Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 251 - 245: Parasol Tree and Phoenix Egg【Requesting Subscription and Monthly Ticket】_1
The Jade Rabbit felt hurt, pouting and angry.
Sha Chen chuckled, unconcerned. He looked at Chang E and said, "Little sister, I owe you for this matter with the Heavenly Court. If it weren’t for your mediation, the Jade Emperor might not have withdrawn his troops."
When the conversation turned to serious matters, Chang E, who had been somewhat envious of how freely Jade Rabbit clung to Sha Chen, felt a pang of longing. It had been a long time since she had clung to a man like that.
But then she quickly came to her senses, smiled, and said, "Brother, you misunderstand. I wasn’t much help. The Jade Emperor’s decision to retreat was entirely due to his conflict with Li Jing and his own strategic calculations."
Sha Chen was startled for a moment and asked in confusion, "Oh, how so?"
Chang E then relayed all she knew about the situation to Sha Chen in detail.
However, the story was long, and in less than an hour, her throat was dry.
Looking around, she asked, "Brother, do you have any wine?"
Actually, there was hardly any celestial wine left in the cellar. After all, he had exhausted his cultivation resources and usually relied on the Divine Power in celestial wine to advance his cultivation. That was the last of what he had painstakingly saved—some of the most exquisite wine, incredibly rich in Divine Power.
He was reluctant to drink it. He had been reluctant to bring it out even when Fairy Chang E and Jade Rabbit arrived. After all, once a bottle was gone, it was gone.
Therefore, when Chang E asked, Sha Chen’s eyes flickered as he said, "Oh, wine? It seems to be all gone. You’re thirsty? Let me brew you a pot of tea."
He fetched a pot of Mysterious Heavenly Water, heated it with the Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover, added some tea leaves, and soon had a pot of fine tea. He served it, pouring it into several cups.
The Jade Rabbit had still been sulking, but after Sha Chen poured her a cup of tea, her mood improved considerably. When she saw Sha Chen look her way, she deliberately put on a stern face, hoping he would coax her.
Sha Chen wouldn’t indulge the little girl’s tantrums. One couldn’t spoil her, or she would take an inch and demand a yard.
After offering Chang E tea, he hoped she would continue her analysis.
Chang E took a sip and sighed, "To think Brother has been besieged for three years and is now so destitute. I was thoughtless not to bring any resources this time. Please forgive me, Brother."
Sha Chen sighed. So she really didn’t bring anything, not even a courtesy gift.
But he couldn’t let this relationship sour, nor could he let Chang E detect his displeasure. Forcing a smile, he said, "It’s nothing, really nothing. Don’t worry about it, and don’t think about compensating me on your next visit. There’s really no need."
Chang E was stunned for a moment, then said, "Brother, I must compensate you on my next visit; otherwise, I’ll feel uneasy."
Sha Chen pretended to be angry. "That won’t do. If you say that, I won’t welcome you anymore."
But after saying that, he regretted it. What if I frightened Chang E, and she really comes empty-handed next time? That would be a huge loss.
He quickly added, "Just come when you visit; bringing gifts makes it seem like you don’t consider me your elder brother. However, since I can’t refuse your kindness, I’ll accept a little, but remember, not too much."
Only then did Chang E break into a joyful smile, secretly deciding to bring even more resources next time.
Sha Chen understood how to read people’s hearts. Although Chang E’s Primordial Spirit was very strong, and he couldn’t fully probe her thoughts, a rough idea was enough for him to grasp her intentions. Only then did Sha Chen let out a sigh of relief.
While Chang E explained the situation in the Heavenly Court to Sha Chen, Jade Rabbit looked around, intrigued by how completely different the cave dwelling was from before. She began to jump and skip about.
Sha Chen paid her no mind, listening intently. After all, many matters concerning the Heavenly Court were life-and-death for him. He had to take them seriously, especially since the information Chang E had access to regarding the Heavenly Court was typically secret and unknown to ordinary people.
