Chapter 629
Regaining His Freedom!
But doing so would inevitably disrupt the main storyline of Journey to the West.
The journey to the West was ordained by Heaven, with the aim of spreading Buddhism and saving all sentient beings.
As the pilgrim on his journey to the West, Tang Sanzang's character and compassion were key to the success of his pilgrimage.
If we forcibly change his nature and make him commit murder, it may not only cause the great mission of obtaining the scriptures to fail, but may also trigger a backlash from the Heavenly Dao, with unimaginable consequences.
"This option seems to offer generous rewards, but it's actually a trap."
Jiang Wang shook his head, a flash of understanding appearing in his eyes.
The Origin Spirit Crystal is valuable, but you need to be alive to obtain it.
The risk of disrupting the main storyline of Journey to the West was too great, and he was unwilling to take that risk.
Moreover, it was destined that Sun Wukong and the Six-Eared Macaque would have a battle. The Six-Eared Macaque impersonated Wukong and disrupted the pilgrimage team, so his fate was bound to be to die at Wukong's hands.
This is the inevitable result of the workings of Heaven and the cycle of cause and effect.
Thinking of this, Jiang Wang's gaze returned to the second crimson-gold light screen.
Helping Wukong kill and refine the Six-Eared Macaque is in accordance with the will of Heaven, and the success rate is extremely high.
The Six-Eared Macaque impersonated Sun Wukong and committed a grave mistake, deserving to die. Sun Wukong killing him was in accordance with the will of Heaven and a way to cleanse the sect.
However, having Wukong refine the Six-Eared Macaque might bring unexpected benefits.
Jiang Wang carefully observed the process of Wukong refining the Six-Eared Macaque on the light screen, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
The Six-Eared Macaque is one of the Four Chaotic Monkeys, and he shares the same lineage and origin as Sun Wukong.
If Wukong could refine it and absorb its original power, he might be able to make up for his own shortcomings, and might even trigger some kind of hidden bloodline inheritance.
"The Mischievous Demon Ape..."
Jiang Wang's heart stirred, and he remembered another legend about Sun Wukong's origins.
Legend has it that Sun Wukong was not an ordinary stone monkey, but a remnant soul of the Chaos Demon Ape, who was unable to awaken the original power of the Chaos Demon Ape due to congenital deficiencies.
As one of the Four Chaotic Monkeys, the Six-Eared Macaque may also contain a trace of the origin of the Chaotic Demon Ape.
If Wukong could refine the Six-Eared Macaque and absorb its original power, he might be able to use this opportunity to awaken the Chaos Demon Ape bloodline hidden within him and evolve into a Chaos Demon Ape.
If this were truly the case, Wukong's strength would be greatly enhanced, enabling him not only to better escort Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West and deal with various demons and monsters, but also perhaps to secure a place in future great calamities.
As for himself, he only needs to secretly guide Wukong to spend thirty years refining the Six-Eared Macaque, and he can easily complete the task and obtain the Hunyuan Spirit Crystal without disrupting the main storyline of Journey to the West. It can be said to be a win-win situation.
"I'll choose this one."
Without further hesitation, Jiang Wang pointed his finger, and a second crimson-gold light screen instantly burst forth with dazzling light, enveloping him within it.
The runes on the light screen flowed into his brow as a stream of light, and the mission was officially accepted.
In the void, the threads of cause and effect were rewoven, and the threads pointing towards Wukong became thicker, faintly shimmering with the light of Heaven's approval.
Jiang Wang slowly closed his eyes and began to deduce the specific method of guiding Wukong to refine the Six-Eared Macaque.
He needed to find a suitable opportunity to transmit the refining method into Wukong's mind without revealing himself, while ensuring that Wukong could refine it successfully without any accidents.
Thirty years is neither a long nor a short time; it's enough for Wukong to digest and absorb the Six-Eared Macaque's original power and complete a transformation.
Meanwhile, on the distant journey to the West, a storm is quietly brewing.
In the desolate mountains and wilderness, withered leaves covered the ground, and a cold wind howled.
Tang Sanzang rode the white dragon horse slowly forward, his brows furrowed, his expression showing a hint of fatigue and dissatisfaction.
Sun Wukong followed beside him, playing with his golden cudgel, his face full of impatience.
Sha Wujing carried the luggage and followed silently behind, his expression blank.
Pigsy looked around, occasionally complaining about the long journey and missing his beloved wife in Gao Village.
Just then, a figure suddenly darted out of the forest and blocked the way in front of the group.
This man's physique was identical to that of Sun Wukong. He held a wielding iron staff, his eyes were arrogant, and a mocking smile graced his face.
"Hey! Tang Sanzang, you mortal monk, how dare you be disrespectful to me! Today I'll show you what I'm capable of!"
Tang Sanzang was startled and quickly reined in his white dragon horse. Looking up, he saw "Sun Wukong" before him.
He looked exactly like Wukong beside him, even his demeanor and mannerisms were almost identical, which immediately aroused some doubt in my heart.
