Chapter 609: Chapter 546, Mountain Guardian
"Please select a military general, Your Majesty!" a voice sounded in the cockpit.
Tang Sanzang, in no position to choose, reeled from side to side as the giant tiger battered against the exterior; he quickly reached out and randomly pressed a button.
"Military General Qin Qiong, loading!"
The image of Qin Qiong suddenly enlarged and merged into the Mechanical Man.
Outside, the giant tiger continued to roar, its claws thudding against the Mechanical Man, sparks flying. Thankfully, this was a Mechanical Car custom-made for the Tang King, composed entirely of extraordinary materials, preventing any damage from the giant tiger.
Suddenly, the Mechanical Man sprung into action. As the giant tiger slammed its paw down, the Mechanical Man’s hand shot out to grab the tiger’s paw and, with a kick, hurled it away.
The tiger was flung to the side, crashing loudly in the distance, rolling twice and bellowing in rage as it struggled to stand and then lunged back at the Mechanical Man.
The Mechanical Man, Qin Qiong, also performed an energetic flip to his feet, sweeping a kick backward – bang! His massive steel foot struck the tiger’s head squarely, sending it flying into a large tree. The severe shaking of the tree cascaded leaves down.
Inside the cockpit, Tang Sanzang was shocked. This Mechanical Car gifted by His Majesty was simply incredible. The two moves felt as if he had executed them himself, the combat was intensely satisfying, and a surge of unprecedented fiery passion welled up in him.
"Roar~"
"Roar~"
The giant tiger circled the Mechanical Man, growling menacingly, eyeing its opponent.
The Mechanical Man, Qin Qiong, stretched out his right hand, and Array Runes appeared on his arm, its metal arm growing outwards—click, click, click—forming a Four-sided Golden Mace, glinting with cold light.
"Roar~" The tiger roared furiously and pounced with its mouth agape, exuding a stench of blood.
The Mechanical Man stamped its foot – bang! Stones scattered as the huge body soared up, meeting the tiger in mid-air.
In a collision that shook the air, boom, a piercing tiger scream followed, with blood spraying the sky.
The Mechanical Man, thrusting forward, rammed the tiger into a large tree, violently shaking it. Kneeling on the ground, its right hand—the Four-sided Golden Mace—pierced through the tiger’s chest and pinned it against the tree, its body sagging lifelessly onto the ground in faint twitches.
Tang Sanzang gasped for air, looking at the bloody scene and the dead giant tiger, his eyes alight with excitement – a sensation he had never felt before.
After a moment, the excitement in Tang Sanzang’s eyes faded, and he quickly brought his palms together, chanting, "Amitabha Buddha, well done, well done!"
The towering Mechanical Man hastily stood up. Inside the cockpit, cold sweat coated Tang Sanzang; as a monk, he never intended to take a life.
Not far away at the top of a hill, the Mountain Guardian Liu Boqin held his bow and arrow with a sense of helplessness. Sighing, he thought, if Xuanzang is so capable of fighting, what need is there for me? He could make his way through Double-forked Ridge on his own. No, a greeting is still needed.
Liu Boqin put away his bow and, pulling the arrow taut, let it go—whiz—an acute sound sliced through the air.
The Mechanical Man, Qin Qiong, deftly turned and snatched it out of the air—crack—the arrow shattered in the palm of Mechanical Man Qin Qiong, and its large lantern-like eyes glared in the direction the arrow had come from.
An ape-like figure leapt from tree to tree, bellowing, "What evil dares to run wild on Double-forked Ridge!" Before the figure arrived, his booming voice like thunder.
Plunk—Liu Boqin landed not far from the Mechanical Man, holding his Hunting Knife, warily observing the Mechanical Man.
Inside the cockpit, Tang Sanzang hastily pressed another button on the control stick.
"Self-defense mode deactivated!"
Click~
Ka~
Ka~
The Mechanical Man’s golden mace on its arm shrank back to its original size, the handle rotated, and the opened lid closed once again.
Tang Sanzang pressed a switch on the top, and the Mechanical Man immediately bent down; with a series of clicks, it transformed back into a Mechanical Car.
Tang Sanzang exited the car, brought his hands together in a respectful gesture and joyfully said, "This humble monk, Tang Sanzang, has met the benefactor!"
Liu Boqin relaxed his vigilance, expressing surprise, "Is it really a living person?"
He walked over, kicked the Mechanical Car twice, curiously asking, "What is this thing?"
"This is a Mechanical Car researched by the Mo School, also a mode of transportation for the citizens of the Great Tang."
"May I ask how the benefactor is called?"
"I am a hunter of these mountains, surnamed Liu, named Boqin, also known as the Mountain Guardian.
I had just come out, intending to hunt a couple of mountain critters for food, and unexpectedly encountered you. Seeing your mode of transportation was so peculiar, I thought it was a Demon causing trouble and was inadvertently offensive. Please forgive me."
"This humble monk is a monk dispatched under the auspices of the Great Tang, traveling to the Western Heaven to pay homage to Buddha and seek the scriptures. Happening upon this place, I encountered this fierce tiger while hunting, and fortunately, thanks to the extraordinary Mechanical Car bestowed by Your Majesty, I managed to save my life."
Liu Boqin’s expression immediately changed, and with shock he said, "So you are an imperial emissary sent by His Majesty."
He hurriedly bowed in salute, saying, "Unaware that I was in the presence of the emissary, I have been quite rude. Please forgive my offenses."
Tang Sanzang quickly stepped forward to help Liu Boqin up, saying, "Benefactor, please rise, there is no need for such courtesy."
Liu Boqin got up, laughing heartily, "I won’t hide it from you, elder. I live here by hunting wolves and tigers for a living, and catching some snakes and insects to get by; hence, I seldom see visitors.
Since you come from the Tang Dynasty, we are from the same hometown. The land here still belongs to the Great Tang, and I am also a subject of the Tang Dynasty. You and I consume the water and soil provided by our king, truly people of the same nation.
Today, you must come with me to my abode to rest, allowing me the chance to extend a host’s courtesy."
Tang Sanzang brought his hands together, bowing in gratitude, "I am very thankful to the benefactor for this kindness."
Liu Boqin glanced at the huge tiger pierced under the tree and couldn’t help but praise, "The master truly has great skill. Today, I will prepare a red-braised tiger for the master to enjoy."
He strode forward, grabbed the tail of the huge tiger, and effortlessly dragged the tiger along as he went forward.
Tang Sanzang also climbed into the Mechanical Car, which stood up with a series of clicks and transformed back into a Mechanical Man, and strode after Liu Boqin, pounding along toward the front.
Where Liu Boqin passed by, venomous insects scurried away, Demon Beasts fled, fierce tigers hid their tracks, and long snakes vanished from sight; truly, where the Mountain Guardian passed, not a beast was seen.
Moving quickly, the two crossed a hill and suddenly saw a Mountain Villa ahead, with a small stream in front of it and a stone bridge extending over the stream. After the bridge was a gravel path.
The two crossed the bridge, walked along the path, and arrived in front of the Mountain Villa. The towering solid-wood gate was firmly shut, with a towering ancient tree growing at the doorway.
Liu Boqin tossed the huge tiger in hand, and with a thud, it landed in front of the gate as he shouted, "Where are the servants?"
The gates rumbled open, and several servants ran out, all hunched over with odd and fierce appearances.
Without waiting for Liu Boqin’s command, the servants stepped forward, lifting and dragging the tiger into the courtyard.
At this moment, the Mechanical Man had once again transformed into a Mechanical Car. Tang Sanzang opened the car door and stepped out, looking around.