Shortly after Lingji Bodhisattva departed, Guanyin returned to the Great Thunderclap Monastery with a rather grim expression.
"Revered Bodhisattva Guanyin, did you uncover the cause of the Little White Dragon's death?" Tathagata inquired.
Guanyin shook her head, replying, "Tathagata, the cause of his death remains unclear. There's no sign of injury; it's as if he simply… reached the end of his life." Her words, however, sounded hollow even to herself. The West Sea Dragon King, much older than Ao Lie, was still very much alive, and Ao Lie, though only at the early Jinxian level, was a dragon with a considerable lifespan. The idea of him dying of old age was laughable.
Tathagata's lips twitched at the absurdity but trusted that Guanyin wouldn't lie to him about this matter.
"Tathagata, Tripitaka is just a mortal with no suitable mount. We need to secure a replacement quickly," Guanyin expressed, visibly concerned. "Had I not intervened in time, Tripitaka would've been beaten to death by Monkey King again!"
"Oh? Why would the Monkey King attempt to kill Tripitaka?" Tathagata's eyes flickered with interest. Could it be that Wukong himself is the variable we seek?
After listening to Guanyin's explanation of the events, however, Tathagata realized he'd been overthinking it. Tripitaka, remarkably, had the audacity to ask Monkey King to serve as his steed—a thought so outrageous that Tathagata had never even considered it during Wukong's imprisonment 500 years ago. Tathagata understood why Wukong would want to thrash his master; in the same situation, anyone might feel the same. It was, perhaps, a testament to Wukong's patience that he hadn't already acted on the impulse.
"I have already dispatched Lingji to the Eastern Sea to bring back the fifth prince, Ao Luan, as Tripitaka's mount. You shall accompany him to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly," Tathagata instructed.
"Yes, Tathagata," Guanyin replied, bowing her head in obedience. But before leaving, she raised a question. "And what of Ao Lie?"
"I shall visit the Tushita Palace myself," Tathagata's face darkened as he spoke.
Guanyin shivered at the memory of her last visit to the Tushita Palace and left without further ado, feeling an immense relief to have avoided accompanying Tathagata this time. She didn't need any more reminders of The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord's ruthless bargaining.
The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace
A brilliant streak of light approached swiftly.
"Halt! Who dares intrude upon the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace?" The guards snapped.
"I am Lingji, here to seek an audience with the Eastern Sea Dragon King!" Lingji announced, though his tone held a level of arrogance that contrasted with the humility of his words.
The shrimp and crab guards were visibly irritated by Lingji's attitude, but they dared not object. Lingji was one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism—a figure they could not afford to cross.
"Please wait here, Bodhisattva. We shall announce your arrival," one of the guards said, turning to leave.
"No need. I'll accompany you," Lingji interjected, unwilling to waste any time.
The guards bristled, their eyes flashing with anger. They'd already extended as much courtesy as possible, yet Lingji seemed insistent on pushing their patience.
"What's the matter? Do you have objections?" Lingji sneered, unleashing the oppressive aura of a Da Luo Golden Immortal, forcing the guards back to their original forms.
"Who dares cause trouble in my Eastern Sea Dragon Palace?" Dragon King Ao Guang roared, sensing the disturbance, and rushing out to confront the intruder.
Upon recognizing Lingji Bodhisattva, however, Ao Guang swallowed his anger. With Buddhism's current influence, the Eastern Sea Dragon King alone couldn't oppose them.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Bodhisattva Lingji?" Ao Guang asked, barely concealing his frustration.
"I've come with a simple request, Dragon King," Lingji replied with a dismissive wave.
Ao Guang's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. "And who does the Bodhisattva seek?"
"Your fifth son, Ao Luan."
"What business would you have with my son?" Ao Guang's face darkened further.
"The scripture bearer lacks a mount," Lingji replied bluntly, his words brimming with contempt as if rejecting the idea was not an option.
"How dare you!" Ao Guang's rage boiled over. "Lingji! Do you take me for a coward?"
During the era of the Investiture of the Gods, Buddhism had taken Ao Guang's third son, Ao Bing, stripped him of his scales, and conscripted him onto the God Rankings. Now they dared come for his fifth son as well. Did they truly believe the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan was theirs to manipulate?
"Hmph! Have you forgotten the fate of the River Dragon King?" Lingji retorted, his voice dripping with menace.
Ao Guang's face darkened further. The River Dragon King's fate was all too familiar: manipulated by Buddhism into a tragic end. Lingji's words made it clear that a similar fate awaited him if he defied their demands.
"Bring Ao Luan here," Ao Guang commanded, his voice taut with barely suppressed rage.
One must know when to yield.
"Wise choice, Dragon King," Lingji laughed, pleased.
Before long, Guanyin arrived to see Lingji leading a resentful Ao Luan from the palace. Guanyin, already well aware of the situation, simply ushered them on their way to Eagle Sorrow Gorge without further comment.
Eagle Sorrow Gorge
Monkey King was keeping a safe distance from Tripitaka, wary of his master's next unpredictable whim. He was starting to regret orchestrating the Little White Dragon's death—Tripitaka's bizarre imagination seemed to have been unleashed, and Wukong wondered just how many more strange ideas were lurking in his master's head.
When Guanyin finally arrived with Ao Luan, she quickly sensed the tense atmosphere and stepped in, "Enough, Wukong. I've brought the new mount. Stop your antics and let's get moving!"
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