Chapter 969
This is outrageous!
The Buddha sat cross-legged on the blue stone.
Today he wasn't wearing a dazzling golden robe, but only a plain monk's robe, with a faint light flowing from the topknot on his head. His hands were resting on his knees, palms facing upwards, as if welcoming the night breeze.
Guanyin bows in reverence.
"Buddha."
The Buddha opened his eyes, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable calmness.
"Guanyin, you've come at an inopportune time."
Guanyin smiled slightly.
"I am aware that the matter of the White Bone Demon has become complicated, and I have come to inquire."
Buddha's gaze passed over her and landed in the direction of the distant cave.
"Turbulence?"
"Chu Yang has intervened." Guanyin's voice was calm. "He didn't kill Lady White Bone directly, but kept her by his side, forcing her to 'act' again and again. Now that Lady White Bone's inner demons have been ignited, it's difficult for her to be ruthless. This disciple is worried... that this difficulty may be resolved by him."
The Buddha remained silent for a moment.
"The eighty-one tribulations were the number of tribulations that Jin Chanzi had to endure."
"To undergo tribulations is to attain enlightenment."
"If someone uses clever tricks to break the calamity, then breaking the calamity is itself another form of proof."
Guanyin's brows furrowed slightly.
"Does the Buddha mean that... this ordeal doesn't count?"
The Buddha gently shook his head.
"The difficulty lies not in the evil spirits, but in the wavering of people's hearts."
"Lady White Bone's three transformations were intended to make Xuanzang doubt Wukong, create a rift between the master and disciple, and cause twists and turns on the journey to obtain the scriptures. This is the difficulty of the heart."
"Now, Chu Yang's method of 'keeping her by his side' has put Lady White Bone in a dilemma—she wants to get Tang Sanzang's flesh but is afraid of exposing her true identity; she wants to continue pretending but is afraid of becoming real. Her inner demons are growing stronger and her killing intent is diminishing, and she has become a 'pitiful village girl' by Xuanzang's side."
"In this way, Xuanzang's doubts about Wukong did not arise, and the bond between master and disciple became even stronger. The difficulty... was indeed broken."
Guanyin lowered her eyes.
"But the eighty-one tribulations are predetermined. If this one is not counted, wouldn't things get chaotic later on?"
Buddha looked up at her.
"Destiny is the number of the Way of Heaven."
"Human hearts can alter the course of Heaven."
"This young man, Chu Yang... is quite interesting."
Guanyin was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:
"I have an idea."
Buddha raised an eyebrow.
"explain."
"Show your disciple," Guanyin said in a low but clear voice. "Under the guise of 'enlightenment,' send Wukong and Chu Yang away and give Lady White Bone a chance."
The Buddha's gaze shifted slightly.
"Let her kidnap Xuanzang?"
"Exactly." Guanyin nodded. "As long as Tang Sanzang is captured, even for a moment, this tribulation will be over. Later, I will personally rescue Tang Sanzang, thus completing the eighty-one tribulations without harming the harmony."
The Buddha gently tapped his knee with his finger.
one more time.
A breeze rises in the forest, and the pines rustle like waves.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke.
"This method... is feasible."
"only--"
He paused, his gaze deep.
"Chu Yang is a meticulous young man. If he sees through the clues, things might change."
Guanyin smiled slightly.
"I know what I'm doing."
"No matter how clever he is, he is only at the late stage of Qi Refining. When I appear, I will use my great supernatural powers to conceal the secrets of heaven, making it difficult for him to distinguish between truth and falsehood for a while."
The Buddha nodded.
"If that's the case, then so be it."
"remember."
His voice suddenly lowered, like the wind passing through a dry well.
"Only this once."
"If Chu Yang interferes again on the road ahead... then let him interfere to the very end."
Guanyin clasps her hands in prayer.
"This disciple will obey the Buddha's instructions."
The Buddha closed his eyes, and his figure gradually faded away, as if swallowed up by the night.
