Chapter 488: The Emperor Guards the National Gate, the Princess Expands the Territory

Tang An's question made Jin Chanzi's eyes light up; he felt her question was exceptionally unique.

Because since ancient times, they had taken it for granted that the Heavenly Dao was the supreme authority. Even a Saint could not go against its will.

"How so?" He wanted to hear Tang An's perspective.

Tang An looked into the distance and said leisurely, "Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Path each perform their own duties, forming the foundation for the operation of the Three Realms. If any one of them were removed, the Three Realms could not be sustained."

"My grand-master once said: Humans follow the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature."

"The Heavenly Dao should follow the laws of natural operation; it should not be a person, or rather, it should not have consciousness."

"Once the Heavenly Dao has consciousness, it will breed human nature. Just like Hongjun Laozu, who for his own selfish desires, can completely disregard the life and death of all living beings in the Three Realms."

"Therefore, the Heavenly Dao being Hongjun is not right, and it being me is not right either."

"I am human, and being human means having flaws, having selfish desires, and having biases."

"So I feel that the Heavenly Dao should not be supreme, but rather the relatively impartial host of the rules of the Three Realms."

"Only a constantly perfecting and unconscious Heavenly Dao can achieve what I said."

The look in Jin Chanzi's eyes as he watched Tang An shimmered with starlight. Indeed, she was worthy of being the person who had made him pine and worry for an entire lifetime in his previous life.

Such a woman, and such a philosophy, were truly hard not to be won over by.

"If you truly reach that day in the future, what will you do?"

Tang An did not answer his question, but instead turned to look at Jin Chanzi.

"You've grown hair?"

"Ah?" Was the topic jumping so quickly? "This humble one is no longer a monk of the Western Sect, so naturally, I have returned to secular life."

"Or is it... that you like the way I look without hair?"

"Oh my~ you are so greasy, go take a bath with dish soap." Tang An couldn't be bothered to pay him any more mind and flew away from the spot.

After all, her three disciples were unhappy, so she had to go coax them; she had no time to keep chattering with him here.

To coax her three disciples into a good mood, Tang An specifically prepared a sumptuous hot pot feast and also prepared plenty of fine wine.

In the dead of night, atop the city tower of Zhenmo Pass, the master and her three disciples sat at a high vantage point catching the breeze, yet no one moved their chopsticks.

"Little Kongkong?"

"Little Jianjian?"

"Little Zhazha?"

Hearing Tang An call them like that, all three of them couldn't help but shudder with disgust.

"Oh, your master was wrong, okay? I promise to live well from now on and won't have those bad thoughts again." She raised her hands to swear, her words earnest and very sincere.

"And I have learned from my pain and decided to take you all out tomorrow to raid the Outer Realm Demon Race and expand the territory for our Huaxia."

"I am full of drive right now, really."

"Really?" Sun Wukong still didn't believe her.

"Really, I swear." Tang An raised her hands to swear again.

Yang Jian sighed, "Master, you..." He wanted to say something, but knowing Tang An too well was also a source of distress.

He knew that the more Tang An swore, the more likely she was lying. After all, whenever she swore, it was never certain who would get struck by lightning.

"Little Jianjian, just believe your master once; this time it's for real."

"And next time?"

"Next time I'll still dare to do it." As soon as Tang An finished speaking, she slapped her own mouth; when would she ever break this habit of finishing the punchline?

Nezha didn't speak, but instead went on eating by swishing food in the hot pot.

Regardless of whether what Tang An said was true or false, he was incomparably clear in his heart that he had to cherish the present.

Because whether Tang An became the Heavenly Dao or fell into Reincarnation, days like these for them would only become fewer and fewer. Therefore, he cherished it immensely.

"Little Nezha, don't be unhappy anymore." Tang An pouted, nearly crying.

The corners of Nezha's eyes were slightly red as he picked up a slice of lotus root for Tang An. "It won't be crunchy if you don't eat it now."

"Alright." Tang An pursed her lips, knowing she had done wrong and shouldn't have treated them that way.

She didn't want to either, but there were many times when she couldn't control her own thoughts.

She also understood in her heart that if they weren't by her side, constantly giving her strength, she feared she would have collapsed long ago.

