Conferred God: Got cramped at the beginning

Chapter 1015 King Wu, this humble monk has come to save you!

First of all, agreeing is absolutely out of the question!
Xuanzang thought to himself.

Once you accept the King of Wu's invitation, you will immediately be framed and used as a flag by the King of Wu.

Before the turmoil of the succession struggle subsides, there is no way I can take another step westward.

However, if he refused, the entire Buddhist community would stand against King Wu, which would practically declare that King Wu had lost the struggle for the throne.

In that situation, the King of Wu would most likely kill himself in Liangzhou to completely break with Buddhism and gain the support of the Xuanmen (Taoist) sect.

At that point, even his great mission of obtaining the scriptures would turn to dust.

As for whether the King of Wu would dare to do this, Xuanzang had no doubt about it!
He had met all the princes and nobles of the Li Tang dynasty.

He could assure him with certainty that an unfathomable, mad, and demonic nature was deeply hidden within the bloodline of the Li Tang royal family.

Under this bewitching influence, the princes and nobles of the Li Tang dynasty never hesitated to make decisive decisions.

When making decisions, they never consider the consequences of failing those decisions.

This is the predicament that Xuanzang is currently facing.

Agreeing is wrong.

Refusing is also wrong.

Going in is not an option either.

Retreating is not an option either.

The calamities that befell Xuanzang on his journey to the West—the very first wave—almost completely severed any possibility of him continuing his westward journey.

"what to do!"

In the mind of the Venerable Xuanzang, countless thoughts surged like a turbulent sea.

The various Buddhist scriptures he had thoroughly studied, the profound Buddhist teachings he had researched, and even the wisdom of the Bodhisattvas or Buddhas described in the scriptures...

And so on and so forth, all sorts of thoughts were swirling in his mind.

However, no scripture or wisdom could corroborate the current situation or allow Xuanzang to make the right decision with equanimity.

"Is this the only way?" Looking at the King of Wu who was slowly walking towards him, Master Xuanzang sighed inwardly, and then made a decision.

"Amitabha Buddha, World Honored One, please protect your disciple!"

Xuanzang put his hands together in prayer.

For the first time in history, the Venerable Xuanzang sought protection from the Buddhas of Vulture Peak.

It was at this moment that the Monkey King, who was standing nearby, also transmitted his voice to Xuanzang.

"Monk, are you alright?"

"Do you want me, Old Sun, to take you away?"

"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven said."

There is actually another solution to the current situation.

All it takes is a trick of deception, followed by an invisibility spell to take Xuanzang away!

Thus, by the time others realized it was a smokescreen, he had already taken Xuanzang far away from Liangzhou.

"I appreciate the Great Sage's kindness."

Xuanzang responded.

"This humble monk already knows what needs to be done."

Xuanzang acknowledged the order and then walked towards King Li Ke of Wu.

“Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk Xuanzang greets His Highness the King of Wu.”

"Li Ke pays his respects to the Venerable Xuanzang." Seeing the Venerable Xuanzang approaching with a smile, Li Ke felt reassured.

As expected, Xuanzang bowed his head—after all, bowing his head meant he could live and continue to seek opportunities to travel west, while if he did not bow his head, everything would turn to dust.

Therefore, after confirming that Xuanzang had bowed his head, Li Ke did not hesitate to show his respect for scholars.

He abandoned his entourage and guards, quickened his pace and walked toward the monk Xuanzang. His pace was calculated to be extremely precise—when he stopped in front of the monk Xuanzang, it was just as the monk Xuanzang was halfway through his bow.

With just a gentle reach, he could lift Master Xuanzang up.

In this way, the ruler and his ministers will live in harmony.

"May I ask what brings you here, Venerable Master?" Just as he had anticipated, Li Ke helped the Venerable Master Xuanzang, who was bowing, and the Venerable Master Xuanzang also reached out to help Li Ke.

At this moment, Li Ke was willing to swear that even if Xuanzang said that someone in his household had a problem, no matter how close that person was to him, Li Ke, he would absolutely follow Master Xuanzang's instructions and thoroughly investigate that person!
This is his respect for Master Xuanzang, the leading figure in Buddhism.

He was already prepared to respond to Master Xuanzang.

In that instant, the starlight shimmered, and a gentle breeze flowed along the long street.

Then, to Li Ke's anticipation, the monk Xuanzang spoke.

