Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 273 - 267: Sha Chen Appears and Scares People Away【Seeking Subscription, Monthly Tickets】_1
Rebelling against Buddhism?
Yang Jian was stunned. He looked at Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation in shock, somewhat taken aback.
Muzha turned to stone on the spot, overwhelmed with astonishment, and said, "Holy Monk, what are you talking about? You are a disciple of Buddhism; how can you rebel against your own faith?"
He was truly frightened.
The immortals and deities spying on this scene were also startled. They looked at each other, all unsure of what to do next.
Yang Jian said, "Holy Monk, do you know what you’re saying?"
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation chuckled and said, "Just joking. I indeed belong to Buddhism; how could I possibly rebel against it?"
With an unconcerned wave of his hand, he continued, "However, we have been calling out for an hour, and the river god has not made any moves. What should we do next?"
When Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said this, he was looking at Yang Jian. Muzha was from Buddhism and there to monitor him; he wouldn’t look favorably upon Jin Chanzi regardless of his actions. Yang Jian was from the Taoist sect and rumored to be very upright, yet also a pitiable figure; perhaps he would sympathize with a fellow sufferer. Therefore, he was consulting with Yang Jian.
Yang Jian said, "The Great General for Folding the Curtain used to be a very close guard of the Heavenly Emperor Jade Emperor. For over two hundred years, he has demonstrated incredible power, creating his own domain within the Flowing Sand River. He has declared no interaction with others, so it is normal for him to ignore us."
He then added, "However, it could also be that our sincerity is not enough. Holy Monk, you indeed need him to cross this place."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said, "If that’s the case, then I shall chant scriptures and pray here, fasting and purifying myself while faithfully waiting for an audience with him."
Muzha said, "Holy Monk, that won’t be very useful. Sha Chen has many profound misunderstandings and prejudices against our Buddhism. If you pray here, and he misunderstands, I’m afraid he will kill us both."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation asked, "Huian, will you protect me then?"
Muzha looked embarrassed and said, "Although I wish to protect the Holy Monk, I’m afraid I’m powerless to do so; I am not a match for Sha Chen."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said, "No matter, Erlang Zhenjun is here."
Erlang God Yang Jian said indifferently, "I am not here to protect anyone; I have another purpose."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation smiled again. "That’s also fine. I don’t believe that the Great General for Folding the Curtain, once a deity, would kill indiscriminately. Everything has a reason. With all sincerity, I kindly request his assistance in crossing the river, and if I am to be killed for this, then I am willing to die."
Muzha looked upset, not expecting Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation to be so obstinate. However, there was nothing he could do.
Yang Jian’s expression was indifferent; he had heard of Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation abandoning Buddhism for Taoism and knew that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was being contrary to Muzha at every turn, likely out of dissatisfaction with Buddhism. Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation knew he could not change his destiny, so he chose to confront Buddhism in this way.
Subsequently, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation truly spent three days and three nights here fasting, bathing, and sincerely seeking an audience with Sha Chen.
Sha Chen had been watching the surrounding area all along, also thinking of strategies. He also wanted to see Jin Chanzi, but Yang Jian was right outside, with immortals and deities from heaven and earth peering down. If he were to open the gates of the Flowing Sand River and they took the opportunity to storm in, it would be troublesome. If it were just Muzha near Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, it would be manageable, but there was also Yang Jian.
Sha Chen was extremely wary of Yang Jian. In fact, Sha Chen was aware of what kind of person Yang Jian was: upright, brave, with monstrous talent, known as the foremost prodigy of the Divine Enthronement. He was the only one in the Divine Enthronement saga who did not rely much on magical tools, but instead overpowered many immortals with his mighty mana. As one of the most monstrous disciples in the third generation of the Chan Sect, he was very powerful, with terrifying potential. When it came time for Divine Enthronement, he achieved sainthood in his physical body, earning him the title of Little Saint. This title reflected the hopes of all deities, conviction that he was worthy of becoming a Saint—a great honor indeed. This revealed just how strong and talented Yang Jian was for people to believe he was qualified to become a Saint.
Now, Yang Jian’s strength had reached heaven and earth, attaining the level of a Peak Daluo Jinxian, and he was on the brink of stepping into the Quasi-Saint Realm. According to Sha Chen’s understanding of Yang Jian, this figure, while not yet a Quasi-Saint, likely had the true combat power comparable to one.
Yang Jian was the main reason for Sha Chen’s hesitation; if it had only been Muzha, he would not have cared at all. He would have opened the gates grandly, invited Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation into the Flowing Sand River, and then closed them again without worrying about Muzha forcing his way through. But he was worried about Yang Jian forcing his way in. From Yang Jian’s few words, he sensed that Yang Jian might have come for him, meaning that Yang Jian could act at any moment. Without knowing the specific reasons, he did not wish to clash with this prodigy known as the number one talent of the Divine Enthronement era.
Yang Jian feels more dangerous than Manjushri or Samantabhadra, Sha Chen thought. Even the previous White Bone Saint wasn’t his equal; in fact, all three of them combined couldn’t match Yang Jian alone. This man is a prodigy, a symbol of an era. Until I understand Yang Jian’s intentions, I won’t open the door easily. However, I can still talk to them, try to get some information out of them.
Sha Chen materialized a phantom, half of which extended out of the Flowing Sand River, towering into the sky, its head touching the firmament as it looked down on Jin Chanzi and his two companions on the riverbank.
