Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

After leaving Pingdingshan and traveling west for several more days, a city came into view ahead.

The city had an eerie atmosphere—even at midday, it was filled with a chilling aura, and a sense of lingering resentment seemed to reside within. Three large characters were inscribed on the city gate: Wuji Kingdom.

Xuanzang frowned on horseback: "Why is this city so gloomy? Could there be a demon here?"

Sun Wukong leaped onto a cloud, scanned the area with his golden eyes, and landed, saying, "Master, there is indeed demonic energy in the city! The one sitting in that palace isn't the real king, but a monster!"

"A monster as king?" Pigsy scratched his head. "This king is too unlucky."

Lu Chen (Qingfeng Daoren) stroked his beard and said, "I know a little about this matter. Three years ago, Wuji Kingdom suffered a severe drought. A Daoist priest came to pray for rain and saved the people. The king became sworn brothers with him and they ate and lived together. Who knew that the Daoist priest was a monster? Taking advantage of the king's inattention, he pushed him into the well in the royal garden, transformed himself into the king, and seized the country."

"Such a thing is possible!" Xuanzang exclaimed angrily. "How can I, a humble monk, stand idly by while demons harm people?"

Lu Chen nodded: "Holy monk, you are merciful. But that monster is no ordinary being—he is the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva, a blue-maned lion that has become a spirit."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.

Manjushri Bodhisattva's mount? Wouldn't that be a demon from within Buddhism itself?

Xuanzang's expression changed slightly: "Master, are you saying... it's Buddhist monks committing evil again?"

"It was done under orders." Lu Chen said meaningfully, "Manjushri Bodhisattva once came to Wuji Kingdom to convert the king, but the king did not know what was good for him and tied up the Bodhisattva and immersed him in the Royal River for three days and three nights. After the Bodhisattva was freed, he reported to the Tathagata and sent his mount down to the mortal world so that the king would also suffer the disaster of being immersed in water for three years."

Sun Wukong angrily retorted, "What kind of logic is this? If the king is at fault, he should be punished. Why let monsters seize the land and harm the people?"

Pigsy chimed in, "Exactly! That monster must have done countless evil deeds in these past three years!"

Lu Chen shook his head: "Cause and effect are cyclical, and everything has its predetermined fate. But the common people are innocent and should not be implicated."

Xuanzang clasped his hands in prayer: "What the Daoist says is true. In that case, we should rescue the true king and restore peace to Wuji Kingdom."

That night, the master and his disciples rested at an inn in the city.

At midnight, Sun Wukong, following Lu Chen's instructions, led Zhu Bajie to sneak into the royal garden of the palace. Sure enough, they found a corpse at the bottom of a dry well—it was the true king who had been murdered three years ago. His body was white from being soaked in water, but because of the yin energy at the bottom of the well, the body did not decompose.

Sun Wukong used his golden cudgel to lift the corpse and jump out of the well. Zhu Bajie carried the corpse back to the inn.

Lu Chen had already prepared a pill—a replica of the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill "borrowed" from the Doulu Palace. Although it was a replica, its medicinal effects were 30% of the real thing.

After the elixir was dissolved in water and poured down his throat, the king's corpse gradually regained its breath, and half an hour later, it slowly woke up.

"Where...where is this?" The king looked around in bewilderment.

Xuanzang explained the whole story. Upon hearing it, the king, tears streaming down his face, knelt and kowtowed, saying, "I will never forget the holy monk's life-saving grace! That monster has tormented me for three years; I beg the holy monk to deliver justice!"

"Don't worry," Sun Wukong patted his chest. "Tomorrow morning at court, I, Old Sun, will see what that monster is all about!"

The next day, at the King's Palace of Wuji.

The fake king sat high on the dragon throne, with civil and military officials lined up on both sides. Suddenly, a commotion was heard outside the palace gate, and a monk, accompanied by three disciples and a Taoist priest, strode in.

"Halt! Who dares to trespass into the palace?" The guards stopped them.

Sun Wukong swept aside the guards with his staff, rushed to the front of the palace, pointed at the fake king, and shouted: "Monster! You harmed the real king and seized the throne. Today, I, Old Sun, have come to take your dog's life!"

The fake king's expression changed drastically, but he forced himself to remain calm: "Where did this mad monk come from, spouting nonsense! Guards, seize him!"

The guards rushed forward, but were knocked to the ground by Pigsy and Sandy with a few punches and kicks.

Seeing that things were not going well, the fake king transformed himself and revealed his true form—a blue-maned lion with a mane as sharp as steel needles and eyes like copper bells, spewing out a demonic wind from its mouth!

