Chapter 769
Quickly bring the Divine Water of Ten Thousand Merits!
Lin Zhu stood by the rocks, still clutching the blade of grass he had casually picked up, leaning loosely against the tree trunk as if he had no bones. When he heard Guanyin Bodhisattva's question, he blinked first, then straightened up with a look of utter exasperation.
Without saying a word, he reached out his right hand into the void, and a jet-black spear appeared out of thin air in his palm. Dark red patterns faintly flowed along the spear shaft, and even the air itself made a slight tearing sound where the spear tip pointed.
God-Slaying Spear.
The moment that gun was drawn, the temperature on the entire Mount Luojia seemed to drop by more than ten degrees. The surrounding vegetation bowed silently, and the chirping of birds and insects in the mountains vanished in an instant, so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.
The little white dragon unconsciously took a half step back, its scales bristling and its tail taut. Guanyin Bodhisattva reacted even more violently; the hairs on her body stood on end the moment the God-Slaying Spear appeared, and the fabric of her clothes was soaked with cold sweat, clinging icy to her skin.
Lin Zhu slammed the God-Slaying Spear into the ground, its butt sinking three inches into the rock, sending up a few pebbles. He tilted his head and looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva, his tone as calm as if he were asking her if she had eaten: "Have you forgotten the taste of this great treasure? How dare you speak to me like that?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
She subconsciously took a step back, and the scene of that battle involuntarily surfaced in her mind. It was the closest she had ever come to death since she began her cultivation, and it was also the first time she truly experienced what despair meant.
That chilling killing intent, that utterly irresistible sense of oppression—even after so many years, just thinking about it still makes her fingertips tremble slightly.
She suddenly realized a very serious problem.
She can't afford to mess with the White Dragon.
She can't afford to offend the God of Hell.
Two formidable figures stood before her, and she had just been throwing a tantrum.
This made the situation very awkward.
Guanyin Bodhisattva opened her mouth, wanting to say something to salvage the atmosphere, but swallowed the words back, because she noticed that Lin Zhu's expression showed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever. He was neither angry nor proud, and he didn't even seem impatient. It was as if he was looking at a roadside stone.
This completely indifferent attitude is more painful than any mockery, because she can't even find a basis to judge the other person's true thoughts.
Lin Zhu yawned.
The yawn was long and slow, and after it was finished, the person wiped the corner of their eye with their finger, exuding a lazy and languid aura.
He put the God-Slaying Spear away as casually as if he were putting away a broken umbrella, then waved his hand and said in a nonchalant tone, "Little White Dragon, you can take it if you want, I didn't stop you. It's not working hours now, don't disturb my rest."
After saying that, he turned and left.
His pace was neither fast nor slow, and his back view conveyed a resolute attitude of "don't disturb my sleep even if the sky falls."
When the little white dragon saw Lin Zhu about to leave, the entire dragon became excited. Using all four claws, it ran and leaped after Lin Zhu, its head poking out from beside him, its eyes gleaming, its voice rising several octaves with excitement: "Great God of Hell, are you going to the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison? Can you take me with you? I want to be a lowly soldier in the Hall of Law Enforcement! Even a gatekeeper would be fine!"
Lin Zhu kept walking without even lifting her eyelids.
The little white dragon got even more excited, swishing its tail loudly and chattering incessantly: "Big boss, think about it, although I'm a dragon, I can still do chores in human form. I can sweep the floor, serve tea and water, and if all else fails, I can be your mount! Riding me back to Heaven is much faster than walking!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva, standing behind, heard the White Dragon's words clearly. Her already unpleasant expression turned completely ashen. If the White Dragon really went to Heaven with Lin Zhu, how could she explain it to the Dragon King of the West Sea? How could she explain it to the Spirit Mountain? More importantly, what would happen to the Journey to the West?
The White Dragon Horse was a pre-arranged part of the pilgrimage team. Tang Sanzang's horse was eaten by the White Dragon, who then transformed into the White Dragon Horse to carry Tang Sanzang on the journey. This was a deal already agreed upon between Buddha and the Dragon Clan. The Dragon Clan used the White Dragon to gain merit, while the Western Paradise used the White Dragon to complete the pilgrimage team's composition. Both sides got what they needed; the agreement was signed, and the gifts were received. Now, if the White Dragon were to simply leave and follow Lin Zhu to the Heavenly Court to become a Heavenly soldier, wouldn't those old bald monks twist her head off and use it as a wooden fish to beat?
