Journey to the West: Life Simulation of Sun Wukong

"So, you've come seeking immortality?"

Miss Mao Xue clarified Zhang Liang's thoughts, "But you still have to visit the Three Lives Academy. The King will not accept disciples."

How could the King, such a busy person, possibly have time to take on a disciple?

This scholar is too naive.

"The Three Lives Academy, I have also inquired there. To achieve any success, one needs at least a hundred years. By then, Korea would be gone. What use would my learning be if I return after it's too late?" Zhang Liang wanted a shortcut to success.

"You're such a strange person. If you succeed, can't you just establish a new Korea?" Miss Mao Xue asked.

"I wouldn't dare to overstep my bounds."

"Such a blindly loyal fool."

Miss Mao Xue looked at him with some disdain, "But the King won't take you as a disciple. He doesn't have time to teach you, and even if you became an immortal, you couldn't use the Immortal Law to interfere with the fate of the mortal world, as that would violate the heavenly rules."

"When gods wish to descend to the mortal realm for trials, they must seal their mana and be reborn through reincarnation."

"If you plan to use the Immortal Law to interfere, that's just wishful thinking."

Zhang Liang was incredibly serious, "If I could trade my life for the fate of Korea, I would do so willingly."

"Fool."

Miss Mao Xue cursed under her breath but followed Zhang Liang's lead, ready to accompany him inside Shuilian Cave.

After all, with monkey soldiers at the gates of the jade bridge of Shuilian, people of no status could not truly enter.

Under Miss Mao Xue's guidance, Zhang Liang met Ao Yun and bowed deeply, "I pay my respects to the Holy Mother of Huaguo Mountain!"

The fact that Ao Yun was titled the Holy Mother of All Spirits and Celestial Dragons had not spread.

But in recent years, people from outside recognized Ao Yun, the Grand Steward of Huaguo Mountain, with various honorifics like "Holy Dragon Lady" and "Holy Mother."

"No need for such formalities."

Once Ao Yun ascertained Zhang Liang's identity, she spoke slowly, "In Nanshan Continent, dynastic changes are a matter of natural law and must not be contravened. If you interfere with it using the Immortal Law, it would be an even greater violation of natural law."

Zhang Liang, struck as by thunder, protested, "But why must it be so?"

Ao Yun asked, "How do you think the people of Korea live?"

Zhang Liang remained silent.

Ao Yun pressed on, "And what about the people of Qin, who seek to conquer your Korea? How do they live?"

Zhang Liang was silent still.

But he had his answer.

Compared to Huaguo Mountain, the lives of the commoners in both Korea and Qin were far worse; one might even say they lived through hellish conditions.

High officials and nobles, to ordinary people, had the power of life and death – utterly disregarding the commoners' humanity.

Though there were laws, those laws served the nobles, not the commoners.

Zhang Liang, born into a noble family, had never appreciated this point. Yet as he journeyed and compared his observations with the people of Huaguo Mountain, he felt the difference profoundly.

Here, the people lived in genuine peace and contentment!

"So Korea deserves to perish?" Zhang Liang challenged.

"That's not a question for me but for the King of your country," Ao Yun replied indifferently. "Furthermore, don't lose your temper here, and consider your own position, an envoy of Korea."

Zhang Liang left the palace with a look of disappointment. The reference version of this chapter is on M*V*LEMPYR.

Seeing Zhang Liang emerge disappointed, a smug Miss Mao Xue said, "What did I tell you? Even the Second King would not agree with you. If you want to extend the fate of Korea, you have to rely on yourself."

"Listen to my advice, still consider visiting the Three Lives Academy."

Zhang Liang nodded.

Since the quest for immortality proved fruitless, heading to Three Lives Academy to recruit some talents was not an unreasonable alternative.

Relying on the strength of one person was not enough to prop up a falling edifice, but the individuals from Three Lives Academy were rare talents of this world. Should he manage to enlist one or two, perhaps it would enable Korea to rise in power.

