Simultaneous traversal: All Abyss difficulty.

Chapter 567 Quickly sew his mouth shut, Tang Sanzang is about to be told to return to secular life!

"This"

Tang Sanzang was numb.

He had only been in contact with Fang Yu for less than 24 hours, and his worldview was already completely shattered.

Seeing that Tang Seng was still tense, Fang Yu sneered, "All you care about is your broken scriptures. Right now, there are people in need of help in front of you, but you ignore them and your head is full of self-righteousness! I really want to laugh. If you don't care about small things, where does your self-righteousness come from? You're kidding me."

Fang Yu grabbed Tang Seng by the collar. "I ask you, what use are the scriptures to their current situation? Will reciting scriptures stop human traffickers from harassing beggars? Will believing in Buddhism stop people from selling themselves to bury their fathers? Will eating vegetarian food stop the abandonment of baby girls?"

"Speak up! Say something!"

Tang Sanzang opened his eyes, which were bloodshot.

"I"

"I"

Fang Yu glared, "What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'spit it out'!"

Tang Sanzang's face turned bright red from his neck to his chest as he shouted, "I! I don't know!"

Fang Yu sneered, staring at Tang Seng, "Heh, then I'll let you know!"

"Why do prostitutes, human traffickers, and the sale of daughters exist under imperial power? Because imperial power itself is the greatest exploiter!"

"The nobles needed to enjoy themselves, which gave rise to brothels. The government exploited the people, and the exorbitant taxes forced people to sell their children. Local powerful families colluded with the government, and no one dared to interfere with the trafficking of people!"

"As for a solution? First, overthrow the imperial power! Establish true rule of law!"

"If the law only protects the powerful and wealthy, then the common people will always be lambs to the slaughter! Only when everyone is equal and the law is just can these evils be eradicated!"

"Otherwise, no matter how many scriptures you recite or how many Buddhas you worship, you can't save those children who have been forced into prostitution or trafficked!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's mind went blank!
what! ?

this.
Was this human tragedy caused by the emperor?
But, didn't the emperor send me to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures and benefit the people?
Seeing Tang Seng's face turn blue and purple, Fang Yu grinned, "You clearly don't realize that you're just a tool—a tool to consolidate imperial power."

"We, the Chinese people, do not believe in Taoism, but instead go to India to believe in Buddhism. Isn't it just so that the people can suffer and endure hardship, hoping that if they suffer in this life, they can have enough to eat in the next life?"

"That day you said that Buddha saw the people of the East suffering greatly and needed the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures to save them, so he sent Guanyin Bodhisattva to find a pilgrim to retrieve the scriptures and save the people of the East."

"You, Guanyin, have come all the way to Chang'an to find the pilgrim, couldn't you have brought the scriptures along? Why do you have to send someone to fetch them? Are you even going to save them or not? Is that truly a sincere act of saving people?"

"Have you ever seen someone's house on fire, and then gone to the homeowner and asked them to dance for you to liven things up, before putting out the fire?"

"Just kidding! You really think you're a savior? Your pilgrimage to the West isn't as meritorious as me directly redeeming these girls with real money!"

"After all, I really did save someone."

And you

"It's just empty talk."

"Snapped."

The crisp sound of silver coins hitting the table made all the girls and Tang Sanzang tremble!
The madam standing at the door finally realized what was happening. "Sir! Young master! Are you going to redeem these girls from their servitude?"

"Well, what else? Are you going to treat me like I'm talking nonsense?"

"No! No! Quickly, quickly! Bring the young master the girls' indentures!"

Upon hearing the words "contract of servitude," Fang Yu grinned at Tang Sanzang, "Do you think this is reasonable? If people can be bought and sold under a contract of servitude, what's the point of talking about cultivating for the next life or using scriptures to save all sentient beings?"

"Stop, stop talking."

Tang Sanzang blushed with embarrassment and rushed out the door.

The young ladies looked at Fang Yu, tears streaming down their faces.

Fang Yu chuckled, "If you want to continue, then go ahead. We've gotten your indentures back. Whether you continue down the old path or go back to the countryside to set up a stall, sell tofu, get married, or something, it's up to you."

The women immediately knelt down, "Thank you, young master!"

After all the women left, Sun Wukong began to eat the peaches, which had begun to oxidize.

"you boy"

"Crack!"

It took a bite of the peach.

"With that mouth of yours, you could at least get a high-ranking official position in Heaven."

Fang Yu, however, disagreed, saying, "People who have received nine years of compulsory education can spout such nonsense."

Fang Yu strode down the steps of Haofeng Tower and saw Tang Seng squatting on the bluestone slab by the street in the distance.

He rushed forward and grabbed the bewildered monk, saying, "What are you daydreaming about? It's time to get going!"

As soon as the three stepped out of the city gate, Tang Seng suddenly grabbed Fang Yu's sleeve: "You just said that imperial power is the root of all evil?"

Fang Yu didn't stop walking, casually picking a foxtail grass from the roadside and putting it in his mouth: "Because of the royal family, people are divided into different classes."

Fang Yu counted on his fingers, "Royal relatives are the upper class with gold trim, followed by those in official robes, those who use abacuses, and at the very bottom are these beggars, prostitutes and the like."

Tang Sanzang subconsciously reached for the ordination certificate in his robes.

The document bearing the imperial seal allowed him to travel without hindrance, but it also represented imperial power.

"Then, what kind of person are you talking about, what is a complete person?"

"You ask what human rights are?" Fang Yu suddenly turned around. "Simply put, it's not being able to be yourself!" He grabbed the grimacing Sun Wukong. "Like me, Monkey King, do you really think he'd willingly escort you to the Western Paradise?"

Sun Wukong was secretly rubbing peach fuzz on Tang Sanzang's cassock when he heard this, he scoffed and said, "Bullshit! I, Old Sun, have sincerely repented!"

