Capítulo 1266: Chapter 1264: Confession
The great catastrophe of the journey to the West has not yet ended, so any Immortals and Buddhas with a bit of insight would avoid crossing paths with the Scripture Seeking Team.
After all, this immeasurable kalpa does not target only the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team; it mainly targets those fated figures.
The eighty-one tribulations, though trials for the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team, do not threaten their lives.
As for other destined figures, their safety cannot be guaranteed.
In recent years, the development of events seems to be within everyone’s expectations. Whether among the Buddhist Sect or the Heavenly Court, countless have died or been injured, naturally causing even more fear.
On one hand, indeed, in recent years, many Immortals and Buddhas have perished at the hands of the Scripture Seeking Team, angering many. The death of the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha this time serves as a fuse, igniting these feelings of anger.
On the other hand, if, taking this opportunity, Jiang Liu can be properly punished, making him refrain from being ruthless towards the Buddhist Sect people in the future, their safety would relatively improve considerably.
Therefore, whether truly enraged or seizing this opportunity to ensure their own safety, these members of the Buddhist Sect are eager to use this chance to punish Jiang Liu, teaching him a lesson.
At this moment, the Great Power King Buddha has spoken, representing everyone’s challenge to Xuanzang. Naturally, these people are not in a hurry to speak but remain observers, watching the situation unfold.
However, from their standpoint, they are all on the side of the Great Power King Buddha.
“Great Power King Buddha, we bear no animosity towards the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, yet he transformed into a stranger to steal Wukong’s treasure, and then reverted to his own form. Is it not reasonable to suspect that he was transformed by a demon?” Jiang Liu earnestly stared at the Great Power King Buddha and replied.
“This…” Jiang Liu’s words were indeed reasonable. Facing Jiang Liu’s questioning, the Great Power King Buddha was momentarily speechless, not knowing how to respond.
“Hahaha, everyone says Xuanzang is eloquent, and it seems it’s true. Now that you’ve killed the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, committing such heinous sins, you still manage to deflect all responsibility entirely onto him?”
Just as the Great Power King Buddha was at a loss for words, and unable to answer, a burst of laughter rang out, and a Buddha couldn’t help but speak.
Jiang Liu turned his head slightly, glanced at this figure, and immediately said, “Is my eloquence a flaw? At least my words are reasoned and evidence-based, unlike some who add charges without evidence!”
“Insolent!” Upon hearing Jiang Liu’s veiled rebuke, the Buddha’s expression changed, shouting both shocked and angry.
“Insolent? We are both Buddhas. You can mock me for deflecting responsibility entirely, yet I cannot say you are adding false charges?” Jiang Liu responded with a calm and composed attitude.
Seeing Jiang Liu so eloquently battling the Buddhas, the Tathagata remained silent, merely sitting quietly on the Lotus Throne.
Yet, observing that Jiang Liu did not fall behind in words, the Tathagata nodded in silent approval.
And who is this Xuanzang? The reincarnation of Master Golden Cicada, and what is the greatest quality of cicadas?
Singing!
As the reincarnation of Master Golden Cicada, the Tang Monk’s eloquence is not surprising.
Therefore, even though several Buddhas join forces, they cannot out-argue Xuanzang, which, from the Tathagata’s perspective, seems unsurprising!
Moreover, Xuanzang’s verbal exchanges with them are not unreasonably domineering but are responses that are rational and justified, fully standing their ground on logical reasons.
“Xuanzang, the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha transforming into a stranger to seize Wukong’s treasure was indeed his fault, a wrongful act at first. However, such a wrong does not warrant death, does it? To me, it seems you seized a small opportunity to avenge personal grievances, thus deliberately killing the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha!”
After arguing for a prolonged time, seeing that continuing the dispute might not yield a definitive result, the Great Power King Buddha immediately addressed Jiang Liu.
Now, the Great Power King Buddha admits that the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha’s actions were indeed at fault initially.
However, taking this opportunity to settle personal grievances by killing the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, this is the truly heinous crime.
“Personal grievances? I would like to know what Great Power King Buddha implies by these personal grievances?” Jiang Liu asked sincerely, frowning slightly as he looked at the Great Power King Buddha.
“Isn’t it obvious? Previously, there were rumors that the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha intended to seize the Kongdong Seal from you, and you bore a grudge against him back then, didn’t you?”
“Therefore, you had the motive to strike mercilessly! After all, Xuanzang, your notorious reputation is as widespread as your name for compassion across the three realms and six paths!” The Great Power King Buddha spoke as if it was the most reasonable thing.
The Great Power King Buddha’s words caused many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at the Thunder Monastery to look at each other, suddenly realizing the matter inwardly.
So that’s the reason! No wonder Xuanzang killed the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha.
Revenge, indeed, offers a compelling motive.