In the end, only a very soft sentence remained, drifting in the wind.
"Guanyin".
"Ok?"
"Don't underestimate him."
……
Guanyin's figure remained in place for a moment.
Then she raised her hand, and a golden light flew out from her sleeve.
The golden light transformed into a white crane, which flapped its wings and soared into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
She turned around and walked towards the cave.
His steps were neither hurried nor slow, like a leisurely stroll.
The moonlight fell on her monk's robe, reflecting a very faint glassy color.
……
Inside the cave.
The fire was almost out, with only a few dark red embers remaining, barely breathing.
Cui'er remained curled up, but her eyes were wide open.
She heard a very faint cry of a crane coming from afar.
Then came a very faint sandalwood scent, wafting in from the cave entrance.
Sun Wukong suddenly stood up.
"Buddha!"
Before he finished speaking, a flash of golden light appeared at the cave entrance.
Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared.
She clasped her hands together, and the white hair between her eyebrows emitted a soft light, illuminating the entire cave.
"Amitabha."
Tang Sanzang opened his eyes and got up in surprise.
"Buddha!"
Pigsy also woke up with a start, rubbing his eyes as he got up.
"Bodhisattva, what brings you here?"
Guanyin's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Sun Wukong and Chu Yang.
"Wukong, Chuyang, come with me."
Sun Wukong was taken aback.
"What are your instructions, Bodhisattva?"
Guanyin's voice was gentle.
"There is a sacred spring behind the mountain that can help Xuanzang wash away the dust and grime of his journey. Please come with me to fetch some spring water."
Chu Yang's eyes flickered slightly.
"Bodhisattva, how far is it from here?"
"It's not far," Guanyin said. "It takes no more than half an hour to go back and forth."
Sun Wukong frowned.
"Master, over here..."
"This humble monk is here." Guanyin looked at Tang Sanzang. "Xuanzang, please meditate in peace."
Tang Sanzang put his hands together in prayer.
"Thank you, Bodhisattva."
Guanyin nodded and turned to walk out of the cave.
Sun Wukong glanced at Chu Yang.
Chu Yang nodded slightly.
The two followed each other out.
In an instant, only Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Cui'er remained inside the cave.
Pigsy yawned.
"Master, I, Old Pig, will take a nap a little longer."
Tang Sanzang smiled.
"Go."
Pigsy quickly lay down again, snoring once more.
Cui'er slowly raised her head.
Her eyes gleamed green in the firelight.
Tang Sanzang sat in meditation with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware of anything.
Cui'er's fingers slowly tightened beneath her skirt.
Inch by inch.
……
Behind the mountain.
The sacred spring is actually not far away.
It was just a crack in the mountain wall, from which thin streams of water seeped, forming a small puddle. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the moonlight like a shattered silver mirror.
Guanyin stood by the puddle, her sleeves fluttering gently.
Ripples immediately appeared on the water's surface.
The ripples reflected the scene of the cave.
Cui'er had already stood up.
She walked step by step toward Tang Sanzang.
They walked very slowly, as if afraid of waking someone.
Sun Wukong gripped his staff tightly.
"Buddha--"
Guanyin raised her hand to stop him.
"Just watch."
Chu Yang stood to the side, his gaze calm.
Suddenly, Cui'er reached out her hand from the puddle.
Her fingers trembled slightly in the air.
Then--
His five fingers suddenly turned into pale, bony claws.
The bone claws aimed straight for Tang Sanzang's throat.
Tang Sanzang opened his eyes.
His expression was calm.
"Amitabha."
The bone claws hovered in mid-air.
Cui'er shuddered.
"You...you know?"
Tang Sanzang nodded.
"This humble monk already knew."
Cui'er's green light flickered wildly. "Then why...why didn't you expose me?"
Tang Sanzang looked at her.
"Because...this humble monk believes that you still have a chance to turn back."
Cui'er suddenly smiled.
The laughter was sharp and shrill.
