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Chapter 227 I'm the kind of person who dislikes being an official the most.
Sun Wukong's words made Chen Guangrui's heart tighten. The Lion Camel Ridge incident had just ended, and Buddha's face had just been slapped in public. Guanyin Bodhisattva dared to directly approach Sun Wukong's Flower Fruit Mountain. Wasn't she afraid that Buddha would have something to say about it?

"She didn't come herself." Sun Wukong scratched his ear, a hint of annoyance on his face.

"Here's what happened. On my Flower Fruit Mountain, there's an old monkey who suddenly became confused and disoriented a few days ago, as if he had lost his soul. I, Old Sun, didn't pay much attention to it. But just today, that old monkey suddenly came to his senses, rushed to me, and said he remembered."

Chen Guangrui gestured for him to continue.

“He said that just a few days ago, when he threatened me to go to Lion Camel Ridge, she used some method to seal a part of the old monkey’s memory, leaving only one sentence, saying that it would be unsealed when the time came.”

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed with anger. "That old monkey said that Guanyin told him that if Huaguo Mountain doesn't want to be suppressed forever and wants to turn the tide, the only chance... is in that Little Thunder Temple."

He grew angrier as he spoke, and with a sudden wave of his hairy hand, a gust of wind arose. "Back then, I, Old Sun, went to heaven hoping to obtain a proper official position, but they tricked me. Now, all I want is to guard Flower Fruit Mountain and live a peaceful life with my monkey grandchildren. Do they still want to use these convoluted schemes to lead me by the nose? Do they really think I, Old Sun, am made of clay and have no temper?"

He grabbed Chen Guangrui's arm and pulled him to a quieter corner of the Imperial Horse Stables, lowering his voice and speaking with an unusual tone of inquiry.
"I came all this way to find you because I know you're full of tricks. Tell me, what should I do about this mess? What exactly is that old Guanyin trying to do?"

After listening, Chen Guangrui gave a bitter smile, tinged with a sense of shared misfortune.

"Great Sage, do you think the Jade Emperor and Laozi insisted on giving me the position of Marshal Tianpeng?"

Sun Wukong blinked his golden eyes, not immediately understanding, "Huh? What does this have to do with your position as marshal?"

“It’s very important.” Chen Guangrui lowered his voice even further. “They also gave me similar instructions: go to Xiaoleiyin Temple and cause trouble.”

"What?!" Sun Wukong was truly stunned. His monkey face was full of astonishment, and he even stopped scratching his ears and cheeks.
"Laojun wants you to go too, and Guanyin wants me to go too, but... what about Tathagata? What does he think? My brain really can't keep up. What are they trying to do?"

He really couldn't understand why Laozi and Buddha were enemies, but why Guanyin Bodhisattva was also involved and causing trouble for Buddha.
"And before that, why did Guanyin send me to Lion Camel Ridge to help you? Doesn't that create chaos?"

Chen Guangrui sighed as he looked at Sun Wukong's chaotic state.
“Great Sage, think about it. Guanyin Bodhisattva usually lives in the South Sea, far from the core of Mount Ling. Why was she able to rise to the position of one of the Five Elders of the Five Directions, on par with Tathagata, when Dipankara Buddha was in charge of Buddhism? Later, when Tathagata became the current Buddha and took charge of Mount Ling, why did she transform herself and help Tathagata plan the great undertaking of the Journey to the West? No matter who is in charge of Mount Ling, her position is even more stable. Why is that?”

Sun Wukong was incredibly perceptive; he grasped the key point instantly from Chen Guangrui's simple hint, exclaiming, "Oh!"

He drew out the words, his golden eyes brightening. "I, Old Sun, understand now. She's an opportunist... an old lady! She sways whichever way the wind blows. Now that she sees the wind is blowing against her, and many people are secretly targeting Tathagata, she wants to quickly change course and get a share of the pie, to reap some benefits? Is that what you mean?"

"It's pretty close to the truth." Chen Guangrui nodded.

"Then..." Sun Wukong leaned closer, his voice filled with confusion, "Why did they go to all this trouble to send us to the Little Thunderclap Temple? What are they after? There must be some goal, right? To cause trouble? Or to steal something?"

Chen Guangrui shook his head. "I don't know. These big shots have far more information than we do. There are many key things we simply don't know. We are just pawns on the chessboard, and we can only be led by the nose by them, moving forward along the path they have drawn."

"So we're really going to be so stupid as to go to the Lesser Thunderclap Temple?" Sun Wukong scratched his cheek, looking unwilling.

“I have a feeling that something is wrong with this matter; if I go there, something bad will happen.”

Chen Guangrui's gaze calmed. He looked at Sun Wukong, and a cold smile slowly crept onto his lips.
“Great Sage, the more they try so hard to get us to go, the more they keep hinting and pushing us to go… that means they really want us to go.”

He paused for a moment, then spoke with absolute certainty.

"So, we're not going."

