Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Under Jiang Liu's gaze, an elderly man in a dingy gray-white monastic robe with shoes that were somewhat tattered walked over step by step, using a wooden branch as a cane. On his bald head, there was not a single incense scar.

By the look of it, the elder seemed to have passed the age of sixty, yet he appeared to be very lively and clear-minded. Furthermore, his posture did not reveal any signs of stooping.

"What's this? An old Monk!?" As he watched the old monk approaching, Jiang Liu's eyebrows raised slightly.

From the man's attire, he indeed seemed to be a monk, with the monastic robe and shoes, and even a string of wooden beads around his neck. However, the lack of incense scars on his bald head didn't seem to fit the identity of a monk?

"Amitabha, greetings to you..." As the old monk reached him, he brought his palms together, gave a bow to Jiang Liu, and greeted him.

"Amitabha, good evening to you too, Elder!" Jiang Liu also brought his palms together and returned the bow.

Jiang Liu looked at the elder and then around at the pitch-black environment. It was New Year's, and after midnight, he expressed his surprise, "Elder, on this New Year's Eve, and at such a late hour, why do you walk alone outside?"

"Wandering everywhere, the world is my home; what difference is there between inside and out?" The old monk replied to Jiang Liu's comment.

"Then where does Elder intend to go?" Jiang Liu briefly hesitated, thinking of the old monk wandering alone in the wilds at such a late hour, and continued to ask.

"From where I came, to where I will go!" The old monk said in a low voice with palms together.

"..." Jiang Liu inwardly rolled his eyes at the old monk's Zen-like riddles.

These words, although they might seem profound, were actually complete sophistry, right?

"Amitabha, may I ask where you are heading to?" However, after his words fell, the old monk asked Jiang Liu in return.

"Me? From where I came, to where I will go, of course!" Using the same reasoning against him, Jiang Liu responded to the old monk's inquiry.

"Hahaha, interesting..." Hearing Jiang Liu's response, the old monk suddenly broke into laughter.

"Since you, Elder, are rushing on your way, I won't keep you any longer. Please feel free to proceed!" Finding that there wasn't much to talk about with this suddenly appeared old monk, nor could they connect on any topic, Jiang Liu spoke.

"No, to meet is to have fate. On this night of New Year's Eve, it's already midnight, and a new year is about to start soon. How about you and this old monk cross into the New Year together? I see you are also alone!" The old monk shook his head, not seeming to be in a hurry to leave.

"You are mistaken there. I am not alone; look, my disciples are over there!" Jiang Liu shook his head at the old monk's remark and pointed towards where Sun Wukong and the others were playing Mahjong.

"If you are not alone, then why are you here by yourself?" The old monk glanced at Sun Wukong and the others from a distance and calmly countered Jiang Liu's statement.

A square table was set up, with Sun Wukong short and thin, Zhu Bajie fat and plump, and Sha Wujing looking like a small giant. Perhaps only the human form of the White Dragon Horse, dressed as a dashing gentleman in white, would seem ordinary.

And yet, the old monk looked at them and remained calm, not afraid in the slightest?

This caused a stir in Jiang Liu's heart.

"I just needed to take a break from sitting for too long, so I came over here to get some air!" Jiang Liu replied calmly, and his gaze fell on the old monk as he silently invoked: Character Panel.

Suddenly, a translucent character panel appeared in front of Jiang Liu, and he was inwardly shocked as he read the information it displayed.

ID: Mysterious Old Monk (Golden).

Gender: Male.

Profession: ?.

Level: 88.

...

"Hiss!" Seeing the character panel of this mysterious old monk, Jiang Liu couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

Level 88!? A level even higher than Sun Wukong's!

And the same golden BOSS title in his name? This mysterious old monk, without a doubt, was someone of great significance.

Based on the level, he must be a Great Luo Golden Immortal, right? And moreover, one of the prominent figures amongst the Great Luo Golden Immortals!

A big shot from the Great Luo Golden Immortals, disguising himself as an unremarkable old monk to chat with me!?

Could it be that the Buddhist Sect is concerned about my recent unusual actions and wants to test me?

With this thought in mind, Jiang Liu became more cautious and treated everything with care.

"By the way, Little Monk, what do they call you? We've been talking for a while now, and I still don't know your Dharma name," the old monk asked Jiang Liu.

"Amitabha, Elder Master, my Dharma name is Xuanzang. May I inquire as to how you are addressed?" Jiang Liu answered, while taking the chance to ask in return.

"Me? As you can see, I don't even have a single Scar of Precepts, so I'm not truly a monk, but my heart admires the Buddhist Sect. I've been cultivating Buddhism by myself for many years!" Pointing at his bald head, which lacked even a single Scar of Precepts, the old monk replied.

Upon saying this, he paused briefly, then looked at Jiang Liu with eyes filled with expectation, "I wonder, Little Monk, do you think one can achieve Buddhahood in this manner?"

