Chapter 592: Something Seems Off

The blood-red, gold-embroidered kasaya fluttered wildly in the gale.

Tang Luo's white hair fluttered as he watched the old fox being devoured bit by bit by the fierce ghosts, expressionless, and when it was nearly done, he spread his palms before him.

The copy of the Book of Life and Death appeared in his hand; upon opening it, the surrounding gale instantly stilled.

A crisp sound of chains colliding rang out in the void.

Numerous chains extended from the void, hooking the fierce ghosts and vengeful spirits, dragging them all into the Book of Life and Death.

Closing the Book of Life and Death, Tang Luo casually struck with one palm, utterly slaying both Silver Horn and the old fox.

"Ah… I forgot to ask them where Golden Horn went." After striking, Tang Luo realized he hadn't asked where Golden Horn had gone.

But it's no big deal; actually, there's no need to seek him—Golden Horn will come knocking on his own.

Zhu Bajie and the others, who had merely shouted "Senior Brother, the master has been captured by monsters!" and then done nothing else, remained in place, seeing Tang Luo return.

"The master has returned…" Ao Yulie spoke.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng looked over, wanting to know what had happened.

"Silver Horn is actually a fox." Tang Luo said.

"Ah?"

"Why would it be a fox?"

"Wasn't it said these two monsters were the attendants of the Supreme Old Lord?"

This opening isn't what everyone's most concerned about, but it undoubtedly sparked everyone's curiosity.

"Don't they have an old mother? It's just an old fox, its fur and tail nearly fallen out." Tang Luo said, giving a simple explanation.

"Oh, no wonder I felt something was off back then. Clearly an attendant beside the Old Lord, why did he descend to the realm and take a fox as his mother?" Ao Yulie suddenly understood—the root of it lay here.

"They're an unprecedented alien species, with horns growing on their heads." Tang Luo gestured.

The few of them discussed the origins of Golden Horn and Silver Horn with great enthusiasm.

Over there, Sun Wukong couldn't hold back: "What's become of Golden Horn and Silver Horn now?"

"How could they be? Most likely dead." Ao Yulie said, "Is this even a question worth asking?"

"..."

"I have enlightened Silver Horn and the old fox; Golden Horn is not here." Tang Luo said, "Not seeing him, when we meet again, I'll enlighten him then."

"Cough." Zhu Wuneng lightly coughed and asked, "I have a question, I hope the master will answer."

Playing the role fully, he addressed Tang Luo as "master" smoothly, without a hint of awkwardness.

Tang Luo looked at Zhu Wuneng, gesturing for him to ask.

"Are you few another 'me' from another realm? Are your experiences the same as ours?" Zhu Wuneng asked.

"Pretty much the same?" Zhu Bajie said, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"You few should have already succeeded in obtaining the scriptures, right?" Zhu Wuneng asked, observing their practiced demeanor—clearly they had already obtained the true scriptures!

This question is crucial; Sun Wukong stared fixedly at Tang Luo.

What lies ahead for these people before us? And what will our own future be?

"That's correct." Tang Luo said, "The poor monk, with several disciples, successfully obtained the true scriptures, merit fulfilled."

"Not dead?" Sun Wukong blurted out, greatly surprised.

"Of course not dead." Ao Yulie said, "And he was even ennobled as a Buddha."

"Buddha?"

"Fighting Victory Buddha, Merit Buddha, plus the Pure Altar Envoy, Golden Body Arhat, and the Eight Divisions of Heavenly Dragons and Horses." Ao Yulie said.

Sun Wukong snorted: "Really didn't expect the Tathagata would actually ennoble 'this old monkey' as Fighting Victory Buddha..."

"It's not you, it's the master who became Fighting Victory Buddha." Zhu Bajie broke Sun Wukong's fantasy.

"..."

"So I… am not, but another Sun Wukong who ennobled the Merit Buddha?"

