"Little Lai Lai... Tathagata Buddha, you are the ancestor of all Buddhas, and also my sworn father, why do you suddenly bow to me?"
"Oh, I get it, you're worried that the Seven Great Sages will come and you won't be able to handle them, so you..."
"Good heavens, you're not really going to abdicate and yield, are you?"
"Or should I be the Buddha?"
"Then I'll ruin the Spirit Mountain you worked so hard to build!"
Seeing Tathagata Buddha's expression like someone who had just argued with others, Sun Kong, as usual, was about to tease him a little, to crack a joke.
Unexpectedly.
The Tathagata Buddha, who was usually either overly stern and fake, or was tormented to the point of tears and gritting his teeth, did not argue with Sun Kong about his suicidal and insane behavior this time.
Instead, he looked at his self-proclaimed adopted son with a gaze of great disappointment.
Then he spoke from the bottom of his heart!
"Wukong, you can joke with me more, and you can laugh at me. This Buddha position is not as good as yours, a mountain king."
"None of this matters."
"You can also doubt whether I am announcing my abdication to shirk responsibility and let you be the Buddha, directing everyone."
"That's fine too."
"But I want to say some things I've kept hidden for years. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, just listen."
Tathagata Buddha's tone was different from usual, carrying a hint of unspeakable sadness and despair.
This scene did not seem fake.
It even moved Sun Kong a little.
In an instant.
Sun Kong seemed to see his parents, relatives, brothers, friends, and lover from his past life!
Although a voice in his heart reminded him that this was the Journey to the West timeline, not a game, and he couldn't trust anyone, especially Tathagata Buddha.
But another voice kept reminding him, urging him to look at Tathagata's suddenly ten thousand times older face, like an old man in his twilight years.
And told him that Tathagata Buddha and others might have deceived him, hidden things from him, used him in the Journey to the West, and planned to use him as a pawn for their expansion.
However, the sincerity with which Tathagata, in alliance with Nuwa, gave Sun Kong his primordial spirit and body back then, like a father to his adopted son, and a godmother to her godson.
Could not be fake.
Therefore, under the repeated reminders of this voice, Sun Kong, who originally liked to court death, to court death crazily, to shock others for fun and strengthen himself.
For the first time, he believed in Tathagata Buddha's earnest expectations and concern for him.
He stopped being purely sharp-tongued.
He stopped being purely rebellious.
Instead, he showed unprecedented patience and respect, treating Tathagata Buddha as a junior for the first time, and respectfully returned a bow.
Please, Tathagata, continue speaking!
"Buddha, Sun Kong knows that I am unruly and incorrigible, but I am not an ungrateful person. Please say whatever you wish to say."
"However, before that, I must ask again, do you really want to abdicate to me?"
"Do you know that this is the most mistaken course of action, I am completely unworthy!"
Hearing Sun Kong speak so earnestly.
Tathagata Buddha was also stunned for a moment.
After a few seconds, he came back to his senses, his eyes filled with tears of excitement, and he couldn't help but reach out and tap Sun Kong's head, and then spoke his mind.
"Wukong, oh Wukong, you have finally shed some of your inner demons. I, this Buddha, am so happy. Hahaha, let's not say anything else, I'll just talk about you."
"Do you really think I've trained you for so many years just for you to be a mere Fighting Buddha guarding the gates?"
"Do you really think I, this Buddha, cannot manage those Buddhas, nor do I know that Ananda and Kassapa are greedy and corrupt, tarnishing the reputation of my Spirit Mountain?"
"You truly think that my abdication is fake, and letting you take the blame is real, don't you?"
"Let me just say one thing: you have no idea why we created you back then, yet still had to rely on Mother Nuwa's Five-Colored Stone."
"Behind this, there is me, there are the two saints of the Western Teachings, there is Mother Nuwa's painstaking effort, and there are major secrets about your past life."
"You probably really think I don't even know you went to the Chaos Void and subdued a drop of Pangu's essence blood, so how could I control you?"
"Then you can continue to think so, because we agreed back then that we would not reveal the truth until you became a Buddha."
"Believe it or not, it's up to you."
"I've left the position for you. If you like it, take it. If you don't, you can leave it empty."
"In short, my Western Teachings and the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism have a destiny with you. This destiny has long been predetermined, unshakable by heaven, unbreakable by earth, and not to be denied by your temporary arrogance and inner demons."
"One day, you will understand our intentions and will join us in transcending all beings and purifying the mortal world!"
As soon as these words were spoken.
Before Sun Kong could react, Tathagata Buddha actually offered his position and, without knowing what incantation he chanted, caused himself to attain nirvana on the spot.
That's right.
Tathagata Buddha did not chant the wrong spell; it was the mantra for attaining nirvana.
On Sun Kong's side, although he felt a bit choked by the flood of information, he truly saw the Tathagata Buddha he often teased, Little Lai Lai, and the sworn father he somewhat acknowledged.
Had actually destroyed himself!
"Little Lai Lai, why did you do this... Alas, in the end, it seems I've made so many mistakes?"
"Tathagata, don't die."
"Wait for me, I'll take over immediately... No, I was already planning to face the Seven Great Sages alone, and I wouldn't be afraid, and I could protect the Spirit Mountain. Why would I want to be the Buddha?"
"Don't die, wait a moment, I can't save you, I'll go find Deputy Buddha Randeng, if he can't, I'll find the two saints of the Western Teachings."
"You are my sworn father, I absolutely won't let anything happen to you, wait for me!"
Sun Kong was completely moved by this Tathagata Buddha.
Tears streamed down his face.
Heartbroken.
His mind was cleansed and reborn.
Full of regret!
The next second.
Sun Kong, without even needing a somersault cloud, arrived at Buddha Randeng's side, desperately begging him to intervene and save Tathagata!
Hearing this.
Tathagata Buddha, who was still between Spirit Mountain and the New Flower Fruit Mountain, and was slowly "destroying himself," suddenly had a subtle, triumphant smile appear on his lips.
The moment he was truly "destroyed" by the flames.
A Tathagata Buddha, identical to him, with a look of amused exasperation, was watching this scene from the Pool of Eight Merits in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, trillions of miles away.
So, this was the true Tathagata!
So, the Tathagata Buddha just now was not real, but it was the idea of the two saints of the Western Teachings. Just like how Bodhi Patriarch, a manifestation of Zhunti Daoist, secretly trained Sun Kong back then.
This time.
It was Zhunti Daoist who made the move!
"Brother, Tathagata, isn't this move of mine perfect?"
"It even moved that Monkey King to tears."
"Hahaha!"
The second patriarch, Zhunti Daoist, was gloating over this plan.
Unexpectedly.
Sun Kong suddenly stopped crying, stopped being moved, and instead showed a cunning and suicidal face.
With one hand, he activated the "Martial Lord's Seven Stars Formation," recreating the scene of Tathagata Buddha going to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to discuss matters.
With the other hand, he pointed at Zhunti Daoist and cursed him furiously.
He truly elevated his suicidal tendencies to a new height!