Super Hero Monk: Hormones Journey to the West

Chapter 195 The Suzaku Gate Incident

……

"Has there been no news from the South China Sea or Mount Ling? What exactly is going on? Why did Tang Xuanci suddenly run back from Xiniu Hezhou?"

"Lord Zuo Shen! Tang Xuanci just killed the abbot of Hongfu Temple and twenty or thirty monks, and distributed several cartloads of guns and ammunition to hundreds of Kunlun slaves. I wonder what his intentions are."

"What? Could it be that this fellow is planning to seize the palace again, so he can hide in Chang'an and seek refuge..."

"Has the immortal of Zhongnan Mountain not yet made a decision?"

"Not yet, they must be very shocked as well. However, whatever the reason for Tang Xuanci's return, one thing is certain: this is definitely not what Buddhism wants."

"In that case, send another urgent order via purple talisman to summon all available Nascent Soul cultivators within eight thousand miles—no, preferably Immortal Realm experts—to arrive at the outskirts of Chang'an and await orders!"

The City God Temple was already seething with undercurrents, and the Imperial Palace was in complete chaos as well.

A guard from the Northern Palace strode into the Ganlu Hall, bowed to the emperor on the dragon throne and several civil and military officials, and reported:
"Your Majesty, an urgent report from outside the palace—"

"The holy monk wants to bring the true scriptures into the palace to meet the emperor. He is currently traveling along the Vermilion Bird Avenue, causing a sensation throughout the city. He is estimated to be approaching the Vermilion Bird Gate."

Upon hearing this, all the ministers frowned and secretly observed Li Shimin, who was sitting on the dragon throne, his expression showing surprise and doubt.

Wei Zheng, the governor of the Secretariat, pondered for a moment and said:

"Logically speaking, this shouldn't be possible."

"It is said that the journey to the Great Thunder Temple in the Western Paradise is 108,000 li away, and there are demons and monsters blocking the way along the way."

"It hasn't even been a year yet, how could the holy monk have made a round trip?"

Changsun Wuji said sarcastically, "Whether we've reached the Western Paradise or not, whether the scriptures are genuine or not, doesn't it all depend on a mouth?"

The other ministers echoed this sentiment, and their tone revealed that Tang Xuanci's return to Chang'an was like a plague entering their home to them.

Li Shimin remained silent, not hearing a word they were saying; only six words echoed in his ears:
"You're out of energy! You're out of energy! You're out of energy..."

Only the emperor himself knew best how his younger brother went on his pilgrimage to the West.

Now, he is the one who is most surprised and suspicious.

Could it be... that guy really could fight against Buddha and Bodhisattva? Has he escaped control and run back now?
to be frank.

That year, he often pondered what Tang Xuanci had said at the brothers' last meal, and wondered if he had listened to his advice then, would there have truly been a sliver of hope in his struggle against the gods...

Regret also piled up.

Soon, someone else entered the hall to ask whether the holy monk should be allowed to enter the palace.

Li Shimin was at a loss for words and remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly, a maid rushed out from behind the hall, disregarding etiquette, and whispered in his ear:
"A high-ranking monk outside the palace asked me to deliver a message—"

"Tang Xuanci has ulterior motives this time. Your Majesty, please do not approach him, and do not leave the palace even for a moment."

"Also, remember the Bodhisattva's words: recite the mantra silently in your heart, and under no circumstances should you reveal it."

Li Shimin was taken aback. Looking at the palace maid, he remembered the palace maid who had guided him during the second Xuanwu Gate Incident. He immediately felt much calmer and made up his mind.

There may be an elixir of immortality in the world, but there is absolutely no medicine for regret.

I made this choice, so I'll fight to the end, even if it means crying!
……

The area in front of the Vermilion Bird Gate has always been a place where the royal family holds ceremonies and celebrates with the people.

Although no royals were present, the place was packed with people, a scene of unprecedented grandeur.

When Tang Xuanci arrived at the foot of the imperial city gate with the scriptures, countless people who came to welcome him and see him off spontaneously fell silent.

The left and right gate guards, led by the two squads of imperial guards, came out of the gate and lined up to greet Tang Xuanci, politely blocking his way.

Immediately, a palace eunuch, panting heavily, led the royal entourage to the front, took out the emperor's edict, and loudly read it aloud to Tang Xuanci.

The first half is mostly official clichés, praising the immense merit of the pilgrimage and expressing the sage's joy and satisfaction.

