In the blink of an eye, a full day had passed since King Macaque arrived in the Dharma‑Quest Kingdom.
Although Nezha’s strike in the city hadn’t caused any real casualties, the panic among the populace was palpable. The injuries from the ensuing stampede and crush became the main focus for urgent treatment and comfort.
Left with no choice, the newly ‘do good’ king had to rally his ministers and devote himself fully to rescuing and soothing the people. As a result, Tripitaka’s preaching had to be put on hold for now. It was, in a way, a holiday for Tripitaka, who finally had a break after days of exhausting work.
Early the next morning, Tripitaka pulled Monkey along to the small house where King Macaque was staying.
He reached out and knocked on the door.
Soon, Barry Bear, who had been caring for King Macaque, opened the door and stepped aside.
“Great Sage...” King Macaque, lying flat on the couch, saw Monkey enter and struggled to rise and salute.
“No need, just stay put. No need for all that ceremony.” Monkey said, already slapping his thigh and sitting at the table, helping himself to the teapot for a cup of tea. “How are you feeling? Any better?”
“Much... much better.” King Macaque chuckled dryly and lay back down, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. He sighed softly, “I didn’t expect to trouble the Great Sage to visit me. I really feel bad about it.”
“I’m not that free.” Monkey sipped his tea and said lazily, “We’ve all been to death’s door a few times. The way you looked yesterday, I knew you’d be fine. Just a flesh wound—rest a few days and you’ll be good. No need for anyone to visit.”
King Macaque gave an awkward smile.
Turning his head, Monkey pointed behind him and said, “He wanted to come; I’m just accompanying him.”
Only now did King Macaque notice Tripitaka, still standing at the door in his kasaya and Buddha‑Crested Crown.
He paused for a moment, then said softly, “This must be Master Tripitaka?”
“Amitabha.” Tripitaka stepped forward, put his palms together, and said, “I am Tripitaka, a humble monk. Greetings, King Macaque.”
King Macaque found this respectful attitude rather unfamiliar.
Monkey set down his teacup, smacked his lips, and said, “What, you know him?”
Glancing at Barry Bear standing nearby, King Macaque sighed, “Even if I didn’t know him before, after this day I’ve heard Blackfur mention him countless times. Besides, though I’ve cut ties with my sworn brothers, I still have some sources. I know a bit about the Great Sage’s return.”
Monkey shot Barry Bear a glance, then said to King Macaque, “You knew I’d come out of seclusion, but you never thought to pay a visit?”
King Macaque blinked and said nothing.
Consider it an old score.
King Macaque didn’t intend to answer, and Monkey didn’t press further. Nodding, Monkey turned to Tripitaka and said, “There he is. If you want to check, go ahead yourself.”
Tripitaka gave an awkward smile, stepped forward, and sat at the edge of the couch. He said softly, “Yesterday’s emergency left little time for questions. I hope King Macaque will forgive me.”
As he spoke, Tripitaka reached out to examine the wound on King Macaque’s shoulder.
Before he could touch it, King Macaque subtly shifted to avoid him, his brows furrowing as if he found Tripitaka deeply unpleasant.
Seeing this, Tripitaka could only withdraw his hand, a bit embarrassed.
Monkey sipped his tea quietly from the side, watching.
After a while, King Macaque looked up at Tripitaka and said, “Don’t take it personally, Master. Demons from Blossom Mountain aren’t used to Buddhist monks.”
Tripitaka nodded slightly and smiled. “I understand.”
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew awkward.
After a long silence, King Macaque turned to Monkey and asked, "I've heard that Great Sage is escorting Master Tripitaka westward to retrieve scriptures—seeking scriptures in name, but in truth to attain the Dao. How much of that Dao has been attained? Has the journey gone smoothly?"
Monkey replied with a helpless look, "You think 'attaining the Dao' is like a cultivator's path? Either you succeed or you fail—there's no such thing as 'partial attainment.'"
Before he finished, Tripitaka spoke up: "Nine-tenths."
"Nine-tenths?"
At those words, not only King Macaque, but also Barry Bear and Monkey, were all taken aback.
The whole room fell silent, everyone staring blankly at Tripitaka.
Tripitaka's expression remained unchanged.
......
Soon after, Tripitaka and Monkey bid farewell to King Macaque.
As Barry Bear escorted them out, Monkey asked lazily, "Just now you said nine-tenths... How do you figure that? The reform in Dharma-Quest Kingdom went well, sure, but is it really nine-tenths?"
"Yes," Tripitaka replied with a gentle sigh. "Now, only the final step remains."
Before he finished, a distant voice called out: "Master Tripitaka! Master Tripitaka!"
Looking up, Monkey saw the king running toward them, pant legs hitched up, followed closely by a long train of attendants.
The king hurried over, bracing his knees and panting for breath. After a moment, he cupped his hands first to Monkey, then to Tripitaka: "Master Tripitaka, I wish to invite you to visit the suffering citizens. Would you be willing?"
"Well..."