"Amitabha, this humble monk has come specifically for His Majesty the King of Wu." The Venerable Xuanzang chanted the Buddha's name, his voice resounding like thunder across the land.

"Oh?" Li Ke feigned curiosity, his satisfaction with the monk Xuanzang growing ever stronger—such knowledge and understanding, no wonder he was chosen as the foremost monk in the world! "This humble king would like to hear more details."

However, before his curious expression could transform into a knowing smile between ruler and subject, a sharp pain shot through his arm.

That was the hand of the monk Xuanzang gripping his arm, tightening its grip even more.

"It is said that His Highness the King of Wu is intoxicated by power and deluded by the five aggregates."

"This humble monk has come here specifically to guide and enlighten His Highness the King of Wu."

“Amitabha Buddha, Your Highness, please accompany this humble monk on your journey to the West to seek the Dharma. Once Your Highness has obtained the true scriptures, then so-called power will no longer be of concern to you.”

A razor fell out from Xuanzang's robe—who in the Buddhist order wouldn't carry a razor for shaving their head?
Transcendence—this was Xuanzang's strategy for breaking the deadlock in this desperate situation.

It's not his job to handle this!

Instead, he turned the tables and made the King of Wu deal with Xuanzang!

All that is needed is to guide King Li Ke of Wu into Buddhism, emptying the five aggregates, so that power, beauty, profit, and so on will all become illusions and bubbles.

In this way, the turmoil of the succession struggle dissipated, and Xuanzang naturally extricated himself from the turmoil with ease.

Opposite Xuanzang, Wu King Li Ke, who had been captured by Xuanzang, had a face so distorted that he was unrecognizable!

He never expected that the monk in front of him would turn the tables and take the lead in such a way.

Those words of enlightenment were like thunderbolts that struck Li Ke's brain directly, causing his brain to boil.

"You thieving monk!" He instinctively wanted to curse. However, just as he was about to open his mouth, an unpredictable force suddenly came from Xuanzang's hand. The force shook his body inside and out, making him feel weak all over, unable to struggle, and without the strength to speak.

"Your Highness, the King of Wu, is indeed a Buddha. This humble monk will now take Your Highness to be ordained."

"Your Highness, please follow this humble monk."

The monk Xuanzang spoke loudly, and led King Wu, Li Ke, in another direction. The guards and protectors tried to stop him, but Xuanzang easily knocked them to the ground with a few punches and kicks.

—Although the monk Xuanzang was unaware of Buddhist supernatural powers, as a monk who was well-versed in Buddhist teachings and could wield a nine-ringed staff with one hand and travel the world, how could he not practice martial arts all night long?

In addition, the guards were hesitant, worried about hurting Prince Li Ke, who was beside Master Xuanzang. So, a large group of guards watched helplessly as Master Xuanzang, with one hand on his arm, cleared the street and drove away!

Seeing this scene, the Monkey King, who had turned into a stone statue, also revealed his form.

"Good monk!"

"Good monk!" The Monkey King's face was filled with immense joy.

He never expected that the monk Xuanzang would have such a way to break the deadlock.

Immediately, a golden light followed directly after Master Xuanzang.

Meanwhile, Liangzhou City was in complete chaos.

Those who set up the scheme, in particular, are now feeling as if they've lost their parents.

They are part of the Crown Prince's faction.

During the day, they set a trap for Xuanzang—their aim was to get Xuanzang to go to the Wu King's palace.

They believed that Xuanzang would never accept the King of Wu's invitation, and would absolutely not participate in the struggle for the throne. As long as Xuanzang did not accept the King of Wu's invitation, they could use this to suppress the King of Wu's prestige and gradually strip away his power.

As for the King of Wu's popularity

of course!
He was personally appointed by the emperor, the foremost Buddhist monk in the human realm, the leader of Buddhism.

Such a high-ranking monk did not accept the invitation from the King of Wu. Doesn't this imply that the King of Wu lacked the qualities of a true ruler?

This alone was enough to deal a huge blow to the King of Wu's popularity!

However, when the King of Wu personally came out to greet Xuanzang in front of the King of Wu's palace, those who had set up the scheme began to panic.

After all, an invitation from the King of Wu and an invitation personally extended by the King of Wu are completely different concepts.

For the former, there are no consequences for refusing—but for the latter, refusing would mean making a mortal enemy of King Wu, Li Ke!

