Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

The King of Women's Kingdom, her eyes ablaze with light, looked at Jiang Liu in surprise.

What had he just said? Had he, in fact, developed feelings for her as well?

For anyone, the happiest thing in the world might be to know that the person they like also has feelings for them, regardless of gender, wouldn't it?

"Imperial Brother, is it really true? I, I'm so happy..."

Looking at Jiang Liu, the King of Women's Kingdom said excitedly, unable to contain her emotions, she even opened her arms and tightly hugged Jiang Liu's waist.

This seemed to be the first time a woman other than Gaoyang had embraced him. Jiang Liu's body stiffened slightly; then, he relaxed and sighed silently in his heart.

"Your Majesty, humans are not plants; who can be without emotions? Your Majesty's feelings for me have also moved me. However, my heart already belongs to Gaoyang..."

Even though these words felt cruel, after thinking it over, Jiang Liu believed that it was best to clarify issues of the heart decisively.
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"Are you, are you still rejecting me? Didn't you say that you had feelings for me as well? Why..." Hearing this, the King of Women's Kingdom, initially wearing a joyous expression, suddenly looked up at Jiang Liu, unable to comprehend.

If Jiang Liu did not like her and thus rejected her, she would have accepted it; but he had just admitted to having feelings for her, yet still rejected her? This confused the King of Women's Kingdom.

Based on her understanding of Great Tang customs, in Great Tang, if a man truly loved a woman, it was quite normal for him to have three wives and four concubines, wasn't it?

"Sigh..." Hearing the words of the King of Women's Kingdom, Jiang Liu let out a long sigh.

Jiang Liu lowered his head, his gaze fixed directly on the King of Women's Kingdom, and said, "As I said, humans are not plants; who can be without feelings? Your Majesty's deep affection would move anyone, but feeling moved does not mean I must accept Your Majesty!"

"Not to say that Your Majesty, who is of such unparalleled beauty, but even a slightly pretty woman, it's absolutely impossible for a man to have no thoughts in his heart, just like seeing a beautiful girl on the street, a man would look a few more times, and similarly, should there be a handsome man, a girl would also look a few more times; this is normal human behavior!"

"However, when faced with beauty, not all men act upon it, firstly, some might think about it but lack the ability to act..."

"And the second?" The King of Women's Kingdom directly met Jiang Liu's gaze and asked.

As a monk, being able to speak these words, the King of Women's Kingdom felt that Jiang Liu was indeed speaking sincerely from his heart.

"The second is that despite being tempted, it is possible to control oneself!"

"When faced with beauty, all men will be tempted, but are there those who, despite being tempted, can still control themselves?" the King of Women's Kingdom murmured softly, repeating the phrase to herself.

"Matters of the heart place a premium on commitment. Your Majesty's deep feelings for me are inspired by my commitment to Gaoyang. If I could easily place my affections on someone else, wouldn't that be the greatest betrayal of Your Majesty's feelings?" Seeing that the King of Women's Kingdom seemed to understand his thoughts, Jiang Liu internally sighed and spoke.

"Imperial Brother, I now understand your intentions," the King of Women's Kingdom replied, her head slightly lowered.

"Imperial Brother, your words are just, and you have indeed not betrayed my feelings, nor have you mistaken my intentions, only..."

At this point, the King of Women's Kingdom abruptly looked up, her eyes brilliantly shining, yet as firm as iron: "Since you, Imperial Brother, will not betray me, naturally, I will not betray you either!"

"Your love for Princess Gaoyang is cherished for its commitment; my love for you, Imperial Brother, naturally is also cherished for its commitment. Whether you wish to or are unable to accept me, it doesn't matter, I respect your choice!"

"But, for this lifetime, my affection will dwell solely upon you. I will wait for you, wait for a lifetime, wait for three lifetimes, wait forever and ever! Regardless, regardless of whether you ever look back..."

"Your Majesty! You..." Hearing the King of Women's Kingdom's words, Jiang Liu was greatly shaken and looked at her in disbelief.

Though he had felt her deep affection for him, Jiang Liu had not expected her feelings to have reached such an extent.

Regardless of whether he accepted her, regardless of whether he ever looked back, she was willing to wait for him?

Staring at the King of Women's Kingdom, and seeing her beauty that could overthrow cities and states, yet with eyes as firm as iron, Jiang Liu sighed deeply after a long while, "Your Majesty, why do this to yourself?"

"Imperial Brother, you are devoted to Princess Gaoyang, and by being loyal to her, you are not betraying me. Similarly, if I were to give up my feelings for you, wouldn't that be betraying you?"

"If you do not betray me, how can I betray you?"

...

"Sigh..." In the Eastern Hall, Jiang Liu sat quietly, sighing deeply.

