Chapter 742
Master and Disciple Push Each Other to Seize the Deadly Tightening Hoop
Tang Sanzang shuddered slightly at Sun Wukong's cold and impolite tone and gaze, and subconsciously took half a step back, his smile becoming somewhat stiff.
He knew how formidable the monkey was, and he also knew that the monkey was in a bad mood recently, so he dared not act recklessly in the slightest.
He tried to maintain a gentle tone as he persuaded her.
"Wukong, you...you're too scary. I'm only doing this for your own good. Look at these clothes and hat, they are...they are a token of my affection."
His heart was in turmoil, filled with extreme reluctance! This was a "protective treasure" bestowed upon him by Immortal Lin! It was untouched by any magic and impervious to all evil! Since leaving Chang'an, Tang Sanzang had experienced the tragic deaths of his brothers, nearly driven mad by fear, and been tormented by various "tests." His deepest desire for "safety" had reached a pathological level.
He desperately wanted to improve his self-defense capabilities, and this "treasure hat" was the perfect life-saving charm he had always dreamed of! It could greatly alleviate his anxiety as he witnessed his brothers being torn apart and felt as if he himself was undergoing torture.
But... but the old woman repeatedly told him that this was for Wukong, and he had to be coaxed into wearing it! He dared not disobey the immortal lord's order, so he could only reluctantly give it up.
Thinking of this, Tang Sanzang felt his heart bleed, but he still had to force a smile on his face, and handed the clothes and hat forward again, making up a story according to what the old woman had said before.
"This garment and hat were worn by your teacher when you were young. Although they are not precious items, they are quite spiritual. If you wear this hat, you will be able to calm your mind and spirit, and it will be easier for you to understand the Dharma. Wearing this garment will make your behavior naturally conform to etiquette and give you a dignified appearance. This is your teacher's... your teacher's heartfelt gift. Please do not refuse it."
His statement completely distorted the old woman's previous hints about "calming the mind" and "discipline" into the function of a lucky charm that "assists in spiritual practice" and "adds dignity," and he also changed the source to his own "old things," never mentioning Lin Zhu.
Because he subconsciously felt strange, since it was a gift from the Immortal Lord, why didn't the old woman tell him to say it was from the Immortal Lord? Could there be another hidden meaning? Just to be on the safe side, he decided to say it according to his own understanding.
Sun Wukong was originally quite agitated and didn't care about the clothes and hat at all. He was about to wave his hand to push them away when suddenly a thought struck him. He carefully examined the clothes and hat with his fiery eyes, especially the hat inlaid with gold flowers. The workmanship was indeed exquisite, and there was a faint spiritual energy fluctuation that was different from the mortal world.
More importantly, he suddenly remembered that his master's luggage had been very simple along the way. He had never seen such exquisite clothes and hats before, let alone "clothes worn in childhood." Was the monk's family so wealthy when he was a child?
Suspicion arose, and Sun Wukong stopped his outstretched hand.
He narrowed his eyes, staring at Tang Sanzang, his voice becoming somewhat dangerous.
“Master, you’re not being honest. We’ve been traveling together, and although I haven’t looked closely at your luggage, I still know roughly what’s inside. Such exquisite clothes and hats don’t seem like things you would take out of your bundle. Tell me, where did they come from?”
As he spoke, he slowly raised the golden cudgel in his other hand. Although he did not point it at Tang Sanzang, the invisible pressure and the chilling killing intent that he exuded made the surrounding air seem to freeze!
Tang Sanzang felt a chill run down his spine from his gaze, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
He knew his disciple's temperament well, and he was even more aware of the severe attitude towards "deception" and "breaking precepts" within the "Buddhist teachings" he had imparted. If Wukong accused him of lying, the consequences would be...
"Wukong! Let your master explain!"
Tang Sanzang hurriedly waved his hand, his voice trembling with tears. He dared not hide anything any longer and spilled everything out like beans from a bamboo tube.
"It was... an ugly old woman! Not long after you left, she suddenly appeared and stopped me! She said... said a man in white asked her to pass on something! She said that the man in white was... extremely handsome, with a very high level of attractiveness, unlike an ordinary person! I thought to myself, that must be Immortal Lord Lin without a doubt!"
She gave me this robe and hat, and...and a piece of paper, saying it was a matching...something...yes, a mantra for calming the mind! She even repeatedly told me to make sure I coaxed you into putting this hat on first! I...I absolutely didn't utter a single falsehood!"
His hasty explanation did manage to recount most of the events, and aside from omitting his own imagined "protective treasure" function and his reluctance to part with it, the rest was basically true.
