They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 238: Pass Document
The Queen's decree, "Please invite the holy monk Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty to the palace for an audience," was quickly relayed to the post station.

Inside the inn, the atmosphere instantly became tense. The monk Xuanzang leaned against the couch, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Although the excruciating abdominal pain had been slightly relieved by drinking the abortion-inducing spring water, the indescribable weakness and discomfort remained heavy. His face was pale, and he struggled to maintain his composure.

Upon hearing the Queen's summons, Pigsy's small eyes lit up with astonishing brightness, and his large, fan-like ears flapped excitedly.
“Oh, what a wonderful thing, Master! The Queen must have taken a liking to your majestic appearance and wants to make you her queen. We don’t need to go to the Western Paradise anymore. Master, you can stay and be the king, I, Old Pig, can be the father-in-law of the king, and Brother Sha can be the general who protects the country. How wonderful!”

He rubbed his hands together, a smile spreading across his chubby face, as if he could already see a palace full of beauties and delicacies.

Sha Wujing frowned, his dark face full of worry. "Second Brother, don't talk nonsense. Master is in poor health, how can he go? The Queen... the Queen summons us, I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse."

He was honest and simple, and he felt that his master needed to rest most at this moment.

The black bear spirit stood to one side, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. His black iron armor accentuated his imposing physique, but his gaze was unusually grave.

He recalled the group of Chen Guangrui he had just seen in front of the Po'er Cave on Jieyang Mountain, and how Chen Guangrui was now Marshal Tianpeng, who was on patrol of the four directions by the Jade Emperor's decree.

Chen Guangrui had just resolved the issue of the Abortion Spring when the Queen immediately summoned her master. Was there some kind of coincidence?

He said in a deep voice, "Master, this matter is strange. You looked at the female official who delivered the message with a smile in your eyes, as if there was something else going on. We must consider this matter carefully."

Now that the journey to the West has reached this stage, anything that disrupts it is tantamount to going against the Black Bear, so we must be on guard.

Upon hearing this, the already pale Xuanzang's face turned even more bloodless. The physical pain was far less heavy than the anxiety in his heart. If he were truly forced to stay by the Queen, how could he live up to the Bodhisattva's entrustment, how could he obtain the true scriptures? He struggled to sit up straight, his lips trembling, but he could not speak a complete sentence due to the abdominal pain.

"No!" The black bear spirit clenched his fist, the iron armor clanging loudly, a resolute glint in his eyes.
“Master, you absolutely cannot go like this. If that queen truly has malicious intentions and insists on keeping you here, then I, Old Hei, will have no choice but to forcefully protect you and rush out, even storming the Golden Palace, to ensure your safe journey west!”

He weighed the strength of the innkeepers and the imperial guards in his mind. Although it was risky, he had no other choice for the sake of the pilgrimage. The pressure from the Pleiades Star Lord and his ilk was immense.

Just as everyone in the inn was filled with anxiety and the Black Bear Spirit was about to take action, hurried footsteps sounded again. It was another female official delivering a decree; her expression was somewhat strange, and she read out the second decree.

"His Majesty has decreed that the Venerable Master is unwell and should not move around. Today's audience is postponed. Please rest and recuperate until you are fully recovered."

Upon receiving the decree, the inn instantly fell into a deeper, suffocating silence.

Pigsy's smile froze, then collapsed, and he muttered in disappointment, "Huh? He's not going to confess? What kind of mess is this!" His dream of wealth and luxury shattered instantly, leaving him feeling utterly empty.

Sha Wujing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Your Majesty is so considerate; Master can finally rest." He thought the Queen was a good person.

However, the expressions on the faces of the monk Xuanzang and the black bear spirit grew even more grim. Xuanzang's eyes deepened with worry; his absence only amplified his unease. Why was the Queen's attitude so inconsistent? Was this supposed rest and recuperation a sign of compassion or a delaying tactic? Could it be a stalling tactic? The dull pain in his abdomen seemed to intensify, tugging at his mind.

The Black Bear Spirit's heart sank even further. Not to see him? This was even more alarming than a summons! A summons, at least, was open and aboveboard; this sudden cancellation must have a reason behind it.

This situation likely stems from something Chen Guangrui said to the Queen. Perhaps he wanted to wait until his master's health deteriorated further, or until they lowered their guard before taking action? This phrase, "wait until he's fully recovered," sounded like concern, but to him, it felt like the slowly tightening chains of a cage. The journey to the West could not be delayed.

He already remembered that he had attacked Chen Guangrui back in Black Wind Mountain. Although the cooperation was out of necessity, he knew that Chen Guangrui had always held a grudge against him.

I wonder if he'll cause trouble for himself later.

Just as the four travelers were each lost in their own thoughts, and the atmosphere in the inn was tense, the Black Bear Spirit keenly sensed something amiss. Among the female officials who had previously delivered the imperial decree, there was one whose attire was slightly different from the other palace maids, and who appeared to be of a slightly higher rank, but she did not immediately leave with the group.

