Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"You're an immortal!?" Zhu Bajie naturally recognized the identity of the Yellow-Robed Monster and looked at him with boundless surprise.

Clearly, he didn't look like an immortal at all, and moreover, why would a high and mighty immortal kidnap women from the mortal world and play king of the mountain for over a decade for no reason?

No matter how you think about it, it all seems quite inappropriate, doesn't it?

"An immortal? You, being an immortal, not only deserted your post but also hid here posing as a demon creature? What is the meaning of this!?" As for Sha Wujing standing beside him, he found it even harder to understand.

He used to be General Juanlian of the Heavenly Court and became a demon creature only after committing an error. Why then would he shamelessly follow this Journey to the West? Wasn't it just to be able to return to the Heavenly Court and be conferred the title of immortal or Buddha?

And yet, this chap was originally an immortal, but secretly descended to the mortal world to become a demon creature?

This was something that Sha Wujing found incomprehensible and even harder to believe.

"You, who exactly are holy! How could you possibly know my true identity!?" As Jiang Liu revealed his identity with a single comment, the Yellow-Robed Monster did not deny it; instead, he looked at Jiang Liu in astonishment.

Hiding in Wanzi Mountain, he had lived joyfully as husband and wife with Princess Baihua Xiu for more than a decade, with no one knowing his true identity. How could this Little Monk see through him at a glance?

"Me? I'm just a monk on my way to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures!" upon hearing this, Jiang Liu replied.

"A monk on his way to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures!? I don't quite understand!" The Yellow-Robed Monster shook his head, indicating his puzzlement at what Jiang Liu had said.

Although the Journey to the West was a grand scheme set by the immortals and Buddhas, it was not something that just anybody could be privy to in advance. Besides, having descended to the mortal realm, Kuimu Wolf had been hiding for more than a decade and naturally knew nothing about the journey.

"In short, poor monk is acting on the decree of the Emperor of Tang and Bodhisattva Guanyin to journey to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures, and these companions have been enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin to protect and accompany me along the way," he explained.

"You've already met the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong. This is Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Bajie, and this is General Juanlian Sha Wujing. Also, outside, the steed is Aolie, the third son of the Western Sea Dragon King..."

Jiang Liu did not intend to elaborate on the grand scheme of the Journey to the West, but simply introduced the members of his team and that was enough.

Indeed, upon hearing the lineup of this scripture-seeking group, the Yellow-Robed Monster's face showed a shocked expression.

This team was terrifying indeed; even the third son of the Western Sea Dragon King was merely their steed?

Though he didn't know what this scripture-seeking journey was all about, from the lineup alone, the Yellow-Robed Monster could naturally sense that this was an affair arranged by the big shots among the immortals and Buddhas.

"Alright, let's continue discussing the issue between you and Princess Baihua Xiu, shall we?" Looking at the shocked expression on the Yellow-Robed Monster's face, Jiang Liu proceeded to speak, bringing the topic back around.

His gaze fell on the Yellow-Robed Monster, he said, "As I said, you descended privately to the mortal realm. How long do you think you can hide? If the Jade Emperor discovers your deeds, what do you think he will do?"

Without waiting for the Yellow-Robed Monster to respond, Jiang Liu continued, "Take, for example, the matter of Erlang God Yang Jian. Isn't that a case in point? Do you think your relationship with the Jade Emperor is closer than that of Erlang God? Or do you believe your strength surpasses his?"

"This..." Jiang Liu's words weighed heavily on the Yellow-Robed Monster's heart.

Indeed, who was Erlang God? He was the Jade Emperor's nephew. But what was the outcome after his mother fell in love with a mortal? What was the result?

Though his methods were not bad, could they really compare to Erlang God's?

Though his status was not inferior, could it really compare to the closeness between Erlang God and the Great Jade Emperor?

Thinking it over, if his private descent to the mortal world were to be discovered by the Great Jade Emperor, let alone his transformation into an evil demon, kidnapping a village's maiden to rule the mountain as a demon creature, what would the Great Jade Emperor do to handle the situation?

His wife and children would surely not live!

Leaving them aside, even what punishment he himself would face was hard to tell.

Considering the consequences of his secret being exposed, the Yellow-Robed Monster was filled with terror, but then he quickly realized something. Since Jiang Liu had proactively brought up this point, clearly he was looking to help, wasn't he? After all, he had just claimed he sincerely wanted to assist.

With this thought in mind, the Yellow-Robed Monster looked earnestly at Jiang Liu and said, "Holy Monk, do you possibly have a way to save me? Save our family of three?"

"So, you want me to help you?" Upon hearing the words of the Yellow-Robed Monster, Jiang Liu felt a stir in his heart and fixed his gaze on him, asking.

"Yes! I implore you, Holy Monk, please help me!" The Yellow-Robed Monster nodded and stared at Jiang Liu earnestly.

Although Jiang Liu seemed to be just a very young Little Monk, given the protection he had from the likes of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the fact that he could see through the Yellow-Robed Monster's identity at a glance, the Yellow-Robed Monster dared not regard him as an ordinary Little Monk.

