Capítulo 1265: Chapter 1263: Arrival at the Great Thunder Monastery
“Beep beep beep…”
Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong had already rejoined the team on their Journey to the West for Scriptures. The group continued heading towards the Western Heaven, moving at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. Just then, a message sounded in Jiang Liu’s mind.
Jiang Liu opened his friend list to see the icon of the Golden Hair Lion bouncing.
“Merit Buddha, the repercussions of you killing the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha are significant over here at the Great Thunder Monastery. The Tathagata, under pressure, has decided to have you come to the Great Thunder Monastery to prove your innocence!” This was the message sent by Golden Hair Lion.
“They want me to go to the Great Thunder Monastery to prove my innocence? Hmm, things aren’t so bad! Considering I’m now a core member of the Journey to the West for Scriptures party, and my current abilities give me some level of self-preservation, even if the Tathagata and the others wouldn’t let me perish, right?”
Looking at the message from Golden Hair Lion, Jiang Liu’s lips curled into a slight smile.
“Okay, I’ve got it!” Jiang Liu casually sent a message back to Golden Hair Lion.
Just after sending the message, Jiang Liu hesitated for a moment, then followed up with another question: “Has the incident of me killing the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha added another calamity this time?”
“I checked the Calamity Book, and no, it hasn’t added any,” Golden Hair Lion replied.
“Hmm, this time, I didn’t encounter any difficulties, but rather set a trap to take down the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha. So, it doesn’t count as a calamity?” Jiang Liu mused silently to himself after seeing Golden Hair Lion’s reply.
Thinking about it this way, it seemed reasonable that the Calamity Book hadn’t added any new entries.
“Wukong, get ready. Before long, we’ll have to make a trip to the Great Thunder Monastery!” After closing the conversation with Golden Hair Lion, Jiang Liu promptly said to Sun Wukong.
“Oh? Going to the Great Thunder Monastery? Is it because of the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha being killed by you?” Hearing Jiang Liu’s words, Sun Wukong could easily infer why they were heading to the Great Thunder Monastery at this crucial time.
“Yes, when the time comes, members of the Buddhist Sect will summon us. Don’t worry, when the soldiers come, we’ll use generals to block; when the water comes, we’ll use earth to cover,” Jiang Liu nodded, not showing any signs of worry.
Right now, as someone with the destiny of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, this identity serves as a protective talisman for him.
Until the journey is completed, Jiang Liu is certain that his life is secure.
Otherwise, why would Guanyin Bodhisattva have so eagerly given him the Brocade Kasaya and Nine-Ring Staff before he even set out?
Wasn’t it to protect his life!?
Indeed, Golden Hair Lion’s message proved accurate. Shortly after Jiang Liu and the others continued their journey westward, two Vajras from the Buddhist Sect appeared.
“Greetings to the Sandalwood Merit Buddha!”
Because Jiang Liu had already been conferred as a Buddha, the two Vajras respectfully saluted Jiang Liu.
“Amitabha, greetings to the two Dharma Protector Vajras. I wonder what brings you here?” Jiang Liu chanted a Buddhist verse while bowing and returning the salute, simultaneously pretending to be unaware of anything.
“Reporting to the Merit Buddha, we two are under Tathagata’s decree to invite you and Sun Wukong to the Great Thunder Monastery…” the Dharma Protector Vajras answered.
“Alright, we’ll head there right away!” Hearing this, Jiang Liu nodded, cooperating fully.
“Bajie, Wujing, you wait here for your senior brother and me to return!”
Turning back, Jiang Liu instructed Zhu Bajie and others before swiftly summoning his Auspicious Cloud and heading towards the Great Thunder Monastery with the Dharma Protector Vajras.
“Vajras, might I ask why the Tathagata has summoned me?” Jiang Liu asked nonchalantly while flying through the sky.
This question left the two Vajras glancing at each other.
At this point, does the Merit Buddha truly not know why he’s going to the Great Thunder Monastery, or is he pretending?
“Reporting to the Merit Buddha, the Buddha summoned, and we didn’t ask much; we’re just here to deliver the message!” Even though they weren’t sure if Jiang Liu was truly unaware or just pretending, the two Vajras didn’t want to discuss the topic further.
Nodding slightly, since the two Vajras didn’t wish to speak more, Jiang Liu naturally didn’t press for more answers.
After flying for about half an hour, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong arrived at the Great Thunder Monastery.
“It’s indeed magnificent and grand!” Looking at the scenescape of the Great Thunder Monastery at the Western Spirit Mountain, Jiang Liu expressed his wonder.
“Come on, Master, don’t you see the Great Thunder Monastery every day?” Sun Wukong, standing beside him, unabashedly retorted.
Jiang Liu understood what Sun Wukong meant by seeing it every day. He was referring to when they delved into instances, wasn’t he?
