Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 304 - 305 A Group of Monks Drugged Our Great King

Chapter 304: Chapter 305 A Group of Monks Drugged Our Great King

The Pipa Spirit hastily discarded the talismans in her hand.

However, more Buddhist chanting enveloped her.

Though the Pipa Spirit was powerful in mana, she was unable to resist.

"Buddha Ancestor, save me!"

With a loud cry, the Pipa Spirit’s eyes revealed a color of regret, filled with sincere compassion, and she knelt down, bowing deeply to Xuanzang.

"This poor monk has converted you today, I hope you will behave well from now on, and never again take life!"

Xuanzang, seeing her now showing a compassionate expression, also put his hands together and spoke.

The Pipa Spirit nodded repeatedly and said, "From now on, I shall protect the people within a hundred miles and no longer do evil deeds!"

The Pipa Spirit spoke respectfully.

Xuanzang nodded his head, as for what the Pipa Spirit had cried out earlier about Buddha Ancestor saving her life, he did not inquire further.

After that, the group left the Pipa Cave and headed towards the Imperial Palace.

"Master, it seems this time the Pipa Spirit was also set up by the Buddha Ancestor!"

After entering the Royal City, Sun Wukong spoke in a low voice.

Xuanzang nodded and his resolve to overthrow this false Buddha became even more firm.

Though the Queen of the Xiliang Women’s Country did not want to let Xuanzang leave, she couldn’t keep him either and could only helplessly give him the Pass Permit to proceed on his journey.

However, what Xuanzang did not know was that because of him, the Queen had the idea of erecting a Golden Body for him. Although it was not a significant matter, it was nevertheless meaningful for Xuanzang as it showed he was recognized by someone.

And not just recognized for Buddhism.

As Xuanzang and his three disciples left the Royal City and travelled westward along the main road, with the Queen’s signed Pass Permit, the journey was naturally unobstructed. They braved the elements and, in no time, had left the boundary of the Xiliang Women’s Country.

On this day as they were travelling, a high mountain blocked their path, and Xuanzang quickly reined in his horse, turning to call out to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, there is a mountain ahead; could there be monsters?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Master, are you thinking of converting monsters again? There is no monster energy here; fear you will be disappointed."

Xuanzang also felt somewhat helpless at the realization; finding a few monsters was not an easy task, so he urged his horse to continue onwards.

Having entered the mountain, the rugged terrain naturally slowed them down considerably. After finally crossing the high mountain, what lay ahead was a smooth path, if still a desolate wilderness with lush forests.

At this moment, Zhu Bajie suddenly perked up, continuously urging the White Dragon Horse to move faster, yet the Little White Dragon was not at all afraid of him, still strolling forward at its own leisurely pace.

Seeing Zhu Bajie continuously egging on the White Dragon Horse, Sun Wukong couldn’t help but ask, "Fool, why are you rushing him? Let him walk slowly."

Zhu Bajie said, "It’s getting dark, after walking all day, I, Old Pig, am hungry and was hoping we could speed up to find a household to beg for a vegetarian meal."

"That’s true, if we keep going like this, who knows when we will reach the Western Heaven!"

Sun Wukong muttered to himself, his eyes whirling around, "Master, let’s walk faster, maybe we’ll encounter some monsters."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang also thought it made sense and hastened to spur the White Dragon Horse to move quickly forward.

As the sound of galloping hooves increased, White Dragon Horse carried Xuanzang as they dashed ahead.

"Master is running really fast!"

Zhu Bajie exclaimed in surprise as he watched Xuanzang racing ahead.

"Big Brother, Second Senior Brother! Master has run far ahead; we’d better hurry up and catch up to see!"

Sand Monk, noticing that Xuanzang had run quite a distance, couldn’t help but start to worry and spoke up.

The Tang Monk, riding his horse, sprinted over ten miles and looked back to see that all three of his disciples had disappeared.

To think, when he asked them to run faster, they didn’t catch up.

Xuanzang shook his head, preparing to wait for his three disciples to catch up.

Just then, from the neighboring woods, there came the loud clang of a gong; soon after, dozens of bandits armed with swords and spears charged out, shouting as they surrounded Xuanzang, horse and all.

Xuanzang had thought he had encountered monsters and sat on his horse somewhat excitedly, looking around.

Then he felt disappointment; clearly, these were not demons, but bandits.

The bandit leader shouted angrily, "Monk, we won’t harm you, just leave your belongings and you’ll be spared."

Xuanzang felt disappointed; not only were they not monsters, but they also wanted to rob him?

Xuanzang shook his head and dismounted, saying, "This poor monk is a Buddhist monk from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land on his pilgrimage to the Western Heaven. Since leaving Chang’an, after a long time, any money I had has been spent. On the journey, I’ve survived by begging for vegetarian meals. How could I have any wealth left? Please, Great King, let this poor monk pass."

If these bandits were not going to commit evil deeds anymore, Xuanzang naturally would not trouble them.

If they stubbornly refused to repent, they couldn’t blame him for showing no mercy.