Upon hearing Chen Guangrui's words, Sun Wukong clapped his hands and said, "You have such a temper! They're just not going to cooperate with us. The more they give in to us, the more we'll refuse."

These past few days, Chen Guangrui has been struggling with a dilemma. He realized that ever since he told Laozi about the Journey to the West, he had become a pawn in someone else's hands, and Laozi could place him wherever he wanted.

Moreover, these are the kind of pieces that can be discarded at any time.

Otherwise, Laozi clearly had so many resources, but this time when he went to Xiaoleiyin Temple, he didn't provide a single person or a single magic weapon.

The meaning is clear: I'm pushing you out here to do the work. If you do it well, I'll benefit; if you don't, then it has nothing to do with me.

What? You, Chen Guangrui, are one of Laozi's people? How can you prove you're one of mine?
Moreover, even if he really did defeat Buddha like Laozi did, he might still have to fight Maitreya, or even the Jade Emperor. He was just an insignificant pawn, and he would be used until he died.

Chen Guangrui had also considered secretly increasing his power, hoping to one day challenge these pawns. But how high would his cultivation level need to be? Higher than the heavens?

Chen Guangrui never imagined that he would have such a high level of cultivation after transmigrating here without any special advantages or powerful backers.

Even ordinary people have their own way of living.

The solution Chen Guangrui had come up with for the past few days was simply not to go.

Inside the Lingxiao Palace, the glazed tiles reflected the cool sunlight. Chen Guangrui stood at the end of the celestial ranks, still in the back. His eyelids were slightly lowered, as if the solemnity around him and the impending storm were irrelevant to him.

An elderly immortal official with white hair and beard glanced at him, stroked his long beard, and said in a low voice, "Lord Chen has a good temperament; he remains unmoved even if Mount Tai collapses before him." His tone was neither praise nor sarcasm.

Chen Guangrui bowed slightly, his voice soft and languid, "You flatter me, Immortal Elder. I have no interest in official rank, and to my shame, I don't even know how high a rank Marshal Tianpeng is. My greatest wish in this life is simply to raise those heavenly horses well in the Imperial Stables and find peace and quiet."

Upon hearing this, the old immortal official's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He thought to himself, "Keep pretending, let's see how you can keep up the act later."

At this moment, the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable, had already settled on his throne, enveloped in auspicious light, his face blurred. The Purple Star Emperor, holding a jade tablet, proclaimed in a clear voice,
"The matter of promoting Chen Guangrui to Marshal Tianpeng, which was discussed during yesterday's court recess, has not yet been decided. Today, gentlemen, you may speak freely."

As soon as the words were spoken, several generals in gleaming silver armor, exuding a fierce aura, eagerly stepped forward from the Ministry of War's ranks. The one leading them was none other than the Fire God, whose voice boomed, clearly tinged with defiance.
"Your Majesty, although Chen Guangrui has merit at Lion Camel Ridge, he has never been involved in military affairs and is not familiar with the art of troop deployment. In this battle, although he has achieved the feat of vanquishing demons, the True Martial Emperor and the Dragon King of the West Sea provided much assistance, not to mention the power of that heavenly thunder. How can we be sure it wasn't just a coincidence? We are not questioning his merit, but we are worried about his abilities! The Heavenly River Water Palace is the key to protecting the Heavenly Court, and the 100,000-strong navy is of great importance. How can it be treated lightly?" It was the same statement as yesterday.

The King of Growth then spoke, his voice booming like a bell.
"Exactly! Chen Guangrui has only been in Heaven for a short time and has no experience whatsoever. He has never served in the military. How can he command respect? The most important qualities for soldiers are strength and prestige. He has not made any contributions to the army, nor has he established any authority within the ranks. If he were to suddenly assume the position of commander, I fear that not only would he be unable to lead the three armies, but he would also cause the morale of the army to collapse and damage the fighting power of our Heavenly Court's navy!"

Several other high-ranking deities, clearly commissioned by the Ministry of War, also stepped forward to second the motion.

Clearly, yesterday's court recess gave these military generals an opportunity to communicate with each other. Now they are united against external forces and will not allow any power to infiltrate their army.

An old immortal, holding a whisk and exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom, spoke slowly.

"Great Heavenly Venerable, you are wise. The position of Marshal Tianpeng is no small matter. Lord Chen's merits certainly deserve to be rewarded, but promoting him beyond his rank is probably not the right approach. It would be better to first appoint him as the deputy of Tianhe, and then promote him after he has become familiar with military affairs and established merits. This way, Lord Chen's merits will be fully rewarded, and the hearts of the soldiers will be at ease."

Immediately, opposition arose, with reasons including Chen Guangrui's lack of experience, shallow qualifications, inability to convince the public, and potential disruption of military operations. The criticisms directly targeted Chen Guangrui's own abilities and foundation.

Seeing this, Venus calmly stepped forward. His hair and beard were all white, and his face still wore that warm smile, but his eyes had sharpened, clearly indicating that he had entered battle mode. He first bowed to the Jade Emperor, then turned to the generals of the Ministry of War.

