Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 425 - 419: The Children of Saint Nuwa【Looking for Subscription and Monthly Tickets】_1
Sha Chen spoke with righteous indignation, his figure radiant and majestic.
Upon seeing this, Nezha instantly felt a wave of admiration.
Then, Sha Chen asked, "By the way, I haven’t asked you yet, who are the people you’ve offended?"
He figured that with Nezha and the Three Holy Mother’s strength, the people they could offend were, at most, at the Daluo Golden Immortal level. Moreover, they had both wreaked havoc in the Nether World, most likely offending the King of Hell’s people. Although it was still very troublesome, Sha Chen felt that the Ten Halls of Yama probably couldn’t leave the Nether World. In that case, the trouble wouldn’t amount to much.
Nezha said, "Thank you, River Lord, for supporting me. The people I’ve offended aren’t many. It’s just that I’ve gravely offended all the Ten Halls of Yama. Almost the entire Nether World is after me."
"Moreover, the Ten Halls of Yama even sought Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to come forward on their behalf. That’s why Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva also issued a decree for me to personally go to the Netherworld to seek redemption. But can I even go? Wouldn’t going there mean delivering my own head?"
Sha Chen was stunned for a moment, his cheeks twitching.
Offending the Ten Halls of Yama was something he had anticipated, but offending Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as well was beyond his expectations.
He exclaimed in shock, "How did you manage to offend Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?"
Nezha said, "He is the spokesperson of Buddhism in the Nether World. Half of the Ten Halls of Yama act according to his wishes. Naturally, with such a disturbance in the Nether World, he had to step in to maintain order, so..."
He lowered his head, but his tone was righteous and confident.
Sha Chen was greatly troubled and said angrily, "Then why did you cause such a stir in the Nether World?"
Nezha was stunned. He suddenly looked up and said in confusion, "River Lord, it was you who told me to go! You even told me to give the King of Hell a good beating and to write the words ’Act with Caution’ on the Book of Life and Death. I did everything as instructed."
Sha Chen was greatly troubled.
Although he had anticipated that causing chaos in the Nether World would bring big trouble, he never expected the trouble to be this grave. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has always been a neutral faction within Buddhism, and he usually stays in the Nether World, detached from worldly affairs. But that doesn’t mean he can be underestimated. Despite holding only the title of Bodhisattva, it’s because he made a great vow: to never achieve Buddhahood until the Nether World is purified. In reality, his spiritual attainment is higher than that of many great Buddhas. His enlightenment and strength rank among the top within all of Buddhism. If it were really about status, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s influence is no less than that of Ran Deng Buddha and is considered one of the top factions within Buddhism.
What’s most critical is his own strength, which is also incredibly formidable. It is said that he went to the Netherworld and made his great vow in order to become a Saint! Others strive for the Realm of People, and so does he. Hou Tu created the Samsara Platform, giving the Realm of People a chance for reincarnation, and then became a Saint. Seeing the opportunity, Ksitigarbha planned to follow Hou Tu’s successful path, also descending into the Netherworld to convert countless souls. He intended to use his own power to convert innumerable souls, to purify the Netherworld of all its solitary and wandering ghosts, and then, through this immense merit, directly attain Sainthood! How could a person who aspires to become a Saint be ordinary!?
Moreover, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has been doing this for so many years; his accumulation of merit must already be vast! His strength is undoubtedly immense, probably not inferior to Ran Deng Buddha, perhaps even capable of rivaling Tathagata! Such a powerful Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has actually issued an order for Nezha to go to his sanctuary to admit his wrongdoing and seek redemption. If Nezha actually went, it would genuinely be like delivering his own head.
Sha Chen was greatly troubled. Nezha could have offended anyone in the Netherworld, but he just had to offend Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. This truly is a monumental problem.
However, Sha Chen wasn’t concerned that it would threaten his life. After all, he had already offended all of Buddhism; one or two more hardly made a difference. One more wasn’t too many, one less wasn’t too few. This could be considered a case of having too many debts to worry about.
Witnessing Sha Chen’s frown and troubled expression, Nezha also seemed to realize what a terrifying existence he had offended.
He already dared not set foot in the Nether World again, nor even approach the West. He didn’t even dare to contact his two older brothers.
To make matters worse, he had also been expelled from his sect; the Chan Sect could no longer be his refuge.
Coming here was for sanctuary.
Nezha was very anxious, worried that Sha Chen would drive him out because of this, so he was extremely cautious.
He looked at Sha Chen and said tentatively, "River Lord, everything I did was for you. You wouldn’t drive me away because of this, would you?"
Sha Chen looked at him and said, "A man must stand upright and take responsibility for his actions. You did this, so you must bear the consequences."
"But don’t worry, I won’t send you away. After all, I was indeed the one who asked you to do it, so I bear a minuscule fraction of the responsibility. However, don’t think that I will stand up for you or protect you."
He snorted, "Solve your own problems. I won’t step in for you. But I will teach you Dao Techniques to enhance your strength, so you can solve the problems yourself."
Nezha was initially a little disappointed, but when he heard Sha Chen’s subsequent words, his eyes lit up.
At the same time, he was profoundly moved. Sha Chen was doing this for his own good! Even though Sha Chen said he wouldn’t intervene, he actually had a soft heart behind his harsh words, intending to teach him Taoist magical powers. Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish. Nezha believed that Sha Chen possessed great wisdom and was truly all bark and no bite; he clearly wanted to help but wasn’t saying so outright.
