Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

As the former Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Bajie did have some perspective. For example, he recognized something like the Ninth Grade Black Lotus, which even Sun Wukong didn't know, but Zhu Bajie did.

He could also guess roughly how much merit would come from completing the Journey to the West for Scriptures and what kind of titles would be bestowed afterward.

These were all things his vision as the former Marshal Tianpeng allowed him to see.

However, when it came to Zhu Bajie's wisdom, it really wasn't very high.

Perhaps it was because he had been reincarnated as a pig, or maybe his intelligence was originally not that high.

After all, if he had truly been smart, how could he have behaved rudely toward Chang'e while drunk and then be banished to the mortal world for it?

Zhu Bajie naturally cared about his own matters with Zhuzhu, even though his affections were indiscriminate, but does that mean indiscriminate affection isn't affection at all?

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so heartbroken as to lash out at Bodhisattva Guanyin.

Yet, amid his sorrow, Zhu Bajie also felt there was something suspicious about his situation with Zhuzhu, but what the specific reason was, he just couldn't figure out.

Therefore, he could only seek help from his master, Jiang Liu.

What did Zhu Bajie admire the most about his master Jiang Liu? It was his ability to make almost all the female demons and fairies fall for him, which was also the main reason why Zhu Bajie was willing to accompany him on the Journey to the West!

However, if there was another ability of the master that Zhu Bajie admired, it was his wisdom.

Originally, with just one meeting, he was able to infer Zhu Bajie's identity and origin in a connected manner, leaving an indelible first impression of his intelligence.

The odd title he claimed for himself, "Holmes," seemed to indicate that he considered himself to be highly intelligent.

Therefore, for the matters that Zhu Bajie couldn't understand, he could only ask his master Jiang Liu for guidance.

He knew, his master truly had his best interests at heart and was extremely good to him!

"Bajie, do you really want to know? Perhaps, the truth of the matter is much deeper than you imagine," Jiang Liu came up beside Zhu Bajie and after a brief moment of silence, he asked.

"Master, I'm already in such a state, what's there to fear? As the saying goes, the barefooted are not afraid of those with shoes. I have nothing left to lose!" Zhu Bajie said, turning his head and glancing at Jiang Liu beside him.

"Well then, since that's the case, let me generally tell you what I know..." After receiving Zhu Bajie's affirmative answer, Jiang Liu nodded.

"As Marshal Tianpeng, you know a lot, so I won't say too much. I'll just tell you that it's destined by the Heavenly Dao that the Buddhist Sect shall thrive; this is the grand trend, unchangeable by anyone. And the Journey to the West for Scriptures is the most critical part of the growth of the Buddhist Sect, the spread of Buddhist Law to the east..." Jiang Liu began, directly expounding.

"I, Old Pig, am aware of this. The Journey to the West is even a major calamity in the world, and us few are all people arising in response to the prophecy!" Zhu Bajie nodded in understanding as Jiang Liu spoke.

"Good, as long as you understand. Now, let's continue. Since it's the Journey to the West for Scriptures, the 108,000-mile trip will be fraught with great trials. Thus, the journey for seeking the scriptures will naturally not be smooth. The eighty-one calamities may be numbered by the Heavenly Dao," Jiang Liu said, nodding slightly.

"Ninety-nine calamities? Does that mean it's my turn to face one of these calamities?" Hearing Jiang Liu's explanation, Zhu Bajie understood and showed a mix of expressions: a glimmer of realization, sadness, anger, and reluctance.

Having been Marshal Tianpeng, I was once an esteemed figure in the Immortal Realm. Now, I have fallen so far as to become a pig. Does heaven still refuse to let me off?

The will of heaven is like a knife, truly heartless and cruel.

"No, you might have misunderstood something!" Seeing the appearance of Marshal Tianpeng, Jiang Liu shook his head and said, "Before that, let me tell you another story, about me and Gaoyang..."

Jiang Liu began to speak, his voice distant and his gaze lost, clearly caught up in his own thoughts. He then recounted the events between him and Gaoyang to Zhu Bajie.

Before becoming a monk, I was grilling meat at the back of Jinshan Temple, stumbled upon Gaoyang, and together we escaped the pursuit of Wolf Demon Soldiers, sharing a bond through adversity. Then, together, we went down the mountain for revenge and made an oath of eternal love. Find adventures at empire

Until later, at the Incense Offering Ceremony, I received twelve incense scars on my body, fought to exorcise demons on Foutu Mountain, secluded with Gaoyang for two months, and finally, when Gaoyang was poisoned, I could only beg Buddha to save her, and set off on the Journey to the West.

Jiang Liu elaborated to Zhu Bajie everything that happened between him and Gaoyang.

"So that is how it is. No wonder, Master, you initially told me to stay away from Zhuzhu as soon as possible?"

After hearing Jiang Liu's story, there was a dawning realization in Zhu Bajie's expression, "My situation is so similar to yours, Master! So, Master, are you suggesting that the calamity between Zhuzhu and me could likely be arranged by Bodhisattva Guanyin?"

"Whether it was arranged by the Bodhisattva, I am only deducing, with no concrete evidence. Also, if my guess is not wrong, although the eighty-one trials could be predetermined, the Immortals and Buddhas in heaven might be able to create artificial trials to make us face our fate," Jiang Liu responded to Zhu Bajie's question.

