Chapter 972
, can it be the same?
Tang Sanzang was brought to the front, his hands bound behind his back, the hem of his robe dragging on the bluestone slabs, leaving a shallow gray mark. His steps were unhurried, his back ramrod straight, like a bamboo stalk bent by the wind but refusing to break. Pigsy followed behind, his rake confiscated, leaving only his two pig hooves bound with hemp rope, swaying as he walked, muttering something under his breath. Chu Yang walked at the rear, his gaze fixed on the direction where the Yellow-Robed Monster had disappeared, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The bearded general at the head of the group turned around and glanced back.
"Tang Sanzang, do you know your crime?"
Tang Sanzang's voice was calm.
"This humble monk does not know."
The general snorted coldly.
"The prince consort himself accused you of having ulterior motives, kidnapping the princess, and even injuring him. If this crime is proven true, it will be a disaster that will result in the extermination of your entire family!"
Tang Sanzang looked up.
"General, my master and I came from the East, traveling westward in search of the true scriptures. I have never heard of the princess. The prince consort suddenly attacked and injured my disciple. My disciple acted in self-defense. What crime has he committed?"
The general squinted.
"Nonsense! Wait until you see the king, and the truth will be revealed!"
The group continued forward.
Passing through the three palace gates, the air gradually became damp and heavy. The palace walls on both sides were so high that their tops could not be seen, and the tops of the walls were full of swords and spears. When the night wind blew, the blades made a low hum, like someone sharpening knives in the distance. Rows of holly bushes were planted on both sides of the palace path, trimmed neatly, and the dark green leaves glistened under the torches, as if coated with wax.
The Yellow-Robed Monster was already waiting at the last door.
He had changed into a brand-new bright yellow python robe, the wound on his shoulder wrapped in brocade. His face was pale, yet he wore a sickly smugness. Standing beside him was a woman, about twenty years old, with skin as smooth as jade, her eyes and brows carrying three parts fragility and seven parts coquettishness. She wore a pale yellow palace dress, with gold tassels tied at her waist, the hairpins swaying gently and jingling.
She was the third princess of Baoxiang Kingdom, Baihuaxiu.
When Baihua Xiu saw Tang Sanzang, her eyes lit up, but she quickly lowered her head, pretending to be shy.
The man in the yellow robe stepped forward, his voice low and menacing.
"Your Majesty, I have captured the evil monk. I beg Your Majesty to make a wise judgment!"
The hall was brightly lit.
The floor of the Golden Palace was paved with white marble, its surface icy cold to the touch. Twelve gilded palace lanterns hung from the ceiling, their wicks as thick as a child's arm, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day. King Baoxiang sat on the dragon throne, nearly fifty years old, his temples already streaked with gray, yet his brows held the dignified air of someone long accustomed to a high position. Beside him stood the Queen, adorned in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, her face pale, her fingers tightly gripping her sleeves.
The king spoke, his voice not loud, yet it carried far.
"Tang Sanzang, do you know your crime?"
Tang Sanzang knelt down, his hands still bound, yet he still bowed respectfully.
"This humble monk does not know."
The king frowned.
"The prince consort says you all attempted to kidnap the princess and even injured him. Is this true?"
Tang Sanzang looked up.
"Your Majesty, please understand. My master and I were just passing through Baoxiang Kingdom and only asked for lodging for the night. The prince consort attacked us in the dead of night, threatening to eat my flesh. I had no choice but to fight back. I have never heard of the princess's matter."
The Yellow-Robed Monster sneered.
"Your Majesty! This monk is lying! I personally witnessed his evil deeds, and the scar on my shoulder is proof!"
He lifted the brocade ribbon, revealing the gauze bandage on his shoulder, from which blood had seeped out, turning the area a deep crimson.
Baihua Xiu shed tears at the opportune moment.
"Father... My consort was seriously injured while protecting his daughter... I beg you, Father, to do justice for me..."
She cried, her face streaked with tears, her voice trembling.
The king's face darkened further.
"Guards! Take this evil monk to the Heavenly Prison!"
