Chapter 374: Chapter 374

Sun Wukong paused for a moment, then continued, "Upon hearing the report, the sorcerer immediately ordered the people in the palace to wake the king!"

"Upon hearing the sorcerer’s words, those palace attendants naturally did not dare to delay and hurriedly went in to get the king out of bed, showing the national abbot’s influence!"

"However, due to the king’s frailty, it was quite a while before they let these people in to refer to him!"

Sun Wukong picked up Zhu Bajie’s cup, took a sip, and then said, "The national abbot, along with other officials, met with the king and reported the incident of the boy being blown away by the wind. The foolish ruler was immediately scared out of his wits and fainted on the spot."

"The sorcerer and his people were thrown into a panic, fearing that the king might die then and there. After about an hour’s commotion, the king finally began to show slight improvement."

Sun Wukong paused slightly before continuing, "When that foolish ruler regained consciousness, he cried out, ’This is heaven wishing to destroy me! I have been gravely ill for months, and the royal physicians are at a loss."

"Fortunately, the national abbot has obtained a prescription from overseas that can save my life."

"I was only waiting for noon today to perform surgery, to take a child’s heart and liver as medicinal primer. Who would have thought it would be blown away by a gust of yin wind? Is this not heaven seeking to destroy me?"

At this point, the national abbot reassured him, "Your Majesty need not grieve, I have a better medicinal primer that not only can cure Your Majesty’s illness but can also grant you immortality and everlasting youth."

Xuanzang furrowed his brow and said, "The sorcerer’s method is most likely another harmful one."

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Master is truly wise. The king, hearing this, was overjoyed and eagerly asked the national abbot what other marvelous methods were available. Can you guess what the national abbot replied?"

"How could this poor monk possibly guess." Xuanzang shook his head.

"It must be that the national abbot wants the king to find more children’s hearts and livers."

Sand Monk speculated.

Zhu Bajie shook his head and said, "Junior Brother Sand, that’s not right. Maybe this sorcerer will also mention the monk named Xuanzang, who is en route from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land to the Western Heaven on a quest for scriptures, a man of ten life cycles’ worth of cultivation, having been a monk since young, with his yang essence still intact, far stronger than any child by a thousandfold!"

"If His Majesty takes his heart and liver to brew a soup and consumes my immortal elixir, it would guarantee a lifespan of ten thousand years."

"Now, Xuanzang happens to be passing through the Bhikkhu Country, staying right here in the posthouse within the city; this is a heaven-sent method for longevity for Your Majesty."

Sun Wukong smiled wryly and said, "You simpleton are quite astute; it’s almost exactly as that sorcerer said."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang finally understood why Sun Wukong said that a great disaster was approaching!

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "I reckon the sorcerer is planning to take Master’s heart and liver when Master goes to the palace to exchange the pass permit."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang merely pressed his palms together and intoned respectfully, "Amitabha Buddha."

It was Sand Monk whose face turned somewhat pale as he said tremulously, "Elder Brother, what shall we do?!"

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "The matter is not so difficult; if we wish for good, we must create small from big."

"What does ’create small from big’ mean?" Sand Monk hastily asked.

Sun Wukong laughed and explained, "If Master is to preserve his life, it is necessary to change student to master and master to student, that is the only way to stay safe."

Sand Monk was still somewhat puzzled and said, "What do you mean by that, Elder Brother? It’s just that I don’t know if Master is willing."

Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Rather than having his heart and liver carved out, of course, it’s better to turn into a disciple!"

Xuanzang shook his head and said, "Wukong, are you intending to replace me in entering the palace to exchange the pass permit?"

Sun Wukong nodded with a smile, "That’s exactly what Old Sun means. I can transform you to look like me, and you wait at the posthouse while I, transformed into your appearance, will go into the palace to exchange the pass permit. When the time comes, we will act according to the situation and take the opportunity to rid the Bhikkhu Country of the demon."

Xuanzang shook his head and said, "Since I am intent on transforming the Buddhist Law around the world, how can I ignore such a situation?"

Upon hearing Xuanzang’s words, Sand Monk couldn’t help feeling anxious.

Zhu Bajie scratched his head and said, "That’s also true; the Journey to the West is for the universal salvation of the dharma. If not personally endeavored by Master, wouldn’t it be better for Buddhism to directly send the scriptures to the Great Tang, which would be even faster?"

"Although Buddhism is not up to much, everything the Buddha Ancestor has done is also to test the Master. It is said that scriptures are not given lightly; if the scriptures were directly sent to the Great Tang, although it would save trouble, the people of the Great Tang would think the scriptures came too easily and would not value them."

"Only by enduring hardships as Master does, in seeking the True Scriptures, can the importance of the True Scriptures be manifested."

Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "That’s just the superficial reasoning of Buddhism. It’s all about us spreading the Buddhist Law along the way. As for how exactly to overcome or solve, as long as it can be solved, that’s a good outcome for Buddhism."

"So, Master, you really want to go there by yourself?"

Sun Wukong reminded Xuanzang, "Entering the palace yourself could be dangerous, and you don’t need to worry about any tests. The Buddha Ancestor simply doesn’t care!"

Xuanzang smiled and shook his head, "The foolish ruler is unvirtuous, harming innocent people; I cannot bear it in my heart. Why wouldn’t I be willing to risk it for the sake of saving innocent people?"

