Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

"How...how can this be compared?!"

Guanyin argued back, but her momentum had weakened somewhat.

"How can we not draw a comparison?"

Lin Zhu pressed closer and closer.

The phrase "sent to the Western Paradise" is inherently ambiguous and literary! In Buddhist scriptures and everyday language, it can mean either "escorting someone to the Western Paradise" or "helping them be reborn in the Pure Land!" You're treating someone who has been imprisoned for five hundred years, severely out of touch with society, and whose way of thinking is direct and crude…

Well, the party involved used such vague instructions without clear explanation or standardization, leading to misunderstanding and action, resulting in serious consequences. Shouldn't the primary party at fault be Xitian, who issued the vague instructions and failed to fulfill its obligation to provide clear information?

His "unclear task description theory" combined with the "victim cognitive bias theory" may sound like sophistry, but it is logically self-contained, making it difficult for Guanyin, who is used to grand principles and absolute authority, to find a suitable angle to completely refute it.

She felt a tightness in her chest, and even the Buddha's light seemed unsteady.

Seeing that Guanyin's face was ashen and she remained silent, Lin Zhu knew that he had gained the upper hand in the first round of "reasoning." But he knew that words alone could not truly make the Buddhist community back down.

He then changed the subject and began to deliver the "real stuff."

“Even if we take a step back,” Lin Zhu’s expression suddenly became serious and cold, his gaze sharp as he swept over Guanyin and the huge image of Acala behind her.

"Even without considering the ambiguity of the instructions, Sun Wukong's act of killing Tang Sanzang does not constitute his personal 'crime'."

"Why?"

Guanyin almost gritted her teeth as she asked those two words.

"Because he was coerced."

Lin Zhu spoke each word clearly and distinctly.

"The Buddhist sect of the Western Paradise first used illegal means to suppress him under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years, subjecting him to the cruel torture of 'eating iron balls when hungry and drinking molten copper when thirsty.' This is illegal imprisonment and abuse of living beings, and the facts are irrefutable!"

"Then, you used 'escape' and 'attainment of enlightenment' as bait, essentially coercing them to agree to do things for you—escorting the pilgrims. Please note that this is not an equal contract or voluntary conversion; it is a coercive transaction conducted under the background of long-term illegal detention and physical and mental torture, exploiting their weakness of longing for freedom!"

Lin Zhu's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Under these circumstances, Sun Wukong's autonomous will was greatly restricted. It could even be said that he was forced to accept your 'task' while losing his basic freedom of choice."

A person who has lost the right to choose freely, whose actions are carried out under your vague instructions, can be regarded as an act of 'force majeure' or an 'emergency avoidance' to escape an extreme predicament, in terms of the law and the rules of nature!
While their actions may have caused harm, the root of the evil lies with the party that illegally detained, coerced, and issued vague and fatal orders—namely, the Western Buddhist sect!

He turned around abruptly, pointing his finger at the vast Buddhist army, his voice like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the heavens and earth.

"The real culprits are you! You who illegally imprisoned others for five hundred years! You who coerced others to use you for your own purposes! You who issued vague orders that led to this tragedy! Sun Wukong was merely a tool, a victim, in your evil deeds! What crime has he committed?! The one who should be held accountable and judged is the Western Paradise!"

These words were like a thunderclap, and like the sharpest sword piercing the heart! Not only did they completely absolve Sun Wukong, but they also shifted all the blame and all the "crimes" onto Buddhism! And they did so with "reason and evidence," with "righteous indignation"!
Guanyin Bodhisattva was overwhelmed by the barrage of "logical attacks" and "reversal of responsibility." She pointed at Lin Zhu, her fingers trembling and her lips quivering, but she found herself unable to find any powerful words to refute him!

The opposing side not only resorted to sophistry but also directly undermined the very foundation of Buddhism's actions in terms of "reason"! If this line of reasoning is accepted, Buddhism is not only innocent but has become the biggest perpetrator and sinner?!
A chill ran through her as she finally understood that she had no chance of winning against someone like Lin Zhu! His reasoning was based on a completely different set of rules, one that was even radically subversive to the existing order!
Seeing that she couldn't win through reasoning and was hesitant to take action, Guanyin's mind raced. The matter of the Journey to the West could not end there, and Sun Wukong could not be let go, otherwise she would not be able to explain to the Buddha, and the merits and fortune she had gained from this advancement might also be unstable.

In utter desperation, she took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all her anger and frustration. Her voice regained its composure, but carried a subtle hint of compromise and probing.

"Lin Zhu... what exactly do you want? Just say it. As long as you don't take Sun Wukong away, other conditions... perhaps we can discuss them."

