Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Jiang Liu, though he had transmigrated and taken over Tang Monk's body, never felt that he was Tang Monk.

After all, his soul had traveled from modern society, so naturally, he had his own understanding of the Journey to the West.

In the original work, Tang Monk had not harbored any thoughts of disobedience towards the arrangements set by Guanyin. Whether it was Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, or Sha Wujing, as long as it was stated to be arranged by Bodhisattva Guanyin, he accepted them without consideration of anything else.

But when it came to Jiang Liu, things were different.

Sun Wukong was willing to accept this because they were on the same side, Zhu Bajie and Little White Dragon were willing to accept because they hoped to be recruited to their side.

But what about Sha Wujing!?

As General Juanlian, he almost served the Great Jade Emperor personally and could be considered one of the Jade Emperor's confidants!

Furthermore, with his limited abilities and seemingly nothing that could be used to persuade him to join one's own side, naturally, Jiang Liu did not wish to keep someone who could likely be a spy by his side.

Envoy Muzha was completely at a loss regarding Jiang Liu's attitude and could only hope that General Juanlian would find a way to persuade the Scripture Seeker.

After waiting a while, General Juanlian's injuries slowly began to heal, and he gradually came to his senses.
Experience more on empire

Seeing Jiang Liu next to him and seemingly afraid that Sun Wukong would continue to act, he quickly spoke up, calling out to Jiang Liu, "Wait, Master, Master, I'm not an Evil Demon, I have been enlightened by Great Bodhisattva Guanyin..."

"General Juanlian, regarding your matter, I have already made it clear to the Scripture Seeker!" Envoy Muzha interjected as soon as General Juanlian spoke.

Hearing Envoy Muzha's words, General Juanlian felt relieved.

Since Envoy Muzha had personally come to explain, well, that was much better than relying on his own one-sided account.

However, just as General Juanlian's sigh of relief was about to be fully released, Muzha's next words stunned him.

"Master Xuanzang said that he is quite satisfied with the members for the Journey to the West for Scriptures, and there's no need for you to accompany him!" Muzha didn't beat around the bush, bluntly informing General Juanlian.

General Juanlian was taken aback and after a long time, he finally collected his wits and said anxiously, "Master, I... I've been enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin to accompany you on the Journey to the West! I can carry your pack and lead your horse!"

"Thank you for your kind offer. However, my horse needs no leading, and besides, we have no pack for you to carry!" Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu shook his head and politely declined.

Looking at the nearby White Dragon Horse and thinking back to when he was chasing after the Scripture Seeker, indeed, there didn't seem to be any luggage.

This made General Juanlian even more anxious, and he said, "I... I can also protect you along the Journey to the West, Master! I do have some Demon-Subduing and Evil-Eliminating abilities!"

"Thank you again for your kind offer, but ordinary demons are well within my own capacity. Should we encounter any that are beyond us, we have Wukong and Bajie. I believe there won't be any troubles!" yet, Jiang Liu still shook his head as he spoke.

General Juanlian's expression became even more anxious, and he thought, what value do I have that could move the Scripture Seeker?

Right! Isn't there something right before his eyes that he could use!?

With a thought, General Juanlian followed up, "Master! Where I can be of use, as with this Liusha River right before us, I can carry you across! I can save you the trouble of taking a detour. The vast Liusha River, it could save you a year and a half's time!"

General Juanlian truly thought he was being incredibly clever. Why bother with far-off concerns when right now was the exact moment to demonstrate his worth?

By accepting him as a disciple, crossing Liusha River directly would at least save a year and a half's time, surely the Scripture Seeker would be tempted by this!?

However, in response to General Juanlian's words, Jiang Liu's expression turned peculiar, and then in a low voice, he chanted a Buddhist verse, his demeanor firm and impassioned, "Amitabha, the journey ahead to the West spans one hundred and eight thousand miles! I do not shun the hardships, taking them as sweet. What counts a detour of ten thousand miles!?

Even if the route stretches another hundred thousand miles! Twenty thousand miles! I will not frown!"

"Ah, it seems that Master Xuanzang is utterly determined not to accept him, isn't he!?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, an involuntary sigh escaped Muzha as he felt somewhat helpless.

Having heard General Juanlian's argument, Muzha had secretly hoped that Juanlian had finally made a point that would make Master Xuanzang willing to accept him, yet it seemed it was still impossible to sway his determination!?

"This is strange, indeed. Why does Master Xuanzang dislike General Juanlian so deeply? It doesn't quite make sense!" In the midst of his astonishment, Muzha felt a sense of bewilderment about Jiang Liu's reaction, thinking it to be somewhat illogical.

"You... you would rather take a detour of ten thousand miles than to accept me!?" General Juanlian was also flabbergasted, staring at Jiang Liu with a dumbfounded look, finding it hard to believe.

Why did he detest him so much!? It made no sense. Could it be just because he had stirred the waters and made him fall into the river before!?

