Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 429 - 406: Could It Be That Someone Stole the Lamp Oil?

Chapter 429: Chapter 406: Could It Be That Someone Stole the Lamp Oil?

Now that the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan has come forward to persuade,

I believe the Yellow Lion Demon and the other lions, Nao Lion, Snow Lion, Suan Ni, Bai Ze, Fu Li, and Tuan Xiang, naturally dare not defy the commands of their ancestor. Moreover, for the sake of their lives, they have no choice but to bow down and accept universal salvation.

Although these seven brutes are of mediocre ability, we are now not far from Mount Meru, and it is a time when every hand is needed. With these seven lions joining, they can be put to some use.

The Nine Spirits Holy Yuan administered the healing elixirs given by Sun Wukong to the seven lions, and their injuries began to heal.

Then, under the guidance of the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan, the Yellow Lion Demon, Nao Lion, Snow Lion, Suan Ni, Bai Ze, Fu Li, and Tuan Xiang came together to pay homage to Sun Wukong and the others.

Sun Wukong, upon seeing the seven lions prostrating themselves, nodded in satisfaction and said, "Since you are willing to be saved by my master, Old Sun is willing to spare your lives!"

Sun Wukong turned toward Xuanzang as if to say, the rest is up to you.

Xuanzang nodded as well.

"Amitabha, it relieves me deeply that you, benefactors, are willing to convert," Xuanzang said.

A vortex appeared behind Xuanzang, and a strong power of universal salvation radiated from behind him.

In an instant, it enveloped all the lions.

Although the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan bore resentment, it dared not defy.

Under the influence of Buddhist chanting, its past seemed to dissipate like smoke and clouds at this moment.

The seven lions, who initially looked fierce, now appeared calm and composed.

They even showed a trace of remorse.

Looking back, they regretted the many lives they had harmed.

Sun Wukong watched these demons starting to show compassion and smiled, knowing that though they hadn’t encountered anything special yet, surely there would be transformations once they reached Mount Meru.

With these demons, they would have a better chance of succeeding.

Afterward, the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan bid the seven lions farewell and told them to reflect on the Buddhist Law in peace.

Should there be a need for them, they would naturally be summoned.

Only the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan remained following at a distance.

After living for so many years and now having been saved by Xuanzang, the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan’s understanding of the Buddhist Law had deepened.

It continually discussed matters of the Buddhist Law with Xuanzang.

Two days later, the craftsmen had forged weapons for the three princes, all modeled after Sun Wukong’s Jingu Bang, Zhu Bajie’s nine-toothed rake, and the Sand Monk’s demon-subduing staff, just lighter in weight.

The three weapons fashioned for the princes weighed only a few hundred jin.

Afterward, they urged Sun Wukong and the others to quickly teach the princes martial arts and then hasten their journey to avoid delaying the schedule.

Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and the Sand Monk did not dare to delay.

They each taught a set of staff, rake, and staff techniques to the princes. After several days of instruction under their supervision, the princes quickly mastered the skills and became proficient with their weapons.

Then, the group bid farewell to the King of Yuhua, who could not persuade them to stay longer and had to let them go.

Before leaving, the King of Yuhua hosted a grand banquet to thank Sun Wukong and his companions for subduing the monsters, eliminating a threat to Yuhua Province, and the princes expressed their gratitude to their three masters for their great kindness.

After the send-off banquet ended, the group bid farewell to King Hua and his sons and continued their Journey to the West.

Xuanzang and his disciples together with the Nine Spirits Holy Yuan left Yuhua Province and kept heading west. All was peaceful, and after about five or six days of travel, they came across another city.

From atop his horse, Xuanzang asked, "What place is this?"

Sun Wukong looked up and with a smile said, "Up ahead is a city, yet there are no flags above its gates; the exact place is unknown. Let’s find out as we get closer."

Before long, as they approached the city’s eastern gate, they saw the tea houses and wine shops hustling with noise, and the grain and oil markets lively.

Passersby on the street, seeing Zhu Bajie’s long snout, Sun Wukong’s red face, and the Sand Monk’s dark complexion, noticed that the three were barely distinguishable from demons and not at all humanlike.

They stopped out of curiosity to watch, pointing and whispering about the trio, but seeing their ugly appearances, no one dared to come too close.

The crowd of onlookers grew, and Xuanzang, fearing his rash disciples might cause trouble, quickly advised them not to stir up any issues.

Fortunately, this was not the first time they had entered a town, and they were accustomed to such reactions, so they behaved modestly and discreetly.

While they were still on their way and had not yet reached the city gates, they saw a temple ahead with the words ’Ci Yun Temple’ inscribed above its entrance.

Xuanzang happily exclaimed, "Disciples, here is a temple where we can once again seek lodging for the night."

"Good! Good! Good!" Sun Wukong hurriedly agreed.

Thus, Xuanzang dismounted and led the way to the temple entrance, while Sun Wukong looked up intently, seemingly deep in thought.

A little monk at the gate spotted Xuanzang and his party and rushed to report to the others. Soon an old monk, accompanied by a group of little monks, hurried out to greet them.

The old monk, seeing Xuanzang’s dignified and distinguished appearance, resembling an enlightened high monk, quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Amitabha, may I ask where the master comes from?"

Xuanzang humbly returned the greeting, "This disciple comes from the Tang Dynasty of China."

Upon hearing this, the old monk hurriedly knelt down, and Xuanzang quickly helped him up, asking in surprise, "Why does the abbot give such a grand gesture?"

The old monk, with an excited expression, responded, "The teacher may not know, but here, those who are virtuous chant sutras, worship Buddha, and practice asceticism all in the hope of being reborn in the lands of China. Seeing the teacher’s grace and attire today, it is clear you are a high monk blessed with the fruits of previous lives, and so I kneel in respect."