You, a monster, still want to travel to the West?

Upon hearing the news, people in the border areas rose up in arms, and heroes emerged from all directions, causing the Han Dynasty to collapse overnight.

The previous emperor of the Li family also took advantage of this opportunity to raise an army in Jinyang, bringing his family members with him. After ten years of campaigning east and west, he conquered the country and named it "Tang".

However, from the time Emperor Gaozu of Han pacified the world, to the time Emperor Guangwu revived the Han Dynasty, and then to the time Wu Hou revived the Han Dynasty for the third time, the entire Han Dynasty lasted for a full eight hundred years and established a great empire.

Let’s not talk about the lack of public support, let’s just talk about the territory.

When the late Emperor Li founded the country——

I have not returned to Yanran, and I have not left Luohuang.

Bohai has not been pacified and Goryeo has not been recovered.

Loulan has not been conquered and the Western Regions have not been conquered.

Zhenluo has not been attacked and Tubo has not been conquered.

Ryukyu has not been captured, and Yingzhou has not surrendered.

What's worse, the remnants of the Turks outside the Western Regions have made a comeback.

In short, when the Tang Dynasty was founded, it lost most of the Han territory. Even now, there are barbarians who dare to invade the Han people and disrupt the border.

Therefore, scholars and writers used this as an excuse to criticize the Tang Dynasty, and Confucian scholars used this as an excuse to criticize and denounce the Li family.

Later, there was the Xuanwu Gate Incident, in which the Li family fought for power among themselves, with brothers killing each other, disregarding the people's will for their homeland, and they were criticized for this.

To this day, twenty years after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the country is prosperous and the people are wealthy, but because the lost land has not been recovered, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is worried day and night, the civil and military officials in the court are furious, and the Confucian scholars all over the world are anxious and curse.

At this point, Yuan Shoucheng took a sip of tea and sighed, "Now, the emperor of our dynasty is working hard to govern the country, and the treasury is becoming increasingly full, but it is still a long way off from being able to regain the lost half of our territory..."

Xiao Qingxin was puzzled when she heard this and asked, "What's the rush?"

Xia Zhiming spit out his snake tongue and jokingly said, "How can his diligent efforts alone compare to the Liu family's eight hundred years of accumulation?"

Hearing this, Yuan Shoucheng was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, "This matter is known to the world. It's just that we need to find someone to bear the blame."

"Li Shimin had a difficult life, and it was very hard for him."

"Shangxian...you are truly outspoken."

"When I met Liu Zhuang, he didn't dare let me call him Your Majesty."

Yuan Shoucheng was not surprised to hear this. He shook his head and smiled, then did not continue the conversation. He asked, "I wonder who the two immortals are looking for? I am a fortune teller and I think I can help you."

"I can do this too, so you don't need to come." Xiao Qingxin shook her head.

Yuan Shoucheng shook his head helplessly, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Since that's the case, I won't disturb the two immortals' leisurely stroll."

He was originally telling fortunes on the road, but unexpectedly he saw a man and a snake covered in fairy light and full of pure energy walking on the road without any concealment. Surprised, he followed them, wanting to find out their purpose.

Unexpectedly, in the end, I didn't find out the purpose of the man and the snake, but I ended up being a free storyteller, which was quite helpless.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shoucheng glanced at the gilded teacup at hand, thought for a moment, drank the tea in one gulp, and stuffed the cup into his sleeve. Then he bowed again, stood up and left - how could he, Yuan Shoucheng, suffer this loss? He would get a good cup first and leave.

At the table, Xiao Qingxin noticed his movements and her eyes widened. After the man had gone far away, she exclaimed in surprise, "Zhiming, you've been robbed!"

"That's not called a thief, that's called a person of character."

"Cuckoo~"

……

————————————————————

At the same time, Wuxing Mountain——

Guanyin Bodhisattva led Mu Zha eastward, and suddenly they saw golden light and auspicious aura, and they could not help but stop and look.

Seeing this, Mu Zha pointed at the rosy glow and said with a smile, "Master, this is the Five Elements Mountain, which holds down the Monkey King who disrupted the Peach Festival. We just need to go a little further and we will reach the Eastern Land Realm."

Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva descended from the clouds, took a look at the six-word mantra that was as steady as Mount Tai, and could not help but sigh and recite a poem, saying:

It's a pity that the monkey is not loyal to his country and was arrogant and wanted to be a hero.

He deceived the audience and disrupted the Peach Banquet, then boldly went to the Tushita Palace without permission.

