Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 1372: Chapter 600: Wuzhuang Temple! The Hell with Acting! Qin Will Not Bow to the Buddhist Sect!

The atmosphere was harmonious for a moment.

As everyone was savoring the Ginsengfruit.

Outside the temple.

A Daoist child hurriedly ran in and bowed to Zhen Yuanzi: "Master, there is Buddha Light coming from outside the temple, claiming to be from the Western Heaven Leiyin Temple’s Buddha, inviting you to Spirit Mountain for a discussion on the Great Dao."

With these words.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became somewhat delicate.

Sun Wukong scratched his cheek, and Zhu Bajie also stopped smacking his lips.

They both knew that the Buddhist Sect sending someone at this moment was not as simple as just discussing the Dao.

Zhen Yuanzi’s face still carried a smile, as if he had anticipated it, and he waved his hand for the Daoist child to leave.

Then.

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Xuanzang, directly addressing the issue with frankness: "Xuanzang, I won’t hide this from you."

"The Buddhist Sect has long set a calamity here at my Wuzhuang Temple."

"They calculated that your disciple Sun Wukong would steal and eat the Ginsengfruit, causing a dispute with my disciples and, in anger, overthrow my Ginseng Fruit Tree."

"At that time, I would ’become furious’ and capture you and your disciples, allowing the Bodhisattva Guanyin to mediate, using the Three Light Divine Water to revive the tree."

"In this way, I would owe the Buddhist Sect a favor, and you and your disciples would smoothly pass this calamity, to everyone’s delight."

Zhen Yuanzi explained the Buddhist Sect’s manipulation thoroughly and plainly, without any concealment.

As his words fell.

Sun Wukong jumped up from his seat, pointing at his nose with a bewildered look: "Me, Old Sun? Overthrow the Ginseng Fruit Tree? Why would I do such a thing? Weren’t these fruits offered by you, old Daoist?"

"Moreover, Old Sun and you, old Daoist, are old acquaintances; how would I destroy your dojo without reason?"

Clearly.

Sun Wukong found this matter utterly baffling.

Zhu Bajie also grumbled nearby: "Exactly, we’re not bandits."

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Sun Wukong’s anxious red face, only smiling without speaking.

He then said to Xuanzang: "Xuanzang, I have already informed you of this calamity."

"Whether you wish to comply with this supposed calamity and play a part in their drama, or have other plans, it’s entirely up to you."

"As for me... since Tathagata invited, I cannot not go to Spirit Mountain."

Having said that.

Zhen Yuanzi then stood up, bowing to Xuanzang and Sun Wukong and others: "Everyone, I shall go now. You may do as you wish regarding everything here in the temple."

Before he finished speaking.

Zhen Yuanzi transformed into a clear light, disappearing from the hall, heading straight toward the Western Continent.

The entire hall was instantly left to the Qin monk and his four disciples.

Sun Wukong looked at the empty main seat, then at Xuanzang, scratching his head: "Master, what... what should we do?"

Zhu Bajie came forward, whispering: "Master, why don’t we do as that old Daoist said, topple the tree, and cause a commotion? After all, someone will clean up the mess in the end."

Sha Wujing stood silently aside, waiting for Xuanzang’s decision.

Xuanzang’s expression was calm, as he picked up the half-eaten Ginsengfruit on the table, leisurely finishing it.

Then, he wiped his mouth, slowly stood up, and cast his gaze over his three disciples, ridiculing with a smile: "Acting?"

"This poor monk travels westward to spread the teachings, not to be a puppet for the Buddhist Sect."

"Our Qin Dao doesn’t need to compromise to anyone, nor do we need to act according to anyone’s whims."

All three of Sun Wukong’s apprentices felt invigorated.

"Master is right!" Sun Wukong slapped his thigh, resting Jingu Bang on his shoulder, chuckling: "Old Sun has long found those bald monks unpleasant, constantly scheming this and that, utterly bothersome!"

Zhu Bajie also puffed out his belly, waving his Nine-toothed Nail Rake: "Right! No acting! Anyone who wants to act can go ahead! Old Pig wants to hurry on the road to spread our Qin Mighty name to the Western Heaven!"

Xuanzang nodded in satisfaction: "This Wuzhuang Temple is now also considered an ally of ours."

