Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 227 - 221: Manjushri and Samantabhadra have arrived [seeking subscription and monthly passes]_1
Marshal Tianpeng drew a sharp breath and said, "What exactly happened? Didn’t Old Sha say it wasn’t serious? Why is it so severe?"
He wanted to go back to report the news, but it was clear he wouldn’t make it in time.
Clenching his teeth, a determined glint appeared in his eyes as he said, "No, I must find reinforcements."
He looked up to the sky and said, "Old Sha mentioned that Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad in the Tushita Palace of Paul et Virginie wished to take him as a disciple and even left behind the Tai Chi Diagram for him. I’ll seek his help."
Thus, Marshal Tianpeng immediately performed the Flowing Light Flying Dance and flew upwards, heading straight for the Tushita Palace.
「Tushita Palace.」
After stating his purpose, Marshal Tianpeng was, however, stopped at the gate, not allowed to enter.
The Gold Horn Boy said, "Marshal Tianpeng, please go back. The Saint is not in the Tushita Palace."
Tianpeng demanded, "Impossible! Where has he gone?"
The Gold Horn Boy said, "I cannot say where. Please, you must go back."
Marshal Tianpeng pleaded urgently, "Please help, esteemed brothers. Tell the Lord that a disciple he fancies might die; he must help."
The Gold Horn and Silver Horn looked at each other, furrowing their brows, then with contempt, said, "The Saint has only two true disciples and cares for no others. How could there possibly be another disciple?"
Tianpeng then said, "It’s Sha Chen of Flowing Sand River. Tell him that Sha Chen is being accused by the Heavenly Court and might die. Hurry and save him, or else it will be too late."
Without any hesitation, the Gold Horn and Silver Horn refused, saying, "If you have come regarding Sha Chen of Flowing Sand River, then you can go back. The Saint has ordered that he shall see no one about this matter."
Marshal Tianpeng, enraged, said, "Didn’t you say the Saint wasn’t here? How has it suddenly changed to him not seeing anyone?"
The two, with their arms crossed, disdainfully said, "What about it?"
Tianpeng took out his Nine-Tooth Rake and said, "Then there’s no choice; I have to teach you two lying boys a lesson and then see the Lord myself."
Pointing at them, he warned, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you; I am a Daluo Golden Immortal. If we fight, I won’t go easy, and if you die here, don’t blame me for being merciless."
"Let me tell you, you’ll be begging me before long."
The Gold Horn and Silver Horn exchanged another glance. After a long pause, Marshal Tianpeng lay on the ground, wounded all over, while the Gold Horn and Silver Horn knelt, pressing his acupoints and casting spells to heal him.
"Please, Marshal Tianpeng, you mustn’t die. You are chosen for the quest for the scriptures. If you die, our sins will be great."
The Gold Horn and Silver Horn were terrified, trembling, begging Marshal Tianpeng not to die.
Lying on the ground, Tianpeng said, "I must see the Saint! I must see the Saint! Otherwise, even if you kill me, the Saint won’t spare you."
The Gold Horn and Silver Horn said, "The Saint really isn’t here, please leave quickly."
Marshal Tianpeng stuck out his tongue, his head lolled to one side, and he feigned death.
The two boys became a bit scared, got up, and said, "The Saint has gone to Wuzhuang Temple to exchange thoughts with Saint Zhenyuanzi. Who knows how many years it will be before he returns."
"We’ll stay here and guard, but if Tianpeng dies here, we will surely incur karmic consequences and be blamed by the Saint. Better we descend to the mortal realm and enjoy our freedom. If Tianpeng dies, it won’t be our responsibility."
Silver Horn Boy nodded and said, "That makes sense. Besides, the Tushita Palace is protected by a Formation; no one can enter. Let’s hasten to the mortal realm. The Saint once said we should choose our time to descend and face our tribulations. If we descend now, it’s reasonable, and the Saint cannot blame us."
After deliberating for a while, they actually left the half-dead Marshal Tianpeng behind, returned to the Tushita Palace, took some items, and descended to the mortal realm.
Once they had left, Marshal Tianpeng got up, dusting himself off and spitting out a mouthful of bloody water.
Swearing under his breath, he said, "Those plague-bringing boys. I told you the time would come when they would beg me."
He then prepared to enter the Tushita Palace but was blocked by the Formation and couldn’t get in at all.
Just as he felt completely out of options, a Buffalo emerged from the Tushita Palace.
Marshal Tianpeng hurriedly said, "Buffalo, I am Marshal Tianpeng; I’ve been here before. Is the Saint inside?"
The Buffalo glanced at him and said, "No, the Saint has left. And you’ve even scared away the two boys. I am going to starve to death in the Tushita Palace. No, I must leave as well."
Marshal Tianpeng urgently asked, "May I inquire where the Saint has gone?"
The Buffalo said, "To the mortal realm’s Wuzhuang Temple, or perhaps to Lingjiu Mountain in the west, or somewhere else. Anywhere is possible."
Marshal Tianpeng said, "Old Buffalo, since we are old acquaintances, why not help me out? I’ll treat you to top-quality fodder."
The Buffalo gave him a glance and said, "I won’t help."
And then he vanished as a blue light. Marshal Tianpeng chased after him hastily, pursuing him relentlessly.
"Old Buffalo, wait for me! You must save my brother..."
「Exiting Lingxiao Palace, troops descend from the Ninth Heaven Southern Heaven Gate.」
A million celestial soldiers and generals descended from the heavens, forming a net of heaven and earth that sealed Flowing Sand River so tightly that not even water could escape.
Sha Chen, inside the Flowing Sand River Cave, wore a grave expression. His eyes were vigilant, and he listened intently in all directions.
