Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 376 - 377: Coming for the White Deer Now, It’s Too Late

Chapter 376: Chapter 377: Coming for the White Deer Now, It’s Too Late

"He died just like that?"

Sun Wukong watched as the monster fell, shaking his head.

Such a loud battle had already alarmed the city’s residents, who ran out to watch the excitement. Seeing that the National Abbot fell from the sky and turned into a white deer, the people below clapped and cheered.

"Good! Well killed! Such a demon path deserved to die long ago."

"Killing him like this was too lenient, this cursed demon National Abbot has taken who knows how many lives, and even wanted to take my child’s heart and liver to use as medicine for the Foolish Ruler. Now my child has been blown away by the wind. Such a demon should have been killed long ago."

"Look quickly! How did the National Abbot turn into a white deer?"

"Can’t you see? The National Abbot was originally a demon."

"So it was this thing causing chaos and harming people here!"

"Luckily the celestial gods and bodhisattvas descended to kill this evil spirit, otherwise, who knows how many more lives it would have taken! We must quickly thank the celestial gods and bodhisattvas!"

"Many thanks to the celestial gods and bodhisattvas for slaying this evil spirit, saving the lives of everyone in our city!"

"..."

The people below kneeled on the ground, continuously bowing to Sun Wukong in the air.

Seeing this scene, Sun Wukong could not help but show a smile and said, "There is no need for this. We, on our Journey to the West to seek the Scriptures, encountered this and we will rid your Bhikkhu Country of demons and monsters to ensure your eternal peace."

"Many thanks to the celestial gods and bodhisattvas!"

Upon hearing these words, the grateful tears of the townspeople fell, and they kneeled without rising, continually bowing.

Sun Wukong held the corpse of the white deer and headed towards the Imperial Palace’s Golden Throne Hall.

He then slammed the corpse of the white deer heavily onto the ground.

Sun Wukong then loudly exclaimed, "Where is that King! Will he not come out to receive his National Abbot?"

At that moment, Zhu Bajie ran out from inside the hall, yelling, "That King had a standoff with us just a moment ago and ran away amid the chaos guarded by some soldiers, it’s unknown where he has hidden."

Sun Wukong glanced at the group of people kneeling below, among whom there were civil and military officials, as well as palace maids, eunuchs, and guards.

Seeing that Sun Wukong and the others were Riding the Clouds and Fog, all these people thought they were celestial beings descended to earth and prostrated themselves in worship.

Sun Wukong frowned slightly and said, "Stop kneeling here; hurry up and send someone to find your King. Go quickly!"

The people did not dare disobey and scattered in all directions to search for their king.

At this time, Zhu Bajie said to Sun Wukong, "Brother Monkey, even though this demon is dead, isn’t there still a Beautiful Queen? Shouldn’t we also get rid of that demoness?"

Reminded by Zhu Bajie, Sun Wukong also remembered that the Beautiful Queen was a Fox Spirit and, since he was Subduing Demons, he should eradicate the root, so Old Sun set out to kill that Fox Spirit."

Sun Wukong quickly flew toward the Inner Palace.

However, after a round in the Inner Palace, Sun Wukong found that the Fox Spirit was already gone, clearly having heard the noise of the battle and run away early.

"Brother, what happened?"

Zhu Bajie asked, seeing Sun Wukong return.

"Old Sun searched the entire Inner Palace but didn’t spot that Fox Spirit; she probably escaped amid the chaos," Sun Wukong shook his head and replied.

"The Fox Spirit got off easy!"

Zhu Bajie shook his head and said upon hearing this.

Just then, afar the sound of a crane was heard, and auspicious light was faint; a cloud of Auspicious Clouds flew towards Bhikkhu Country.

"What is that?"

Sand Monk suddenly saw something and pointed at the distant auspicious clouds, puzzledly saying.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie also looked that way without delay.

They then saw an old man descending, who looked quite blessed.

"It turns out to be the Old God of Longevity descending, sorry for not welcoming you sooner!"

Sun Wukong stepped forward and said with a smile.

The Old God of Longevity also hurriedly returned the greeting, "Great Sage, I bow my head in salute."

The Old God of Longevity was about to say something else when, suddenly lowering his head, he saw the dead deer on the ground and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Ah! My white deer!"

Then he landed beside the white deer and upon closer inspection, saw it was already dead.

"This... this... Great Sage, why did you kill my white deer!"

The Old God of Longevity indignantly exclaimed.

Zhu Bajie, who was standing at the doorway, heard what the Old God of Longevity said, and couldn’t help but speak up, "You old man, this white deer was a monster causing trouble in Bhikkhu Country. We encountered it, and my Brother Monkey killed it with his stick; it was only getting what it deserved. How did it become your white deer?"

Upon hearing the words of the Old God of Longevity, Sun Wukong had already understood something.

Perhaps this disaster was Buddhism borrowing the ride of the Old God of Longevity, no wonder the cane in the other’s hand was so powerful.

However, at this moment, Sun Wukong pretended to be ignorant and said, "Old God of Longevity, why do you say this? Could it be that this white deer belonged to you?"