"Cultivating Buddhism is actually about cultivating one's own heart; the Scar of Precepts is merely a formality. As long as Buddha is in the heart, where can one not cultivate? Master, although you lack even a single Scar of Precepts, the fact that you've cultivated for so many years truly impresses me!" Jiang Liu spoke seriously in response.

"Hmm, you make sense. Cultivating Buddhism is indeed about cultivating the heart. As long as Buddha is in the heart, that is sufficient!" Nodding his head, the old monk seemed quite satisfied with Jiang Liu's answer.

Immediately after, he asked curiously, "Then, Little Monk, what is your purpose in cultivating Buddhism?"

"Can I say that I really don't want to be a monk at all?" The old monk's question provoked internal grimaces from Jiang Liu.

Of course, these were words he couldn't possibly voice. His expression earnestly unchanged, Jiang Liu said, "My purpose in cultivating Buddhism is naturally to liberate all beings, to guide sentient beings to the other shore, to propagate the Buddhist Law..."

It felt a bit like responding to a superior's inspection at work; Jiang Liu's speech turned somewhat impassioned, as if he were an employee loudly declaring his willingness to give his all for the company, to devote his every last bit to it.

"Not bad, not bad, that's a good answer. Although your words and heart don't align, no matter who you face in the future, you should always answer like this!" With a satisfied nod, the old monk spoke.

"Ah!? Elder Master, what do you mean by that? Where have I been disingenuous!?"

Giving an impassioned display, Jiang Liu almost wished he could shout the oath he remembered from his previous life, but the old monk's words poured down on him like a bucket of ice water, sending a chill through his entire being.

"Amitabha, having cultivated for many years, I possess a divine skill called Telepathy. Although I can't fully understand what one is thinking in their heart, I can still generally sense a bit of it!" Watching Jiang Liu vehemently deny it, the old monk smiled slightly and revealed.

"Telepathy? Mind reading? Does the world of Journey to the West really have such terrifying supernatural abilities!?" The old monk's words tightened Jiang Liu's heart further, and he became more cautious of the other party.

"Hmm, it seems that you indeed have many secrets!" As if sensing Jiang Liu's nervousness and defensiveness, the old monk spoke softly.

"Who exactly are you!?" By this point, Jiang Liu had no intention of pretending any longer and earnestly stared at the old monk, questioning him.

"You are intelligent and possess some unusual talents, quite impressive!" Instead of confessing his identity, the old monk simply nodded in admiration and satisfaction at Jiang Liu.

During their conversation, it seemed as though the old monk had already learned what he wanted to know, and after glancing at the sky, he said, "Well, Midnight has passed, and it's a new day, a new year. I hope this new year brings you everything you wish for!"

"Thank you, Master, and I also wish you every success in all you do!" Jiang Liu nodded and offered his congratulations in return.

"Alas, the Heavenly Dao is heartless, the Immortals and Buddhas are unrighteous, causing all beings to suffer. The Dragon King of Jing River is but a pawn sacrificed in the game. Since he has fallen into your hands, I hope you will treat him kindly!" After nodding slightly, the old monk added with a hint of sorrow in his tone, and he sighed deeply.

"The Dragon King of Jing River!? He knows the Dragon King of Jing River is in my possession!?"

This statement truly alarmed Jiang Liu. Just as he was about to further question the old monk's identity, he discovered that the other party had already left without a trace.

The Dragon King of Jing River could be said to be the catalyst for the events of the Journey to the West. Jiang Liu had Sun Wukong bring the Dragon King of Jing River out of the Underworld so that Guanyin wouldn't discover it was his doing. He even orchestrated the drama of the True and False Monkey King with Sun Wukong, successfully deceiving her.

But who exactly was this old monk, and how could he be so certain that the Dragon King of Jing River was in his hands?

Realizing this secret was known by someone else, Jiang Liu was naturally very anxious.

However, after a moment when his emotions had settled, he felt that he had gained not a small insight.

Regardless of who this old monk truly was, since he knew about the Dragon King of Jing River and yet showed no intention of exposing Jiang Liu, it seemed that he was not aligned with Guanyin or even with Tathagata, right?

Appearing before him as a monk, this old monk must also be a member of the Buddhist Sect, right?

"Could it be? Is the Buddhist Sect not united as one? Do they each have their own factions?" Jiang Liu speculated silently in his heart.

Moreover, he chose the turn of the year to meet with him, joining him in welcoming the new year, and even made a point of exchanging pleasantries.

Clearly, the old monk was expressing goodwill and showed no intention of making things difficult for Jiang Liu.

"A Great Luo Golden Immortal of level 88, a member of the Buddhist Sect, and someone who is well aware of the matter with the Dragon King of Jing River?"

Jiang Liu pondered silently, taking the known information into account and forming some rough guesses about the old monk's identity.