Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Stopping and walking, more than half a month had passed, and during these days, Jiang Liu naturally focused on cultivation.

Relatively speaking, Sha Wujing on the road was silent, obviously sensing Jiang Liu's dislike for him.

However, Sha Wujing didn't care much about this; what he sought was simply to do his job well, and then, upon reaching the Western Heaven, to be peacefully conferred his title—nothing more.

Since the Scripture Seeker was quite averse to him, he decided to speak less and just quietly tag along with him to the Western Heaven; there was no need to seek his favor.

"Hey, Master..."

Jiang Liu sat cross-legged on the White Dragon Horse, cultivating, when suddenly Sun Wukong, who was flying mid-air and scouting ahead, descended from the sky.

"Wukong, what's the matter?" Jiang Liu asked, opening his eyes.

"Master, I, Old Sun, saw a mountain village ahead, about a hundred and eighty households by the looks of it!" Sun Wukong responded.

"Is that so? Then tonight, we'll find a household to stay overnight!" Upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, Jiang Liu's eyes lit up.

Perhaps due to being half a chef before his journey, Jiang Liu took great interest in cooking, and even with the tight schedule of the journey to the West, he always made time each day to cook properly.

Jiang Liu believed in the principle of "food, clothing, shelter, and transportation," with food being the most important. This might be where he indulged himself the most on the journey to the West.

Even though the food was quite good throughout the journey to the West, the lodging conditions were rather poor; often, they had to sleep outdoors, which naturally wasn't a pleasant experience.

Now hearing about a small mountain village ahead, and seeing that it was already getting late, it naturally seemed a good idea to find a household to stay the night.

As they wished to stay overnight in this small mountain village, they covered the distance of about ten miles in just one Chinese Hour.

But upon arriving at the village, Jiang Liu's expression slightly changed.

"Master, this village is so quiet!" Sun Wukong, who also sensed something, remarked.

During this conversation, there was no need for Jiang Liu to ask what had happened, for Sun Wukong had already scanned the village with his golden light and immediately shook his head.

"Master, there's not a single living person in this small mountain village, only some animals like chickens, ducks, dogs, and cattle!" After taking a look, Sun Wukong shook his head and said.

"Only animals left, with no humans in sight?" Hearing Sun Wukong's words, Jiang Liu slightly furrowed his brows, reminded of the old man from the task in Wu City.

The old man's village had also been almost entirely wiped out, with only the old man surviving by falling into a well.

The old man's village had been completely devoured by the Blood Tiger King and his followers; could this small village have also encountered a demon attack? Why then were the other animals spared?

"Disciples, what do you think?" Jiang Liu didn't rush to speak, pondering for a moment before asking a few disciples beside him.

"No need to say, it's highly likely a demon attack, devouring all the villagers!" Sun Wukong was the first to express his opinion.

"And moreover, a demon that only prefers to eat humans!" Following Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie also spoke up, offering his view.

"Hmm, it seems it is a ferociously evil demon indeed!" Hearing the words of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, Jiang Liu nodded slightly, his expression becoming somewhat grave.

Jiang Liu's heart naturally filled with murderous intent towards such man-eating demons.

Although Jiang Liu always believed that even demons must be of a good nature, he had to admit that through his travels thus far, he had encountered countless demons, but the only one who could truly be called good-natured was perhaps only Master Lingxu whom he had met earlier.

The probability was indeed too low.

Moreover, with demons typically man-eating, it's no wonder even back in Jinshan Temple, Senior Brother Xuankong upheld the belief that humans and demons cannot coexist.

Putting aside the entire village's population possibly being consumed by demons, what Jiang Liu thought in his heart remained unsaid, while Sha Wujing, next to him, bowed his head in silence.

When the master had just asked his disciples for their views, Sha Wujing did not speak up, and Jiang Liu did not pursue the matter further, showing a kind of tacit understanding between master and disciple.

"Master, let's find out what's really happening; I, Old Sun, will ask around!" Already adept at this, Sun Wukong clearly knew what to do.

As he spoke, he stamped his foot on the ground and called out, "Where is the Local Deity!?" Continue your journey on empire

Following Sun Wukong's words, the ground cracked open, and the Local Deity emerged, bowing to Jiang Liu and his companions.

"Local Deity, I, Old Sun, must ask you, what's the situation with this village? What exactly happened?" After the Local Deity had bowed to everyone, Sun Wukong asked.

"Great Saint, as for this village's situation, I... I don't know either!" Hearing Sun Wukong's question, the Local Deity's face showed a hint of panic as he shook his head and replied.

"What did you say? I think you're in league with the demon! This area is under your jurisdiction, and you don't know? I think you are asking for a beating!" Hearing the Local Deity's words, Sun Wukong glared, speaking irritably.

"Exactly, exactly, you, Local Deity, your words are indeed strange. Something happened here, and you, being the Local Deity, don't know?"

As Sun Wukong finished speaking, Zhu Bajie beside him nodded in agreement and said discontentedly, "Unless the immortals from the heavens disqualify you, as the local deity, you should be able to clear up anything you want to know by using your position, right?"

