Chapter 123 This wicked beast has a connection with my Western world!
They levied taxes under the pretext of "sharing good fortune."
If the other party agrees to pay, the amount can be increased year by year until they can no longer bear the burden and withdraw on their own.
If the other party resists taxation
Humans then occupied the moral high ground, making their conquest seem justifiable.
With this decree in hand... I believe the Fire Cloud Cave will also provide support.
Even in the early stages,
It can also be supplemented by various means such as sowing discord and winning over others...
The more Di Xin thought about it, the more ingenious he felt the plan was, demonstrating that it allowed for both advance and retreat, placing him in an invincible position.
"Alright, let's leave it at that."
Lin Feng's voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
"After returning, cooperate well with the Buddhist community in promoting the Journey to the West."
He looked at Di Xin, his tone carrying a hint of warning:
"Furthermore, you must remember this: as an emperor, you must combine the ways of the benevolent with the ways of the tyrannical!"
"A person who acts arbitrarily and alone will eventually become isolated."
"Zi Shou, carefully follow the teachings of our ancestor."
Di Xin bowed deeply in gratitude.
What will happen next is still unknown, but at least for now, this king, known for his tyranny, is behaving with unusual deference and humility.
Having finished explaining,
With a wave of his hand, Lin Feng caused Di Xin to disappear from the main hall.
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance.
Although the matter of "taxation" was a thorn in his side, the Journey to the West had finally received Lin Feng's approval, which could be considered as achieving the main objective.
As for how to deal with this troublesome king in the future... we can only take it one step at a time.
Just then,
Shui Bing'er entered carrying a plate of fragrant, ethereal peaches and apricots.
"Oh, Daoist Master, you're too kind!"
Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes lit up, thinking the spiritual fruit was meant to treat them, and they reached out to take it.
Lin Feng coughed lightly and picked up the teacup beside him.
The two froze, stunned.
The spiritual fruits have already been served, so... are we going to serve tea and see the guests off?
What's the meaning?
Could it be... that this wasn't prepared for us?
Lin Feng sipped his tea slowly, his eyes lowered, not even glancing at them.
Shui Bing'er was very clever. Seeing this, she gently placed the fruit plate on the table next to Lin Feng and stood quietly by his side.
Jieyin and Zhunti then realized that it really wasn't food for them, and they immediately felt embarrassed.
Fortunately, the two of them had already mastered the art of keeping their faces bare, and immediately chuckled dryly twice.
"Since the Daoist Master has guests, we should not disturb him."
"Western affairs are complicated, so we must take our leave now."
Having said that, he left the main hall dejectedly, but couldn't help but mutter to himself:
Who is so influential that the Daoist Master treats them with such solemnity?
While lost in thought,
The two suddenly sensed something and their expressions changed simultaneously.
"Oh no! Something's happened to Sanzang?!"
The West is now severely weakened and is counting on the westward expedition to recover.
If Tang Sanzang, the pilgrim on his journey to the West, were to encounter any mishap,
The entire plan is about to collapse!
Thinking of this, the two dared not delay any longer, and transformed into two streaks of light, heading straight for the lower realm.
Human territory, along the Tongtian River.
Tang San, holding a monk's staff and wearing a tattered cassock,
Gazing at the vast, misty river where the water meets the sky, I fell into a long silence.
Previously, because he forcibly took Xiao Wu, Er Ming caused a disturbance at Lingshan, and he was punished by being sent to Chaoge to spread Buddhism.
And one must obtain a certificate of ordination personally issued by the King.
By gathering the power of heaven, earth, and humanity, we can embark on the true journey to the west.
Having overcome eighty-one tribulations, it has restored the fortune and merit of Buddhism.
Tang San didn't think he had done anything wrong. He only regretted that he wasn't strong enough or ruthless enough at the time.
If they had killed those two Mings back then...
If that were the case, none of these subsequent troubles would have occurred.
Unfortunately, it's too late to say anything now.
Xiao Wu was nominally made a Heavenly Consort, but in reality, she was placed under house arrest on Mount Ling and became a pawn to manipulate him.
