Chapter 445: What Does

"Damn you, monkey! We've fought fifty rounds without a clear winner, so now behold my true treasure!"

Outside the Crimson-Purple Kingdom's city, a demonic wind raged.

There, the Sai Taishui transformed from a golden-maned hound wore a snarling grin, cradling a purple‑gold bell that emitted a faint treasure light.

He gave it a forceful shake—

First shake, a sky‑filled blaze of red fire erupted! This fire was no ordinary flame; it burned fiercely and domineeringly, igniting on contact, scorching anything it touched, making the air crackle and warp.

Second shake, a surge of rolling azure smoke billowed! The smoke was bizarre and uncanny, bearing a corrupting force that confused the mind and muddled the senses; inhaled, it made one dizzy, disoriented, unable to tell friend from foe.

Third shake, a whirlwind of yellow sand rose to fill the sky! Each grain was as heavy as iron, carried by the demonic wind like countless tiny flying knives, striking head‑on, cutting through metal and stone with terrifying force.

Red fire, azure smoke, and yellow sand intertwined, blotting out sky and sun, instantly enveloping the army from the Crimson-Purple Kingdom that had come to aid.

The soldiers were scorched by fire, choked by smoke, battered by sand and stone until their heads bled, and the azure smoke clouded their minds; they fell into chaos, wailing for their parents, and broke into a rout.

Even Sun Wukong, whose powers are vast, found himself crippled amid the triple onslaught of red fire, azure smoke, and yellow sand; his fiery eyes wept from the smoke, the Golden Cudgel felt heavy and sluggish, and the sand struck him with a clanging, agonizing pain.

He knew the purple‑gold bell was formidable; his earlier attempt to steal it had failed, and confronting it head‑on now was a clear disadvantage.

"Damn it!" Sun Wukong muttered, refusing to stay in the fight; spotting a gap, he hurriedly summoned his Somersault Cloud, whooshing out of the terrifying barrage and landing on a distant cloud.

He stared at the Sai Taishui ahead, wavering amid wind, fire, smoke, and sand, proudly shaking the purple‑gold bell; anxiety made him claw at his ears and scratch his cheek, both angry and regretful:

"Had I known this bell was so powerful, I should have stolen it at any cost last time! Now look, this brute relies on that treasure—so troublesome!"

Seeing the army below in rout and finding himself unable to close in, Sun Wukong entertained retreat, thinking: "Fine, I'll pull back for today, return to the city to discuss with master and junior brother, then look for a better chance; I must steal that damn bell!"

"Without the treasure, see how this monster will still be arrogant!"

【7】 He made up his mind, turned, and prepared to ride his cloud back to the Crimson-Purple Kingdom.

He made up his mind, turned around and was about to ride the clouds back to the Tsukushi State capital.

But as soon as he turned, his gaze swept toward the city gate and he was instantly terrified, his soul soaring out of his body!

He saw the once‑sealed city gate had somehow opened a crack, and his master—Xuan Zang, clad in a brocaded kasaya and wielding a Nine‑Ring Tin Staff, was slowly walking out of the city!

"Master!!!" Sun Wukong shouted, voice lost.

"What are you doing out there?! Risking your life?! Return quickly!!!"

If they had just met, the monk running out to die might have made Sun Wukong clap in delight, glad he no longer had to bear that burden on the pilgrimage.

But now it was different; after countless trials, the master‑disciple bond was deep, and he truly regarded Xuan Zang as a master to protect—how could he watch him walk into danger with eyes wide open?

Sun Wukong, burning with urgency, ignored everything else and leapt with a somersault toward Xuan Zang, aiming to shield him and pull him back into the city.

At the same time, the Sai Taishui, pleased with having driven Sun Wukong back, suddenly noticed Xuan Zang appearing at the gate and the panicked Sun Wukong charging forward. He was first stunned, then overjoyed!

"What a chance! Truly heaven aids me! This Tang Seng has walked right to the door, perfect for dealing with that monkey head as well!"

A flash of fierce light sparked in Sai Taishui's eyes; without hesitation, he aimed the purple‑gold bell at Xuan Zang and Sun Wukong, exerted all his strength, and shook it madly!

"Ding—ding—ding—!!!"

The bell's shrill, piercing clang rang out! In an instant, the towering red fire, mind‑confusing azure smoke, and stone‑splitting yellow sand that had filled the battlefield seemed to receive an unseen command, all turning together like three Frenzy dragons, surging en masse toward the isolated Xuan Zang and the charging Sun Wukong!

"Not good!" Sun Wukong exclaimed, his heart racing. He knew how deadly the fire, toxic smoke, and flying sand were; even he had to dodge their edge—how could his mortal master possibly withstand them?

