No taboos in the world

Chapter 625: Bandit's Home, Sanzang's Disposal

In just a few breaths, the bandit group of more than 30 people was wiped out by the three brothers.

I have seen many monsters and demons along the way and killed many of them, but this is the first time I have seen such a mortal bandit.

However, none of the three were stubborn or pedantic, so they couldn't say they regretted anything when they saw the corpses all over the ground.

Sun Wukong cast a spell, and the ground cracked open with big holes that swallowed the corpses. Then the ground quickly closed up again, and in the blink of an eye, there was no sign of the tragedy at all, and everything returned to normal.

"Zhu Bajie, Junior Brother Sha, you guys stay here to look after the luggage, I'll go and find Master!" As he said this, Wukong soared into the sky and flew in the direction where Tang Sanzang had just left.

After a while, Sun Wukong brought Tang Sanzang back on horseback.

Seeing that there was no one around, Tang Sanzang asked, "Where are those thieves?"

Zhu Bajie pointed to the ground and said, "Master, they are all buried underground."

"Huh? Are they all dead?"

Sun Wukong: "They are all dead!"

Tang Sanzang's face turned pale, and a struggle flashed in his eyes, but he soon regained his composure, frowned slightly, and said compassionately: "Well, karma is cyclical, retribution is inevitable, killing people on the road is the retribution of injustice." Tang Sanzang got off the horse and said, "Go buy some incense and candles, and I will chant sutras for them to be liberated."

Zhu Bajie: "Master, is it necessary to pray for the souls of those we killed?"

Tang Sanzang: "Life is life, and death is afterlife. The sins of life are erased by death. I only hope that they can go to the underworld and be reincarnated as soon as possible."

Sun Wukong chuckled when he heard this: "Master, if you think so, I'm afraid it won't work."

Sanzang frowned: "What do you mean?"

Sun Wukong curled his stick into a flower, leaned on it and said with a smile: "Master, you have never been to the underworld, but I have. When living souls enter the underworld, they must also go through a trial. For example, those bandits just now, who committed many evil deeds and were entangled in grievances, must first go to the eighteen levels of hell to be punished. Master is chanting scriptures now, which can make them go to the underworld quickly, but it cannot eliminate their sins or reduce their punishment in hell."

Sanzang nodded: "Master, of course I know. But where you can go is not something I can control. I can only do my best and leave the rest to fate."

Hearing this, Sun Wukong didn't say anything more. He immediately went to Sha Seng to get some silver and money, then flew away into the sky.

Tang Sanzang sat on the ground and began to chant.

Seeing this, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing didn't bother him. They just carried their luggage aside, sat under the tree and watched quietly.

Not long after, Sun Wukong returned, and the four masters and apprentices lit incense and candles. After Tang Sanzang presided over a ritual, they set off.

After walking for half a day, a house appeared in front of us.

Wild flowers fill the path, and trees shade the door. The distant shore is full of flowing mountains and water, and the flat fields are planted with sunflowers.

The reeds are moistened by dew, and the light gulls roost on them. The willows are breezed by, and the weary birds rest on them.

Tang Sanzang asked his three disciples to wait at the intersection. He shook off his dusty robes and walked forward to greet someone. Suddenly, he saw an old man walking out of the house.

The old man was a little surprised to see him and immediately asked, "Where are you from, monk?"

Tang Sanzang put his hands together and saluted, saying, "I am an imperial envoy of the Tang Dynasty in the East, going to the West to seek scriptures. I happened to pass by Baofang, and it is getting dark, so I came to Tanfu to stay for one night."

The old man smiled and said, "I have heard of the Great Tang in the East, but it is a long way from here. The elder doesn't look very old, how did you wade through the water and climb the mountain to get here alone?"

Tang Sanzang said: "I have three disciples who are going on the journey with me."

"Oh? I wonder where the elder's disciple is?"

Sanzang pointed to the intersection not far behind him and said, "That's the one standing beside the main road."

The old man raised his head and saw that the three brothers looked strange and ugly. He was so frightened that his pupils shrank and he turned around quickly to walk into the house.

Tang Sanzang, who was well prepared, quickly grabbed the old man's sleeve and said, "Don't panic, old donor."

The old man was trembling with fear, unable to speak. He shook his head and waved his hands, saying, "They don't look like humans! They are clearly goblins!"

Sanzang smiled and said, "Old donor, my disciple is born with this appearance, he is not a demon!"

The old man was horrified: "Grandpa, a Yaksha, a Horse-Faced God, and a Thunder God!"

