At this point, Monkey King had also set his sights on the little white dragon. Although the dragon was technically just Tripitaka's steed, playing a seemingly minor role, he was still an essential member of the pilgrimage team. Without him, Tripitaka would be left trudging through the journey on foot, unable to reach the Western Heaven in time.
Moreover, the dragons were once the dominant race on the Great Desolation Continent. Although they had lost much of their former glory after the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, they still retained some power and influence. The Buddhist order was keen on bringing the Four Seas Dragon Clan into their ranks, which made the little white dragon's conversion to a Buddhist disciple almost a necessity.
But what if the little white dragon were to die?
That would ruin the Buddhist order's plans to recruit the dragons, likely souring their relations with the clan. Plus, the death of the little white dragon would surely disrupt the karmic flow of the pilgrimage—a perfect chance to reap a bounty of karmic points. It was a win-win scenario.
So, the little white dragon simply had to go.
Now, Monkey King just had to figure out a way to make the dragon's death look like an accident. After all, if anything suspicious happened while the dragon was in his care, suspicion would immediately fall back on him, putting him in hot water with the Buddhists. He needed a discreet approach.
"System, any suggestions on how to kill the little white dragon without raising suspicion?"
"When in doubt, ask the system," Monkey King muttered to himself.
"Ding! Recommendation: Menglong Grass. This rare herb causes any dragon that consumes it to die painlessly without realizing the cause. It has no effect on other species. Exchange cost: 500,000 karmic points."
Monkey King's eyes gleamed. This herb was perfect! The only downside was its price—500,000 karmic points. Tripitaka's death had only earned him enough to buy two stalks of this thing!
"System, you're ripping me off here. After all those points you've skimmed from me, you can't give me a discount?"
"The system denies all allegations," the system replied flatly, although it did offer an explanation for the cost.
"This herb was eradicated by the Ancestral Dragon during the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation. It no longer exists in the Great Desolation, so the current price is more than fair!"
"System, does the little white dragon have to consume it directly?"
"No, as long as it enters his body. Otherwise, the Ancestral Dragon wouldn't have needed to destroy the entire species of this herb."
Perfect! Monkey King's gaze fell upon Tripitaka's white horse, and a plan began to form. After all, the little white dragon would eventually devour the horse whole, so the Menglóng Grass could "hitch a ride" in its stomach.
"System, exchange for one stalk of Menglóng Grass!"
"Ding! Menglóng Grass has been successfully exchanged and placed in the system space."
Monkey King grinned, already envisioning the gift he'd soon deliver to the Buddhists at Eagle Sorrow Gorge.
The Buddhists, having verified that Eagle Sorrow Gorge was secure, turned their attention back to Tripitaka. According to their calculations, if all the prearranged tribulations remained intact, then any interference was likely aimed at Tripitaka himself—a mere mortal and thus an easy target.
But after several days of surveillance, Tripitaka and Monkey King's journey appeared uneventful, albeit a little slow. The delay, however, was clearly due to Tripitaka. Since his resurrection, the Buddhists could see a marked change in his demeanor. Fortunately, he was still moving westward, which set their minds at ease.
If he was moving slowly, so be it. They could afford a slight delay.
Or so they thought…
"Wukong, I'm hungry," Tripitaka called out as he pulled the reins of his horse, signaling for a stop. He also threw a meaningful look at Monkey King.
Monkey King was on the verge of tears. Who would have thought Tripitaka would develop such a taste for meat? Every couple of hours, he was asking for food, driving Monkey King to the brink of exhaustion. Tripitaka now demanded five meals a day, each with meat, and the Heaven-Sealing Array had practically become his private "food shield."
"Master, if you eat this much, you're going to get fat!" Monkey King said in exasperation.
"But I've been walking so much! I need to replenish my energy," Tripitaka replied innocently.
Monkey King's eye twitched. "Walking"? This master of his hadn't taken a single step! He'd been riding the horse the entire time! With his appetite, Tripitaka was bound to die of high blood pressure or a heart attack long before they reached the Western Heaven.
"Fine, you're the master. Whatever you say," Monkey King finally conceded, realizing he'd be earning plenty of karmic points as long as Tripitaka kept breaking his vows. Tripitaka's repeated lapses had already netted him a solid 1,200 points, at 100 points per violation. If he kept this up, he'd be unrecognizable by the time they reached their destination.
Once Tripitaka was settled, Monkey King did a quick survey of the area within a hundred miles to ensure their safety. Then, he headed off to a nearby town to procure some more meat for his master's next meal.
During his scouting, Monkey King spotted Eagle Sorrow Gorge and, using his keen eyesight, saw the little white dragon resting at the bottom of the pool, seemingly waiting for the pilgrims' arrival.
Judging Tripitaka's current pace, he estimated they'd reach the gorge around noon. This meant it was time to put the Menglóng Grass to use.
Monkey King's grin widened as he left the gorge, pleased that the Buddhists had gone to such lengths to keep the area secure. With the little white dragon waiting, they would have cleared the area of any potential threats to avoid complications in the prearranged tribulation.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the pool, the little white dragon raised his head, sensing something but finding nothing amiss. Concluding he was simply hungry, he resumed his rest, awaiting the arrival of the pilgrims. He hadn't eaten a proper meal in centuries.
Returning to Tripitaka, Monkey King set up the Heaven-Sealing Array as usual, handed his master a fresh pork knuckle, and watched as he dug in with relish. Then, he turned his attention to the white horse grazing nearby. It was time to prepare the gift that would seal the little white dragon's fate.
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