"Wukong, you... how did you get here?"
Sun Wukong, standing beside him, was also taken aback, then flew into a rage: "You little demon, how dare you impersonate me, Old Sun! Take this!"
Having said that, he swung his golden cudgel and struck at the imposter Sun Wukong.
The imposter Sun Wukong was not to be outdone, and his Ruyi Jingu Bang (Monkey King's staff) charged forward, clashing with the staff's blade with a clang.
A loud bang.
The two fought back and forth, locked in a fierce battle, with neither able to gain the upper hand for a time.
Tang Sanzang, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie were all dumbfounded, unable to distinguish which was the real Sun Wukong and which was the fake one.
In the midst of the fierce battle, the imposter Sun Wukong suddenly feinted an attack and, taking advantage of everyone's unpreparedness, kicked Tang Sanzang.
Caught off guard, Tang Sanzang was kicked to the ground, his brocade cassock covered in mud.
Immediately afterward, the imposter Sun Wukong snatched the luggage from Sha Wujing's shoulder, turned around and fled towards Flower Fruit Mountain, leaving behind the words: "Tang Sanzang, I, Old Sun, will keep this luggage for you for now. If you want it back, have the real Sun Wukong come to Flower Fruit Mountain to find me!"
Tang Sanzang scrambled to his feet, both ashamed and furious. He pointed at the escaped imposter Sun Wukong, trembling with rage.
He turned to look at the real Wukong beside him, his eyes filled with resentment: "Wukong! How could you be so rude! Not only did you hit me, but you also stole my luggage! I have always treated you well, why are you treating me like this!"
The real Sun Wukong, wrongly accused, immediately scratched his head in distress: "Master! You've mistaken me for someone else! That was a demon in disguise, not me, Old Sun! How could I, Old Sun, possibly hit you or steal your luggage!"
"You still dare to argue!"
Tang Sanzang turned pale with anger. "I saw it with my own eyes! That was clearly you! You must have been annoyed by my nagging, which is why you did such a rebellious thing! I really misjudged you!"
No matter how Sun Wukong explained, Tang Sanzang refused to believe him.
He already harbored resentment towards Sun Wukong for his excessive killing intent, and today, having suffered such humiliation, he could no longer suppress his anger.
"You unruly monkey, wild and untamed, you never learn! What use are you to me!"
Tang Sanzang shouted sternly, "From this day forward, our master-disciple relationship is severed. You must leave immediately and never follow me again!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was struck dumb, as if by lightning.
He never expected that his master would distrust him so much, wanting to drive him away based on only one side of the story.
The grievances, anger, and disappointment in his heart intertwined, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"Master..."
He wanted to explain a few more words, but was interrupted by Tang Sanzang's stern gaze.
"No need for further words!" Tang Sanzang took out the headband from his robes and gripped it tightly in his hand. "If you don't leave, I will recite the headband spell, making you wish you were dead!"
Looking at Tang Sanzang's resolute eyes, Sun Wukong knew that saying anything more would be pointless.
He looked at Tang Sanzang for a long time, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and finally sighed before turning around and flying away into the distance.
He harbored resentment, yet had no choice but to leave his master, whom he both loved and hated.
After Sun Wukong flew away, Tang Sanzang's emotions calmed down a bit.
Looking at the mud on the ground, he recalled the humiliation of being kicked down and the stolen luggage, and a sense of fear and anger welled up in his heart again.
"That rascal, how dare he treat me like this..."
He gritted his teeth, turned to Sha Wujing and said, "Sha Wujing, go to Flower Fruit Mountain quickly and ask that rascal for your luggage back."
If he refuses to return it, go to Mount Luojia and ask Guanyin Bodhisattva for help.
Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing immediately bowed and replied, "Yes, Master."
He put down his luggage, turned around, and flew towards Huaguo Mountain.
Tang Sanzang remained where he was, sitting cross-legged.
He took out the headband from his pocket, closed his eyes, and began to chant incantations.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha..."
The deep chanting echoed through the mountains, and the headband emitted a faint golden light, transforming into an invisible force that spread in the direction Sun Wukong had left.
“The wild monkey is untamed. Only by reciting the Tightening-Headband Mantra can we kill its ferocity and make it know right from wrong.”
Tang Sanzang silently chanted the sutra, his voice growing increasingly urgent.
Meanwhile, Sun Wukong, who had been driven away, was carrying a child of about seven or eight years old as he flew towards Mount Luojia.
The child had delicate features and was dressed in coarse cloth clothes; it was none other than Qiao Ling'er.
Qiao Ling'er was an orphan whom Sun Wukong encountered by chance on his journey. Seeing his pitiful state, Sun Wukong took him in and planned to take him to Mount Luojia to ask Guanyin Bodhisattva to find him a good place to live.
Sun Wukong flew at an extremely fast speed, his somersault cloud swirling beneath his feet, instantly traversing thousands of mountains and rivers.
Qiao Ling'er hugged Sun Wukong's neck tightly, her little face full of curiosity and excitement. She would occasionally look down at the mountains and rivers below and exclaim in amazement.
