Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Tathagata, with a serene expression, looked at Master Zhenyuan.

Although he knew that Master Zhenyuan's visit to the Great Thunder Monastery was to accuse them of wrongdoing, he also knew he would inevitably have to make some concessions to get Master Golden Cicada and his companions out of their predicament.

However, the fact that Master Zhenyuan had taken the initiative to come to Spirit Mountain to seek justice sparked unusual thoughts in the heart of Tathagata.

No great wisdom was needed, just a simple exercise in putting oneself in the other's shoes: if he were in the position of Grand Immortal Zhenyuan, how would he choose?

Wouldn't he staunchly maintain the initiative and wait with composure at the Wuzhuang Temple?

Why then take the initiative to come and seek justice? It seemed as though he himself was somewhat impatient, but logically, shouldn't it be he from the Buddhist Sect who should be impatient?

"In this matter, it was people from your side who were impolite first. I would like to see how you, now the leader of the Buddhist Sect, are going to give me a satisfactory explanation!" When Tathagata asked what he wanted, Master Zhenyuan didn't intend to speak; instead, he questioned Tathagata in return.

Master Zhenyuan's visit was, of course, intended to secure the best possible terms.

But likewise, Tathagata was not one to be easily fooled. From Master Zhenyuan's initiative in coming to Spirit Mountain with conditions, Tathagata could roughly guess that something was amiss, and so, when it came to bargaining, both powerhouses tested each other's limits, with Tathagata gradually pressing the terms lower.

Although Tathagata did not know what exactly had happened to Master Golden Cicada and his party at the Wuzhuang Temple, he could see that Master Zhenyuan seemed somewhat eager for them to leave, and naturally, seized the opportunity to press his advantage in the bargaining.

Guanyin, listening to the conversation between Tathagata and Master Zhenyuan, felt shock in her heart at the ruthless nature of Tathagata's negotiating.

Yet equally, the attitude of Master Zhenyuan surprised Guanyin, and so, wisely she refrained from interjecting.

After listening in for a while, Guanyin roughly understood the current situation.

...

Jiang Liu had no way of knowing how Tathagata and Master Zhenyuan were haggling over his situation. If Jiang Liu had known earlier that his actions would have such an effect on Master Zhenyuan, when Master Zhenyuan had previously inquired how he was getting on at Wuzhuang Temple in the afternoon, Jiang Liu would definitely have pretended to be eager to leave.

Especially Mahjong, Fighting the Landlord, and similar activities, he would certainly have refrained from teaching those to the Taoist Boys Mingyue and Clear Breeze.

In about two months' time, his level had risen to 33, which Jiang Liu found quite satisfactory.

Viewed in the context of the cultivation realms of the Journey to the West dimension, he was now at the level of the Controlling-Law Realm. The next step upward would be the Divinity Transformation Realm!

"Although I can't compare to a cheat code like Sun Wukong, for a mere mortal, reaching this level in just about a year, it would certainly be shocking to others if they knew," Jiang Liu thought satisfactorily about the speed of his level progression and nodded to himself.

He was quite pleased with his two months of cultivation at the Wuzhuang Temple. If there was anything less than perfect, it might be the lack of opportunities to level up by fighting monsters at the Temple.

Without the ability to fight monsters, there was no equipment to collect, so there was no way to upgrade his current gear.

And since he was always at the Wuzhuang Temple, there were no missions available to trigger.

While meditation was his primary method for gaining Experience Points, completing missions and fighting monsters were the fastest ways, far quicker than meditation alone.

Xuanzang...

That night, as quiet as ever, Jiang Liu was diligently practicing the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound as usual when suddenly a familiar shout rang out.

"Bodhisattva Guanyin? What is she doing here!?" Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Liu's brows furrowed slightly.

Although he was doing well at the Wuzhuang Temple, he had a feeling that Guanyin's arrival would not spell good news, yet avoiding an encounter was not an option.

After briefly contemplating, Jiang Liu ended his practice and walked outside.

At the Wuzhuang Temple, Sun Wukong and the others, including Mingyue and Clear Breeze, also came out. They could see Guanyin and Master Zhenyuan suspended in mid-air.

"Honored Bodhisattva!"

Jiang Liu brought his palms together, bowed in salute, but his heart sank. Could it be that the very thing he feared most had happened?

The high-ranking members of the Buddhist Sect wouldn't stand by and allow him to waste time, so had Guanyin personally sought out Master Zhenyuan?

It looked as though they had already engaged in some sort of unsightly transaction, hadn't they?

"Amitabha, Xuanzang, regarding your situation, I am already aware and have apologized to Grand Immortal Zhenyuan on your behalf. He has forgiven you. As of today, you are a free man and may leave at any time!" Floating in mid-air, Bodhisattva Guanyin spoke to Jiang Liu, claiming all the merit for herself.

"Master, is it true!?" Hearing Bodhisattva Guanyin's words, the Taoist boys, Qingfeng and Mingyue, were also happy for Jiang Liu and his group, and they asked Master Zhenyuan.

