Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 590 - 584: Tang Sanzang, the Eloquent Speaker [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

SPLAT.

Tang Sanzang's punch sent the variegated giant tiger sprawling, its head bursting open on impact.

When the hunter arrived, he too felt a wave of nausea.

Looking at Tang Sanzang again, the hunter's expression changed. He could hardly believe Tang Sanzang was so cruel and ruthless, not at all like a monk!

Employing his Heavenly Vision, the hunter hastily checked and indeed found Tang Sanzang's Buddhist Law to be profound, his Buddhist aura shining brightly; he was unmistakably a follower of Buddhism.

However, knowing that Tang Sanzang was truly of the Buddhist faith made the hunter feel as if he had swallowed a dead fly, discomfort and disgust overwhelming him.

Yet Tang Sanzang seemed completely unfazed, unaware of the disdain he was drawing from others.

He shouldered the dead tiger with a jocular smile, reluctant to leave, hoping to lure out even more prey with it.

The hunter tried several times in secret to cast spells and scare away the wild beasts in the mountains, but Tang Sanzang interrupted each attempt.

Had he not known that Tang Sanzang was a mere mortal without mana, the hunter would have suspected Tang Sanzang of deliberately targeting him.

After four hours of such toil, Tang Sanzang was dragging more than ten animal carcasses down the mountain.

The hunter, too, was pulling two wild boars, followed by a string of pheasants and hares; indeed, the hunt had been fruitful.

While Tang Sanzang descended the mountain in high spirits, the hunter felt as miserable and sick as if someone in his family had died.

Back in the courtyard, an old woman, a young wife, and children were present.

Also present was an old man with a white beard.

That old man was none other than Great White Planet Li Changgeng, who had rescued Tang Sanzang from a tiger's den just a few days prior.

The Tiger Spirit from that den was a transformation of the Tiger King of the Twenty-Eight Mansions from the Heavenly Court. Its appearance was the first of Tang Sanzang's eighty-one trials, arranged by both the Heavenly Court and the Western Heaven.

It could be said that Great White Planet Li Changgeng had saved Tang Sanzang's life.

Now that Tang Sanzang seemed to have strayed from his path, and since Great White Planet was responsible for liaising between the Heavenly Court and Buddhism for the Journey to the West, it was natural for him to come down and investigate personally.

He had arrived an hour earlier, witnessing Tang Sanzang and the hunter fight tigers in the mountains with his own eyes.

His heart felt incredibly complex, his gaze flickering as he pondered.

But after an hour of contemplation, he came up with nothing; after watching for an hour, he could make no sense of it.

Tang Sanzang seemed like a violent monk possessing monstrous strength, swift thoughts, and extraordinary perception.

The jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards of the mountains were no match for him; with his remarkable strength, he was capable of tearing apart tigers and leopards with his bare hands and could effortlessly lift nine oxen and two tigers.

Only a few days ago, when Great White Planet had last seen him, Tang Sanzang was still a mere mortal, as fragile as an ant before a pouncing tiger, his face pale with fear.

How, in the blink of an eye, had Tang Sanzang become so formidable and acquired the power to rip apart such creatures with his bare hands?

Unable to discern the truth, Great White Planet decided to wait for Tang Sanzang and the hunter to return so he could investigate personally.

Tang Sanzang had also noticed the white-bearded old man, Great White Planet, and greeted him with a hearty laugh, as if he were an old friend unseen for many years.

"Old Immortal, what brings you here?" Tang Sanzang greeted him with undue familiarity.

This lack of restraint and reverence, so different from their first encounter, made Great White Planet frown, his eyes flashing with golden light.

He had activated his Heavenly Vision and was examining this Tang Sanzang before him to see if he was an impostor.

However, after a thorough inspection, he confirmed that this Tang Sanzang was indeed the genuine reincarnation of Jin Chanzi.

This made him feel even more troubled and at a loss.

This incarnation of Tang Sanzang seemed not much different from Jin Chanzi's previous reincarnations—all so rebellious and unorthodox.

But Great White Planet was certain that this Tang Sanzang was the purest reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, untainted by any corruption.

For the supreme Saint Zhunti of Buddhism had personally intervened to erase Tang Sanzang's past life memories, ensuring this Tang Sanzang was a blank slate.

A Saint's intervention could not be flawed. So why then did this Tang Sanzang exhibit such strange, heretical behavior?

Great White Planet hurriedly stepped forward. "Dharma Master Sanzang," he asked, "are you not on a mission, by imperial decree, to journey to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the True Scripture to enlighten all sentient beings?"

Tang Sanzang brought his palms together and recited a Buddha's name. "Old Immortal, you are correct. This humble monk is indeed heading to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the True Scripture."

Great White Planet continued, "If that's the case, why do you linger here? Moreover, you have consumed meat and alcohol and even gone on a killing spree in the forest?"

"Have you cast aside the Buddhist Law you have cultivated? If so, I must discipline you on behalf of the Buddha."

He raised his hand as if to strike Tang Sanzang, but it was only an intimidating gesture.

Tang Sanzang was the scripture seeker of Buddhism, and a mere mortal; how could he endure such a blow?

Moreover, given Monk Tang's status, it wasn't fitting for him to be struck by others.

But to Great White Planet's surprise, Tang Sanzang stood his ground, facing the raised hand without fear, even craning his neck and tilting his face upward as if inviting the blow.

This left Great White Planet utterly bewildered, at a loss for what to do.

Exasperated, Great White Planet lowered his hand. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

Tang Sanzang replied, "Old Immortal, if you wish to discipline this disciple, then this disciple can only endure it."

Great White Planet said, "If you are willing to let me strike you, then you must realize you are in the wrong."

Tang Sanzang, however, said, "Old Immortal, you misunderstand. This humble monk does not believe he has done anything wrong. Eating meat and drinking wine are the most natural things for mortals to do. When doing so, one's heart is joyful and one's mind is at ease, which allows for a better understanding of the Buddhist Law."

Great White Planet was infuriated. "Yet you know well that Buddhism forbids monks from consuming meat and alcohol, and even more so from engaging in wanton killing!"

The hunter's family all nodded in agreement, supporting what Great White Planet had said.

Unperturbed and with an air of self-righteousness, Tang Sanzang laughed. "Old Immortal, although you are a man of Taoism, you understand our Buddhism quite well. Indeed, our Buddhist Law forbids monks from killing and consuming meat and alcohol."

"I don't truly wish to eat meat or drink wine, nor do I truly want to kill. I am comprehending the Buddhist Law."

Great White Planet was dumbfounded.

The hunter's family was also taken aback.

Tang Sanzang continued, "These are all actions forbidden by the Buddhist Law. So, by doing them, I am violating its precepts. But am I not also putting myself in peril, immersing myself in desire, only to then break free from it and attain great liberation?"

"The Buddhist Law states, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' How can one know the terror and agony of hell without being in it?"

Great White Planet was utterly baffled on the spot, speechless.

The hunter was similarly stupefied; Tang Sanzang's behavior seemed more befitting of heaven than hell.

Moreover, what Tang Sanzang had previously told him completely differed from what he was saying now.

In other words, this Tang Sanzang tailored his words to his audience, speaking human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts, spinning lies effortlessly—completely unlike a monk!