As the other palace maids left, they couldn't help but steal glances at the handsome monk Xuanzang, their faces displaying the curiosity and even infatuation that women from the Women's Kingdom were accustomed to seeing in men. Only that female official's gaze also fell on Xuanzang, but her expression was completely different.

It wasn't curiosity, much less obsession. That gaze was calm and scrutinizing, with an almost indifferent penetrating power, as if confirming something or assessing an object.

She observed him with extreme care, from Xuanzang's pale face and weak posture to his hand resting on his abdomen. Her eyes seemed devoid of any emotion, only pure observation. This made her stand out, even appearing somewhat eerie, among the group of women from the Kingdom of Women who were excited by the appearance of a man.

Such actions may seem insignificant to others, but a discerning eye could see something amiss.

Black Bear's heart pounded with alarm bells. This female official was definitely suspicious. He remained calm, pretending to adjust the heavy bundle on his back, but his eyes were fixed on the strange female official who was about to turn and leave.

If he possessed seventy-two transformations, he would have been best off transforming into a flying insect or a speck of dust to follow him. Unfortunately, the Black Bear Spirit's abilities lay entirely in strength and martial arts; transformation was not his forte.

Seeing the female official had already walked out of the inn and blended into the crowd, the Black Bear Spirit didn't care about anything else. He quickly whispered to Sha Wujing, "Brother Sha, keep an eye on Master and the inn!"
After Sha Wujing responded, he strode off, pretending to stroll around, and followed the female official at a distance.

The streets of the Women's Kingdom were still bustling with women. The Black Bear Demon's towering figure stood out conspicuously in the crowd, making him incredibly clumsy to follow.

He could only try to use the street stalls and crowds for cover, his eyes fixed on the target ahead. He saw the female official walking steadily, her eyes fixed straight ahead, pointing directly at the palace.

Why she was going to the palace, the black bear spirit couldn't say for sure, but he was certain in his heart that this strangely behaving female official must be returning to the palace; she was someone from the palace.

Her unusual scrutiny of her master just now was strange. Was she here on the Queen's orders, or for something else? He gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, determined to make sure she had entered the palace.

Inside the palace hall, the Queen had made up her mind to send Chen Guangrui to help the Western Liang Women's Kingdom this time. At this moment, the hall fell into an even deeper silence.

Chen Guangrui's gaze did not immediately fall on the Queen, but instead turned to the dim sky outside the palace, as if searching for something.

He knew from the Queen that he couldn't possibly find out the origins of the scorpion demon.

It also confirms that the queen truly had no idea where the scorpion demon was. It seems the scorpion demon had been lying in wait all along.

Chen Guangrui nodded slightly. He knew that the Queen was, after all, a mortal with limited knowledge. His gaze, without making a sound, shifted to the Pleiades Star Lord beside him, who was trying his best to maintain his composure and keep his eyes downcast.

"The Pleiades Star Lord," Chen Guangrui called out directly.

The Pleiades Constellation Official's heart skipped a beat. He immediately straightened his back and put on a cautious, bureaucratic smile. "Your humble servant is here. What are your orders, Marshal?"

Chen Guangrui looked at him, his gaze calm yet carrying a penetrating pressure. "You are a celestial deity, the one who heralds the dawn and crows at sunrise. Your senses regarding insects and creatures should be more acute than others. Have you sensed the scorpion demon's presence around here? She should be nearby." His words were veiled, not directly revealing any deeper meaning. Others might not understand, but Pleiades Star Lord had already grasped the implication.

His smile froze for a moment, then became even more sincere. "Marshal, you are wise. Although I am in charge of the morning duties, I have indeed not noticed any scorpion demon's presence in this territory of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom."

His eyes flickered, avoiding direct eye contact with Chen Guangrui. Since Chen Guangrui had said that, he could only go along with it, but the core meaning was clear: he had "never seen it before."

Chen Guangrui remained silent, simply watching him with a gaze that seemed to pierce through his magnificent official robes and crown, revealing the hesitation and concealment in his heart. The air in the hall seemed to grow heavier.

A barely perceptible bead of cold sweat appeared on the forehead of the Pleiades star official.

He certainly understood what Chen Guangrui meant. Chen Guangrui knew about the seven spider demons and the centipede demon in the Spider Cave, and might even have guessed that he wasn't entirely unrelated to the scorpion demon. At this point, continuing to cover for the scorpion demon... seemed pointless.

But the crucial problem is that he really doesn't know where the scorpion demon is.

The Pleiades star official's shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly, his voice lowered, tinged with helplessness and a desire to distance himself.

“Marshal, I do know that the scorpion demon often appears near the Women's Kingdom, but I have never cared about where she stays or her whereabouts. I really don’t know. I have no close relationship with her.”

He spoke urgently, "You can't ask me about every monster you see. I can't keep an eye on them every day."

This time, he truly had no idea. Pleiades Star Lord held his head high, showing no fear whatsoever.

Chen Guangrui nodded, neither confirming nor denying the answer from the Pleiades Star Lord. He hadn't really expected to get the Scorpion Demon's exact location directly from here.