"Uncle Wukong, is Luojia Mountain fun? Isn't Guanyin Bodhisattva very beautiful?"
Qiao Ling'er tilted her little face up and asked.
Sun Wukong smiled and patted Qiao Ling'er's head: "Luojia Mountain is the sacred site of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It is surrounded by celestial energy and has excellent scenery."
Guanyin Bodhisattva is compassionate and possesses unparalleled beauty; she will surely like you, little one.
As we spoke, Luojia Mountain came into view in the distance.
Luojia Mountain floated above the sea of clouds, its ancient trees reaching for the sky, its exotic flowers and rare herbs covering the ground, its clear springs gurgling, and its air filled with ethereal mist.
At the top of the mountain, a magnificent temple can be faintly seen; it is the Purple Bamboo Grove Bodhisattva's sacred site.
Sun Wukong landed at the foot of Luojia Mountain with Qiao Ling'er. As soon as they landed, they felt a strong Buddhist aura wash over them, which calmed the anger in his heart a little.
He straightened his clothes and led Qiao Ling'er toward the purple bamboo forest.
In the bamboo grove, the green bamboos are lush and green, and the bamboo leaves rustle in the wind.
Guanyin Bodhisattva sat solemnly on a lotus throne, her body radiating a faint golden light.
The dragon maiden stood to one side, holding a clean bottle in her hands, with a willow branch inserted in the bottle.
"Disciple Sun Wukong greets Guanyin Bodhisattva."
Sun Wukong walked to the lotus platform and bowed. Qiao Ling'er followed suit and obediently bowed as well.
Guanyin Bodhisattva opened her eyes and looked at Sun Wukong. A hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes: "Wukong, why have you come to my Luojia Mountain when you are not by Tang Sanzang's side escorting him on his journey to the West?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong felt a surge of grievance. He raised his head and said to Guanyin Bodhisattva, "Bodhisattva, I am innocent! That Tang Sanzang, without distinguishing right from wrong, listened to the demon's slander and drove me away."
"I have nowhere else to go, so I have come to beg the Bodhisattva. I beg the Bodhisattva to grant my request, recite the mantra to loosen the headband, remove the tight band from my head, and allow me to return to Flower Fruit Mountain, to be free and carefree."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned slightly and asked, "Then why did Tang Sanzang want to send you away?"
Sun Wukong then recounted the whole story in detail, from the Six-Eared Macaque impersonating him, to kicking Tang Sanzang down and stealing his luggage, to Tang Sanzang not being able to distinguish between the real and the fake and driving him away.
After saying that, he still complained, "Bodhisattva, that Tang Sanzang is truly a mortal with mortal eyes, unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood. I kindly escorted him on his journey to the West, yet he treated me like this. It truly breaks my heart!"
After hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression became even more serious: "Wukong, you must not complain about Tang Sanzang."
Do you know that you have committed too many killings in the past and have a violent temper? Tang Seng is doing this for your own good, hoping that you can restrain your nature and give up killing.
The demon impersonating you this time is perhaps a consequence of your past grievances, which has brought you this calamity.
"I……"
Sun Wukong was speechless for a moment. What Guanyin Bodhisattva said was true. He had indeed killed many bandits and monsters in the past, and his temperament was indeed irritable.
But he still felt somewhat resentful about being wronged this time.
"and,"
Guanyin Bodhisattva continued, “You previously knocked down the ginseng fruit tree at Wuzhuang Temple and killed many bandits along the way, which constitutes a sin of killing.”
Tang Sanzang recited the Tightening-Headband Mantra to restrain your behavior, so that you would wholeheartedly devote yourself to Buddhism and achieve enlightenment as soon as possible.
How could you harbor resentment because of this and want to leave Tang Sanzang?
Sun Wukong lowered his head, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
What Guanyin Bodhisattva said made sense, but he was really unwilling to go back and continue to suffer Tang Sanzang's nagging and the torment of the headband.
“But Bodhisattva, that headband spell is too powerful. Every time Tang Sanzang recites it, I suffer from a splitting headache and feel like I’m dying.”
This disciple only wishes to have the golden headband removed and regain my freedom.
Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head: "Wukong, I put that headband on you myself, to restrain your wild nature."
Now that your worldly ties are not yet severed and the great mission of obtaining the scriptures is not yet complete, how can you easily give up? You should quickly return to Tang Sanzang's side and escort him on his journey to the west.
"When you successfully complete your journey to the West, your merits will be complete, and you will naturally attain enlightenment. At that time, without me reciting the loosening mantra, the tight headband will disappear on its own."
"This disciple does not wish to return!"
Sun Wukong raised his head, a stubborn glint in his eyes, "If Tang Sanzang doesn't trust me at all, even if I go back, he won't trust me again."
Rather than that, it's better to stay on Flower Fruit Mountain and live a carefree and happy life.
Just then, the mantra for tightening the headband, recited by Tang Sanzang, suddenly took effect. (End of Chapter)