Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 354 - 348: Better Kill Jiang Ziya【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1
Having heard Sha Chen’s words, Jiang Ziya smiled and said, "Listening to the River Lord, if Buddhism offered a higher position, would the River Lord plan to accept it?"
Sha Chen said, "It depends on how high."
Jiang Ziya said, "As long as the River Lord names it, this old man will swallow his pride and ask for it on your behalf."
Sha Chen laughed heartily, his eyes flickering, and said, "I want the position of the Tathagata Buddha, and moreover, I won’t allow anyone to pull the strings behind me. Can that be done?"
Jiang Ziya looked at Sha Chen with a complex gaze and then burst into laughter. Once Sha Chen put it that way, he knew it was absolutely impossible. Not to mention taking the place of the Tathagata Buddha, even asking for a Buddha position for Sha Chen would probably not be easy. Although Sha Chen’s cultivation was profound and his strength remarkable, without any contributions, joining Buddhism wouldn’t grant him such a high position immediately. After all, everything required a proper justification. Since Sha Chen hadn’t experienced any trials nor contributed to Buddhism, it was unreasonable to simply grant him the rank of a Buddha.
However, if Buddhism was willing, assigning some trials to Sha Chen could let him rise through the ranks smoothly. But aiming for the position of the Tathagata Buddha was downright impossible. Taoist Ran Deng, the Vice Master of the Chan Sect, joined Buddhism and did not end up taking the position of Buddha; instead, he is known as Ran Deng Buddha. Sha Chen was just at the Initial Quasi-sage Level, and even with boundless prospects, he simply couldn’t compare to those renowned predecessors for now. Just arriving and wanting to be the boss—negotiations don’t work like that. And Jiang Ziya understood that by saying this, Sha Chen had no intention to negotiate.
Sha Chen looked at Jiang Ziya, a smile on his face, but actually, a flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes. He was wondering whether to kill Jiang Ziya or to simply let him leave.
Actually, Sha Chen was hesitating inwardly at this moment. If Jiang Ziya said another word to press him, he really felt like killing him and taking his Beat God Whip. After all, Lord Yuan Shi couldn’t enter here, and even if he killed Jiang Ziya, Lord Yuan Shi might not know about it. But that would leave endless troubles. That’s why Sha Chen was hesitating.
Jiang Ziya didn’t realize that he had just narrowly escaped from the Ghost Gate Closed.
He gave a slight smile and said, "River Lord, in fact, this old man did not intend to persuade you to join Buddhism. If you join, this old man supports you; if you don’t, this old man will not trouble you."
Chang E sneered, "Funny how you speak! As if you’re someone important, thinking you can just trouble my brother if you say so?" She had respected Jiang Ziya, but she would immediately turn hostile towards anyone unkind to Sha Chen, showing Jiang Ziya no deference.
Jiang Ziya was not offended. Instead, he smiled gently and said, "Indeed, this old man is inconsequential, unable to affect the River Lord’s decisions. So, this old man will not try to persuade you anymore. Let things take their natural course, go with the flow, and tread the path that feels right."
Sha Chen looked at Jiang Ziya with a puzzled expression and said, "What Taigong means to say is, you do not object to my refusal to join Buddhism?"
Jiang Ziya laughed and said, "River Lord, you were right before. I really am nothing special. I was presumptuous, thinking that what I saw was the future, and advising others to follow destiny, which is truly shameful." He clasped his fists, full of contrition. Then he said, "The River Lord’s earlier teachings are correct; this old man is truly remorseful. With limited ability and insight like tunnel vision, insignificant in the vastness of the Three Realms, as small as a speck of dust. The development of all things follows its laws. This old man should just keep to himself, follow his heart, and leave the rest be."
Sha Chen was stunned for a moment, then he laughed. He knew Jiang Ziya had come to a realization. Just he didn’t know to what extent Jiang Ziya had let go, or whether he still had any fixations.
Jiang Ziya said, "If the River Lord does not wish to join Buddhism, then don’t. Perhaps by not joining, you could avoid a great war in the future, and fewer people will die."
Sha Chen said, "Whether people die or not is not up for me to decide, but others. No one is willing to come to their deaths in this backwater place of mine. To say that if I, Sha Chen, don’t join Buddhism, the world will suffer because of me—that really is an overestimation."
Jiang Ziya nodded and said, "River Lord, I wish to return now. I wonder, could you open your gates and let me out?"
Sha Chen said, "Go back for what?"
Jiang Ziya said, "This old man’s comprehension is lacking, and his abilities fall short. I descended the mountain to persuade the River Lord to join the Journey to the West, to respond to the catastrophe, but I have failed and will not linger." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Sha Chen furrowed his brow and said, "You said you’ve had an epiphany, you’ve thought it through. Are you still holding on, wanting me to join Buddhism?"
Jiang Ziya said, "This old man does not believe that joining Buddhism is the River Lord’s best choice. But it is, nevertheless, a choice. As to what exactly to do, that’s for the River Lord to decide. This old man is not as important as the River Lord imagines, and my decision cannot influence the River Lord. More words are futile."