It's easy to imagine the potential consequences of making a blood feud with a son who was extremely favored by the emperor, and with a prince who inherited the remnants of the former Sui dynasty. Not to mention, this is Liangzhou, the territory of the King of Wu!

Therefore, after King Li Ke of Wu personally extended the invitation, everyone thought that Xuanzang would accept the invitation—even if it was just a temporary measure, but to accept it was to accept it!

At that time, the Wu King's faction in Liangzhou City was overjoyed.

The Prince's Hall, on the other hand, was as if it had lost its parents.

However, the change in the situation was truly like a thunderclap from the heavens, beyond anyone's control and prediction.

Just as everyone was pondering how to continue the power struggle within Buddhism after Xuanzang accepted the King of Wu's invitation and became a member of the King's faction, the development of the situation directly exceeded everyone's expectations!
The Venerable Xuanzang neither accepted nor refused the King of Wu's invitation!
There was no mention of any evil spirits or demons in the Wu King's palace.

He actually wanted to shave the King of Wu's head!
This caused panic among the Wu King's faction, the Crown Prince's faction, and those who were not affiliated with either.

—Because, whether they are members of the Wu King's faction, the Crown Prince's faction, or those who are not affiliated with either, they have another identity.

Those were the emperor's subjects.

At the same time, the King of Wu also had another identity.

The Emperor's most beloved son!
When the King of Wu arrived in Liangzhou, all the officials in Liangzhou had another task besides their own interests.

I'm optimistic about the King of Wu!

The most basic condition for this 'optimism' is that nothing unexpected happens to the King of Wu!
So what's the situation now?
Could it be that after tonight, everyone will return to Chang'an, kneel before the Taiji Hall, and then say to the Emperor:

Your Majesty, we were careless and lost sight of His Highness the Prince of Wu!
His Highness the King of Wu has shaved his head and become a monk!

This is simply the most ridiculous thing in the world!

Everyone could imagine that if they dared to say such things in front of the Taiji Hall, Emperor Li Shimin inside the Taiji Hall would dare to shave the heads of these officials and their entire families, just as Xuanzang shaved the head of the King of Wu!
"What are you doing standing still?"

"Chase after them!"

In the midst of everyone's dazed state, an official's extremely shrill voice rang out.

Immediately afterwards, officials of all ranks in Liangzhou City poured out and filed out along the long street where Xuanzang had left.

Some people went directly to chase after the monk Xuanzang.

Some people even went directly to the gates of the Wu Prince's residence, hoping to invite the Wu Princess to come out and take charge of the situation.

……

Outside the city, in a temple called Yinshan Temple, the monk Xuanzang and King Li Ke of Wu sat in front of the main hall.

The abbot of the temple, along with the other monks, knelt outside in utter fear.

The abbot was also an incarnation of a Bodhisattva—but at this moment, not only was the incarnation confused, but even the Bodhisattva himself was completely bewildered.

After the evil spirits from the Arctic Exorcism Institute swept through the human world, many temples there began to restrain themselves and quietly lay low.

Yinshan Temple is one of them!

Even when Xuanzang arrived in Liangzhou, the monks of Yinshan Temple had no intention of inviting him to preach, which shows their desire to avoid trouble.

But who would have thought that just when they wanted to avoid the limelight, the limelight would come looking for them?

It was the middle of the night, and the monks had all gone to sleep.

Xuanzang, however, suddenly pushed open the mountain gate and said he wanted to borrow this Buddhist temple to ordain a believer.

Previously, due to his drowsy state, the crowd couldn't clearly see who the followers beside Xuanzang were...

But once inside the main hall, the golden light revealed the identity of the believer, which startled all the monks.

"Now that I'm out of the city, shouldn't the monk let me go back?" King Li Ke of Wu said calmly amidst the magnificent Buddha statues.

As he gradually regained his composure along the way, he realized that Xuanzang's words about taking vows were nothing more than a plan to escape.

It was a clever idea he came up with because he didn't want to get involved in the struggle for the throne.

Now that the monk Xuanzang has safely left the city, he has also stirred up another storm, one that surpasses the struggle for the throne, by using the doctrine of tonsure... Now that he has achieved his goal, it is time for him to return home.

However, instead of responding to him, the monk Xuanzang raised his razor directly.

(End of this chapter)