He is invincible among the army of 100,000 and is majestic in the ninth heaven.

Since I was trapped by Buddha Tathagata, when will I be able to recover and show my power again?

At the foot of the mountain, Sun Wukong was puzzled when he heard the poem. He asked loudly, "Who is reciting poetry on the mountain and exposing my shortcomings?"

When Guanyin Bodhisattva heard this, he and Mu Zha met with the five Jiedis and mountain gods and land gods who came to greet them. When they came to Sun Wukong, they saw that the monkey -

Wine gourd in the left hand, fruit basket in the right hand.

There were pits all over the ground and a peach in my mouth.

Summary: Life is okay.

Guanyin Bodhisattva leaned over and said with a smile: "You monkey, do you recognize me?"

"I recognize you, I recognize you," Sun Wukong said, hiding the wine gourd in his arms. He laughed and said, "You are the great and compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva of Putuo Mountain in the South China Sea, who saves the suffering and the distressed. Thank you for your care! Thank you for your care! I wonder where you, Bodhisattva, have come from? Where are you going?"

"You monkey-headed man, you speak so pleasingly." The Bodhisattva listened to him recite a long list of titles without taking a breath, shook his head and chuckled, saying, "I want to go to the East to find a pilgrim to obtain the scriptures at Mount Lingshan. I passed by here and stopped by to see you."

Sun Wukong looked up suddenly: "Bodhisattva! Are you looking for someone to fetch the scriptures?"

……

Chapter 177 Stars and Rain

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded and said, "That's right."

Sun Wukong rolled his eyes and asked tentatively, "Bodhisattva, do you think I can go and obtain the scriptures?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head and laughed: "You monkey, your sins are too deep. If I let you out, I'm afraid you will cause more harm. Besides, my Buddha's true scriptures need to be spread throughout the East. What do you want to do with them?"

"Buddha, please listen to me!"

Sun Wukong quickly tried to make amends, "Many years ago, I met a man who was seeking Buddhist scriptures. I made a promise with him: if he could rescue me in the future, I would send him to Mount Lingshan! This is absolutely true!"

"This appointment..." Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head and chuckled: "I never thought that you, a wicked monkey, would have such a deep connection with my Buddha?"

Sun Wukong was delighted to hear this and struck while the iron was hot, saying, "Bodhisattva, the journey to the West is very difficult. I, Sun Wukong, have extraordinary abilities and will definitely be able to protect those who seek the scriptures."

One hundred and seventy years, the pilgrim, and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

How could he not understand at this point that this journey to obtain the scriptures and the Bodhisattva in front of him were his chance to leave the mountain.

If he hadn't caught it...

Thinking of this, Sun Wukong tightened the wine gourd in his arms and asked hopefully, "Buddha, can I go?"

"That's fine..."

Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed and glanced at the wine gourd he was protecting in his arms. How could she not know what this monkey was protecting? Feeling relieved, she stopped asking questions and said, "Since you have such a heart, I will find the pilgrim who will fetch the scriptures. I will teach him to save you. You will become his disciple, follow his teachings, and enter my Buddhist sect. How about that?"

Sun Wukong raised his head and said bitterly: "Bodhisattva..."

"Go ahead, Wukong."

The monkey was stunned for a moment, then bowed his head and said, "Disciple, I am willing to go..."

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded and asked, "Do you have a Dharma name?"

The Monkey King: "Sun Wukong!!!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva: "Good!"

Sun Wukong: "Hahaha! Of course!"

……

————————————————————

On the other side, Chang'an City——

When Xiao Qingxin walked out of the teahouse with Xia Zhiming holding a paper umbrella, they saw that the setting sun had already set, leaving only colorful clouds in the sky.

Seeing this, Xiao Qingxin didn't plan to wander around any longer. She turned to look at the white snake on her shoulder and asked softly, "Zhiming, how about we go see Jin Chanzi again tomorrow?"

"No rush, let's stay here for the time being, he will come over later." Xia Zhiming rubbed the girl's cheek and was not in a hurry to find anyone.

Xiao Qingxin nodded, turned around and looked around, and saw a magnificently built inn. There was a red lantern hanging in front of the inn door, and a pair of gilded couplets hanging outside -

First couplet: The wind and moon of the nine provinces are all intoxicating.

Second line: Friends from all over the world share the dream of returning home.

Horizontal banner: Where do guests come from?

There was a plaque hanging on the door of the inn, which read: "Flowers fill the building."