Such pettiness from a Scripture Seeker seemed a little much, didn't it?

"Alas, poor fellow..." The White Dragon Horse remained silent, knowing he had no place to speak in this situation, but he empathized with General Juanlian's current emotions.

Because the predicament he faced previously was quite similar, and even more pitiable than that of Juanlian's.

At least now there was Envoy Muzha to speak for him. Back then, he had shamelessly followed on his own.

However, even though he felt pity for General Juanlian and could empathize with his current feelings, for some reason, the White Dragon Horse felt quite pleased, experiencing a sense of balance.

At first, he had thought he was the only one rejected by the Scripture Seeker. In the beginning, the eldest and the second disciples were readily accepted by their master.

Now that even General Juanlian was being refused, no matter how eloquently he pleaded, it gave the White Dragon Horse a sense of great relief.

Leaving aside the White Dragon Horse's thoughts for the moment, after rejecting General Juanlian, Jiang Liu had no desire to say more. He simply mounted the White Dragon Horse and continued southward, showing no intention of crossing Liusha River.

"Master Xuanzang, wait, whether or not you're willing to accept General Juanlian aside, you should at least cross the Liusha River before proceeding," Envoy Muzha said anxiously as he watched Jiang Liu, who truly seemed intent on bypassing the river.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Envoy Muzha! Since I have made up my mind not to accept him, how could I shamelessly cross the Liusha River? Please, no more persuasions, Envoy Muzha! I shall step by step walk around this vast Liusha River," Jiang Liu said, not even turning his head, but his tone conveyed an unswerving determination.

"What to do now?" With Jiang Liu and his party moving further away, General Juanlian was completely dumbfounded, not understanding what to do next.

He couldn't comprehend how things had escalated to this extent.

It was bad enough that the Scripture Seeker refused to accept him, but to even detour thousands of miles just to avoid him?

This made General Juanlian even more anxious. If he truly bypassed thousands of miles, not only would he fail to atone for his sins, but it might even aggravate his crime!

"Envoy Muzha, what should we do now?" General Juanlian was so anxious he was almost in tears as he asked Muzha.

"I don't know what to do with this matter either. Please wait here. I will report back to the Bodhisattva and see what her instructions are," At this point, Muzha was at a loss and decided to report the situation.

"Sigh, I can only hope the Bodhisattva has a solution," General Juanlian sighed helplessly. He knew that this situation would likely leave a poor impression of his abilities in the heart of the Bodhisattva, but at this juncture, it seemed there was no choice but to place his hopes in her hands.

Even though he was supposed to wait by Liusha River, General Juanlian dared not lose sight of Jiang Liu, and so, as Jiang Liu and his party traveled along the riverbank, General Juanlian followed them through the waters.

After a slight shake of his head and a sigh, Envoy Muzha leaped into the air and flew back to Mount Luojia in the South Sea.

Leaving aside the events at Liusha River, at Mount Luojia, in the Purple Bamboo Forest, Bodhisattva was sitting quietly on her Lotus Platform, immersed in meditation.

Suddenly, she felt a premonition and a slight smile spread across her face.

She could sense that the trials of the Journey to the West had increased by one more, and it seemed that her plan was working perfectly.

The banishment of the Golden Cicada as the first trial, the multiple threats against his newborn self as the second, being cast into the river at one month old, the demon attack at Guanyin Zen Temple, and now the obstruction at Liusha River...

"Sigh," After tallying the trials of the Journey to the West in her heart, Bodhisattva sighed to herself.

So far, only five of the eighty-one trials had been overcome.

According to Bodhisattva's plan, by the time they reached Liusha River, they should have already faced a dozen or more trials.

It appeared she would have her work cut out for her in the future.

...

Jiang Liu sat quietly on the back of the horse, the White Dragon Horse steadily trotting southward.

"Master, that General Juanlian is still following us. Are we really going to ignore him?" Zhu Bajie looked back and saw General Juanlian persistently tailing them through the river, unable to help himself from speaking to Jiang Liu.

Once Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Bajie had a clearer view of matters concerning Immortals and Buddhas. General Juanlian may not be of great significance, but this was a trap set by the higher-ups of the divine realm.

With their master so decisively rejecting it, not only would it offend those divine leaders, but ultimately, they were unlikely to win this battle, right?

"No matter, if he likes to follow, let him follow," Jiang Liu simply shook his head in response to Zhu Bajie's concern.

Regardless of whether he would ultimately be able to hold on to his decision, Jiang Liu thought that the longer time dragged on and the further south they detoured, the better it would be for him, wouldn't it?

Shaking his head, Jiang Liu's mind was not preoccupied with General Juanlian's predicament. Instead, he silently invoked "attribute information."

A semi-transparent interface, visible only to Jiang Liu, appeared before him.

Looking over it, Jiang Liu saw several items that had dropped when he defeated General Juanlian. Their attribute information fully emerged in front of his eyes.