Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 189 - 190: Eh, It’s the Senior’s Aura

Chapter 189: Chapter 190: Eh, It’s the Senior’s Aura

In the temple where Master Xuanzang resided.

At this time, countless people were coming and going, and the incense was burning prolifically.

Master Xuanzang continued to impart Buddhist principles to the mortals who entered, hoping to help them cross to the other shore and escape the cycle of reincarnation early.

Among the crowd, Kasyapa Venerable had long since transformed into an ordinary mortal and entered the temple.

After entering, he stood aside and observed the actions of the Five Gates.

After Sakyamuni Tathagata learned that the Five Gates had not been vigilantly monitoring Xuanzang, he dispatched Kasyapa Venerable.

"Alas, I hadn’t anticipated they were indeed being lazy and negligent. Could it be they are unaware that Golden Cicada’s matter is of great importance for the flourishing of Buddhism?"

Kasyapa Venerable sighed, somewhat disappointed.

Although the Five Gates were still guarding around Golden Cicada, they were standing far apart from each other, not constantly watching over Golden Cicada.

It could be said that none of them were sincerely protecting and watching over Golden Cicada.

At this moment, Kasyapa Venerable no longer displayed a compassionate demeanor but rather a slight anger, and then he channeled his mana to begin telepathy.

The Five Gates, who had been standing aside, quickly heard the telepathic message.

"Golden Light Gate, Silver Headed Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Mahagate, come forth at once!"

The Five Gates all showed a hint of surprise on their faces when they heard this telepathy.

They then exchanged glances, seeing confusion in each other’s eyes, clearly unaware of who was sending the telepathy.

However, as they were searching around, they saw a figure in the distance coldly watching them.

It was Kasyapa Venerable.

The Five Gates immediately trembled and hurriedly straightened up, walking toward him.

"The Five Gates pay their respects to The Venerable One. May we know the reason for your visit?"

Out of breath, the five of them bowed to Kasyapa Venerable, their foreheads slick with fine beads of sweat.

The sudden appearance of Kasyapa Venerable had indeed startled them.

Together they left the temple and walked to the nearby area.

They all resumed their monkly appearance and paid their respects to Kasyapa Venerable, catching the attention of many people who had never seen such monks before.

Kasyapa Venerable slightly furrowed his brow and continued to lead the Five Gates further away.

After ensuring that there were no people around, Kasyapa Venerable slowly spoke, "Are you aware of the turmoil in the Three Realms, yet you five neglect your duties!"

"Rather than dutifully serving Buddhism, you think of cunning schemes and slack off, which is deeply disappointing to us!"

Kasyapa Venerable’s words bore a tone of disappointment, and upon hearing them, the Five Gates were taken aback.

Golden Light Gate hurriedly explained, "Honored Venerable, ever since we received the decree of the Buddha, we have been dutifully guarding Golden Cicada without straying a single step. How could there be any shirking or deception on our part?"

They truly did not understand why they were being so reproached, as they had faithfully fulfilled their roles, never leaving Golden Cicada’s side. But faced with The Venerable One’s status, the Five Gates felt wronged and were reluctant to argue too forcefully.

"Dutiful? But how were you just now?"

Upon hearing this, Kasyapa Venerable couldn’t hide his disappointment, never expecting the Five Gates to resort to such evasiveness. He didn’t waste further words with them and directly summoned the Ancient Mirror of Buddhism.

As Kasyapa Venerable infused his mana into the mirror, the previous actions of the five were now displayed within it.

"Do you still have anything to say? Now the evidence is irrefutable!"

Kasyapa Venerable said, his expression darkening and his aura turning chillier.

Naturally, he too had hoped that the Five Gates would not resort to trickery, sparing him from making this journey.

The key point was that even the Tathagata had seen it.

Yet these five dared to argue!

Now, it was essential to admonish them properly, hoping there would be no mishaps next time; otherwise, even he would find it difficult to explain to Sakyamuni Tathagata.

But just when Kasyapa Venerable thought the Five Gates would be panic-stricken after witnessing such incontrovertible proof, they began to mutter to themselves.

"We haven’t been tricky or lazy. We’ve been monitoring every move of Golden Cicada!"

"Yes, we’ve been attentive to every action of Golden Cicada!"

"..."

With Kasyapa Venerable’s cultivation level, he could clearly hear what they were muttering, and his expression soured.

"Nonsense, such distracted attitudes and still you don’t see it as loafing? If Golden Cicada disappeared, you probably wouldn’t even notice!"

Kasyapa Venerable scoffed.

It truly frustrated him that they were taking the issue so lightly, considering how far he had traveled.

With that said, the Five Gates felt a jolt of realization.

Was that also considered being lazy?

With their power, even if Golden Cicada tried to flee, it was unlikely he could escape.

Therefore, in their view, even if they were nonchalant or joking around, it shouldn’t have caused any delay.

