Chapter 617: Chapter 553, Tightening Spell
Sun Wukong’s eyes lit up with delight as he said, "Exactly, your dear old Sun isn’t alone now. I’m off to ask Yang Jian to do away with Tang Sanzang; that way, your dear old Sun won’t have to follow that monk to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures. Brilliant, just brilliant!
Brother Dragon, I’ll be off to the Heavenly Court first. Once we’ve dealt with Tang Sanzang, your dear old Sun will come back and drink with Brother Dragon."
With that, Sun Wukong leaped and bounded toward the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, transforming into a beam of light that shot upwards into the sky. Boom~ A water column erupted above the East Sea, inside of which, Sun Wukong somersaulted up to the Nine Heavens.
...
Inside the Heavenly Court Judicial Temple, Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, Nezha, and Ao Bing were seated around a table.
Sun Wukong was perched on a chair, retelling everything that had happened earlier, and said indignantly, "That’s the situation now. Just because your dear old Sun killed a few murderous robbers, that monk would not let it go and even drove me away, it’s infuriating!"
Nezha nodded in agreement, "It truly is infuriating!"
Yang Jiao asked with calm gravity, "Wukong, how do you want us to help you?"
Sun Wukong, rubbing his monkey hands together, grinned and said, "Brother Yang, do you think you could talk to Emperor Gouchen for me? Ask him not to make your dear old Sun follow that monk to obtain whatever scriptures.
Besides, what’s the need for Buddhist scriptures, anyway! In your dear old Sun’s opinion, the Taoist Scriptures are excellent. Just give the monk a few Taoist Scriptures to get rid of him, and then your dear old Sun will join you in a great campaign to exterminate demons and uphold the Heavenly Court’s majestic authority."
Yang Jiao shook his head and said, "No, that won’t do."
"Why not?" Sun Wukong hastily asked, "The Taoist Scriptures are very useful. Over the years with the scriptures, your dear old Sun feels like he’s made great progress."
Yang Jiao responded with gravity, "A decision made by Master is never wrong, and it certainly won’t be changed. Since Master wants you to obtain the scriptures, there must be a reason why you must go."
Sun Wukong said with surprise, "Master? Is Emperor Gouchen your master?"
Yang Jiao nodded.
Ao Bing chuckled, "Didn’t expect that, did you?"
Sun Wukong scratched his head and chuckled as well, "Your dear old Sun really didn’t see that coming."
He looked at Yang Jiao expectantly and said, "Since Emperor Gouchen is your master, Brother Yang, do talk to him, please~ That little monk is too difficult to deal with; perhaps find someone else to obtain the scriptures instead!"
Yang Jiao spoke with calm gravity, "Great Saint, now that you’ve joined our Judicial Temple, you’re one of the family. Now that Wukong is in trouble, what do you think we should do?"
Yang Jian immediately said, "I disagree with going to the Emperor. Since the Emperor has given Great Saint an order, it’s imperative that Great Saint goes Westward to obtain the scriptures. I doubt it’d be of any use to appeal."
Nezha also nodded, "I agree with Yang."
Sun Wukong, anxious, said, "So what should we do? Does your dear old Sun really have to go back to serve that monk? Listen to him right or wrong?"
Annoyed, he continued, "Your dear old Sun would rather be imprisoned under the mountain than take this crap."
Ao Bing’s eyes twinkled, and he said with a sly smile, "Great Saint, going to obtain the scriptures and obeying that monk are two different matters. I think we should ask the Emperor for advice, and get the Emperor to help tame that monk.
After all, the monk has Buddhism behind him; by ourselves, we are somewhat lacking."
Yang Jian pondered for a moment, then said, "Ao Bing makes sense; let’s go and seek an audience with the Emperor."
Sun Wukong bowed with a broad smile, "Thank you, thank you, my brothers."
The five of them got up and walked outside.
Just as they were leaving the temple, they saw a middle-aged man walking in, wearing the Law Enforcement Team uniform, striding powerfully and majestically.
Trailing behind him were two groups of Immortal Gods, all sullen-faced with lowered heads, each wearing a Golden Hoop.
Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, Ao Bing, and Nezha hastened to bow and greeted in unison, "Uncle~"
Sun Wukong quickly learned the gesture and bowed curiously at the middle-aged man, wondering who he might be.
Golden Ring Immortal paused his footsteps, nodded slightly, and calmly asked, "Where are you all headed? Has a demon caused trouble in the Lower Realm again?"
Yang Jiao respectfully responded, "Sun Wukong has sought our help, so we are escorting him to see the Master."
Golden Ring Immortal looked at Sun Wukong and said, "Great Sage Equalling Heaven, I’ve long admired your reputation."
Sun Wukong chuckled twice, tiptoeing and cupping one hand in the other before his chest, said, "I’ve long admired your reputation too—I’ve long admired it indeed."
In fact, Sun Wukong’s Primordial Spirit was hurriedly recalling his memories from his time in the Heavenly Court, but he had no impression of this person at all!
Golden Ring Immortal said, "Today’s stroll is over; it’s time for you to return for reformation labor. Today’s task is to manufacture one million tokens for the Three Realms Mall."
All the Immortal Gods wearing golden hoops dutifully responded, "Understood!" and lined up neatly, walking towards the interior.
Ao Bing watched the last person leave, keeping his eyes on them until they disappeared.
Golden Ring Immortal smiled and asked, "Recognize anyone?"
Ao Bing replied with some surprise, "Isn’t that the Music Director of the Divine Music Bureau? How did he get caught too?"
Golden Ring Immortal snorted coldly and said, "Relying on his status as Music Director, he insolently flirted with fairies and goddesses. Eventually, a goddess blew the whistle on him.
The Jade Emperor flew into a rage and ordered a thorough investigation. After my investigation confirmed the allegations, I captured him and brought him back for a sentence of ten thousand years."
Ao Bing said, astonished, "He dared to be so bold?"
Golden Ring Immortal replied coldly, "He brought it upon himself."
Sun Wukong felt some shock in his heart too. Ten thousand years? I, old Sun, couldn’t stand being suppressed for five hundred years, and he has to serve for ten thousand years? Tsk tsk—The old Jade Emperor is truly ruthless! But Emperor Gouchen has been kinder to me, old Sun.
Golden Ring Immortal spoke in a more gentle tone, "Emperor is already well aware of Sun Wukong’s issue, and now it has been assigned to me to handle. Follow me." Having said that, he walked towards the interior.
Yang Jiao and the others immediately followed behind.
Sun Wukong sent a telepathic message, asking, "Ao Bing, who is this? He seems to hold quite a high position."
Ao Bing explained through telepathic communication, "The Judicial Celestial is simply a Subordinate God of the Judicial Temple. The True God is the Law Enforcement Team. This Uncle Master is Prison Officer Xing, one of the Law Enforcement Team. Any god who falls into his hands has to obediently comply."
A moment later, the group arrived inside a grand hall.
Golden Ring Immortal stopped in his tracks and said, "Wait here for a moment."
Yang Jiao bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Master."
The others also bowed.
Golden Ring Immortal nodded slightly, then turned and walked inside.
Yang Jiao and the others found chairs and sat down in the grand hall.
Sun Wukong was somewhat fidgety and whispered, "Can Prison Officer Xing be trusted? Otherwise, let’s go find the Emperor after all!"
Ao Bing whispered back, "Rest assured! Uncle Master Golden Ring Immortal is very strong, and besides, since the Emperor has entrusted the matter to Uncle Master, it surely won’t be an issue."
Sun Wukong had no choice but to sit in the grand hall and wait, drinking one cup of tea after another.
After a short while, Golden Ring Immortal stepped outside the grand hall, holding a Virochana Hat in his hand.
Sun Wukong immediately jumped down from his chair, eagerly asking, "Great Immortal, do you have a solution? Why not speak to the Emperor and have old Sun relieved from the task of protecting Tang Sanzang on his quest for the scriptures?"
Golden Ring Immortal said with a smile, "That’s the Emperor’s decision, which no one can change."
He handed the hat over to Sun Wukong and said, "Take this. Trick Tang Sanzang into wearing this hat, and I will teach you the Tightening Spell dharma gate. The next time he is unreasonable, use this spell on him, and it will surely calm him down and have him converse peacefully with you."