How could Sha Chen standing up for him be better than teaching him Taoist magical powers? After all, let alone Sha Chen, even his own master or the Daoist Ancestor had only given him some renown as a protective shield. In this cruel cultivation world, personal strength was the only hard truth. Even the disciples of Saints weren’t safe; without strength, nothing mattered. Therefore, Nezha felt that Sha Chen teaching him Taoist magical powers was already the greatest help. As for Sha Chen not stepping in otherwise, he believed that was Sha Chen testing and tempering him! Back then, when his master taught him Dao Techniques and gave him Magical Tools, wasn’t it also to have him enter the Divine Enthronement to be tempered? That was how he became who he was today!
Nezha thought Sha Chen was a good person. Cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
Moved by this thought, Nezha, THUD, knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, like someone pounding garlic.
Upon seeing this, Sha Chen’s heart skipped a beat.
Damn, isn’t imparting Divine Powers and Dao Techniques enough? He’s not going to insist I step in for him, is he? That’s too much, young man. Although you’ve brought many resources, you’re just the errand boy, not the Qingwei Sect Hierarch who provides the goods. It’s not right to expect me to confront Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva head-on for you.
Sha Chen felt a headache coming on as he wondered how to righteously refuse Nezha’s anticipated plea for help.
But then, after Nezha finished kowtowing, he said, "Thank you, River Lord, for imparting your teachings! No, this disciple is immensely grateful and will dedicate my life to you. From now on, I will serve you faithfully, even unto death!"
Sha Chen was taken aback, his expression turning peculiar.
Then, clearing his throat, he said, "AHEM, alright, get up. Since you so sincerely wish to enter my tutelage, although I cannot officially take disciples, by imparting spells and Dao Techniques to you, our master-disciple relationship will be real in substance, if not in name."
Nezha nodded vigorously, lips pursed, and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows to Sha Chen once more.
The Three Holy Mother watched from the side, frowning, unsure what to make of the situation.
Only after Nezha stood up, respectfully served Sha Chen wine and tea, and completed the formal salutations did she approach Sha Chen. Pursing her lips, she said, "Big Brother, Nezha is my sworn brother, and you are too. Now that he’s your disciple, what does that make our relationship?"
She added, "I don’t want to be considered a generation below you, unless it’s as your goddaughter."
Sha Chen rolled his eyes and said, "I’ve always been one to consider relationships independently. Besides, there’s no need to get too hung up on these things."
Actually, within the era of Divine Enthronement, such independent considerations of relationships weren’t uncommon. Sun Wukong and Bajie were disciples of Monk Tang, yet Sun Wukong later became sworn brothers with Zhenyuanzi. Clearly, Zhenyuanzi was an elder to countless individuals, even half a generation senior to Tathagata. However, Monk Tang was a disciple of Tathagata, yet he was also Sun Wukong’s master. The relationships among these figures were quite convoluted. The best approach was to consider each relationship on its own terms.
Upon hearing this, the Three Holy Mother’s face lit up with joy. Considering relationships independently was the best outcome for her.
Afterward, she said, "Big Brother, Nezha’s troubles are resolved. Now, for my little trouble, I’ll need to bother you too."
Sha Chen frowned. "Don’t talk nonsense. It’s not resolved yet. And Nezha’s problem is his to solve, not mine."
The Three Holy Mother replied, "But aren’t you teaching him Taoist magical powers so he *can* solve it?"
Then she added, "The ones I’ve offended are also from the Nether World. If you’re not even afraid of Ksitigarbha, what else is there to fear?"
Sha Chen, upon hearing this, actually felt she had a point.
Apart from Ksitigarbha, what was there to fear in the entire Netherworld!?
So he said, "Alright, tell me about your trouble so I can prepare."
Anyway, he had already let her in. If he didn’t let her explain her trouble now, they’d be caught completely off guard if people came looking for retribution later.
The Three Holy Mother, delighted, quickly said, "This time, didn’t I dupe the Ten Halls of Yama and also raid the lairs of some Ghost Kings?"
Sha Chen nodded.
Indeed, the Three Holy Mother had done so; otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought back so many resources. Though it meant trouble, Sha Chen found enjoying these resources quite satisfying.
The Three Holy Mother continued, "And didn’t I, your little sister, also return to Nuwa Palace and ask our elders for some resources?"
Sha Chen nodded again. Among the numerous resources the Three Holy Mother had brought back, he had found some exceptionally high-grade items. They were presumably treasures from Nuwa Palace. This aspect was commendable.
The Three Holy Mother went on, "And then, the plot was discovered."
Sha Chen paused, sensing something was amiss. "What plot was discovered? What outrageous thing did you do this time that would anger gods and men?"
The Three Holy Mother quickly replied, "No, I didn’t do anything that outrageous! It’s just that I used my status as a disciple of Nuwa to extort and blackmail in the Netherworld, and raided the lairs of Ghost Kings. Someone reported this to Nuwa Palace."
Sha Chen’s cheek twitched.
With her head hung low, the Three Holy Mother’s voice grew softer as she said, "And then my senior sister Mifei, along with several senior brothers—Qing Gan, Zhu Sidan, and Bai Daran—they all found out. Although they tried to defend me, they couldn’t withstand the pressure from the Nether World. They have to capture me to give the Nether World an explanation."
HISS!
Sha Chen almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. He wanted to expel the Three Holy Mother on the spot. Damn it! The Three Holy Mother had provoked some truly formidable figures this time! Qing Gan and Zhu Sidan were the actual sons of Fuxi and Nuwa. Mifei was also Fuxi’s daughter. Every single one of them was an incredibly powerful big shot from the Primordial Era! They all want to capture the Three Holy Mother and take her back? Perhaps it would be better if he captured the Three Holy Mother himself first. That way, when they arrived, he could hand her over directly. It would be a bit more dignified.