Sha Chen frowned; he hadn’t expected Jiang Ziya to be so stubborn. He still hadn’t changed his original intentions; he just realized that persuasion was useless and was no longer willing to stay. However, Jiang Ziya still hoped he could return to what was called the right track and join the Journey to the West. Sha Chen was very troubled. Jiang Ziya’s attitude hadn’t changed, and Sha Chen should have killed him, but he no longer entangled with Sha Chen. Now, Sha Chen found it even harder to kill him.
Jiang Ziya looked at Sha Chen and said, "The River Lord does not wish to join Buddhism, yet you associate with numerous demons. It seems you have great aspirations. This old man here earnestly pleads with the River Lord to prioritize the common people and not to instigate conflicts lightly."
After speaking, he glanced at Chang E and the Spider Spirit, intelligence flashing in his eyes. It seemed he knew that Sha Chen had many followers around him. The legends involving Sha Chen and demons like the Black Bear Spirit and the Spider Spirit, as well as Red Boy, all seemed to be true. After all, the Spider Spirit’s alliance had already been confirmed; for the others, even though they hadn’t been seen with their own eyes, such rumors weren’t without foundation. Those demons definitely had some kind of relationship with Sha Chen.
With a chuckle, Sha Chen said, "Taigong is jesting. Those around me are my family. They wouldn’t cause trouble, and what can these women achieve anyway? As for me, Taigong can rest assured. I’m engrossed in cultivation; talk less of dominating the world, even vying for dominance over the Flowing Sand River seems too troublesome to me."
Jiang Ziya looked deeply at Sha Chen and asked, "Does the River Lord mean to say that you won’t leave the Flowing Sand River?"
"Why would I venture out into such a dangerous world?" Sha Chen replied.
"Yet, with the River Lord’s cultivation, you could go anywhere in the world. There are probably not many who could defeat you," Jiang Ziya contended.
But Sha Chen just laughed and said, "If there’s even one person who can defeat me, I would be scared to death."
Jiang Ziya’s previously calm face twitched involuntarily. How afraid of death must one be to utter such words?
Sha Chen said, "Since Taigong wishes to depart, then you should go. I won’t make it difficult for you, but I hope that Taigong will not speak of anything you’ve seen in the Flowing Sand River."
"Why does the River Lord trust that this old man won’t speak out?" Jiang Ziya asked.
"Actually, I don’t trust you either, but there’s nothing I can do if I don’t trust you; after all, I cannot kill you," said Sha Chen. "Furthermore, even if you did speak out, it wouldn’t have much impact on me. What you’ve seen is only what I allowed you to see, and many things you see may not be as they appear."
Jiang Ziya looked around and nodded slightly; he was certain that what he had seen was not everything within the cave dwelling. At the very least, he was unaware of what was inside the Eight-Treasure Water Tower. Sha Chen kept many resources there, as well as numerous magical tools and Taoist magical powers, all kept secret from outsiders. The things that Jiang Ziya knew about Sha Chen were things Jin Chanzi was usually told to spread. Otherwise, everyone would think that his cultivation advancement was too fast, that he was an anomaly, and they would try everything to eliminate him or uncover his secrets.
But even if he didn’t speak out, the things Jiang Ziya had seen would be sensational enough if revealed. After all, the Phoenix Tree and the Obscure Willow Tree were unknown to outsiders, yet Jiang Ziya had seen them.
Jiang Ziya nodded and said, "Rest assured, River Lord. This old man came uninvited. If I were to spout nonsense now, I truly would deserve death."
"Now that Taigong speaks thus, I am relieved," said Sha Chen. He then made a beckoning gesture and invited, "Please, Taigong, I will see you out."
Approaching the door, Jiang Ziya said, "River Lord, about that Zhou Tian Xingchen Technique, I wonder..." He was still thinking about Sha Chen’s divine power.
Sha Chen merely smiled and said, "Sorry, I can’t impart it to you unless you can bring me something of sufficient value."
Jiang Ziya frowned. Although he knew that Sha Chen wouldn’t easily pass on the power to him, he hadn’t expected Sha Chen to be so blunt. After a moment’s hesitation, he couldn’t help but ask, "May I inquire, River Lord, what kind of value do you seek?"
"Submit to me, work for me. You have the Beat God Whip and enough prestige; you can go many places and know many things. These are what I’d like to know," Sha Chen declared.
Without hesitation, Jiang Ziya turned toward the door and said, "River Lord, let us not talk further. Please let me out."
Sha Chen laughed, then said, "Doesn’t Taigong have the Beat God Whip? Why don’t you leave on your own?"
Jiang Ziya replied, "This old man could have left, but after the River Lord’s breakthrough, for some reason, I felt completely cut off from the outside world and the Beat God Whip lost its effect."
Seventh Mother said, "I thought as much; you’re so docile because you’re afraid of death."
The other Spider Spirits also sneered one after another. Then they each began to urge Sha Chen, saying, "Brother, why not just kill this old scoundrel so he cannot leave? Dead men tell no tales."
Chang E even nodded in agreement. She blocked Jiang Ziya’s retreat, a sword appearing in her hand, forming seals with her fingers—the Imperial Gods’ Thunder at the ready. The other Spider Spirits prepared the Heavenly Splitting Palm. With just a command from Sha Chen, they would strike and kill Jiang Ziya.
Jiang Ziya paused for a moment, gave a wry smile, and made no attempt to resist or plead for mercy, just gazing at Sha Chen.
