Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 250 - 244: Marriage Red Line and Sky Covering Umbrella [Seeking Subscription and Monthly Pass]_1

Chapter 250: Chapter 244: Marriage Red Line and Sky Covering Umbrella [Seeking Subscription and Monthly Pass]_1

Matchmaker was stunned, rooted to the spot in disbelief. He turned back, staring at Sha Chen, and cleaned out his ear, thinking he had misheard.

Shocked, he asked, "What did you say?"

The assembled immortals were equally dumbfounded. None of them had anticipated Sha Chen would refuse so directly.

Matchmaker stammered, "Sha Chen, do you... do you realize what you are refusing?"

Sha Chen’s expression remained as impassive as ever; he had known precisely what he was saying from the very beginning.

Because, the moment Matchmaker began to relay the decree, the system had alerted him.

"The Jade Emperor has pardoned your transgressions and arranged an offer of amnesty and enlistment by marriage. You have the following choices."

"Option One: Accept the Jade Emperor’s offer of amnesty and enlistment by marriage, ascend to Heaven to express gratitude, and accept Bai Huaxiu. Reward: Divine Artifact [Marriage Red Line]. The Marriage Red Line: A thread of karmic connection. Inscribe the names of two individuals on straw figures, and this artifact can bind them in matrimony, regardless of gender."

"Option Two: Refuse the Jade Emperor’s offer of amnesty and enlistment by marriage. Reward: Divine Artifact [Sky-covering Umbrella]. The Sky-covering Umbrella: Capable of shielding heavenly secrets and concealing all auras within its coverage, making them undetectable to anyone beneath the Saint realm."

Seeing these options, Sha Chen had unhesitatingly chosen to refuse.

Beyond his desire for the Sky-covering Umbrella, the primary reason was his utter lack of intention to marry Bai Huaxiu, and even less desire to accept the Jade Emperor’s offer of amnesty and enlistment. In short, even without the Sky-covering Umbrella as a reward, he would have refused.

Because women were but ephemeral beauties, skeletons in rouge, that would only affect his Dao Heart. They would only hinder the speed of his cultivation. Furthermore, the thought of leaving the Flowing Sand River filled him with insecurity.

Sha Chen already felt that the Flowing Sand River’s shielding capabilities were insufficient. Now, with the Sky-covering Umbrella, he could conceal his presence even more effectively. No one below the Saint realm would be able to pry into his affairs within the Flowing Sand River Cave. However, it still couldn’t obscure him from Saints. This was unavoidable; after all, Saints were the most powerful beings in existence and nearly impossible to hide from.

The Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji, the Black Tortoise Armor, and the Deception of Heaven Talisman were divine items, but they could only barely shield against those below the rank of Saint and couldn’t completely isolate him. When powerful figures like Ran Deng Buddha or Guanyin passed by, they could hear conversations from within his dwelling. Some exceptionally powerful entities might even glimpse vague images, though Sha Chen wasn’t sure if they could see clearly. In any case, he constantly felt unsafe.

Now, with the addition of the Sky-covering Umbrella, he could maximize the shielding effect. Perhaps it could even prevent someone like Ran Deng Buddha from hearing anything from within his cave. Even more powerful Quasi-Saints might be unable to see or hear what transpired inside.

Naturally, Sha Chen chose to refuse without a moment’s hesitation.

When Matchmaker confirmed Sha Chen’s repeated refusal of the Heavenly Court’s offer, his expression darkened progressively, and a cold glint entered his eyes.

Matchmaker said, "General for Folding the Curtain, you had best think this through very carefully. His Majesty the Jade Emperor is doing this for your own good. Others do not have the privilege of His Majesty personally arranging their marriage."

Sha Chen replied, "Lord of the Moon, you needn’t say more. My mind is made up."

Matchmaker’s face grew grim. "General for Folding the Curtain, could this old one ask why you insist on refusing?" He gestured towards Bai Huaxiu beside him, then towards the Heavens above. Incredulously, he continued, "Bai Huaxiu is one of His Majesty’s Pixiang Jade Maidens, and you were once a trusted confidant of His Majesty. This is a match made in heaven, a perfect pairing of status."

