I start by accepting Sun Wukong as my disciple and reshape the Journey to the West

Chapter 137 The Death of the Tang Emperor
Li Shimin stood on the back of the Jing River Dragon King, with his twenty-four ministers behind him all full of fighting spirit. They knew that the memory of fighting against the heavens was like an untouchable dream in their minds.

Those heroic deeds set them apart from petty interests and allowed them to trust each other more in the mundane world, so they all looked forward to the day when it would happen again.

Now, facing Guanyin Bodhisattva, they seem to have rediscovered the feeling they had back then.

Twenty-four ministers stepped forward in unison, and the Great Cauldron of National Fortune flew out with twenty-four golden rays that landed on them. The dazzling golden light made the figures of the twenty-four ministers appear even more upright.

Seeing this scene, Guanyin Bodhisattva actually felt a desire to retreat.

The westward journey is an inevitable trend, and that trend is unstoppable. That is true.

However, the prosperity of a nation is not to be underestimated. Moreover, the Tang emperor had clearly received guidance. He did not choose to resist the general trend, but appropriately shifted the direction of the trend, turning the passive into the active.

If Guanyin Bodhisattva does not hand over the treasure, then she will be the one who stands against the overwhelming force.

Guanyin Bodhisattva tightened her grip on the jade bottle. This wasn't the first time she had experienced Ye Xuantian's methods. After all, when the Heavenly Dao used the power of the jade bottle to release the Styx Ancestor, Ye Xuantian had asked Bangni to help her repair the jade bottle.

Not to mention that not long ago, when the Great Tribulation began, He, as a Western Traveler, descended into the mortal world, but was controlled by the Desire Heaven. It was Ye Xuantian who, step by step, helped Him to eliminate the will of the Desire Heaven.

But those were all games between Ye Xuantian and the Heavenly Dao. In the eyes of Guanyin Bodhisattva, she did not truly compete with Ye Xuantian.

This is the first real confrontation between Guanyin Bodhisattva and Ye Xuantian. She came with great force, and the plan she laid down with the lives of the Jinghe River tribe and a dragon king was so easily broken by Ye Xuantian.

“Bodhisattva, shall we fight or not?” Huian Xingzhe asked quietly.

Not long ago, Di Ting asked Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva a question, and now the same question is being asked here.

Guanyin Bodhisattva stared coldly at the Tang Emperor.

"In the past, during the War of the Gods, the Human Emperor refused to compromise easily and fought against the Great Tribulation with a bunch of creatures with fur and horns, attempting to change the course of the Great Tribulation. As a result, a nation fell. King of Tang, do you want to become a sinner of the Tang Dynasty?"

"It is the Bodhisattva who does not allow the merit of the journey to the west, what does it have to do with me!" Li Shimin's answer was exceptionally straightforward.

"The Dragon King of the Jing River is already dead. I don't want to defy the world and let the Tang Emperor follow in his footsteps." Guanyin Bodhisattva's indifferent words concealed endless killing intent.

Li Shimin stepped forward, facing Guanyin Bodhisattva's threat directly: "In the past, there was a yin-yang impasse that I was willing to sacrifice ten years of my lifespan to stand shoulder to shoulder with you all. Today, someone wants to destroy the foundation of my Great Tang Dynasty. What will you all do?"

"war!"

The twenty-four ministers responded in unison.

boom!
The immense power of the nation's destiny emanated, making each of them appear as if they had been given a layer of golden armor. The power of the nation's destiny condensed into a barrier, standing in front of Li Shimin.

The lotus flower beneath Guanyin Bodhisattva retreated slightly under the impact of this energy.

The coldness in Guanyin Bodhisattva's eyes intensified, and just as she was about to speak, Changsun Wuji stepped forward, holding the imperial edict.

"By imperial decree of the Tang Emperor: Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea is now defying the great trend of countless eons and intends to destroy the foundation of the Tang Dynasty. The twenty-four ministers hereby obey the imperial decree..."