"Turning back? Hahaha... I'm a skeleton spirit, born as an inanimate object, what do I need to turn back for!"
She pounced on him suddenly.
The bone claw pierced straight into Tang Sanzang's chest.
At that very moment—
Golden light shone brightly outside the cave.
The figure of Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared at the cave entrance in an instant.
She formed a hand seal with one hand.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha".
A golden halo flew out from her palm and instantly enveloped Lady White Bone.
Lady White Bone screamed as her body was locked in place by the halo, unable to move.
Guanyin looked at Tang Sanzang.
“Xuanzang, this demon’s obsession is too deep. I will take him away first and return him after his inner demons dissipate.”
Tang Sanzang stood up and put his palms together.
"Thank you, Bodhisattva."
Guanyin nodded.
With a flash of golden light, Lady White Bone and her halo vanished.
The cave returned to quiet.
Only the crackling of the fire remained.
……
Beside the sacred spring behind the mountain.
Sun Wukong's staff fell to the ground.
"Bodhisattva... what's going on here?"
Guanyin turned around, and her monk's robe rippled in the moonlight.
"This is one of the eighty-one tribulations."
"Lady White Bone's three transformations should have aroused Xuanzang's suspicion and caused a rift between the master and disciple."
"Although Chu Yang has resolved the issue, it is still indispensable."
“This humble monk will take this opportunity to let her succeed for a moment and kidnap Xuanzang.”
"Then this humble monk will personally intervene and rescue him."
"Thus, it is difficult to count all, and the calamity will pass."
Sun Wukong's eyes widened.
"So... you were acting on purpose?"
Guanyin smiled.
"It wasn't acting."
"Yes...it's going with the flow."
She looked at Chu Yang.
"Chu Yang".
Chu Yang cupped his hands in greeting.
"Buddha."
Do you have any grievances?
Chu Yang shook his head.
"The disciple understands."
"Difficulty is the reason why Xuanzang attained enlightenment."
"This disciple... merely accompanied you for a short while."
Guanyin's gaze was gentle.
"You did very well."
"The road ahead is still long."
Do not slack off.
Chu Yang lowered his head.
"Yes."
Guanyin waved her sleeve.
Golden light rose again.
Her figure gradually faded away.
In the end, only a light, fleeting sentence remained.
"Let's go back."
"Xuanzang is still waiting for you."
……
Inside the cave.
Tang Sanzang remained seated cross-legged.
Pigsy is still snoring.
The fire had burned down to just a thin layer of ash.
Sun Wukong and Chu Yang walked in one after the other.
Tang Sanzang opened his eyes.
"came back?"
Sun Wukong scratched his head.
"Master...what happened just now..."
Tang Sanzang smiled.
"The Bodhisattva has taken Cui'er away."
"This humble monk is well."
Sun Wukong breathed a sigh of relief.
"That scared me to death, Old Sun!"
Chu Yang walked to the fire and added two more pieces of firewood.
The flames reignited.
He said softly:
"Master, go to sleep."
"It's almost dawn."
Tang Sanzang nodded.
"Alright."
He closed his eyes.
The cave became quiet again.
Only the flames were flickering.
And in the distance, the sound of the pine trees rustling in waves seemed to be whispering something.
Chu Yang sat at the entrance of the cave.
He looked at the east, which was gradually turning white outside the cave.
A very faint curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
This ordeal... is finally over.
But what lies ahead...?
He looked down at the black dagger at his waist.
A very shallow scratch appeared on the scabbard at some unknown time.
It felt like being gently scratched by a fingernail.
He reached out and stroked it.
Then he moved the knife back a little.
Make the handle closer to your palm.
The morning light, like a thin veil of gold, slowly spread from behind the mountain ridge, first dyeing the tips of the pine needles red, then seeping little by little into the forest path, evaporating the dampness of last night into a light white mist. The mist swirled around my feet, cool to the touch, like walking on a layer of crushed ice. The official road widened again, and scattered farmland began to appear on both sides, with a few clumps of wild mugwort growing on the ridges, releasing a bitter medicinal fragrance when the wind blew. In the distance, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and a few roosters crowed intermittently, as if their throats were frozen by the morning chill.
