Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Soon, bodhisattva returned to her Purple Bamboo Forest, quietly sitting by the Lotus Pond grooming her hair. However, her brows were filled with contemplative expressions, clearly pondering over her own problems.

She was not only combing through her azure locks but also sifting through the myriad of events that had occurred on the Journey to the West.

Without any doubts, indeed, Guanyin would not have given it much thought.

But once doubts began to surface, she slowly combed through the occurrences along the Journey to the West, feeling as though everywhere was rife with suspicious signs.

Xuanzang set off on the Journey to the West with elements of trade involved. Considering that after the incense offering ceremony, he had eloped with Princess Gaoyang, wouldn't it not be strange if he didn't wish to become a monk?

Next, along the way, despite the prophecy of eighty-one hardships, so far, the Journey to the West team had only encountered just over twenty.

But to Guanyin's eyes, the trials she had faced seemed more numerous than those of the people on the Journey to the West Team.

Initially, bodhisattva thought it all to be fate; being so close to the main character of this great cataclysm, it was within reason to face some hardships and she did not dwell on them.

But now, coming back to her senses to contemplate, could this be Xuanzang's deliberate doing—revenge against her?

Because he did not regard himself as a Buddhist disciple, he held some resentment—resenting her for keeping Gaoyang by her side and not allowing them to be together?

"Amitabha Buddha..."

As she thought about the Journey that brought Xuanzang the title of "Holmes," nicknaming his intellect, a silent chant of Buddha's name came from Guanyin's heart, mixed with helplessness and a measure of relief.

Luckily, Xuanzang was just somewhat dissatisfied with her, so he had indeed set up a few traps for her.

If he knew that the relationship between himself and Princess Gaoyang was also orchestrated by her, he would probably be furious enough to drop his monk's staff and give up on the Journey to the West, wouldn't he?

Of course, the words recently spoken by Tathagata Buddha were etched in Guanyin's mind—one could speculate boldly, but when seeking confirmation, one must proceed with extreme caution, not allowing for any errors.

Thus, even though her mind was brimming with countless thoughts and divergent ideas, Guanyin knew that these were merely her speculations.

To validate them, she needed to seek confirmation with utmost care.

Guanyin sat grooming her hair by the Lotus Pond, unraveling her thoughts. After a moment of divergent thinking, some guesses began to form in her heart.

Of course, she must now find a way to confirm these guesses. Before long, Guanyin's thoughts were secretly considering how she might test Xuanzang.

"In the past, the four of us tested our Zen hearts, truly an unpleasant memory. Now, it's time to test Xuanzang's Zen heart alone!" whispered Guanyin to herself.

Leaving aside what was on Guanyin's mind, Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden stood by the Lotus Pond, serving her in silence.

On the other side of the Lotus Pond, Yuanling and Gaoyang were together in cultivation.

Since Yuanling knew that Gaoyang was the Holy Monk Xuanzang's lover, he naturally became very close to her in the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Similarly, Gaoyang learned some information about Jiang Liu from Yuanling's mouth and knew that Yuanling stayed by Guanyin's side as a spy. She naturally treated him as one of her own.

Jiang Liu's Social System required face-to-face interaction to add friends, so Gaoyang was not on the friend list.

Occasionally, when Jiang Liu wanted to talk to Gaoyang, he would use Yuanling as an intermediary to pass messages.

Moreover, since Gaoyang and Yuanling were close in their initial stage of cultivation, when they discussed and practiced together, both benefitted from each other's insights.

"Sister Gaoyang, do you think I will always look like this? Just like Nezha, the Third Crown Prince?" At this moment, Yuanling pointed at his own body and spoke.

Once a fourteen or fifteen-year-old Taoist, after borrowing a corpse to resurrect the soul, Yuanling had turned into the appearance of a five or six-year-old child.

Yet, this body seemed to have been frozen for countless years, always maintaining this appearance.

"I'm not sure, maybe you'll grow up!" Looking at Yuanling's childlike appearance, Gaoyang smiled gently.

In fact, she found his childlike appearance even more adorable.

"Gaoyang, Yuanling, how is your cultivation going?" While Yuanling and Gaoyang were chatting, Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden suddenly came over and asked.

"We both are doing quite well in our cultivation. I have reached the Returning Void realm, and with Yuanling's higher aptitude, I believe it won't be long before he faces the three disasters!" Hearing Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's inquiry about cultivation, Gaoyang answered.

"Hmm, good, such cultivation speed is indeed commendable!" Affirming Gaoyang's response, Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden nodded and said.

