Journey to the West: Begins with Tiger Vanguard

Chapter 108: A show of force!
Golden autumn October.

The sky is high and the air is fresh, with light clouds and a gentle breeze.

Outside the city gate of Chechi State.

On the spacious and solid official road.

A large number of people carrying shoulder poles, pushing wheelbarrows, or riding ox carts or horse carts, loaded with wheat, fruits, vegetables, handmade clothes, shoes, and other food and supplies, were rushing towards the city gate in the distance.

Amidst the busy crowd, a conspicuous team of people leading white horses, carrying luggage, and wearing monk robes of different colors, of different heights, were blending in with the crowd and marching towards the huge city gate ahead.

"hey-hey."

A two-meter tall man, wearing a green robe, with a dark gray complexion, large ears shaped like pig ears, a long nose like a pig's nose, and a head that looked like a pig's head. He was fat and had a big belly. He was holding a tall, snow-white horse with one hand. His eyes were fixed on the fruits and vegetables in the baskets of the people who were carrying loads or pushing carts. He kept swallowing his saliva as he looked at the people he had scared away. He couldn't help but grin and said, "Why are these people carrying the best food and running to the city?"

"Bajie."

"Don't you understand this?"

At the front of the team, there was a monk wearing a yellow robe and a tiger-skin skirt. He had healthy limbs, a face full of yellow hair, a pointed chin, a thunder god face, and was short and a little thin. When he heard what the pig-headed black man named Bajie said, he immediately said, "These people are going to the market. They are rushing to the city ahead to sell all the fruits and vegetables they eat."

"Eh"

Hearing what the eldest brother said, the black guy immediately grumbled with dissatisfaction: "These are all top-quality foods, why sell them? Can't you keep them for yourself? Really, I don't have enough to eat every day."

"hey-hey."

Hearing what the big black man said, the monk with a hairy face and thunder mouth immediately laughed again: "You don't understand this, right? These people still have so many things to sell, which means that the people in this country are living well, so they have extra food to sell."

"What Goku said is correct"

At this time, a tall monk wearing a brightly colored cassock, with a strong body, handsome appearance, and a dignified appearance, holding a staff, walked in the middle of the four figures. He looked at the busy people around him and the tall and majestic city in the distance, and couldn't help but exclaimed: "Food is the first necessity of the people. The people of this country can sell their food. I think they must live a life of plenty. The monarch of this country is also a wise monarch. We can have a good rest in this country."

"Hehe, the king is wise, and the people have enough food and clothing."

The monk with a hairy face and thunder mouth immediately responded, "This way we can get the clearance certificate faster, and even if we just beg for some vegetarian food, it will be much easier."

"Then you need to ask for more vegetarian food this time."

The big black man who was leading the horse said immediately, "I, the old pig, never have enough to eat, so I must have a full stomach this time."

"Don't worry, Bajie"

Hearing what the big black fat man said, the monk Lei Gongzui immediately laughed and said, "Master is from the Eastern Tang Dynasty. The king will definitely not neglect us. Don't worry, this vegetarian meal will surely be enough to fill you up."

Hearing what the elder brother said, the fat pig-headed black man was delighted and nodded immediately: "That's good, that's good."

The three monks in front were chatting and laughing.

At the back of the team, there was a tallest figure with a bald head, a dark complexion, eyes like copper bells, and a fist-sized rosary made of human skulls hanging around his neck. He looked really scary, carrying heavy luggage on his shoulders that bent a carrying pole, and walked at the end without saying a word.

These four persons and one horse are naturally Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing and the white dragon horse transformed by the third prince of the Dragon King of the West Sea. They are also the team that came from the Tang Dynasty in the East and headed to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures.

Soon.

Amidst the strange looks from people around him.

The pilgrim team finally arrived at the towering tall city gate with the words "Chechi Kingdom" engraved on it.

Just looking at the long queue waiting to enter the city, which was like a long dragon.

Even though Tang Sanzang was very composed, a trace of worry could not help but hang on his handsome face. The line was really too long. With the speed at which the people in front were entering the city, by the time it was their turn, they would probably have to wait until dark.

Zhu Bajie, who was standing by, was watching this scene. At first, he was quite happy to see himself surrounded by all kinds of food, fruits and vegetables brought by the people around him. Although he couldn't eat his fill, at least he could see enough. But when he saw the long queue in front of him, his face suddenly fell and he couldn't help complaining, "It's over. By the time it's our turn, it might be dark and I'm going to be hungry again."

Listening to the complaints of his second disciple behind him, Tang Sanzang felt a little panicked. He had been hungry for a long time, but he had been enduring it because he saw a big city ahead. He planned to ask his disciples to get some food after entering the city. Now he was blocked outside the city gate, and looking at the length of the queue, he didn't know when he could get a meal.

