Li Changgeng snorted, "Isn’t it because you play dead every ti I call? It’s out of sheer frustration that I’ve done such rash things!"
Sha Chen said, "Sir, you always arrive in such a hurry that I truly don’t have ti to react."
Seeing Li Changgeng about to lose his temper again, Sha Chen quickly asked, "What brings Sir Li here this ti?"
Li Changgeng was also befuddled by his anger; every visit to Sha Chen left him seething. Now that Sha Chen had brought it up, he huffed, "I’ll tell you inside. Open the door to your cave."
Sha Chen replied, "Let’s talk out here. I can hear you just fine."
The muscles on Li Changgeng’s cheeks twitched, his eyes filled with fury. "Is this a matter of whether you can hear ? It’s a question of your attitude! I’ve co to proclaim His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s sage decree—are you making announce it out in the open?"
Sha Chen was stunned for a mont. "Is His Majesty planning to impose another penalty?" Then, feigning grievance, he lanted, "Where is the justice in that?"
Li Changgeng frowned. Sha Chen indeed seems genuinely aggrieved. Could the Jade Emperor be right?
However, he didn’t care. He snorted, "No. His Majesty feels it was improper for Wen Zhong to be punished without prior instruction, and He also believes your punishnt was too severe. Recalling your past dedication, and acknowledging that even if you have no great rits, you have certainly endured hardship, His Majesty has specifically sent to bestow a reward upon you."
Another reward? Sha Chen was taken aback, his expression turning peculiar. Wasn’t the Jade Emperor planning to deal with the sa way he dealt with Sun Wukong? Why a reward now? Could it be... he changed his strategy again?
Sha Chen suddenly recalled Wen Zhong’s words from his visit, which were an utter defiance of heaven. That probably reached the Jade Emperor’s ears, making him believe I truly have been treated unjustly.
Sha Chen knew the Jade Emperor wanted to use him as a secret agent and certainly hoped for his utter loyalty. Since the Jade Emperor discovered my genuine feelings of being wronged, he probably saw an opening and changed his strategy again. After all, the trick used on Sun Wukong isn’t universally applicable, nor is it that easy to execute.
Firstly, it was Tathagata who acted against Sun Wukong, and there was an absolute gap in strength between them. Plus, Sun Wukong had actually done wrong. If Sun Wukong were innocent and Tathagata had punished him without instruction, simply suppressing him, Sun Wukong would feel no reverence or submission, even if he feared Tathagata. I, Sha Chen, have been dutifully serving my sentence at the Flowing Sand River; this is known to all. To increase the punishnt was already improper, and to punish without instruction is truly despicable. If I were forcibly suppressed, creating a climate of fear, it would definitely backfire.
After careful consideration, Sha Chen understood the Jade Emperor’s intentions and set his mind at ease. As long as the Jade Emperor isn’t solely focused on framing and doesn’t resort to terrorizing suppression, that’s sufficient. Trying to win over with kindness? We’ll see if he has the skill for that. After all, my heart is as hard as iron.
Working dutifully for the Jade Emperor again is sothing I will no longer stoop to. And participating in so "Journey to the West" espionage? Even more out of the question. But I won’t refuse the Jade Emperor’s reward—who would turn down benefits? Moreover, rejecting the Jade Emperor’s reward would signify my anger and ingratitude. If soldiers were then sent against , my fate would be miserable.
Sha Chen was not foolish. After all, it’s just a matter of offering so pleasantries, like New Year’s greetings.
He looked expectantly at Li Changgeng, but Li Changgeng insisted repeatedly that he would only give the reward inside the Flowing Sand River Cave; if Sha Chen didn’t go in, he wouldn’t get it.
Sha Chen didn’t yield an inch. "Sir Li, if that’s the case, then I don’t want it."
Li Changgeng flew into a rage. "You dare refuse His Majesty’s reward? Are you that ungrateful?"
Sha Chen replied, "It’s not that I’m refusing, Sir Li, but that you are not giving it. I may want it, but I don’t have it."
Angered, Li Changgeng said, "Open the cave, and I will naturally give it to you!"
Sha Chen said, "I dare not."
Li Changgeng demanded, "What do you not dare? Are you afraid I’ll beat you to death?"
Sha Chen, quite frankly, nodded. "If this were your first visit, Sir Li, and you were courteous, I wouldn’t think so. But every ti you co, you’re in a towering rage. I really am afraid of being beaten to death."
Li Changgeng was so furious he nearly had a heart attack. This wretch! He actually dares to say it! And he’s truly shaless! Why do I fly into such a rage? It’s because if a tiger doesn’t assert its dominance, you’d take this old man for a sick cat!
The two remained at an impasse for a long while. Li Changgeng considered countless strategies but, in the end, chose to compromise. I’m here to conciliate, not to vent my anger. I even knew before coming that since Sha Chen has the Black Tortoise Armor, he’d be even more determined to hole up and absolutely refuse to co out.
As expected, he didn’t erge. Li Changgeng was helpless; he couldn’t break in, having already tried. If it were a Formation, I’d still have so confidence. Given enough ti, I could break through. But against the Black Tortoise Armor, I really can’t penetrate it.
Even ordinary Quasi-Saints probably couldn’t get in. At most, they could only make Sha Chen uncomfortable inside. Hiding within the Black Tortoise Armor, Sha Chen would surely be shaken by a Quasi-Saint’s attack, causing him to suffer. That’s what Li Changgeng thought, even considering whether to ask a Quasi-Saint to intervene.
But no sooner had this thought arisen than he dismissed it. What is he worth, that he deserves a Quasi-Saint’s intervention?
He abandoned the idea and knew he had to find another way. After all, the Jade Emperor had already held a court assembly, and presumably, many ministers were already devising strategies.
