Chapter Two: Bygone Days

“Hahaha!”

“What prestige for a master’s school!”

“What a way to live up to your sect’s reputation!”

Yuan Wuji’s words of apprenticeship seemed ordinary, but for anyone who knew of the Investiture of the Gods, they carried far deeper meaning. Whenever the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit recalled those events, she could not help but think of her junior sister—the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit.

During the great battle of the Investiture of the Gods, the Sect of Interception was utterly defeated, and its disciples met tragic ends. Some were slain and entered the Investiture Roll, such as Zhao Gongming and the Three Fairy Sisters. Others were captured by disciples of the Exposition Sect and became steeds for the Twelve Golden Immortals—like the Curly Bearded Immortal, the Spirit Fang Immortal, and the Golden Light Immortal, who later became the mounts of Manjusri’s Blue Lion, Samantabhadra’s White Elephant, and Guanyin’s Golden Haired Hound, respectively.

Yet, if one compares these fates to that of the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit, they all seem almost merciful. She, among all the disciples of the Sect of Interception, suffered the cruelest end.

The Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit was one of the four principal disciples of the Master of Heaven, her power immense. In the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, she once soundly defeated Ju Liu Sun. Yuan Wuji, his soul having come from the modern world, knew this battle well. In “The Investiture of the Gods,” it is written: “The Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit emerged with her sword to battle Ju Liu Sun. In just three to five rounds, she unleashed her Sun and Moon Pearls, and Ju Liu Sun, not recognizing the treasure, dared not resist and fled westward in defeat.”

Ju Liu Sun was already one of the stronger figures among the Twelve Golden Immortals, yet he was routed in just a few exchanges. The might of the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit was, thus, evident.

As Ju Liu Sun fled, the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit pursued him, only to run into the Western Sect’s leader—the Receiving Saint. The Receiving Saint was a Sage, a being of the highest order. Since Ju Liu Sun belonged to the Exposition Sect and there was a tacit agreement between Buddhism and the Exposition Sect, the Receiving Saint would never allow the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit to harm him.

Thus, the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit clashed with the Receiving Saint. Naturally, she was no match for a Sage and was easily captured alive.

What, then, was her ultimate fate? “The Investiture of the Gods” records: “The Master called, ‘Where is my attendant?’ Before the Western Master could finish his words, a boy approached, and the Western Master said, ‘I will go with this Taoist friend to meet a destined one; you take this creature and deal with her.’” The Receiving Saint was to go with Ju Liu Sun to break the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, leaving his attendant to deal with the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit.

And what happened next? The original text states: “The Western White Lotus Boy opened a small bundle and released something fierce and dangerous, flying in the sunlight with a buzzing sound.” They were mosquitoes!

But these were no ordinary mosquitoes. “The White Lotus Boy opened the bundle and released the insects. Sensing the scent of blood, they swarmed over the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit, biting her head to toe. No matter how she tried to brush them off, she could not. As soon as she drove them from one place, they gathered elsewhere. Before long, they drained her dry, leaving only an empty shell.” The mosquito monster, having devoured all her essence and blood, was overjoyed, ignoring its own swelling body to hide beneath the lotus pond and refine itself. In time, it became a demon immortal, attaining the cultivation of a golden immortal.

The Receiving Saint had sealed the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit’s power, so when the White Lotus Boy released the mosquitoes, she was helpless, and they sucked her dry!

Disciples of the Sect of Interception who died in battle could usually enter the Investiture Roll, but since the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit was captured alive and became a “destined one” of the Western Sect, she lost that qualification.

Her true form was that of a female tortoise. In the system of the Investiture, non-human origins meant shallow roots, and among non-humans, tortoises had the shallowest of all—females even more so than males. One can only imagine the immense price she paid for her cultivation.

When the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit first confronted Ju Liu Sun, “The Investiture of the Gods” described: “The three Masters—Laozi, Yuanshi, and Zhunti—watched closely. Yuanshi laughed and said, ‘Brothers, how can such a being hope to achieve enlightenment? It’s truly laughable!’”

Though the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit was powerful, even counted among the four chief disciples of the Master of Heaven, the Sages viewed her very aspiration to immortality as a cosmic joke because of her lowly origin.

Yuan Wuji’s words brought all these memories flooding back for the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit. In those days, the Sect of Interception was the mightiest of the Three Sects, famed for its openness to all and the saying, “All are welcome, and myriad immortals pay homage.” But now, those on the Investiture Roll had, in effect, signed a lifelong contract to serve as beasts of burden. In the eyes of mortals, becoming an immortal in heaven is the ultimate goal, but before the Investiture, both the Sect of Interception and the Exposition Sect were already transcendent beings, beyond life and death. Entering the Investiture Roll changed nothing, except now they were bound to serve others.

Most disciples of the Sect of Interception were beast or bird spirits who cultivated to human form, yearning for freedom. The Investiture Roll only further limited that freedom, so they resisted it.

By contrast, someone like Huang Feihu was an ordinary mortal who, after aiding the Exposition Sect during the war, was deified as the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, enjoying high rank and power—a sudden rise he welcomed. He, a mere mortal, now wielded more authority than the former disciples of the Sect of Interception, which naturally bred resentment. That is why, when Sun Wukong later caused havoc in heaven, few from the Sect of Interception were seen.

The abrupt laughter of the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit startled both Xiao Yu and Yuan Wuji. But Yuan Wuji soon understood the reason behind her laughter, though he hadn’t expected such an intense reaction. Xiao Yu, never having seen the Lady in such a state, was thoroughly frightened.

Realizing her own loss of composure, the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit composed herself and said,

“You are a Long-Armed Ape, and indeed worthy to be my disciple. But having just been born, do you know anything of my origins that you are so eager to seek apprenticeship?”

“As you, Great Immortal, have said, I was born from the womb of a mountain, without father or mother. Since you brought me forth from the great mountain, your kindness to me is that of a parent. No matter your lineage, I am willing to follow you.” The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit had not brought him to her abode for no reason; her words merely sought a formal act of apprenticeship from Yuan Wuji.

“What an eloquent Long-Armed Ape, to have such a silver tongue at birth! Very well, I accept you as my disciple,” the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit said with delight. “Xiao Yu, take him to your palace to rest for now. Bring him to me tomorrow, and begin teaching him the written word.”

With a wave of her hand, she signaled Xiao Yu to escort Yuan Wuji away.

“What divine arts shall I teach him tomorrow?” she mused softly after they had left. “Since he is a Long-Armed Ape, I must bestow him skills worthy of his kind. When the Buddhist monkey is born, we shall see whose pupil is superior. Even if I cannot stop your Journey to the West, I can at least add a few more tribulations—and earn a bit of merit from your trials.”

“Hey, little monkey, you’ll be staying with me tonight. I’ll make sure you learn your letters well.”

“It’s just learning to read—how hard can it be?”

“Do you know how many characters there are? Just wait until we get started—you’ll be crying before long.”

“If I can master them, you have to teach me magic.”

“That, the Lady will teach you tomorrow. My own little tricks are nothing compared to hers.”

“I don’t care!”

“...”

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