At the front of the team, Sun Wukong was also annoyed when he saw the long line of people in front of him. Then he heard Zhu Bajie's complaint and saw the worry on his master's face. He looked at the city gate in front of him and saw people going in and out of the small door guarded by armored soldiers next to the big gate. He suddenly had an idea and looked at Tang Sanzang behind him and said, "Master, please be patient. I think that small door seems to be passable. I will go and ask."

Hearing that there was a chance to jump the queue and enter the city, the hungry Tang Sanzang nodded immediately and said, "Wukong may have a way, so go and ask him!"

Hearing the master's urging.

"Not urgent."

Sun Wukong smiled, then turned around and walked up to Sha Wujing, who was tall and ferocious-looking like a ghost, and said, "Third Junior Brother, give me Master's clearance certificate."

Sha Wujing didn't ask any more questions. He put down his burden, opened the suitcase and started searching.

soon.

After getting the pass, Sun Wukong headed straight towards the city gate in front.

Arriving at the city gate, Sun Wukong saw the middle-aged man who was sitting behind a long table surrounded by soldiers holding weapons. He seemed to be the most senior official. He went straight forward, but was immediately stopped by the soldiers holding weapons and asked, "What are you doing?"

The middle-aged man behind the long table immediately looked over and saw a short monkey wearing a monk's robe and a monk's hat. He frowned slightly, raised his hand to stop the armored soldier, and said, "Are you okay?"

Sun Wukong, who was angry when he was stopped and driven away by two guards, heard the words of the middle-aged man. He was finally able to step forward and said with a smile: "I and my master and junior brother are monks from the Tang Dynasty in the East. We are going to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. We are passing through your country this time."

Having said that, Sun Wukong directly handed over the pass.

After hearing what the monkey monk said, the middle-aged official was somewhat surprised to hear that he came from the Tang Dynasty in the East, but when he heard the word "monk", he frowned again. However, he did not say anything. He just took the exquisite document handed over by the monkey monk, opened it and flipped through a few pages, and his expression suddenly changed slightly.

But being able to take the position of the chief guard of the city gate of Chechi State, the middle-aged man was naturally a bit sophisticated. He controlled his facial expressions well and quickly read through the pass documents. There was not much abnormality on his face. He just stood up, looked at Sun Wukong and smiled, "So the young elder is from the Celestial Empire, the Great Tang of the East. I have heard a lot about you."

Being complimented by the other party, Sun Wukong felt very happy and said with a smile on his face: "Since you know that we are from the Celestial Empire, can you open the small door and welcome my master and fellow apprentice in?"

Sun Wukong originally thought that the other party knew that he was from the Celestial Empire, the Tang Dynasty, and would invite him in politely.

Unexpectedly.

"no!"

Hearing Sun Wukong's words, the middle-aged man laughed, but immediately shook his head and said.

"why?"

Hearing the other party's words, Sun Wukong was a little unprepared. He was immediately furious, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes. He was about to step forward and grab the collar of the middle-aged man in front of him to ask for clarification. However, knowing his current status, he could only resist the urge and asked: "Why not? My master and I can't enter the city even if your team is lined up until dark. Is this your way of treating guests!?"

"Young elder, calm down."

Looking at the monkey who was suppressing his anger, the middle-aged man immediately said, "It's not that I won't open the door for you, but the king has given an order, and I have to obey. So, I will send your certificate of ordination to the palace and present it to His Majesty. I'll wait for His Majesty's decision. Are you satisfied?"

"Go quickly."

"Old Sun is waiting"

Sun Wukong immediately waved his hand impatiently.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man did not hesitate any longer, took the certificate and turned around and left.

Behind him, Sun Wukong was just remembering what the other person had just said about the king having an order. He didn't know what the order was and was about to ask when he looked up and found that the man's back had disappeared. So he had to wait there.

But after waiting for a long time, the middle-aged man did not come back.

Sun Wukong became more and more impatient, and wanted to go in through the small door that the man had left before, but was immediately stopped by soldiers with weapons in front of him.

Looking at the soldiers blocking the road, Sun Wukong bared his teeth in annoyance for a moment, and suddenly wanted to force his way in. However, thinking that his master behind him would definitely scold him, and his current identity, he could only suppress this impulse.

"Wukong."

At this time, his master Tang Sanzang called him from behind, so Sun Wukong had to turn around and return to his master and fellow apprentice.

See Sun Wukong come back.

Tang Sanzang immediately asked, "Wukong, what's wrong?"

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing who were standing nearby also came over.

Sun Wukong spoke immediately, and after telling Tang Sanzang what he had just done, he said, "The official took our pass and said he would go to the palace to give it to the king, but he hasn't come back in a while. It's really infuriating."

"Wukong, don't worry."

