Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 454 - 448: The Decree of the Jade Emperor [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1
Everyone had made their decision to follow Sha Chen’s arrangements and proceed to the Flowing Sand River.
As they were about to depart, the Six-Eared Macaque hesitated, looking as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he remained silent.
When the time came for the Six-Eared Macaque to part ways with them, he muttered, "We’ve been out for so long; they must have gathered a lot of resources by now. Otherwise, if we go back empty-handed, Master definitely won’t be pleased."
Although the Six-Eared Macaque hadn’t been with Sha Chen for long, he understood him quite well. He knew Sha Chen craved more resources, not just for cultivation but probably also for a sense of security—to stockpile them. Liuer didn’t think Sha Chen was solely profit-driven; after all, he had given Sha Chen very few resources, while Sha Chen’s reciprocation had been extremely valuable. In other words, Sha Chen just needed them to show their sincerity; the more sincere they were, the better. If they returned without resources, Liuer even suspected Sha Chen might get angry.
However, Sha Chen might not become excessively angry, just certainly a bit dissatisfied.
Yet, he was wrong.
If, after being out for so long, they failed to bring back a significant amount of resources, Sha Chen wouldn’t just be angry—he would be furious!
「Flowing Sand River.」
Sha Chen had already divined that Red Boy and the others would escape. He had also used his Divine Power to listen in on the movements within the Three Realms. He couldn’t hear the most clandestine matters, but he was perfectly clear about the events unfolding in The Cave of the Silken Web, which wasn’t far away. Naturally, he was also aware that Red Boy and his companions were returning. He already had a grasp of the situation.
He was also well aware of the Heavenly Court’s fury. He knew that the Heavenly Court, along with Zhao Gongming and even Buddhism, had likely already dispatched forces to capture Red Boy and his associates. The secret of their escape had not been revealed.
Sha Chen wasn’t afraid of offending the Heavenly Court and Buddhism by harboring Red Boy and his company, since he was already at odds with them, like fire and water. Now, it had merely been brought into the open. The Heavenly Court and Buddhism were just lacking an excuse to take action. In fact, they were always looking for a reason; if the opportunity arose, they could turn hostile and strike. The reason they hadn’t acted or turned against him yet was simply because they felt the timing wasn’t right.
Since they were ultimately enemies and bound to become openly hostile eventually, Sha Chen naturally wouldn’t give face to the Heavenly Court or Buddhism. Pretending to be weak was useless for him; he could only play dumb. After all, the Flowing Sand River domain was already shielded from heavenly prying; even Saints couldn’t know what was happening inside his cave-dwelling. Even if he harbored Red Boy, the Heavenly Court would have no reason or excuse to act against him.
However, the Heavenly Court had indeed dispatched numerous people to lurk within the Flowing Sand River domain, spying on the area. If they discovered any information about Red Boy and his companions, they would immediately take action or relay the intelligence. In short, besides lying in wait for Red Boy and his company, they were also gathering reasons and excuses for the Heavenly Court to act against Sha Chen.
Red Boy and the others returned from The Cave of the Silken Web quite quickly. They were not, however, rashly brave, as they had carefully planned before acting. Before returning, they had investigated the situation and even carried out some diversionary tactics. For example, they first went to other places, stirred up a huge commotion, and then stealthily returned. Or they directly used their Divine Powers or transformations to reveal themselves, attracting the attention of the Heavenly Court agents lurking about. In a word, they were both brave and strategic.
「After half a month.」
Red Boy and his companions stood atop the corpses of over a hundred divine generals from the Heavenly Court, their expressions cold and defiant, each laughing wildly.
"HEH HEH, to think such trash dared to ambush us. They’re truly audacious."
"Their stealth is so poor, yet they dared to court death. Come on, let’s eliminate the next batch, and then we can return to the Flowing Sand River."
Red Boy and the others immediately took action. After another day, they had eliminated all the Heavenly Court ambush troops near the Flowing Sand River.
