Journey to the West: Upon seeing the Yellow-Eyebrowed Demon, why not pay homage?

After exchanging pleasantries, the Barefoot Immortal bid farewell to everyone, sank to the bottom of the river, and went straight to the front of the Stone Mansion, calling out, "Rolling Curtain, do you still remember me?"

Inside the stone mansion, upon hearing that familiar voice, Sha Wujing suddenly stood up: "The Barefoot Immortal?"

"It is I. Please come out for a chat," said the Barefoot Immortal.

Sha Wujing instinctively reached for the stone gate, but Zhifeng grabbed his wrist and reminded him:

"Be careful, it might be a trap at this critical juncture!"

Sha Wujing firmly brushed his hand away and said seriously, "If it were someone else, I could have just sent him away and explained things later."

But it was the Barefoot Immortal who came. Do you know, my spirit attendant, that if it hadn't been for his intercession, I would have been utterly destroyed long ago?

Zhifeng: "..."

Sudhana pursed her lips and said, "Wujing, we'll go with you to greet the Great Immortal."

Sha Wujing did not refuse the suggestion and quickly led the two out of the door.

"Rolling Curtain, it's been so many years since we last met. How did you end up like this?" The Barefoot Immortal asked, his face full of astonishment.

Sha Wujing sighed, "It's a long story."

"It's a long story, so let's take it slow."

The Barefoot Immortal responded, then looked at the Good Fortune Dragon Girl and Zhifeng: "Who are these two?"

"We are the King's subordinates," said the Dragon Girl Sudhana first.

The Barefoot Immortal nodded slightly: "I see. Then I'll trouble you to guard the door for me and the Curtain-Roller. I have something extremely important to discuss with him."

Zhifeng: "..."

Sudhana looked at Sha Wujing, hoping he could refuse on her behalf.

Unfortunately, in Sha Wujing's heart, the combined status of the two of them was not as high as that of his savior.

However, out of respect for Guanyin Bodhisattva, he didn't actually have the two guard the gate, but only said:

"We don't need those two guarding the gate, Master. I'll take you somewhere we can talk without being disturbed."

Zhi Feng cried out urgently, "No!"

The Barefoot Immortal asked in confusion, "Why not?"

Zhi Feng said, "There are hidden dangers outside; I am worried about Your Majesty's safety!"

The Barefoot Immortal chuckled: "Your worries are somewhat unnecessary. If a powerful figure could kill Curtain in front of me, the two of you would be even less able to protect her."

Zhifeng: "..."

In the end, he and the Dragon Girl could only watch as Barefoot and Wujing left together, their hearts heavy with sorrow.

"Pengzhu, have you noticed anything amiss?" Zhifeng asked, glancing sideways as he let out a soft sigh.

"I have a bad feeling," said the Dragon Girl.

Zhifeng: "..."

The deepest part of the Liusha River.

Inside a cave with complex terrain.

Sha Wujing led the Barefoot Immortal to a stone chamber and said softly, "Here, no one can eavesdrop on our conversation. Immortal, you can speak your mind freely."

The Barefoot Immortal nodded slightly and asked, "Rolling Curtain, why were you demoted?"

Sha Wujing was taken aback: "Why do you say that, Great Immortal?"

"Because this is the catalyst for your destiny!" said the Barefoot Immortal.

Sha Wujing scratched his head: "Of course it's because I broke the glass lamp..."

"No, breaking the glass cup was just a pretext."

The Barefoot Immortal said, "In fact, the truth behind your banishment to the mortal realm is that you were chosen by the Heavenly Court to join the Journey to the West and seize merit."

Sha Wujing said, "Great Immortal, I don't understand."

The Barefoot Immortal immediately explained what the great trend of Heaven is, what it means to go with the flow, and the merits of Heaven contained in the eighty-one tribulations.

After hearing this, Sha Wujing's entire worldview was overturned, and he remained in shock for a long time.

"Roller, tell me honestly, who were those two people who were following you just now?"

It's not that I look down on you, but heroes like them would never submit to a demon king.

While he was still reeling from the shock, the Barefoot Immortal suddenly asked a question.

Sha Wujing's mind was in complete turmoil, and he subconsciously replied, "Their true identities are Guanyin's right attendant, Sudhana, and Lingji Bodhisattva's celestial attendant, Zhifeng."

The Barefoot Immortal frowned: "How did they get here?"

Sha Wujing replied, "They came to help me."

"Help you?" the Barefoot Immortal asked curiously. "Are you acquainted with them before?"

Sha Wujing shook his head: "No."

"So you gave them benefits?" Barefoot Immortal asked.

Sha Wujing paused slightly: "No, not exactly."

"Then why did they help you?" the Barefoot Immortal pressed.

Sha Wujing exhaled softly and recounted the Dragon Girl's initial words to him.

"Roller curtain, oh roller curtain, how utterly foolish you are!" After hearing this, the Barefoot Immortal sighed softly.

Sha Wujing asked blankly, "Confused?"

"These two are clearly using you as a tool under the guise of helping you."

The Barefoot Immortal said, "In other words, these are two little devils holding knives. You're being held in their hands, ready to clash with them at any moment, without even realizing it."

Sha Wujing: "..."

"Still don't understand?" the Barefoot Immortal asked.

Sha Wujing said, "I seem to understand, but I don't quite."

"Okay, then I'll analyze it for you properly."

The Barefoot Immortal said, "What right does a mere Yellow Eyebrow have to interfere in the Journey to the West game? With Guanyin Bodhisattva's abilities, is it difficult to kill him?"

Ultimately, it's because he represents the lineage of the future Buddha and is the messenger of the future Buddha in this great calamity.

It was precisely because of the protection of the future Buddha that Guanyin could not directly take action against Huang Mei, and had no choice but to send her capable assistants to deal with or restrict him.

This is an internal struggle between the future lineage and the present lineage of Buddhism. Are you from the present lineage?

No, you are not; you are from Heaven.

Even if you complete the journey to the West and attain enlightenment on Mount Ling, you will still be a member of the Heavenly Court, and Mount Ling will never treat you as one of their own.

If you can clearly recognize this point, you can avoid the conflict between the two factions from the beginning and remain untainted; at worst, you will not be given important responsibilities.

But if you don't even realize this, whether you follow the present-day lineage to fight the future lineage, or follow the future lineage to fight the present-day lineage, it's all a dead end.

Ultimately, despite their constant fighting and infighting, the two factions will still unite against a common enemy when faced with a common foe.

But what if the conflict is irreconcilable?

It's very simple. The present lineage just needs to find a scapegoat to appease the future lineage.

Think about it, who's the most suitable scapegoat?

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing's mind was drawn in, and he imagined the scene. He immediately broke out in a cold sweat, filled with boundless speculation and panic.

How could a deity capable of being a curtain-rolling general be a fool?

Moreover, he had been in the Heavenly Court for so long; surely he had seen this kind of "darkness" before.

If you're not ruthless and blind, you'll never have a chance to rise in the heavens!

"Master, what should I do?"

Trying his best to calm his agitated emotions, Sha Wujing grabbed the barefoot immortal's arm, like a drowning man grasping at a straw.