Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Chapter 207 Tathagata, Hurry and Take Your People Away

Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's thoughts were, in fact, quite straightforward: the Scripture Seeking Team embarking on the Journey to the West were individuals fated to be involved in this great calamity between Heaven and Earth.

Having lived for so many years, Grand Immortal Zhenyuan deeply understood the principle that high risks bring high rewards. Therefore, in his eyes, the Scripture Seeking Team passing by Wuzhuang Temple presented an opportunity.

Grand Immortal Zhenyuan was aware of Tang Monk's identity as the reincarnation of Master Golden Cicada, and why did he offer Tang Monk two Ginseng Fruits to eat?

In his own words, the reason was because he and Master Golden Cicada recognized each other in the past. During the Ullambana Festival, Master Golden Cicada personally served him tea, so if you show me an inch of respect, I'll return a foot.

But if we're speaking frankly, what status does Grand Immortal Zhenyuan hold? It's not only Master Golden Cicada who would seem insignificant. Even the Tathagata, in terms of seniority, should be considered his junior; isn't it only right that he should serve tea to Grand Immortal Zhenyuan with his own hands?

So, Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's gift of two Ginseng Fruits to Tang Monk was nothing more than a pretext.

The Ginseng Fruit was a treasure indeed, yet he only gave away two. If Sun Wukong and the others found out, wouldn't they harbor some thoughts?

Furthermore, nearly everyone from Wuzhuang Temple had departed, leaving behind only the two hasty Taoist Boys, Clear Wind and Bright Moon. Wasn't Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's intention simply to create conflict as a justification to detain the Scripture Seeking Team and then negotiate with the Buddhist Sect?

However, things did not unfold as Grand Immortal Zhenyuan had anticipated. Not only did Sun Wukong and others not fall out with Clear Wind and Bright Moon, but it seemed their friendship had grown strong, which baffled Grand Immortal Zhenyuan.

There was no other way; he had to hurry back to Wuzhuang Temple himself and find an excuse to keep them there.

In Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's view, being imprisoned in Wuzhuang Temple, the Scripture Seekers should have been eager to escape.

Either they would plead with him directly, or they would try to request the Tathagata or Guanyin to come to their rescue…

But what was the result? Grand Immortal Zhenyuan realized he had miscalculated again. The Scripture Seeker stayed in Wuzhuang Temple contentedly, making Grand Immortal Zhenyuan utterly unable to understand the reasons behind it all.

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Grand Immortal Zhenyuan was, of course, aware of Xuanzang's experiences. His romance with Princess Gaoyang was a major event throughout all the realms, especially since the oath they made to the Heavenly Dao caused the Great Thunder to resonate.

So logically, shouldn't he be eager to rush to the Great Thunder Monastery and find Princess Gaoyang at once?

Well, setting all that aside for now, after waiting for a full two months, seeing Jiang Liu and his companions enjoying life at Wuzhuang Temple, and even leading his two Boys astray…

Drinking and eating meat daily, gambling and drinking, cursing while betting money—where was there even a hint of the true Taoist way in all this?

So, this time Grand Immortal Zhenyuan was resolute, almost explicitly signaling that the Westward Pilgrims could escape…

After leaving Wuzhuang Temple, Grand Immortal Zhenyuan completely concealed himself in the shadows, keeping an eye on the movements of the Westward Pilgrims.

In his view, tonight, without a doubt, the Pilgrims must have been planning to make their escape, correct?

Indeed, everything that unfolded at the beginning was within Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's expectations.

His two Taoist Boys, true to their empathetic nature, pretended to be drunk, staggering back to rest in a state of drunken stupor.

And with his own absence from Wuzhuang Temple, he had essentially thrown the doors wide open, hinting that they could leave.

Similarly, Xuanzang's disciples also saw the opportunity and approached Xuanzang, hoping to sneak away together.

But the final outcome? Xuanzang actually refused!?

He actually refused!?

This was beyond Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's expectations again. What was going on!?

If possible, Grand Immortal Zhenyuan truly wanted to pry open Xuanzang's head and see what kind of odd thoughts were inside! Weren't these actions completely illogical?

"Master, why!?" Fortunately, Sha Wujing was also anxious and blurted out the question to Jiang Liu, voicing the confusion that Grand Immortal Zhenyuan had at the moment.

Yes, why? Now that there was no one stopping them, why wouldn't they leave?

"Wujing, a man who lacks trust cannot stand tall. One must uphold their promises. As the saying goes, a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold and carries a weight greater than Mount Tai. Since I have agreed to accept the punishment from Grand Immoral Zhenyuan, how could I go back on my word?"

Jiang Liu's expression was stern, and his words were impassioned as he said, "Moreover, didn't Grand Immoral Zhenyuan originally tie us up with ropes because he trusted us? Why did he untie us? Is it not because he trusts that we will not run away? If we were to escape now, how would we be worthy of Grand Immoral Zhenyuan's trust?"

"Master, how can you be so obstinately old-fashioned? Grand Immortal Zhenyuan deliberately mentioned leaving in front of us, perhaps hinting that we should go, right? Maybe after two months, he has calmed down?" Jiang Liu's words left Sha Wujing both desperate and amused.

