Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 202 - 203: Show a Clear Path to the Minor Deity

Chapter 202: Chapter 203: Show a Clear Path to the Minor Deity

As a member of the Dragon Clan, the Jing River Dragon King naturally had his own pride, and if given the chance, he naturally wouldn’t want to lose.

Although at the beginning, he felt that he had lost, and his opponent didn’t even agree to a wager.

But if his dignity could remain intact, all the better.

He wouldn’t need to apologize to that mortal, and his self-respect was preserved.

Upon hearing this, the River-patrolling Yaksha also breathed a sigh of relief, for he had done all he could, whether the mission was accomplished or not.

The next day, the Jing River Dragon King summoned Feng Bo, Cloud Child, Thunder Duke, and Mother of Lightning to above the Ninth Heaven of Chang’an City.

True to the River-patrolling Yaksha’s suggestion, he started the rainfall at Yi hour, thundered at noon, rained at Wei hour, and stopped the rain at Monkey Hour, but only three feet and forty point eight inches of rain fell — he had changed the time by one hour and deducted three inches and eight-tenths.

"Thinking about it, that Yuan Shoucheng must be full of regret at this moment, wondering why he didn’t calculate it correctly. I’ll go see how he’s dealing with it!"

On his way back to the Dragon Palace, the Jing River Dragon King was thoroughly pleased with himself; though the other party hadn’t agreed to the bet, he had won after all.

Considering he hadn’t been treated well by Yuan Shoucheng earlier, he naturally wanted to see what Yuan Shoucheng had to say this time.

He transformed into the appearance of a Scholar once more and headed towards Yuan Shoucheng’s stall.

Upon arriving at the divination stall, he saw Yuan Shoucheng staring absentmindedly at the damp streets after the rain.

The Jing River Dragon King couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing this scene.

Obviously, Yuan Shoucheng had also realized that he had miscalculated this time.

The Jing River Dragon King approached without hesitation.

"You soothsayer, you made grand claims yesterday. You said it would rain at Dragon hour, thunder at Yi hour, downpour at noon, and cease at Wei hour, accumulating exactly three feet, three inches and forty-eight tenths!"

"However, today it began to rain at Yi hour, thundered at noon, and rained at Wei hour, then stopped at Monkey Hour, totaling only three feet and forty tenths. Neither the timings nor the amount of rainfall match up. How can you still dare to set up your stall after making such grand claims?"

At that moment, the Jing River Dragon King seemed like someone unrelenting, having caught someone else in the wrong.

However, as Yuan Shoucheng hadn’t taken up the bet, the Dragon King restrained from damaging anything in the stall.

At that moment, Yuan Shoucheng was still calculating his divination. He was confident that there could be no mistake, yet today there was one. When he saw the dark foreboding on the arriving Jing River Dragon King’s face, he understood what had happened.

Initially, he noticed that the Jing River Dragon King had an extraordinary bearing and must be someone of high ranking, a royal or a nobleman, but he hadn’t thought much about it.

Yet seeing him today, enveloped by an aura of waters, Yuan Shoucheng couldn’t fail to realize that this was indeed the Dragon King from below.

He’d never expected his modest stall to attract the Dragon King himself.

From then on, Yuan Shoucheng began to calculate silently within himself.

In a flash, he understood that by not accepting the bet, he had narrowly escaped this disaster.

"The old master indeed is an immortal of this world; he’d calculated this long ago!"

One does not divine for oneself.

He could see through countless things, but he could not see through his own fate.

Just as a doctor finds it hard to heal himself.

But with the calamity passed, he was then able to discern.

He suddenly realized why his master had set those two principles before he left the mountain.

If not for those principles, he might not have been able to escape this crisis.

It goes without saying that the stature of his master in his heart had reached incredible heights.

"What’s the matter? Now that you see your divination was wrong, you have nothing to say?"

Seeing that Yuan Shoucheng didn’t respond, the Jing River Dragon King thought he’d been struck speechless by his mistake!

But Yuan Shoucheng shook his head; he had already calculated that his challenger was nearing his end.

"I admit I was wrong about your divination today, and indeed I have nothing good to say about it, but there’s someone who breached the heavenly laws, yet remains unaware — truly lamentable!"

When the Jing River Dragon King heard Yuan Shoucheng’s words, the pride he initially felt turned to surprise, sensing that the words were directed at him and the matter might not be as simple as it seemed.

Remembering everything from the moment he approached Yuan Shoucheng’s stall, it seemed as if an invisible hand had been continuously pushing him forward, though every choice seemed like his own.

Yet someone else’s whispers had incited his actions.

Now, as Yuan Shoucheng mentioned breaching the heavenly laws, the Jing River Dragon King came to his senses.

It looked like he had indeed committed a transgression.

"Heavenly laws? You can’t possibly be trying to muddle through by spouting such nonsense now that you’ve miscalculated the divination?"

Though doubts stirred within him, the Jing River Dragon King was not quite ready to give up; he couldn’t believe a mortal could wield such Divine Skills to know the affairs of the Celestial Court.

If this is true, then Yuan Shoucheng must truly possess the ability to reach heaven and pierce earth, and I fear he is no mere mortal.

Seeing that things had come to such a pass, and yet the Jing River Dragon King still took pleasure in spouting rhetoric, Yuan Shoucheng couldn’t help but slowly shake his head.