It must be said, after spending time alone with the King of Women's Kingdom in the Imperial Garden today, Jiang Liu could feel her sincere and ardent affection towards him, an affection that was deeply moving.

Thinking of the King of Women's Kingdom's radiant beauty and genuine feelings, as Jiang Liu had confessed earlier, who could remain indifferent? He was indeed moved, though most of this was from being touched!

Yet, for her deep affection, both publicly and privately, he could not accept it!

In public terms, he was on a Journey to the West and could not possibly stay behind, caught as he was in the grand scheme of things, unable to stop simply because he wished to.

If he really accepted the King of Women's Kingdom's confession and stayed in the Women's Kingdom, giving up the quest for the scriptures, would the Buddha Bodhisattva from the Western Heaven let him off? Princess Gaoyang was a precedent.

Thus, staying would only harm her.

On a personal level, although he was moved, his heart was filled only with Gaoyang. In matters of the heart, if you are faithful to me, I will be faithful to you; this was a fundamental principle in Jiang Liu's heart.

Perhaps for this era, it was normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines, but the concept of monogamy from his previous life was more deeply rooted.

Yet, although reason told Jiang Liu that his actions were not wrong, after returning to the Eastern Hall, he found himself utterly unable to calm his mind.

Meditate to cultivate the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture? He couldn't calm his mind. Go down to a dungeon to fight monsters and level up? He felt no inclination whatsoever.

Therefore, after coming back from the Imperial Garden, all Jiang Liu did was heave long sighs.

In his mind, flashes of the King of Women's Kingdom's every frown and smile, every word and deed, especially that wordless book that the King of Women's Kingdom had personally compiled, every stroke and line of which deeply conveyed her affection for him…

"Alas, perhaps that's just the way love is? Having convictions inevitably leads to regrets!" His mind filled with thoughts of the King of Women's Kingdom, Jiang Liu eventually sighed deeply and shook his head.

"Monkey Brother, what's wrong with Master? Why has he seemed like a lost soul ever since coming back from the Imperial Garden?" Sha Wujing, observing Jiang Liu who had been sitting there for a long time doing nothing but sighing, asked Sun Wukong, perplexed.

"That, I, Old Sun, don't know!" Hearing Sha Wujing's question, Sun Wukong, who touched his already swollen belly, shook his head and said.

"Alas, Monkey Brother, although you've been with Master the longest, it's actually I, Old Pig, who understands Master best!" Just then, Zhu Bajie spoke up, addressing Sun Wukong.

"Oh? Fool, you know why Master is like this!?" Surprised, Sun Wukong looked at him.

"Right, Second Brother, what exactly is wrong with Master? I, I feel quite uneasy about it!" Sha Wujing also nodded intently, peering at Zhu Bajie as he asked.

"Hehehe, if I'm not mistaken, Master seems to be trapped by love! I, Old Pig, have experience in this matter!" Zhu Bajie chuckled, speaking up.

The matter that neither his brother nor his fellow disciples could discern, only he could perceive, and Zhu Bajie felt a bit of self-satisfaction about this.

"Trapped by love!?" Zhu Bajie's words made both Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing look at Jiang Liu in astonishment.

Master, trapped by love? That seemed like something that had never happened before.

However, seeing Master's demeanor today, which also seemed unprecedented, assuming he was trapped by love didn't seem entirely unreasonable.

"So, since you, Second Brother, have plenty of experience, why don't you quickly go and give Master some guidance?" Feeling that Zhu Bajie's words made sense, Sha Wujing hurriedly said to Zhu Bajie.

"Yes, don't worry, leave it to I, Old Pig!" Hearing Sha Wujing's words, Zhu Bajie readily nodded and agreed.

Although Master's methods in wooing women were unparalleled, I, Old Pig, hadn't even grasped the basics of his skill, but also because of this, Master had never experienced being rejected by another woman before, right? Never experienced the agony of being unable to win the heart of a woman he pursued, right?

This, I, Old Pig, have long been experienced in. Offering him guidance is definitely no problem!

"Master, did you go to the Imperial Garden and see Her Majesty the Queen!?" Coming up beside Jiang Liu, Zhu Bajie opened his mouth and asked.

"Indeed, I did see her!" Jiang Liu glanced at Zhu Bajie and nodded.

"Then, is Her Majesty the Queen so beautiful that, Master, you too were moved by her!?" Zhu Bajie followed up and asked.

"Indeed, she is breathtaking!" Jiang Liu answered and after hesitating for a moment, he nodded again, "Indeed, I was moved!"

"Just as I thought, I, Old Pig, am smart!" Hearing Jiang Liu's response, Zhu Bajie silently gave himself a pat on the back.

"Master, matters of the heart are really profound, and Bajie can completely understand your current feelings, being moved yet unable to pursue the person, it's quite unbearable, isn't it?"