Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 498 - 492: The Dagger Is Seen When the Map Is Exhausted [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1
Although Jinzha and Old Turtle were frustrated, they still supported Jin Chanzi onto the turtle, and they too stepped onto its back, feeling thoroughly uncomfortable.
The Turtle Immortal floated above the Flowing Sand River, finding it somewhat difficult, and hastily circulated his divine light for protection. With his strength, crossing the vast Flowing Sand River would likely be very challenging. At that moment, he began to regret his decision.
However, just as he was about to give up, Jin Chanzi praised him, "Worthy indeed of being my eldest Disciple, and also an Immortal! Truly impressive. Look at this divine light, look at his mighty power that pierces the heavens and the earth. Even driftwood cannot float on the Flowing Sand River, yet he is able to stay afloat above it. That is truly formidable. I must report this to Buddha so that you can be duly rewarded."
Upon hearing these words, the Turtle Immortal was invigorated once more. With divine light sustaining his body, he sped up and began swimming toward the other side of the river. In less than an hour, he had already crossed more than halfway.
During this time, the Turtle Immortal wanted to give up several times and fly away; continuing to swim would cause the river water to corrode his body, preventing him from using his Mana. If he did not manage to fly before losing consciousness, he would not be able to fly later, even if he wanted to. Then he could truly drown in the Flowing Sand River and live to regret it.
However, every time he thought of giving up, Jin Chanzi would encourage him again, filling him with motivation.
Jinzha and Old Turtle were very uncomfortable. They could see that the Turtle Immortal was already exhausted and were looking forward to seeing him sink. But, the Turtle Immortal, once again energized, continued moving forward, now almost across the river.
That would not do. Jin Chanzi had not yet lured out Sha Chen nor died there, which would cause Sha Chen to be tainted with karma. If he left like this, not a single one of his nine lifetimes would be related to Sha Chen. If he passed by this place in the next life, how could he ensure that Sha Chen was affected by the calamity of the Journey to the West? Could it be that he was truly going to give up on this tribulation? The Flowing Sand River was crucial, and Sha Chen was of utmost importance; it wasn’t something he could easily abandon.
Jinzha even considered playing dirty to have the Turtle Immortal die right there. However, he kept hesitating because if the Turtle Immortal died because of him, his sin would be great. By then, he would be tainted with negative karma, and he would have no part in the calamity of the Journey to the West.
Old Turtle felt the same, full of regret for having recruited this troublesome fellow.
The Turtle Immortal continued to persevere, striving to cross the Flowing Sand River. Jin Chanzi continued to encourage him, but seeing that he was about to fail, he turned his gaze to Old Turtle.
Then, he said, "Disciple, aren’t you also a turtle? Get down there and swim across together; give your elder brother a hand."
Old Turtle was shocked. "Impossible, absolutely impossible! No, no, it’s not that it’s impossible, it’s just that I’m incapable, I can’t do it!"
Jin Chanzi scolded him, "Useless thing, what are you good for? Jump down now, and you’re still my Disciple. Otherwise, I’ll expel you from the sect immediately!"
Expelled from the sect!? Old Turtle was frightened; he did not want to be expelled. Seeing that Jin Chanzi was about to die here, he was on the verge of completing his merit and taking on the karma of this lifetime. If he were expelled because of this, he would have no part in the calamity of the Journey to the West and would instead incur negative karma. He could not be expelled from the sect!
But the thought of going down was equally unappealing to him. Even though he was far stronger than the Turtle Immortal and could last a long time in the Flowing Sand River, possibly even swimming to the other side, he did not want to. Their plan had been to drown Jin Chanzi here, to prevent him from successfully crossing the river. If he helped him across, ruining their plan, Jinzha would undoubtedly blame and punish him. He glanced at Jinzha.
Jin Chanzi then said, "Why look at your elder brother? He is even more useless than you and cannot play any role in this matter. Remember, I am your master. Listen to me and get down there quickly, or we’ll all drown here soon!"
Old Turtle gritted his teeth. Not daring to look at Jinzha’s grim expression, he jumped down. He then transformed into his original form, lifting both Jin Chanzi and the Turtle Immortal. His body was strong and his Mana boundless; it looked like he could easily swim to the shore.
Jinzha’s face was grim. He sent a telepathic message to Old Turtle, "Old thing, if you dare to pull him to the other side, I’ll kill you! Sink now, or else, we’re not done."
