The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 91 - 089: Strategizing to Capture Opportunities

Chapter 91: Chapter 089: Strategizing to Capture Opportunities

Mu Zha arrived at Dongsheng Immortal State and entered Li Jing’s military camp, asking a junior officer to inform Li Jing of his arrival.

"I am the second prince of King Li, you must go and report quickly."

Having heard the news, Li Jing brought Mu Zha into the central military tent and asked, "Mu Zha, what brings you here?"

Mu Zha replied, "Father, I was attending the Flat Peach Festival with the Bodhisattva when we saw the place in disarray. The Bodhisattva inquired about the cause. I heard that you had been defeated in a battle, so I came to help you capture the Demon Monkey."

King Li sighed, "The Demon Monkey is formidable, having reached the level of a Daluo Golden Immortal. There are also five other Great Demon Kings within Flower-Fruit Mountain. I just don’t know where the second one, Jiao Demon King, has gone. Just the other day, the Demon Monkey stole our camp, and Nezha, your brother, was injured by the Great Strength Bull Demon King. We suffered a great defeat and still haven’t found a way to break through Flower-Fruit Mountain and capture the Demon Monkey."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zha also felt secretly alarmed. As a Taiyi Golden Immortal of the Third Heaven, how could he be a match for the Demon Monkey? It seems he was indeed being too overconfident. He could only say, "Then I’ll go up to the Celestial Palace and report to the Jade Emperor to see how he deals with it."

Li Jing said, "Go quickly, and let His Majesty think of a method to defeat the enemy, or go to the Hook Chen Palace and ask for Hook Chen Emperor to handle this matter."

Mu Zha received the order and left. He had hoped to make an impression but hadn’t expected the Demon Monkey to be so formidable. To avoid endangering his life, it was still best to inform the Bodhisattva and the Jade Emperor. Upon reaching heaven, he reported the matter to the Jade Emperor and the Bodhisattva, who frowned repeatedly upon hearing it.

The Bodhisattva then said, "Your Majesty, this humble monk recommends someone who might be able to capture the Demon Monkey."

His Majesty said, "Bodhisattva, please speak."

The Bodhisattva said, "It is Your Majesty’s nephew, True Lord Erlang, Yang Jian."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor, mindful of their strained relationship, found it difficult to mention, but now it seemed it was the only solution. He instructed You Yi Ling Officer to take a decree to Guan Jiangkou in Southern Toad Continent to find Yang Jian.

You Yi Ling Officer took the order and went to Guan Jiangkou in Southern Toad Continent, descending from the clouds and entering the Temple of the True Monarch, where he saw Yang Jian speaking with two Taoists.

The Taoists discussing Taoist teachings with Yang Jian were Unibrow Taoist, a member of the Taoism of the Heavenly Masters, who had recently come out wandering and had come to the Temple of the True Monarch to speak to Yang Jian, and Daoist Equal to Heaven, who had foreseen that the Jade Emperor would send Yang Jian to Flower-Fruit Mountain. This was the right time.

Yang Jian, having received the imperial decree, said, "You may return and report back. Once I gather the troops, I will charge to Flower-Fruit Mountain to capture the Demon Monkey."

The officer, seeing that Yang Jian had accepted the decree, sighed in relief. True Lord Erlang was known for not always respecting the Jade Emperor, and if he had refused the decree, there would have been nothing the officer could do. After bowing, he used the Traverse Through Earth Golden Light to leave the Temple of the True Monarch and returned to the Celestial Palace to report back to the Jade Emperor. Inwardly, Yang Jian sneered coldly and carelessly threw the decree onto the altar.

Daoist Equal to Heaven then laughed, "Brother Yang, how about I join you at Flower-Fruit Mountain for some excitement and to help capture the Demon Monkey?"

Seeing Daoist Equal to Heaven gesturing wildly, seemingly quite pleased with himself, Yang Jian couldn’t help but also break into a grin.