Yet, at the moment he prepared to shield his master, a hand lightly patted his shoulder.

Sun Wukong turned in astonishment, seeing Xuan Zang had somehow halted, turning his head to look at him.

"Wukong," Xuan Zang's voice reached his ears, unhurried:

"In the past, you were the one protecting your master, subduing demons and monsters, risking life and death."

"Today... the roles reverse; I shall protect you."

"Huh?" Sun Wukong was completely bewildered, his golden eyes widening to circles, almost doubting his own hearing.

Master... protect me? A mere mortal monk, unable to lift a chicken, afraid to step on ants—how could he protect the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? What a fairy tale!

Has his master gone mad?

Or have the gods and Buddhas meddled again?!

Before he could process the absurd meaning, Xuan Zang stepped forward, positioning himself directly between him and the oncoming torrent of red fire, azure smoke, and yellow sand!

The devastating triple assault was now within arm's reach!

Scorching heat seared his face, toxic smoke stung his nose, and flying sand pelted him with painful sting!

Sun Wukong could even picture the next instant: his master reduced to charred ash, toxic smoke gnawing his bones, sand piercing his body.

"Master!!!" he roared hoarsely, ready to charge forward heedlessly.

At that hair‑trigger moment—

A deep, solemn chant of sutras rose from Xuan Zang's mouth.

The sound was not loud, yet it overpowered the purple‑gold bell's shriek and the roar of wind and fire.

Immediately, a gentle golden Buddha Light burst from Xuan Zang, forming an invisible shield that centered on him and rapidly expanded outward!

The red fire, capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, struck the Buddha Light, like ice meeting sun, emitting a sizzle that quickly waned and extinguished!

The mind‑confusing azure smoke touched the Buddha Light, like grime being cleansed, vanishing instantly and restoring clarity!

The stone‑splitting yellow sand struck the Buddha Light barrier, producing a dense rain‑on‑banana‑leaf sound, yet it could no longer advance, falling weakly to the ground!

Moreover, as Xuan Zang's chanting grew louder, the Buddha Light radiating from him intensified and expanded!

The golden light not only blocked the assault but also pushed back, like an invisible giant palm, gradually driving the remaining red fire, azure smoke, and yellow sand toward the direction where Sai Taishui stood.

"This... how is this possible?!"

The Sai Taishui's smug expression froze, turning into boundless terror and disbelief.

He frantically shook the purple‑gold bell, trying to summon more power, but found its magical strength, before the pure, vast Buddha Light, was suppressed like a stream meeting the sea, even beginning to backfire on itself!

Sun Wukong watched beside him, mouth agape, his shock and exhilaration nearly overflowing!

He didn't understand when his master had gained such divine power, but at this moment any help was certainly welcome!!

"Good master!!"

Sun Wukong couldn't help but shout in triumph, then a fierce glint flashed in his eyes; now was the perfect moment to strike the drowning dog!

"Hmph! Now you know you have to run? Too late!"

Sun Wukong let out a long howl, his form turning into a golden flash of lightning. Seizing the perfect chance while Competing Tai Sui was being repelled by Buddha Light, his mind in chaos and his artifact disabled, he brandished the Golden Cudgel, moving faster than the eye could catch, and lunged at Competing Tai Sui!

Competing Tai Sui was fully resisting the Buddha Light that pushed back and the backlash of his own artifact; how could he possibly evade Sun Wukong's long‑awaited full‑force strike?

Seeing the Golden Cudgel, as thick as a bowl's mouth and flashing with cold light, rapidly enlarge before his eyes, he was terrified to the core, instinctively shrieking sharply, trying to pull out a last straw of salvation:

"Stop! You can't kill me! My master is Gu—"

The name hadn't even been spoken!

Bang—!!!

A sound of extreme dullness, a massive crash!

The Golden Cudgel solidly struck the head of Competing Tai Sui!

That seemingly hard Monster King skull, under the full‑force blow of the Sea‑Calming Needle, burst open like a watermelon struck by a heavy hammer! Red and white mingled with shattered Bone and Scale, scattering everywhere!

Competing Tai Sui's headless demonic body wavered, fell down softly, and the Purple Gold Bell in his hand clanged to the ground, its light extinguished, finally turning into a Purple Swallow that flew toward the distance.

Where did it go?

In the distance, above the clouds, the hidden form of Guanyin Bodhisattva took in the whole scene.

She watched Competing Tai Sui perish, put away the Purple Gold Bell, lowered her eyelids, and whispered:

"... Sin, sin, the cycle of cause and effect, retribution unsatisfied, go now to reincarnation..."

"You, benefactor, truly have good methods, sigh............"

A light sigh drifted away with the wind.