She finally extended an olive branch to "negotiate terms".

This is a show of weakness, but also a realistic choice.

Lin Zhu seemed to have been waiting for her to say that. The "righteous messenger" expression on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a meaningful smile with a hint of mockery.

He nodded, seemingly quite pleased with Guanyin's "pragmatism."

"Since the Bodhisattva has said so, then this prison god shall not press the matter further."

Lin Zhu spoke casually, as if he hadn't said those hurtful words just now.

"However, although Sun Wukong is 'innocent,' he did cause some... well, objectively negative effects. For example, the Five Elements Mountain is, after all, part of the Two Realms Mountain, and the eastern half belongs to the Tang Dynasty, right?"
It's considered a public landscape feature. Now, his break free has caused landslides and severe damage to the landscape. Doesn't this constitute damage to public property? And impact the surrounding ecological environment?

He paused, looked at the bewildered Sun Wukong, and continued.

"Based on this, I, the Prison God, have decided, in accordance with the regulations governing the security of the Three Realms... uh, the relevant regulations, to bring Sun Wukong back to the Heavenly Prison for temporary imprisonment, to conduct necessary... um, ideological education, and to assess the damage caused by his destructive behavior. Further action will be taken after the assessment is completed."

This can be considered an explanation to all parties involved.

His words sounded grand and righteous, but in reality, he just wanted to "lock up" Sun Wukong on his side! The so-called heavenly prison and ideological education were nothing more than protection and control under a different name!
Sun Wukong was taken aback, then realized what was happening, a glint of joy flashing in his eyes! Going to the Heavenly Prison? It was a world of difference compared to being captured by the Buddhist sect and taken back to Mount Ling to await judgment! At least… he could live! And judging from Lin Zhu's words, it was only "temporary imprisonment," maybe he'd be released after a few days? It was better than being imprisoned on Mount Ling for another five hundred years!

"Alright! I, Old Sun, accept it!"

Sun Wukong very straightforwardly hoisted the golden cudgel onto his shoulder and shouted loudly.

"So what if it's jail? I'll take this opportunity to rest! Do you have peaches to eat in your jail?"

He even deliberately adopted an "arrogant" demeanor. "I, Old Sun, love being in jail! It's peaceful!"

As Guanyin Bodhisattva watched the two of them singing in unison, she felt a surge of blood rush to her head again, and her vision blurred! She felt she had never suffered such a great injustice!
They were clearly in the right, the Buddhist sect was powerful, and the pilgrim was dead... yet, not only did they fail to catch the murderer, they were also completely refuted by the other side's fallacious arguments. Now, the murderer is being taken away and "protected" by the other side under the ridiculous pretext of "damaging public property"?!

"Lin Zhu! You...you've gone too far!!"

Guanyin could no longer maintain her dignified demeanor as a Bodhisattva; her voice became sharp and tearful.

"Do you truly intend to become a complete enemy of Buddhism?!"

She moved with lightning speed, directly blocking Lin Zhu and Sun Wukong. Although she knew she might be outmatched, she was absolutely unwilling to just watch Sun Wukong be taken away! This was not just a matter of face, but also concerned the core of the Journey to the West plan!
Just when the stalemate was at its most tense, the enormous image of Acala, who had been silently watching below, finally roared like a muffled thunderclap.

"enough!!!"

The roar was deafening, causing rocks to fall from the mountain below once more.

The Immovable King's enormous eyes, burning with the flames of wisdom and wrath, were fixed on Lin Zhu, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty and killing intent.

"Lin Zhu! You, a nobody of unknown origin, dare to spout nonsense here, distort the truth, and oppose my Western Paradise! Do you really think that my Buddhist sect has no one who can do anything to you?! If we don't execute you on the spot today, tearing out your tendons and bones as a warning to others, what face will my Western Paradise have?! What will become of the order of the Three Realms?!"

He had clearly had enough of Lin Zhu's "fallacies" and had lost his patience. Guanyin's conciliatory attitude further eroded his dignity as a protector of Buddhism! In his view, only swift and decisive action could uphold the authority of Buddhism in the face of provocation!
Lin Zhu's face, which had been carrying a mocking smile, instantly turned cold upon hearing the words "pulling tendons and bones out."

He slowly raised his head and looked at the towering, radiant, and awe-inspiring image of the Mingwang, his eyes showing no fear, but rather revealing a boundless killing intent that seemed to have been sealed away for countless years and suddenly awakened!
The surrounding air seemed to freeze in that instant, the temperature plummeted, and even the magnificent Buddha light seemed to dim slightly.

"Stretching out the cramps and bones?"

Lin Zhu's voice was soft, yet it was like a cold wind in December, blowing through everyone's heart.

