Chapter 134: then translation of chapter title

134. Chapter 132 Erlang Shen Yang Jian joins

While the Black Bear Spirit was cultivating, his soot‑black head appearance was also changing; the black was gradually fading, and the hair on his head was slowly turning gold‑red, somewhat resembling Sun Wukong's hair.

"This kid's fortune has arrived; by then we can't keep calling him Soot‑Head." Sun Wukong said with a smile after seeing the Black Bear Spirit's change.

"My strength has increased a bit, Tathagata, wait for me—I'll be there soon." Xuanzang looked at the Black Bear Spirit, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The next day!

The Black Bear Spirit was still cultivating; after Xuanzang and the others saw that he had nothing else to do, they went downstairs to eat.

"This should be the place." While Xuanzang and the others were eating, Yang Jian arrived at the inn where they were staying.

The Great Peng and Sun Wukong, who were eating, suddenly lifted their heads and looked outside the inn, because they sensed the aura of the Ren Sect's cultivation technique outside.

When they turned their gaze toward outside the inn, Yang Jian happened to walk in at that moment; upon entering, he immediately noticed Xuanzang and his companions.

Mainly because Sun Wukong's appearance is too striking—it's hard not to notice him—and I don't know what he's thinking; despite having the strength of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, he stubbornly retains monkey features instead of fully assuming human form.

"Ren Sect disciple Yang Jian greets Master Xuanzang, my junior uncle, my junior fellow disciple, and the Third Dragon Prince." Yang Jian came over to Xuanzang's side and clasped his hands in a salute.

"A Ren Sect disciple?" Xuanzang said, somewhat surprised after returning the salute while standing.

"Yang Jian, disciple of the Ren Sect's Jade Cauldron True Person!" Yang Jian said with a laugh.

Afterward, the Great Peng and Sun Wukong also returned the salute to Yang Jian, and Ao Mo'ang returned a salute to Yang Jian as well.

"I don't know what brings you here, friend," Xuanzang asked Yang Jian, though he had already vaguely guessed Yang Jian's purpose in his heart.

"By order of the Ren Sect's sect master, I am here to await Master Xuanzang."

"Do you also wish to go west with me?" Xuanzang asked; although his tone was inquiring, his eyes showed certainty.

"Yes!" Yang Jian nodded.

"Welcome!" Xuanzang said with a smile.

"Have you eaten? If not, let's eat together." Ao Mo'ang asked; this is how acquaintances greet each other in the human world.

"Not yet." Yang Jian shook his head, then sat beside the Great Peng; although Sun Wukong is his junior uncle, he isn't very familiar with him.

"There are actually three Ren Sect disciples in our pilgrimage team; perhaps we could ally with the Ren Sect later—if they aid me, my chances of defeating the Tathagata would greatly increase." While eating, Xuanzang calculated this in his mind.

Finally he decided to find a suitable moment to bring this up, to see how the Ren Sect would react.

After finishing the meal, Xuanzang told Yang Jian about the Black Bear Spirit, saying they would wait until the Black Bear Spirit finished cultivating before setting out again.

"No problem!" Yang Jian shook his head.

"Then that's good!"

Time flew; seven days passed. During this period, the Black Bear Spirit showed no sign of waking, yet his appearance changed dramatically: first, his somewhat bloated body became solid, giving a feeling of great explosive power.

Next, his hair turned gold‑red, the darkness on his face faded, and he became a sharp‑featured middle‑aged man.

After another three days, the Black Bear Spirit's aura began to shift; he actually advanced to the late stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal.

"It seems this bear spirit is about to awaken." The Great Peng said upon seeing this.

Sure enough, on the second day, the bear spirit emerged from his cultivation.

"Master, my strength has reached the late stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal, and I have also mastered a kind of Western Divine Ability." The Black Bear Spirit excitedly looked at Xuanzang.

"Excellent!" Xuanzang nodded.

