The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 164 A Monkey Trainer

"Achoo!"

At the mouth of the Guanjiang River, Xiaotian Dog sneezed and complained to Yang Jian beside him, "Master, someone is cursing me. As the saying goes, even when cursing a dog, you have to consider its owner. This is disrespecting you!"

"If he dares to insult me ​​today, he'll dare to insult you tomorrow. If you don't do something about it, he might be insulting the Jade Emperor the day after tomorrow!"

Yang Jian sneered, "Aren't you called a dog every day? Haven't you gotten used to it yet?"

The celestial dog said, feeling wronged, "This time is different. This time they specifically named and insulted me!"

Yang Jian was slightly surprised. He opened his third eye on his forehead and scanned the area. He quickly saw Jiang Feng and the others appear in Fengxian County. Knowing the inside story, he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Howling Celestial Dog, you were right. This time, the Jade Emperor might really get scolded."

The celestial dog was startled: "Who dares to be so bold?"

Yang Jian poured himself a cup of wine with a leisurely air, and while drinking, he watched the show, and slowly said, "Just a monkey trainer."

Meanwhile, in the Marquis's residence.

The magistrate finally caught his breath and pointed at Jiang Feng, scolding, "You rude monk! You disrespect Heaven; you will be punished!"

Jiang Feng roared, "To hell with God!"

"No, what does this have to do with God? You almost led us astray! In this year of severe drought, you withheld grain and refused to provide relief to the people, causing widespread suffering and countless deaths! A corrupt official like you deserves to be torn to pieces, but that wouldn't atone for your crimes!"

The magistrate grunted and said, "It's obvious you've never been an official. Do you think opening the granaries and distributing grain is just a matter of your word? The livelihood of the entire Fengxian County rests on the shoulders of me and the gentry in various places. If we distribute the grain to the people, what will we eat?"

If we open the granaries and distribute grain, and then there's no money or provisions to give to our subordinates, who will manage the people? You call yourself a holy monk from a superior nation? To save the people, you must first save the officials—don't you understand this simple principle?"

Hearing his twisted logic, Jiang Feng clenched his fist in anger: "If you let the people starve to death, who will govern them afterward?"

The magistrate calmly explained to him, "In years of great disaster, how can people not die? Once some people starve to death, there will naturally be enough food to eat. That's their fate."

The people may suffer a little longer, but when the gods and Buddhas show mercy and send down sweet rain, everything will be alright next year.

The most important thing now is to pray for rain. Once Elder Sun succeeds in bringing rain, the people will have a way to survive.

Jiang Feng was so angry he couldn't speak. While he was silently figuring out how to deal with this corrupt official, Wukong landed in front of everyone from the clouds with the Dragon King.

Upon seeing the Dragon King appear, the magistrate immediately knelt and kowtowed: "Welcome, Dragon King! We beseech you to send rain to save the people of Fengxian County. In the future, Fengxian County will surely build many Dragon King temples so that the Dragon King can enjoy incense offerings every day!"

The Dragon King didn't bother to look at him again, and gave Wukong a wry smile: "Great Sage, if you want rain, just say so. Why use the excuse of inviting me to dinner to trick me into coming here?"

Wukong laughed and said, "I was just afraid you wouldn't come. You see how difficult it is for the people of Fengxian County. They're about to be reduced to selling their children. Why don't you send some rain to relieve their drought?"

The Dragon King sighed and said, "Great Sage, it's not that I don't want to give you face, but the Jade Emperor himself ordered that Fengxian County be punished for disrespecting Heaven, and that the county magistrate be punished with a three-year drought. If I, the old dragon, were to send rain on my own, I would be punished by the Heavenly Court."

"If you insist that I bring rain, you must obtain a document from the Jade Emperor authorizing rain before the old dragon dares to cast his spell."

Wukong was dumbfounded: "The Jade Emperor is involved here? Did this Marquis Shangguan violate the Heavenly Laws? Why should the Jade Emperor punish the entire population of the prefecture for his single offense? What kind of logic is that?"

The Dragon King shook his head and said, "This old dragon doesn't know the reason either. Why don't you go to the Heavenly Court and ask, Great Sage? This old dragon will wait here. As long as you can get the document, I will immediately go and bring rain."

Wukong pondered for a moment, then his eyes darted around Jiang Feng, and he chuckled, "Master, why don't you come with me to ask the Jade Emperor? Perhaps he'll be pleased to see you and issue a decree to bring rain!"

Jiang Feng, unaware of his wicked intentions, rolled his eyes at him and said, "I'm busy. I have to stay here to open the granaries and distribute the grain. You should ask the Jade Emperor yourself."

If all else fails, just capture a few wicked dragons and have them cast spells to bring rain. After all, it's not us who are bringing the rain, so even if the Heavenly Court punishes us, it won't concern us.

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

No, things can be done like this?

The prefect standing nearby gasped in astonishment, exclaiming, "I take back what I just said! Holy Monk, you must have been an official before, otherwise you would never be able to shift the blame so skillfully!"

Jiang Feng said coldly, "I am Jiang Feng, the Deputy Chief Administrator of the Yangzhou General Administration of the Great Sui Dynasty and the General Administrator of all Buddhist and Taoist sects in the land, holding the rank of Third Grade."

The Marquis's expression turned serious, and he bowed again using official etiquette: "Lord Shangguan, Marquis of Fengxian County, greets Chief Steward Jiang! Since we are all officials, we are considered to be on the same side—"

Jiang Feng interrupted, "Don't try to play these bureaucratic tricks with me. Besides withholding grain and not providing disaster relief, what other bad things have you done? Tell me everything!"

If you're lying even a little bit, I'll let you experience the feeling of being skinned alive!

After saying this, he picked up the pig's head from the ground, peeled off the skin completely in a few quick movements, stuffed it with straw to make the pig's head bulge out again, and handed it to the magistrate.

Looking at the empty pig eyes, the magistrate turned ashen with fright and trembled as he retreated behind his servant.

Pigsy was also quite frightened. He peeked out from behind the White Dragon and said in a trembling voice, "Master, are you trying to scare him or me? I have never done anything wrong—"

Under the pressure of Jiang Feng's murderous aura, the Marquis trembled and said, "Holy Monk, I swear to Heaven that I have never done anything evil in my life. If this is a lie, may I be struck by lightning and never be reincarnated!"

Jiang Feng used the Heavenly Demon Bewitching Technique on him, his eyes glowing red: "You'd better think carefully about what kind of favoritism, corruption, or disregard for human life you've done in the past. The Jade Emperor can't punish you without a reason."

The magistrate, stared at by his bloodshot eyes, immediately lost his composure and said, "I—my son harassed a woman, causing her to kill herself by hitting her head against a wall. Later, her husband came to complain, and fearing it would affect my son's career, I locked him up in the backyard."

Jiang Feng withdrew his magic and asked, "Where is your son?"

The magistrate, having regained his composure, quickly pleaded, "My son didn't kill that woman; she was acting on her own. I've already punished him, giving him twenty lashes. Now he devoutly worships Buddha every day, has reformed, and is starting anew!"

"If your son can turn over a new leaf, can the woman he drove to her death also turn over a new leaf?"

Jiang Feng chuckled in exasperation, then continued, "I suddenly remembered a fairy who can bring rain, and who isn't under the Jade Emperor's jurisdiction. Do you know her name?"

The magistrate was taken aback, then his eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "There really is such a fairy in the world! Quickly, invite her to bring rain! Oh, may I ask what this fairy's name is?"

"Her name is—"

Jiang Feng walked closer with a smile, then kicked the Marquis to the ground, shouting, "Gan Lin's mother!"