Tang Xuanci estimated that only the last few sentences were the orders that Li Shimin had just personally issued, the gist of which was:
Today, the Emperor is not feeling well. The scriptures should be sent to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for safekeeping. I would like to ask my younger brother to return to his residence to recuperate. He will be summoned to the palace another day to reminisce about our brotherly relationship, give a sermon, and bestow honors upon him.

The people were greatly surprised to hear this. They had assumed that the sage, who so revered Buddhism and longed for his brother, would be overjoyed to hear of his return from his pilgrimage and would personally brave the rain to greet him.

But now, they won't even see him.

Is this good?
Even they think it's wrong, but they don't dare to say it in public.

Tang Xuanci sneered inwardly, as if he could see the fear in Li Shimin's heart.

He raised an eyebrow and glared at the eunuch in front of the palace, saying:
"This is the true scripture personally transmitted by the Buddha, it must not be treated lightly. This humble monk must personally deliver it. Make way!"

Ah this?

The palace eunuch inwardly groaned, feeling this task was far too difficult. But since the Emperor himself had refused to see him, he certainly dared not let him pass, and could only force a smile and say:
"Such a treasure, who would dare to treat it lightly?"

"But His Majesty is not feeling well today, so please let the Holy Monk return first."

“I will respectfully deliver the scriptures to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for safekeeping and offer them with sincere devotion.”

As he spoke, he shouted to the other eunuchs behind him:

"Can't you see it's raining? Hurry up and go help protect the scriptures."

Upon hearing this, a dozen eunuchs immediately raised six umbrellas, bowed their heads, and walked around Tang Xuanci on both sides, jogging towards the monks carrying the scriptures behind them.

"Damn it~", Tang Xuanci laughed in exasperation, but didn't say anything to stop him.

But just as the eunuchs were about to reach out to receive the scriptures, he took ten steps in half a step, and with a powerful punch, struck the face of the eunuch in front of the palace.

"boom!"

The skull was shattered.

A palace eunuch, whose rank was second only to the Grand Eunuch, and who held an imperial edict as if the emperor himself were present, was beaten to death at the gates of the imperial city.

This sudden turn of events caused an uproar among the surrounding people and terrified the soldiers and officers behind them.

The eunuchs who went to receive the scriptures trembled and fell to the ground, knocking over all the dozen or so scriptures.

The tarpaulin fell off, and some pages of the book were turned up in the wind. People nearby could see that they were all blank.

The true scripture doesn't even have a single word?
Before anyone could react, Tang Xuanci roared angrily:

"That's unreasonable!
“This humble monk has gone through countless hardships to retrieve the true scriptures from the Western Paradise. How dare you treat them so disrespectfully, causing the Buddha to punish you and erase the scriptures!”

"On behalf of Buddha, I will cast you into the Avici Hell, where you will never be reborn!"

After roaring, he moved again.

He first slid half a step to the left and then took twenty steps, followed by a hook punch that smashed the liver, shattering the internal organs of the Left Guard General through his armor. The corpse flew thirty meters and knocked down a group of Imperial Guards.

Then slide half a step to the right and do fifty steps, followed by a left uppercut, smashing the entire jaw of the Right Gate Guard General, and throwing his head and helmet eighty meters high.

Then came the hooks, straight hooks, sweeps, knee and elbow strikes, sending bones and flesh flying, heads rolling wildly, corpses strewn everywhere, and blood flowing like a river!
The remaining imperial guards were terrified, lacking even the courage to draw their swords and spears. They scrambled and crawled, only wanting to escape into the imperial city.

The onlookers retreated in fear, and a stampede occurred as people crowded together.

The eunuchs who were guarding the scriptures collapsed to the ground, incontinent, and stained some of the scriptures yellow.

Tang Xuanci unleashed forty-eight consecutive attacks, killing forty-eight people.

He turned around indifferently and saw two unruly monks abandoning their scriptures and running away. He flew over and delivered a knee and a kick, crushing their spines and necks.

"Hiss~"

He ripped apart the blood-stained robe, revealing a body of demonic muscles, pointed at the scriptures scattered on the ground, and roared:

"Pick up the scriptures! Pick up the scriptures!"

Ugh... Several eunuchs were so frightened that they banged their heads on the ground, and it was unclear whether they had fainted or died.

The others desperately tried to control their limp limbs, picked up the blank scriptures, and staggered behind him.

No one from the Vermilion Bird Gate dared to block his way, and Tang Xuanci, bleeding profusely, walked straight in.

(End of this chapter)