Old Turtle sent back, "Bodhisattva, please don’t make this difficult for me. If I actually sink, it would be the same as plotting his murder. It would be better to be expelled from the sect than that."
Jinzha replied, "You’re different from the other demons plotting his murder. If you do it now, you can fight for karma in your next life."
Old Turtle contested, "But then I can’t be his Disciple, I can’t attain merit’s completion, I won’t gain a position in Buddhism, and I’ll just be a demon fighting for a tiny bit of karma."
Jinzha scoffed coldly, "If you don’t do as I say, you won’t even get that tiny bit of karma!"
After much hesitation, Old Turtle decided to go through with it; otherwise, he’d truly have no karma at all. His eyes flickered, and he suddenly began sinking.
Jin Chanzi was greatly alarmed and exclaimed, "Disciple, what are you doing? Are you trying to murder your master? I am the Holy Monk on his Journey to the West! If you plot against me, all the Celestial Gods and Buddha won’t let you off! Just yesterday, the Bodhisattva visited me in a dream. If you harm me today, both the Bodhisattva and Buddha will cast you into Avici Hell!"
As he sank, Old Turtle’s body trembled with fear; he truly feared this negative karma.
Jinzha hastily said, "Don’t listen to him. It won’t happen."
Startled, Old Turtle gritted his teeth and continued to sink.
Jin Chanzi, however, grabbed Jinzha. "Good Disciple, your junior brother has rebelled! Quickly use your magic to capture him! No, no, no. First, take your master up to the sky. Then use your magic to capture him. Don’t say you can’t do it, don’t say you don’t know how, and don’t say you can’t beat him, or else you’ll be expelled from the sect!"
Jinzha was stunned, rage burning inside him. He had suspected the old Monk was feigning madness and stupidity multiple times but never had proof. Now the old Monk was actually threatening to expel him from the sect, ordering him to take down Old Turtle!
He naturally wouldn’t do it and said, "Master, I also want to take you to the sky, but I didn’t expect this demon to be so powerful, limiting my actions so I can’t fly."
The water had already risen to their ankles. Jinzha pretended to struggle, trying to fly but unable to lift off.
Jin Chanzi taunted, "You’re so useless, you can’t even fly? Your master can jump up, and yet you can’t fly?" Saying this, he leaped up, more than ten feet high, distancing himself from the water.
Jinzha was instantly dumbfounded. Old Turtle was also stunned. Jin Chanzi had left his back, and he didn’t know whether to keep sinking or not.
Jin Chanzi landed again. "See that? Stop pretending! This Monk has seen through you a long time ago. You’re not a good person! You’re in league with this old turtle, trying to take this Monk’s life! This Monk was blind to take you two as Disciples. Today, I hereby inform all Celestial Gods and Buddha: I expel you both from the sect and strip you of your status in Buddhism! You shall never be considered followers of Buddha! Moreover, when this Monk attains enlightenment in the future, I will ensure you’re ground to dust! I implore Buddha to cast you both into hell, never to be reborn!" Jin Chanzi roared in anger.
Old Turtle trembled in fear, while Jinzha’s eyes widened abruptly, his face darkening. He hadn’t expected Jin Chanzi to turn on them so directly, spewing such chilling words. Now he too was expelled from the sect. All his previous efforts were in vain. In the calamity of the Journey to the West, he couldn’t claim to be one of those undertaking the Journey to the West, but rather an obstacle in their path. He had negative karma, no positive karma. Even if there were benefits, they were extremely limited for both of them.
Jinzha was furious, his anger boiling over as he shouted, "You worthless Monk! I’ve called you master for over a decade, protected you all the way here, and you dare expel me from the sect? Do you really think you’re worthy to be my master? And now you want to expel me from Buddhism? Do you think you’re qualified?"
Enraged, he pulled out his Demon Subduing Staff, ready to smash Jin Chanzi’s head in.
The Turtle Immortal was so terrified that he foamed at the mouth and fainted.
Old Turtle was petrified, shaking uncontrollably. "Bodhisattva, please don’t! You mustn’t! If you kill the scripture pilgrim, you’ll be entangled in negative karma, condemned to never be reincarnated!"
Jinzha was burning with anger. Even though he knew the consequences were grave, he could not hold back, especially since he had already made the move to attack, and Jin Chanzi appeared unafraid of death, provoking him. If he stopped now, wouldn’t Jin Chanzi laugh at him? In that moment, he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