"Master, it’s too dangerous!"

Sand Monk couldn’t help but worry, even more concerned for Xuanzang’s safety than Xuanzang himself.

Looking at Xuanzang, Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Since Master has so decided, I naturally will accompany you to the palace. With Old Sun here, I can absolutely ensure your safety."

Zhu Bajie also smiled and nodded, saying, "With Master personally going, he will certainly be able to let that demon drop its guard."

"It’s not bad, after all, although Brother Monkey can transform into Master’s appearance, if that demon finds a flaw early on and gets ready or escapes in advance, that would be troublesome!"

Sand Monk glared at Zhu Bajie, saying to himself that Bajie conveniently didn’t have to go, yet spoke so righteously.

Sun Wukong nodded, then said, "It’s about time now; let’s go eat breakfast and then enter the palace to deal with that foolish ruler and demon."

By this time, the posthouse servants had already prepared breakfast, which Xuanzang and the others ate.

After breakfast, Xuanzang changed his clothes, ready to enter the palace.

At this moment, Sand Monk said, "Big Brother, do you plan to enter the palace so openly?"

Sun Wukong couldn’t help but shake his head and, with a smile, said, "Master can go in just like that, but I cannot."

"Now, before we have entered the palace, that demon has already learned of our identities and started to target Master, which shows that the demon is well-prepared."

"Let’s pretend we don’t know. I will leave a clone in this posthouse to confuse the demon, while my true body will hide and accompany Master into the palace. You should also be careful."

Xuanzang also instructed Bajie and Sand Monk to carefully watch over their luggage and wait for their return.

After making preparations, Xuanzang immediately left the posthouse and headed for the Royal Palace.

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong left his clone inside the posthouse and transformed his true body into Buddha Ancestor, hanging on the Buddha Beads Xuanzang held, accompanying him to the Royal Palace.

The foolish ruler, having listened to the monster’s slander, had already sent Imperial Guards disguised as commoners to surround the posthouse, watching every move of Xuanzang and his disciples, fearing that Xuanzang would hear the news and escape prematurely.

No sooner had Xuanzang stepped out of the posthouse than these Imperial Guards, disguised as civilians, spotted him and immediately sent someone back to the palace to report to the king.

The foolish ruler, upon receiving the message, was overjoyed and hurriedly commanded his trusted eunuchs to wait outside the palace gates, so that once Xuanzang arrived, they need not report but instead immediately bring him into the Golden Throne Hall to see the king.

Before long, several eunuchs led Xuanzang to the outside of the hall.

The foolish ruler was so delighted that he quickly summoned Xuanzang inside the hall.

Xuanzang steadied his mind, bowed and said, "Your humble monk has come to see His Majesty the King."

The king quickly said, "High Monk, dispense with the formalities. Only those with true cultivation like yourself deserve to take a seat here."

Xuanzang promptly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Then, led by a eunuch, he walked over to the chair prepared for him and sat down.

At this time, Xuanzang looked up and saw an old Daoist sitting opposite him, smiling as he sized him up; presumably, this old Daoist was the National Abbot demon.

This old Daoist seemed sanctimonious, but within his profound eyes, there was a subtle coldness.

Looking back at him, even Xuanzang felt a chill.

Xuanzang managed a forced smile and sat there quietly without speaking.

Then, the king asked with a smile, "May I know where the High Monk has come from?"

Xuanzang promptly replied, "If I may inform Your Majesty, your humble monk is a monk of the Great Tang of the Eastern Land on a mission to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures. Passing through this precious land, he did not dare to pass by without authorization and has come to exchange the Pass Permit."

The king was delighted at this and could not hide a gleam of excitement in his eyes; he turned to the old Daoist and asked with a smile, "National Abbot, could this be him?"

That demon, looking at Xuanzang, smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "It is indeed him."

The king’s face nearly burst into bloom with smiles, turning towards Xuanzang to say, "Elder has no knowledge of this, but I have been afflicted with an illness that has lingered without improvement."

"Fortunately, the National Abbot has provided a prescription, and all the medicinal ingredients have been prepared, except for one vital catalyst. We specially request the Elder to seek some medicinal catalyst."

"If I recover, I will build a shrine for the Elder and offer sacrifices in all seasons, forever maintaining the incense of national continuity. I implore the Elder to grant the medicinal catalyst."

Xuanzang couldn’t help but frown and asked, "If Your Majesty will pardon my frankness, being a monk, I have come here alone and do not know what Your Majesty wants as a medicinal catalyst?"

The foolish ruler smiled and said, "We specifically request the heart and liver of the Elder as the medicinal catalyst."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang’s face changed drastically. Although he knew he was dealing with a foolish ruler, asking for a person’s heart and liver so casually was simply shameless.

Seeing Xuanzang silent and head bowed, the king frowned and asked, "Seeing the Elder’s troubled expression, could it be that you are unwilling to lend your heart and liver for my treatment?"

Xuanzang looked up at the foolish ruler and, with a smile, said, "Your humble monk dares not; yet I must ask Your Majesty, when has it ever been heard from ancient times to the present that a person’s heart and liver can cure illnesses?"

"This is a special remedy of the National Abbot, naturally you wouldn’t know!"

The foolish ruler said proudly.

The demon nearby was also smiling.

Xuanzang shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that Your Majesty has shown any improvement. Are you certain eating a human heart and liver can cure illness?"