Upon hearing this, Monkey King shouted, "Thunder God is my grandson, Yaksha is my great-grandson, and Horse-Faced is my great-great-grandson!"

When the old man heard this, he almost lost his soul and turned pale. He hurried back to the house and hid.

Sanzang supported him and went into the house together. He comforted him, "Old donor, don't be afraid of him. He is so rude and can't talk." He spoke softly, "Although my three disciples are ugly and ferocious, they have practiced with me for many years and have never done evil. They have fought against many demons and monsters for me and saved many people's lives. They have many merits. I hope you will understand."

Hearing this, the old man's expression eased a little.

At this moment, a grandmother came out from behind, holding a child of about five or six years old in her hand, and asked, "Old man, why are you so frightened?"

The old man felt relieved after hearing this, and said, "Old woman, please take care of this elder."

The old woman quickly poured a bowl of tea. Tang Sanzang took a sip and bowed to the old woman: "I am a monk from the Eastern Tang Dynasty who is going to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I have just arrived at your place and beg for the permission to stay overnight. It is because my three disciples are ugly that the old donor was frightened when he saw them. It is really my fault."

The grandmother smiled and rolled her eyes at the old man: "You are so scared of ugly people. If you saw tigers and wolves, wouldn't you be so scared that you wet your pants?"

When the child heard this, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The old man was embarrassed for a moment, he stretched out his hand and pinched the kid's face, saying, "If they were just born ugly, it would be fine, but the elder's three disciples, one looks like a yaksha, one looks like a horse-faced demon, and one looks like the god of thunder, none of them look like a human."

When the mother-in-law heard this, she became a little scared, but the child's eyes showed some curiosity.

Tang Sanzang hurriedly added: "Although they are ugly, they are also monks who follow the teachings and have converted to good deeds. They are not demons or poisonous monsters. Moreover, they all listen to the words of this poor monk, so please don't be afraid."

Hearing this, the old man and the old woman looked at each other, then nodded slightly. The old man said, "Since the elders have said so, please invite them in."

"Thank you donor!"

Tang Sanzang hurriedly got up, went out of the house and called his three disciples.

At the door, he said, "You have already scared people just now. When you go into the house later, please accept the gifts calmly and don't scare the child again."

Zhu Bajie nodded and said, "Master, don't worry. I am handsome and gentle, and I am not as likely to throw a tantrum as my elder brother."

Sun Wukong also laughed when he heard this: "Since when did the mortals' standard for judging handsomeness become long mouth, big ears, and ugly face?"

Sha Wujing smiled and pushed his two senior brothers.

They followed Tang Sanzang inside, immediately stopped smiling, and all bowed and greeted each other, seeming to have some Buddhist spirit.

Seeing this, the old man was no longer afraid. He arranged for them to sit down and rest, and then he, the old woman and the children went to prepare a vegetarian meal.

After the meal, it was already dark. The old man lit the lamp and the group chatted in the hall.

"May I ask your name, old donor?"

The old man said, "Excuse me, my surname is Yang." "How old are you?"

"Seventy-four."

Tang Sanzang smiled and said, "May I know how many sons of Mr. Yang are there?"

Old Yang shook his head and said, "I only have one son. The old woman I brought just now was my grandson."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said, "I don't know where your son is. I should meet him and pay my respects to him."

Elder Yang immediately waved his hands, his face gloomy: "That fellow is not worthy of the elder's visit. Even I don't see him often."

Tang Sanzang was surprised and asked: "Why is this?"

"That fellow is always away from home. I blame myself for not teaching him well in the past. He has evil thoughts and does not care about his own business. He only likes to rob people, kill people and burn things! The people he associates with are all villains! He left home five days ago and has not returned since."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room suddenly became quiet.

Tang Sanzang knew that Yang Lao's son was probably the group of bandits during the day, but now they were all killed by his disciples. He was confused for a moment.

Sun Wukong and the other two knew it very well, but for a moment they didn't know how to say it out loud.

Elder Yang was feeling grief-stricken over his disobedient and bad son, and at this moment he did not notice that Tang Sanzang and the other three looked unwell.

Tang Sanzang frowned, thought hard for a moment, then looked up at Sun Wukong.

"Wukong, you said you went to the underworld, but can you still go there now?"

When Sun Wukong heard this, he immediately understood what his master was thinking and nodded without hesitation: "Of course I can go, and it won't be difficult for me to bring back a living soul. Master, don't worry!"

Tang Sanzang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "Then go now."

When Sun Wukong received the order, he stood up immediately and his body sank into the ground immediately.

