The Golden Hair Lion stepped into the God of Wealth’s palace, greeting first before the God of Wealth could speak, slightly bowing with a gesture of respect, "Greetings, God of Wealth!"
Though Zhao Gongming was fad for his power during the Deification War, the present tis are different, and the position of a re God of Wealth is not sothing worthy of great respect.
A typical person showing such regard would leave Zhao Gongming with a favorable first impression.
However, since the counterpart is from the Buddhist Sect, Zhao Gongming is well aware of the typical deanor of Buddhist sect mbers.
Simply put, if others show genuine respect, it is likely sincere; but with Buddhist sect folk, their respect is often superficial.
Consequently, Zhao Gongming’s expression remained unchanged, showing no courtesy, "What reason brings the Bodhisattva here today? Just state your purpose directly, no need for pretenses!"
"You truly are straightforward, God of Wealth!" Upon seeing Zhao Gongming’s attitude, the Golden Hair Lion was not angered but instead complinted him.
As the words fell, the Golden Hair Lion clarified his intention, "Today, I co to request assistance from the God of Wealth. Master Xuanzang and his followers are about to reach Bitter Sea Town, where the townsfolk lack both money and food! Surely they will seek help from you soon!"
"You want to help? I suppose you’re not expecting to do this for free?" the God of Wealth responded.
Knowing the Sea Calming Pearl is in their possession, the God of Wealth finally offered his price; otherwise, he would have simply sent them away.
"Of course, I wouldn’t let you work for nothing!" Upon hearing this, the Golden Hair Lion quickly replied, raising his hand to bring out twenty-four Sea Calming Pearls.
"Indeed..."
Seeing the ergence of the Sea Calming Pearls, his once renowned Dharma Treasure, Zhao Gongming instinctively leaned forward, his gaze irresistibly drawn towards them.
With his keen eyes, Zhao Gongming recognized these twenty-four Sea Calming Pearls as the Treasure that once belonged to him.
"God of Wealth..."
After presenting the twenty-four Sea Calming Pearls, the Golden Hair Lion waved his hand, sending twelve of them flying toward Zhao Gongming, "Consider this half as a deposit, and upon completion, the other half will be offered graciously, what do you say!?"
Zhao Gongming reached out and caught the twelve Sea Calming Pearls, examined them carefully, and finding no issues, put them away.
Regarding the Golden Hair Lion’s proposal, Zhao Gongming was not skeptical.
The full set of twenty-four Sea Calming Pearls are required for the treasure to unleash its power; with just twelve, neither he nor the Golden Hair Lion could harness its full might.
"Though you are but a Bodhisattva, your offering is generous. Since you propose trading with twenty-four Sea Calming Pearls, I’ll agree to this matter!" Satisfied with the deposit, Zhao Gongming nodded and replied.
"Then, I look forward to your good news, God of Wealth!" Acknowledging the god’s reluctance for further company, the Golden Hair Lion quickly departed.
...
anwhile, in Bitter Sea Town, Jiang Liu returned ho with a little girl, realizing her ho was indeed destitute. The girl unfolded the dire state of Bitter Sea Town to Jiang Liu.
"Master, since the residents of Bitter Sea Town are so poor, barely able to eat, why don’t we just give them so money!?"
Sun Wukong, filled with compassion, suggested to Jiang Liu upon learning of Bitter Sea Town’s plight.
Sun Wukong recognized his master as a great affluent man, who never lacked money throughout the Journey to the West for Scriptures.
"Wukong, money indeed is not an issue, as Bitter Sea Town is just a handful of thousands here. I could afford to sustain them, but..."
Jiang Liu spoke, then shifted his tone, "As the saying goes, give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifeti. Solving Bitter Sea Town’s issues isn’t rely about providing so silver coins!"
"I, Old Sun, understand, but Master, look around! They’re on the brink of starvation; let’s save their lives first!" Sun Wukong implored.
"Well, okay, Wukong, you do have a point!" Considering Sun Wukong’s words, Jiang Liu pondered for a mont before nodding in agreent.
Having promised, Jiang Liu wasted no ti. He began calling upon Bitter Sea Town’s villagers to co and receive silver coins from him.
With thousands in Bitter Sea Town, each person received ten taels of silver!
Upon learning of Jiang Liu’s distribution of silver, the whole town was in an uproar.
Ten taels of silver is quite substantial, more than enough for soone to live a modest life for a year or two.