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong frowned, his anger and suspicion lessening slightly. A man in white? Extremely handsome? Lin Zhu? If it was a gift from that Lin fellow… although he acted strangely, he didn't seem to have harmed him. He even treated him to peaches in the Heavenly Prison and said some things that sounded awkward yet somehow made sense. If it was a gift from him…
Sun Wukong's fierce expression softened slightly, and his golden cudgel drooped a little. He glanced at the flowery hat in Tang Sanzang's hand. Although he thought the style of the hat was a bit effeminate, since it was a gift from Lin Zhu, perhaps it really had some special use? For example... a little trick to restrain the tricks of the Western Paradise?
The frost on his face gradually melted, and even a smile appeared on his face. He reached out to take the hat and said...
"I see. Since it's a gift from Old Lin, then I, Old Sun, will accept it. Thank you, Master..."
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the gold-embroidered hat, a familiar, lazy yet playful, and crystal-clear voice resounded directly in his ears like a thunderclap.
"Wait, monkey. I never gave you one of these things."
Sun Wukong's movements, along with the hint of "gratitude" that had just appeared on his face, froze instantly!
Tang Sanzang's hand, which was holding his clothes and hat, froze in mid-air. His expression was fixed, and he blinked blankly, seemingly not yet realizing what the voice meant.
The scene suddenly fell into an eerie silence. Only the mountain wind whistled through the treetops, as if mocking something.
Lin Zhu's clear denial, though directed only at Sun Wukong and not deliberately concealed, was naturally detected by Guanyin Bodhisattva, who, with a cultivation level similar to his and focused intently on the changes below, keenly sensed that subtle yet unmistakable fluctuation of divine thought.
Above the clouds, Guanyin suddenly turned her head. Her beautiful eyes, which were originally filled with compassion and now filled with anxiety, were instantly ignited by a burst of anger. She stared intently at the white-clad figure not far away who looked lazy and as if nothing had happened!
Her chest heaved rapidly, and she could barely control the peaceful aura emanating from her body. Her voice was sharp due to extreme anger.
"Lin-Zhu! What...what are you trying to do now?! This is a matter concerning my Western Paradise! The journey to the West to obtain the scriptures concerns the fate of the Three Realms. It's one thing for you to interfere time and time again, but now you dare to directly meddle in the matter of the golden headband?!"
Do you know that if Sun Wukong weren't wearing this headband, he would be uncontrollable, and the journey to the West would inevitably bring endless troubles! Could you bear the consequences of the karmic retribution then?! The Western Paradise would certainly not let you off easily!
She was truly anxious and scared.
Seeing that the plan was about to fall apart at the last minute, they even brought up the "righteousness" and "threat" of the Western Paradise.
However, in the face of her angry rebuke, Lin Zhu simply picked at his ear lazily, as if shooing away an annoying fly.
Suddenly, his eyes turned cold, and his figure appeared in front of Guanyin in an instant, as fast as a ghost. Guanyin could only see a blur! The next moment, a slender hand containing unimaginable power had already accurately and forcefully gripped Guanyin's delicate white neck!
Although it didn't actually hurt her, the cold touch of those fingers on her skin, and the undisguised warning they carried, made Guanyin freeze, and all her words got stuck in her throat.
"What business is it of mine in the Western Paradise?"
Lin Zhu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling edge. He leaned closer, staring into Guanyin's wide, shocked eyes, and said, enunciating each word clearly, "I just heard that someone has the audacity to impersonate me, swindling and deceiving the ignorant masses? Guanyin, do you know what crime this is called in the laws of the Three Realms? It's called 'Impersonating a State Official to Swindle and Deceive'!"
The circumstances are serious, and the impact is egregious. As the God of Law Enforcement and Prison, shouldn't I "appropriately" refute these rumors to protect my legitimate rights and... well, my right to reputation?
As he spoke, the fingers gripping Guanyin's neck rubbed against her skin slightly, as if savoring the feel of her skin. A wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he whispered a mocking tone.
"Tsk, I must say, it feels quite smooth and tender. I almost 'dropped' it."
Guanyin was both ashamed and angry at his sudden close approach, the cold touch, and his frivolous words. Two red blushes instantly appeared on her face, but her neck was restrained, and her magic power seemed to be suppressed by an even more domineering force, so she could not break free for a moment.
She was so angry that she was trembling all over, and her voice was squeezed out from between her teeth.
"You...you stop being so unreasonable! I...I was just using your name, why are you trying to sabotage me like this?!"
