A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1392 - 942: Outside Tianzhu, Desperately Praying for Rain; Sun Wukong Devises a Clever Plan to Bring Sweet Dew

Chapter 1392: Chapter 942: Outside Tianzhu, Desperately Praying for Rain; Sun Wukong Devises a Clever Plan to Bring Sweet Dew

With the King’s edict in hand, the soldiers naturally did not dare to block the way, and prepared a table of vegetarian meals for Duanmu Huai and Sun Wukong. After they finished eating, the soldiers respectfully returned the travel documents and then dispatched someone to escort them through the pass, leaving Sun Wukong marveling in amazement.

"Master, I really didn’t expect the King here to be so sensible. I thought we were in for a big battle," said Sun Wukong.

"Having fought in Chechi Country, there is no need for battle here," replied Duanmu Huai while riding on his horse, appearing quite calm.

"The saying ’a single fist fight avoids a hundred others’ is exactly the point. Our names have spread throughout West Cowherd State for subduing demons and devils, and once the King heard of what happened with the King of Chechi, he wouldn’t dare trouble us."

At this point, Duanmu Huai sneered. The Tathagata orchestrated this journey to the West, originally to have Monk Tang act as a living advertisement for himself. However, Duanmu Huai would certainly not comply with his wishes. Whether it was subduing demons or helping those countries expel troubles, he attributed all merits to Tian Zi of Great Tang, citing the power of Tang and the blessing of Tian Zi as the reasons for his actions. Therefore, if you are to give thanks, give it to Tian Zi of Great Tang, not the do-nothing Tathagata.

Because of this, along the way, those countries were either grateful or submissive, all turning towards Tang. As for respecting Buddha... well, that’s another story.

In fact, Duanmu Huai didn’t care about that matter—if a country’s King swore to kill ten thousand monks, Duanmu Huai would not interfere. Regardless of the reasons, as long as the killing of monks wasn’t for some Demon or Devil’s scheme, it had nothing to do with Duanmu Huai. Besides, Sun Wukong had observed that there was no sign of demons causing chaos in the skies above the nation—nothing but harmony and auspicious light.

So, if monks were being killed, it was of no concern to him as long as it wasn’t the deeds of demons.

After leaving Miasfa, they journeyed another day, drawing ever closer to Spirit Mountain. Of course, it was still some distance away from Spirit Mountain. That day, Duanmu Huai and Sun Wukong took the route that led them to a prefecture outside Tianzhu. Upon entering through the three layers of gates, they saw desolation among the people and desolation in the streets. Reaching the marketplace, they saw many dressed in blue, lined up on both sides. The crowned leader, upon seeing the two, was startled at first but then hurriedly approached.

"Dare I ask if you two are the Holy Monks from Eastern Land, traveling to the Western Paradise to seek scriptures?" he asked.

"Yes, we are. What is the matter?" Duanmu Huai nodded lightly and inquired while the official kneeled on the ground.

"Great abilities indeed, Master. Please, Master... we pray for rain!"

"Ah... um?? What?"

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Huai too was caught off guard and then realized he had misheard.

"Pray for rain?"

"Yes, our prefecture has suffered from drought year after year, and famine after famine. There is no water in the wells, no moisture at the springs. The wealthy barely maintain their existence, while the poor struggle to survive. Buckets of chestnuts fetch the price of gold, bundles of firewood cost ounces of silver. Girls of ten are bartered for a few cups of rice, boys of five are taken away with others. Hence, we have posted a call for aid, looking to the saints of the ten directions, praying for rain to save the people, willing to offer a thousand pieces of gold in gratitude, without an ounce of falsehood!"

"This..."

It must be said, Duanmu Huai was quite baffled by this request; subduing demons and devils he could handle—just smash them with a fist—but this—praying for rain—was beyond his expertise.

Asking him to manage water conservancy projects? That’s absurd.

Fortunately, while Duanmu Huai may be clueless, there was someone who understood.

"Monkey, can you do it?" he asked.