"How long... how long has it been since anyone dared to speak to me like that?"

He gently twisted his neck, making a soft "crack" sound, and the expression on his face gradually transformed from icy to a chilling, sinister smile that mixed excitement and cruelty.

Sun Wukong, standing to the side, felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed the sudden surge of malevolent energy and demonic intent emanating from Lin Zhu—an energy many times more terrifying and profound than his own at his peak! He looked up at the sky and saw that behind the Immovable King, the formation of eight hundred Arhats was complete, their Buddhist light like a sea; the Five Directional Protectors each guarded their respective positions.

Venerable Ananda held a staff, his appearance solemn and dignified; further behind, hundreds of millions of Buddhist soldiers soared into the sky with murderous intent, like a golden raging wave, ready to pour down at any moment!

This lineup is terrifying! Even Sun Wukong, who fears nothing, felt a chill run down his spine.

He quickly called out to Lin Zhu.

"Lin... Prison God! A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle! They outnumber us and that big blue-skinned guy doesn't look weak either! You go back first! I, Old Sun..."

He wanted to say, "I, Old Sun, will handle this myself," but when the words reached his lips, he felt that he himself might not be able to handle the situation...

Lin Zhu seemed not to hear Sun Wukong's advice, and the ferocious smile on his lips became even more pronounced.

With a swift movement of his right hand, an ancient spear, jet black and seemingly capable of devouring all light, its shaft wreathed in endless malevolence and an aura of destruction, appeared out of thin air in his hand! A dark red dot at the spearhead, as if solidified with the blood of an ancient demon god! It was none other than the infamous God-Slaying Spear!

At the same time, with a gentle wave of his left hand, a dazzling golden lotus, exuding endless peace and merit, with layers upon layers and thirteen petals, appeared at his feet, spinning around and slowly lifting his body.

The golden lotus bloomed with billions of gentle yet incredibly resilient rays of Buddhist light. The purity and vastness of this light actually withstood the pressure of the vast Buddhist army, and even suppressed it in the opposite direction, causing the light of the hundreds of millions of Buddhist soldiers to dim!
Half of it was a towering demonic aura and a fierce spear intent that soared into the sky, stirred up the wind and clouds, and changed the color of heaven and earth!
Half of it is the magnificent, peaceful, and resilient golden lotus light of the Thirteen Merits, which surpasses the light of all Buddhas!
Lin Zhu stood proudly in the center of this bizarre and awe-inspiring scene, holding the God-Slaying Spear, stepping on the Lotus of Merit, his clothes fluttering without wind.

He looked up, his gaze like two sharp swords piercing towards Fudo Myo-o, his voice icy and devoid of any emotion.

"Acala, you just said... you wanted to pull out my tendons and remove my bones?"

"very good."

"You have insulted the true gods and violated the heavenly laws. According to the law... you shall be executed!"

He paused, turned his head to look at Sun Wukong, who was staring in disbelief, and grinned. The smile looked particularly sinister against the backdrop of demonic energy and Buddhist light.

"Great Sage, are you willing to join me... in slaying the Buddha and defending the Way?"

Sun Wukong was already burning with fighting spirit, but he had restrained his ferocity and not immediately unleashed it because Lin Zhu had intervened and "reasoned" with Guanyin.

Seeing that Fudo Myo-o personally led Venerable Ananda, eight hundred Arhats, the Five Directions Protectors, and hundreds of millions of Buddhist soldiers covering the mountains and plains, setting up this powerful formation that blots out the sky and shines like the sea of ​​Buddha light, they not only showed no fear, but were like a volcano that had been ignited, extremely excited!

Five hundred years! A full five hundred years! He was trapped under the mountain, unable to move, and could only watch the sun and moon revolve and listen to the roar of the wind and rain. His anger and fighting spirit had nowhere to go and were about to explode!

Now that he has escaped his predicament, although he has received the Yellow Plum from Lin Zhu and his cultivation has greatly improved, the impulse that has been suppressed for five hundred years—the desire to fight, to destroy, and to prove himself as the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven"—is like the most intense magma, surging and roaring in his veins!

Surrounded by formidable enemies, this is exactly what we wanted!

"Hahaha! Well done! Well done!!"

Sun Wukong's eyes blazed with golden light, his demonic power burning like crimson flames. The Ruyi Jingu Bang in his hand seemed to sense its master's overwhelming fighting spirit, emitting a soft, humming vibration, yearning to drink blood! "This iron cudgel of mine hasn't been used for five hundred years, it's been ravenously thirsty! Today, I'll use the heads of you bald monks to satisfy my craving!!" (End of Chapter)