Changsun Wuji paused for a moment, then looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's breathing became somewhat disordered at this moment, as she dared not imagine why the Tang Emperor and these twenty-four ministers dared to do such a thing.

He really wanted to kill these people right now, but after looking at the Great Cauldron of National Fortune in the void, Guanyin Bodhisattva finally took a deep breath and threw down the Nine-Ringed Staff and the Brocade Kasaya.

Qin Shubao stepped forward to receive the imperial edict, and Changsun Wuji tactfully accepted it. After all, their goal was not to start a war; they simply wanted to change the balance of power and did not want to actually fight another war.

After all, their own emperor had already lost twenty years of his lifespan, so he didn't have much time left.

Guanyin Bodhisattva chanted the Buddha's name: "May the Buddha have mercy, how about giving you these two treasures?"

“It is a gift!” Wei Zheng corrected.

"Hmph! Without an emperor, who dares to claim the bestowal?" Guanyin Bodhisattva looked up at the sky: "Grateful to the Supreme Jade Emperor of the Three Realms, who understands the source of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, I, in the name of the Buddhist sect of Mount Ling in the Western Paradise, report: Now, the mortal emperor Li Shimin has been protecting the Jinghe Dragon King who has violated the Heavenly Laws. Sincerely remembering the impartiality and justice of Heaven, I hereby punish the guilty subject Li Shimin!"

"Protect the Emperor!" Li Jing shouted.

Before the words had even faded, the twenty-four ministers had already surrounded Li Shimin.

Guanyin Bodhisattva simply watched coldly.

What He just said is all true. He reported to Heaven in the name of the Buddhist sect. Even if Li Shimin had the blessing of national fortune, he would still not be able to escape death!
Boom!

Thunder suddenly roared across the heavens and earth, and in an instant, dark clouds pressed down on the city, with streaks of silver light like silver snakes weaving through them, a truly terrifying sight.

"allow!"

Finally, a voice rang out from the heavens and earth. The moment that voice rang out, nine silver lightning dragons condensed and roared at Li Shimin below.

The twenty-four ministers, weapons in hand, were about to charge forward when suddenly a voice rang out.

"All of you, step back! This is the fate of the Tang Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively looked behind them.

Ye Xuantian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes blazing with barely concealed anger.

"Your Majesty, are you going to sit idly by and watch His Majesty perish?" Yuchi Gong asked through gritted teeth, gripping his double maces tightly.

"Do not be disrespectful to the Sage! Listen to the Sage, step back!" Li Shimin said.

Yuchi Gong was unwilling, but in the end he dared not disobey Li Shimin's will and said nothing more, but none of the twenty-four ministers broke the encirclement.

"Your Majesty, even if it is divine retribution, we are willing to stand with Your Majesty through thick and thin!" said Prime Minister Xiao Yu.

"The Tang Dynasty is not just mine alone. If I perish, the Tang Dynasty will not perish as long as you are here. It is utterly absurd to abandon your country for a moment of loyalty. All of you, step back. The Tang Dynasty still needs you!" Li Shimin's tone was much calmer this time, but after he finished speaking, the twenty-four ministers finally slowly withdrew.

They knew each other too well, and they knew all too well that when Li Shimin said that, it meant there was no room for change.

Ye Xuantian's smile widened as he watched this scene.

With such affection between the emperor and his ministers, how could the Tang Dynasty not prosper?

"Is the Tang Emperor not afraid of death?"

"Who wouldn't be afraid of matters of life and death? It's a pity that once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. Who made me board this sage's pirate ship? The sage took me to the highest heavens, making me stand before the Jade Emperor without bowing my head. He took me to the underworld, where Yama, the King of Hell, addressed me as King. Now, even when I see the Bodhisattva, I dare to say 'Imperial bestowal!'"