"Heaven’s misdeeds may be forgiven, but one’s own misdeeds are inexcusable!"

At this point, Yuan Shoucheng no longer had any reservations and directly exposed the other party’s true identity.

"You needn’t hide it from me, nor can you, for I recognize you, you’re no commoner, you are the Jing River Dragon King, aren’t you?"

"Now, to save face, you have actually believed slanderous talk and gone against the decree of the Jade Emperor, changed the Hour, and withheld the rightful amount of rain, and thus have violated the heavenly laws!"

"I’m afraid that by now, there must already be a petition against you on the Jade Emperor’s desk, and it won’t be long before you, on that Dragon-Slaying Terrace, will inevitably suffer a blow!"

As Yuan Shoucheng spoke, his gaze wandered toward the distant void. When he turned his attention back to the Jing River Dragon King, there was no longer the semblance of a mortal, but rather the aura of an otherworldly expert.

His voice wasn’t loud, but at that moment, to the ears of the Jing River Dragon King, it exploded like muffled thunder.

"You, you, you know about all this?"

At this moment, the Jing River Dragon King was devoid of any arrogant demeanor. Seeing Yuan Shoucheng directly reveal his identity and point out his grave mistake was shocking.

By then, he was visibly shocked and frightened, with his legs trembling so much that he staggered several steps.

With such a grave error committed, the Jing River Dragon King understood the severity of the situation.

Now, with such an exalted figure before him, the Jing River Dragon King could no longer concern himself with much else. He fell to his knees before Yuan Shoucheng at once.

"Sir, sir, forgive me, my ignorance caused me to offend an exalted person such as yourself, and I hope you will not take it to heart," he pleaded.

"I only hope now that you show your generous nature and not calculate too strictly with a Minor Deity like myself. I have violated the heavenly laws and hope you can save my life!"

The Jing River Dragon King kowtowed continuously, his face full of pleading.

"Dragon King, why go to such lengths? I am but a mere mortal, how could I possibly have the power to save you?"

Yuan Shoucheng hurriedly said, upon seeing the Jing River Dragon King kneel down.

He, a mere fortune-teller, had already caused enough commotion by attracting the attention of the Jing River Dragon King, and now this matter even involved the Jade Emperor, leaving him feeling quite helpless.

Now he recalled, had it not been for his old master’s guidance, he would also have been trapped and unable to extricate himself!

Thus, Yuan Shoucheng was even less inclined to become involved.

"Sir, please do not be so modest. I know with your abilities that can reach heaven and pierce earth, you surely can save me. Although this place has been afflicted by my violation of the heavenly laws, it was also because of you that this started. If you refuse to help, even in death, I will not forgive you!"

The Jing River Dragon King, however, was utterly unwilling to give up.

Yuan Shoucheng was his last hope, and he would not let go easily.

Moreover, if it weren’t for his desire to outdo Yuan Shoucheng, he would not have transgressed the heavenly laws in the first place, so how could he not want Yuan Shoucheng to take responsibility?

Yuan Shoucheng observed the Jing River Dragon King, who now looked full of worry and fear, a far cry from his former glory.

What the Jing River Dragon King said was not unfounded; perhaps this situation had indeed arisen because of him. Regardless of how his master Wang Yang had previously instructed him to evade calamity, he and the Jing River Dragon King were ultimately entwined by fate.

Wang Yang had once taught him about karma and fate, warning that if mishandled, it would lead to an inescapable doom.

Hence, Wang Yang often taught him to avoid karma and fate with others, and even if it was necessary, to keep it minimal.

With this in mind, Yuan Shoucheng dare not be careless, wishing to quickly rid himself of the Jing River Dragon King to avoid deepening their karmic ties.

"Well then, since you’ve said as much, I may not be able to save you, but there is someone who might. Go and ask him, and you might just find a glimmer of hope."

Upon hearing Yuan Shoucheng’s willingness to help, the Jing River Dragon King was greatly relieved, repeatedly kowtowing and expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you, sir, thank you for this life-saving grace!"

Yuan Shoucheng waved his hand and said, "By now, the Jade Emperor should have already issued his decree. You might face execution by Wei Zheng at the third quarter of the noon hour tomorrow. If you want to save your life, you can ask Emperor Taizong of Tang for assistance. After all, Wei Zheng is the Prime Minister under the throne of the King of Tang. If you can ask him for a favor, you might just save your life!"

Yuan Shoucheng pointed out a direction, but whether the Jing River Dragon King could actually save his own life was something Yuan Shoucheng did not know.

However, he somewhat understood that this matter was a trap designed by the Celestial Court, deliberately meant to ensnare the Jing River Dragon King.

Now that the Jing River Dragon King had indeed defied the Jade Emperor’s imperial decree as they planned, they had an excuse to cause him trouble.

The only chance for the Jing River Dragon King was to seek protection from Emperor Taizong, and as for whether it would be successful, Yuan Shoucheng had no idea.

Everything was up to fate.

"Thank you, sir, for showing me the way, thank you for your guidance!"

Upon hearing this, the Jing River Dragon King’s eyes gleamed with a hint of joy, and he bowed again.

"I will never forget this great kindness, sir. If I can save my life, I will surely return to repay you!"