"However, this perceived compatibility is only because your strength has now reached a level deemed sufficient. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even qualify."

Sha Chen said, "I am aware. I can only disappoint you, Lord of the Moon."

Matchmaker pressed, "Do you understand what you are forsaking?"

Sha Chen affirmed, "I do."

Matchmaker glanced around at the onlookers, his gaze lingering on Wang Lingguan, and chuckled mirthlessly. "Wang Lingguan, you see? Sha Chen is forsaking this opportunity of his own accord. This old one is not compelling him."

Wang Lingguan’s expression was also troubled. He truly hadn’t expected Sha Chen to refuse so unequivocally. This was simply inconceivable. Did he not desire a life of freedom and security? Was it truly preferable to languish in the Flowing Sand River, living in constant fear, perpetually bullied?

Li Jing, Chang E, Lu Xiong, Luo Xuan, and the others were also somewhat stunned. None had imagined Sha Chen would refuse. This was an honor others might never attain in their entire lives—a marriage personally bestowed by the Jade Emperor, and to a favored handmaiden at that. This implied that the Jade Emperor regarded him as a trusted confidant, a status countless beings yearned for but could never achieve. Moreover, Bai Huaxiu was exceptionally beautiful. Was she not worthy of Sha Chen’s affection?

However, Fairy Chang E, for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, felt a flicker of joy, quickly overshadowed by worry. If Sha Chen had married Bai Huaxiu, she wouldn’t have minded. They could have had daily trysts in Heaven. The mere thought was thrilling and filled her with anticipation. But Sha Chen had refused, and her hopes were dashed.

At this moment, Bai Huaxiu stepped forward, tears streaming down her face like raindrops, pitter-pattering like pearls falling onto a jade dish. Sobbing wretchedly, she asked, "General, am I truly so contemptible, so undeserving of your regard, that you would reject me without a moment’s hesitation?"

Sha Chen looked at her and said, "Fairy, please don’t misunderstand. It is I who am not worthy of you."

Bai Huaxiu said, "I don’t mind that."

Sha Chen replied, "But I do."

Bai Huaxiu cried, "Just as I feared, you do look down on me! Though I am a handmaiden to His Majesty the Jade Emperor, I am of untarnished virtue. If I cannot marry you, General, in this lifetime, then I would rather die!"

Then, before the astonished eyes of the immortals, she threw herself into the Flowing Sand River, making no effort to struggle or stay afloat, clearly intending to drown.

The immortals were all stunned; for a moment, no one moved to stop her. They were too shocked to react. By the time they came to their senses and were about to attempt a rescue, the Flowing Sand River seemed to come alive, tossing Bai Huaxiu back to the surface. When Bai Huaxiu tried to plunge into the water again, it was as if she were suspended in jelly, unable to sink.

Witnessing this, the immortals were aghast. Li Jing and the others, who had been in a three-year standoff with Sha Chen, were particularly shocked. They had never imagined that Sha Chen had gained such mastery over the Flowing Sand River, able to make it respond to his will, to be soft or hard, even to take on tangible forms. It was truly terrifying.

Bai Huaxiu, however, wasn’t concerned with such things. She merely exclaimed with delight, "General, you claim not to care for me! If you truly didn’t care, why would you stop me from dying?"

The others also looked at Sha Chen, equally perplexed.

Sha Chen said coolly, "If you wish to die, do it far away. Don’t pollute my Flowing Sand River."

"PFFT!" Bai Huaxiu coughed up a mouthful of blood, her voice filled with tragic despair. "General, am I truly so insignificant that I don’t even have the right to die in your presence?"

Although Sha Chen was hard-hearted, he still worried she might actually kill herself if he publicly humiliated her. Even though he didn’t care about Bai Huaxiu’s life or death, she was doing this because of him. If she died as a result, he would feel at least a slight twinge of guilt.

Therefore, he said, "Fairy, your beauty is unparalleled in this world. Wildflowers grow everywhere; why must you fixate on a single bloom like myself?"