The image of the enraged Buddhas of Mount Ling sent a chill down Guanyin's spine. She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and her eyes turned icy and resolute. She had one last trick up her sleeve.
This trick may be embarrassing, but it works.
Lin Zhu was about to lift his leg to step over a protruding rock when he suddenly felt a resistance coming from his ankle.
He looked down and saw a pair of slender, fair arms tightly wrapped around his thighs, so tightly that the knuckles were slightly white from the force.
Looking down along the arm, Guanyin Bodhisattva was almost kneeling on the ground, her skirt trailing on the rocks and covered with grass clippings and mud. Her crown was slightly crooked, and a few strands of hair fell from the side of the crown and stuck to her cheeks.
She raised her head, a stiff smile plastered on her face, the curve of her lips as precise as if measured with a ruler, but there was no hint of a smile in her eyes, only resentment and helplessness.
“Goddess of Hell,” her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze in March, but every word was squeezed out from between her teeth, “things can be discussed, I am willing to give you the Divine Water of Merit.”
Lin Zhu looked down at the Guanyin Bodhisattva clinging to his leg, his brows furrowing slightly, his expression filled with a puzzled "What's going on?" He tried to move his leg, but couldn't pull it out; the Guanyin Bodhisattva was holding on too tightly.
At this moment, Guanyin Bodhisattva was almost in despair.
She, Guanyin Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, the face of Mount Ling, and a figure of great stature even in the Three Realms, was now kneeling on the ground, clinging to someone else's leg. If word got out, where would she put her face? But she really had no choice. She had to get rid of this plague, Lin Zhu, and make the White Dragon obediently return to its place. She couldn't let Lin Zhu stay on Mount Luojia any longer.
If Lin Zhu were to discover the things she arranged on Mount Luojia, those arrangements that she couldn't let outsiders know about, the consequences would be unimaginable.
She had initially thought Lin Zhu was just sleeping there by chance, but now it seemed that every step he took was meaningful, and his choice of Mount Luojia was by no means accidental.
Lin Zhu was also puzzled. He looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva kneeling on the ground, hugging his leg, then at the smug-looking little white dragon beside her, his mind blank. What had he just said? He had said it was rest time and not to disturb him, so what happened? Wasn't that a perfectly normal sentence? How did it turn into Guanyin Bodhisattva kneeling to give him water?
He carefully recalled the conversation and confirmed that he had only said, "Little White Dragon, you can take it if you want. I didn't stop you. It's not working hours now, so don't disturb my rest." Then he prepared to leave. Then Little White Dragon followed and asked if he could go to the Heavenly Prison. Then Guanyin Bodhisattva pounced on him and hugged his leg.
Lin Zhu scratched his head.
Standing beside him, the little white dragon's smile deepened as he watched Lin Zhu scratch his head.
He observed Lin Zhu's every expression and movement, especially Lin Zhu's calm demeanor and the composure of having everything under control, which further confirmed to Xiao Bailong that his judgment was entirely correct.
The Prison God wants the Divine Water of Merit.
Moreover, the mastermind already knew how to use strategy, advancing when necessary and retreating when appropriate, employing the tactic of strategic retreat with masterful skill. His earlier statement, "I didn't stop you from taking him," seemingly a concession, was actually a ploy to force Guanyin Bodhisattva to make an offer. The Prison God knew Guanyin Bodhisattva's weakness all too well; he knew she would never dare to actually take the White Dragon away, because if the White Dragon left Mount Luojia for the Heavenly Court, the Journey to the West plan would be thrown into chaos.
Forced into a corner, Guanyin Bodhisattva had no choice but to obediently take out the merit-giving water.
What's even more incredible is that the God of Hell even included his own dragon in his calculations.
How did he know he would definitely follow and ask about the Heavenly Court? How did he know he would say those words that completely panicked Guanyin Bodhisattva? This requires terrifying calculation ability, precise control over people's hearts, and meticulous planning.
Looking at Lin Zhu's calm profile, the little white dragon felt a surge of sincere admiration.
The God of Hell is a master strategist; this is no exaggeration. Every step he takes is within his prediction, and every reaction is under his control. Guanyin Bodhisattva is like a butterfly caught in a net, unable to escape the inescapable trap set by the God of Hell no matter how hard she tries.
Guanyin Bodhisattva saw that Lin Zhu had not expressed her opinion, neither agreeing nor refusing, but just looking down at her, her unfathomable eyes revealing no emotion.
