Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 286 - 280: Yang Jian Kneels Down [Request for Subscription and Monthly Tickets] _1
The White Bone Demon and the Jade Rabbit were both stupefied. What was Sha Chen playing at!? Could it be that Sha Chen knew the creature he had tucked into the human seed bag wasn’t the Roaring Sky Dog, but Yang Jian? Even so, had he done it deliberately? Could it be just to have a place to speak with Yang Jian!? Indeed, that seemed to be the case.
Yang Jian said, "General for Folding the Curtain, you truly have keen eyesight; your Divine Eye is probably no less powerful than mine. Even Sun Wukong, back in the day, was only at such a level."
Sun Wukong’s Fiery Golden Eyes had been damaged after Yang Jian captured him and he was subsequently smoked in the alchemy furnace. Even earlier, during their intense battles, Yang Jian had used his Heavenly Eye, and Sun Wukong his Divine Eye. The two were evenly matched. At that time, Yang Jian had recognized the power and terror of the Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye. With Sun Wukong gone, Sha Chen had now used it again, and naturally, Yang Jian was filled with emotion.
Sha Chen said, "It’s nothing remarkable. Compared to your Heavenly Eye, True Lord, there’s still no comparison."
Yang Jian said, "You flatter me, General for Folding the Curtain."
The two exchanged pleasantries, showing no sign of the life-or-death struggle that had transpired outside, as if they were old friends reunited after many years.
However, the Jade Rabbit and the White Bone Demon were still uneasy. They kept their distance behind Sha Chen, watching Yang Jian warily.
Yang Jian didn’t survey the cave’s interior but glanced at those present.
When he saw the Jade Rabbit, he clasped his fists in a slight bow and said, "Fairy Jade Rabbit, I truly didn’t expect you to be so familiar with General for Folding the Curtain. My apologies for any oversight."
The Jade Rabbit said, "The General and I wish to be as inseparable as birds flying wing to wing in the sky, or branches intertwined on the earth. Our bond is far more than mere familiarity."
Sha Chen’s cheek twitched. "Yu Er, don’t talk nonsense."
Yang Jian just smiled, not taking her words seriously. He was, in fact, extremely astute and wise. During the Divine Enthronement, he had consistently demonstrated both courage and intelligence, possessing boundless mana and extraordinary wisdom. Many who possessed greater mana than him were still defeated by his intellect. He could naturally discern the true situation. The Jade Rabbit was merely being wishful. Sha Chen probably just treated her like a little sister, not as a so-called Dao companion.
Then he turned to look at the White Bone Demon and said, "Miss Bai, you are also very fortunate. To be able to follow General for Folding the Curtain explains your rapid growth. The Three Corpse Cave met its end, yet Miss Bai remains unscathed. There must be a reason for this."
The White Bone Demon snorted. "My former master in the Three Corpse Cave, the White Bone Saint, got what he deserved for daring to cause trouble for my current master. His death was well-earned."
Yang Jian said, "Miss Bai is refreshingly direct. I, Yang, admire that."
After that, he turned to Jin Chanzi, smiled, and once again clasped his fists in a bow. "Master Siguo, no wonder you would forsake Buddhism to cultivate the Dao. It turns out you followed someone with limitless prospects; General for Folding the Curtain is indeed worth abandoning everything for."
Jin Chanzi said, "Since you know I’ve abandoned Buddhism to follow my master and cultivate the Dao, why do you still call me Master?"
Yang Jian clasped his fists again. "It was I who was presumptuous. Please, Daoist, do not take offense."
Jin Chanzi’s expression softened a little. He nodded slightly and formed a Daoist hand seal, saying, "You are too kind, True Lord."
Seeing Erlang God greet everyone by his side with such ease and without surprise, Sha Chen’s opinion of him rose several notches.
He invited Erlang God to take a seat and had the White Bone Demon pour wine.
Erlang God drank three cups in succession and said, "I, Yang, am bound by destiny and have caused much offense. I hope General for Folding the Curtain can forgive me."
