Chapter 117: Three-Second True Man
Guzhi Gong added, "Xianzi's family discipline is strict, so don't mess around!"
"Clang!"
The door was shut.
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A few old men immediately huddled together.
Ling Kongzi said, "Brothers, what shall we do now?"
Guzhi Gong replied, "According to the plan, we'll transform into Xianzi's family members and immediately go in to capture the person. When the time comes, Xianzi will cooperate with us, saying that the monk forced himself upon her, and we'll use that as leverage to finish this. After all, he is a disciple of Buddhism and the Golden Cicada's disciple, and nothing is more important than his reputation. As long as he's willing to comply, it all becomes simple..."
Shiba Gong shook his head and said, "This isn't good, it's too rushed. I'm afraid Tang Sanzang hasn't even taken off his pants yet, and we won't catch anything. Wouldn't that be a waste of effort?"
"You have a point! Should we wait then? But how long is good?"
After thinking it over, Shiba Gong replied, "Ten breaths should be enough for him to take off his clothes and yet not enough to have touched Xianzi."
"Alright!"
Everyone nodded and then silently began the countdown.
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Eight!"
As soon as the words were out, they heard a clang, and the door opened.
The men were stunned, looking up only to see Tang Sanzang walking out, holding up his pants and shaking his head as he said, "Sorry to keep you waiting, haha... Shall we continue to drink tea and compose poetry?"
The old men were agape and utterly shocked by the monk's speed!
In the time it took for three breaths, he had already come out!
Looking at his expression, he seemed quite satisfied!
They all stared at Tang Sanzang, then looked back at the door, only to see Xianzi running out in tears. She didn't even glance at them before dashing outside with a cry.
The old men exchanged a shocked look, seeing the outrage in each other's eyes, cursing under their breath at the shocking speed!
They had wanted to spring a trap on him, but before they could even spring it, he had finished!
Suddenly furious...
The group exchanged glances and walked to a corner to discuss.
Shiba Gong said, "What shall we do? We haven't even started the trap, and he's already finished. Should we pretend it was real instead?"
Just as they were about to say something, a jade pendant in Yun Sou's arms vibrated twice.
Fuyun Sou took it out and pressed it, saying, "Bai Mo, long time no see, what's the matter?"
"Fuyun Sou, let me tell you, there's big news!" an excited voice came from the jade pendant.
"What news?" Fuyun Sou asked in a low voice.
The other party replied, "The latest news is from Flame Mountain. Do you know about the journey to the West? The one that Buddhism orchestrated to send an emissary to the East..."
The Fluffy Cloud Elder glanced at the bald man sitting nearby, sipping his tea with evident pleasure, and whispered, "Know about it, what's up?"
"Buddhism has lost face! Their Tang Sanzang has been impersonated! Before, no one knew, but now, heaven knows who leaked it, the whole world knows... Buddhism has really lost face this time!
After planning for so many years, out pops a fake Tang Sanzang. Now there are two Tang Sanzangs journeying to the West to retrieve the scriptures. Tell me, isn't that funny?"
Hearing this, the Fluffy Cloud Elder felt a jolt in his heart. When he looked at the bald man again, he had a bad premonition and quickly asked, "Two Tang Sanzangs? What's the difference between them?"
"The difference? It's huge! The real Tang Sanzang is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, a benevolent soul for ten lifetimes, yet still just a common man.
But the fake Tang Sanzang is something else. I heard he single-handedly suppressed three Bodhisattvas into silence. In the end, they humbly offered him 'protection money' just to stay alive. Such might, such power, it's simply astonishing!"
Hearing this, the Fluffy Cloud Elder and the others felt a chill run down their spines, their backs shivering with cold.
Each of them turned to look at Eighteen Arhats, implying that since he brought the man back, he must make sure the one he brought was the real deal, right?
If he's a fake, we all might as well prepare for our funeral!
Eighteen Arhats quickly said, "This one's definitely the real deal, he's accompanied by Sun Wukong, Zhu Ganglie, and so on. Tang Sanzang may be impersonated, but these disciples surely can't be wrong, right? Who doesn't know Sun Wukong, Zhu Ganglie, Sha Wujing are the Protector Disciples left to Tang Sanzang by Buddhism? Besides, the portrait that came recently, wasn't it very clear? I've compared it, this one is absolutely the real one!"
Relieved by these words, the elders breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Regaining their composure, they continued to ask, "Bai Mo, is there any other news?"
"Oh yes, there's news that just came in. It's said that the fake Tang Sanzang has incomparable strength, he simply bulldozed his way here, and all the demons and monsters he encountered were either beaten to death or eaten. Even the stars in the sky and Manjushri from the West were reincarnated after his beating...
Even the Ancestor of the Earth Immortals, the Venerable Master Zhuan, had to call him senior and speak sweetly just to save his own life.
I wanted to remind you all, since you're right on his mandatory path to the West, so watch out and don't bump into that killing machine.
Beware he doesn't chop you old tree spirits into kindling and use it for roasting meat!"
Hearing this, the old tree spirits quivered as if early winter had set in and a north wind was blowing, shivering terribly...
They all looked at Eighteen Arhats again, whom, trying to reassure himself, said, "This... doesn't look too punchable, definitely the real deal, real..."
Ling Kongzi pressed, "Is there any other way to tell them apart?"
Bai Mo replied, "Yes, remember, the fake Tang Sanzang looks harmless and a bit punchable... The real Tang Sanzang has a dignified face, and a strong, muscular build, like a muscle freak."
Immediately, the Fluffy Cloud Elder asked the others, "What's the holy monk's build like? Does he look punchable?"
The elders, already alarmed, hadn't paid any attention to such details...
But thinking back on the bald man's poetry, it did seem a bit punch-worthy.
Suddenly, they were even more panicked...
Eighteen Arhats, comforting himself, said, "This... doesn't seem very punch-worthy, definitely the real one, really..."
Ling Kongzi inquired, "Is there another way to differentiate?"
Bai Mo said, "Yes, the real Tang Sanzang travels alone, while the fake one is followed by Sun Wukong, Zhu Ganglie, Liu Mihou, Sha Wujing, and Bai Longma. In short, the one with more companions is the fake, and the one alone is the real... Let me tell you, Buddhism has taken a big hit this time. A millennia of planning, and in the end, a fake Tang Sanzang reaps the benefits... Hey? Are you guys listening? Is anybody there?"
No matter how the voice continued from the jade, the room was silent as a tomb, the elders as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, trembling and feeling a deep cold.
Then they all simultaneously turned to look at Eighteen Arhats, who said with a sob in his voice, "I don't know, I didn't know there could be a fake... and this fake is even more convincing than the real one..."
Then everyone simultaneously turned to look at the bald man, drinking tea, eating fruits, luxuriating, his shiny bald head gleaming.