The imperial guards stepped forward.
Sun Wukong suddenly looked up.
"Who dares!"
A golden light flashed in his ear, and the golden cudgel instantly appeared in his hand.
"Monkey King!" Tang Sanzang hissed, "No!"
Sun Wukong gritted his teeth.
"Master! They're trying to arrest you!"
Tang Sanzang shook his head.
"Wukong... listen to your master just once."
"This humble monk knows what he's doing."
Sun Wukong's chest heaved violently.
Finally, he put the stick back in his ear.
"Okay... I'll listen to you, Old Sun."
The imperial guards stepped forward and escorted Tang Sanzang out of the hall.
Pigsy got anxious.
"Master!"
Chu Yang suddenly spoke.
"His Majesty."
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly penetrated the main hall.
The king looked up.
"What's the matter?"
Chu Yang knelt down.
"This humble monk has a question."
"please say."
Chu Yang looked up.
"The prince consort says the princess was kidnapped, but the princess is clearly standing in the palace right now. Since she hasn't disappeared, how can she be said to have been kidnapped?"
The hall fell silent instantly.
Baihua's face turned pale.
The yellow-robed monster's pupils suddenly contracted.
The king frowned.
What do you mean by that?
Chu Yang's voice was calm.
"My master and I only entered the city last night and haven't left the inn today. If the princess had truly been kidnapped, how could she be standing here so calmly? And why would the prince consort appear at the inn so late at night to provoke us?"
The yellow-robed monster suddenly took a step forward.
"You wicked monk! How dare you slander me!"
Chu Yang smiled.
"Slander? This humble monk is merely asking a question."
"Was the princess kidnapped?"
Baihuaxiu's lips moved slightly.
"This...this Empress..."
She suddenly clutched her chest.
"Ah...I'm dizzy..."
His body went limp and he was about to fall to the ground.
The yellow-robed monster quickly helped her up.
"Princess! Princess!"
The king was greatly alarmed.
"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
The main hall was immediately thrown into chaos.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the Yellow-Robed Monster, carrying Baihua Xiu, leaped out of the hall in a few bounds.
Sun Wukong sneered.
"Want to run?"
He somersaulted and chased after them.
Chu Yang looked at Tang Sanzang.
"Master."
Tang Sanzang nodded.
"Go."
Chu Yang then leaped out of the palace gate.
The night wind was strong.
Outside the palace walls lay an imperial garden, with craggy rockeries and ponds filled with water lilies. The night dew dampened the lotus leaves, making them look like a layer of shattered silver. In the distance stood an octagonal pavilion, where the Yellow-Robed Monster stood holding Baihua Xiu, his three-pointed, double-edged sword held horizontally in front of him.
Sun Wukong landed and swung his staff horizontally.
"Running? Why did you stop running?"
The Yellow-Robed Monster sneered.
"Great Sage Equal to Heaven, do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
He placed Baihuaxiu on the stone bench and turned to face Sun Wukong.
"Tonight... I'll show you the power of the Heavenly Stars!"
Before he finished speaking, his body swelled up dramatically.
Its original height of eight feet instantly increased to fifteen feet, its hair stood on end, its face twisted, revealing a wolf's face.
Kui Mulang revealed his true form.
A three-zhang-tall blue wolf, with a bluish-yellow fur, red eyes, exposed fangs, and claws that dug deep grooves in the stone slab.
"Ow—"
A wolf's howl shook all the water lilies in the garden.
Sun Wukong grinned.
"Good timing!"
The golden cudgel instantly grew to three zhang in length and slammed down.
"boom!"
The wolf claws collided with the club, sending shockwaves flying. The artificial hill cracked, and the pond water surged up to a height of three feet.
The two instantly engaged in a fierce battle.
Wolf claws tore through the wind, the shadow of the club was as large as a mountain.
The pavilion collapsed directly from the first round of fighting, with tiles flying everywhere.
Chu Yang stood behind an old locust tree in the distance, his gaze calm.
He didn't rush to make a move.
Instead, he looked up at the sky.
The moon has risen to its zenith.
