Chapter 729
Lin Zhu Deceives Tang Sanzang into Journeying West
"Immortal Lord! Please don't deceive your disciple! If there were truly Bodhisattvas protecting us, if the Buddhas of the Western Paradise were truly compassionate, how could my brothers have died so tragically?! They were also Buddhists! They were still chanting 'Amitabha' before they died! But did the Buddha save them?!"
He seemed to have gone all out, lowering his voice but becoming even more excited.
"Disciple...disciple even suspects that those monsters...could they be Arhats sent from the Western Paradise in disguise?! Deliberately trying to scare and test me? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?"
Immortal Lord, I'm only telling you this, please don't spread it around... Those people in the Western Paradise are very petty, and I've heard they hold grudges very much..."
In the shadows, Guanyin Bodhisattva's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, her chest heaving violently, as if a surge of blood was about to rush to her head! She felt wronged! Utterly wronged!
What price did the Western Paradise pay to revive you, Jin Chanzi? The Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill! Countless merits! Even I... suffered such a humiliating disgrace! And yet, in your heart, the Western Paradise has become a villain who arranged for demons to harm you, a petty and vengeful place?! Is there any justice in this world?!
Lin Zhu listened to Tang Sanzang's "outrageous" yet inexplicably "clear" complaints, a hint of surprise and...admiration flashing in his eyes? This amnesiac Tang Sanzang has quite a unique perspective on things. Although his direction is a bit off, his spirit of skepticism is commendable.
He maintained a gentle demeanor, even reaching out to gently touch Tang Sanzang's bald head, soothing him in an even more "gentle" tone.
"Elder Tang, do not make such assumptions. The journey to the West is inherently against the will of Heaven, destined to be fraught with disasters and hardships, requiring one to disregard life and death. Since you have embarked on this path, you must be prepared for this."
He paused, then encouraged her in a way that was almost like a "blessing from the underworld".
"Don't worry, with me here, even if you're unlucky enough to be captured by monsters and roasted over a fire one day, I guarantee they won't dare add cumin to your food. Even if you're unlucky enough to... have that problem, I have a way to bring you back to life and let you continue on your way."
So don't be afraid, bravely move forward.
Tang Sanzang was taken aback by this strange "blessing," feeling that something was wrong, yet it also seemed very powerful? He blinked his teary eyes, temporarily forgetting his fear, and subconsciously asked.
"Immortal Lord...why must the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures be so fraught with hardship? Couldn't you...have the Bodhisattva fly directly over and deliver the scriptures to your disciple? Or...let your disciple ride in a more comfortable sedan chair and travel through the mountains and rivers?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong, who was standing nearby, sneered and interjected.
“Master, if you think walking is too slow, your disciple knows a shortcut that will allow you to reach the Western Paradise in a flash and see the Buddha directly, saving you the trouble of fetching the scriptures.”
As he spoke, he even weighed the golden cudgel in his hand.
Tang Sanzang sensed the undisguised murderous intent in Sun Wukong's words and was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly.
"No, no, no! My disciple, don't joke! Your master... your master should walk slowly!"
He then complained even more angrily.
"It's all that Guanyin Bodhisattva's fault! She's up to no good! She insists that her disciple measure the distance step by step with her own feet! Why should she do it herself?!"
Guanyin in the shadows.
"..."
She was so angry her face turned red and her neck bulged, she almost ground her teeth to powder! Why? Because you're the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi! Because this is a tribulation ordained by Heaven! Because the Western Paradise has poured countless efforts into it! How come in your mouth it's because I, Guanyin, have ill intentions?!
Furthermore, why is Lin Zhu portrayed as a compassionate and virtuous immortal in your eyes, while my Western Paradise is depicted as a petty, vengeful villain who orchestrated demons to harm you?! This disparity in treatment is too great! I feel wronged! So wronged!
Seeing that Tang Sanzang's words were becoming increasingly outrageous and his resentment towards Guanyin was almost tangible, Lin Zhu coughed lightly, put on a stern face, and "reprimanded" him.
"Elder Tang, be careful what you say! You mustn't be disrespectful to Guanyin Bodhisattva. She...she's doing this for your own good. Besides..."
He suddenly revealed an extremely strange smile, a mixture of mockery and wicked humor, and lowered his voice to speak in a volume that only Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong could barely hear.
"Furthermore, according to seniority, Guanyin Bodhisattva has already acknowledged me as... well, 'father'. So, strictly speaking, you should call her... elder sister? Or younger sister? After all, you are a junior whom I have high hopes for."
Tang Sanzang.
"...???"
Sun Wukong.
"...!!!"