Then, they swaggered to the Flowing Sand River domain and shouted from above it.
"Sha Chen, Lord of the Flowing Sand River, come out! It’s all because of you that we’ve been hunted by the Heavenly Court! We have no connection with you, yet because of you, we’re being pursued by both the Heavenly Court and Buddhism. You must take responsibility!"
Red Boy, Black Bear Spirit, and the others clamored outside, their angry roars shaking the land for a thousand miles. Their voices even reached the heavens.
The Mountain Gods and Earth Gods for a thousand miles around all exchanged baffled glances.
Some of the more fainthearted individuals were completely astonished.
"Weren’t Red Boy and his group said to be Sha Chen’s people? How come it doesn’t look like it!?"
"Could it be that the Heavenly Court has been wrong all along? Red Boy and his group have no connection to Sha Chen at all, yet they suffered because of him, and now they’re here to seek justice?"
"Sha Chen is unlucky, but so are Red Boy and his group. Alas, let’s just watch and see how this ends."
Those who only understood the surface of things and were unaware of the truth thought that Red Boy and his group might genuinely be wronged.
But those with deeper insight sneered inwardly, not taking the matter seriously at all. They had already formed their own judgment about whether Red Boy and Sha Chen were connected. Although Red Boy and his group had never admitted it, that didn’t stop these observers from believing it. Now that Red Boy and the others were creating a smokescreen of denial, they weren’t foolish enough to believe it.
Red Boy didn’t expect them to believe him, but he had to adopt this stance. In fact, he wouldn’t have done so if Sha Chen hadn’t suggested it. This was a precaution. If anyone tried to use this incident to stir up trouble in the future—by associating Red Boy with Sha Chen, harassing Sha Chen, or targeting the people of Flaming Mountain—they could use this staged confrontation to sever any perceived ties. Sha Chen, using his Great Divine Power, had instructed them to say this upon their arrival.
「In the heavens,」
Zhao Gongming and the others had already learned of the movements of Red Boy and his group near the Flowing Sand River. They had indeed been distracted by feints elsewhere. Now, aware that their ambushers at the Flowing Sand River domain had been exposed and that Red Boy’s group had appeared there, they were howling. They mounted their horses and charged toward the Flowing Sand River domain, intending to seize the opportunity to capture Red Boy and his group in one fell swoop.
But when they arrived at the Flowing Sand River domain, they found that Red Boy and his group had long since vanished without a trace.
Zhao Gongming was immediately furious. He returned to the air above the Flowing Sand River and sent the Sea-Pinning Bead flying out, parting the entire river. He led his men to the entrance of the Black Tortoise Cave.
He roared, "Sha Chen, where have you hidden them? Hand them over! Quickly produce those fugitives, Red Boy and the others!"
But no matter how he shouted, even until his throat was hoarse, there was no response.
At this moment, a holy decree descended from the heavens.
The Jade Emperor dispatched Wen Quxing, accompanied by celestial officials and the sound of drums and bells, to the Flowing Sand River domain.
All the immortals present were greatly shocked and quickly stepped aside.
Zhao Gongming also grumbled.
Yao Shaosi and Chen Jiugong, Zhao Gongming’s two disciples, both sneered.
Chen Jiugong said, "The Jade Emperor is enraged. Sending Wen Quxing down to issue a decree now means he’s definitely going to convict Sha Chen. Then we can legitimately move against the Flowing Sand River."
Yao Shaosi nodded, adding, "Does Sha Chen think everyone is a fool? Red Boy and the others arrive here and instantly disappear. He must have hidden them away."
"Once the Jade Emperor’s decree is issued, we can act against the Flowing Sand River with full justification. Master—no, Lord—under your leadership, we will surely smash the Black Tortoise Cave to smithereens."
Zhao Gongming also stood tall and proud, feeling a surge of exhilaration. He was just waiting for the Jade Emperor’s command.