To avenge this crime, and to rescue Xiao Wu,
He had no choice but to endure it for the time being and accept this arduous journey to the west.
"Moonlight...you old bastard, just you wait!"
He gazed at the surging river, a surge of anger welling up within him.
"Once I have fully recovered my cultivation and returned to the tutelage of the Sage Zhunti, I will settle all scores with you!"
His cultivation was stripped and he was reduced to a mortal. He was supposed to be escorted to Chaoge by the Moonlight Bodhisattva.
But once he entered human territory, the moonlight found an excuse to abandon him and vanish without a trace.
This caused him to suffer countless hardships and tribulations along the way.
Now, their path is blocked by the Tongtian River, which stretches across the heavens and the earth.
Tang San suspected that this was Moonlight settling a personal score.
She was definitely taking the blame for Erming's injury on herself.
Little did he know that the Bodhisattva of Moonlight had actually received a decree from Maitreya Buddha and was being summoned back to Mount Ling.
They went to suppress the turmoil in the Buddhist realm caused by the war between demons.
The West has suffered heavy losses, with several bodhisattvas going mad and becoming possessed by evil spirits due to the backlash of their fortunes.
At this point, preserving the foundation is naturally the top priority.
Whether the westward journey will continue is uncertain, so who cares about this little pawn?
Just as Tang Sanzang was gazing at the river with longing and anxiety,
A dark figure suddenly appeared and slowly approached through the thin mist on the river.
"Hey—boatman! I need to cross the river!"
He immediately shouted loudly.
The dark figure paused upon hearing the sound, then turned around and headed towards the shore.
Tang Sanzang was overjoyed; he could finally cross the river.
But as the dark figure broke through the mist and drew closer, he was horrified to see it clearly.
That wasn't a ferry at all; it was clearly a towering, sail-like, jet-black dorsal fin!
Tang San's expression changed drastically. He turned around and tried to run, but it was too late.
A wave crashed over him, sweeping him away.
The next second, he felt dizzy and fell into the icy river. Before him was a gaping maw full of sharp teeth!
"Crack..."
"Tsk, the ancient human race, as expected of the so-called protagonists of heaven and earth, the taste is indeed delicious, and it can even increase cultivation... It's a pity that I can't eat too much, otherwise those annoying cultivators will come to nag me again."
The gaping maw suddenly closed, and then black light surged forth, transforming into a man in black robes.
His face was sinister, with strange purple patterns etched on it, and his purple hair moved without wind, like burning ghostly flames.
This person is none other than the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, who was chosen to enter the primordial world.
Or rather, it is the Deep Sea Demon Whale King who was possessed by the Void Devouring Flame.
The Void Devouring Flame arrived and landed near a dilapidated temple. Upon its arrival, it was immediately drawn to a blue lamp within the temple.
He instinctively felt that consuming that light would promote his own evolution.
But the small temple also gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.
Ultimately, greed prevailed over fear.
He decided to take the risk.
As it turned out, he had clearly overestimated himself and was nearly killed by an old monk in the temple with a single slap.
Fortunately, he had a backup plan and had set aside a small portion of the fire beforehand.
Still shaken and worried about being chased by the old monk, he happened to stumble upon the dying Deep Sea Demon Whale King.
He then thought of using this body to temporarily avoid the limelight.
Who knew that after possessing another's body, there would be no going back...
...
Jieyin and Zhunti arrived too late, just in time to witness the Deep Sea Demon Whale King swallowing Tang San.
"You audacious beast!"
Zhunti was so angry that smoke billowed from his seven orifices.
Tang Sanzang is not only related to the great calamity of the Journey to the West, but also a key link in his attainment of sainthood!
It was swallowed whole by this monster that appeared out of nowhere!
"Junior brother, wait!"
Jieyin, however, grabbed him, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
"There is still a chance for this matter to turn around. This wicked beast has a connection with the West!"
Loving Book So Far! check Out 50+ Advanced Chapters
patreon.com/HehBoy