"Since the bear spirit has finished cultivating, let's continue on our way." The Great Peng said.

"Good!" Everyone nodded.

"What is this?" The Black Bear Spirit turned his gaze toward Yang Jian.

"Yang Jian, disciple of the Ren Sect's Jade Cauldron True Person, and senior brother of the Great Peng." Sun Wukong introduced him briefly.

"Yang Jian? I've heard your name." The Black Bear Spirit said, looking at Yang Jian.

"Oh?" Yang Jian showed some curiosity.

"Erlang Shen of Guanjingkou; back when you were exterminating demons in the primordial wilderness, I had heard your name." The Black Bear Spirit said with a smile.

"Let's go, let's set out!" Xuanzang spoke up at this moment, interrupting everyone's conversation.

Not long after leaving the town, everyone arrived before the Flowing Sand River.

"There's something wrong with this river water!" The Great Peng frowned upon seeing the Flowing Sand River's water.

"In the past, a monster lurked here; he was originally the Curtain‑Lifting General of the Heavenly Court, indeed, the Curtain‑Lifting General under the previous Jade Emperor. For some unknown reason he became a monster here, and this river water is actually the Weak Water of the Heavenly River; because it was contaminated by the turbidity of the mortal realm, it became the present Flowing Sand River." Yang Jian explained to everyone.

"I see, Prince Mo'ang, can you handle this river water?" Xuanzang asked.

Although he has fallen into demonhood, his heart remains kind; all of Xuanzang's malice is directed only toward the West.

"The Weak Water of the Heavenly River is quite extraordinary; I can't deal with it, but I can seek help from my clan." Ao Mo'ang shook his head.

"No need for such trouble; I know Marshal Tianpeng, who leads the Four Holy Ones of the North Pole and commands the Heavenly River's 800,000 water troops—handling this would be easy for him." The Great Peng said at this moment.

Actually, Yang Jian also knows Marshal Tianpeng, but they are not close; back when Yang Jian was still a mortal, Tianpeng had helped his three siblings, and that was all. So when Yang Jian first arrived here, he did not go to Tianpeng to resolve the Flowing Sand River.

"Wait a moment!" After saying that, the Great Peng dashed straight toward the Heavenly Court.

Upon reaching the bank of the Heavenly River, Marshal Tianpeng was drilling his water troops.

"Greetings, Daoist Great Peng; how have you been lately?" Upon seeing Great Peng, Marshal Tianpeng rose and returned the salute.

"Seeing you, Daoist Tianpeng, I've been doing fine lately; I've come this time because I have a matter I'd like to trouble you with." Great Peng said with a smile.

"What is it? Speak freely; if I can help, I will certainly not refuse." Marshal Tianpeng patted his chest.

"We encountered a Flowing Sand River in the human realm's Ü‑Tsang border; its water is the Weak Water of this Heavenly River, and the river has severely affected the livelihood of the surrounding people, so we would like to ask you for assistance." Great Peng simply said.

"Simple; I don't need to personally handle this—my deputy can take care of it." Marshal Tianpeng said with a laugh.

Afterward he summoned his deputy and explained the Flowing Sand River situation to him.

"Go down to the mortal realm once and retrieve the Weak Water from that Flowing Sand River." Marshal Tianpeng arranged this for his deputy.

"Yes, Marshal." The deputy nodded.

"Then thank you, Daoist friend." The Great Peng said with a smile.

"Have you also joined the pilgrimage party?" Marshal Tianpeng asked.

"Exactly!"

"If you need my help on this pilgrimage, just come find me." Marshal Tianpeng said with a smile.

"Then I'll thank you in advance, Daoist; I'm leaving now."

"Take care!" Marshal Tianpeng clasped his fists.

When Dapeng returned to the Flowing Sand River, Marshal Tianpeng's deputy had just left; he had only extracted the weak water, leaving the river as it originally was, except that the weak water was gone. (End of chapter)