Sha Chen listened carefully and came to understand that Li Jing’s retreat this time was indeed due to being checked by the Jade Emperor. Li Jing had truly grown too powerful for the Jade Emperor’s comfort, and the Emperor had long wanted to deal with him but lacked the opportunity. Moreover, he also needed Li Jing to keep the other officials in line. It could be said that the deeply cutting words Sha Chen had spoken previously played a role, becoming the fuse for these events. The Jade Emperor used these suspicions against Li Jing, and the theft from the White Horse Camp Store further intensified the Jade Emperor’s dissatisfaction with him. This gave the Jade Emperor a reason and an excuse to act. After a long delay, the Jade Emperor finally made his move against Li Jing.
Chang E smiled. "If not for Li Jing’s status as a disciple of the Chan Sect, Nezha being a disciple of Immortal Taiyi, and both Jinzha and Muzha having ties to Buddhism—meaning the Li Family still had its uses—he probably would have been demoted to the mortal realm or even sent to the Immortal Slaying Stage."
Sha Chen said, "That would be letting him off too lightly."
"But this also shows Li Jing’s cunning," Sha Chen continued. "He has the Li Family hedge their bets in all directions, which can be life-saving in critical moments."
Chang E nodded. "That’s true. However, the Li Family’s opportunism is despicable. People only give them face because Li Jing is currently powerful."
"If this continues, or if the Li Family’s influence wanes, they’ll likely find themselves alienating everyone and pleasing no one."
Sha Chen nodded, thoroughly agreeing. He then smiled. "So, does this mean I’m temporarily safe here?"
Chang E replied, "Not necessarily. Little sister saw people from Buddhism trying to persuade the Jade Emperor. I overheard their conversation while performing a dance for them."
Sha Chen’s expression turned grave. "People from Buddhism? Who? What did they say!?"
Mentioning Buddhism made Sha Chen nervous. He couldn’t help it. The people from Buddhism are shameless; they readily resort to bullying the weak and using their power to intimidate others. Figures like the Ran Deng Buddha and Bodhisattva Manjushri, for example, are all long-established seniors who wouldn’t hesitate to act against him. This whole affair also started because he had killed Buddhist Arhats and injured the brothers Jinzha and Muzha. It was all related to Buddhism.
Therefore, he harbored no goodwill towards Buddhism. Hearing that people from Buddhism were contacting the Jade Emperor clearly meant they were planning an alliance or scheming against him. How could he not be nervous?
Chang E said, "The person from Buddhism who sought out the Jade Emperor holds a very high status. It was none other than the esteemed Maitreya Buddha. In Buddhism, his status is revered, and he holds the third-highest position of real power."
Maitreya Buddha!? Sha Chen’s heart skipped a beat. The Maitreya Buddha? The one also known as the Laughing Buddha of the East!?
This is trouble.
He’s a Quasi-Saint, and likely one of the most powerful among them! If he targets me, how could I possibly resist!?
At that moment, Sha Chen quickly summoned the Sky Covering Umbrella and, in front of Chang E and Jade Rabbit, immediately began refining it. He then opened it, shielding the Flowing Sand River Cave, instantly doubling its protective capabilities.
Only after doing this did Sha Chen feel somewhat at ease. But still, he always felt it wasn’t safe enough. However, there was no better solution at hand, so he had to make do. He hoped it could prevent Maitreya Buddha from eavesdropping.
Chang E saw Sha Chen once again favored by a valuable treasure, which he then refined. Her heart inclined even more towards him.
"As expected of Brother, he possesses treasures as numerous as cow hairs, even a divine artifact like the Sky Covering Umbrella!" Chang E praised sincerely.
Sha Chen smiled and waved his hand. "It’s nothing, really."
He was just about to ask what exactly Maitreya Buddha had discussed with the Jade Emperor and whether it concerned him, when Jade Rabbit came running over with a jar of wine.
