That very night, the county magistrate, trembling with fear and trepidation, invited Tang Seng and his disciples out of the prison. With utmost respect, he apologized to Tang Seng, saying only that he had misunderstood the holy monk from the Celestial Dynasty. He then ordered his men to present the finest vegetarian fare and fruits, and to prepare superior guest rooms for Tang Seng and his disciples to enjoy.
Seeing this, Tang Seng could not help but chant “Amitabha,” sighing that the Buddha had blessed them.
By the next day, the county magistrate charged Guangzhi and Guangmou with false accusation and ordered them beheaded, thereby clearing Tang Seng and his disciples of wrongdoing.
Naturally, Guangzhi and Guangmou cried out their innocence, declaring that it was Venerable Ananda who had instructed them to report the matter to the authorities. But words alone were no proof, and the Venerable Ananda they spoke of never appeared; thus, naturally, no one believed their claims.
Only Sun Wukong paid a little more attention.
After the two monks were executed, the matter here came to an end. Tang Seng called Sun Wukong and prepared to set out for the scriptures.
Yet the county magistrate led all the officials of his office and blocked Tang Seng’s path, pleading:
“Holy monk of the Great Tang, the people of this city suffer many disasters and hardships, and their livelihood is difficult. We beg the holy monk to take pity on the common folk, perform a few days of Water-Land Dharma rites, recite the sacred scriptures, and pray for blessings. The entire city’s people would be endlessly grateful.”
Tang Seng could not withstand the magistrate’s sincere entreaties, so he asked, “How many days of rites are needed?”
The county magistrate said, “We beg the holy monk to perform them for a full thirty-three days, to dispel calamities and relieve the people’s troubles.”
Hearing this, Tang Seng repeatedly said it was impossible, saying:
“This poor monk has received the Tang King’s command to journey west in search of scriptures. Now the road ahead is uncertain, and the scriptures have yet to be obtained. How could I remain idly in a foreign land for so long? It absolutely cannot be done.”
The county magistrate earnestly tried to persuade him.
But Tang Seng only said that thirty-three days was too long, and no matter how the magistrate pleaded, he would not agree.
Seeing this, the county magistrate did not dare reveal the truth, and could only settle for less, saying that seven days of rites would suffice.
Tang Seng thought it over. Seven days was not too long, so he agreed.
Thus, over the next seven days, the county magistrate laid out a thousand tables of flowing banquets, inviting the holy monk Tang Sanzang of the Tang Dynasty to perform Water-Land Dharma rites. The entire city’s people came to eat and drink; truly, the whole city rejoiced, and the masses were all delighted.
Sun Wukong, however, was somewhat surprised. That day, he had observed that this county magistrate was a greedy man—how had he become so generous? But since the magistrate showed no intention of harming Tang Seng, Sun Wukong did not investigate further.
Very soon, seven days in a row passed, and Tang Seng once again wanted to leave.
Just as they reached the city gate, they saw that the entire city’s people were kneeling there, begging the holy monk to stay a few more days.
The people’s pleas were moving enough to stir the heavens; every household wished to keep him, and every person was reluctant to see him go.
Helpless, Tang Seng could only agree to stay another seven days.
And so, over the next seven days, there were more lectures on scripture and expounding of the Dharma, as well as grand banquets of food and drink.
On the night of the fourteenth day, Tang Seng said to Sun Wukong:
“Disciple, if this continues, I fear the people will block us again tomorrow. In my view, you should go pack the luggage and prepare the horse now. We will leave tonight.”
Sun Wukong laughed and said, “Master, since the people love and respect you, what harm is there in staying a few more days?”
Tang Seng said, “You ape! When I set out, I promised His Majesty that I would return in three to five years. Now we have only just left the borders of our country, and we do not yet know whether we can obtain the scriptures. How could I dare linger here for so many days? If this goes on, when will we ever obtain the true scriptures?”
Sun Wukong said, “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll go fetch the horse. We leave tonight.”
Sun Wukong went out the door and ran to fetch the horse. As he passed by the side rooms, however, he heard the servants in the residence chatting at night:
“Are things ready? Tomorrow, arrange for the commoners to go stop that Tang monk.”
Another person said, “Of course, of course. Everything has already been prepared. Eh, but isn’t it strange? Our county lord is usually such a stingy man. What’s gotten into him lately? He insists on keeping that monk here to perform rites, and even keeps these flowing banquets going for so long, letting those mud-legged peasants benefit for nothing.”