"Ugh! Damn it, to finally encounter someone, and it’s a penniless monk."

"Since that’s the case, I won’t make it difficult for you. Leave your horse and clothes, get lost quickly, and don’t irritate me any longer,"

the bandit leader said, livid with anger.

Xuanzang hurriedly said, "Amitabha Buddha, this robe of mine was patched together with cloth from one benefactor and needles from another."

"If you strip it away, won’t you also be harming me? In this life, maybe you can still be a good man, but in the next, I fear you might become a beast!"

The bandit was instantly infuriated, pointing at Xuanzang and cursing, "You poor beggar monk, how dare you curse the Great King! Brothers, beat him up and teach this monk a good lesson."

Seeing that the bandits were about to make their move, Xuanzang shook his head, with lightning gathering in his hand.

It was none other than palm thunder.

Boom!

The thunder struck down, exploding in front of the bandits, thunder reverberating, causing them to retreat in terror.

"Amitabha Buddha, kind benefactors, turning back is the shore!"

With a loud shout from Xuanzang, the bandits couldn’t help but show remorse.

They regretted the many wrongs they had done.

At this moment, Sun Wukong and the other two caught up, with Zhu Bajie laughing, "Master sure runs fast, in the blink of an eye he’s gone, wondering where he’s waiting for us."

Then, Sand Monk suddenly saw many people ahead, holding weapons, and with a frown said, "Brothers, look ahead, are these people possibly our master?"

Zhu Bajie took a glance and also frowned, saying, "Let’s hurry over and see, perhaps master has encountered danger and is actually surrounded by so many people!"

"Fool, given Master’s strength, even if these people truly meant him harm, they probably wouldn’t be able to deal with him!"

Sun Wukong said smilingly.

The three disciples then walked over and indeed soon heard some Buddhist scriptures being emitted by Xuanzang.

"Just as Brother said, Master is converting these bandits!"

Hearing this, Zhu Bajie couldn’t help but show an expression of emotion as he said.

"Even demons can be converted, let alone these petty thieves!"

"Good, I hope that after the poor monk helps you get tonsured, you will not commit these acts of burglary in the future; you must be responsible for your own actions!"

Xuanzang said with his hands clasped together.

"Thank you, Elder, we will remember and certainly not disappoint you!"

The leader of the bandits, now tonsured, looked as devout as a little monk.

"Let’s continue the journey together!"

After nodding his head, Xuanzang motioned to his disciples to resume their journey.

Xuanzang mounted his horse to move forward, saying farewell to the bandits before progressing further.

After a short distance, they saw an estate ahead and decided to ask to stay there; upon reaching the courtyard, Xuanzang went to ask for lodging.

An old man came out and was so frightened by the appearance of Sun Wukong and his companions that he only screamed, "Demons have come! Demons have come!"

The old man cried out and turned to flee.

Xuanzang quickly grabbed the old man, pleading, "Old benefactor, although my three disciples look hideous, they are certainly no bad men; please have mercy and spare us some lodging."

The old man said, "Good heavens! One looks like a Yaksha, another a pig’s head, and another Thunder Duke; they simply do not look human!"

Xuanzang couldn’t help but smile wryly. He knew he couldn’t blame the old man and quickly explained, "These three are my disciples. Although they may look hideous, they have already converted to becoming Buddhist monks and are good people, not demons."

After much explanation and entreaty from Xuanzang, the old man finally reluctantly agreed to let them stay.

The old man rushed to instruct his wife to prepare a vegetarian meal, and after it was eaten, Xuanzang sat down to chat with the old man. Seeing the old lady playing with a child, he casually asked, "Might I ask, benefactor, who is this child?"

"It is my grandson," the old man replied.

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang said with some confusion, "If you have a grandson, then where is your son?"

The old man shook his head and said, "This poor old fellow has lost him; he’s not at home now."

Xuanzang, still puzzled, asked, "Where is he making a living?"

The old man sighed deeply and said, "Alas! Poor thing! It would be good if he would settle down to a decent occupation. That rascal doesn’t attend to proper business, associates with a bad crowd, and is always robbing houses, murdering, and setting fires. He left five days ago and hasn’t returned since."

Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said, "Alas! Such a virtuous pair of parents, how could they have such a delinquent son."

In his heart, he wondered if the old man’s son could be one of the bandits, but he did not inquire further.

Sun Wukong approached and said, "Old official, for such a worthless, thieving, and lecherous son who brings trouble upon his parents, what use is he? When your old Sun finds him, he will take care of him for you once and for all."

The old man said, "I also wish he’d die sooner! It’s just that this old man only has this one son, still hoping he would care for me in my old age."

Zhu Bajie pulled Sun Wukong aside and whispered, "Brother Monkey, don’t meddle with others’ business. His son’s unfilial behavior has nothing to do with us; let’s just find a place to rest as soon as possible!"

So the old man arranged for Xuanzang and the others to rest in the straw shed in the backyard.

At this time, a group of bandits arrived nearby.

These bandits, upon learning their king had changed and suspecting he had been drugged, came looking for trouble with these strangers.