Hearing his eldest disciple's words, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but say: "Although this country is far inferior to Chang'an, it will definitely not be that fast from the city gate to the palace, and then to the king. I will just wait patiently."

"that is."

The fat black pig Bajie standing by was so greedy that he could not help but say, "Brother, it took less than the time it took me to eat a meal to get back from the trip. How can it be that fast for a small official to meet the king?"

"go"

Seeing Zhu Bajie had nothing nice to say, Sun Wukong, who was already in a bad mood, immediately became angry at Zhu Bajie.

"Cuckoo"

At this moment, the strong feeling of hunger from Tang Sanzang's stomach made a sound, which immediately attracted the attention of the three disciples around him.

"Look"

Zhu Bajie, who was standing by, immediately laughed and said, "Master is just as hungry as I am."

As he said this, he looked around at the people queuing up, many of whom were carrying fruits and food. He immediately walked to the back and rummaged through the luggage while saying, "Master, I'll go get some vegetarian food for you."

"Pigsy, wait a minute."

Tang Sanzang heard the voice and said immediately: "You are ugly, don't scare people, let your brother go."

Hearing this, Zhu Bajie immediately became unhappy, and threw the bowl in his hand back into his luggage, pouting and saying, "I am the only one who is ugly and scares people, but isn't my brother almost the same?"

"go with!"

Upon hearing the sound, Sun Wukong yelled at Zhu Bajie again, then picked up the bowl, looked around, and walked towards the corner under the city gate wall in front of him. Many people were hungry because they had been waiting in line, so they gathered in the corner to eat.

Seeing his brother going to beg for food, Zhu Bajie immediately shouted, "Brother, beg for more, beg for more, don't forget your fellow apprentice!"

Just when Tang Sanzang and his disciples were waiting outside the gate of Chechi Kingdom.

The middle-aged man, who they thought was going to the palace to see the king, was sitting in a room inside the huge city gate at a table with several exquisite side dishes. He picked up the wine glass in his hand and drank it all.

Across from him, a man in a robe looked at the exquisite certificate of ordination that the middle-aged man had thrown aside and couldn't help but ask, "Hey, what is that?"

The middle-aged man picked up the wine glass and refilled it for himself. He glanced at the certificate and said casually: "It's a pass from the Tang Dynasty in the East."

"Eastern Tang Dynasty?"

The robed man opposite was a little surprised, and immediately said: "I heard that the territory of the Eastern Tang Dynasty is vast and boundless, and it is a real celestial empire. Since you are from such a great country, your identity must be precious. It is better to send someone to the palace as soon as possible and present it to the emperor!"

Hearing the other party's persuasion, the middle-aged man immediately laughed and said, "If it were an ordinary person, I would have sent my servants to take him to the palace long ago, but who can blame the monks for bringing the certificate of ordination?"

The robed man opposite was startled when he heard the voice and asked, "Monk?"

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "It is the monks. Everyone in our country knows that His Majesty hates monks the most. After all, many years ago, those monks almost destroyed our Chechi Kingdom. Fortunately, we have the Imperial Master."

Hearing this, the man in robes also felt the same way: "Yes, that drought and those monks are really hateful."

"you do not say."

The middle-aged man raised his glass and said, "Your Majesty issued an order to expel Buddhist monks at that time, and no monks were allowed to step into the territory of our Chechi Kingdom again. It was only after the advice of the State Master that His Majesty changed the law and allowed monks to enter our Chechi territory, but they were not allowed to build temples or preach."

"So, even if those monks are from the Tang Dynasty in the East, it's the same. Anyway, we don't know how far the Tang Dynasty is from us. Your Majesty's preferences are more important. I plan to leave those monks alone for a night. Who told them to come when our Chechi Kingdom is the busiest? Don't you think so?"

"Ha ha."

"Yes, that's the truth."

The man in robes raised his glass and said with a smile: "Even if we are discovered and reported to His Majesty, His Majesty will only reward Chen Zhishou and will not blame him."

"Come on, do it!"

"Dry"

The middle-aged man laughed, raised his glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

Outside the city gate.

In front of a long dragon-like team.

Next to the gate guards, several strong men were lifting and weighing the goods of the people who were at the front of the queue entering the city in order to calculate the taxes that should be paid on the purchase and sale of goods.

Because Chechi Kingdom has had good weather in recent years, most people in the territory are living better than before. This time is the golden autumn harvest season, and everyone is scrambling to bring the harvested grains and fruits to the capital to sell, which leads to congestion at the city gates.

Time passed slowly.

The light in the sky sank to the west, and the sky was filled with red clouds.

Under the huge city.

In front of the city gate, in the long line, the four members of the pilgrimage team, who had been waiting in line for a long time and had only moved a few steps, all looked unhappy.

Sun Wukong was most annoyed at this time.

