Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 288 - 282 Sand·Versailles·Dust【Subscription and Monthly Tickets Requested】_1
Sha Chen was excited inside.
But Yang Jian and the others had misunderstood, thinking that Sha Chen was excited to rebel against Heaven.
With eyes shining, Yang Jian said, "River Lord, as long as you are willing, I would like to conspire with you on this great matter."
"You need not worry that I will vie for credit when the time comes. I simply don’t like the Jade Emperor’s character and don’t covet power. If possible, I will continue to be a Celestial God, and if not, I can retire to Guanjiangkou."
Sha Chen immediately patted his shoulder and said, "Erlang, I really want to help you, but this idea is very dangerous."
"I want to reiterate, I don’t wish to rebel against Heaven. I love peace, I like stability, and I dislike fighting and killing. Let’s not bring up this matter of rebellion again."
Yang Jian was taken aback and said, "River Lord, are you worried that I will betray you? Don’t worry about my intentions; they are absolutely reliable."
Sha Chen said, "You misunderstand. I simply love peace and dislike fighting and killing, that’s all."
Now Yang Jian did not know what to do.
The White Bone Demon and the Jade Rabbit were also exchanging puzzled looks, and Jin Chanzi was somewhat disappointed.
Seeing their reactions, Sha Chen slapped the back of each of their heads, scolding, "How have I taught you all? Didn’t I tell you to love peace and not to cause trouble for me?"
"To think of something as serious as rebellion, are you trying to get me killed?"
The three of them immediately fell silent, not daring to say anything more.
Seeing that Sha Chen truly did not want to rebel, Yang Jian felt a sense of loss and was also somewhat worried.
He was not worried that Sha Chen would reveal his rebellious thoughts, but that Sha Chen would refuse to help him save his mother.
Sha Chen seemed to see through Yang Jian’s mind, nodded slightly, and patted his shoulder, saying, "Erlang, don’t worry. I will definitely save your mother, but now is not the right time."
Yang Jian became anxious and said, "If not now, when?"
Sha Chen said, "If I save her now, the Heavenly Court will surely come and flatten Flowing Sand River, and there will be no peace here."
Yang Jian said, "If she is saved, it will be my personal problem—Yang Jian’s—and will have nothing to do with you."
Sha Chen said, "That’s what you think, but others won’t see it that way."
Yang Jian understood, and his face showed his dilemma; for a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
He indeed was desperate to save his mother, but he also knew that forcing Sha Chen to rescue her would really implicate Sha Chen.
Sha Chen’s attitude showed that he truly did not want to be disturbed, and even less did he want to incur the wrath of the Heavenly Court.
Asking Sha Chen to save her would indeed harm Sha Chen.
So, for a while, he felt extremely conflicted.
He wanted to save his mother but also didn’t want to put Sha Chen in a difficult position, so he himself was in a great bind.
After hesitating for a long time, Yang Jian still felt that forcing Sha Chen at this moment might backfire.
Therefore, he said, "River Lord, if that is the case, when do you think the timing will be right?"
Sha Chen said, "When I’m not afraid of the Heavenly Court, or when the Heavenly Court’s threat to me is not so great."
Yang Jian said, "How can we make it so that the River Lord is not afraid of the Heavenly Court?"
Sha Chen said leisurely, "When my strength is sufficiently strong, the Heavenly Court will not be a concern, and naturally, I won’t be afraid."
Yang Jian looked deeply at Sha Chen and said, "River Lord, you must be a High-ranking Da Luo Golden Immortal, yet you still feel that the Heavenly Court is unfathomable and not to be offended. It seems even reaching Pinnacle Daluo wouldn’t change this. Could it be that you aim to become a Quasi-Saint?"
Sha Chen said, "Zhao Gongming of The Mysterious Altar Department is probably not an ordinary Quasi-Saint, and the Golden Spirit Holy Mother of the Fighting Department is likely a Peak Quasi-Saint. Many of them are very strong."
Yang Jian despaired.
The implication of Sha Chen’s words is that he needs to be stronger than a Quasi-Saint!? That means a Saint!
If Sha Chen were to become a Saint, perhaps my mother would have already turned to dust.
Moreover, whether Sha Chen could become a Saint was a huge question.
As Yang Jian was about to kneel again, Sha Chen supported him and said, "Erlang, it’s not as exaggerated as you think. I do indeed aspire to become a Saint, and I do feel that only becoming a Saint is sufficiently safe."
"However, not fearing the Heavenly Court doesn’t necessarily mean I have to become a Saint. It depends on whether the Heavenly Court can no longer pose a threat to me, whether I no longer need to heed the wishes of the Heavenly Court in my actions."
Yang Jian said, "You have already established yourself as River Lord, so you should not be afraid anymore."
Sha Chen replied, "Not so. If the Heavenly Court were to issue a command against me, I fear I would be powerless."
Yang Jian then repeatedly asked Sha Chen to lend or cede the Mountain Splitting Axe to resolve this karma.
But Sha Chen found excuses and did not agree.
The banquet thus drew to a close, ending on a somewhat unhappy note. However, although Yang Jian was also unhappy, he dared not show it, nor did he dare to speak any unpleasant words. Sha Chen was his hope, and he could not afford to provoke him. This was because he could see that Sha Chen was still willing to help him.
After a long hesitation, Sha Chen said, "Erlang, I cannot help you for now, but I can make you a promise: the day when I can help you won’t be too far off."
"I cannot lend or give you the Mountain Splitting Axe. But the Mountain-driving Whip, when the time is right, I can lend it to you to try."