"Being allies, there’s no reason to destroy someone’s dojo."

"We have eaten and drunk enough, and it’s time for us to set off."

Having said that.

Xuanzang, with no sense of lingering, directly mounted The White Dragon Horse, leading the way out of Wuzhuang Temple’s gates.

Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing followed closely behind, swaggering away.

From start to finish, they never glanced again at the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

The so-called calamity, the so-called script.

To them, it’s nothing but a joke.

I walk my wide way; you tread your single-log bridge.

What business is it of mine?

...

Outside Wuzhuang Temple, within the clouds a thousand miles away.

Several Arhats and Jiedi from the Buddhist Sect were lurking there, closely watching every move inside the Wuzhuang Temple.

They were sent by the Buddhist Sect to "escort" the westward-going team and ensure the smooth progression of the calamity as "protectors."

According to the script, the Wuzhuang Temple should have been in an uproar by now.

Sun Wukong causing chaos at the Wuzhuang Temple, overthrowing the Ginseng Fruit Tree, Zhen Yuanzi’s furious action...

One dramatic scene after another was about to unfold.

However.

They waited for a long time, and under their Divine Thoughts’ probing, the inside of the Wuzhuang Temple was calm and peaceful.

No quarrels, no fights.

Not even anyone speaking loudly.

"What’s going on?" An Arhat furrowed his brows, utterly puzzled, "Why is there no commotion? Has that mischievous monkey changed his ways?"

"Just wait a little longer," the leader of the Jiedi Gods said solemnly: "Perhaps the timing isn’t right."

But they waited and waited, and still nothing happened.

While they were becoming more suspicious.

The gates of Wuzhuang Temple opened slowly.

The five Qin Monk disciples, lined up in order, leisurely walked out from inside.

One by one, they looked rosy and content as if they’d just had their fill and were out for a stroll.

They directly walked onto the westward road, not looking back as they continued westward.

The protectors hidden in the clouds were utterly dumbfounded.

"Gone... gone?"

"Just like that?"

"The Ginseng Fruit Tree? Was it not toppled?"

An Arhat rubbed his eyes in disbelief, once again sending out Divine Thoughts to probe the rear courtyard of Wuzhuang Temple.

He saw the Heaven and Earth Spirit Root still standing there, lush and vibrant with Immortal Energy.

Not even a leaf had fallen.

The Jiedi God leading them, face turning extremely sour: "This... this... how could it be!"

The calamity?

Where’s the promised calamity?

Was the meticulously planned script by the Buddha and Bodhisattvas ruined just like this?

How should they report back to the Buddha?

The Jiedi God’s face was so dark it could almost drip water.

They had waited here for days, aiming to witness the enactment of this carefully arranged "calamity."

The result?

They ate their fill, brushed off their clothes, and walked away, not even glancing at the fruit tree.

What is this?

This major performance hasn’t even started, and the main characters have already exited prematurely?

Watching the four disciples gradually fade into the distance, the powerful members of the Western Teachings had no other choice but to send someone to the Western Heaven to report truthfully.

As for the others, they continued to closely monitor Xuanzang and his disciples, awaiting further instructions.

As they moved away from the Earth Realm of Longevity Mountain, Sun Wukong glanced back at the gradually disappearing Immortal Blessed Land in the clouds, shifting his Jingu Bang from one shoulder to the other, moving closer to Xuanzang’s horse, "Master, did you see? As we were leaving, there were several shameless bald monks hidden in those clouds."

Sun Wukong grinned, his face filled with schadenfreude, "Old Sun guesses they’re all furious by now!"

Zhu Bajie, listening beside him, snorted in agreement: "That’s right! Trying to fool Old Pig? No way! I’m Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, too sharp for that!"

Sha Wujing remained silent, just quietly holding the reins, but couldn’t help the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.

Their journey had been plagued by the ubiquitous maneuverings of the Buddhist Sect, so it felt incredibly liberating to completely overturn the table like this.

Xuanzang kept his gaze forward, showing no change in his expression.

"Wukong, we are Qin envoys, not puppets."

"The true purpose of our westward journey is to spread the teachings. Others’ schemes are theirs alone; there’s no need to concern ourselves."

...