Chen Guangrui yawned from the back. This kind of debate was the most boring thing. Who knew how long it would go on and on?

In short, he had already omitted an hour of nonsense in his second article.

Venus's voice was not loud, but each word was clear and resonant. As soon as he finished speaking, several civil officials stepped forward to echo his words:
"What the immortal Taibai said is very true! Great merit should be rewarded, how can we follow seniority?"

"Indeed! Lord Chen's talent was clearly demonstrated in the Battle of Lion Camel Ridge. The position of Marshal Tianpeng is undoubtedly his!"

"If seniority blocks the path of the virtuous, is that how Heavenly Court selects people?"

The court was immediately divided into two factions. One faction, mainly composed of military officers from the Ministry of War and some experienced and prudent individuals, insisted that Chen Guangrui lacked seniority and experience.

The other side, led by Venus, argued that merit should be the sole criterion for promotion, and that the best candidate should be promoted regardless of seniority. The two sides engaged in a heated debate, each sticking to their own arguments, and the atmosphere in the hall gradually became tense.

Just as the stalemate reached its climax, a calm and authoritative voice rang out from the very front of the celestial ranks, drowning out all the arguments. It was none other than the Antarctic Longevity Emperor; his gaze, sharp as lightning, slowly swept over the assembled generals of the Ministry of War who had just passionately volunteered for battle.

"Silence." The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, and the hall fell silent instantly.

The Antarctic Immortal Emperor looked at the group of military generals, his tone calm yet sharp.

"What you generals just said reflects your concerns that Chen Guangrui is incompetent and might jeopardize the defense of the Heavenly River. I understand your earnest concerns. However, since you believe Chen Guangrui is unfit for the great task, and you have also mentioned the need for the Heavenly Court to restore its prestige and not allow the demons of the mortal realm to underestimate it..."

His tone suddenly shifted, taking on a cold tinge.

"Now, there is an urgent military matter at hand. The Heavenly Court urgently needs to send a general with 100,000 troops to suppress the demons, to set things right and demonstrate the might of Heaven. I wonder which of you is willing to go?"

Inside the Lingxiao Palace, the voices opposing Chen Guangrui's appointment had not yet subsided. The military commanders were filled with fervor, and the Fire God stepped forward once more, his armor clanging loudly, "This humble general is willing to fight!"

Several valiant generals echoed, "This humble general is also willing to go! We will surely spread the glory of the Heavenly Court!"

Even Li Jing, carrying the broken foundation of the tower, stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your subject begs to atone for his crimes by performing meritorious service!"

Leading troops into battle is naturally what these military generals love to do most, and with such military affairs available, all of them rush out to grab them.

The Antarctic Longevity Emperor's gaze swept over the group of people who had volunteered for the battle, his tone unwavering: "Since that's the case, the Lesser Thunderclap Temple in the lower realm is shrouded in demonic aura, using the name of Buddhism to gather people and cause chaos. Since you generals are so eager to go, then you will lead your original troops to conquer the Lesser Thunderclap Temple today."

"I will obey..." Before Huo De Xingjun could utter the words "Imperial decree," he suddenly froze. His pupils contracted sharply, and the veins on his neck bulged, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.

The generals, who had been so impassioned just moments before, seemed frozen in place, their faces drained of color instantly. Some swallowed hard but couldn't utter a sound, some stared intently at the cracks in the jade bricks, and some instinctively took a half-step back, causing the celestial official behind them to stumble.

Li Jing's hand, supporting the base of the pagoda, tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white. His lips moved twice, but in the end, only a barely audible breath escaped his lips.

Although they loved fighting, they all knew that Xiaoleiyin Temple was not a place they could just go to on a whim; it involved too many things.

These military generals, though fond of fighting, all had their own agendas. Now that Buddhism was in such a mess, none of them wanted to get involved, lest they suffer a calamity.

So, the people who were just blushing now all lowered their heads and looked like quails.

The Antarctic Immortal Emperor's gaze slowly swept over the pale faces of his generals: "Hmm? What happened to your boastful words just now?"

The voice was like an icicle scraping against glass, "Is the majesty of the Heavenly Court merely something to be talked about?"

His tone was unreadable: "Chen Guangrui."

The Antarctic Longevity Emperor looked at him, his voice clearly echoing throughout the hall: "They all dare not go, or are unwilling to go. What about you? Do you dare to take on this heavy responsibility of conquering the Little Thunderclap Temple? Can you handle the 100,000 Heavenly River Navy? Can you... shoulder the burden of Marshal Tianpeng?"

As soon as he spoke, the Antarctic Longevity Emperor's expression changed. Because there was no response for a long time, the Emperor called out again, but still no one answered.

It wasn't until he saw an old immortal official in the last row move twice that the Antarctic Longevity Emperor realized that Chen Guangrui was standing there, asleep.

(End of this chapter)