"What’s so difficult about that? Let Old Sun go take a look and we’ll know," Sun Wukong replied, excited to finally find his moment to shine. He quickly somersaulted into the air. As Sun Wukong vanished, the surrounding people were even more astonished and fearfully knelt down and prayed in silence.

Speaking of the Heavenly Great Sage, he went to the Celestial Palace, planning to request the Heavenly Court’s permission for rain. When he arrived outside the Southern Sky Gate, he was greeted by the Guardian King.

"Great Saint, what brings you here?" asked the Guardian King.

"Well, I have a matter to address. My master and I, while traveling to Tianzhu’s border, came across a prefecture called Fengxian County. They haven’t had rain for three years, and the people are suffering greatly. Old Sun wishes to pray for rain to save them, which is why I have come to seek an edict from the Jade Emperor."

"Oh, it’s about that," said the Guardian King, nodding his head.

"Rain should not fall there," he added.

"Oh? Why is that?" asked Sun Wukong.

"I heard at the time that the local magistrate behaved arrogantly, offending Heaven and Earth. As Heaven witnessed the crime, three conditions were set: a rice mountain, a flour mountain, and a huge lock of gold. Only when these three conditions are broken should it rain there."

"Eh? You deal with such matters too?" Sun Wukong was taken aback, sensing the matter was getting complicated. The monkey also remembered the Wujia Country, where because the Wujia Kingdom’s King detained a Bodhisattva for three days, the kingdom suffered drought for three years. Master had been greatly dissatisfied then, and now, encountering such a conundrum here... he could visit Spirit Mountain just for fun, but if this troubled Master and led to an assault on the Heavenly Court... it wouldn’t be as simple as a havoc in Heaven.

Therefore, Sun Wukong continued forward, beseeching the Jade Emperor about the matter, and he too nodded.

"Exactly, that scoundrel on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month three years ago, when I went on an inspection tour across Heaven, roaming the three realms. Upon arriving there, I saw that the officials were not fulfilling their duties properly, their vegetarian offerings intended for Heaven were thrown to dogs, and foul words were uttered, committing acts of offense. I promptly established three conditions in Pi Xiang Palace. If the three conditions break, an edict shall be given to them. If not, they should not meddle in idle affairs!"

Having heard this, Sun Wukong then went to Pi Xiang Palace, where he saw a rice mountain ten zhang high and a flour mountain twenty zhang high. Under the rice mountain, there was a chicken the size of a fist pecking at the grains at its own leisurely pace. Under the flour mountain, there was a golden-haired dog lying down, licking with its tongue out, now long now short. Next to it, a iron frame was suspended with a golden lock hanging from it, and a lamp burning oil lit beneath it.

According to the Jade Emperor, that fellow has offended the heavens. The Jade Emperor set these three conditions: only when the chicken pecks all the rice, the dog licks the flour clean, and the lamp flame burns through the lock, can it rain.

After reading this, Sun Wukong was also shocked and pondered deeply, and once again went to the hall to see the Jade Emperor.

"That lord may be unforgivable, but the people of his county are innocent. Please, Jade Emperor, retract your decree, so I can return to my master with your response. If it rains now, my master will think I successfully prayed for it and won’t blame me. But if the rain doesn’t come, and my master asks about it, then the Celestial Palace will be in trouble."

"You monkey, spouting nonsense."

The Jade Emperor didn’t pay much attention to Sun Wukong’s words.

"How could I retract a decision made by me so casually? What the Holy Monk does on his quest for sutras has nothing to do with me, does it?"

"Your Majesty, you are unaware..."

At this time, Sun Wukong also raised his head and repeated the events of Wujia Country to the Jade Emperor, who, after listening, also had a face that was changing expressions uneasily.

"Is what you said true?"

"How would I dare to deceive the Jade Emperor? Following my master on our westward journey, I’ve also seen that my master’s heart is deeply tied to the common people. If someone bullies the mortals, he does not let it pass lightly. Previously at Lion Camel Ridge, because Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra were neglectful in their duties, their mounts sneaked down to the mortal world, not only turning Lion Camel Ridge into a living hell but also devouring all the people of Lion Camel Country. In a rage, my master killed the misbehaving beasts and also executed the approaching Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra, who tried to dissuade him. He even declared he would go to Spirit Mountain to seek justice from Tathagata Buddha for the people of Lion Camel Country."