“Sun Wukong, the Great Thunder Monastery depicted in the Map of Mountains and Rivers was originally painted by Randeng Buddha himself. Although it possesses some of the divine essence of the true Great Thunder Monastery, naturally it cannot compare to the real one!” Jiang Liu turned his head to glance at Sun Wukong, answering.
“Please, both of you, come in. The Buddha and all the Buddha Bodhisattvas are inside waiting!” The dialogue between Sun Wukong and Jiang Liu did not seem to arouse any intention of interruption from the two Dharma Protector Vajras, as they arrived at the entrance of the Great Thunder Monastery and gestured politely.
“Thank you, Dharma Protector Vajras, for showing us the way!”
Jiang Liu maintained a humble and polite demeanor, clasped his palms together to express his gratitude, and then followed Sun Wukong into the Great Thunder Monastery.
“This seems to be my first time visiting the true Great Thunder Monastery, doesn’t it?” Entering the monastery, Jiang Liu looked around while secretly marveling in his heart.
From the appearance, the Great Thunder Monastery here does resemble the one in the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
However, there is indeed some difference between the real and the false.
To put it in metaphorical terms, how to say, if the Great Thunder Monastery in the Map of Mountains and Rivers were a flat picture of an apple, then the one in front of us is like a 3D image of an apple.
Both are apples and vividly lifelike, yet there is a fundamental difference.
Of course, even if Jiang Liu’s attention at this moment is on the Great Thunder Monastery itself, upon entering, he is more focused on the congregation within.
Led by Tathagata, Medicine Buddha, Great Power King Buddha, and all other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, even Arhats, all present.
All the powerful entities gathered here; as Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong entered, these people turned their heads, and their gazes fell upon Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong.
“Goodness, almost everyone who can come is here, right? They’re not planning to hang me up and criticize me, are they?” Jiang Liu whispered in his heart upon seeing the situation.
“Xuanzang greets the Buddha…”
Upon arriving at the Great Thunder Monastery, whatever complaints he had internally were set aside, as Jiang Liu outwardly remained calm, clasped his palms together, and saluted Tathagata.
Given Jiang Liu’s current status as Sandalwood Merit Buddha, naturally, he only needed to pay respects to Tathagata.
“Buddha, long time no see…” Sun Wukong greeted Tathagata with a grin, hands clasped in greeting, looking quite unceremonious.
“Xuanzang, do you know why you’ve been summoned here today?” Tathagata sat loftily upon the Lotus Platform and asked Jiang Liu.
“I don’t know, would Buddha please explain!” Jiang Liu replied.
“I ask you, did Lapis Lazuli King Buddha perish at your hands?” Tathagata asked directly, without beating around the bush.
“Ah!? The one who died at my hand previously was truly Lapis Lazuli King Buddha!?” Hearing Tathagata’s words, Jiang Liu was shocked, his mouth gaping wide.
“Merit Buddha, as you said, could it be you didn’t know that the one you killed was Lapis Lazuli King Buddha?” Beside him, Great Power King Buddha interjected upon hearing, unable to resist.
Having killed someone, yet today he feigned ignorance? Great Power King Buddha thought Jiang Liu’s acting was quite exaggerated, didn’t he?
“Heaven and earth bear witness, I truly did not know!” Jiang Liu shook his head, portraying an innocent demeanor.
Once he finished speaking, Jiang Liu turned to Sun Wukong beside him and said, “Wukong, did you really know the person who died at our hands that day was Lapis Lazuli King Buddha? Dare you deceive your master?”
“Master, I, Old Sun, did not know either!” Hearing this, Sun Wukong naturally knew how to respond, hurriedly shook his head, his expression similarly aggrieved.
“Enough, you two disciples don’t pretend to be ignorant anymore! Lapis Lazuli King Buddha is indeed buried at your hands, yet having killed him, you still feign ignorance? Do you take everyone in this Great Thunder Monastery for fools?” Great Power King Buddha interrupted Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong, stating decisively.
“May I ask Great Power King Buddha, you say we disciples knew long ago the identity of Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, do you have any evidence to prove it?” Jiang Liu’s gaze fell on Great Power King Buddha, not rushing to deny, merely asking if he had any evidence.
“Is evidence necessary? Did Lapis Lazuli King Buddha not declare his identity?” Great Power King Buddha replied.
“Oh, is that so! At the time, I only thought he had transformed into an evil demon to deceive my eyes!” Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu shook his head.
After his words fell, Jiang Liu turned his head to Sun Wukong and asked, “Wukong, did that person change his form using transformation magic to take your fruit, only revealing Lapis Lazuli King Buddha’s form upon death?”
“Indeed, Master! That’s exactly how it happened!” Sun Wukong nodded and answered.
“May I ask Great Power King Buddha! If it was truly Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, why did he transform into a stranger to deceive our eyes and steal Wukong’s treasure? Is there deep hatred between Wukong and him?”
“Conversely, the scenario where an unknown demon, upon dying, transforms into Lapis Lazuli King Buddha to deceive us seems more plausible, doesn’t it?”