Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong-Chapter 648 - 649 When a Person is Utterly Despicable

When Ran Deng Buddha said such words, it was as if he were slapping his own face!

Once the words left his mouth, Ran Deng Buddha realized his blunder and his old face turned beet red. Facing the mocking and nearly smiling Sun Wukong, who said nothing, the silence spoke volumes of disdain and ridicule, making Ran Deng Buddha wish he could just dive into a crack in the ground!

“Amitabha! Great Sage Sun speaks rightly; indeed, it was my mistake, nearly letting evil triumph!”

The look on Tathagata Buddha’s face was cold as he suddenly extended a hand and struck towards Yuan Zhen. A massive Buddha hand descended from the heavens, smashing down on Yuan Zhen. Yuan Zhen didn’t even have time to scream before he was pulverized into dust.

“Yuan Hong, the demon who impersonated you has been eliminated. You can now return safely to escort Tang Seng to the West. Remember to keep to yourself and harbor no evil thoughts, or today’s events may be repeated!”

Tathagata Buddha turned to Yuan Hong with an air of righteous admonition in his voice, yet it was laden with threatening undertones. Yuan Hong, fully aware, knew Tathagata Buddha was warning him that their prior covert conversations must remain unmentioned, or he would be dealt with!

After glancing at Great Sage Sun, and seeing him nod slightly in signal to leave, Yuan Hong had no choice but to suppress his rage, the restraints on him having been lifted and his human form restored. He bowed to Great Sage Sun, leapt up, and mounted the Somersault Cloud, swiftly departing from Spiritual Mountain.

“I am grateful that Great Sage Sun came specially to stop a momentary oversight on my part, but I am curious how the Great Sage came to know of this?”

Tathagata Buddha looked at Sun Wukong politely. He still couldn’t be certain whether Sun Wukong had truly failed to reach enlightenment. Even if it were true, with Sun Wukong’s combat power, Spiritual Mountain probably couldn’t hold him back.

Besides, if he were to act now, it would look like he, Tathagata, was trying to cover his mistakes by committing murder. How could he maintain his standing in the Three Realms after such rumors spread?

Moreover, Tathagata Buddha was truly puzzled. He had intended to secretly replace Yuan Hong with Yuan Zhen and Li Dai Tao Jiang, a plan known only to Ran Deng Buddha within the entire Western Heaven Spiritual Mountain. How did Sun Wukong come to know of this and just so happen to arrive in time to save Yuan Hong?

“Oh, the news? I just happened to hear it unintentionally,” said Sun Wukong.

A scornful sneer flashed across Sun Wukong’s lips. Tathagata, that bald donkey, had some nerve, passing off a carefully devised plot as a mere oversight. Indeed, there is nothing more invincible than shamelessness!

However, Sun Wukong did not intend to expose Tathagata Buddha. Although he and Tathagata had long been mortal enemies, they were in public at this moment, and it was not yet time to tear off their pretenses. The Journey to the West to Seek Scriptures must go on, and Sun Wukong did not want to see it ruined just yet.

With a flip of his hand, Sun Wukong threw Deva, who he had held in his palm, to the ground. As soon as Deva was released from Sun Wukong’s hand, he quickly grew back to his original size, yet he still lay powerless on the ground.

“I went to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s place for a drink and just happened to encounter Yuan Hong and that imposter seeking Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to verify their identities. Deva clearly distinguished the true from the false but dared not reveal it. Being concerned about Yuan Hong’s safety, I decided to come and check. After all, Yuan Hong is a talent from our Monkey Tribe. He shouldn’t unjustly die in confusion, right, Tathagata?”

Sun Wukong’s words were casual, yet full of provocation. He looked at Tathagata Buddha with undeniable coldness in his eyes. At this moment, Tathagata Buddha was the one at fault, and even if Sun Wukong was disrespectful, he had to endure it. Rage born from humiliation was an act only those without strategic depth would resort to.

Tathagata Buddha managed to hold his composure, but Deva nearly fainted upon hearing Sun Wukong’s words. If not for his utter weakness, he might have jumped up already!

My Great Sage Lord, aren’t you putting me in harm’s way? Now it’s over; I’m marked by the Buddha, and my fate is sealed!

Deva wore a look of despair. With Sun Wukong speaking this way, Tathagata Buddha would certainly think that he had tipped off Sun Wukong, yet he had no idea how Sun Wukong had come to know. He was wronged!

“Since the true and the false have been discerned, why not reveal it? If you fear reprisal from demons and thus remain silent, we in the Buddhist Sect have no need for such cowards!”

Tathagata Buddha’s gaze towards Deva indeed turned icy. After coldly uttering these words, he also sent a palm strike towards Deva. Deva, completely enfeebled, could not muster the strength to dodge, and if hit, he would certainly end up crushed to smithereens like the imposter, Yuan Zhen!

“Bang!”

Sun Wukong quickly stepped forward two paces and positioned himself in front of Deva, blocking Tathagata Buddha’s descending hand with a punch, which emitted a heavy clanging sound of metal.

“Tathagata, why the rush to kill? Doesn’t your Buddhist Sect preach that the sea of suffering is boundless, yet turning back is the shore? What Deva did is not a capital offense. Is there really a need for such a heavy hand?”

With a cold laugh, Sun Wukong reached out and shrank Deva, sucking him back into his palm, “Since the Buddhist Sect won’t keep him, well then, I’ll take him back to the Demon Clan myself and discipline him properly, and it’s also a good chance to toughen him up, so he won’t be such a coward in the future!”

After speaking, his lips curled into a mocking smile as he glanced at Tathagata Buddha and Ran Deng Buddha. Then, boldly and under the watchful eyes of all, he mounted his Somersault Cloud and grandly departed from Spiritual Mountain.