Having said this, Sun Wukong paused for a moment, sneaked a look at the Jade Emperor, and then at Lao Jun next to him. The latter’s face went through several changes and finally closed his eyes, pretending to know nothing. Clearly, he had no intention of commenting on Duanmu Huai’s braised beef.

"Right now, Fengxian County has had no rain for three years, people are starving, selling their children for food, and my master is already furious. If he learns that you are the cause, then..."

"Then what should be done?"

"If my master really comes to fight in the Heavenly Court, I... have no choice."

"Hmph!"

The Jade Emperor angrily slapped the table, his expression also fluctuating. Had anyone else said this, the Jade Emperor would not even bother.

But the problem is... Manjushri and Samantabhadra were really killed! The Jade Emperor also knew that right now, Spirit Mountain was already in chaos. He had been enjoying the show, but now... if they really come attacking the Celestial Palace, being the spectacle instead of the spectator would be bad.

But he himself is the Jade Emperor, his word is law, how could he retract his decree just because of a scare from Sun Wukong?

Where would that leave his dignity?

But if he doesn’t retract it... Monk Tang is indeed a tough character, and if what Sun Wukong said comes true and he comes knocking, then the Heavenly Court might be in trouble even before Spirit Mountain.

Winning the fight is one thing, but it wouldn’t look good either...

"Hm, I am aware of this matter."

The Jade Emperor coughed and spoke.

"This happened because of that lord. If you can make him acknowledge his wrongs and turn to righteousness, then perhaps I can bestow blessings upon the land once more."

"So it is, I understand now," said Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong also had a sharp mind, and sensing the tone of the Jade Emperor, he knew the significance and quickly took his leave. He then descended to the mortal world again and came before that lord, saying,

"It is said that if there are good intentions, Heaven will follow. If the lord sincerely turns to good, worships Heaven and Earth, then this disaster can be averted."

The lord himself was also a devout person, it was only because of quarreling with his wife that he had overturned the food offering. Now hearing Sun Wukong’s words, he hurriedly constructed an altar, leading his people in holding incense and worshiping, replying to Heaven and thanking Earth. Soon after, there was a flash of lightning and a rumbling of thunder, wind and clouds stirring, followed by raindrops like sweet dew, nourishing the earth once more.

With this rain, the lord and his people were even more devout in their worship of the heavenly way, but let’s not dwell on this for now.

Sun Wukong also went to the Heavenly Court and thanked the Thunder Deity and Mother Lightning, only then did he return. Now that the rain had fallen, Duanmu Huai no longer planned to stay. Although the lord and everyone beseeched him to, Duanmu Huai only ate a vegetarian meal and then bid Sun Wukong farewell to leave. At this time, Sun Wukong also breathed a sigh of relief—thank goodness this was easy to bluff through, if his master had really inquired, it would still be troublesome. If he irritated the Heavenly Court, a great battle would surely ensue... Luckily, the Jade Emperor was also wise, otherwise, who knows how things would have turned out.

Fortunately, everything passed over, and now it seems like a good outcome.

After that, the two passed through the prefecture and another day before finally arriving in Tianzhu. There, it was crowded with people and bustling. Duanmu Huai caught someone to ask and found out that the Princess of Tianzhu, in her blossoming age of twenty, was at the main intersection in High Color Tower, throwing embroidered balls to choose a Prince Consort.

"Hehe, how interesting."

Hearing this, Duanmu Huai chuckled. He remembered this part, if he wasn’t mistaken, this princess was transformed from a Fairy, and furthermore, she was the widely known Chang’e—the Jade Rabbit Spirit herself.

Hmm... Come to think of it, they’ve been eating along the way, but I haven’t yet tried spicy rabbit head.

I wonder how the taste of the Moon Palace’s Jade Rabbit would be.

Well, I’ll know when I go to see.