Chapter 595: Make a Trip / Go Through the Motions

Flat Top Mountain, behind the Lotus Flower Cave, the next trial should originally have taken place in the Wuji Kingdom.

After leaving the Flat Top Mountain range and heading west all the way, Tang Luo and the others did not pass through any country called the Wuji Kingdom.

Not only that, there was also no Red Boy's Fire Cloud Cave and no Chechi Kingdom.

Zhu Bajie discussed this matter with Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng.

The two replied that they were indeed ordered (forced) to protect Tang Sanzang on the journey to the Western Heaven to retrieve scriptures, but they did not explicitly state they had to undergo the eighty-one tribulations, only that they would encounter various calamities.

In fact, according to the content of the original "Journey to the West" novel in the real world, the eighty-one tribulations did not actually only start after the scripture retrieval began.

Moreover, they themselves were not very distinct, having the flavor of making up the numbers.

The first of the eighty-one tribulations was Golden Cicada's demotion, nearly killed at birth, and thrown into the river at the full moon was the second and third tribulation.

At that time, the journey to retrieve scriptures was still very far off.

As for Tang Luo himself, he transmigrated by being struck by lightning, and by the time he gained awareness he was already at Jinshan Temple.

No different from an ordinarily growing child, he had no memories of infancy or early childhood, or if he did they were extremely vague.

This made Tang Luo firmly believe he had transmigrated into the body of that three-or-four-year-old little novice monk.

As for the later search for his parents and avenging of grievances, there wasn't even a shadow of it.

Leaving Jinshan Temple, following his master out to see the world, Tang Luo was designated as the scripture pilgrim.

And regarding the journey after scripture retrieval, if one truly speaks from the angle of encountering monsters and dangers, it was far more than eighty-one tribulations.

Regarding the eighty-one tribulations, everyone had never been fixated on that number.

It seems the arranger of this world was also not fixated on the eighty-one tribulations.

Silver Horn and Gold Horn, the two of them, recognized Sun Wukong as the real Sun Wukong, and took pleasure in toying with him, gaining immense psychological comfort; their thoughts became clear and their strength advanced a step further — though it was of no damn use, Tang Luo even felt they seemed not as formidable as they were back then.

The eighty-one tribulations and such, unimportant.

They wanted to see Sun Wukong suffer and struggle in pain during the westward journey, and finally despair and scream in anguish upon discovering the truth.

Raising the Golden Cudgel yet lacking even the strength to bring it down, that desperate scene.

After appreciating it, savoring it carefully, do it again.

An enemy's pain, no matter how many times it comes, is never too many.

Assemble the full eighty-one tribulations? No, unnecessary.

The consecutive skips after Flat Top Mountain brought Tang Luo and the others to a vast great river, a stone stele erected on the bank, named Tongtian River.

Many were missing in between.

Black Water River still existed, and they encountered some minor monsters causing trouble, but that was all; Zhu Wuneng and Sun Wukong made a move and dispatched them.

Just ordinary monsters, not the "mastermind behind the scenes" type like Silver Horn and Gold Horn.

Nor were they old acquaintances from before.

There was also no Chechi Kingdom, no Tiger Strength, Deer Strength, and Sheep Strength Three Immortals stirring up trouble.

Actually, even if there were, these monsters definitely would not be those from before.

Red Boy of Fire Cloud Cave is still building the post-apocalypse new human world with Nezha, while the Black Water River monster, the Chechi Kingdom three monsters, and even the Green Lion Spirit of Wuji Kingdom are already dead.

Yes, the Green Lion Spirit who caused trouble in Wuji Kingdom is also dead.

However, he did not die in the Wuji Kingdom tribulation, but later at Lion Camel Ridge.

At that time, Tang Luo's killing intent was heavy, his attacks ruthless beyond compare, a fight-to-the-death style.

The Green Lion Spirit also showed no mercy.

