Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"Disciple has seen the Bodhisattva!"

Approaching Ksitigarbha, Jiang Liu bowed slightly with a modest and courteous demeanor that left no fault to be found.

"Xuanzang, have you come to return the Ninth Grade Merit Golden Lotus to me?" Ksitigarbha's gaze fell upon Jiang Liu, who opened his eyes and spoke directly.

"How can the Bodhisattva speak such words? How can one take back something that was given away?" Jiang Liu quickly shook his head in response to Ksitigarbha's words.

"Given!?"

Jiang Liu's words caused Ksitigarbha's brows to raise slightly, looking at him in a somewhat strange manner, "Wasn't the Ninth Grade Merit Golden Lotus seized by you? How can you say it was given by this old monk?"

"Bodhisattva, although I, Jiang Liu, may not be clever, I am certainly not foolish..."

Jiang Liu stared earnestly at Ksitigarbha, saying, "Bodhisattva, you have been paying attention to me since a very early time, and you are naturally clear about my style of action. Whenever Immortals and Buddhas come to the Lower Realm to trouble me, I generally do not hold back, and if there are treasures, I will try to get them if possible!"

"However, knowing these things, you still let Tingdi bring the Ninth Grade Merit Golden Lotus to the Mortal World to trouble me, isn't it the same as giving the Merit Golden Lotus to your disciple in passing?"

"Is the Bodhisattva afraid that giving it to your disciple directly would make Buddha and other Bodhisattvas see things differently, so you specially used such a tactic, feigning one thing while doing another?"

"Amitabha..." Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Ksitigarbha softly chanted a Buddha's name under his breath, but did not respond.

He neither acknowledged Jiang Liu's analysis as correct nor denied it as erroneous.

"Jiang Liu..."

After a moment of silence, Ksitigarbha's gaze fell upon Jiang Liu, clearly noting the self-reference he had just used, saying, "So, in your heart, you have always believed that you are Jiang Liu, and not Xuanzang?"

"Could it be? Does the Bodhisattva wish for me to be Xuanzang?" Jiang Liu retorted.

"Indeed, you are very clever..." Ksitigarbha's mouth curved into a slight smile, his face showing a touch of amusement, and his eyes were filled with appreciation as he gazed at Jiang Liu.

"Now that you are here in the Underworld, tell me, what is your business?" Ksitigarbha asked Jiang Liu.

He only inquired why he came to the Underworld but did not speak of Daoji, clearly, to Ksitigarbha, Jiang Liu's purpose of seeking him for Daoji was just a guise, an excuse.

"Today, there is but one matter for which the disciple seeks insight!" After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Liu began, "Previously, Tingdi mentioned that the Bodhisattva has been paying attention to your disciple from the very beginning. I wish to know, when does this 'beginning' refer to?"

Originally, Jiang Liu came to the Underworld intending to confirm an alliance with Ksitigarbha or even to form a grand coalition.

But within a few words, Jiang Liu confirmed his own guess was right.

The Ninth Grade Merit Golden Lotus was indeed an excuse for Ksitigarbha to give to him. Therefore, Ksitigarbha's previous action of barring him from entry was merely a performance for Tathagata and the others, a smokescreen.

Having confirmed these points, talk of coalition and united fronts has already become an unspoken understanding; hence, there was no need to elaborate further.

Thus, Jiang Liu raised his deepest doubt.

The Bodhisattva has been paying attention from the beginning? But when is this beginning?

Was it when I had just traversed to the world of Journey to the West?

Or could it be? Does Ksitigarbha know even about my traverse into this world!?

"Amitabha, regarding when this so-called beginning is, have you not guessed it already?" Ksitigarbha pondered for a moment before asking Jiang Liu.

"Could it really be...?"

Upon hearing Ksitigarbha's words, Jiang Liu's eyes widened in astonishment.

Originally, he felt as though he was merely a piece in the grand scheme of Journey to the West, hence as a chess piece, Jiang Liu acted upon this chessboard of the Journey to the West only to save himself.

All because he soul-traversed here and became the Tang Monk!

But now, Ksitigarbha knew about his traverse in advance?

Does that not imply? Even this very act of my crossing over has been calculated!?

The Journey to the West is a grand scheme, but behind it, is there an even deeper, larger game being played in secret!?

"Bodhisattva, what exactly is going on here? I implore the Bodhisattva to enlighten me!" After a moment of silence, with an extremely solemn expression, Jiang Liu earnestly stared at Ksitigarbha and asked.

"Knowing too much is not good for you, you needn't concern yourself with such matters, just remember one thing—that everything is driven by the heart..."

In response to Jiang Liu seeking the truth, Ksitigarbha simply shook his head, ultimately offering this piece of advice.

The implication of Ksitigarbha's words was clear: regardless of what scheme lies behind, you simply do what you intend to do!

Jiang Liu's expression was far from pleased!