Unibrow Taoist joked, "Now that the Celestial Palace is at odds with the great demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain, this poor Taoist would also like to learn from these Demon Kings’ clever tricks, and perhaps I might join the True Monarch as well, shall we?"

Yang Jian said, "Yes, yes, yes, with two fellow Taoists assisting, we need not worry about failing to capture the Demon Monkey."

This time, Wukong was certainly to be captured, having caused such a calamitous upheaval. Even if the Jade Emperor didn’t capture him, the Western Heaven Buddha Ancestor might well intervene, for Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism had already signed the warrant defining the rules, which must naturally be obeyed. Capturing Wukong was essential to make him undertake the journey to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures. Wukong, having thought it through, knew that this predicament was inevitable, and he could only submit to destiny. Fortunately, with a clone of Daoist Equal to Heaven outside, even if his original body was captured, Daoist Equal to Heaven could still stir up trouble elsewhere. Now, sending Daoist Equal to Heaven’s clone to fight his original self allowed True Lord Erlang to capture the latter, thus dissociating from his original form and avoiding detection by Tathagata, which would have been troublesome!

Daoist Equal to Heaven was now naturally a Daluo Golden Immortal, his body having been formed by Wukong’s Primordial Spirit through the Method of Embryonic Transformation and Shape-Shifting. After consuming so many Peaches of Immortality, his Primordial Spirit had also thinned considerably in the process. Breaking through this barrier, he naturally reached such a state. This left Yang Jian rather envious, wishing he too could have stirred up trouble in the Havoc in Heaven, but that would have made him a target of disdain, especially as he was the Jade Emperor’s nephew.

Yang Jian didn’t really muster any troops, knowing that going there was merely putting on a show. He gathered his Howling Celestial Dog and, together with Daoist Equal to Heaven and Unibrow Taoist, directly headed for Dongsheng Immortal State.

Meanwhile, let us set aside the journey of Yang Jian and the others for a moment and turn our attention to what was happening inside Water Curtain Cave.

Wukong said to his brothers, "Brothers, I am about to perform a play with brother Yang Jian. I might get captured this time, but when that happens, do not worry. My other self, Daoist Equal to Heaven, will still roam freely. Now, both Buddhism and Daoism are scheming against each other, and I just happened to be targeted by both, essentially trapping me!"

Macaques King said, "How can that be? If you get captured, we must storm the Celestial Palace and rescue you."

Ox Demon King was reminded of his master’s words and had some understanding of the situation, so he said, "Fifth brother, do not rush things. If Wukong has this plan, then let him go ahead."

Macaques King scratched his ears and cheeks and said, "Are we just going to watch him being taken away by those people?"

Ox Demon King laughed and said, "If you try to strike at the Heavenly Court, you might mess up big time! Any of the great emperors from the Heavenly Court could destroy us instantly. They might not lay hands on Wukong, but they certainly won’t ignore us. Let Wukong be captured; after all, there is still a Daoist Equal to Heaven out there."

Wukong said, "Brother Bull truly understands me. Heh, both Buddhism and Daoism are plotting against each other, and I am caught in the middle. No matter how capable I am, I will still face hardships! This move is also to strive for a slim chance of survival amid the stormy trials. Without doing this, I wouldn’t even have that slim chance."

Ox Demon King, usually quick-tempered, surprisingly said such words, making Peng Demon King feel amazed and guess that Old Bull must know some insider information.

"That works too, but Wukong, if you really face any life-threatening danger, you must inform us! Even if the Heavenly Court is formidable, we will storm the heavens to rescue you," said Peng Demon King.

Moved by this, Wukong bowed to his five brothers and said, "Please take care of Flower-Fruit Mountain! When the second brother finishes his retreat, please inform him."

"No worries," said Peng Demon King. "Your journey is fraught with peril, take care."

In his previous life, Wukong remembered fighting alongside Yang Jian and the Meishan brothers, enduring a grueling battle of seven days and nights. Then, Laojun used a Vajra Bracelet, which struck him dizzy and allowed them to capture and take him to heaven.