Sun Wukong was contending with the Golden-Winged Great Peng, too busy to attend to Tang Luo's side.

By the time it concluded, Manjusri Bodhisattva merely took away the Green Lion Spirit's remains, protecting a wisp of remnant soul from dissipation, letting it reincarnate.

Until the Shanhai Realm shattered, there was no operation of awakening past-life wisdom.

Even if those masterminds behind the scenes designed some related tribulations in these places, it would be impossible for the "true bodies" to take the field personally.

Simply, they were gone.

The Tongtian River tribulation, however, might be different.

The river surface was extremely broad, white mist shrouded the river, looking out one couldn't even see the situation on the opposite bank.

No bridge on the river, not even a pier, small boat, or boatman.

There was, however, at a distance from the riverbank, a village that looked fairly lively.

If it were a conventional westward journey team, only the White Dragon Horse in the form of a white horse couldn't tread water to cross, and Tang Sanzang also wouldn't let Sun Wukong and them carry him across.

According to Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng, Tang Sanzang's mortal flesh body was too heavy for them to bear either.

Therefore they would definitely go to the nearby village to inquire, rest a night, and go through the motions.

The current scripture retrieval team, however, had no such concerns.

With a single leap, he plunged into the river to find trouble with the Spirit of Inspiration — if that carp spirit was really there.

Tang Luo thought for a bit, waved his hand broadly, and decided to enter the village.

Yes, this time go through a wave of standard procedure.

Since those masterminds behind the scenes like to appreciate Sun Wukong's emotional changes, from surprise to despair.

Then why not let them have a taste of it too.

Otherwise, the disguise would have lost its meaning.

If it's not the Spirit of Inspiration, nor one of the masterminds behind the scenes, it doesn't matter either.

If Tongtian River truly has monsters wanting to eat virgin boys and girls, just conveniently eliminate them, do good for the people, there's merit in it.

Gold Horn and Silver Horn, the two of them, in this world completely broke away from Tushita Palace, directly letting themselves go.

Converting them, destroying the Flat Top Mountain monster king lineage, gained quite a bit of merit power.

Arriving at the village to inquire, the village wasn't called Chen Family Village, but "Riverside Village", a name so plain it left one speechless.

The village head was surnamed Chen, a plump and kind man, who repeatedly said that Tang Luo and the others could stay the night (the appearances of Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng had been altered, changing from monsters to ugly people).

Tang Luo's disguise as a plump Tang Sanzang looked decent, and the villagers were still relatively enthusiastic.

After further inquiry, it was indeed confirmed that there was a river god in the Tongtian River, who demanded a sacrifice of a boy and a girl every six months, otherwise a great flood would inundate the village.

Tang Luo asked why they didn't relocate the entire village.

The village head explained that the land within a thousand li radius was barren and unsuitable for farming; even if crops were planted with difficulty, survival was hard and yields were extremely low.

Only this nearby area was the sole fertile land, yielding four harvests a year; even those unskilled in farming could eat their fill.

Although the villagers had dark skin, they were not the gaunt, typical ancient farmers—each one was physically robust.

If they left this place, the villagers might all starve to death.

Compared to that, offering a boy and a girl every six months was an acceptable condition.

In ancient times, there were few recreational activities; even if the village was actually quite prosperous, oil lamps could not be in every household.

When night came, people did what they needed to do.

Having more children was considered sufficient.

To cope with the situation, the village had specially established an "orphanage."

Children could be sent there early, to be collectively raised—merely raised, raised to be white and plump.

When the time came, they would be sent into the Tongtian River to avoid developing emotional bonds from long-term care, which would only bring unnecessary complications.

When saying this, the village head Chen spoke in a cold tone; this situation had begun as early as his grandfather's generation and continued to the present.

The villagers had long since grown accustomed to it.

Thus, when Tang Luo offered to help the village solve the river god problem, the villagers each clearly opposed it.

Tang Luo did not insist, casually laughed a few times, and the matter passed.