"Indeed!" Master Zhenyuan nodded slightly, his expression calm, neither sad nor happy, and it was impossible to gauge his true thoughts.

"That's wonderful!"

Upon receiving their master's affirmation, the Taoist boys Qingfeng and Mingyue exchanged joyful glances. Had they been detained here for two months, and now, at last, they could leave?

"That's wonderful!" Not only did Qingfeng and Mingyue feel joyful, but nearby, Sha Wujing naturally wore a happy expression as well.

They had wasted a full two months here, and now they could finally set out on their journey again.

"No! I will not go!"

A sense of dread struck Jiang Liu's heart. Guanyin Bodhisattva's words were like terrible news to him, and he reflexively blurted out loudly in protest.

Dumbfounded, everyone present was confused by Jiang Liu's sudden refusal to leave Wuzhuang Temple. They stared at him, completely perplexed by the situation.

"As expected, this guy truly does not wish to leave!" Although Grand Immortal Zhenyuan was startled, his face betrayed a look of resignation.

He hadn't been wrong in his thinking; though he didn't know the reason, it was clear that he truly didn't want to leave!

A light of realization appeared on Master Zhenyuan's face, which Bodhisattva Guanyin saw, prompting her brows to furrow slightly.

Why did Xuanzang refuse to leave? Could it be that Grand Immortal Zhenyuan promised him some benefit?

However, that didn't make sense. If all of this was some scheme by Grand Immortal Zhenyuan, why then did he so eagerly rush to Thunder Monastery, as if he couldn't wait to send Xuanzang and his group away?

"Xuanzang, why is this so?" Guanyin's heart was filled with turmoil and questions, yet she maintained a composed exterior, merely frowning gently, then after a moment of silence, she asked Jiang Liu.

"Bodhisattva, the matter is such that Grand Immortal Zhenyuan is of high standing and has treated his disciple with great honor. This has deeply moved me. However, Sun Wukong was disrespectful, offending the grand immortal, causing me deep remorse. Therefore, when Grand Immortal Zhenyuan expressed his wish to detain us for a century for self-reflection, I dared not object...

But only two months have passed. If I were to leave now, would it not be breaking my word?" Jiang Liu paused slightly before continuing with fervor, "As one seeking scriptures, I endure hardship to obtain the True Scriptures in order to enlighten all beings. If I myself am a man who breaks his word, how can I inspire belief in all beings in the future?

How can I lead the multitude of souls to the other shore!?"

Jiang Liu, regardless of whether anyone believed his impassioned and lofty words, knew they were helpful to his cause, so he spoke without hesitation.

"Xuanzang, I am very relieved to hear you think this way. This proves that I did not choose the wrong person for the Journey to the West for Scriptures. However, the great task of scripture seeking affects the lives of countless beings. Obtaining the True Scriptures a day earlier could mean relieving beings from suffering a day sooner!"

"Sacrificing oneself for the benefit of others, if you insist on maintaining your personal honor at the expense of the world's beings, would this not be putting the cart before the horse?" Guanyin spoke with a pleased appearance, imparting her teachings to Jiang Liu steadily.

"Bodhisattva, there you are mistaken. I have heard a saying, 'To cultivate oneself, to regulate one's family, to govern the state, and to bring peace to the world.' It is clear that one must conduct himself uprightly and be righteous before earning the right to govern the state and pacify the world.

Similarly, if I cannot comprehend my own thoughts, if I cannot enlighten myself, how can I enlighten all beings in the world?" Jiang Liu shook his head and answered seriously.
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The Buddhist Sect, known for their eloquence, and Bodhisattva Guanyin as one of its leaders, naturally had her way with profound principles, which ordinary people could hardly refute.

However, Jiang Liu, having traversed from the modern society and exposed to the explosion of information, found great principles at his fingertips as well.

Therefore, in front of Wuzhuang Temple, both Jiang Liu and Bodhisattva Guanyin exchanged perspectives about the welfare of the world, each speaking grand truths, yet neither was able to convince the other.

Guanyin's objective was simple—she naturally wanted to persuade Jiang Liu to continue the Journey to the West. Tathagata had promised Grand Immortal Zhenyuan many conditions to reach an agreement, and now he wasn't going? Wouldn't that mean losing out on both fronts?

But Jiang Liu's words also carried weight; he was set on achieving clarity of mind and maintaining his word, refusing to go on the Journey to the West, leaving Guanyin both anxious and helpless.

After all, they couldn't just tie him up and throw him on the back of White Dragon Horse to force him to go, could they?

Jiang Liu looked earnestly at Guanyin, his stance quite clear.

In more modern terms, this would be: I won't go, I'm not sick, I don't need medicine!

Guanyin fell silent, finding the situation extremely troubling. Who could have imagined that after ten lifetimes of reincarnation, this Golden Cicada would turn out to be so rebellious?