After a long stalemate, Li Changgeng compromised and gave the reward outside.
Sha Chen’s shadowy clone received the reward, thanking Li Changgeng with clasped hands. The Black Tortoise Armor even had a transparent gap, allowing a clear view from outside of the situation on the Lightning Conduction Platform above. Sha Chen’s true self was up there, also clasping his hands and uttering complintary New Year’s greetings that cost him nothing.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty! Thank you, Sir Li! Thank you, Heavenly Court!"
After all, such pleasantries are cheap. If soone gives you a benefit, saying thank you won’t cost you anything.
Li Changgeng listened but felt deeply displeased. It’s the sa again. This fellow is an ungrateful wretch, a white-eyed wolf! When I return, I must persuade His Majesty the Jade Emperor to change his strategy. He absolutely cannot be lenient. Sha Chen is nothing but a white-eyed wolf!
Despite receiving such generous rewards, he’s still thanking through the Black Tortoise Armor, spouting only empty words. Not a single word about loyalty or willingness to die for the cause, just perfunctory New Year’s greetings. Perhaps His Majesty the Jade Emperor doesn’t understand what kind of person Sha Chen is and has been deceived into thinking he’s a loyal official who was rely wronged.
But Li Changgeng frequently dealt with all sorts of ministers. He had seen every kind of person and had interacted with Sha Chen many tis. He was well aware that Sha Chen projected rejection from his very core. Yet, when it ca to receiving rewards, he was all too willing. A complete scoundrel and a slick old fox! He truly wanted to snatch back the rewards on the spot but restrained himself.
Suppressing the anger in his heart, Li Changgeng said, "His Majesty is compassionate and has given you a rich reward, but you cannot escape your sins, and He can’t simply release you. Accept your punishnt well. When the ti is right, this old man will plead with His Majesty, hoping He will rember past affection and release you."
Sha Chen thanked him, though, in truth, he didn’t believe a single word.
Li Changgeng suddenly added, "Alright, reflect well on your actions. The scripture seeker is coming again. I hope you don’t devour him just to obtain incomparable Mana."
Having said that, he turned to leave.
Sha Chen’s expression turned strange. Li Changgeng is trying to set up!
Standing in his cave, Sha Chen stroked his chin and furrowed his brow, murmuring to himself, "So much ti has passed... has he finally co?"
He felt sowhat conflicted because this scripture seeker was different from the previous ones.
This scripture seeker was born at the sa ti as my clone, Hanshan, whom I specifically designed. I experienced every one of the clone’s emotional changes and experiences as if they were my own. People aren’t made of tal or stone; who can be without feelings? After living alongside Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation for so many years, how could I not have the slightest affection? To be honest, I don’t want this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi to die. As for devouring him, that’s even more out of the question. But if I don’t, the demons along the path will. Because the ti isn’t right, neither the Heavenly Court nor Lingjiu Mountain will truly commit to protecting Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation.
For several lifetis, Jin Chanzi will keep reincarnating. This lifeti, barring any accidents, he will also die. I don’t really want him to die, but I can’t possibly protect him in person. Even if I were willing, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation would likely still perish. Because the ti has not yet co. None of the scripture seekers designated by the Heavenly Court are in place. The demons and monsters along the path of the Journey to the West, and the travel routes themselves, haven’t been properly planned. This ans the benefits to be divided between Buddhism and Daoism haven’t been allocated yet. Without a fair distribution of these benefits, the great tribulation of the Journey to the West cannot begin. Even if I took Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation to Lingjiu Mountain right now, we’d just be sent back. What’s more, I’ve never even considered embarking on the Journey to the West myself.
After mulling it over, Sha Chen decided not to dwell on it further. This matter can only be handled by going with the flow; it’s all up to fate. However, I do have a small plan, so ideas in mind.
He simply waited for Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation to arrive.
「Half a month later.」
"Amitabha."
A Buddhist chant drifted from beyond the Flowing Sand River. Though spoken softly, it steadily reached Sha Chen’s ears.
Sha Chen, startled, had been in Cultivation, about to endure another round of heavenly lightning punishnt to strengthen his physical body. Instead, he heard a Buddhist chant. Moreover, this chant wasn’t sothing he had actively listened for; it had been intentionally projected to him.
"Is this the Flowing Sand River?"
"Like a vast sea, its other shore invisible at a glance... is this truly a river?"
The voice continued to drift down.
Sha Chen ceased his Cultivation and looked up. Sure enough, he saw a Monk standing on the riverbank, frowning.
With a single glance, he recognized the Monk as Chen Liu’er, the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi.
However, this person was completely different from the young Monk he rembered—the one with red lips, white teeth, and a clear, handso brow. The current reincarnation of Jin Chanzi was a middle-aged Monk, perhaps thirty or forty years old, looking utterly world-weary and weather-beaten. He appeared more like an old Monk in his fifties, with a pale, unbearded face deeply etched by the elents. He wore a conical bamboo hat, held an alms bowl and a Monk’s staff, and was draped in a Kasaya. The Kasaya still held a faint luster but was also stained with dust. Wearing straw sandals, he led a white horse.
If not for Sha Chen’s divine vision, which could penetrate to true nature, and his intimate familiarity with Jin Chanzi’s reincarnations, he probably wouldn’t have dared to confirm his identity. This person was indeed the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi.
What shocked Sha Chen most was that this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi had not cultivated any Mana, yet his forehead was broad and full, his jawline strong and defined—signs of great innate quality. His Primordial Spirit was extraordinarily powerful, having reached the level of a True Immortal.
And, unlike previous tis, this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi had only a white horse by his side, with no other living beings, and certainly no followers.
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