Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 647 - 646 Doubts About Sha Wujing’s Sincerity
"I don’t like the people from the Heavenly Court. Every time I see them, I feel both fear and disgust. It’s a pity I couldn’t defeat them when I was at Flowing Sand River; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here suffering the questioning of Shopkeeper Chen." Sha Wujing answered seriously.
Being afraid of the Heavenly Court was understandable, but disgust was something he really couldn’t comprehend in Sha Wujing. If fear was due to the concern they might kill him, then what was the reason for disgust?
Tian Peng was not the kind to keep things to himself and directly asked, "Why do you feel disgust when you see the people from the Heavenly Court? Did they do something to you before?"
Sha Wujing had no memory of his previous life; this feeling of disgust stemmed from his instincts.
"I don’t know. I just feel both disgust and fear when I see them, but I really can’t figure out why."
Chen Nuo knew the reason, although the original work only briefly mentioned it, but it did outline the main reason.
The original form of Sha Wujing was the Curtain Lifting General in the Heavenly Court, who was punished by the Jade Emperor to descend to the mortal world just because he accidentally broke a Glazed Cup during a Flat Peach banquet. It was because the Glazed Cup shattered at the worst possible moment, which happened to be during a time when the Jade Emperor was in his least forgiving mood.
Yet, just because of that, he was sent down to the mortal realm, which was really beyond reason, but ironically, that was indeed the reality, both very real and very helpless.
Ever since then, Sha Wujing began to feel disappointment in the Heavenly Court, and even became a demon for thousands of years. Now, thinking about it still naturally brings about a sense of disgust, and he began to feel aversion toward all Immortals in the Immortal Realm.
"Perhaps this is just a sense of fear towards those with power," Tian Peng speculated casually. "Luckily, I am now in a mortal body, else when you met me this morning, you would have felt fear due to your instinct and might have been scared by me even before I made a move."
Such illogical words with no credibility, Chen Nuo found himself at a loss for words to retort, but to his surprise, Sha Wujing nodded earnestly, "Then I really thank you."
Although it sounded like sarcasm, it seemed very sincere coming from Sha Wujing’s mouth.
"No way, do you really believe what he said?" Chen Nuo looked at Sha Wujing.
Sha Wujing nodded seriously, "I believe it, otherwise I really can’t find any other reasons to explain this feeling."
"All right then." Chen Nuo was not yet ready to restore his original memories, because there was something else he wanted to ask.
"If Buddhism came to you and offered to let you join their team, promising that upon completing their mission you could achieve Buddhahood, would you choose to stay in Chaos Residence, or would you choose Buddhism?"
The question was indeed too direct and Chen Nuo’s face bore an expression of irrefutable seriousness and solemnity.
It seemed as if as soon as Sha Wujing gave his answer, Chen Nuo would make sure he followed through with what he had just said.
Tian Peng, listening to Chen Nuo’s question, felt a sense of deja vu and, while Sha Wujing was pondering, he too was recalling in his mind where he had heard this before.
Buddhism, choice.
The feeling of familiarity was drawing ever closer, and Tian Peng looked at Chen Nuo and then at Sha Wujing, as if he had realized something.
It must be, it must be right, it surely couldn’t be anything else.
Tian Peng covered his mouth in surprise, "Shopkeeper! What do you mean by asking him this question?! Don’t tell me..."
"It’s exactly what you’re thinking," Chen Nuo answered.
Tian Peng took a step back in surprise, heavens! It really was like that!
No wonder, when he had told Shopkeeper Chen about the demon at Flowing Sand River, Shopkeeper Chen had such an expression and even took him to subdue demons personally.
Tian Peng also recalled how he had just informed Chen Nuo of the disturbance the river demon of Flowing Sand River had caused. He mentioned to Chen Nuo that it might be his opportunity, but Chen Nuo denied that this opportunity was for him to become an immortal; however, it was indeed another kind of opportunity.
At the time he had found it strange. What kind of opportunity could he have with a demon he had never met before? Now it’s clear, it’s all clear now.
"Shopkeeper, so you mean, he is from ’Journey to the West’..." Tian Peng began but didn’t continue, fearful that speaking too plainly might affect the water demon’s judgment.
"Yes, it’s what you are thinking," Chen Nuo confirmed.
Sha Wujing listened from the side, completely befuddled. He understood what the man was saying, but when piecing it together, he couldn’t grasp a single word. Regardless of how noisy it got, he still had to share his thoughts with Shopkeeper Chen.
"Shopkeeper Chen, I won’t be going anywhere else," Sha Wujing declared. "If the Heavenly Realm or Buddhism were to come and guide me, they would have done it long ago. They wouldn’t have left me waiting for over a thousand years. Over this millennium, only you have taken me from that place. Now that I’ve decided to leave with you, I definitely won’t go anywhere else."
Before Chen Nuo could speak, Tian Peng clearly disbelieved him, looking at Sha Wujing with suspicion, "Just a few light words, and that can represent your promise not to leave easily in the future?"
Sha Wujing paused before repeating himself, "I won’t leave. Since Shopkeeper Chen has taken me in, I am a man of Chaos Residence. No matter what happens, I will not easily leave Chaos Residence."
"Hmph, just these few light words, there’s no credibility at all," Tian Peng still did not believe him, "What if, just what if later they offer you some conditions and then you betray our shopkeeper to join Buddhism or the Heavenly Realm, what then?"
"What about you?" Sha Wujing counter-asked Tian Peng, "You’re so aggressive now, can you guarantee that you’ll never pledge allegiance to someone else?"
Tian Peng had not expected to be asked about himself and snorted, "Of course not."
"Just a couple of insubstantial words with no credibility, I don’t trust you either," Sha Wujing retorted.
"Hey, you demon!" Tian Peng did not anticipate a counter-question like this and immediately became infuriated.
"What do you mean by that? Do you know what sort of feud I have with the Heavenly Realm? Do you know how long I’ve known Shopkeeper Chen? My relationship with our shopkeeper is not something you can question after just meeting one day!"
"I think, this kind of thing can’t be answered by how long you’ve known someone," Sha Wujing said. "Some people are inherently bad, so no matter how long you interact with them, it won’t change their nature. Conversely, if someone is inherently good, regardless of time, no matter what they do, it won’t change their kind heart."
Sha Wujing had spoken at length, but Tian Peng only understood one thing—that the water demon was insinuating in a roundabout way that he wasn’t a good person.
"What do you mean by that? I think you’re more likely to be the bad one here!" Tian Peng was so angry he was about to step forward when Chen Nuo pulled him back.
"I didn’t say you weren’t a good person; I was just explaining a theory. Why are you applying this theory to yourself?" Sha Wujing reasoned.
"Are you telling me, you’ve just met our shopkeeper for one day, you must not be a good person, and you’re telling me not to overthink it?" Tian Peng said, frustrated. "So what if I slap you right now and tell you not to overthink it, will you really not overthink it?"