The Kongdong Seal is a divine artifact suppressing the Human Clan’s destiny. It was because the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha attempted to seize it, that Xuanzang gave it to the Emperor of Tang, Li Shimin. In a way, it could be said that it was the action of the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha that caused Xuanzang to lose such a supreme treasure as the Kongdong Seal.
Bearing a grudge, Xuanzang seized the opportunity to slay the Lapis Lazuli King Buddha in revenge, doesn’t it indeed make sense?
“I didn’t! It’s not like that! You’re slandering me!” Jiang Liu vehemently denied three times in response to Great Power King Buddha’s words.
However, the more he hurried to deny it, the more it proved Great Power King Buddha’s words to be true.
For a moment, everyone in the Great Thunder Monastery understood almost all the cause and effect of the entire situation.
Now that things had been spelled out clearly, no matter how Jiang Liu denied it, it was already futile!
Since Jiang Liu and Lapis Lazuli King Buddha already had a private vendetta, then seizing this opportunity to directly execute Lapis Lazuli King Buddha made the entire situation completely explainable. No matter how he defended that it wasn’t true, it was powerless and weak.
It’s like a traffic accident that led to someone else’s death; perhaps the perpetrator won’t be charged with intentional murder.
But if the person who died had deep-seated hatred against the perpetrator, then no matter how the perpetrator defended that he didn’t intentionally kill them, the matter would be difficult to explain with words, wouldn’t it?
“Alright, no need to say anything more…” Seeing the situation become clearer, the Tathagata, who had been watching coldly without speaking, finally spoke.
With the Tathagata’s words, the entire Great Thunder Monastery fell silent for a moment.
Everyone’s gaze was focused on the Tathagata, waiting to see what decision he would make.
The Tathagata surveyed everyone present, his gaze lingering on Jiang Liu, and said, “Sandalwood Merit Buddha, do you realize your crimes?”
“If it’s as Buddha said, that the disciple was guilty of accidentally killing Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, the disciple admits guilt!”
“However, as Buddha claims, that the disciple deliberately murdered Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, the disciple does not recognize such a guilt!” Upon hearing the Tathagata’s questioning, Jiang Liu lowered his head and responded.
This response made Great Power King Buddha open his mouth, wanting to say something more.
But thinking it over, he swallowed the words down again.
If Xuanzang admitted to deliberately murdering Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, under such a guilt, he wouldn’t escape a fate of repaying life with life.
However, just admitting the guilt of accidental killing, this crime is not punishable by death!
Great Power King Buddha’s intention wasn’t to bring Xuanzang to death but simply to punish him well.
On one hand, it’s to teach Xuanzang a lesson, and on the other, it’s also to slightly suppress the momentum of the Tathagata.
Therefore, with Xuanzang willing to acknowledge the guilt of accidental killing, it seemed enough?
Not only Great Power King Buddha thought this way, but the other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas beside him were of the same thought.
Therefore, after Jiang Liu spoke his acknowledgment, no one raised any objections.
Their thoughts were similar to Great Power King Buddha, and many even felt that the fault truly wasn’t Xuanzang’s.
After all, during this immeasurable kalpa, when disastrous karma must be fulfilled, many would indeed do something extreme.
For instance, in the matter of Xuanzang killing Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, it’s undeniable that Lapis Lazuli King Buddha was meant to suffer catastrophic karma.
And he hid his identity to seize Sun Wukong’s treasure, which naturally obscured the Spirit Platform, fulfilling that disastrous karma, right?
As for Xuanzang? As the one who killed, doing something impulsive seems somewhat understandable.
Perhaps even Xuanzang’s actions were partly influenced by the interference of the Heavenly Dao’s will?
No matter what thoughts these Buddhas and Bodhisattvas held, after Jiang Liu nodded and admitted guilt, the Tathagata glanced around at everyone present. Seeing no objections, he nodded and said, “Since you have admitted to this crime of accidental killing, that is good!”
“Master, are we just admitting guilt like this?” After the Tathagata’s words confirmed the crime, Sun Wukong sent Jiang Liu a message in the conversation box.
“We can’t escape this accidental killing charge. Admitting it—what else can we do? Let’s wait and see how the Tathagata will decide our fate!” Seeing Sun Wukong’s message, Jiang Liu replied, telling Sun Wukong to be patient.
At this point, with the guilt of accidental killing determined for Jiang Liu, it was to give a proper account to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas present; thus, the Tathagata had no intent to make unilateral decisions. Instead, he looked at everyone in the Great Thunder Monastery and asked, “Regarding Sandalwood Merit Buddha’s accidental killing of Lapis Lazuli King Buddha, how do you all think it should be punished?”
Hearing the Tathagata’s words projecting this question onto them, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas present stared at each other in silence, not knowing how to respond.
Evidently, the choice from the Tathagata was beyond everyone’s expectations.
(PS: Wish me a happy birthday, yay, after my birthday, I am 16 years old~~~ Almost coming of age…)