The king swallowed dryly, still catching his breath, and explained, "Yesterday's victims have all been moved into the palace. The city only has a handful of doctors, and there are so many people—how could they possibly manage? By gathering everyone here and bringing in the doctors, it saves them the trouble of running back and forth and makes care much easier."
"This is a fine arrangement," Tripitaka commented.
Hearing this praise, the king laughed heartily, glancing at his attendants with a hint of pride. Turning back, he continued, "The doctors say that healing requires both tending the body and nurturing the spirit. I thought, if Master Tripitaka could visit them, the suffering citizens would be overjoyed. That itself is a good deed, isn't it?"
Tripitaka placed his palms together and bowed. "Your Majesty speaks truly."
At this, the king paused, then quickly folded his hands in return. "Then, on behalf of the victims, I thank Master Tripitaka. At noon, I'll send someone to escort you."
"It's a promise."
After a few more casual words, the king left with his attendants, cheerful as ever.
Watching the king's exuberant figure, Barry Bear frowned deeply.
Monkey drawled, "Has this guy lost his mind? Why is he so happy?"
Tripitaka sighed softly, "To treat others kindly is to treat oneself kindly. People always like those who treat them well. The king does good, and though he gives, he also receives—the reward is his people's heartfelt love. How could he not be happy?"
"Huh?"
"In truth, the Universal Salvation Path is this simple—it all comes down to a single word: 'good.'" Gazing at the drifting clouds, Tripitaka spoke softly, "To ferry people requires the right opportunity. Without it, all efforts are in vain. I've always focused on saving individuals, but even if one attains the Dao, it's still far from saving all beings. Universal salvation isn't about methods for people, but methods for the world. One who pursues universal salvation must see the whole picture, not fixate on a single city or place—only then can a small force move great weights. If rulers care for their subjects and subjects treat rulers with kindness, if the Way of Doing Good is widely promoted—so long as the world seeks goodness and uses goodness as its standard, what sorrow or anger would remain? On the other hand, if one obsesses too much over an individual's suffering, one can get trapped in a dead end, lost in delusion, unable to achieve anything. Great Sage, do you agree?"
Monkey blinked, thinking for a long while, then muttered doubtfully, "Can that really work?"
"It can." Tripitaka answered resolutely, his expression without a trace of hesitation.
"Then..." Monkey pursed his lips, gesturing as he spoke, "If the method is already found, does that mean the Dao has been attained?"
"Not yet." Tripitaka shook his head. "As I said just now, nine-tenths of the Dao is clear, but the last tenth remains—the hardest step of all."
"What's the last step?"
"Power."
"Power?"
Gazing into the empty distance, Tripitaka sighed softly, "The power to turn back the tide, the force to guard and escort the path."
Monkey blinked, listening quietly. Barry Bear did the same behind him.
"Cultivators can reach Spirit-Transformation. Buddhist practitioners can ascend to Buddhahood. The two great traditions of the Three Realms, when cultivated to the utmost, grant profound laws, mighty powers, and the ability to walk the Great Dao. This is why both traditions have flourished for ages. Only my Universal Salvation Path, when walked to the end, still leaves one a mortal."
"I've personally walked the road of saving individuals and saving the world. The method of universal salvation is already clear in my heart. Yet, it still lacks a force that can turn back the tide and guard it through calamity."
"Take the king of Dharma-Quest Kingdom, for example—a ruler can overturn the heavens with a single thought. Someone like Great Sage, with divine powers, can enforce justice by whim, shifting the stars themselves."
"Mother Nuwa once said that all beings are fundamentally good, but are led astray by misguidance. What is needed now is someone who can guide them back to their true nature."
"If those who do good truly received Heaven's protection and good rewards, then many would choose goodness. Yet in this world, good flowers often bear evil fruit, leaving beings confused and lost. If there were a force to shield and escort the Universal Salvation Path, then its age would not be far off."
At this, Barry Bear was utterly entranced.
"That's simple." Monkey immediately slapped his chest and declared loudly, "If you don't have it, I do. Just tell me how you want it done, and I'll make it happen. If good must be rewarded and evil punished, even if I can't do it alone, I can rope in others—the Heavenly Court has to show me some respect. Worst case, we can found a new Heaven, one that governs not just life and death, but good and evil too!"
At this, Tripitaka only shook his head with a meaningful sigh. "For now, you and I walk the same road, but each for our own reasons. Someday, whether our goals are met or not, we'll part ways. When that day comes, who will shield the Universal Salvation Path?"
Before he finished, there was a sudden thud—Barry Bear, who had been standing behind them, abruptly knelt and bowed. "Disciple wishes to take Master Tripitaka as teacher, to learn the Universal Salvation Path, and to serve as its guardian!"
For a moment, both Tripitaka and Monkey were stunned.
Barry Bear cried out, "Disciple is foolish, but Master Tripitaka, you said yourself: 'The wise understand the Dao, the foolish believe in it.' I am that fool—whatever you say, I believe. Why fear the Dao won't succeed? Please, Master Tripitaka, accept me as your disciple!"