NOVEL WEB Chapter 375: Guanyin is Moved
"Bodhisattva Guanyin has arrived!?"
Upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, Jiang Liu was slightly taken aback, filled with quiet surprise. For no apparent reason, why did Bodhisattva Guanyin come here?
Beyond the surprise in his heart, Jiang Liu then glanced at the tiger, deer, and goat demons beside him. Could it be that Bodhisattva Guanyin came to accuse him of wrongly aiding the Taoist Sect against the Buddhist Sect?
If that was truly the case, he would have to defend himself. After all, it was the people of the Bodhi Temple who struck first, wasn't it?
If it came to that, at least he could claim the moral high ground with his words!
"I pay my respects to the Bodhisattva!"
After walking out from the Three Pure Ones Temple and seeing Bodhisattva Guanyin seated on the lotus platform, surrounded by dazzling Buddhist light, Jiang Liu spoke.
No matter what, as a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, he must at least show his outward respect for Bodhisattva Guanyin.
"Amitabha, Xuanzang…" After softly chanting a Buddha's name, Bodhisattva Guanyin, looking down from her high position, did not hurry to speak. Instead, she quietly organized her thoughts.
Following Jiang Liu, naturally, Sun Wukong and the other disciples also came out, looking up at Bodhisattva Guanyin in mid-air without saying a word.
However, the tiger, deer, and goat demons within the Three Pure Ones Temple did not even intend to come out.
Considering themselves part of the Taoist Sect, they had no fondness for the monks of the Buddhist Sect; even if Bodhisattva Guanyin had arrived, what of it? They could not be bothered to go out to meet her.
"I've heard that you destroyed the Bodhi Temple for the sake of an evil demon!?" After mulling over her thoughts for a short while, Bodhisattva Guanyin felt it was best to seize the initiative. Thus, her expression grew stern as she addressed Jiang Liu. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire
"Bodhisattva, your words are mistaken!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu naturally wouldn't admit guilt so easily. He responded, "It is true I destroyed the Bodhi Temple, but it was for the justice of the heavens and the earth. How could you say it was for an evil demon!?"
"Xuanzang…" Without giving Jiang Liu much of an opportunity to defend himself, as soon as Jiang Liu finished speaking, Bodhisattva Guanyin interjected, "Do you know whose lineage the Bodhi Temple belongs to?"
"Disciple understands. The people from the Bodhi Temple had mentioned it before, saying they are the orthodox lineage of the Buddhist Sect, from Venerable Ananda. Bodhisattva, this is where I am confused. If they are the orthodox lineage of the Buddhist Sect, does it mean that I am not a true disciple of the Buddhist Sect?"
Upon saying this, Jiang Liu paused slightly, then continued indignantly, "I went to the Bodhi Temple merely to inquire about some matters, but before I could speak, the people of the Bodhi Temple acted imperiously and attacked me first. May I ask, Bodhisattva, should I not fight back? Should I have just let them strike and kill me?"
"Sigh…" Hearing Jiang Liu's rebuttal filled Bodhisattva Guanyin's heart with a slight sigh.
Believing herself to have a good understanding of Jiang Liu's character, Bodhisattva Guanyin had no doubts about his words.
One side has its story, and the other has its own. Jiang Liu's words made it seem like he had a reasonable claim, and in the same way, Ananda's words made his position seem reasonable.
So who was more persuasive in the end?
Between what Jiang Liu and Ananda claimed, whose words carried more credibility?
There was no need to think too hard about it; Bodhisattva Guanyin's heart was already leaning towards Jiang Liu's side.
"However, after all, Ananda is a disciple under the Tathagata. His lineage has been destroyed, so even I would find it difficult to justify it to him…" Bodhisattva Guanyin spoke, her visage troubled, as if caught in an awkward predicament.
"Amitabha, Disciple understands the Bodhisattva's position and would never want to trouble you!"
Seeing Bodhisattva Guanyin's demeanor and although not quite sure of her purpose, Jiang Liu nevertheless grandly gestured with a show of loyalty and said, "This matter concerns only Venerable Ananda and myself. When you return, please convey to Venerable Ananda that Xuanzang is headed westward and will eventually reach the Western Heaven. At that time, I shall naturally offer him an explanation!"
Upon reaching the Western Heaven, it would be time to openly confront each other, so for Jiang Liu, it was enough to delay the issue.
"Amitabha…" Moved by Jiang Liu's impassioned bearing and unwillingness to involve her in this difficult matter, Bodhisattva Guanyin felt a touch of admiration for his willingness to take full responsibility.
However, recalling the promise Venerable Ananda made to her—that if she could help obtain reparations, she would receive a share—
Bodhisattva Guanyin was not about to give up so easily. She said, "I have already promised Venerable Ananda a satisfactory answer to this matter. If I returned now, wouldn't it be breaking my word?"
Speaking thus, Bodhisattva Guanyin dropped all pretense and stated directly, "You must offer up something, anything, to take back. That way, I can fulfill my promise!"
"So it turns out that Bodhisattva Guanyin is shaking me down? And on behalf of someone else at that!?" Upon hearing Bodhisattva Guanyin's words, how could Jiang Liu not understand her purpose? This darkened his expression.