She was so frustrated she felt like she was about to have an internal hemorrhage, but she had to maintain that stiff smile on her face. She understood this principle better than anyone: when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
She took out a glass bottle from her bosom. The bottle was clear and transparent, filled with a bright green liquid that shimmered with a warm luster in the sunlight and exuded a pure and peaceful aura.
The Divine Water of Merit contains the essence of countless merits in every drop, making it extremely difficult to refine. Even Guanyin Bodhisattva herself did not have much of it in stock.
"Here is 20,000 merits of divine water," Guanyin Bodhisattva handed the glass bottle to Lin Zhu, trying to keep her voice calm, but her slightly trembling fingers still betrayed her inner frustration. "Take the water and let the White Dragon return to its place."
Lin Zhu looked at the glass bottle handed to him and scratched his head. He looked down at Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression—she was practically bursting with suppressed laughter but still managing a forced smile—and then at the proud little white dragon standing tall beside her. A big question mark popped into his head.
What happened?
Why did this kid suddenly go crazy and come to deliver water?
The White Dragon's gaze fell on Lin Zhu's hand as he scratched his head, his eyes flashing before he let out a cold laugh. He turned to look at Guanyin Bodhisattva, his tone full of mockery and disdain: "Bodhisattva, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? You think 20,000 merit points of divine water will make the Prison God submit? You're seriously underestimating people!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva suddenly turned her head and glared at the little white dragon, her eyes so fierce it looked like she wanted to stew him.
The little white dragon shook its head nonchalantly, raised its paw and pointed at Lin Zhu's hand, its voice strong and clear: "Did you see the hand that the Prison God raised? If you don't produce 100,000 merit points of divine water today, this slap will be right across your face!"
Lin Zhu glanced at his hand that was scratching his head.
He did raise his hand, but only because he was scratching his head. What did that have to do with hitting someone? He silently lowered his hand, but before he could finish the movement, Little White Dragon excitedly shouted, "Look! Boss Prison God is about to make his move! 100,000! Quickly, hand over 100,000!"
Lin Zhu's movements froze in mid-air.
A thought flashed through his mind: Is this what I meant?
I think so.
No, what do you mean by "should be"?
He looked at his hand, which the little white dragon had forcibly given a "threatening" meaning, and fell into deep self-doubt.
Maybe he really did want 100,000? After all, he could tell the difference between 20,000 and 100,000, but he just felt confused and didn't have the complicated thoughts that Xiaobailong described.
Guanyin Bodhisattva stood up abruptly, her face flushed red, and pointed at the little white dragon, angrily shouting, "Prison God, don't go too far! Do you know what 100,000 merits of divine water means? It took me so many years to accumulate this much, and you just casually ask for 100,000!"
Lin Zhu felt wronged.
What did he do wrong? He only said "Don't disturb my rest" from beginning to end, and then people started sucking up to him and accusing him of going too far. What did he do to deserve this?
He was about to explain when the little white dragon stepped in front of him. The little white dragon's body was slightly arched, its whiskers fluttered in the wind, its scales gleamed with a cold light, and its face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm.
“Guanyin Bodhisattva,” the White Dragon’s voice was low and cold, each word carrying a sense of oppression, “You have quite the nerve, daring to threaten the Prison God? Do you really think the God didn’t have a trick up his sleeve?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva's pupils contracted slightly.
The White Dragon continued, speaking at a measured pace, but each word felt like a knife stabbing into Guanyin Bodhisattva's heart: "If I'm not mistaken, the Prison God specifically chose to sleep on this mountain because he had already seen through your plans here."
Lin Zhu was even more confused.
What does this wretched mountain have to do with anything?
He just found a place to sleep anywhere. He flew up from Yingchoujian and thought the mountain was close by, so he didn't bother to fly far and just landed on the mountaintop for a nap.
As for the name of the mountain or what was inside, he hadn't thought about it at all. He only learned that this was Mount Luojia when the little white dragon mentioned it earlier.
Mount Luojia... Mount Luojia is the sacred site of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
The information swirled in his mind, then got stuck somewhere.
He slept on Guanyin Bodhisattva's sacred site. Guanyin Bodhisattva had also made some arrangements there. Then the White Dragon said that he deliberately chose this place to force Guanyin Bodhisattva to submit.
Lin Zhuren was dumbfounded.
He hadn't realized what was hidden in this place at all; he'd simply chosen a nearby spot to sleep. How could it have been interpreted in so many twists and turns? He started to panic a little, feeling that if this continued, who knew what outrageous things the White Dragon would conjure up? He needed to quickly get some water and send the White Dragon back to avoid any further complications. (End of Chapter)