Now, the Daoist Equal to Heaven had already gone to Yang Jian to act out a battle with Wukong, staging a cataclysmic fight to mislead the Tathagata.

The Three Pure Ones could not be deceived anymore. Subhuti had some unknown connection with the Three Pure Ones, probably in collusion, teaching Wukong the method of Embryonic Transformation and Shape-Shifting. And Wusheng had witnessed Wukong acquiring Yuan Hong’s corporeal body in the Black Tower within the War God Secret Realm.

However, Wukong sensed that the Three Pure Ones harbored no significant malice towards him, evident from their arrangement. In his last life, Laojun had enlightened Tang Sanzang, allowing Tang Sanzang to use the Rebirth Box to reincarnate him. But that Rebirth Box was said to be crafted by Amitabha Buddha from his own Rebirth Lotus Dais, which was an Innate Supreme Treasure; it seemed Amitabha Buddha had also made a significant investment. Thus, it appeared that Buddhism might have split into two factions, with Amitabha Buddha’s faction hiding quietly below, enduring silently... The Esoteric and Prominent Sects, both controlled by the Tathagata, hinted at an upheaval within Buddhism; otherwise, why would the Tathagata alone have the power to suppress the two great saints of the West, causing even the Three Pure Ones to fear him?

Unable to fully comprehend, he could only slowly unravel it bit by bit.

Soon, it would be the late Eastern Han Dynasty; the division into The Three Kingdoms would occur, with Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism competing for supremacy through magic combat. However, the time was not yet ripe to discern the details; it would depend on Daoist Equal to Heaven reversing the situation by himself!

This "soon" is relative to immortals; for mortals, it’s a lifetime or two.

Wukong had already calculated everything in his mind, but thinking of the Tathagata’s profound secrecy, a great fear took root within him, making confronting the Tathagata not so straightforward. Perhaps, Daoist Equal to Heaven could be the Heavenly Blade to tear through this darkness, potentially carving out a chance for survival.

Lion Camel King asked, "Do you know why both Buddhism and Daoism are plotting against you? How did you figure out the tactics of the Saint?"

Wukong replied, "Heh, it’s better not to discuss this with you brothers to prevent unnecessary changes. As it stands, I can still grasp that slim chance of survival; if this matter were leaked, even that slim chance would slip through my fingers!"

Yu Rong King asked, "Seventh brother, do you have anything else to say? Speak quickly, and we will help you accomplish it."

Wukong nodded and said, "There are Four Great Divine Monkeys in the world: the VLOOKUP(A1300,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0) Monkey, the Tongbei Monkey, the Six-Eared Macaque, and the Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey." He glanced at his brothers and continued, "Originally, I am the VLOOKUP(A1300,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0) Monkey, and now I have acquired the corporeal body of the Tongbei Monkey, Yuan Hong. Currently, I still possess a primordial spirit which allows me to use the method of Embryonic Transformation and Shape-Shifting. Please help me find the Six-Eared Macaque or the Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey. If you encounter the Six-Eared Macaque, kill it and bring its body; if it’s the Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey and it’s alive, try not to harm it."

"Alright! We will surely remember that and will start searching for the other three divine monkeys once you leave. But why must we kill the Six-Eared Macaque? Is there any enmity between you two?" asked Macaques King, curious as he belonged to the monkey kind.

"The Six-Eared Macaque is crucial to me, I have my plans, and it’s not convenient to disclose them. For that, I apologize here to all my brothers! One day, I will tell you about this matter. Please understand!" Wukong bowed.

Ox Demon King helped Wukong to his feet, patted his shoulder, and said, "Wukong, you’re a true brother, and we will certainly do everything in our power to help you. Rest assured."

Wukong chuckled, nodding his head. Now that the Seven Great Saints were united as one, they would no longer face the fragmentation of the past.

Wukong was indeed cunning and deeply strategic, so the brothers present did not doubt him and chose to trust him.

To find out what happens next, please follow the upcoming installment.