"Marshal Tianpeng, minor deity, I really don't know!" Hearing Marshal Tianpeng support him, the Local Deity looked wronged and spoke urgently.

"Hmph, did you hear that? As the local deity, with your position, you should know about everything that happens in your jurisdiction if you choose to, you're just trying to deceive I, Old Sun, aren't you? Spit it out now!" Directly pulling out his Jingu Bang from his ear, Sun Wukong's temperament remained as impulsive as ever.

Seeing Sun Wukong pull out his Jingu Bang, the Local Deity turned even paler with fright.

"Wait!" However, Jiang Liu suddenly interrupted Sun Wukong.

"Master, I think he's just asking for a beating, daring to deceive us. People like him, a beating will make him understand!" Sun Wukong, annoyed at being interrupted by Jiang Liu, spoke.

"Alright, Wukong, stop!" Watching Sun Wukong's impulsive nature, Jiang Liu silently shook his head, not elaborating much.

Although Zhu Bajie seemed to speak without intention, his words informed him that the Local Deity had no authority to investigate the immortals from above!

Seeing that the Local Deity did not appear to be deceiving them, could it be that the deed was done by the immortals coming down from heaven?

Though Sun Wukong wasn't foolish, he lacked attention to detail and was too impulsive.

Zhu Bajie? Although lazy, he had once been Marshal Tianpeng, familiar with these administrative matters, and thus he pointed out precisely why the Local Deity couldn't find out.

"Amitabha, Local Deity, I would like to inquire if there are any powerful demon creatures nearby!" After thinking, Jiang Liu asked the Local Deity.

"Holy Monk, I do know about that, about thirty li to the northwest from here, there's a Wet Bone Forest with a Corpse Demon, who has already reached the Demon King Realm!" Hearing Jiang Liu's inquiry, the Local Deity hurriedly responded.

"Wet Bone Forest!?"

Hearing the Local Deity's words, a twitch appeared at the corners of Jiang Liu's mouth as he muttered, "What's next, Dragon Earth Cave and Miaomu Mountain!?"

"Ah!? Dragon Earth Cave? Miaomu Mountain? What places are those!?" Stunned by Jiang Liu's words, the Local Deity looked at him with a clueless expression.

"Never mind, just saying!" Waving his hand, Jiang Liu replied.

"Thank you, Local Deity, you may leave now!" Having asked what needed to be asked, Jiang Liu then spoke to the Local Deity.

"The Holy Monk is too kind!" Hearing what Jiang Liu said, the Local Deity then burrowed back into the ground and disappeared.

"Master, are we going to the Wet Bone Forest? Are all the people in this village eaten by the demons from the Wet Bone Forest!?" After asking about the Wet Bone Forest and sending the Local Deity away, Sun Wukong curiously asked.

"Whether it is or isn't, won't we know if we go and see?" Reacting to Sun Wukong's words, Jiang Liu didn't elaborate much.

In fact, what Zhu Bajie said seemed offhanded, but Jiang Liu understood that he might have been deliberately reminding him since he portrayed himself as Holmes Xuanzang in front of Bajie.

Thus, it's very likely that the intervention might be from the immortals and Buddhas above, which is why the Local Deity could not see it.

So, if it was an intervention by the immortals and Buddhas, what would be the purpose?

Recalling the original text, after recruiting Sha Wujing, what should have followed was the plot of the Four Saints Testing the Heart of Chan, but now a change had occurred!?

Or was it that the issue of the Wet Bone Forest was not considered problematic in the original text!?

If there were demons blatantly eating people, how could such an incident be ignored in the original text, with no descriptions whatsoever!?

Thus, regarding the affairs of the Wet Bone Forest, Jiang Liu wasn't very sure, but he understood that if it truly was the meddling of the immortals and Buddhas from heaven, making things difficult for him, the Wet Bone Forest's Demon King would undoubtedly be aware.

After all, immortals have their Immortal Path, and demons have their Demon Path!

"Because of my interference, the 81 trials as compared to the original text are less, so is Guanyin arranging a whole new calamity unlike the original?!"

Sitting on the back of the White Dragon Horse and heading directly for the Wet Bone Forest, Jiang Liu's thoughts gradually became clearer as he contemplated the implications behind this incident.

With this thought, the corners of Jiang Liu's mouth slightly rose.

In the original text, demons without background were killed, and those with backgrounds were taken away by powerful figures!

If Guanyin truly had invited some immortals or Buddhas from heaven to make trouble for him, this time, he wouldn't give them the chance to be taken away by powerful figures. He would kill them first!

Then, let's see how Guanyin would explain herself, thereby avenging Gaoyang's injury.

As for whether Guanyin would blame him, what right did she have to do so!? Was she going to admit that she had deliberately arranged these calamities to obstruct him!? If so, wouldn't that be blatantly telling him that his Journey to the West was a trap, and everything was orchestrated by them?

Quest alert: "Vengeance Is Not Overnight" activated. Quest requirements: Successfully exterminate the troublemaking immortals and Buddhas in the Wet Bone Forest, rewards: 200000 Experience Points, 1 Legendary Level Treasure Chest.