Are you seeking the Dao?"

The monkey said, "Yes, yes!"

The celestial child said, "My master has just descended from the dais and is lecturing on the Dao. Before he even explained the reason, he told me to open the door and said, 'There are two practitioners outside, go and receive them.' It must be you two, right?"

The monkey laughed and said, "Yes, it's me!"

The celestial child looked at Yang Zhen and then said, "Then follow me in."

Yang Zhen and the monkey looked at each other and quickly followed the celestial child inside.

"This place will be where I achieve my dreams," Yang Zhen firmly said to himself, looking at the magnificent Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.

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