Both of them froze. Tang Sanzang's mind went blank; he couldn't comprehend this complex ethical relationship at all. Sun Wukong, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at Lin Zhu, then subconsciously glanced in the direction where Guanyin might be hiding, feeling a tremendous fire of gossip burning within him! There's a story here... a big story! Old Lin is something else! Even Guanyin Bodhisattva...
"Cough cough!"
Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Lin Zhu immediately put on a stern face and said seriously.
"Pretend you didn't hear what I just said. What I meant was that Guanyin Bodhisattva has good intentions, and you should understand."
He stopped dwelling on the topic, his expression turned serious, and he suddenly exuded a majestic and righteous aura, an inviolable "light of the righteous path," as if he had instantly transformed into a sage who advised the world and guided those who had gone astray. His tone also became solemn and full of power.
"Elder Tang, Wukong. The journey to the West is fraught with peril, fraught with thorns, and beset by countless demons and monsters. But it is precisely these trials that will temper your hearts and strengthen your will!"
Only by enduring countless hardships, forging a path with one's own two feet, and achieving peace with one's own hands, can one obtain the true path—the 'right path' that truly belongs to oneself!
His gaze was intense as he swept over the still bewildered Tang Sanzang and the seemingly enlightened Sun Wukong.
"Whether you are seeking revenge or trying to achieve some kind of 'goal,' you must continue down this path! And you must walk it firmly and beautifully! Because this is not only the arrangement of the Western Paradise, but also your own choice, and an opportunity to prove yourselves!" He paused, his voice becoming even more resounding, as if carrying a promise.
"Remember, I am with you. No matter what lies ahead, whether it be mountains of knives or seas of fire, or demons and monsters, as long as your faith remains unwavering and you forge ahead bravely, I... will be your strongest support!"
These words, combined with the "light of righteousness" he deliberately exuded and his previous mysterious and unpredictable behavior, had an outstanding effect!
Tang Sanzang listened with tears streaming down his face, as if he had been instantly infused with boundless courage and confidence! He kowtowed several more times, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Immortal Lord! This disciple...this disciple understands! Just now...just now this disciple was blinded by fear and almost failed the Immortal Lord's expectations and teachings! This disciple has realized his mistake! Westward! We must go west! Let's set off now!"
He suddenly stood up, wiped away his tears, and his face showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, a powerful aura surged up, and he stood tall and proud.
"With the immortal lord by my side, I have nothing to fear! What do I care about demons and monsters, or hardships and dangers! I will definitely walk step by step to Mount Ling and obtain the true scriptures! Let those... those useless bodhisattvas and Buddhas of the Western Paradise see what a true scripture seeker is!"
Good heavens, he's elevated himself to the level of "slapping the face of the Western Paradise," and incidentally made Lin Zhu his only support.
Sun Wukong understood another layer of meaning in Lin Zhu's words—the Western Paradise would monitor the Journey to the West, but Lin Zhu would stand on their side and fight against any possible difficulties from the Western Paradise; at the same time, Lin Zhu also promised to help them "take revenge" or "find their own righteous path" in the Western Paradise.
For Sun Wukong, who was determined to "flatten Mount Ling and vent his anger," this was undoubtedly the greatest reassurance and temptation.
"hey-hey……"
Sun Wukong grinned, his eyes flashing with both ferocity and fighting spirit. He slammed his golden cudgel down heavily, sending shards of stone flying across the ground.
"Old Lin, just hearing that is enough! Master, let's go! I, Old Sun, will accompany you on this journey to the Western Paradise! We will overcome all obstacles and reach the foot of Mount Ling! Let's see if their Buddhist teachings are more powerful, or if my old Sun's stick is harder!"
His words were filled with murderous intent and terrifying aura, as if he were not going to seek scriptures, but rather to... take lives?
However, after experiencing amnesia, fear, breakdown, bizarre blessings, ethical clashes, and righteous platitudes, Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, the master and disciple who had just "reunited," finally reaffirmed their determination to journey to the West. However, the core of this determination seemed to have deviated slightly from the original expectations of the Western Paradise.
Lin Zhu looked at the master and disciple before him, whose fighting spirit had been rekindled by his "combination punches"—though the direction of that spirit seemed a little off—and nodded in satisfaction. The system notification for the task "Assist in the Restart of Journey to the West" had already sounded in his mind, meaning that the process had progressed smoothly and 50,000 merits were about to be credited to his account.
However, adhering to the principle of "doing a good deed to the end and seeing the Buddha through to the West," he added another sentence to Tang Sanzang.
"Elder Tang, although your mind is made up, you are still only a mortal. The journey to the West is fraught with difficulties and dangers, and determination alone is not enough. But don't worry, you will soon encounter some... well, 'opportunities' and obtain some protective treasures. When that time comes, remember to keep your eyes open and don't miss them."
