Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"This..." Hearing Jiang Liu's inquiry, Zhu Bajie's face showed a hint of hesitation.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Bajie then shook his head candidly and said, "Master's wisdom is beyond my comprehension, so I don't know why you would deliberately release those two. Logically, they are insignificant in the Heavenly Court, killing them is no big deal, right?"

"Indeed, you have a point..."

Zhu Bajie's words made Jiang Liu nod and say, "Exactly because they are insignificant, whether to kill or not is unimportant. That's why I released them both."

"Just because they're unimportant, you decided to release them?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Zhu Bajie's brows furrowed thoughtfully.

However, upon closer reflection, Zhu Bajie still found it difficult to comprehend.

Without reason, the master released those two people, what benefit could there be?

"Holy Monk, do you mean to kill some more powerful individuals?" At this moment, the White Mouse Demon suddenly interrupted, asking Jiang Liu.

"Oh? Her reaction is quite fast!"

Hearing the White Mouse Demon's words, which almost hit the mark, Jiang Liu was inwardly surprised and glanced at the White Mouse Demon.

"White Mouse Demon, why did you understand it like that?" Seeing the Master's expression suggested she was right, Zhu Bajie looked at her curiously.

Wanting to know how she came up with this idea.

"It's simple..."

The White Mouse Demon responded in a matter-of-fact manner, saying, "The Holy Monk just said that it is precisely because those two are insignificant, so whether to kill them or not is unimportant, hence releasing them."

"Doesn't this mean if they were important, the Holy Monk wouldn't have released them?"

"Eh? This analysis makes sense!" Listening to the White Mouse Demon's reasoning, Zhu Bajie thought for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, he looked at the White Mouse Demon with admiration, saying, "White Mouse Demon, you are indeed clever. You could grasp the Master's intent so quickly!"

"Uh, haha, thank you for the praise..." Hearing Zhu Bajie's words of compliment, the White Mouse Demon's lips twitched slightly.

Normally, upon hearing words of praise, no matter who it is, it would make them feel very happy.

However, Zhu Bajie's compliment didn't bring any sense of joy to the White Mouse Demon.

As for Jiang Liu, upon hearing this, he rolled his eyes at Zhu Bajie's direction, and silently grumbled inwardly.

What do you mean the White Mouse Demon is smart? Clearly, he himself is rather dim-witted, isn't he?

Forget it, there is no other way, he's a pig after all, so this intelligence can be somewhat understood.

Speaking of cleverness, Zhu Bajie indeed doesn't count as clever. He can only be said to have wider knowledge than Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing, right?

"Actually, I'm letting go of small fish, waiting for the big fish to take the bait..." Meanwhile, Jiang Liu spoke to Zhu Bajie.

Of course, Jiang Liu had no intention of providing a more detailed explanation.

I accepted the White Mouse Demon as my maiden to use her as bait, luring the heavenly deities and Buddhas into action.

Now, there are only two Taiyi Realm immortals. If I let them leave now, preserving their lives, won't this make the celestial beings think that taking action against the White Mouse Demon isn't an immeasurable calamity?

In this way, will more celestial beings take action later?

At that time, I can selectively act, kill some, and release some.

This is the long-term strategy, right?

"Sigh, I've gone to great lengths to slaughter a few more celestial beings, especially those of higher cultivation levels!" Upon thinking about his situation, Jiang Liu sighed inwardly again.

The pursuit of scriptures is challenging, but for me now, the most difficult thing isn't the Journey to the West itself, but how to outwit the celestial beings.

Although the White Mouse Demon doesn't appear to have ulterior motives, my goal for the Journey is to shake the celestial beings' purpose, and I still do not wish for her to know.

Thus, I had no intent to explain too much to her.

After saving the White Mouse Demon, the master and disciples turned back to the city.

On New Year's Eve, the entire city seemed very lively. Jiang Liu and his disciples naturally prepared a large table full of delicacies, making the atmosphere harmonious.

...

However, New Year celebrations are just mortal affairs, having no connection to the Heavenly Court.

At this time, the two elders under Empress Qinghua had returned to the Heavenly Court.

The chubby monk appeared dissatisfied, lamenting, "Unfortunately, we were still a bit slow. Xuanzang found our tracks. If we had been faster, wouldn't we have eaten that lifespan-extending White Rat Meat?"