Li Shimin looked around at the twenty-four ministers present: "Years ago, I fought against Heaven with my brothers, and in the mortal world, I was granted the destiny of an emperor. I then traveled through the Nine Netherworlds, forcing even the Bodhisattva to retreat." Li Shimin bowed to Ye Xuantian: "All of this was a gift from the Sage. My life has been worthwhile!"

Li Shimin turned to look at the nine silver dragons in the sky: "If that's the case, what is there to fear in the death of a true man?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva watched Li Shimin deliver his speech in silence, then turned her gaze to Ye Xuantian: "So what if a sage has laid out a plan? In the end, I have the slight advantage in this move!"

Ye Xuantian: "Is the Bodhisattva so certain?"

“Even if he is an emperor on earth, protected by the fate of his nation, he has still violated the heavenly laws. Nine bolts of heavenly lightning will surely sever his three souls and seven spirits, and take away his lifespan! Even if you are a saint, you cannot force him to return to life.” Guanyin Bodhisattva spoke with certainty.

Ye Xuantian raised an eyebrow: "The Bodhisattva is right! I'll wait and see!"

Almost as soon as Ye Xuantian finished speaking, the nine silver dragons in the thunderclouds roared and finally descended.

Click!Click!
A series of rapid sounds rang out, and cracks began to appear on Li Shimin's body the moment the first lightning bolt struck. By the time all nine lightning bolts had struck, Li Shimin had vanished without a trace, leaving not even a trace of his life.

The thunderclouds in the sky then dissipated, and all twenty-four ministers knelt down, their eyes glistening with tears.

"Sage, his three souls and seven spirits have all scattered, and his lifespan has ended! You have lost!"

"Then why doesn't the Bodhisattva return?" Ye Xuantian wasn't angry at the Bodhisattva's provocation; he simply responded with a smile.

"Weren't those twenty-four ministers also sent to the underworld? I want to know how the sage sent these mortal bodies back!"

“Ao Hui, the Tang Dynasty has boundless national fortune. There are officials like Wei Zheng who can slay dragons in dreams, former officials who can become judges in the underworld, and Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang who have mastered the art of divination. You are blessed by the Tang Dynasty’s national fortune and fight alongside the twenty-four ministers. You should have the ability to open a passage and release them!”

With each sentence Ye Xuantian uttered, the fortune of the Tang Dynasty on Ao Hui's body increased by one point. As the last sentence fell, Ao Hui roared in the direction of the palace.

The sound waves landed on the spot where Yuan Tiangang and his companion had opened the passage, and ripples began to spread in the void. Before long, a void gate opened.

The twenty-four ministers supported Li Shimin's body, standing there stiffly.

Ye Xuantian looked at the twenty-four ministers: "After your consciousness returns, guard the Tang Emperor's mortal body and do not bury him!"

Upon hearing this, the twenty-four ministers who were kneeling looked at Ye Xuantian in disbelief.

"We obey the decree of the sage!" Without any hesitation, the twenty-four people immediately transformed into streams of light and returned to their physical bodies.

Guanyin Bodhisattva heard clearly: "Sage Xuantian, so what if they are guarding the physical body? I observe that the Tang King's physical body is no longer entangled with any soul, which is enough to show that he is dead beyond dead. Why do you insist on it?"

"Then there's no need for Guanyin Bodhisattva to worry about it! Ao Hui!"

"Yes!"

Ao Hui glared fiercely at Guanyin Bodhisattva, then led Ye Xuantian into the Yin-Yang Gate. The void gate slowly closed, and Guanyin Bodhisattva glanced at the palace again.

At this moment, the twenty-four ministers regained their senses. After confirming that the Tang King was not breathing, Changsun Wuji immediately ordered that no maids or soldiers in the palace should leave. He also ordered Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong to mobilize the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Army to seal off Chang'an City and prevent any information from being transmitted.