The Old God of Longevity said, "I dare not conceal it; this cursed beast was indeed my feet’s power. Previously, the East Duke God visited my barren mountain, and I kept him to play chess. Before the match could end, this cursed beast escaped."

"I immediately went looking for it but couldn’t find it; I calculated and knew it wandered here, especially coming to find it, but alas, although I hurried, I was still a step too late!"

Speaking of which, Shouxing let out a deep sigh.

"So, this white deer was Shouxing’s mount, no wonder it was so formidable! You might not be aware, but this white deer turned into a spirit in Bhikkhu Country, causing disasters and harming the loyal and good, truly a creature of manifold evils."

"Luckily, we encountered it and after a battle, due to the animal’s ferocity, we accidentally killed it and hope Shouxing will forgive us."

"Had we known this white deer was an item belonging to Shouxing, we certainly would not have laid such a lethal hand on it."

Sun Wukong sighed and said, "Of course, even if we had known, we would have killed it all the same. These Immortals and Buddhas stick together. Setting them up for some trouble and letting their mounts turn into monsters."

How could they cause havoc in a place and then just leave with it?

"Things have come to this, talking more is pointless! Perhaps this disaster was meant for this wretched creature!" Shouxing couldn’t help but sigh deeply, his face showing shades of sorrow.

At that moment, Zhu Bajie said laughingly, "You old man, it’s just a dead deer. Is it worth so much sadness? Besides, you are Shouxing; if you really can’t bear it, just bring it back to life."

Shouxing shook his head and sighed, "Marshal Tianpeng does not know, although I am Shouxing, I only have the ability to extend life, not to resurrect the dead!"

"Ah!" Shouxing let out a deep sigh and said, "This white deer had been with me for years, now that it is dead, I can’t help but feel a loss."

"I know it has caused some troubles in Bhikkhu Country over these last three years, however, that is also..."

Shouxing stopped talking halfway through, not wishing to continue.

Hearing Shouxing’s words, Sun Wukong asked with a smile that was not quite a smile, "What is it?"

"Nothing," Old God of Longevity quickly waved his hand and said, "It’s this wretched animal seeking its own death, no one else is to blame."

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Elder Lord seems to have something he didn’t finish saying! I don’t think it’s any secret, why not speak frankly?"

"If I am not mistaken, this white deer didn’t descend to the lower realm on its own to become a monster, right? It must have been deliberately arranged by you, Shouxing?"

"Ah? This has nothing to do with me, I also..." Shouxing hurriedly explained.

"I know! I know!" Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Everyone is aware, no need for explicit words. Since Shouxing is also at the behest of others, and now that one of your mounts has been sacrificed, it’s only reasonable to ask them for compensation. Besides, with their divine skills, they might even help you resurrect this white deer!"

"If this white deer really can be brought back to life, I hope you will be more careful in the future. If it escapes again to cause trouble, it might not be so fortunate."

Hearing Sun Wukong’s words, Shouxing suddenly saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

"Thank you, Great Sage, for your guidance. I shall go right away..."

Shouxing said, pausing for a moment, then added, "I shall depart now!"

Shouxing quickly picked up the body of the white deer, grabbed the Coiled Dragon Cane, stepped on the Auspicious Clouds, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Bajie, observing this scene, musingly asked, "Brother Monkey, what kind of riddle were you playing just now?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said offhandedly, "Have you forgotten about the Golden Horn King and Silver Horn King of Lotus Cave on Flat Top Mountain?"

"Of course I haven’t forgotten. Aren’t those two monsters the Daoist Boys of the Grand Elder of the Supreme Way? Oh! You mean... I understand now, those two Daoist Boys were a trial intentionally orchestrated by the celestial Immortals and Buddhas. In this case, this white deer was also arranged by Buddhism to deliberately bring trials and tribulations to our master."

Zhu Bajie, not being foolish, suddenly realized.

"These people from Buddhism are really despicable; to arrange trials and tribulations for our Journey to the West, they really stop at nothing."

"Now that the calamity is over, they still plan to leave peacefully with their mount, truly despicable!"

Zhu Bajie was filled with righteous indignation.

Sun Wukong did not pay attention to Zhu Bajie, he still had some doubts.

That this white deer knew about them and had been prepared to deal with them was surprising.

Logically, since they knew about them, they should also have known their strength. Why then would they still provoke them?

If this was all due to the Immortals and Buddhas, everything made sense.

Plus, Shouxing’s hesitance in speaking, as if he had secrets he couldn’t disclose, made it clearer to him.

So, the words spoken seemed somewhat cryptic, yet both he and Shouxing understood.

Zhu Bajie had also come to understand.

And Sand Monk, of course, was needless to say.

But now was clearly not the time to think about these things.

"Brother Monkey, what should we do now?"

Zhu Bajie looked at Sun Wukong.

The monster had fled; they surely couldn’t just let it be.

"Great Immortal, spare my life!"

At that moment, the king had already been brought back.

Upon hearing that his national abbot was actually a demon, he knew he had truly been mistaken.

He had been bewitched by a demon.

"You must know the origins of these demons!"

Sun Wukong looked at the king and slowly began to speak.

"I don’t know, I don’t know anything. I only know they often mentioned Liulin Slope!"