"Alright, stop complaining. Actually, for us, this outcome is already quite good!" The nearby skinny elder shook his head.

"Why?" The chubby elder looked at him, asked curiously.

"If we could really eat the white rat meat and then escape, that would be the best..."

"But I'm afraid that if we eat the white rat meat and haven't had time to escape, we'll be caught by Xuanzang!" The thin old man shook his head and said.

"This..." Hearing these words, the chubby old man thought quietly for a moment.

Imagine, if he really ate the white rat meat and hadn't had time to escape but got caught by Xuanzang, then he would be speechless?

At that time, with his actions, how could Xuanzang let him go?

Thinking of these things, a wave of fear rose in the chubby old man's heart.

Immediately, he nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, yes, you have a point, indeed, if this is the case, we as brothers are finished this time?"

"No matter what, facing Xuanzang and his group, how many people died? We're just handing over a few things, being able to spend money to avoid disaster is already a blessing in disguise!" The thin old man followed up.

"Yes, yes, we're indeed very lucky!" The chubby old man nodded, no longer daring to say anything else.

Indeed, not to mention others, didn't Empress Qinghua lose an arm? And the Emperor of Longevity, even more so, was troubled by Xuanzang in the Longevity Hall.

Though neither emperor's death was directly caused by Xuanzang.

Yet, no one would doubt that the deaths of the two emperors are definitely indirectly related to Xuanzang.

"I'm just venting a little, rest assured, I understand that this time being able to spend money to avoid disaster, the two of us are already very fortunate!" The chubby old man nodded and said, showing a moment of fear on his face.

"Don't complain, whether this operation is a profit or a loss is still hard to say!" The thin old man, with a smile, suddenly said with implication.

"Profit?"

Looking at him strangely, the chubby old man frowned, feeling difficult to understand.

Although spending money to avoid disaster and saving one's life is indeed worth celebrating.

However, no matter what, they didn't get to eat the white rat meat, which could extend life, and instead took out things for compensation, this is definitely a loss, right?

How could it be a profit?

"Don't forget, the eighty-one tribulations of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, though they are tribulations, they are also eighty-one spiritual merits!"

"If this operation of ours could add a tribulation to the team seeking scriptures to the west, then wouldn't our spiritual merit be substantial?"

"This is spiritual merit that even the emperors of the past couldn't refuse!" The thin old man, holding a smile, said.

"Ah! Right! That's the logic!" Hearing the thin old man's answer, the chubby old man suddenly understood and nodded heavily.

...

There's no wall that can block the wind!

The two deities under Empress Qinghua, unable to resist the rumor about the white mouse demon's flesh extending life, went to the lower realm to catch the white mouse demon intending to eat its flesh, and were caught red-handed by Master Xuanzang.

However, Master Xuanzang did not make things difficult for them, just asked them to take out something as compensation and let them leave.

Though seemingly not achieving their purpose, and even losing things, these two are quite at a loss.

Yet, they might earn a spiritual merit from a tribulation on the Journey to the West for Scriptures?

This piece of news quickly spread among the Immortals and Buddhas.

And this news spread, sparking ideas among many Immortals and Buddhas.

Striking against Master Xuanzang and his entourage might lead to fulfilling tribulations, and they might die and disappear.

But if they strike against his maidens, wouldn't it be different?

If that's the case, why not give it a try?

Even if caught red-handed, wouldn't it just require a verbal apology, or maybe offering something as compensation?

One's own life wouldn't be at risk, but if it could bring a tribulation to Xuanzang's group, then it would be a huge profit?

Many Immortals and Buddhas began to secretly think about it, and soon, their hearts became passionate.

Some were attracted by the white mouse demon's flesh's life-extending effect, others by the spiritual merit from the tribulations of the Journey to the West for Scriptures.

But, regardless of the reason, as long as the safety issue was greatly ensured, failing wouldn't be a big loss, just compensate with some insignificant things...

This contrast between effort and reward seemed very worthwhile to try?

For a time, many Immortals and Buddhas were rubbing their hands, readying themselves for the lower realm.

Especially many elderly Immortals and Buddhas whose lifespans weren't long, their hearts burned even hotter.