Chapter 49: Becoming A Pawn In The Chess Game

Finally, the highly-anticipated Meng Junliang casually walked into the tavern under Qin Manyun’s eager gaze.

The entire tavern turned silent with only Meng Junliang’s voice ringing in the air.

“The Emperor gave an order to the Gods, grouping them accordingly. Three Qing, Four Wei, Five Lao, Six Si, Seven Yuan, Eight Ji, Nine Yao, and Ten Du.

“Thousands of Saints attended the gala to thank the Buddha. These included the Four Sky Guardians, the Nine Fairies, The Golden Gate, the Taixuan Gem Palace, and the Dongyang Jade Palace. They invited the Buddha to sit on the Seven Gem Pedestal. With the rest sitting in their seats, they were served Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow, Jade-sauced Flat Peach…”

An extravagant gala unfolded in the minds of the audience. Although it was merely a story, none of them dared to make a sound!

The names and titles of the attendees of the gala made them rather confused and numb, almost losing their ability to think properly. The Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow served were beyond imagination!

They were dragons and phoenixes! These Godly Beasts were born as Immortals. To the cultivators, they were not to be offended and should be worshipped. Who would have thought of eating them?

Yet, in the Heavenly Temple, Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow were merely some dishes…

Terrifying! Terrifying!

Though Qin Manyun was shocked, she did not forget to link any information to its possible deeper meanings. Since the scholar said that she would be tested today, she had to be mindful!

She frowned, holding her breath.

The Heavenly Temple was celebrating Wukong’s suspension. It was similar to how the cultivators of this realm would celebrate after defeating their enemies! The losers would be trapped in the bottom pit, unable to turn around. The winners stayed at the top, feasting and celebrating.

As for the Dragons and Phoenixes, the Immortals treated them like how the cultivators treated ordinary monsters. It seemed that other than their extraordinary powers, the Immortals were not that different from the cultivators.

What was he hinting at?

Qin Manyun continued to listen. The scholar remained at a steady pace as he continued telling the story.

Many people treated this as a story, though some people had started frowning in contemplation. It seemed that there was a hidden and shocking secret behind all of these.

The story of how Wukong was being confined began to touch a little bit on Buddhism.

“When the disciples heard about this, they put their hands together and asked, ‘Do you have the Tripitaka Sutras?’

“Buddha answered, ‘I have the Dharma and Tibetan. One talks about Heaven, and the other discusses Tibet, Earth, and Ghosts. There are a total of thirty-five volumes, fifteen thousand and one hundred forty-four scrolls. They consist of the Path, the gate of righteousness…

“‘I’m sending them to the East Soil with good faith. To teach one how to travel through thousands of mountains and rivers. To come to me for the Truth, spreading them to the East Soil, teaching the others how to become sentient beings. The mountains remain as a great land of blessings, with the deep sea as its pride. Who’s willing to come?'”

This, this, this…

Qin Manyun stared at Meng Junliang, wide-eyed.

As the ‘Journey’ was about to begin, a loud humming resonated inside Qin Manyun’s head. Buddhism was about crossing over to the east, to look for disciples to seek the truth from the west. Meng Junliang was appointed by the expert to walk toward the west. The difference was that one was seeking the truth from the West while the other was preaching to the west!

Buddhism was about preaching its teachings to the world. So, why did the expert choose to preach to the west? What was its deeper implication?

When the scholar reached the part of the story where Wukong was recruited to protect the Tang Seng in their pursuit of truth in the west, Qin Manyun’s breathing quickened. Wukong was unruly and powerful. Why would he be willing to protect the Tang Seng after being confined in the mountain for five hundred years?

Meng Junliang glanced at Qin Manyun. He spoke more than he usually would today. He only stopped once he reached the part where the tightening hoop was placed on Wukong’s head.

“Wukong listened to Tang Seng’s teaching intently. Since he could not move, he had to repent as he knelt and pleaded.

“‘Master! Please, let me protect you in the west! I won’t mess with them anymore! Please, forgive me and punish me at your will! I’m willing to protect you with no regret!’

“‘Tang Sang said, ‘If so, help me to my horse.’

“Wukong succumbed to his heart and spirit. He tied a knot on the cotton bag, buckled the horse, packed his luggage, and was ready to start the journey. Who would’ve known what laid before them? Stay tuned for the next session.”

The scholar stood up to leave. Qin Manyun’s face remained confused as she sat transfixed in her seat. Her expression kept changing, sometimes furious, sometimes hopeless and pale.

She understood!

She understood what the expert was hinting at her!

However, after learning the truth, she felt more listless than before. The bigshots liked to use the sky and ground as their chessboards, playing with the fates of the