"Borrowing? Taking without asking is stealing!"
Lin Zhu sneered.
"You not only infringed upon my right to authorship, but also attempted to use my reputation as collateral to engage in fraudulent and deceptive activities, seriously endangering my personal safety and property, as well as... my expected food expenses in Heaven next year! Compensation for mental distress, reputational damage, lost wages, and fees for refuting rumors... shouldn't you compensate me for all of these?"
He started counting on his fingers, earnestly "doing the math," and finally concluded.
"Therefore, I will not only sabotage your efforts, but also demand compensation! Payment now, no credit!"
"You...you're a scoundrel!"
Guanyin was so angry that her vision blurred, feeling that there was no way to reason with this demon.
"What exactly do you want before you'll stop?!"
"It's simple."
The forest and bamboo groves are well-maintained and at ease.
"Either you go down now and, in front of Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, admit that the clothes and hat have absolutely nothing to do with the 'White-Robed Immortal' you mentioned, and that it was all your own doing, Guanyin Bodhisattva. Or..."
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
“I will go down right now and help you ‘clarify’ things. Do you think that after Tang Sanzang knows the truth, he will still ‘trust’ you as much, or even… will he think that you and the Western Paradise are deceiving him and trying to harm his ‘good disciple’?”
These words were like a poisoned needle, piercing the very spot that Guanyin feared most.
The reason she stole Lin Zhu's name was because Tang Sanzang blindly trusted Lin Zhu, while harboring deep suspicion towards the Western Paradise and her. If this were exposed now, not only would the plan to tighten the headband fail, but Tang Sanzang's trust in the Western Paradise would also completely collapse, and the Journey to the West would immediately be over!
"you dare!"
Guanyin was both anxious and furious. Almost instinctively, she raised her free jade hand and covered Lin Zhu's mouth! Both of them were stunned by this action. Guanyin's reaction was impulsive; she realized her mistake immediately afterward, her face turning even redder, but she dared not let go. She simply glared fiercely at Lin Zhu, her eyes filled with threat.
"Don't tell!"
Lin Zhu was not annoyed when her mouth was covered. Instead, a hint of amusement and playfulness flashed in her eyes. She even stuck out her tongue and quickly licked the warm palm!
"!"
Guanyin recoiled as if burned, her face turning bright red, almost dripping with blood. She was both ashamed and angry, pointing at Lin Zhu and stammering "you you you" for a long time, but she couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Lin Zhu, however, acted as if nothing had happened, licking his lips and grinning maliciously.
"Oh dear, Guanyin Bodhisattva's hands smell quite nice. But do you think covering my mouth will do any good? I can transmit my thoughts without even using my mouth!"
He felt incredibly pleased as he looked at Guanyin, who was on the verge of exploding with anger but also helpless.
It was precisely because he held the "handle" to overturn the course of the Journey to the West that he dared to tease this usually aloof Bodhisattva so wantonly.
He was enjoying the thrill of cornering his opponent and watching them become frustrated and frantic, and for a moment he even forgot about the interaction between the master and disciple in the arena below.
Below, Sun Wukong, frozen in place, slowly withdrew his hand from the flower hat. The trace of "gratitude" on his face had vanished without a trace, replaced by a complex expression that mixed coldness, mockery, and a hint of lingering fear.
Lin Zhu's denial was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, completely waking him from his slight lapse in vigilance due to the "gift from Lin Zhu"! His ominous premonition had become a reality! This flower hat was indeed suspicious!
Combined with the previous series of "tests," "luring the tiger away from the mountain," and the old woman's strange appearance and emphasis on "deception," Sun Wukong could almost conclude that this seemingly exquisite hat was definitely something arranged by the Western Paradise to annoy and control him!
He instantly recalled the words Lin Zhu had said to him in the Ninth Heavenly Prison, while offering him peaches and seemingly chatting casually: "In this Three Realms, especially for someone like you with a criminal record, you need to be more careful."
Don't accept things from strangers, especially from bald monks, and certainly don't wear them casually. Who knows what kind of trap they might be hiding? The first rule of survival is to never hand over your vital organs to others.
At the time, he thought it was just a strange remark, but now he realizes that every word is a gem and a profound truth for survival!
"What a Western Paradise! What a Buddha!" Sun Wukong's heart surged with murderous intent. "Five hundred years ago, they tricked me, Old Sun, into a trap and imprisoned me under the Five Elements Mountain. Now that they've released me, they still want to control me with this insidious trick? What do they take me for? A caged monkey? A puppet on a stage?" (End of Chapter)