At night, part of the village had lights on.

The majority of households were busy preparing the river god's sacrificial offerings.

Outside the orphanage, several strong young men had been added to guard against the visiting monk causing trouble.

Tang Luo's earlier offer of help had already aroused the villagers' vigilance.

However, this vigilance had no effect whatsoever.

Because Tang Luo's target was never them.

In the brightly lit study, the village head Chen was happily reading his chivalrous thief novel.

Regarding the matter of procreation, he had no interest at all.

He was old; in his youth he had initially been happy, then felt weary, and later became indifferent yet forced himself to continue, becoming a burden.

Now he had reached the stage of "empty tears."

The great cause of reproduction had already been passed to his several sons; for the occasional sounds he could hear, he turned a deaf ear.

A true sage, in such an environment, would read the sages' books, steady as Mount Tai, heart like still water.

As one of the few cultured people in the village, the village head said he was different from those vulgar folk.

"Creak."

The sound, the door latched from inside the study was pushed open.

The broken door bolt fell to the ground, obscured amid the voice of great harmony in life.

The village head Chen felt a chill from the night wind, but reacted quickly, instantly standing up and looking toward the door.

Only to see the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang from daytime, smiling faintly, stepping inside.

"Master, you come here at this late hour..." The village head's face changed slightly, "Could it be you still want to persuade us? Impossible! This is a rule set by our ancestors, impossible to change!"

"Amitabha." Tang Luo held one hand before his chest, "Rules are meant to be changed, village head, you are obstinate."

"Even if I agreed, the villagers would not agree." The village head said, "And Master, don't rely on your slight spiritual power to think you can subdue demons and eliminate evil, act on heaven's behalf—do you think we haven't sought help before?"

The village elders had certainly resisted before, seeking help from wandering Daoists and monks.

Then those who looked impressive all sank into the Tongtian River and never returned ashore.

The village also suffered a flood impact, nearly perishing from then on.

Afterwards, the villagers extinguished any thought of resistance.

They were not possibly letting these outsiders resist the river god, losing their own lives and dragging the village down.

If you want to act on heaven's behalf, punish evil and promote good, go elsewhere.

The Tongtian River has no such place!

"So you mean there's nothing to negotiate?" Tang Luo remained calm.

The village head frowned, a little strange.

This monk behaves differently from others, ah; from childhood to adulthood, the village head has seen many righteous heroes and exceptional individuals, or those thought to be righteous but utterly incapable.

When the village clearly refused their help, they always came with a few words of nonsense, condemning the villagers as numb and unkind, self-indulgent, sacrificing children.

The hot-tempered ones would even resort to violence.

But this man before us has an overly calm face, so calm it doesn't seem like someone who would appear at midnight to advise others as they should.

"There's nothing to negotiate, Master, please return; tomorrow please ask you to leave." Facing Tang Luo's question, the village head spoke decisively and prepared to rebuke.

Don't drag our entire village down for your "righteousness"!

"Well, then this poor monk can only give you a stern warning, to make the village head take refuge in the Buddha."

Then Tang Luo stopped persuading, slapped the village head with one palm, sending him flying to the ground, and performed soul liberation on the spot.

Soon, the village head felt the summoning of profound Buddhist Dharma, weeping bitterly and expressing willingness to take refuge in the Buddha.

Assisting Master Xuanzang in subduing demons and eliminating evil, it is his inescapable duty; whoever opposes him, he will oppose in return.

The next day, the originally scheduled grand ceremony for next month was moved forward.

Amid the lively sounds of gongs and drums, Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, disguised as a boy and a girl, were sent into the Tongtian River.

After half an incense stick's time, the calm river surface began to stir with wind and waves.

"Master, this fish spirit is not the Goldfish Old Man," Zhu Bajie reported to Tang Luo.

"Not? Since it's not, why does it look so much like... wait!" Tang Luo suddenly realized a possibility, "It seems the master must go through this himself."