One of his goals on this westward journey was to deal with this troublesome scorpion demon. Now that the matter of the Abortion Spring has been resolved and the Bull Demon King has been brought to justice, the scorpion demon has vanished without a trace. Without finding her, many subsequent plans cannot proceed.

He was thinking quickly.

The ordeal in the Kingdom of Women was portrayed in the TV series of that time as a story of romance, but Chen Guangrui's memory was still focused on the scorpion demon. He remembered when the scorpion demon appeared.

It seems to be on that travel permit. After the pilgrimage team exchanged the permits, Tang Sanzang was kidnapped by the Scorpion Demon...

That seems to be the process, so if you want to find the Scorpion Demon, you should focus on this pass.

"Your Majesty," Chen Guangrui turned his gaze back to the Queen, who had been waiting anxiously, and casually brought up another matter, "I have heard that several monks from the Tang Dynasty in the East have come to seek Buddhist scriptures and are currently resting at your country's inn?"

The Queen's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Chen Guangrui to know even this.

She had indeed been thinking that if she couldn't rely on Chen Guangrui, perhaps the high monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East could bring a trace of the Lesser Yang energy to break the cycle of fate.

She initially ordered the prime minister to summon the monk Xuanzang, hoping to extract the Lesser Yang Qi from the high monk. However, the arrival of this celestial being from the Heavenly Court gave her a glimmer of hope, so she ordered a temporary halt to issuing Xuanzang a travel permit and allowing him to pass through.

This was a backup plan; in case this immortal was no good, at least they should try to see if this high monk Xuanzang was capable.

Now that Chen Guangrui had directly exposed her, a hint of embarrassment flashed across her face, and she quickly explained,

"Your Excellency is wise; this is indeed true. I originally intended to exchange travel permits for them and send them west. However... however..."

She was speechless for a moment, unsure how to explain her hesitation.

Chen Guangrui did not press her for details, but said directly, "In that case, Your Majesty, please follow the procedures and exchange travel permits for them so that they can set off for the west."

The Queen was taken aback, then realized what Chen Guangrui meant. He was telling her to get rid of the pilgrimage team as soon as possible, so as not to cause any unnecessary trouble and interfere with his handling of the problems within the Western Liang Women's Kingdom.

She completely abandoned any thought of using the pilgrimage team as backup and immediately agreed.
"Yes, I understand. Tomorrow morning, I will personally exchange the travel permits for Master Xuanzang and his party in the court and escort them out of the country." Her tone was decisive, afraid of causing Chen Guangrui to misunderstand again.

Seeing that Chen Guangrui had already advised her to send the pilgrimage team away, the Queen had agreed in her heart, but the matter of "Lesser Yang Qi" weighed on her heart like a huge rock, making it difficult for her to truly let go. She hesitated for a moment, but finally could not suppress her anxiety and looked at Chen Guangrui, her voice trembling slightly.

"I am deeply grateful for the Immortal's profound kindness. However, regarding the Lesser Yang Qi..."

She carefully chose her words, trying to appear respectful and not presumptuous, "I wonder when it will be convenient for the Immortal to act? I will then mobilize the entire nation's resources to prepare the necessary items in advance and fully cooperate with the Immortal's decree, daring not to be negligent in the slightest."

Chen Guangrui withdrew his gaze from outside the hall and landed on the Queen's face, which was filled with expectation and unease. He naturally understood the Queen's thoughts. She was eager to resolve the issue of the Mother-Child River, but dared not urge her too much; this cautious inquiry was already the limit.

"Your Majesty," Chen Guangrui's voice remained calm and composed, carrying a detached understanding of the world.

"Everything in this world has a cause and effect, one link after another. This matter cannot be accomplished overnight, and the time is not yet ripe. Forcing it will only bring trouble. Even if I say now that it can be done tomorrow, does Your Majesty know that the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir in the Supreme Dao Ancestor's alchemy furnace still needs time? Shaoyang is the primordial energy of heaven and earth. How can its gestation and transformation be rushed?"

His words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the Queen's eagerness, yet they carried an undeniable truth. His citation of Laozi's alchemy further emphasized the mystery and uncontrollability of the art. The intention to postpone was self-evident.

The Queen's heart sank. She understood Chen Guangrui's unspoken message:

Now is not the time; the timing is not right. Moreover, this matter is very likely connected to the handover of the travel documents tomorrow in some way that she cannot understand. She dares not, and is powerless to, pursue the matter further. This immortal's actions have their own profound meaning, which is far beyond the comprehension and interference of a mere mortal queen like herself. Forcing the issue would likely backfire.

Suppressing her disappointment and doubts, the Queen forced a knowing smile and nodded slightly.
“What the immortal says is absolutely right. I was just too impatient. Everything is up to the immortal to arrange.”

She paused, then changed the subject to tomorrow, her tone regaining the composure befitting a ruler, yet also carrying a deliberate air of solemnity.

“When Master Xuanzang arrives tomorrow, I will personally greet him in the palace. After the travel documents are properly exchanged, I will also personally escort the Master and his party westward to show the respect of our Western Liang Women’s Kingdom for the holy monk from the East.”

(End of this chapter)