The silver light was like water.
A golden light silently swept across the distant palace wall. Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared.
She stood on the eaves of the palace wall, her monk's robe fluttering in the night wind, the white hair between her eyebrows shining slightly.
She looked down at the fierce battle below and sighed softly.
“Kui Mulang...you have finally come to this.”
She raised her hand.
A golden light flew out from his sleeve.
The golden light transformed into a chain, heading straight for the Yellow-Robed Monster's back.
The yellow-robed monster sensed danger and suddenly turned around.
"Buddha?!"
He tried to dodge, but it was too late.
The chains instantly bound his limbs.
"receive!"
Guanyin's voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible majesty.
The yellow-robed monster's body swelled up, but it was tightly bound by chains, which tightened the more it struggled.
Sun Wukong withdrew his staff and took three steps back.
"Buddha?"
Guanyin gracefully landed.
"Wukong, this demon is a celestial being descended to earth. He had official duties in the celestial court, but he became greedy for worldly affairs and forcibly took the princess. His crime is unforgivable."
She looked at the yellow-robed monster.
"Kui Mulang, do you know your crime?"
The yellow-robed monster was panting heavily, his wolf-like eyes filled with resentment.
"Bodhisattva... I, a star deity, have descended to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation by the Jade Emperor's decree! The princess and I are mutually in love, what crime have we committed!"
Guanyin shook her head.
"Even mutual affection requires a proper marriage. You have forcibly taken the princess and harmed the people, which violates the laws of heaven."
She looked at Tang Sanzang and his group.
"Xuanzang, this ordeal is over."
Tang Sanzang put his palms together.
"Thank you, Bodhisattva."
Guanyin's gaze finally landed on Chu Yang.
"Chu Yang".
Chu Yang cupped his hands in greeting.
"Buddha."
"You did very well."
Chu Yang smiled.
"This disciple is merely... following along."
Guanyin nodded.
With a flash of golden light, the yellow-robed monster vanished along with his chains.
The garden returned to quiet.
All that remained were rubble and broken lotus leaves.
Baihuaxiu woke up from the stone bench and looked around blankly.
"The prince consort...where is the prince consort?"
The king arrived in haste with his entourage.
Seeing that his daughter was unharmed and that the Yellow-Robed Monster was nowhere to be seen, he immediately understood the situation.
He knelt before Tang Sanzang.
"Holy Monk! I was misled by slander and almost made a grave mistake!"
Tang Sanzang quickly helped him up.
"Your Majesty is too kind. It is a great blessing that my master and I are safe and sound."
The king looked at Sun Wukong.
"Great Sage, you possess great supernatural powers and have saved my daughter from dire straits. I am eternally grateful!"
Sun Wukong scratched his head.
"No need to thank me, it's only right for me, Old Sun, to fight monsters."
The king laughed.
"Guards! Prepare a banquet! To welcome the holy monk and his disciples!"
……
The banquet was held in the Imperial Garden.
The temporary pavilion was brightly lit, with palace lanterns hanging high, illuminating the entire garden as if it were daytime. The tables were laden with delicacies from land and sea; although it was a vegetarian feast, it was still extremely luxurious. Baihua Xiu had changed into a plain white palace dress and sat below the king, occasionally stealing glances at Tang Sanzang, her cheeks slightly flushed.
The king raised his glass.
"Holy Monk, this cup is offered to you!"
Tang Sanzang picked up his teacup.
"Your Majesty is too kind. This humble monk will offer tea instead of wine."
After several rounds of drinks...
The king suddenly sighed.
"Regarding the matter of the imperial son-in-law... I am also at fault. I did not investigate thoroughly before believing his one-sided account."
Sun Wukong took a swig of wine.
"Your Majesty's judgment is good. I, Old Sun, despise those beasts in human skin the most."
The king nodded.
"Tomorrow I will issue an edict to proclaim to the world the true name of the holy monk and his disciples."
Tang Sanzang put his palms together.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The banquet ended close to midnight.
As the moon began to set in the west, the lotus pond in the garden reflected its waning light, like a shattered mirror.