After an eventful day, the residents of Bitter Sea Town each received ten taels of silver, their faces adorned with smiles.
Typically, a family of three receiving thirty taels could suffice for a long ti.
And with work like farming, life would be entirely manageable.
However, after receiving the silver taels, the entire atmosphere of Bitter Sea Town imdiately changed.
Many people started to feast and call friends together.
There were also many who began to gamble in groups.
So even stayed at ho every day, hoping that these ten silver taels would allow them to live comfortably for a while, with no intention of working.
As the saying goes, things that are easily obtained are not cherished; the sa goes for money. Although it seed on the surface that Bitter Sea Town had beco prosperous, in reality, it was all temporary.
In just a few days, many people had lost all their money gambling.
Moreover, having easily obtained money, they looked down on jobs that paid only two or three taels a month.
Jiang Liu and the others did not leave. They stayed in Bitter Sea Town for only half a month and witnessed the townsfolk squander the tens of thousands of silver taels they were given, one after another.
"Master, soone has died..." On this day, Sun Wukong appeared slightly somber as he approached Jiang Liu and spoke.
"Soone died? Why?" Hearing this, Jiang Liu was slightly taken aback.
"Starved to death!" Sun Wukong replied.
This answer made Jiang Liu sigh slightly, a sense of guilt arising in his heart.
For the sake of his sche, he had made the people of Bitter Sea Town even poorer. Although he had spent tens of thousands of silver taels as compensation, not only did he fail to alleviate their hardships, but he also caused them to sink deeper.
"As the saying goes, ’From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality is difficult...’
Although Jiang Liu had been ntally prepared for things to develop to such a state, when it actually happened, he still let out a long sigh.
"Master, what should we do next?" Sun Wukong asked Jiang Liu.
Nearby, Zhu Bajie and others also looked at Jiang Liu.
Regardless of whether Bitter Sea Town’s current predicant was caused by them, they could not sit idly by.
"Don’t worry, the situation here will be resolved soon!" Jiang Liu replied upon hearing Sun Wukong’s words.
Indeed, Jiang Liu’s words seed to be fulfilled. Just an hour later, a dazzling light appeared in the sky, with golden Buddhist light shining like the sun.
A figure appeared bathed in this Buddhist light, quietly suspended in mid-air.
"Disciple Xuanzang, greets the Bodhisattva of Golden Light..." Jiang Liu maintained his humble and courteous deanor, addressing the Bodhisattva of Golden Light in the sky with a disciple’s salute.
"Amitabha, Xuanzang, do you have any doubts?" The Golden Hair Lion looked down at Jiang Liu and asked.
"Disciple sees the people of Bitter Sea Town, originally destitute. Disciple spent tens of thousands of silver taels hoping to help them, but unexpectedly, nothing changed in the end! May I ask if the Bodhisattva can guide this disciple?" Jiang Liu lowered his head and respectfully asked the Golden Hair Lion.
"Power and wealth make the masses sink, the people of Bitter Sea Town have fallen because of the word wealth!" The Golden Hair Lion suspended in the air, sighed.
Upon saying this, after a slight pause, the Golden Hair Lion continued, "The wealth of the world is managed by the God of Wealth. If you are bewildered, Xuanzang, why not seek the God of Wealth for guidance?"
After offering guidance to Jiang Liu, the Golden Hair Lion did not linger any longer and turned to leave.
As if his appearance was rely by chance.
"The God of Wealth?" Jiang Liu muttered under his breath as he stood there, then he personally set off, rising into the sky, flying towards the Heavenly Court.
With Jiang Liu’s speed, he naturally arrived at the South Heavenly Gate quickly.
"Greetings, Master Xuanzang!" The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals guarding the South Heavenly Gate retreated a few steps in unison upon seeing Jiang Liu, actively greeting him.
For Jiang Liu, these Heavenly Soldiers and Generals had been half respectful and half fearful before.
But to this day, because the death of the Four Sovereigns was sowhat related to the Journey to the West team, these Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were mostly fearful of Jiang Liu.
"Everyone, I trust you’ve been well!" Jiang Liu maintained his usual humble and courteous deanor, nodding in response.
Then he directly entered the South Heavenly Gate, flying towards the God of Wealth’s palace.
"Master, Master Xuanzang is here!" Inside the palace, a servant soon ca to Zhao Gongming to report.
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