"Alright, Wujing, no more words. The mind of your master is made up. If you wish to leave, do so now. I will not stop you," Jiang Liu said, without a hint of argument in his voice, instead gesturing for Sha Wujing to leave if he so desired.

His Mission List still contained the task of kicking Sha Wujing out of the Journey to the West team. If he could take this opportunity to do so, the 80 million experience points that came with it—how many levels could he climb?

The mere thought was thrilling!

"If I could seek the scriptures on my own, I would have gone already. Why would I waste my breath here?!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Sha Wujing inwardly grumbled.

Of course, such grumbling, Sha Wujing only dared to do inwardly. He would never dare to voice these thoughts aloud.

"Wujing, I think, why don't you just go on the road by yourself? If you bring back the True Scriptures alone, that would be an immense act of merit!" Considering the mission to kick Sha Wujing out of the team, Jiang Liu was somewhat tempted and persuasively suggested to Sha Wujing.

These words made Sha Wujing's face darken.

Such merit naturally was tempting, but he couldn't actually bring back the True Scriptures on his own.

Seeing Sha Wujing's face darken, Jiang Liu continued, "Additionally, if I really stay here for a hundred years, the Buddha must be getting impatient, right? So, Wujing, why don't you make a trip to the Great Thunder Monastery? Just say I'll be here for a century and ask the Buddha to wait a little longer!"

Now, Sha Wujing finally realized that his master seemed to want to send him away.

This realization made Sha Wujing tense up. Joining this team had been difficult enough, and all along the way, it seemed his master had held deep prejudices against him. Now, was he the only one to object to a decision made by his master?

Sha Wujing suddenly awoke to the fact that he seemed to have displeased his master.

"Master, I am also dedicated to the grand mission of seeking the scriptures in the Western Heaven. I believe, my elder and second elder brothers must also be anxious, right?"

Realizing that he had annoyed his master, Sha Wujing hurriedly explained, at the same time trying to align Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie with his position.

After all, there's safety in numbers, right?

"Me? I think the master's promise is justified. I, Old Sun, support the master!" Hearing Sha Wujing bring the topic to himself, Sun Wukong grinned and said cheerfully.

Originally, it was because Tathagata had deceived him, and Sun Wukong had always harbored resentment about it. Naturally, he greatly appreciated and liked Jiang Liu's firm promise.

Sha Wujing felt as if his elder brother had just undermined him.

Sha Wujing's lips twitched slightly, and then he turned his gaze towards Zhu Bajie standing on the side.

"I, Old Pig, have always said, why bother leaving? Staying here is quite nice, right? Eating and drinking every day, and playing Mahjong and Fight the Landlord, isn't life better than that of an immortal?" Confronted with Sha Wujing's gaze, Zhu Bajie showed a lazy demeanor and shook his head as he spoke.

Zhu Bajie's words were in fact honest. Originally, he didn't care much for the merit of the Westward Journey for Scriptures. Lately, spending his days at Wuzhuang Temple enjoying meat, gambling, and carefree living – wasn't that even better than the life of an immortal? Why rush to hit the road and trudge through mountains and rivers?

Sha Wujing: "..."

Seeing the responses from Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing's face became even more sullen, feeling that it was becoming increasingly difficult to fit in with the Scripture Seeking Team.

His master disliked him and wanted him gone, and it seemed that his elder brothers were also pushing him out, weren't they?

Master Zhenyuan: "..."

Not only was Sha Wujing's face turning sour, but Master Zhenyuan, hiding in the shadows, was also beginning to look quite displeased.

Even though Jiang Liu's words were righteous and admirable, and had secretly won Master Zhenyuan's nod of approval and appreciation, thinking Jiang Liu seemed different from other members of the Buddhist Sect, his choice greatly surprised Master Zhenyuan.

The next morning, as the breeze cleared and the moon shone brightly, the two Taoist Boys, Qingfeng and Mingyue, also got up, but they were stunned to see Jiang Liu and his group still at the Wuzhuang Temple and had not left.

"Come on, let's play Mahjong, we're two short!" Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie were already seated at the stone table, and Mahjong was all set up, they called over to the two Taoist Boys.

"What? You guys, how come you haven't left?" The two dumbfounded Taoist Boys sat down and asked Sun Wukong in surprise.

"Heh heh heh, we are people of our word. Since the master has agreed to endure Grand Immortal Zhenyuan's punishment, naturally, we will not do something as sneaky as slipping away!" Hearing the surprise in the voices of Qingfeng and Mingyue, Sun Wukong grinned and replied.

This answer made Qingfeng and Mingyue both hold them in higher esteem, "You are truly noble, admirable!"

Indeed, in the hearts of the two Taoist Boys, they were filled with admiration. They originally thought Sun Wukong was unrefined, and they looked at him the way city folk might look at a country bumpkin.

But now, in the hearts of the two Taoist Boys, their view of Sun Wukong and his group had completely changed.

However, watching all this unfold, Master Zhenyuan was becoming increasingly upset!

"Gambling first thing in the morning? No good! Tathagata, hurry up and take your people away..."