Sun Wukong sneered and brought his golden cudgel down on his head!

The lion demon didn't dodge; instead, it spoke in human language: "Sun Wukong! I am the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva, sent down to the mortal realm on orders. How dare you harm me?!"

Sun Wukong slammed his staff down and turned to look at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen slowly stepped forward, looking at the lion demon: "By whose orders? What is the purpose of descending to the mortal realm? That king immersed the Bodhisattva for three days, and the Bodhisattva then made him suffer the calamity of being immersed in water for three years. I understand this cause and effect. But—"

He abruptly changed the subject: "For the past three years, you've occupied the palace, oppressed the people, and plundered their wealth. Was that also done on the orders of the Bodhisattva?"

The lion spirit was speechless.

"Do you know that the king suffers daily at the bottom of the well, while his queen is forced by you to serve you day and night, daring not to speak out? Do you know that loyal officials in the court have been killed or demoted by you, and how many families have been ruined?" Lu Chen pressed on, "Is this also done on the orders of the Bodhisattva?"

Sweat beaded on the lion demon's forehead as he stubbornly protested, "I...I was only ordered to punish the king, nothing else..."

"The rest is all your own doing, indulging in pleasure and doing whatever you please!" Lu Chen shouted sternly. "You beast, having gained human form, you've forgotten your place! Today, I, the humble Taoist, will teach you a lesson on behalf of Manjushri Bodhisattva, you unworthy mount!"

He raised his hand, and the Chaos Brick was unleashed!

The lion demon was terrified and turned to flee! But Sun Wukong blocked his path with his staff, while Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing guarded his left and right.

The Chaos Brick fell, not killing him, but slamming hard into his back!

"Awooo—!"

The lion demon let out a miserable howl and collapsed to the ground, his spine broken—though it could be restored, the pain would stay with him for a lifetime.

Lu Chen put away the Chaos Brick and said coldly, "Today I will break your spine as a warning to others. Go back and tell Manjushri Bodhisattva that the karmic debt is settled once it is settled. Do not allow your mount to do evil and tarnish the reputation of Buddhism."

The lion demon transformed into a beam of demonic light and fled into the sky.

In the hall, the officials were shocked, then cheered.

The true king emerged from behind the palace, surrounded by his officials, and was re-ascended the throne. He knelt before Xuanzang, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Holy Monk, your great kindness is beyond my ability to repay! I wish to offer half of the kingdom's treasury to you, Holy Monk, to repay your life-saving grace!"

Xuanzang quickly helped him up: "Your Majesty is too kind. This humble monk is a monk and does not covet wealth. I only wish that Your Majesty will be diligent in governing and loving the people, and treat them kindly, which would be the best way to repay you."

The king readily agreed and ordered a grand banquet to entertain the master and his disciples.

During the meal, Sun Wukong leaned close to Lu Chen and whispered, "Master, will that lion demon really go back and complain?"

"Go ahead and sue," Lu Chen said, picking up a piece of food. "If Manjushri were smart, he should pretend he doesn't know. If he dares to come and demand an explanation..."

He weighed the Chaos Brick in his hand, smiled without saying a word.

Sun Wukong chuckled to himself.

From the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva watched this scene with a grim expression.

The lion demon, its spine broken, fled back to Mount Wutai in a sorry state. Manjushri Bodhisattva, who was meditating, was shocked and enraged to see his mount in such a wretched state: "Who injured you?!"

The lion demon tearfully recounted what had happened. Manjushri listened in silence for a long time, then sighed, "That Qingfeng Daoist…what a sharp tongue. He's right, you have indeed indulged in pleasure and crossed the line."

The lion spirit lowered its head and remained silent.

"That's enough." Manjushri waved his hand. "I won't pursue this matter, and you shouldn't cause any more trouble. Take good care of your injuries and be more restrained in the future."

The lion spirit agreed, but in his heart he both hated and feared the "Qingfeng Daoist".

Manjushri looked westward, his brows slightly furrowed.

Who exactly is this Daoist Qingfeng? He even dared to attack his own mount, and while he spoke of upholding the "reputation" of Buddhism, he showed absolutely no mercy...

"Venerable Guanyin, the guardian inspector you chose... is quite interesting."

On the journey west, Lu Chen sneezed.

"Who's talking about me?" He rubbed his nose and looked ahead.

Next stop, Haoshan.

"Red Boy... Samadhi True Fire..."

"This little guy is not easy to deal with."

He stroked his chin, but a look of anticipation flashed in his eyes.

"However, this suits me perfectly."