He raised his cup again. "I drink these three cups as a self-imposed punishment. Please, General, do not hold this against me."
After drinking the three cups and setting down the vessel, his eyes shone. "This is actually Immortal Peach Wine! And it’s even more delicious than the Immortal Peach Brew of the Queen of the West from Kunlun Mountain."
Sha Chen said, "I use superior-grade Immortal Peaches that ripen only once every thirty thousand years to brew it. The yield is small, so it is rather precious."
Yang Jian said, "I never expected General for Folding the Curtain to have such a rare treasure hidden here."
The Jade Rabbit chimed in, "What do you know? This is nothing! The General also has Osmanthus Wine and other fine wines you haven’t even tasted."
Yang Jian immediately said, "Then I must ask General for Folding the Curtain to allow me the honor of experiencing them."
He no longer referred to himself as ’Mr. Yang’ but as ’this humble one,’ showing he had become very modest and unassuming.
Sha Chen nodded, and the Jade Rabbit brought over the Osmanthus Wine and other immortal nectars, offering them to Yang Jian to taste one by one.
After tasting them, Yang Jian clicked his tongue in appreciation, marveling endlessly. Given his status and position, he had never tasted such exquisite wines. Osmanthus Wine was already rare. After the Guanghan Palace produced it, most was sent to the Jade Emperor, who used it to curry favor with other officials or for his own enjoyment. Yang Jian was merely a distant official whose vulnerabilities the Jade Emperor exploited, so his opportunities to taste such wine were few and far between. Moreover, what little he had tasted couldn’t compare to Sha Chen’s.
This was mainly because the osmanthus from the Guanghan Palace couldn’t match the quality of the osmanthus produced by Sha Chen’s King Osmanthus Tree. Furthermore, Sha Chen had added various specially crafted elixirs during the brewing process, elevating the quality of the Osmanthus Wine to another level. Then, it was buried in either Post-Heaven Earth or Innate Earth, further enhancing its quality. What Yang Jian was drinking now had only been buried in Post-Heaven Earth. If he were to taste the wine buried in Innate Earth, his praise would undoubtedly be even more lavish. The other fine wines were similarly exquisite for the same reasons.
After his praises, Yang Jian began stamping his feet and beating his chest, filled with immense regret.
Sha Chen asked, "True Lord, why are you behaving like this?"
Yang Jian replied, "Having tasted the wondrous brews from the Flowing Sand River, I now find that all other so-called fine wines of the world are like swill, hardly fit to drink. What am I to do in the future?"
Sha Chen chuckled. "If True Lord fancies them, you may take some with you when you leave."
Both the White Bone Demon and the Jade Rabbit looked at Sha Chen in astonishment; they were surprised by his generosity. In the past, Sha Chen, aside from keeping up appearances, had been a penny-pincher in every other way, extremely tight-fisted. Now, Yang Jian had made no contribution, yet Sha Chen was actually willing to let him take some back to taste. They found it unbelievable.
In reality, Sha Chen also felt the pinch, but as the saying goes, ’one must be willing to part with the child to catch the wolf.’ Yang Jian was an incredibly proud individual. To win him over, one couldn’t rely solely on threats. It required a combination of coercion and inducement, coupled with ample respect. The Jade Emperor’s lack of respect for Yang Jian was precisely why Yang Jian had appeared at the Flowing Sand River, ready to turn against him at any moment. Sha Chen was now showing Yang Jian sufficient respect and offering him substantial benefits. He couldn’t treat Yang Jian the same way he treated the Black Bear Demon or the White Bone Demon. Those two were demons Sha Chen had subjugated; their fear of death and desire to live had made them easy to control. Yang Jian was different. He was both brave and wise, exceptionally intelligent, and did not fear death. To deal with someone like this—unafraid of death, immensely proud, yet possessing formidable power and a Grand Destiny Carrier—required showing ample respect. This was because the future of a Grand Destiny Carrier was unpredictable; one never knew which powerful figures might have taken an interest in them. Trampling on such a person could very well anger their unseen backers. In short, the future of a Grand Destiny Carrier was too variable, their potential limitless, their abilities peerless. Subduing them was exceedingly difficult. Sha Chen also wanted to give Yang Jian enough respect because he couldn’t bind him with a specific contract and thus had no way to constrain him. Therefore, by offering sufficient respect and benefits, and binding him through gratitude, he could make it impossible for Yang Jian to refuse any of his proposals or requests. This was the reason for Sha Chen’s current generosity and magnanimity.