Upon hearing this, Yang Jian brightened and immediately expressed his thanks.
Although it was just a promise, with no definite time, at least it gave him hope.
「In the following days,」 Yang Jian stayed there.
It wasn’t that he coveted the Flowing Sand River Cave; rather, he wanted to foster a closer relationship with Sha Chen to avoid growing distant and thus having the promise nullified.
Sha Chen never expected that; he had originally wanted to win over Yang Jian.
He didn’t anticipate that Yang Jian would take the initiative to get closer, but this also showed how filial Yang Jian was.
A filial person won’t harbor bad intentions and is thus worth forming a deep connection with.
Sha Chen was also sizing up Yang Jian, scrutinizing him, while pondering the best time to lend a hand.
Naturally, I wouldn’t wait until the pilgrimage begins to offer help. By then, Yang Jian would likely have already received instructions from the Jade Emperor or found a new approach. My usefulness would be greatly diminished. If Yang Jian, relying on his own abilities, managed to rescue his mother, I would not only gain no gratitude but might also incur hatred. People are like that. If you don’t help when someone is down and out, others may perceive it as if you’re gloating over their misfortune. If you offer your assistance after they’ve already risen on their own, it won’t even count as a mere embellishment; instead, it might actually cause them to look down on you.
Sha Chen was continuously searching for the right moment and the right pretext, at least one that wouldn’t draw the Jade Emperor’s ire onto him.
If the Jade Emperor were to assign blame, I would need a defensive cave dwelling that could withstand the wrath of the Heavenly Court. At present, that’s not the case. If the Flowing Sand River Cave were to be struck by the Seal of Fanning the Sky, it would be smashed to pieces, and the same would probably apply to any other similar magical tool. Therefore, I’m waiting for the right time, not necessarily until I become a Quasi-Saint or Saint. All I need is a reward, something that can resist a strong attack from the Heavenly Court. As for what specifically, I don’t know. But I’m certain that if the circumstances are right, I will arrange for her rescue immediately. I wouldn’t go myself, but I would have someone else go, and then there would be no need to worry about the Jade Emperor’s fury reaching the Flowing Sand River. For now, it isn’t the right time.
Yang Jian had secured a promise from Sha Chen and felt somewhat happy about it, but he was also considering another method.
That was to help Sha Chen become stronger, not just in terms of personal might, but also in expanding his influence.
Once Sha Chen became powerful, his confidence would also grow, and there would be no need to fear the Jade Emperor’s anger.
Moreover, if Sha Chen’s influence expanded, then the Celestial Soldiers and Generals of the Heavenly Court would be insignificant. At that point, there would be no need to worry about the Heavenly Court attacking the Flowing Sand River.
But how to assist him, Yang Jian hadn’t yet figured out.
He was also quite lost.
During these days at the Flowing Sand River Cave, Yang Jian saw how wealthy it truly was, dispelling his initial thought to provide Sha Chen with ample resources to help him grow. This was because, compared to Sha Chen, he, Yang Jian, was a pauper.
Sha Chen even possessed both Innate Earth and Post-Heaven Earth, and had planted a large number of resources, including over a thousand First-class Immortal Elixirs.
The sheer scale of his wealth was astounding.
And there were peach trees, osmanthus trees, Chinese parasol trees, and bewildering willow trees.
This was an almost unscrupulously vast fortune; he was practically swimming in riches.
Sha Chen also had the Tai Chi Diagram left by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad. When Yang Jian saw that, his heart jolted.
Indeed, Sha Chen must have some connection with Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, he thought. Otherwise, why would Lord Lao Zi leave behind the Tai Chi Diagram to help Sha Chen comprehend the Dao!?
Yang Jian also saw the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup, the very magical tool that had nearly seared his eyes, belonging to the palace of the sage Laozi.
Such divine items, too, had fallen into Sha Chen’s hands.
To say Sha Chen had no connection with the Saint was something he simply couldn’t believe.
Yang Jian found Sha Chen and said, "River Lord, could you be the disciple of my great grandmaster?"
Sha Chen replied, "You’ve misunderstood; I am not the disciple of a Saint."
Yang Jian asked, "River Lord, then why do you possess the Tai Chi Diagram and the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup?"
Sha Chen explained, "The Tai Chi Diagram was indeed left by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad. He once passed by here, and under my gracious hospitality, he felt it wouldn’t be right not to leave something behind, so he left the Tai Chi Diagram."
"As for the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup, it was rumored to have been shattered by the Tongtian Hierarch and then vanished without a trace, only to inexplicably end up here."
Naturally, Yang Jian didn’t believe it. He said, "There’s no way a magical tool could just show up on its own."
Having said this, he realized something was amiss.
The White Bone Demon, the Jade Rabbit, and Jin Chanzi were all looking at him with strange expressions.
Yang Jian, thinking he had misspoken, quickly said, "What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?"
The White Bone Demon said, "Erlang God, are you not aware that our master’s magical tools mostly found their way here on their own?"
The Jade Rabbit said, "Actually, everything here, except for the Chinese parasol tree, arrived of its own accord; the General hasn’t left this place."
Yang Jian was dumbfounded.
How could this be possible!?
He looked at Sha Chen in confusion, as if questioning and waiting for Sha Chen to explain.
Sha Chen smiled and said, "Indeed. The main reason is that I don’t go out, so I simply can’t find these magical tools on my own."
"But it’s said that treasures choose their fated owner. I don’t go looking for them, yet as I am their fated owner, they find their way to me."
He shook his head and sighed, saying, "You have no idea how annoyed I am. Their arrival has deprived me of the chance to actively search for them."