The first person said, “Who knows? But I heard the county lord say that even if he had to cast off his official robe and abandon his post, he still had to keep that monk here for thirty-three days.”
The other person said, “That truly is strange!”
Outside, Sun Wukong listened to these words, his eyes turning.
Even if he had to cast off his official robe and abandon his post, he still had to keep Master here for thirty-three days?
Sun Wukong realized something was wrong.
He hurriedly transformed into a tiny insect and flew into the county magistrate’s home to investigate.
At that moment, the county magistrate’s wife was making a great commotion.
“I won’t live like this anymore! I won’t! Why should our family’s property be taken out to feed and entertain those mud-legged peasants? If you held prayers for one day, that would be one thing, but you’ve been doing this for half a month straight. If this continues, the family’s money will be used up. If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll take our son back to my maiden home!”
With a bitter expression, the county magistrate said, “Alas! I—I feel the pain too, but what can I do? Don’t ask. I can’t say.”
Seeing this, Sun Wukong knew that the county magistrate was certainly hiding something important from him. He immediately revealed his form, grabbed the magistrate in one hand, and asked:
“Speak! Why are you trying to hold back my master? Are you in collusion with demons?”
Seeing this, the county magistrate’s wife was so frightened she trembled violently.
The county magistrate stammered:
“Elder Sun, what are you saying? What demon?”
Sun Wukong said, “I see you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. You’re asking for a beating!”
As he spoke, he pulled the Golden-Hooped Staff from his ear, cried “Grow!” and thrust it toward the roof, sending half the roof flying away.
At that time, Ao Tu was hiding among the clouds, watching the situation below.
His system progress had already reached twenty-four days. He could already obtain the reward of the True Dragon Dragon Pearl, and he was not far from the next stage’s Postnatal Spirit Treasure, the Five Fires Divine Flame Fan.
Unfortunately, at just this moment, Sun Wukong noticed a clue.
Ao Tu felt regretful, but his movements did not hesitate in the slightest; he fled directly into the distance.
The reward of the True Dragon Dragon Pearl was already excellent. It would allow him to quickly rise to the Golden Immortal realm and transform into a true dragon. Once he succeeded, on the Journey to the West, he would at least count as a presentable combat force.
At this moment, the county magistrate below was already scared out of his wits. Under Sun Wukong’s threat of force, he poured out the whole story like beans from a bamboo tube, confessing the entire course of events.
After hearing it, Sun Wukong frowned. “Venerable Ananda again?”
Thinking of what Guangmou and Guangzhi had said before they died, Sun Wukong thought to himself, “This Venerable Ananda must be a demon in disguise, looking for an opportunity to harm my master!”
Thinking this, Sun Wukong leapt out of the room and looked all around with his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, discovering something strange in the sky.
“Demon, don’t run!”
Sun Wukong sprang up and flew into the air.
By this time, Ao Tu had long since fled, leaving only some cloud qi behind in the sky.
As the saying goes: Like sounds answer one another, like qi seek one another. Clouds follow the dragon, winds follow the tiger; when the sage arises, all things behold him.
Looking at the lingering cloud qi, Sun Wukong guessed that it had been left by a dragon. He cursed aloud in the sky:
“Demon dragon, if you have the guts, come out and face your Grandpa Sun!”
Ao Tu had already left, so naturally, he could not possibly return.
Sun Wukong cursed for a long while, but there was not the slightest movement. He could only return empty-handed.
For the time that followed, Ao Tu kept hiding in the dark and did not come out.
To his pleasant surprise, the system’s progress did not stop, but continued to increase.
The reason was that although his plan had been exposed, if Tang Seng wanted to leave the area of Guanyin Chan Monastery, he still had to travel normally. The time spent traveling on the road would also be counted toward the system’s progress.
Thus, another three days passed. When the system’s progress reached twenty-seven days, Tang Seng and his disciples finally left the Guanyin Chan Monastery area.
The system mission began to settle.
[Ding. Calculating rewards. Total interception time: twenty-seven days.]
[Ding. Reward obtained: Mountain-Moving Art.]
[Ding. Reward obtained: Six-Turn Golden Pill.]
[Ding. Reward obtained: True Dragon Dragon Pearl.]
[Ding. The surplus twelve days will automatically be transferred to the next side mission. Next side mission: Exorcising the Demon at Gao Village.]