"Yes." Ao Yulie said, "Also don't know exactly how it was ennobled—clearly the senior brother is also fierce. We always thought we'd be ennobled as something like the Indestructible Diamond Buddha."

"Looks like our chance to redeem ourselves through merit might still have hope." Zhu Wuneng said.

"No, no." Zhu Bajie again played the role of shattering others' fantasies, "Even if we share similar experiences, it doesn't mean the outcome is the same. Most importantly, your Tang Seng is dead."

Zhu Wuneng's face instantly turned green.

Indeed, the true scripture pilgrim they were to protect has already died!

Now standing before them is another monk who bears not the slightest resemblance to a "Tang Seng"—fundamentally not even a person.

The appointed scripture pilgrims have all knelt down.

What fate awaits these sinners? No need to say more.

"What's there to fear!" Sun Wukong said, "Originally, this old monkey planned to slaughter all the way to the Western Heaven, blast the Tathagata's dog head to pieces!"

"Can't beat him, senior brother." Zhu Wuneng sat on a stone, weakly waving his hand. "Snap out of it."

You need to sober up a bit, okay.

"Even if we can't beat them, we'll bite a chunk of flesh off those gods and Buddhas!" Sun Wukong's eyes flashed with ferocity.

Tang Luo nodded slightly: "The master thinks Wukong is right."

Zhu Wuneng looked toward Tang Luo.

"So we will help you." Tang Luo continued, "Doggie, Little White Dragon, go find that dragon back."

Ao Yulie's dragon body trembled as he looked at Tang Luo, feeling the threat.

"What are you thinking?" Zhu Bajie said, "You and the dog stay here together, train well—the master needs a temporary mount, a substitute."

"Oh." Ao Yulie immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

To avoid completing the mission, he and the Heavenly Howling Dog need to stay in the Flat Top Mountain Range.

The reason for leaving two was so they could watch over each other.

Zhu Bajie continued pretending to be the dead Sha Wujing.

With Xiaotian Dog tracking, Ao Yulie quickly found the fleeing White Dragon Horse; after a round of friendly physical communication, he successfully returned leading a white horse.

The White Dragon Horse was still a fine steed; its face was a bit swollen, but it would likely subside in a few days.

Taking off the Buddhist beads transformed from the Glazed Pure Garment and putting them on Ao Yulie, Tang Luo said: "Wujing, you and Little White Dragon cultivate well here; supervise him properly for me."

"Yes, Master." The manifested Sha Wujing replied respectfully.

"Master, you have to believe me!" Ao Yulie was heartsick; was he the kind of dragon who didn't cultivate properly?

At most, in ten days he would use five... six, seven, eight days wandering around the Pingdingshan range, exchanging dragon life experiences and insights with female yaoguai.

The remaining time, he would definitely cultivate hard!

"Want Master to draw a circle for you?" Tang Luo asked.

"No, no need; Third Senior Brother supervising me is just fine!" Ao Yulie said with a dead-serious face.

"Bajie." Tang Luo looked at Zhu Bajie.

Zhu Bajie understood instantly and cast an illusion to change Tang Luo's appearance.

Bald head, red lips and white teeth, round cheeks, slightly prosperous bearing; if he changed into a set of clothes, he would instantly look exactly like those wealthy landowners with decent looks.

Exactly the same as the dead Tang Seng.

Enough to deceive most yaoguai and gods and Buddhas.

"Let's go, fetch scriptures and save all beings." Tang Luo mounted the White Dragon Horse; the group, not grand or imposing in the least, set off toward Lotus Flower Palace.

Behind them, Ao Yulie waved vigorously.

After the figures had completely disappeared, Ao Yulie turned to Sha Wujing beside him and said: "Senior Brother, I feel we need to scout the vicinity in case of any unexpected situations... hey hey! Senior Brother, what are you doing! So heavy, can't move!"

"Master said, you cultivate properly." Sha Wujing said, "For scouting, Xiaotian Dog is enough."

"Where are we going now?"

Catching up and riding alongside the White Dragon Horse, Sun Wukong asked.