When Elder Yang saw this, he was shocked again and said, "Elder, your disciple is truly a man of extraordinary powers!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang smiled, but it seemed a bit forced at this time.

After a pause, he asked again: "Mr. Yang, is your grandson's mother here?"

Elder Yang nodded: "She is there, but she is not convenient to show up, so she is resting in the back hall. She also helped to prepare the vegetarian meal just now."

Tang Sanzang nodded and looked at Sha Seng: "Wujing, go and get all the money we need for the journey."

Sha Seng immediately responded and left.

Zhu Bajie rolled his eyes and said, "Master, I'll go too."

Tang Sanzang was puzzled.

Zhu Bajie smiled and patted his sleeves, and the sound of silver and coins colliding could be heard from inside.

"Are you willing to do so?" Tang Sanzang asked with a smile.

Zhu Bajie bowed and said, "Master, what are you talking about? I have been traveling with you for many years and have received your teachings. Naturally, I know what is important."

Tang Sanzang nodded with satisfaction: "Then you can go."

Zhu Bajie then quickly chased after Sha Wujing.

Elder Yang was puzzled: "Elder, this is..."

Tang Sanzang sighed, then said seriously: "Master Yang, there is one thing I need to report to you."

Seeing him like this and thinking back to what he had just seen, Old Yang suddenly had some guesses in his mind. His old cheeks turned pale, his skin began to twitch unconsciously, and his cloudy eyes suddenly filled with a bright light.

Tang Sanzang felt extremely sorry and regretful, but he could not afford to turn back and keep silent.

Afterwards, after hearing what Tang Sanzang said, Old Yang also understood the whole story. He couldn't help but burst into tears, which made people feel sad when they saw him.

Fortunately, Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng arrived in time, and Tang Sanzang handed over all the silver and money to Mr. Yang.

Naturally, Mr. Yang refused to accept it.

"Mr. Yang, please listen to what I have to say. You don't have an eldest son in your family, and you will have to raise a young grandson in the future. If your daughter-in-law has no money, I'm afraid the whole family will suffer. I can't say what happened today is right or wrong, I just hope you can have a clear conscience. When my eldest disciple brings your son's soul to you, you can talk to him."

Old Yang burst into tears.

Tang Sanzang sighed again and again.

If it were the Tang Sanzang of the past, after seeing this scene, he would definitely have a lot of complaints towards his disciples.

But Tang Sanzang at the moment would never do so. To put it bluntly, Bai Ri’s decision was actually a determination and idea that he had made up his mind himself.

Although it was his three disciples who did the attack, Tang Sanzang knew that he was the culprit. If he himself did not agree, as long as he severely stopped them, the three disciples would naturally not attack the bandits, and might even kill them directly.

But even though he was looking at Old Yang who was in great grief, Tang Sanzang recalled what he had seen and heard during the day and did not really feel any regret in his heart, because he also knew very well that if that group of bandits did not get rid of them today, Tang Sanzang and his disciples could leave safely. However, the road was wide, and there were who knows how many people would pass by in twelve months of the year. If they did not get rid of the bandits, those who passed by here in the future would suffer disasters, or even die.

Not doing good is not doing evil.

If you do not eliminate evil when you encounter it, you are also doing evil.

Therefore, although Tang Sanzang felt sympathy and compassion, he had no intention of regretting it at all.

At the same time, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, who had been observing Tang Sanzang's expression, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw his appearance and gaze.

If Tang Sanzang suddenly regretted his decision at this moment, or even blamed them, it would be difficult for them as his disciples to refute him, since they were the ones who actually took action.

But seeing that Tang Sanzang had no regrets, he naturally felt more of an identity with him.

After all, compared to Tang Sanzang who has not recovered any of his past memories at this time, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing are actually all smart people.

"Master, please come out for a moment! I'm just outside the house."

At this moment, Sun Wukong's voice suddenly came to Tang Sanzang's ears, and this voice only sounded in Tang Sanzang's ears.

Tang Sanzang looked at Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng calmly. Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng immediately stepped forward to comfort Old Yang. Tang Sanzang turned around and left quietly.

After leaving the house, I saw Sun Wukong standing under the eaves, holding a black chain in his hand, with a translucent soul tied to the other end of the chain.

The soul lowered its head slightly, truly portraying the expression of being distraught and heartbroken to the fullest.

Just after taking a few steps closer, Tang Sanzang immediately felt a chill penetrating into his bones.

"Master, I brought the soul back, but if a mortal were to see it, he would probably get seriously ill. I think it would be better to let them meet in a dream, what do you think?"

(End of this chapter)