His words were ambiguous, sounding both like a reminder and a prophecy. Without waiting for Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong to react, his figure, like a reflection in water, swayed gently and vanished from the spot, leaving only a lingering echo and a faint wisp of "righteous light" that had not yet completely dissipated.
He came to Five Elements Mountain to complete a system task, incidentally cause some trouble for Guanyin, and watch the excitement. Now that he had basically achieved his goal, said what needed to be said, and done what needed to be done, he naturally didn't want to stay any longer. The more he said, the more mistakes he would make, and he didn't want to get too entangled in the mess of Journey to the West. Occasionally harvesting some韭菜 (a metaphor for exploiting others) was fine, but watching over things every day was too tiring.
As soon as Lin Zhu disappeared, Guanyin Bodhisattva, who had been hiding in the shadows and was so frustrated that she was almost internally injured, finally couldn't hold back any longer. Almost instantly, she appeared in front of Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, her face as black as if she could scrape off a layer of soot from the bottom of a pot. She stared intently at the direction where Lin Zhu had disappeared, her chest heaving violently.
"Lin—Prison—God!"
Guanyin practically gritted her teeth as she squeezed out those three words, her voice icy and chilling, filled with suppressed rage and questioning.
"What...what did you mean by what you just said?! Are you trying to mislead Tang Sanzang and make him hate the Western Paradise?! You promised to help with the Journey to the West, and this is how you 'help'?! Or...are you going to cause trouble again?!"
She was furious and terrified.
Lin Zhu's final words about "treasures" and "opportunities" sounded to her like a shot of adrenaline for Tang Sanzang, making him "expect the Western Paradise to send treasures," and even implying that the Western Paradise would "protect and escort" him. This completely disrupted her original plans with the Western Paradise!
Not to mention those messy "generational theories" and "underworld blessings" that completely rubbed the seriousness and sanctity of Journey to the West into the ground!
Faced with Guanyin's angry questioning, Lin Zhu, who had just disappeared, seemed to have a voice coming from all directions, carrying a lazy and roguish tone.
"Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. When have I ever caused trouble? Aren't I encouraging them to hold firm to their beliefs and forge ahead bravely? Isn't this what you in the Western Paradise most want to see?"
As for misleading and inciting hatred… hey, the innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. If you in the Western Paradise are truly doing the right thing and acting uprightly, why would you be afraid of what others say?
He paused, then continued in an almost slangy, infuriating tone.
"Besides, I'm not the kind of bad guy who's always idle, just likes to cheat, swindle, and cause trouble. Occasionally... I need to rest and do some 'good deeds,' you know. That's all for today's 'good deed,' that's a wrap. You guys continue, keep it up!"
The words faded away completely; this time, he was truly gone.
Guanyin was so speechless at these words that she almost fainted! Rest? Do good deeds? If Lin Zhu is a good person, then there are no bad people in the Three Realms! But what could she do? Chase after him to argue? She couldn't beat him in a fight, and she couldn't win an argument. What if he caught her again and forced her to say... say those two words?
Or worse, what if she "wins" the argument, and this scoundrel gets angry and physically assaults her, beating her up and forcing her to call him "Dad"... The thought was too much for Guanyin to bear.
Weighing the pros and cons, Guanyin ultimately chose... to remain silent. However, her ashen face and almost fiery eyes revealed that her anger and resentment had reached a breaking point.
She stomped her foot angrily, suppressing all her anger for the time being, and decided to proceed with the Journey to the West as planned! As long as the journey to the West proceeded smoothly, a few setbacks... she could bear them for now!
She took a deep breath, barely calming herself, and began to use her supernatural powers according to the original script from the Western Paradise.
With a swift movement, she transformed into a streak of light and silently disappeared into a dense thicket of bushes nearby.
Immediately afterwards, a deep and menacing roar echoed from the bushes!
"Roar--!!!"
A massive, mottled tiger with a white forehead bearing the character "王" (king) on its brow suddenly leaped out of the bushes, blocking the path of Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, who were preparing to embark on their westward journey! The tiger's eyes were like copper bells, its fangs were bared, and it let out a deep roar, poised to pounce. It was truly majestic and exuded the aura of a king of the mountains.
This was precisely a common transformation technique that Guanyin performed according to her original plan.
She concealed a wisp of her divine sense and a portion of her magical power within the tiger, which had been conjured by her supernatural powers. She could control the tiger's movements freely, as if she were actually there. The brilliance of this technique lay in the fact that even if the tiger were killed, it would only result in the loss of a small amount of her divine sense and magical power, posing little threat to her true form, allowing her to escape at any time. (End of Chapter)