If it was because of time constraints, perhaps the middle-aged official would not have delivered the certificate of ordination so quickly.

But now?

It was already evening and almost dark, but not only did he not see anyone from the country coming to greet him, even the middle-aged official was nowhere to be seen.

This made him really irritated and unhappy. He was not only unhappy with the minor official's incompetence, but also unhappy with the king's ignorance of his great talent. His master was the younger brother of the Tang Dynasty emperor, and he was the Monkey King who had caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago.

In the past, when I passed through other countries, after notifying them, even if they didn't welcome me warmly, they at least treated me with courtesy. I have never suffered such an humiliating experience of having to wait in line to enter the city.

If this is some monster's territory, his name can still scare those monsters.

But now this is in the human city.

The master didn't say anything, and he didn't have any good ideas for the moment, so he didn't say much.

As for Zhu Bajie, he could only watch the many fruits and vegetables around him but could not eat any of them. Before, the senior brother had prepared some vegetarian meals for him but he did not take a bite. Naturally, he became even more impatient.

But the eldest senior brother didn't say anything, so he had no choice but to keep complaining.

As for Sha Wujing, he is the most peaceful. He is a man of few words and it doesn't matter where he is. Anyway, the eldest and second brothers didn't say anything.

On the contrary, Tang Sanzang, who had eaten a hearty vegetarian meal before, was not hungry at this time. In addition, the weather was cool and there were a lot of people around him. He was in a good mood and was the best among the four masters and apprentices.

As for the White Dragon Horse, he has already turned into a horse, so why would he care about anything else?

When the sunset completely disappeared.

The sky darkened.

It’s almost time for the city gates to close at Youshi.

Realizing that they could not enter the city today, the people began to sleep on the ground under the city gate, preparing to spend the night.

Looking at this scene.

The four members of the pilgrim team looked at each other. After looking around all day and being greedy all day, Zhu Bajie, who hadn't eaten a single bite, was the most dissatisfied. He immediately cursed, "You guys said before that I would be full today, but now I haven't even entered the door. I, the old pig, even drank my saliva. I, I, I, I'm going to fucking Chechi Kingdom!"

"Bajie."

Hearing the second disciple's complaints, Tang Sanzang immediately taught him a lesson: "Monks must not tell lies!"

"What nonsense did I say?"

After hearing what his master said, Zhu Bajie was immediately very dissatisfied and pouted, saying, "You seem to be full and not hungry, but I, the old pig, couldn't even drink a sip of water. It's easy for you to say that."

Seeing how hungry his second disciple was, Tang Sanzang didn't know what to say.

After all, he was really full before and he was not hungry now. Although he failed to enter the city in time, with so many people from Chechi Kingdom accompanying him, it was no big deal to sleep outside the wall for a night. He had slept a lot in the wilderness anyway.

So he ordered: "Wu Jing, prepare to spend the night here."

"Yes"

After giving Tang Sanzang a brief reply, Sha Wujing remained silent as usual and began to pack his luggage.

On the other hand, Sun Wukong, who was standing aside, was looking at the heavy city gate that was slowly closing in the distance as it began to pack up. His bright eyes were moving rapidly, and he was obviously thinking about something.

"Wait a minute"

at this time,

A grand and majestic voice came from the distant sky.

Outside the city gate.

Upon hearing the sound, all the people turned around and saw a figure riding on a white cloud flying quickly from the sky behind.

This unprecedented scene of immortals immediately made the people outside the city restless.

soon.

When they saw the figure riding the cloud descending, it turned out to be a tall, handsome, heroic man in a black robe, with black hair like ink, someone immediately recognized the person and shouted excitedly, "State Master! It's the State Master! Oh my God! I actually saw the State Master!"

This shout immediately made the surrounding people more excited. They immediately recalled the appearance of the rumored Chinese master, and now they were all compared one by one.

then.

There was a bang.

All the people were excited, and they knelt down excitedly, kowtowed and worshiped the tall, slender, handsome, and immortal-like state teacher, saying, "God!"

"Thank God for the rain and the life-saving grace!"

"Thank God for the rain and the life-saving rain!"

"The heavens finally saw me. I finally saw the national master."

"The Imperial Master must bless my son to grow up healthy and free from disasters."

"Master, may my wife have a safe delivery."

"May God bless the Imperial Master to live a long life."

Looking at the people around him who were kneeling and praying in unison, Qi Hu swept his eyes over the crowd as usual, and swept over the only four figures and one horse who were not kneeling and were particularly conspicuous. Amid the extremely sacred and reverent gazes of the people around him, among the kneeling armored soldiers, he strode into the half-closed and reopened gate of Chechi State, and disappeared from everyone's sight.

In the back, the four members of the pilgrimage team looked at the scene and suddenly had different expressions.

(End of this chapter)