"To think that the one who saved me in the end was little Lai Lai, sob sob, I'm so touched, truly worthy of being my godfather."
Sun Kong thought this, five million zhang away from the Lord of the Heavens.
On the other side, two individuals more excited than him and more concerned with the merits of Journey to the West, the Lord of the Heavens and the Tathagata Buddha, commenced a new conversation!
"One is not enough, we need ten!"
The Lord of the Heavens used this opportunity to extort!
Truly insidious!
Were 'saints' also like market women haggling when negotiating?
What a simple and unadorned sight.
Sun Kong exclaimed with approval.
Yet, the usually petty Tathagata Buddha was incredibly generous this time, showing no refusal, only a slight negotiation.
"Ten is too many. Saint Shangqing, you know there are eighty-one tribulations on this journey. If I give you ten, my Lesser Vehicle Buddhism, and others, will have no explanation."
"Two!"
The number shouted by the Tathagata Buddha clearly did not satisfy the Lord of the Heavens. The two of them, high in the sky for hundreds of millions of zhang,
began to haggle!
"Two is too little, too little, at least nine."
"At most three."
"At least eight."
"At most... Since Saint Shangqing cares so much about this matter, it is evident that you do not truly wish to defy the heavenly way and eliminate Sun Monkey."
"Then it's like this, I'll increase it to six at once. Six brings good fortune, six brings great luck, six... it's also a number that's not too much or too little, a number that won't provoke the displeasure of Saint Yuqing or Saint Taiqing."
"No more than that."
As the Tathagata Buddha uttered his final stern words, even the Lord of the Heavens had to show reverence for the other five saints, and the Jade Emperor, who was not a saint but whom saints were unwilling to offend.
Ultimately.
The Lord of the Heavens, who had arrived with an imposing aura, wishing to flatten Spirit Mountain, left contentedly with an additional six merit slots for Journey to the West!
This scene shocked cultivators across the three realms of the Great Desolation who were observing this battle.
They could not hear or see the specific truth, only felt bewildered and speechless.
The promised good show was gone.
How did it suddenly turn into a scene of reconciliation between former master and disciple?
What a waste of the melon seeds and rice wine they had just borrowed from the neighboring Wuji Kingdom!
This scene also astonished other saints who had sensed something.
They could see, but due to the presence of the Lord of the Heavens, which affected the surrounding area, they could not hear the specific dialogue.
They could only look on with blank expressions!
"One Sun Monkey defied the heavens but was tacitly allowed?"
"Now, another Tathagata Buddha has appeared. Clearly unable to save Sun Monkey, he managed to dismiss the Lord of the Heavens with just a few words?"
"This is absurd!"
All five saints, including Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, Laozi, and Yuanshi, were filled with suspicion.
However.
As saints, they could not deduce matters concerning other saints, and thus could not deduce what had just happened.
If they wanted to ask the Tathagata...
It was either because of distant relations, making it inconvenient to act, like Laozi and Yuanshi.
Or because, although their relationship was closer, they had promised not to interfere after assigning the task of nurturing Sun Monkey to the Tathagata in the past, allowing him to act independently, thus making it inconvenient to break their promise at this time.
Like Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
In the end.
This whole bizarre affair ended as bizarrely as it began.
It was the first peaceful sparring match since the creation of heaven and earth!
...
"Thank you, Buddha, for saving my life. Thank you, Vice Buddha, for half saving my life. If it weren't for the two of you speaking on my behalf, I fear that old third Tongtian would have truly laid hands on me."
"I am not afraid, of course, but I cannot bear the heavy charge of beating a saint, so I will not hold it against him."
"Heh heh heh, no need to say more, we are all family. These two pots of holy water soup are specially prepared for you."
"From now on, I, Sun, guarantee to be obedient. Except when it's necessary to court death, go wild, and shock everyone for a bit, I will absolutely not act recklessly when it's not necessary!"
Seeing that this matter had concluded, although Sun Kong maintained his persona of courting death, madness, and shock, he did not forget basic gratitude.
He followed the Tathagata and Randeng back to the Tathagata's chambers and, without ceremony, presented two pots of holy water soup.
It was a bribe.
And also a thank you.
This was the first expression of gratitude from Sun Kong since his transmigration, after all his reckless, wild, and shocking actions!
Although his gratitude was accompanied by his usual shameless rhetoric and a grinning attitude, seeing that the two Buddhas did not dwell on it.
Instead, they each drank it and praised its deliciousness,
Sun Kong's heart finally settled.
Just as he was about to take his leave,
Suddenly, the Tathagata Buddha's eyebrows rose, instructing Randeng Buddha to stay and listen, and gave Sun Kong two unusual commands!
"Kong Kong, your soup is wonderful, and your words are indeed roguish, but this Buddha will not nitpick these details from now on."
"Because I know your nature is such, and it is not a big deal. Moreover, after tempering through the Journey to the West tribulation, you will naturally mature."
"Let's not talk about these trivialities for now, heed my command!"
Sun Kong was bewildered by the Tathagata Buddha's rare seriousness.
Randeng Buddha on the side had a similar expression.
However.
When the Tathagata Buddha revealed those two matters, both Randeng Buddha and Sun Kong were instantly stunned!
"First, do not forget the extra six merit slots our Spirit Mountain lost today. Prepare a heavy gift immediately and go to Biyou Palace to reciprocate the Lord of the Heavens."
"This is a danger, an opportunity, and a test for you. You wouldn't be so foolish as to not understand the good intentions behind my actions, would you?"
"Second, it concerns your reckless sworn brotherhood with the Four Great Monkeys a few days ago. I won't say much about Wuzhiqi and Zhou Wuxian; they seem to be under your good management."
"But you do not know that the Six-Eared Macaque, whom you let off, is now suspected of colluding with the remnants of the demon race and daring to attack me in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."
"This Six-Eared Macaque is a crucial individual. Since your cultivation has soared and your strength has increased, I will not hide it from you that he was originally prepared for you to overcome the tribulation of true and false Sun Wukong."
"It now appears that you may not only lose the merit for this tribulation but also be plotted against by him. You must send people to investigate this thoroughly."
"Otherwise, if something truly happens, I won't be able to save you!"
The Tathagata's words terrified both Sun Kong and Randeng.
Sun Kong obediently left.
Randeng curiously asked, but the Tathagata smiled mysteriously.
"Don't be surprised. This Buddha intends to save him, but not to forgive him too early. It's merely a way to redirect his madness."
"For the next while, everyone can finally have some peace. But you must not tell anyone!"
Hearing this, Randeng understood and exchanged a cunning smile with the Tathagata.
Unbeknownst to them.
Sun Kong, who had already walked far away, was using the 'Martial Lord Seven Stars Formation' to deduce this scene clearly!
These two Buddhas were playing a trick on him.
And he, Sun Kong, was also playing a trick on them!