Furthermore, the Empress, Crown Prince, princes, and princesses were confined to their own quarters and forbidden from moving around.

For a time, everyone within the palace walls felt insecure.

Even those who had conflicts with Changsun Wuji in the past, including Xiao Yu, chose to support his decision at this time.

As orders were issued, all twenty-four ministers except Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong, who guarded the front of the bedchamber, and Wei Zheng, who guarded the back of the bedchamber, surrounded the bed, forbidding anyone from visiting.

The "History of Tang Dynasty: The Annals of Xuantian" records that in the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, at night, a golden dragon shone in the palace, lotus flowers floated in the air, and nine silver dragons descended from the sky. Emperor Taizong led twenty-four ministers to guard the fate of the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong used his body to embody the Dao, and then it was dark! The twenty-four ministers were all of one mind and guarded Emperor Taizong until dawn. This is known in history as: "The Twenty-Four Ministers Guard the Imperial City".

Meanwhile, outside the imperial city, there lived a man named Xiang Liang. Today, he had some left over from selling melons and fruits. He saw a beggar begging on the road and gave some of his earnings to him. He also saw a homeless man with a rumbling stomach and gave him some of his earnings to him as well.

As they approached their home, a child was crying incessantly. Xiangliang went up to inquire and learned that the child couldn't find his way home. He asked the child's name, carried him to the government office, left some melons and fruits, and then left.

The lady at the door watched as Sagara left with the child on his back. She lowered her hand, which was about to call out to him, and went inside to prepare warm water and wet a towel, waiting at the door.

When Sagara returned, his forehead was covered in sweat, and his wife stepped forward to wipe it away.

"My lady, I only earned one hundred copper coins from the fruits and melons today!" Sagara seemed quite embarrassed.

Upon hearing this, the woman simply smiled and said, "The silver is enough for my husband and me to live on. There's no need to be greedy. But why is there nothing left?"

The woman's teasing made Sagara laugh awkwardly: "On the way back, I saw beggars begging, so I gave them some. I also met a homeless man and gave him some. When I took the child to the yamen, I couldn't let the officials work for nothing, so I kept some for myself. That's why there's nothing left."

"Oh, alright, alright. As long as you're happy and content, that's all that matters. Dinner's all ready. Go wash up and try the food I made for you today."

The woman did not blame him; instead, she comforted him.

"Great! What my wife makes must be the most delicious. I can smell the aroma from far away, and I'm starving."

"Just your sweet mouth!"

The couple laughed and joked as they walked inside.

Completely unaware of the golden light flashing at the entrance, an old man slowly revealed himself.

"Master, this is the residence of the great philanthropist that the Sage Xuantian spoke of!" Nine Spirits Primordial Saint said earnestly.

"How could a mere mortal bring back the soul of the Tang Emperor? I do not believe it!" said the Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun.

"But the Sage Xuantian said that if he is willing to lend it, the Tang King's return will be without worry, and the key to victory lies in his hands!"

“I know, that’s why I find it unbelievable. The Tang Emperor is an emperor, blessed with the destiny of the nation. If he were to perish, the power of the entire country would dissipate. How could a mere mortal pave the way for the Tang Emperor?”

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun sighed, "I understand Xuantian Daoist's plan even less now. Never mind, there's no point in thinking about it. You should use your methods to summon him out and give it a try."

"Yes!" The Nine-Spirit Primordial Saint immediately used his powers, and instantly, the area was shrouded in mist, with faint celestial music lingering in the air.

"Where is Xiang Liang!" Nine-Headed Lion King cried out.

A person emerged from the mist, enveloped in golden light. Although his face was not particularly handsome, the Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun saw compassion on his face.

Ok?
With his keen insight, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun immediately understood why Ye Xuantian had sent him to find Xiangliang.

"Shang Liang, the Tang Emperor is in trouble now and wants to borrow a treasury of gold and silver from you. Are you willing?"

(End of this chapter)