This was indeed the truth. Whether it was designed by Bodhisattva Guanyin or not, while Jiang Liu believed in his speculation, it was after all just a conjecture. Whether it was actually the case or not would need to be judged by Zhu Bajie himself.

Your subjective judgments cannot be forcibly imposed on others as facts.

"Just speculation, huh? Hmph, then I, Old Pig, will find the evidence myself to prove it all!" With a cold laugh, Zhu Bajie spoke after hearing Jiang Liu's words.

"Ah? You're going to find evidence yourself? Where will you find it!?" Surprised by Zhu Bajie's statement, Jiang Liu asked incredulously.

"How could the Matchmaker God not know about the issues between Zhuzhu and me? I'll go and ask him properly!" Zhu Bajie replied.

Being just the Matchmaker God, though his position was special, he wasn't a particularly powerful figure. For someone like Zhu Bajie, seeking an audience with him was naturally not an issue.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhu Bajie moved and flew straight into the sky, heading to the Heavenly Court.

"Oh? It really does seem like a method to go and clear things up with the Matchmaker God," Jiang Liu mused quietly to himself, watching Zhu Bajie depart.

Wasn't he once the great Marshal Tianpeng? He always knew whom to find for relevant matters, unlike myself, who never even thought to seek the Matchmaker God.

Though Zhu Bajie was a fallen celestial being, his origins as Marshal Tianpeng and his Cultivation Level as a Taiyi True Immortal meant he moved with ease in the Heavenly Court.

With the thirty-six transformations at his disposal, ordinary immortals couldn't even detect his presence. It didn't take long for Zhu Bajie to locate the Hall of Marriage where the Matchmaker God resided.

Entering the Hall, he saw several boys busying themselves with red strings, all concerning mortal marriages.

The red strings seemed quite intelligent; as soon as the boys sprinkled them, they would automatically match and twist together.

Some individuals would have several red strings attached to them, while others wouldn't have a single one.

Moreover, some red strings were tied with several knots of varying sizes. The whole Hall of Marriage looked cluttered with intertwining strings.

Hiding in the shadows, Zhu Bajie waited briefly until, one by one, the boys finished their tasks and withdrew. Shortly after, an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in bright red robes—a very festive sight—walked out, a bundle of red string in his hand.

"Finally, he shows up!"

Spying the old man emerge, Zhu Bajie sneered inwardly and then charged out, tackling the Matchmaker God to the ground while gripping his neck with both hands.

"You old man, you finally decided to show up, huh!?" Zhu Bajie asked fiercely, staring down the Matchmaker God.

"You, cough, you are... Marshal Tianpeng!?" Knocked to the ground with his neck fiercely seized by Zhu Bajie's strong hands, the Matchmaker God looked distressed and spoke in shock, clearly not expecting to be attacked, let alone by Zhu Bajie, who had long been cast down to the mortal world.

"Hmph, what's so surprising about that? Seeing Old Pig come looking for you, does it feel strange to you!?" Zhu Bajie demanded sternly without any trace of mirth.

"Marshal, spare my life! Are you meaning to kill me? This old one... this old one knows not what offense he has committed. Please enlighten me, Marshal!" The Matchmaker God wailed, pleading with a wronged tone.

"Oh, the nerve of you, Matchmaker God. You expect me to believe that you know nothing about what's happening between Zhuzhu and me? I don't buy it!" Zhu Bajie relaxed his grip slightly and said with irritation.

"Marshal, your own marital fate? Let me, let me check for you..." Upon hearing Zhu Bajie recount his issues with Zhuzhu, the Matchmaker God offered to look into it.

As he spoke, the Matchmaker God utilized his authority's powers, his eyes seeming to glimpse countless glimmers signaling his scrutiny as he closely examined Zhu Bajie.

"Well? What did you see?" Zhu Bajie questioned in a menacing tone after the Matchmaker God had inspected him.

"Strange indeed, Marshal. There is indeed an extra thread of red string on you, but it wasn't tied by me. Even if I had the audacity of the heavens themselves, I wouldn't dare to toy with your affections, Marshal. I've been wronged!"

To Zhu Bajie's situation, the Matchmaker God appeared just as baffled, but more than that, he vehemently cried his innocence.

"Hmph, in all three realms and six paths, who doesn't know the only red strings come from you. If not you, could there be someone else?" Zhu Bajie was indifferent to the Matchmaker God's protestations and, while he spoke, lifted his Nine-Toothed Rake into view.

"Could it be...!?" the Matchmaker God began to speak without thinking, but stopped short, a hint of realization crossing his face.

"Could it be what? Speak up!" Zhu Bajie pressed urgently upon seeing the Matchmaker God's reaction.

"I dare not speak!" The Matchmaker God refused, his expression filling with fear.

"Hmph, dare not? You fear others, but you don't fear me? I am already nothing but a Pig Demon with nothing left to lose. The barefoot aren't afraid of the shoe-wearing. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you right here and now?" Zhu Bajie brandished his rake, threatening to strike.

"Wait, Marshal! I'll speak, I will. Some days ago, Bodhisattva Guanyin asked me for several red threads. She said they were needed for the great tribulation of the westward journey, to assist with certain matters using the strings..."