"First go to Golden Horn and Silver Horn's Lotus Flower Palace." Tang Luo said, "Wait there for Golden Horn."

Silver Horn had sent little yaoguai to notify Golden Horn from the start; now with another major event, wherever Golden Horn was, he would surely rush back at the fastest speed.

Waiting by the tree for the rabbit at Lotus Flower Palace would suffice.

"Giddyup!"

Tang Luo gave a low shout, and the White Dragon began running wildly, traversing the rugged mountain path as if on flat ground.

However you put it, he is a dragon; after transforming into a White Dragon, this much ability he still has.

Soon, the group arrived outside the city walls and could see a swarm of headless-fly little yaoguai in total chaos.

Sun Wukong leaped up, swinging the Golden-Hooped Rod in hand, and smashed the city wall before him to smithereens with one strike, shouting loudly: "Go tell your Great King, your Grandpa Sun is waiting for him here!"

The surrounding yaoguai scattered in a hubbub.

The prestige of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven — they had still heard of it.

Legend said he had contended with the Heavenly Court, a super great yaoguai, yet now he was the lackey of gods and Buddhas, which made many yaoguai very contemptuous.

"Monkey! Daring to run wild in Pingding territory! Are you tired of living!"

Inside the city, several thunderous voices answered Sun Wukong, and several figures rushed over one after another.

They were respectively four of the Eight Yaojiang: Bear Yaoguai, Wolf Yaoguai, Snake Yaoguai, Turtle Yaoguai.

All in human form, but certain traits showed externally, making it easy to distinguish which was which.

Sun Wukong floated in midair, Golden-Hooped Rod braced on his shoulder, looking down from on high: "Which one comes up to receive death!"

Incomparably wild and unrestrained.

The four yaoguai didn't waste words, nor did they act arrogant and come one by one; simply and decisively they swarmed up together and fought Sun Wukong in a melee.

Did you think this was a ring match?

Several yaoguai were all close-combat brawlers, entangled in midair, truly perilous.

Victory or defeat would be decided quickly too.

Before long, Turtle Yaoguai was sent flying by one of Sun Wukong's staff blows; its shell, having already endured several strikes, could not withstand this one and instantly split into four or five pieces, plummeting into the city — basically dead.

One of the four yaoguai gone, pressure on the remaining three increased sharply.

They weren't known for defense either; Sun Wukong with red eyes traded injury for injury, and very quickly beat the three yaoguai to death under the Golden-Hooped Rod.

As for the wounds they left on Sun Wukong, within a few breaths they had already healed.

"Come again!" Sun Wukong thrust the Golden-Hooped Rod into the ground, looking at the yaoguai filling the city.

"Sun! Wu! Kong!"

A muffled, thunderous voice rolled in from the horizon; a streak of golden light arrived in an instant — a young golden-robed Daoist appeared, raising his hand to send a sword light attacking.

Sun Wukong raised the Golden-Hooped Rod in hand and struck at the sword light.

A crisp sound, the sword light vanished, the flying sword flew back toward that golden-robed Daoist.

Sun Wukong also retreated several steps, leaving a few shallow pits in the ground.

"A bit stronger than Silver Horn." Tang Luo said from within the gray mist.

"It really is Golden Horn." Zhu Bajie said, "What trick are these guys up to."

"Destroying my immortal palace, your guts are quite big, Monkey." Golden Horn sheathed his flying sword, glanced at the wrecked immortal palace, and looked at Sun Wukong.

Tone indifferent and arrogant, like a lofty god looking down on ants.

It seems he only just arrived, yet doesn't know what actually happened.

"Petty little boy, you also deserve an immortal palace?" Sun Wukong mocked, "Forget how you were chased off running by me back then?"

Golden Horn's face cooled slightly, tone sneering: "The happier you laugh now, the more intense the suffering later."

An appearance of having everything under control.

But looking at Tang Luo and the others, he couldn't help but frown slightly, always feeling that something seemed off.