"I am seriously promising you all that I will definitely strive to be positive and definitely live well."

"No matter what the future holds, we must be positive in the present."

"As for the future, to hell with it; let's live through the present first."

Nezha looked up at her cautiously, "Really?"

"Really, truer than real gold and silver." Tang An knew they didn't believe her. "I swear on my fortune for this lifetime, Tang An; I will definitely live well and not have those negative thoughts anymore."

Yang Jian's eyes brightened slightly, because her other oaths were unreliable, but if it was her fortune, the credibility naturally became high.

"Then Master, eat more." He also picked up a slice of beef for Tang An.

Sun Wukong stood up, "That's my master." He went to pour wine for Tang An. "Think back to those years, what kind of demons haven't we fought, what kind of gods and Buddhas haven't we bullied?"

"We've been through big storms, and I, Old Sun, believe that things will definitely get better and better for us in the future."

"Right." Tang An picked up where Sun Wukong left off, stood up, and raised her glass. "Come, cheers."

Yang Jian and Nezha also stood up and raised their glasses, "Cheers!"

The next day, at noon.

Li Shimin got up early every day to handle state affairs; sometimes he would be busy for the whole day. Ever since he arrived, he had stayed at Zhenmo Pass and never left.

Except when she was in seclusion or busy, Tang An basically ate with Li Shimin every day.

"Father Emperor."

Li Shimin rubbed his brow and put down the memorial, "What did you bring for your father today?"

When Tang An had free time, she would idly tinker with some novel snacks for Li Shimin.

Li Shimin also liked that way of eating like opening a blind box, or rather, he liked any snack that Tang An brought him.

But today, Tang An did not call him "Dad," but instead changed it to "Imperial Father," which meant there was serious business.

"Does An'er have something to say to your father?"

Tang An cleared her throat; she had boiled mung bean soup for Li Shimin today to cool off from the heat.

"Imperial Father, you are getting older, so don't be so tired all day; you must take care of your health."

"Hmm~" Li Shimin tasted a mouthful of the mung bean soup; it was icy and cool, with a hint of sweetness, and was very comfortable.

"Is this to coax your father first, before saying what the matter is?"

"Hehe." Tang An sat beside Li Shimin, "Imperial Father, I have a tiny idea, will you listen to it?"

"Good, go ahead and speak."

"I want to go on an expedition to the Outer Domain."

"Pfft~"

Tang An had long since prepared to block; she knew it would be this kind of reaction.

Li Shimin wiped his mouth, "You call this a tiny idea?"

"Imperial Father~" Tang An tugged on his arm and acted spoiled, "Your daughter has already boasted, and Senior Wutian has already brought a million underworld soldiers to build a new Zhenmo Pass in the Outer Domain."

"Seeing that the Zhenmo Pass in the Outer Domain has already been built, your daughter naturally wants to go and see it."

"Just to go and see it?"

"Mm-hmm."

"But you clearly said just now, to go on an expedition to the Outer Domain."

Tang An blinked her eyes, "Isn't it the same meaning?"

Under Li Shimin's fixed gaze, Tang An poked her fingers together. "Fine, I just want to continue expanding the territory, so I must trouble Imperial Father to help me guard the Zhenmo Pass in the Inner Realm."

"They all say the Son of Heaven guards the national gate, and the Princess expands the territory. Don't worry, I will definitely not let you down."

Li Shimin did not have any intention of stopping Tang An, he was only worried about her safety.

After Tang An repeatedly guaranteed that she would definitely not court death and would definitely return safe and sound, Li Shimin finally relented.

However, the scene shifted to the Outer Domain.

Tang An carried the Jinbao Sword on one shoulder and held a megaphone in one hand, using her Dharma Power to project her voice deep into the Outer Domain.

"Oh my~ how did I get injured, it seems quite serious too, is there anyone to come and save this Guardian~"

Yang Jian's mouth twitched, and his eyebrows arched.

This acting was too over-the-top; only a fool would believe it, right?

PS: My younger brother has his college entrance exam tomorrow, and I have to go pick him up in triumph. I don't have time to write, so I'm taking a day off. Updates will continue the day after tomorrow.

I also wish all college entrance exam candidates that your lives from now on will be a vast wilderness.