Hint: Triggered quest 'True Love'. Quest requirements: successfully help the Yellow-Robed Monster and his family survive their ordeal, ensuring they remain completely safe and alive. Quest success will result in a reward of 600,000 Experience Points along with a Legendary Level Treasure Chest*1. If the quest fails, deduct 600,000 Experience Points. Accept/Decline?

As the Yellow-Robed Monster pleaded for help, almost at the same time, the system's prompt sounded in Jiang Liu's mind.

The reward of a full 600,000 Experience Points made Jiang Liu's eyes light up considerably. Indeed, as expected, after all his earnest persuasion, a passive quest had indeed been triggered.

Furthermore, the rewards for this mission were quite substantial.

"Good! We have quite a fate with the Wolf-Chasing Boy. Since that is the case, I am naturally willing to help you!" After hearing the explanation from the Yellow-Robed Monster, Jiang Liu nodded and replied.

Of course, he had also accepted the passive quest.

"Then, how shall we proceed?" The Yellow-Robed Monster immediately asked Jiang Liu upon hearing his willing response.

"There's no need to do anything in particular. The main thing is to 'deceive the heavens and cross the sea'!" Shaking his head, Jiang Liu already had a rough plan in mind.

However, regarding this plan, although Jiang Liu wanted to share it with the Yellow-Robed Monster, with Sha Wujing beside them, this man might very well be a spy, so Jiang Liu didn't intend to reveal too much.

"The specifics will be discussed after we've made a trip to the Royal City!" Having accepted the task from the Yellow-Robed Monster, Jiang Liu said shortly afterward.

"Alright then, if that's the case, I'll leave it all to the Holy Monk!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the Yellow-Robed Monster had no objections and nodded in agreement.

There was no other way; the Yellow-Robed Monster was not someone who trusted others easily, but at this point, he had no other choice.

His weakness was in Jiang Liu's hands. If Jiang Liu really wanted to deal with him, he only needed to complain before the Jade Emperor and reveal everything about him, and he would be doomed.

Therefore, with no other options, the Yellow-Robed Monster at this moment had to choose to trust Jiang Liu and his companions.

In any case, after a verbal agreement was more or less in place, Jiang Liu and the others did not discuss this matter any further, and they continued to enjoy the feast.

In the end, after a feast where both host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves, Jiang Liu and his companions finally left Wanzi Mountain to return to the Royal City of Treasure Elephant Country.

"Master, what exactly is your plan? If the Jade Emperor finds out about this, he definitely won't tolerate it!"

As Marshal Tianpeng had a better understanding of the heavenly laws, Zhu Bajie, walking beside Jiang Liu, asked curiously.
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However, Jiang Liu's eyes swept past Sha Wujing without a trace and gave no explanation to Zhu Bajie, casually shaking his head and saying, "As for the specifics, let's first make a trip to the Imperial Palace before discussing it."

Zhu Bajie did not press for answers upon being brushed off by Jiang Liu—his question was merely asked out of rare curiosity, but in reality, he was not particularly concerned.

After all, what truly interested Zhu Bajie were probably nothing more than women and fine food.

Without further ado, Jiang Liu and his companions did not rush on their journey; instead, they leisurely made their way back. A journey of over a hundred miles took them three whole days before they finally returned to the Royal City of Treasure Elephant Country.

Upon entering the Royal City once again, Jiang Liu's purpose was clear this time. He went straight to the Imperial List and removed the proclamation that the King of Treasure Elephant Country had been posting for over a decade.

"Wow, someone has taken down the Imperial List!" Jiang Liu's removal of the proclamation immediately caused an uproar in the Royal City.

The news, like a stone thrown into tranquil water, created ripples that spread far and wide.

When Princess Baihua Xiu was first abductered years ago, the King posted the Imperial List, and naturally, many extraordinary figures scrambled to claim it, each hoping to be the first. However, those who took the challenge never returned, one after the other.

This made many people horrified; naturally, it gradually dissuaded others from daring to take the proclamation down.

Counting the days, it seemed that for the past few years no one had taken the challenge, right? Who would have thought that someone would dare do it today?

Following the removal of the proclamation by Jiang Liu and his companions, naturally, guards from the Royal Palace soon arrived. After scrutinizing Jiang Liu and the others, and despite finding Jiang Liu to be just a greenhorn Little Monk, not quite trustworthy, they couldn't make the decision since the proclamation had been taken down.

Therefore, the guards politely invited Jiang Liu and his companions into the Royal Palace.

Elsewhere, back on Wanzi Mountain, Princess Baihua Xiu sat alone in front of her vanity table, staring at the bronze mirror in front of her as tears welled up in her heart.

Today, Jiang Liu's words had once again stirred the homesickness in her heart. Over a decade had passed, and she wondered how her father the King and her mother the Queen were doing.

"My lady…" The Yellow-Robed Monster approached and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, whispering lowly.

"To think that after being husband and wife for over a decade, you've been keeping this from me all along—you are actually an immortal from heaven!"

Turning her hand over to grasp the Yellow-Robed Monster's broad palm, Princess Baihua Xiu turned around, her eyes filled with surprise, and said to him.