Bai Huaxiu declared, "If I cannot be with you in this life, then death is preferable."

Sha Chen shook his head and sighed. Persuasion was useless. If she was determined to die, then let her. In these times, surviving was difficult; those who wished to die could not be stopped. Sha Chen felt he had fulfilled his obligation to dissuade her. If Bai Huaxiu still sought death, it was no longer his responsibility. After all, he would not sacrifice himself to accommodate Bai Huaxiu; that would only lead to his own demise.

Sha Chen’s projection vanished, and the Flowing Sand River returned to its normal state.

Heartbroken, Bai Huaxiu once again threw herself into the river, but she was again repelled. The Flowing Sand River did not accept those who sought death. Despondent, Bai Huaxiu then resolved to kill herself by smashing her head against a wall, but she was stopped by the others. Fairy Chang E and the rest repeatedly consoled her, eventually persuading her to temporarily abandon her suicidal intentions.

Matchmaker looked at the placid Flowing Sand River, frowned, and called out loudly, "Sha Chen, even if you refuse the marriage, you should still accept His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s offer of amnesty and enlistment! His Majesty has stated that the previous promise still holds. If you accept, you will still be appointed Marshal of the Law Protector of the Bright Palace and additionally granted the title of Front Hall Guards General!"

Sha Chen’s voice drifted out, "Lord of the Moon, please report to His Majesty the Jade Emperor that Sha Chen is devoid of virtue and talent, lacks great ambition, feels unworthy of such positions, and thus dares not accept."

Matchmaker’s cheek twitched. He hadn’t expected Sha Chen to refuse yet again.

His eyes flickered as a thought struck him. He has repeatedly refused to become an official in Heaven; he must be set on the Journey to the West, believing the Buddha attainment offered by Buddhism is better. Heh, you wish to undertake the Journey to the West, but I will not allow it. You want to curry favor with Buddhism, and I will deliberately sabotage that. You wish to wait comfortably here for Buddhism’s grand tribulation to arrive? I simply will not permit it.

Matchmaker sneered inwardly and departed for the Heavenly Court.

Sha Chen was unaware of what Matchmaker was thinking. If he had known, he would have cried foul. He had absolutely no intention of defecting to Buddhism, much less currying favor with them or awaiting any grand tribulation. He simply wanted to cultivate in peace here until the end of time, until he became a Saint. Everything else was transient, like passing clouds. Joining Buddhism was out of the question. A pity that Matchmaker had misunderstood.

After Matchmaker and his retinue left, Li Jing also withdrew his troops. The Flowing Sand River returned to its tranquil state once more, with only a very few individuals remaining: Fairy Chang E and her servant, Jade Rabbit.

Once everyone else had departed, the two of them pretended to linger in the mortal realm, ostensibly sightseeing and enjoying themselves. However, after a few days, they could no longer restrain themselves and returned to the Flowing Sand River.

Sha Chen cautiously verified their identities multiple times, ensuring there was no surveillance or any other people nearby, before finally allowing them entry.

The moment Fairy Chang E and Jade Rabbit entered the Flowing Sand River, their demeanor changed completely from the aloof, unapproachable air they maintained outside. They became warm and affectionate.

Jade Rabbit, ignoring her master Fairy Chang E’s presence, threw herself into Sha Chen’s arms, clinging to him like an octopus and refusing to let go.

Sha Chen wrestled with Jade Rabbit for some time. Eventually, he had to forcefully detach her, which left her feeling hurt.

Jade Rabbit was deeply hurt, not physically, but emotionally. Looking deeply wounded, she said, "General, I missed you so much! What’s wrong with clinging to you for a little while?"

Sha Chen retorted, "You call that ’a little while’? My pendants don’t even cling to me that tightly."

Jade Rabbit pouted, "General, I haven’t seen you for so long. Don’t you care about me at all?"

Sha Chen replied without hesitation, "Who says I don’t care about you? Don’t be fooled by my apparent indifference; I’ve actually badmouthed you plenty behind your back."