The group walked in silence for most of the day.
Tang Sanzang rode on his white dragon horse, his paper fan gently waving, his gaze fixed on the blurry mountain shadows ahead. Sun Wukong walked in front, his golden cudgel dragging on the ground, leaving a shallow groove. Every few steps, he would glance back at his master, hesitant to speak. Zhu Bajie carried his rake, humming an off-key tune, his eyes constantly glancing at the wild fruits by the roadside. Chu Yang brought up the rear, his steps unhurried, the black dagger at his waist swaying gently with each step, its scabbard tapping softly against his cloth bag.
In the afternoon, a small town appeared at the end of the official road.
The town was small, with winding streets enclosed by earthen walls. A dozen or so low-lying shops huddled along the main street: a general store selling oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar; a stall mending pots and shoes; a barber's stand; a tofu pudding vendor's shoulder pole; and a restaurant with the cleanest facade, two red lanterns hanging at its entrance, swaying precariously in the wind. The air was thick with the aroma of fried stinky tofu, the sweet and sour scent of fermented rice wine, and the pungent stench of horse manure—a lively cacophony of smells.
Tang Sanzang reined in the reins.
"It's still early, why don't we rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow morning?"
Sun Wukong twitched his ears and sniffed the air.
"There's a smell of wine. My mouth is dry."
Pigsy immediately perked up.
"Master is wise! My stomach has been rumbling for a long time!"
Chu Yang looked up at the sky.
"The town isn't big, but there are inns. It'll be good to stay here."
The group entered the town.
At the end of the main street stood a small inn with two courtyards. The plaque above the door read "Laifu Inn," but most of the paint had peeled off, leaving only a blurry red outline. The innkeeper was a thin, middle-aged man with a mustache. He would put on a smile as soon as he saw the monk.
"Masters! Please come in! There are two more rooms available, both very clean!"
Tang Sanzang put his hands together in prayer.
"Thank you for the arrangement. I appreciate your help."
The shopkeeper kindly led them into the backyard.
There was a small courtyard in the backyard, in the center of which stood a pomegranate tree, its trunk covered with withered vines, and a few shriveled pomegranates hanging from its branches, like dried red lanterns. The two main rooms faced each other, their wooden doors painted green, creaking as they were pushed open, like an old man sighing.
Pigsy rushed into the house and lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Ouch... I can finally straighten my legs!"
Sun Wukong did not enter the house.
He stood in the courtyard, his nose twitching.
Something's not right.
Chu Yang walked over.
"how?"
"There's a faint smell of blood in the air," Sun Wukong squinted. "It's very faint, but I, Old Sun, can smell it."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a scream suddenly came from the neighboring yard.
Ouch—my leg!
This was followed by the dull thud of a stick hitting flesh, and the woman's cries.
Sun Wukong brandished his staff and was about to charge forward.
Chu Yang grabbed him.
"Brother Monkey, let's take a look first."
The two walked around an earthen wall and came to the neighboring courtyard.
The courtyard was larger than the Lai Fu Inn, with a stage in the center. Several flamboyantly dressed women stood on the stage, swaying their hips and twisting their bodies. A crowd surrounded the stage, with a burly man in the middle, his face contorted with menacing features, holding a fire-and-water stick. Kneeling on the ground was a thin young man, blood trickling from his mouth, his right leg twisted at an odd angle, clearly broken.
The man was about to swing the stick down again.
"You dare to act wildly on my turf? If I don't beat you to death today, I'll write the name 'Zhen Dong Hu' backwards!"
Sun Wukong's eyes turned red.
"Too deceiving!"
He somersaulted over and smashed the golden cudgel directly onto the water-fire stick.
"Clang—" (End of this chapter)