Did Bodhisattva Guanyin need to give an explanation to Venerable Ananda? She would go so far as to step forward and shake someone down on Venerable Ananda's behalf?
It seems that Venerable Ananda must have promised him quite a few benefits!
"..." Having realized Bodhisattva Guanyin's intention, Jiang Liu fell silent for a while but started pondering inwardly.
Just outright refuse? Wouldn't that be directly offending the Bodhisattva's honor?
Who knows, if embarrassed, might not Bodhisattva Guanyin scheme against me and teach me a painful lesson? After all, Guanyin is in charge of the entire Journey to the West project.
But what if I agree? What a joke, I should not scheme against them, how could I let them scheme against me!?
"Xuanzang? Have you thought it through!?" Seeing Jiang Liu silent, Bodhisattva Guanyin spoke up to question him.
"Amitabha, Bodhisattva, as you know, I am merely a mortal, and indeed have nothing of value to offer as compensation!" Faced with Bodhisattva Guanyin's pressing question, Jiang Liu's face showed a troubled expression as he sighed.
"I trust you as far as I can throw you!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Bodhisattva Guanyin secretly curled her lips.
Others might not know, but Bodhisattva Guanyin was aware that he had already obtained treasures such as the Mystical Mirror, the World-Destroying Black Lotus, and the Golden Haze Crown from her hands, and yet he was still crying poor in front of her!?
"Amitabha, Bodhisattva, as you know, although I have a few treasures, they were all borrowed from you, and after the Journey to the West is completed, they surely must be returned to you!" However, no sooner had Bodhisattva Guanyin's thought settled than Jiang Liu spoke up.
"Eh? The items taken from me! He actually plans to return them to me after the Journey is complete!?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Bodhisattva Guanyin felt both surprised and delighted.
Originally, she had not expected him to return them. Now it seems she may have wronged him?
"Apart from the few treasures you generously loaned me, indeed, I have no other treasures!" Jiang Liu's face showed his predicament as he shook his head.
"Oh, that's right!" However, as soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Liu seemed to remember something and then said, "Out of compassion, Bodhisattva, in addition to lending me a few treasures, you once also gave me treasures!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Liu raised his hand, and in an instant, the Brocade Kasaya and the Nine-Ring Staff were taken out by Jiang Liu, who said, "These two treasures, Bodhisattva, were given to your disciple at that time, and they are my original possessions. If the Bodhisattva is currently in a dilemma, I am willing to give these two treasures to Venerable Ananda! I hope the Bodhisattva will not be troubled!"
"No way!"
Hearing that Jiang Liu was actually going to offer the Nine-Ring Staff and the Brocade Kasaya as compensation, Bodhisattva Guanyin reflexively spoke up.
The Brocade Kasaya and the Nine-Ring Staff were treasures bestowed personally by Buddha to protect Xuanzang's physical safety on the Journey to the West, how could they be used for compensation?
If because of these two treasures being used for compensation, Xuanzang were to suffer harm on the Journey to the West, and if something untoward happened, wouldn't that be a real problem?
After all, the journey of eighty-one thousand miles to the West, had only seen a little over ten thousand miles so far.
Ninety-nine trials, and only just over ten had been passed, the road yet to be traveled on the Journey to the West was long...
"Bodhisattva, indeed, I have nothing of value left, only the two treasures you generously gave me at the beginning are available! I am willing to give generously! I only hope this won't make things difficult for Bodhisattva!" Jiang Liu said earnestly, looking directly at Bodhisattva Guanyin.
Whether it was true or false, at least, Jiang Liu's words warmed Bodhisattva Guanyin's heart as she listened.
At the same time, Bodhisattva Guanyin also remembered the days when Jiang Liu had specifically invited her to share a hot pot meal.
When there was delicious food, Xuanzang also kept her in mind, it seems that his gratitude towards her was quite sincere!
"Amitabha, Xuanzang..." Feeling moved, Bodhisattva Guanyin's face softened quite a bit as she spoke.
"Bodhisattva, one should be responsible for one's own actions! This matter is because Holy Monk Xuanzang stood up for the Three Pure Ones Temple on my behalf! If there is any fault, I am willing to bear the consequences, and I implore you, Bodhisattva, not to make things difficult for Holy Monk Xuanzang!"
Just as Bodhisattva Guanyin was about to speak, suddenly, a figure rushed out from the Three Pure Ones Temple, speaking to Bodhisattva Guanyin.
This figure that came rushing out was none other than Yuanling.
"Eh? Another child with remarkable aptitude!" Catching sight of Yuanling rushing out from the Three Pure Ones Temple, suddenly, Bodhisattva Guanyin's eyes lit up.
Upon close inspection, this child's aptitude was extraordinary, and what's more, his cultivation level was low.
If she could take him back to the Purple Bamboo Forest to train properly, might he not replace Muzha's role in the future?
These days, frantically searching for a replacement for Muzha, seeing Yuanling stirred Bodhisattva Guanyin's heart.
(PS: Today, I have arrived in Suzhou, and I plan to spend the next few days enjoying Suzhou. As for updates, I'll try my best to maintain three chapters a day! Don't worry, my updates are as steady as a dog's!)