The white horse beside Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was so frightened that its legs gave out; it collapsed to the ground, defecating and urinating uncontrollably.
When they saw Sha Chen finally respond, even if only as a phantom, they considered it a good sign. Jin Chanzi was overjoyed, and Yang Jian grinned.
Only Muzha was inwardly shocked; he nervously retreated several steps, his eyes filled with apprehension. The Li Family had schemed against Sha Chen on more than one occasion. Last time, because of the incident with him and Jinzha, they’d completely fallen out with Sha Chen. The brothers joined forces with Li Jing to report to the Jade Emperor, and deployed troops to besiege the Flowing Sand River. This enmity had thus been established, which was why he was so apprehensive about meeting Sha Chen. Truly, the sight of an enemy made their blood boil. He was truly worried that Sha Chen, unable to restrain himself, might slay him.
Thus, Muzha hid behind Yang Jian and pleaded in a low voice, "Brother Yang, my Li Family has a misunderstanding with Sha Chen. If he goes berserk, please save me for the sake of my third brother and my father."
Yang Jian said, "I’ve heard about the issues between you and Sha Chen. Resolve them yourselves." He then stepped aside, showing no intention of getting involved.
Muzha was caught off guard but still tried to maintain his composure, while inwardly cursing Yang Jian relentlessly.
Sha Chen looked down at Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation and his companions before saying, "Why is this monk disturbing my peaceful dream outside my dwelling?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation and Sha Chen had an unspoken agreement and acted as though they didn’t recognize each other.
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said, "I am a monk appointed by Guanyin Bodhisattva for the Journey to the West. I’m just passing by and unable to cross. Please, deity, help me."
Muzha quickly said, "General for Folding the Curtain, he is the monk on the Journey to the West, Jin Chanzi reincarnated with the Buddhist name Siguo, a Holy Monk. Please lend your aid."
Sha Chen turned to Muzha and said, "Muzha, you have the nerve to show up here?"
With that statement, Muzha turned pale and said, "Sha Chen, the grudges between our families are misunderstandings. You almost killed me and nearly caused my father to lose his position, suffer the cold shoulder of the Jade Emperor. My Li Family hasn’t held grudges and hasn’t troubled you since; can’t you be more magnanimous?"
Sha Chen laughed sarcastically. "Your Li Family has wild ambitions and spouts nonsense. You ingratiate yourselves with superiors and deceive others, besieging my Flowing Sand River. You nearly destroyed it three times, disrupting my peaceful cultivation. And you have the audacity to ask me to be more generous?"
Startled by Sha Chen’s imposing presence, Muzha was filled with immense fear. He hurriedly said, "Sha Chen, don’t act rashly. I’m here on my master’s orders to escort the Holy Monk on his Journey to the West. You can’t mess with me."
Sha Chen said, "Your escorting him on the Journey to the West has nothing to do with me. Our issue is personal. You and your older brother conspired with a demon to trap and harm me. It was only natural that I injured you in retaliation. Then you reported to the Jade Emperor and falsely accused me, sending troops to surround me again. With such deep-seated hatred, do you think you can use Buddhism as your shield?"
After he spoke, a violent wind surged through the Flowing Sand River. The sky roiled with billowing clouds and alarming waves.
Muzha was frightened out of his wits and quickly said to the Holy Monk, "I’ll make a move first; ask Erlang Zhenjun to protect you."
Then, without a second word, he fled into the distance.
Left behind were Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, who wore an odd expression, and a frowning Yang Jian.
Yang Jian let out a sigh. "How did the Li Family produce such a coward?"
The deities in heaven, monitoring the events here, shook their heads and sighed at the sight of Muzha being scared off by just a few words from Sha Chen.
「Inside the Bright Palace.」
Li Jing and a few other deities had been invited by the Jade Emperor for a political discussion. They learned about the incident there and were also observing it through the Tongtian Mirror. They would not intervene in this matter since Buddhism was handling it. But as the affair was of great importance, they still wanted to know how things would unfold.
They had been watching contentedly, and when they saw Muzha escorting Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation past the Flowing Sand River, they began to discuss it, praising Muzha’s bravery. The Jade Emperor nodded in praise as well, delighting Li Jing as it proved that the Li Family was once again in favor. He was about to respond modestly when he heard Sha Chen accuse his family and, within a few words, scare Muzha away.
Muzha’s hasty retreat was frozen on the Tongtian Mirror.
The assembled deities felt a wave of embarrassment, and Li Jing was so angry he was gnashing his teeth; the embarrassment made him wish he could hide inside the Linglong Tower. That unfilial son! What a disgrace!
Li Jing hung his head low, not daring to look at the Jade Emperor or the other deities. The shame was too profound.
The Jade Emperor coughed and said, "Muzha is no match for Sha Chen; being scared off by him is understandable."
Li Jing, grateful, looked up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your indulgence. My son has truly brought shame upon us."
The Jade Emperor said, "There’s no hurry; let’s see if Erlang God can restore your family’s honor."
Li Jing let out a long sigh. Even if Erlang God defeated Sha Chen and shattered the Flowing Sand River, it would be for Yang Jian’s own honor, completely unrelated to the Li Family! In fact, the contrast would only make his Li Family look even worse.
Not only were the deities of the Heavenly Court embarrassed by Muzha’s frightened retreat, but those within Buddhism felt an even more profound sense of awkwardness. This awkwardness was followed by anger. This was because Muzha’s disgrace was too great; he had lost face for Buddhism.