During the conversation, she approached Gaoyang and said, "Cut a strand of your hair for me. The bodhisattva will use it to bless you, adding a bit more fortune to your fate."

"Oh, alright then!"

Hearing Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's words asking for a strand of her hair, Gaoyang didn't question further, simply nodded, cut a strand of azure hair, and handed it to Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden.

After all, it wasn't as though she could refuse, could she?

Having accepted the lock of blue hair from Gaoyang's hand, Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden nodded slightly and, without saying much more, turned and left.

"Yuanling, what do you think the Bodhisattva wants with a lock of my hair?" Gaoyang asked seriously, looking at the departing figure of Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden.

"I also feel that something isn't quite right!" Yuanling's face showed a hint of surprise as he responded to Gaoyang's comment.

Although Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden had just said it was for the Bodhisattva to bless Gaoyang, both of them felt that the matter was too abrupt and rather strange.

"I'll go have a look! To see what exactly the Bodhisattva is up to!" After some thought, Yuanling bravely suggested.

"Alright, just be careful!" Hearing Yuanling's words, Gaoyang thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

After all, they were all from Purple Bamboo Forest. Hiding in the shadows, even if discovered by Guanyin, wouldn't be too problematic, would it?

After all, the Bodhisattva hadn't restricted their personal freedom, had she?

Yuanling stealthily followed behind Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden, keeping his distance.

The most important thing wasn't to ascertain the other's intention, but rather to conceal his own presence and avoid detection.

Soon after, Yuanling found himself near the Lotus Pond, trailing behind Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden. Sure enough, he saw Guanyin also by the pond, combing her hair.

Of course, Yuanling didn't dare to get too close but hid behind the trees on the opposite side of the Lotus Pond to watch.

From a distance, Yuanling could see Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden approaching Guanyin. Then, she handed over the lock of hair she had received from Gaoyang to the Bodhisattva.

"Could it be? Was what she said true? Really just to bless Sister Gaoyang!?" Yuanling murmured to himself as he witnessed the scene.

...

At the Lotus Pond, Guanyin took the lock of hair from Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden, her expression shifted subtly, and her gaze swept inconspicuously over to the other side of the pond.

Although Yuanling felt he was well-hidden in the dark and presumably unnoticed, he had underestimated the great cultivation level of Guanyin, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, who quickly detected him on the opposite side of the Lotus Pond.

Under normal circumstances, without any suspicion towards Xuanzang, Guanyin might not have thought much of Yuanling hiding in the dark, deeming it mere curiosity.

However, Guanyin had begun to suspect Xuanzang, and upon detecting Yuanling's presence as if spying on them, a flurry of thoughts crossed her mind.

Could it be, before arriving at Purple Bamboo Forest, Yuanling had a rather good relationship with Xuanzang? Could it be that he is Xuanzang's spy in the forest?

The emergence of such a thought startled Guanyin herself.

If that were true, the situation would be far more terrifying than she had imagined!

But then, Guanyin shook her head in private, feeling it unlikely.

After all, her initial decision to take in Yuanling was her own idea, not Xuanzang's special arrangements, right?

And if Yuanling really was Xuanzang's spy, how would he report back to Xuanzang?

However, although she felt the possibility was slim, the thought, like a thorn, had lodged itself in Guanyin's heart and would not settle.

In an instant of thought, Guanyin came up with a plan to test Yuanling in advance.

If he truly were Xuanzang's spy, then her and Buddha's suspicions would likely be confirmed!

If Xuanzang had managed to place a spy so close to her, was there a need to prove anything else?

Although she had spotted Yuanling, Guanyin pretended not to notice.

After mumbling a few incantations, she wound Gaoyang's hair around Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's fingers.

After a burst of strange light, Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's appearance underwent a massive change, transforming into that of Gaoyang.

"Go ahead, proceed as planned!" Guanyin instructed softly, the lock of Gaoyang's hair serving as the medium which even her own wise eyes could not penetrate. She waved her hand dismissively.

"I will heed the Bodhisattva's decree!" Hearing Guanyin's command, Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden looked serious and nodded at Guanyin.

As she finished speaking, she soared into the sky and departed.

Watching the transformed Gaoyang as Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden took off, Guanyin's gaze once again brushed unnoticeably over Yuanling.

"Having transformed the Dragon Lady into Gaoyang before his very eyes, if he's Xuanzang's spy, he would surely try to inform Xuanzang, right?"

"I am eager to see if you truly are the spy Xuanzang has placed by my side!"