Baihuaxiu suddenly walked up to Tang Sanzang.
"Holy Monk".
Tang Sanzang stopped.
"What instructions does the princess have?"
All the flowers bowed their heads in shame.
"I...thank you, Holy Monk and his disciples."
She took out a jade pendant from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.
"This is something I keep close to my body; it's just a small token of my gratitude."
Tang Sanzang shook his head.
“I appreciate the princess’s kindness, but as a monk, I dare not accept such a generous gift.”
Baihua bit her lip in embarrassment.
"Holy Monk...if there is a future..."
Before she could finish speaking, her eyes were already red.
Tang Sanzang smiled.
"Princess, take care."
He turned and left.
Baihua stood there, tears falling one by one onto the jade pendant.
Chu Yang walked past her and whispered:
"Princess, some destinies, once missed, are missed forever."
The flowers are ashamed to raise their heads.
"donor……"
Chu Yang smiled.
"Let's go. The road ahead is still long."
He caught up with the group.
A night breeze blew across the lotus pond, creating a soft, pattering sound.
Like a sigh.
It's also like... a sense of relief.
The next morning.
The group left Baoxiang Kingdom.
The city gates were wide open, and civil and military officials lined the streets to see them off.
The king personally escorted him for ten miles.
As they parted, he held Tang Sanzang's hand.
"Holy monk, take care on your journey westward."
Tang Sanzang put his palms together.
"Your Majesty, please take care."
The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance.
The city wall gradually shrank into a small dot.
Sun Wukong, carrying his staff, walked at the very front.
"Master, there are still many monsters along the way."
Tang Sanzang smiled.
"With Wukong here, I have nothing to fear."
Sun Wukong chuckled.
"That's right! With me, Old Sun, around, who would dare to lay a finger on Master!"
Pigsy licked his lips.
"Brother Monkey, is there a town ahead? I, Old Pig, am hungry..."
Three days had passed since leaving Baoxiang Kingdom, and the westward journey had become increasingly remote. The official road was long gone, leaving only a narrow, winding path worn smooth by mountain dwellers, meandering through the rolling green hills. The trees on both sides of the road grew denser, ancient pines standing tall and strong, their branches intertwined to block out the sun. Sunlight could only filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground, which swayed in the wind like a cluster of dancing stars. The mountain mist had not yet dissipated, wisps and strands clinging to the tree trunks and among the grass, carrying a damp coolness. Inhaling it filled the nostrils with the fresh scent of grass and trees and the rich aroma of earth.
The white horse's hooves rustled softly on the pine-needle-strewn path, occasionally clattering against loose pebbles with a clear, echoing sound in the quiet mountain forest. Tang Sanzang rode on his back, gently waving his paper fan, his gaze peacefully fixed on the mountain path ahead, softly reciting scriptures, his voice mingling with the sounds of the wind and birdsong, creating a serene atmosphere. Pigsy, carrying his rake, walked in the middle of the group, his stomach growling with hunger. He frequently stood on tiptoe, peering into the distance, muttering, "Master, Monkey King, Brother Chu Yang, do you think there might be a village ahead? My belly is practically flat; if I don't eat something soon, I'm afraid I won't even be able to carry the rake."
Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, walked at the front, his ears constantly perked up, alertly listening to any sounds from all directions. His golden eyes occasionally swept across the dense forest on either side, fearing that a monster might suddenly leap out. Hearing Zhu Bajie's complaints, he turned around, glared at him, and grinned, "You idiot, all you know is food! When we just left Baoxiang Kingdom, you ate three large bowls of vegetarian noodles at the king's banquet and even secretly hid two steamed buns. How come you're hungry after only three days?"
Pigsy scratched his head, chuckled, and said with a simple, honest expression, "Brother Monkey, how can that be the same? The vegetarian noodles at that banquet weren't nearly enough. You know how much I, Old Pig, can eat. Besides, we've been climbing mountains and wading through rivers all this way; how much energy must we expend? If we don't eat more, how can we protect Master?" (End of Chapter)