"Thank you, Miss Mao Xue, for your guidance," Zhang Liang expressed his gratitude and bowed.

"There's no need for that," Mao Xue said with a chuckle, "Perhaps this is our destiny."

What is destiny?

In Mao Xue's opinion, it was precisely that single black piece—it represented destiny.

Otherwise, how could she have coincidentally encountered Zhang Liang, this handsome man?

This was fate!

However, Zhang Liang found Mao Xue, the girl who seemed to be clinging to him, somewhat embarrassing, but he gradually got used to her presence.

Ao Yun stepped out of the palace, watching the retreating figures of Mao Xue and Zhang Liang, and clicked his tongue in wonder, "That guy Mao Xue, why is she with this Zhang Liang? Could it be that she has taken a fancy to him?"

Truth be told, with Zhang Liang's appearance, one could say he was exceptionally handsome, and with his scholarly aura, enough to make many of the more artistic female demons fall in love.

Yet Mao Xue was the daughter of the King of Mao City, practically a princess, with exceedingly discerning taste. It was unexpected that she would take a liking to Zhang Liang—could it be love at first sight?

Shaking his head, Ao Yun disregarded it and went to handle other affairs.

After Zhang Liang arrived at Three Lives Academy, he explained his situation to the academy director, the Holy Mother of All Spirits and Celestial Dragons, hoping to recruit some talents. Nevertheless, the Holy Mother asserted, "You may proceed, but do not coerce."

Clearly, the Holy Mother of All Spirits and Celestial Dragons did not take much interest in Zhang Liang's request. As long as Zhang Liang did not use forceful measures to threaten, the academy was full of talents from all walks of life, all available for Zhang Liang to persuade.

"Thank you, Director, for opening the doors of generosity," Zhang Liang was overjoyed.

In his view, this was the Holy Mother of All Spirits and Celestial Dragons providing him with a convenient opportunity.

With his impeccable eloquence, he was certain he could recruit a plethora of talents. Would Korea not become powerful at that time, rather than being swallowed by mighty Qin?

Perhaps it could even replace Qin and unify the Nanshan Continent!

However, the students within the academy did not have many willing to leave, for a variety of reasons.

Some said they hadn't completed their studies and couldn't leave; others said Korea was a small nation and going there would not lead to significant use; yet others remarked that the King of Han was inept, and going would be in vain.

Zhang Liang's enthusiasm waned.

He also understood that the King of Han was indeed not very bright, which was commonly referred to as: an ineffectual ruler unaware of their incompetence.

He would get angry at the slightest criticism from his subjects. With the frank and outspoken nature of the academy students, even if one had myriad abilities, the King of Han would not make use of them.

"Su, would you like to join me in going to Korea?" Zhang Liang approached Su Yonglin and others.

"Korea?" Su Yonglin poured tea for Zhang Liang while sitting alongside Mei Jun, Hai Feng, and Wu Ming. They had been discussing how to complete their monthly exam and paused their conversation upon Zhang Liang's arrival.

"I've heard of Korea, it's a small country. It seems their King of Han even drove out the refugees from the capital, leaving them to fend for themselves," Wu Ming began.

Zhang Liang's face flushed with shame, "That was three years ago. Drought struck, crops failed, and although the peasant revolt was suppressed, it resulted in many refugees, and the capital also lacked food."

Wu Ming spoke with disdain, "It's because the ruler was incompetent; otherwise, how could there possibly be no food?"

Zhang Liang had no words.

He knew Wu Ming was right.

Rich banquet stenches while bones lie frozen on the road—this was a true depiction of Korea three years ago. Now things were slightly better because the great drought had long passed, and moreover, the "Crafts of a Hundred Families" had spread there, enriching the farmers' cultivation techniques.

However, as a consequence, seeing the citizens "prosper," the King had also raised taxes—

For Korea to flourish, it must acquire a new King of Han!