Moreover, outside, they could hardly sit upright and alert all the time, as it would only make them more conspicuous and suspicious.

Now with Kasyapa Venerable’s visit, wasn’t it just nitpicking, demanding excessively?

Thinking of this, the Five Gates felt deeply vexed.

The crux was that Kasyapa Venerable was one of Sakyamuni Tathagata’s Ten Great Disciples, and they were not in a position to provoke him.

So now, if he said they were being lazy, then they must accept that they were indeed being lazy.

Who could challenge someone of higher status?

"Since The Venerable One believes we have been negligent, we have nothing to say. We will accept any punishment as you see fit!"

Although the Five Gates Guardians were quite dissatisfied in their hearts, they refrained from saying more due to the other party’s status.

"Hmm, considering it’s your first offense, let’s drop the matter here. However, from now on, Golden Cicada must be strictly supervised to ensure no more chaos ensues!"

Seeing that the Five Gates Guardians had bowed their heads, Kasyapa Venerable did not plan to make a big deal of it. After all, it was a time when every hand was needed, so a combination of chastisement and reward was sufficient.

In the future, the task of supervising Golden Cicada would still fall to them. If the punishment were too harsh and the Five Gates Guardians became displeased and negligent in carrying out their duties for Buddhism, it could ruin everything!

"We thank The Venerable One for your gracious forgiveness. Hereafter, we shall monitor him closely and surely not betray the grace of Buddha Ancestor."

Seeing that The Venerable One intended no real punishment but only a verbal warning, the five of them breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Just take good care of him!"

Having said that, Kasyapa Venerable left to report back.

The Five Gates Guardians bowed in unison, and after Kasyapa Venerable had departed into the distance, dissatisfaction was evident on all their faces.

"This Venerable One is really petty. Over such a minor issue, he had to make such a fuss? Could it be that because we haven’t offered tribute, he is nitpicking this time?"

Among them, Silver Headed Gate couldn’t help but frown and speak out, obviously harboring some grievances.

He even felt it was because they hadn’t offered tribute that this had happened.

"In that case, the five of us brothers might as well go and find Golden Cicada ourselves. We will keep close watch over him; surely no further problems will arise!"

"You make sense. Golden Cicada needs to spread Buddhist Law in this life and will probably never leave this kind of temple in this lifetime. If each of us five takes turns accompanying him for a day, there will certainly be no issues!"

The Five Gates Guardians thought this plan was feasible.

As for being exposed?

With their level of cultivation, were they afraid of being discovered by a mere mortal?

That would be a joke!

So the five of them returned to the temple together, yet they did not find Master Xuanzang who was supposed to be spreading Buddhist Law.

However, they weren’t concerned, after all, he was just a mortal; how far could he run? Maybe he just went to the backyard for a restroom break.

Confident as they were, they still released their Divine Sense to search.

Not in the backyard!

Not in the Meditation Room!

Not in the Buddha Hall!

Nowhere!

Nowhere at all!

Even the place where Golden Cicada originally stayed seemed to have been tidied up.

This caused all five of them to start panicking.

"Golden Cicada is missing?"

"Quick, search for him!"

"Go to Fang Zhang!"

At this moment, the five were nearly frantic.

Afterward, Golden Light Gate quickly calmed down as he was, after all, their leader.

"Silver Headed Gate, go find Fang Zhang and inquire about Golden Cicada’s whereabouts. The rest of us will combine our Divine Sense and explore within dozens of miles!"

"Where can a mere mortal have escaped to?"

Golden Light Gate spoke calmly, soothing the rest of them.

"Brother is right!"

"Brother’s words are most sensible; we were too anxious!"

The remaining four Guardians let out a sigh of relief.

Nevertheless, Golden Light Gate was still worried.

Kasyapa Venerable had just warned them, and now if he found out Golden Cicada had disappeared right under their noses, they feared he might even want to kill them.

Immediately, they acted separately, hoping to find Golden Cicada as quickly as possible.

It didn’t take long for Silver Headed Gate to return with news from Fang Zhang.

"Fang Zhang said Mage Xuanzang has gone outside to spread Buddhist Law, and it’s unknown when he will return!"

Silver Headed Gate had not received any useful information.

"Let us search together using our Divine Sense!"

Golden Light Gate chuckled bitterly, but even after some time of searching, they found nothing; the mortal seemed to have vanished.

At this moment, beneath a certain inn, Xuanzang remained composed.

His presence was undetectable unless one looked directly at him, then they would realize someone was there.

But most ordinary people would notice nothing amiss.

"I wonder if senior has returned yet!"

Xuanzang was anxious at this time, not understanding why he was under surveillance and how he had barely managed to escape.

He hoped to find Wang Yang to ask him for advice.

Entering the guest room, he found no signs of Wang Yang’s return.

"Eh, senior’s presence!"

Suddenly, Xuanzang felt something and his face lit up with joy.