Seeing this, Xiao Qingxin did not hesitate, folded the paper umbrella into her sleeve, and walked slowly into it with the white snake, and saw——

The moon hangs over the sparse toon trees in the long night, and the dim lights shine on the red corridors.

Fine wine in golden cups invites distinguished guests, and delicacies on jade plates entertain distant merchants.

Summary: Looks expensive.

Seeing someone walk in, a colorful-dressed woman from the inn quickly came forward to greet them. After seeing the lineup of a loli and a snake, she was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. She leaned over and asked, "Little sister, where are you from?"

Xiao Qingxin didn't care about her name and said softly, "I came from heaven. Can I stay at the hotel?"

"Hehe~" The colorful-clothed woman chuckled twice and nodded, "Of course, I can. The upper room is ten taels per night, the middle room is five taels per night, and the lower room is one tael per night. I wonder which one you would like?"

"I want a room upstairs." Xiao Qingxin took out a silver ingot from her sleeve and handed it over. She had never stayed in such an expensive inn before, and she wanted to see what was different.

The woman in colorful clothes was surprised for a moment, then happily took it and quickly put it away. She led the loli and the snake past the guests in the hall who had strange looks on their faces, and quickly went upstairs.

On the wooden ladder, Xia Zhiming glanced at the colorful-dressed woman walking slowly in front of him, then looked at the clueless Xiao Qingxin beside him. He grinned but didn't say anything - happy~

Soon, the colorful-dressed woman led them up to the attic. Without waiting for Qingxin to choose, she quickly found an upper room where elegant piano music could be heard. She flipped over the lacquered gold sign in front of the door, then leaned over and said with a soft smile, "Sister, please go in by yourself."

Xiao Qingxin nodded, pushed the door open, locked it casually, turned to look into the room, but froze in place for a moment.

Xia Zhiming smiled and looked over at the girl's shoulder, and saw——

The green curtain hangs low to cover the veil, and slender jade fingers play the strings of the zither.

The sandalwood fragrance lingers in the air, and the moonlight dances on the veil.

Summary: Behind the green curtain there is a woman in gauze clothes playing the piano.

After a quick glance, Xia Zhiming looked at the stunned little Qingxin and said teasingly, "Qingxin, it seems you are the first immortal to stay overnight in a brothel."

Xiao Qingxin blushed upon hearing this and said shyly, "How come this brothel is so inconspicuous!"

Xia Zhiming nuzzled the girl's hot cheek and said with a smile, "Isn't the red lantern hanging at the door a reminder?"

Xiao Qing stomped her feet in anger: "Zhi Ming! You are so mean!"

As the man and the snake flirted, the woman in gauze also lifted the green curtain. Looking at the blushing little girl at the door, she smiled softly and waved, "Little sister, come here."

Xiao Qingxin took a step back and leaned against the door, shaking her head repeatedly. Then she raised her hand and pulled the white snake off her neck and shook it, saying shyly, "Zhiming, change quickly!"

Seeing that the little girl was getting anxious, Xia Zhiming stopped playing around. Under the shocked gaze of the woman in gauze, he transformed into a human form, picked up Xiao Qingxin, and disappeared in the room in a flash.

"Ah!! There's a monster!" - a broken scream!

Above the sky, the full moon rises and the stars twinkle.

Xia Zhiming sat on the cloud, looking at Xiao Qingxin rubbing against his arms. He raised his hand and patted her back, smiling, "What's wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingxin raised her head, revealing her blushing face, but she said nothing. She just raised her arms and put them around his neck, leaned over and kissed him, then her body turned into a ray of green light and hid in his arms.

Xia Zhiming casually opened his collar and glanced at the little girl hiding in his arms as she changed clothes. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Are you really that disgusted?"

Xiao Qing said shyly, "Zhi Ming, you are not allowed to look."

"Good good."

Xia Zhiming coaxed her, loosened his collar, took out a folding fan from his sleeve, and fanned away the heat around him. Then he looked up at the stars and the moon in the sky, and saw that all the stars had returned to their correct positions, and Kuixing had left its place.

Then he saw white clouds floating down from the starry sky. He looked carefully and saw that it was the Water God leading the four groups of gods riding on the clouds.

Seeing this, Xia Zhiming frowned for a moment but then reacted.

He and Qingxin had been walking in the mortal world for a whole day, and only a cup of tea had passed in heaven. Given the current situation, it should be that the Great Heavenly Venerable ordered the Water Deity Star Lord to come down to the mortal world in person to observe the drought situation and patrol the four directions for rain.

……