Yang Jian clasped his fists. "Then I thank you, General for Folding the Curtain. However, once I take the wine away, it will eventually run out. I wonder if I might be able to come here again in the future to drink heartily with the General?"
Sha Chen replied, "I would be delighted."
Yang Jian smiled. Sha Chen had indeed shown him sufficient respect, and that was precisely what he valued most.
Sha Chen invited Yang Jian to dine, and as they drank, their spirits rose.
Yang Jian looked at the three Bai Luan sisters and said, "I never would have guessed that the legendary phoenixes would be here. General for Folding the Curtain is truly favored by fortune."
Sha Chen said, "This is all thanks to Yu Er’s efforts."
The Jade Rabbit chuckled. "It was the effort of both the General and myself, not just me alone, you know."
She then recounted some of the previous events, leaving Yang Jian, Jin Chanzi, and the White Bone Demon thoroughly amazed. It was beyond belief that the Jade Rabbit had obtained the Wutong tree and even three phoenix eggs; her luck was simply heaven-defying.
Yang Jian was also inwardly impressed, finding it hard to believe that Sha Chen possessed such charisma that the Jade Rabbit would willingly hand over such tremendous benefits. He could tell that the Jade Rabbit’s feelings for Sha Chen were pure worship and reverence, coupled with affection. It wasn’t like the White Bone Demon, who was bound by a special agreement and could not refuse Sha Chen’s commands. The Jade Rabbit could have refused, yet she had proactively brought the Wutong tree and phoenix eggs, which truly demonstrated the greatness of Sha Chen’s personal charm.
Yang Jian’s estimation of Sha Chen rose further; he now considered him a person worthy of deep friendship.
After several rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, Yang Jian said, "General for Folding the Curtain, I have an impertinent request, and I hope you might be able to assist me."
As he spoke, his expression grew serious and earnest, revealing the tension within him. He worried Sha Chen might refuse, knowing Sha Chen disliked getting involved in worldly affairs and accumulating karma. And his request would place Sha Chen at the center of a storm, entangling him in significant karma.
Sha Chen, as if unaware of what Yang Jian’s ’impertinent request’ might be, asked with a puzzled look, "I wonder how I might be able to help True Lord?"
Erlang God said, "I would like to ask the General for Folding the Curtain to lend me the Mountain Splitting Axe for a time."
Sha Chen’s face indeed showed gravity and hesitation. He hemmed and hawed, urging Yang Jian to drink and eat more, clearly reluctant to respond.
Yang Jian’s heart sank at once, and a wry smile touched his lips. It was just as he had feared. He knew full well how outrageous a request it was to borrow Sha Chen’s Mountain Splitting Axe. But to save his mother, Yang Jian had no other choice but to swallow his pride and beg Sha Chen.
He straightened his robes, stood up, and, clasping his hands, bowed deeply to ninety degrees.
Jin Chanzi, the White Bone Demon, and the others were stunned, shocked by Yang Jian’s profound gesture.
Sha Chen, however, did not stop Yang Jian and continued to look troubled.
As Yang Jian straightened up and saw this, his heart grew cold, his despair deepening.
Suddenly, gritting his teeth, he knelt down on one knee. "General for Folding the Curtain, I implore you to lend me the Mountain Splitting Axe. I only wish to use it to split open Peach Mountain and rescue my mother."
