Chapter 444: We Too Shall Become Buddhas

"Another one with a backer! *tch*! No wonder they dare be so arrogant, even impersonating the Tathagata Buddha to swindle people… These demons on the Western Road truly have more pedigree one after another!"

After wrapping up the incident with the Yellow Eyebrow Boy at Little Thunderclap Temple, the pilgrimage party packed their gear and set off again on the westward journey.

Zhu Bajie hoisted the spiked rake, muttering resentfully as he walked, clearly displeased.

As they walked, a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and a "brilliant" idea suddenly sprang up.

He shuffled over to Xuanzang, who rode the White Dragon Horse, puffed out his belly, and shouted excitedly:

"Master! Let this old pig speak, we've toiled so far, and after finally reaching the Western Ling Shan to obtain the true sutras… we might as well not return to the Eastern Tang!"

Xuanzang and Sha Seng, who was carrying a load beside him, looked at him in astonishment.

Zhu Bajie's words grew more fervent, his saliva nearly spitting out:

"Let's follow their example! Find a place of clear mountains and pure waters, with outstanding people and spirit‑filled land, and build a huge temple! Its grandeur should outshine Ling Shan's Thunderclap Temple!"

He waved his arms, envisioning the blueprint: "Our temple shall be called… called the 'Eastern Heaven Great Thunderclap Temple'! Listen, how imposing! It sounds louder than any 'Little Thunderclap Temple' or 'Great Thunderclap Temple'!"

"Master, your venerable virtue and reputation naturally make you the Buddha of our 'Eastern Heaven Great Thunderclap Temple'! Supreme and unrivaled!"

"Brother Monkey, you have the greatest skill and the highest merit, so you should also be crowned a Buddha! The Great Sage Equal to Heaven Buddha? Hehe!"

Finally pointing at himself and Sha Seng: "Old pig and junior brother Sha… of course we can't be left out! We all become Buddhas! Together we enjoy incense, receive worship! Free and carefree, isn't that bliss?"

His eyes gleamed as if he already saw that radiant future: "The crucial point is we hold the true sutras taken from Ling Shan! Those are authentic goods certified by the Buddhist Sect!"

"Our 'Eastern Heaven Great Thunderclap Temple' is truly legitimate and properly named! Isn't it a hundred times stronger than those sneaky mortals who descend and claim mountains as their kingdom? Master, what do you think of old pig's idea?"

Xuanzang listened to his wildly imaginative, heretical "grand scheme", a deep helplessness appearing on his face. He shook his head and said gravely:

"Bajie, Bajie, if you put this kind of thinking and eloquence to work, whatever you do you can succeed."

Zhu Bajie: "........"

His excitement froze instantly; he awkwardly patted his big nose and muttered, "Master… the way you said that… old pig… I still miss the you from the time at Gao Lao Zhuang."

"Back then you wouldn't have been so…"

But before he could finish, his ear tightened and a sharp pain shot through!

"Ow! Ouch! Ouch! Monkey brother! Monkey brother, what are you doing?! Let go quickly!"

At some point Sun Wukong, who had turned back, had already grabbed his plump ear, pulling it up hard, his golden eyes flashing with danger:

"What are you doing? Old Sun heard some fool reminiscing about the 'old' master? So you think the current master is lacking, and you want him to revert to that simple monk you could fool with a few words?"

Zhu Bajie, teeth clenched in pain, begged repeatedly: "Ah! Misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! Monkey brother! Good monkey brother! Dear monkey brother! I was just speaking offhand, making a joke! Absolutely no such meaning!"

"Now the master is so wonderful, wise and mighty, discerning even the finest details! My respect for the master flows like a boundless river… Ow! Lightly, lightly! I'm wrong! I truly realize my mistake!"

Sun Wukong, seeing his sincere pleading, let out a cold snort, released his grip, and warned with a glare: "If you dare babble again, meddle with the master, beware that old Sun will make you truly reminisce the feel of the Golden Cudgel!"

Having said that, he ignored the ear‑rubbing, gritting‑tooth Zhu Bajie, turned and continued scouting ahead.

The party regained calm, chatting and laughing, gradually disappearing into the dense forest ahead until their figures vanished completely.

None of them noticed, but not far behind, on the twisted branch of a towering ancient tree, two silhouettes stood silently, watching them depart.

It was Yu Lin, and the Guanyin Bodhisattva who had arrived at an unknown time.

"Bodhisattva, you came seeking me specifically this time—what for?" Yu Lin first withdrew his gaze from the pilgrimage party, turned to the solemn Guanyin Bodhisattva beside him, holding a pure bottle and willow, and asked.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's jade face bore a faint wry smile: "Yu, my devotee… lately on this westward road, you have displayed great skill, leaving many impressed."

She paused, then stated her purpose directly: "I have come this time to ask you a favor for the Green Lion and White Elephant on Lion‑Camel Ridge."

"Although the two follow the Great Roc in occupying the Lion‑Camel Kingdom, they themselves have not truly devoured blood or killed people; more so… they are intimidated by the Roc's ferocity, or out of courtesy, they merely…"

"Just standing by, even… fueling its arrogance?" Yu Lin took over her line, his tone neutral.

Guanyin Bodhisattva gave a slight nod, tacitly agreeing.

Yu Lin shook his head, looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva, and said bluntly: "Bodhisattva, don't you know I'm an unreasonable person?"

He turned his gaze toward Lion‑Camel Ridge, his voice slightly cold: "If they were merely ordinary great demons, I would still… consider it."

"But they, as mounts of the Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra, have attained true cultivation; witnessing the Golden‑winged Roc slaughter nations and devour people, creating boundless slaughter, they not only fail to intervene but instead go along…"

"Yet they come from the Buddhist Sect; how different is this conduct from personally committing evil?"

He paused, then looked again at Guanyin Bodhisattva: "And the golden‑furred hound under your seat, in the Crimson‑Purple Kingdom, seized the Golden Saint Empress; unable to get close, it instead massacred palace maidens to vent its fury… such savage cruelty, can it not betray the true meaning of the Buddhist Sect?"

"Bodhisattva, do you think this matter… could also be 'made good'?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva was left speechless by Yu Lin's words.

There was no anger on her face, only a deeper shade of helplessness and sigh.

She remained silent for a moment, ultimately not pleading further for those culpable mounts, but clasped her hands and intoned a Buddha's name:

"Your words, my devotee, are each reasonable, so be it, so be it."

"Since they have sown the cause, they must reap the result; each shall atone for their own karma, and I will not interfere further."

As the words fell, Guanyin Bodhisattva's figure dissolved like thin mist blown by a gentle wind, vanishing among the ancient branches, leaving no trace.

Yu Lin stood alone on the branch, gazing toward the still faintly demonic direction, his eyes deep.

"My eighty‑two tribulations are not for the pilgrims..."