After a short while, Bai Huizi returned and called for King Yellow Wind to enter.
King Yellow Wind expressed his gratitude and stepped inside.
Patriarch Bodhi was seated in the hall.
King Yellow Wind explained his situation and said, "Master, please enlighten me."
Patriarch Bodhi replied, "Your innate sensitivity is warning you. After forging your divine body, your nature alerts you to an impending calamity: the Three Disasters."
"Immortality is an extraordinary path, seizing the workings of heaven and earth and encroaching upon the mysteries of the sun and moon. Once your essence is refined, even spirits and gods will not tolerate you."
"You must guard against thunder disasters, fire disasters, and wind disasters."
King Yellow Wind froze.
He hadn't thought he'd reach this stage yet. Could it be that his solid seven-year foundation had accelerated his progress?
He knelt respectfully and said, "Master, please save me and teach me a way to overcome the Three Disasters."
Patriarch Bodhi, however, asked, "To overcome the Three Disasters or to avoid them? The difference lies in a single word but represents vastly different paths. Are you sure of your choice?"
"Huh?"
King Yellow Wind asked, "What's the difference?"
Patriarch Bodhi explained, "To overcome the Three Disasters is to confront and pass through them. Survive one, and the other two become inescapable."
"If you fail, at best, you might reincarnate as a ghost immortal or a disembodied spirit. At worst, you'll perish completely, your soul scattered."
"To avoid the Three Disasters, you use various techniques to deceive the heavens and escape notice, such as employing the 36 Heavenly Transformations or the 72 Earthly Transformations."
"Avoiding the Three Disasters is much easier than overcoming them. Which will you choose?"
King Yellow Wind asked, "What are the benefits of overcoming the Three Disasters?"
Patriarch Bodhi replied, "If you succeed, heaven and earth will recognize your achievement, bestowing an immortal seal upon you. You'll be ranked among the immortals, earning titles such as 'True Lord' or 'Great Immortal.'"
King Yellow Wind hesitated.
The Monkey King had taken the path of avoiding the Three Disasters and was still incredibly powerful. Why suffer needlessly? The words hovered on his lips.
But then a thought struck him. If avoiding the Three Disasters was an option, why hadn't Patriarch Bodhi offered it to the Monkey King?
Something didn't add up.
Reflecting further, he realized that the Monkey King had actually overcome the Three Disasters:
Thunder Disaster: Lightning strikes by the Thunder God and Goddess after his capture.
Fire Disaster: Surviving the furnace of Laozi's alchemy.
Wind Disaster: Enduring five centuries beneath the Five Elements Mountain, subsisting on copper pills and molten iron.
All three disasters had been endured, albeit through external trials.
This made it clear: avoiding the Three Disasters was merely a shortcut, leaving unresolved risks. Only by overcoming the Three Disasters could one achieve lasting strength.
Having thought it through, King Yellow Wind respectfully said, "Master, please teach me how to overcome the Three Disasters."
Seeing his decision, Patriarch Bodhi nodded. "To overcome the Three Disasters, I have nothing specific to teach you."
King Yellow Wind was taken aback. "Huh?"
Patriarch Bodhi elaborated, "Everyone's fate is different. I can only tell you three methods to weaken the power of the disasters."
"What are they?" King Yellow Wind asked.
"Thunder Law for the Thunder Disaster, Fire Law for the Fire Disaster, and Wind Law for the Wind Disaster," Patriarch Bodhi replied.
"However, these three techniques are governed by the Heavenly Court under the celestial rules. The Departments of Thunder, Fire, and Wind guard them strictly. I cannot teach them to you."
King Yellow Wind froze.
So that's how it was!
No wonder the Heavenly Court could nominally control the Four Continents, the Netherworld, and the Four Seas. Even the great sect leaders had to show them respect.
By monopolizing core techniques, they had everyone by the throat.
Bitterly, King Yellow Wind said, "Then, Master, please teach me a way to avoid the Three Disasters while I consider my options."
Patriarch Bodhi replied, "To avoid the Three Disasters, you may choose the 36 Heavenly Transformations or the 72 Earthly Transformations. Which will it be?"
King Yellow Wind hesitated.
Both were tempting. How could he choose?
He suddenly had a bold idea and tentatively asked, "Master, could I… learn both?"
Patriarch Bodhi paused, then laughed. "Though timid by nature, you have lofty ambitions! Very well, you may learn both. But remember, mastering too much without focus is like a brocade pillow stuffed with straw—beautiful on the outside, hollow within. One specialized transformation may serve you better than a hundred superficial ones."
"Both?"
King Yellow Wind's hesitation vanished. "Master, please teach me!Patriarch Bodhi sighed, "So be it. Come closer. These techniques are not to be spoken to a third ear."
King Yellow Wind approached, listening intently as the Patriarch recited the incantations. He committed both sets of transformations to memory.
Afterward, Patriarch Bodhi added, "I see you have the ability to control mist. I'll also teach you the technique for Cloud Somersaulting."
King Yellow Wind was delighted. "Thank you, Master!"
When the teachings were complete, Patriarch Bodhi said, "Wuzhen, now that your heart is set on facing calamities, staying here serves no purpose. Go down the mountain and meet your fate."
King Yellow Wind was stunned.
Patriarch Bodhi continued, "Remember:
For cultivators, loose lips scatter divine energy. Idle words invite trouble. Never flaunt your skills.
You owe me no debt of gratitude. Whether you live or die, do not implicate me. If you cause chaos or commit atrocities, do not utter my name."
Understanding he could no longer stay, King Yellow Wind bowed deeply three times. "Master, I will remember your kindness and bear the consequences of my own actions."
Patriarch Bodhi closed his eyes, saying nothing further.
After bowing three more times in farewell, King Yellow Wind stepped out. He glanced back, feeling a pang of sadness, but he quickly composed himself and went to pack his belongings.
The Farewell.
When word spread of his departure, the senior disciples were shocked. Sun Wukong, in particular, was anxious, demanding to know if he had angered their master.
King Yellow Wind reassured him, saying he had personal matters to attend to and urging Sun Wukong to continue his cultivation.
"If fate allows, come visit me at Yellow Wind Ridge," he added.
At sunset, the disciples and Sun Wukong gathered outside the cave to bid him farewell. Despite his short time there, King Yellow Wind had built strong relationships.
Sun Wukong handed him a bag of peaches and plums.
The artifact-crafting senior brother gifted him a piece of Wish-Iron and a set of twelve Five-Element Arrows.
As he prepared to leave, Bai Huizi arrived, handing him a copper coin. He also discreetly gave him a silk pouch, whispering that it was from their master. "Open it only after leaving Square Inch Mountain."
King Yellow Wind bowed toward the entrance of the cave, thanking the Patriarch. After bidding farewell to his brothers and Sun Wukong, he descended the stone steps of the mountain.
An Encounter at the Bridge.
After walking five or six miles, he crossed a bridge. Beneath it sat a man in a straw cape and hat, fishing.
"Little brother, have you finished your cultivation and are now leaving the mountain?" the man asked.
Standing on the bridge, King Yellow Wind recognized him as the Mountain Spirit. Smiling, he replied, "No, there's a family matter I must attend to, so I have no choice but to leave."
He bowed and said, "Thank you for guiding me back then."
The Mountain Spirit graciously accepted the bow. "I just caught a golden fish. Take it with you and keep it as a pet."
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