Although Ksitigarbha indicated that he could do whatever he wished and that no one would interfere with his free will,

the notion of being manipulated by someone else and reduced to a pawn is something no one would be happy about.

A larger game than that of Journey to the West? Who could the mastermind behind the scenes be?

Upon careful consideration, daring to set such an elaborate trap, encompassing even the affairs of the Journey to the West, it seems there could only be a few Saints, right?

It's unlikely to be the two Saints of Buddhism.

So? Who exactly is it?

One of the Three Pure Ones?

Or is it Nvwa?

Or could it be the Hongjun Ancestor himself!?

What is the purpose of all this!?

Jiang Liu's doubtful gaze naturally fell upon the various Saints, but he simply couldn't be sure who it was.

Moreover, what was the purpose of it all? Jiang Liu also had not the slightest clue!

For Jiang Liu, confirming that his transmigration to the Journey to the West world was arranged by someone else was indeed shockingly unsettling; his mind was a complete mess, feeling utterly unable to sort it out.

After pondering silently for a moment, Jiang Liu then fixed his gaze on Ksitigarbha and said, "I have two final questions!"

"Speak!" Ksitigarbha replied calmly.

"First, my abilities—do you know what's going on with them?" Compared to the secret of his transmigration, the ability to level up and get equipment by fighting monsters was also Jiang Liu's secret, and he wanted to see if Ksitigarbha was aware of it.

"Abilities? Are you referring to those Laws Abilities of yours? That should be due to you being favored by the Heavenly Dao as a person of destiny!" Hearing Jiang Liu's question, Ksitigarbha raised an eyebrow slightly and answered.

"So you're saying, you don't know about my game system ability to level up and get equipment by fighting monsters?"

Jiang Liu naturally wouldn't correct Ksitigarbha's response; since he had answered this way, Jiang Liu taken it as the answer he sought.

After a brief contemplation, Jiang Liu looked at Ksitigarbha again and asked, "The last question, can I go back?"

Indeed, having transmigrated to the world of Journey to the West, Jiang Liu felt almost completely integrated into this world.

Yet in his heart, he still thought about returning, and if possible, he naturally wished to go back to the 21st century where he came from.

After all, in that world were his parents...

"This, I, the Old Monk, do not know. I only know that you came from beyond this domain, but I do not know whence you came, let alone how to return..."

Hearing Jiang Liu's question, Ksitigarbha shook his head, indicating ignorance.

This answer made Jiang Liu's heart secretly a bit disappointed, but at the same time, he felt somewhat relieved.

He was disappointed because even Ksitigarbha didn't know if he could return, leaving Jiang Liu even less informed.

He was relieved because although Ksitigarbha knew he came from another place, he didn't know from where, and even less about his monster-fighting upgrading ability.

In other words, while he was in the midst of it all, not everything was under someone else's calculation.

Would Ksitigarbha deceive him? Feign ignorance when he knew the truth?

Of course, that was a possibility, but Jiang Liu felt it was not a likely one.

Looking at Ksitigarbha's demeanor, his nature seemed to be that if he knew, he would say so; if he didn't, he wouldn't.

"Alright, I've asked everything I wanted to know..." Jiang Liu nodded after a moment of silence.

Having come to Ksitigarbha Cave, though he hadn't spent much time chatting, he had almost found out everything he wanted to know. Jiang Liu felt it was time to leave.

After all, lingering too long in Ksitigarbha Cave might just arouse suspicion from the Tathagata, right?

"Finally..." Jiang Liu began.

"Wait a moment, didn't you just say you had only two more questions? You've asked them both..." However, before Jiang Liu could continue, Ksitigarbha interrupted him.

"I have indeed asked my own questions, but the purpose of my visit to the Underworld was to ask you to help locate Daoji. Surely I can't just leave without doing so..." Jiang Liu said.

"Go back. I'm not going to tell you!" But upon hearing Jiang Liu's request to find out about Daoji's whereabouts, Ksitigarbha shook his head and spoke.

"You know about my relationship with the Buddhist Sect. Although you are a man of destiny, you are ultimately just a junior within the Sect. Even if Tathagata himself asked for my help, I might not agree. As a disciple of Tathagata, if I were to oblige, how could I justify it?"

"Uh, that does make sense..."

Ksitigarbha's words caught Jiang Liu off guard, prompting a silent nod in agreement.

"Then I won't ask about Daoji's whereabouts. Just one question—Is his life in danger?"

"No!"

...

Outside the Ksitigarbha Cave, a trace of the Tathagata's Divine Sense lingered, wanting to see if Xuanzang could ultimately receive Ksitigarbha's help.

But soon, Jiang Liu emerged somewhat disheveled.

At the same time, Ksitigarbha's voice, tinged with anger, emerged from within the cave.

"Get lost! Begone! Unless you return the Ninth Grade Merit Golden Lotus to me, don't ever think of getting my help!"