The Black Bear demon was also startled awake to discover that Lady Di Yong and Marshal Tianpeng had fled, chiding himself for not running faster.
He nervously said beside Sha Chen, "Master, are we going to die here?"
Witnessing the spectacle of the celestial soldiers and seeing Li Jing and the Li Family brothers nearby, he realized the reason for their arrival. Therefore, he was very worried.
Sha Chen’s expression turned grave as he said, "The Flowing Sand River itself forms an outer defense, within it lies the Black Tortoise Shell, and inside that, the Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji. That should hold them off."
The Black Bear demon said apologetically, "Master, I’ve brought trouble upon you. I’m so sorry. Do you regret saving us?"
Regret was inevitable, but he could never admit it.
Sha Chen actually hadn’t expected things to become so serious. What he hadn’t foreseen was the depth of the Li brothers’ shamelessness—turning to their elders for help after being beaten! This was the cultivation world, not children playing house! When a child gets hit and runs to the grown-ups—what kind of behavior is that?! If they had any backbone, they would continue cultivating and seek a fair duel. Sha Chen bitterly criticized inwardly, The Li brothers are pathetic.
However, what relieved Sha Chen was that the Li brothers had sought help from the Heavenly Court, not from the Buddhists of Lingjiu Mountain. That was something, at least. Otherwise, had Buddhist followers come, there would have been no room for maneuvering. Besides, the Buddhists were much stronger than those from the Heavenly Court; any one of the five great Bodhisattvas could match or even surpass Wang Lingguan in power, not to mention the Buddhas, who were stronger still.
But just as Sha Chen was silently celebrating, he saw the crowd parting, and a convergence of Buddha’s light signaled the arrival of dozens of Buddhists.
The leaders were individuals Sha Chen recognized: none other than the great Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra, whose revered status was akin to that of great Buddhas.
Sha Chen hadn’t anticipated that these two would personally lead the group here.
Sha Chen thought to himself, Have Buddhism and the Heavenly Court made their conflict clear, intending to drive me into a corner, forcing me down the same path as Sun Wukong?
He felt it was possible. After all, he refused to submit and was living comfortably here. Now that the Heavenly Court and Buddhism were out of options, they would resort to the same tactics used against Sun Wukong. It was entirely plausible. What Sha Chen hadn’t expected was for them to resort to such measures so quickly. Just recently, they had issued a decree to reward him, even offering him an official title as Marshal of the Law Protector of the Bright Palace. Now that becoming an official was out of the question, were they planning to capture him outright?
Sha Chen’s expression grew stern as he planned to adapt to circumstances; he was ready, at a moment’s notice, to flee if the situation turned irreversible.
He glanced sidelong at the Black Bear Spirit, his eyes flickering; if escape proved impossible, he was ready to betray him and let him cover the rear.
The Black Bear Spirit, feeling uneasy under Sha Chen’s penetrating gaze, said, "Master, what’s wrong? Your gaze makes me uncomfortable."
Sha Chen replied, "Should truly irredeemable circumstances arise, I hope you protect yourself well."
The Black Bear Spirit was touched and said, "Master, you’re so kind, thinking of me even at a time like this."
Sha Chen chuckled, offering no further explanation.
A million Heavenly Troops and Generals had already gathered at the Flowing Sand River, while far away at Five Finger Mountain, Sun Wukong was taken aback.
He had been further restrained and suppressed here, subject to daily torture and unceasing, painstaking cultivation.
After a decade or two, even the deities and Buddhists keeping watch over him had grown lax.
At that moment, Sun Wukong gazed westward, his brow furrowed as he muttered, "What on earth is happening over there, that so many deities are descending to earth?"
"This display is even more extravagant than the siege on my Mountain of Flower and Fruit—what hero could this be?"
At that time, a young man dressed in white appeared; it was Li Bai, Sha Chen’s alter ego.
He had come invisibly, evading detection by common Mountain Gods and Earth Gods, but not by Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong was overjoyed, "Old Li, you finally came! I’ve missed you to death."
Li Bai said, "Great Saint, you’re too high-profile. With Buddhism wanting to suppress you, I wouldn’t dare to show up freely."
Sun Wukong hastily apologized, "Did you bring something to eat? There’s nothing but dirt to eat here."
Li Bai replied, "I brought enough to last you a few years, but I might not show up again anytime soon."
Sun Wukong immediately panicked, "Why? Don’t be afraid, I won’t be high-profile anymore."
Li Bai’s gaze wavered, "No, I might have been exposed. If I appear again, I could implicate you, and even perish."
Sun Wukong felt disheartened, "Old Li, something’s off with you today. You must have something to tell me, right?"
Li Bai arrived at the base of Five Finger Mountain, but he couldn’t go any further.
Cultivation was difficult for Sun Wukong, which is why he had grown so irritable.
Without entering, Li Bai stood before Sun Wukong and said, "Great Saint, may I call you Old Sun?"
Sun Wukong’s heart lurched, sensing something amiss with Li Bai. "Of course, Old Li! What’s going on? Please tell me, you’re making me anxious."
Li Bai pointed westward, "Over there—a million Heavenly Troops and Generals have descended. Did you see it?"
Stunned, Sun Wukong said, "Of course I saw. I wonder who’s so bold, walking the same path I once did."
Li Bai said, "A peerless hero, someone whose fame even overshadows yours."
Sun Wukong immediately felt disgruntled, "Old Li, such a person doesn’t exist."
Li Bai said, "Sha Chen of the Flowing Sand River has performed spectacular feats—he beat Li Jing’s sons, Jinzha and Muzha, killed four Arhats, and enraged the Heavenly Court. Those descending are likely here to deal with him."