"General, you tricked me! There’s still another jar of wine here, and it smells so fragrant! It’s high-quality osmanthus wine; we at the Guanghan Palace couldn’t brew a jar like this even in a hundred years."
Then, she placed the wine on the table, pouring a full cup for herself and Chang E. A few drops spilled onto the table.
Sha Chen watched, his heart aching at the sight. Ultimately, he managed to resist the urge to lick it up.
He only wanted to grab Jade Rabbit by the nose. Aren’t you a rabbit? How is your nose sharper than a dog’s!?
Jade Rabbit and Chang E each took a sip, their eyes lighting up.
After drinking, Chang E said, "Yu Er, Brother is already destitute. This jar might be his last fine wine. Now that you’ve found it, what will Brother drink in the future?"
Jade Rabbit looked aggrieved and pointed towards the cellar, about to say there were still many more jars inside that she simply hadn’t brought out.
Sha Chen discreetly nudged Jade Rabbit’s foot under the table, signaling her to keep quiet.
However, indeed, aside from the wine, Sha Chen truly had nothing else. The Elixirs in the field looked sparse, and it was uncertain when the next harvest would be ready.
The General seemed truly impoverished.
Jade Rabbit said, "General, I didn’t realize you were this poor. I’m sorry. It’s clear you wanted to make us a meal, but you had no ingredients."
She’s really overthinking things, Sha Chen thought. I hadn’t even considered that.
However, he sighed outwardly. "Yes," he said. "You are both very important to me. It’s rare for you to visit, and yet I couldn’t even offer you a proper meal. It truly pains me."
Chang E was moved and felt even more guilty. I didn’t even bring a gift this time. How thoughtless of me.
Jade Rabbit then said, "General, don’t be sad! I have many resources here, I’ll give them all to you."
Then, she opened her mouth, and a world seemed to form within it as she spat out hundreds of chests, all filled with various Elixirs and treasures.
HISS.
Sha Chen took a quick glance. This pile of various celestial materials, both useful and not, was worth even more than what the black bear spirit had brought back before.
He was dumbfounded. Then he exclaimed with joy, "Yu Er, are you really giving all these to me?"
Jade Rabbit said, "Of course! What’s mine is yours, General, including me."
Chang E, listening nearby, felt a twinge of displeasure. I’m her master, after all! she thought, though she had to admit Jade Rabbit had a point. What’s mine is Brother’s, and since she’s mine, she’s naturally Brother’s too.
Jade Rabbit continued, "But these are just average. They’re ordinary items I’ve collected over dozens of years."
Sha Chen’s eyes gleamed. Could it be this little girl has even better things?
Sha Chen coughed lightly and subtly prepared a lavish feast. He then kept trying to get information out of her. Although Jade Rabbit was reluctant to reveal her best treasures, his ability to read people told him what it was.
It was the Parasol Tree he had asked Jade Rabbit to find! An entire primordial Spiritual Root, the Parasol Tree, complete with a nest of bird eggs from its branches—she had packed it all up and brought it back!
Sha Chen was inwardly ecstatic and tried all sorts of coaxing, hoping to persuade Jade Rabbit to hand it over.
Jade Rabbit said, "General, if you want the better treasures, that’s fine. But you made me angry earlier. If you can make me laugh, I’ll give them to you."
Has she gotten too big for her britches, or have I lost my touch? Sha Chen thought. You want me to coax you? It seems you haven’t experienced the harsh reality of a straightforward man.
Sha Chen racked his brains and said, "Alright, so there’s this guy, Xiao Ming..."
Jade Rabbit burst out, "HAHAHA, that’s hilarious! I’m laughing so hard I could pee!"
Sha Chen blurted out, "How could you be so careless?"
Jade Rabbit paused for a moment, her face turning red.
Chang E also gave Sha Chen a disapproving look.
Sha Chen realized he had been misunderstood and inwardly cursed his slip of the tongue. Damn my big mouth! What a mess!