"It can travel 108,000 li in one somersault, faster than you go to the outhouse, but now it has to accompany you step by step to measure the land. The worst part is that it can't even admit its own thoughts. That's what you call having no monkey rights!" Sun Wukong fell silent.

It did not refute Fang Yu's meaning.

The results are obvious.

It really didn't want to go to the Western Paradise.

"I," Tang Sanzang, pondered for a long time, but still didn't know how to say it.

After a long while, he clasped his hands together and bowed to Fang Yu, saying, "Thank you for your guidance."

Fang Yu walked ahead alone. He waved his hand without turning his head and said, "You have to walk your own path and figure out your own principles. As for how to save these people, you should think about it yourself."

As the sun sets and twilight descends, the sky gradually darkens.

The westward-bound team traveled for another three days.

The three arrived at a dense forest. Tang Sanzang wiped the sweat from his brow and was about to suggest resting when suddenly...
"Shhhhh!"

Six burly men wielding sharp knives suddenly rushed out from the depths of the woods!
Their faces were full of menacing features, and their eyes gleamed with ferocity. They instantly surrounded the three of them!
"Monk! Hand over your luggage!" The scarred man at the head grinned maliciously, his blade gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

Tang Sanzang's heart tightened, and he quickly put his palms together in a gesture of respect: "Amitabha, this humble monk has nothing of value but the travel permit. I beg you all to be lenient."

"Enough with the nonsense!" another burly man spat. "A poor monk? A poor monk has to die too!"

Tang Sanzang was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Since this humble monk has no money, why do you all still want it?"

"Why?" Scarface grinned sinisterly. "What's killing a monk in this desolate wilderness? Perfect for practicing!"

The voice hasn't fallen
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Six muffled thuds exploded almost simultaneously!

Before Tang Sanzang could react, six bursts of scarlet blood mist exploded before his eyes!
Minced meat, broken bones, and fragments of internal organs rained down, splattering him all over his body and face!

"Ugh—" Tang Sanzang's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, his stomach churning, and he vomited.

He looked up, trembling, and saw Sun Wukong carrying his golden cudgel, grinning, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "Master, just a few petty thieves, I, Old Sun, will take care of them in no time!"

Tang Sanzang's lips trembled as he looked at the scattered limbs on the ground, then at Sun Wukong's nonchalant expression, and his heart turned ice-cold.

Is this... is this the "Wukong the Pilgrim" in his heart?
The monkey at the foot of the Five Elements Mountain who kept saying he was "sincerely repenting"?

That compassionate disciple who should have protected him on his westward journey?
No.
This is clearly still that lawless demon king!

Tang Sanzang's voice trembled, "They may be thieves, but their crimes don't warrant death."

Sun Wukong scratched his head, looking puzzled: "Master, they were just trying to kill you!"

Tang Sanzang opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute it.

Yes, these people really wanted to kill him. But...
But they are still human!

Seeing his silence, Sun Wukong waved his hand impatiently: "Master, you're too old-fashioned! When I was the Demon King of Flower Fruit Mountain, this kind of trash wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap!"

Tang Sanzang trembled, finally understanding.

What he thought was "conversion to Buddhism" was nothing more than a temporary compromise after being suppressed for five hundred years.

A demon is still a demon.

He slowly closed his eyes, his mind blank.

Can this journey to the west truly convert such a "disciple"?

Fang Yu could tell what Tang Seng was thinking just by looking at his expression. He snorted coldly, "Foolish! The death of six bandits could save hundreds of families and dozens of lives! And he's even reciting scriptures about it."

Sun Wukong winked at Fang Yu, his mouth clearly saying, "Keep it to yourself, we still have a long way to go."

The following morning, a thin mist shrouded the river.

Tang Sanzang was squatting by the river drawing water when he suddenly shivered as his fingers touched the icy water.

"Amitabha," he murmured, gazing at his haggard reflection in the water, "All beings are equal. But why..."

Before the words were even finished, the river surface suddenly shimmered with golden light!
"Xuanzang."

A clear, cold voice came from above. Tang Sanzang looked up abruptly and saw Guanyin Bodhisattva standing on a golden lotus, holding a pure vase, gazing down at him.

"Bodhisattva!" Tang Sanzang hurriedly stood up and bowed, and the water ladle in his hand fell into the river with a "plop".

Guanyin frowned slightly: "Why do you look so pale?"

Tang Sanzang subconsciously touched his bruised eye sockets and shook his head, saying, "This disciple simply...didn't sleep well last night."

Guanyin's gaze was piercing, as if she could see through people's hearts: "Could it be that that mischievous monkey and that madman have caused trouble again?"

Tang Sanzang remained silent for a moment, then finally shook his head: "No, they are fine."

Guanyin gave a soft hum, and two monks' hats suddenly flew out from her sleeves, landing steadily in Tang Sanzang's hands.

"This is the Golden Hoop," Guanyin said calmly. "I will teach you the Tightening Hoop Mantra. You can coax that monkey and that boy to wear it. If they disobey you in the future, you only need to recite the mantra, and the Golden Hoop will tighten itself, causing them to suffer excruciating headaches and wish they were dead."

Tang Sanzang held his monk's hat, his fingertips trembling slightly.

The gold headband is soft to the touch and embroidered with fine Sanskrit characters; at first glance, it looks like an ordinary monk's hat.

But Tang Sanzang felt that the hat was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

“Bodhisattva.” He suddenly looked up, a hint of stubbornness in his eyes unlike anything he had ever seen before. “Isn’t this a violation of human rights? Uh… and monkey rights?”

Guanyin was about to turn and leave when she suddenly turned back, tilting her head and frowning, "What are you talking about?"

(End of this chapter)