Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

After Yun Zhao finished speaking with Nezha, he went to the secret chamber in the back mountain to take another look at Li Jing.

The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King was huddled in the corner, completely unrecognizable. When he saw Yun Zhao enter, he was so frightened that he trembled all over and couldn't even speak.

Yun Zhao shook his head. This time, Nezha had finally avenged his great grudge and achieved his wish.

He leaped up in a golden light, left Flower Fruit Mountain, and headed straight for the Southern Continent.

The capital of Chu was Ying.

Yun Zhao descended from the clouds and landed in the city.

Decades later, Yingdu is more prosperous than ever before, with wide streets, towering buildings, fast cars, and a vibrant atmosphere.

However, upon closer inspection, the development over the years has not seen a qualitative leap compared to decades ago.

Those intricate structures like the Lingji Chongge, Yunlanfeicha, and Wanxiang Tianjing appeared decades ago; now they are simply larger in scale and quantity, and their craftsmanship is more exquisite.

If we compare that initial transformation to something from nothing, from 0 to 1.

So for the past few decades, it has just been about adding points to that 1, but in the end, it has never broken through that 1 and entered 2.

As Yun Zhao walked down the street, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenes, he nodded to himself.

There is always a limit to the explosion of productivity.

It is already a miracle that the State of Chu was able to make such a rapid progress from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Cyber ​​Wonderland.

Going up from there is a different level of work, and it can't be rushed.

He walked slowly through the city, his divine sense spreading silently and enveloping the entire capital, Yingdu.

A moment later, two familiar auras rushed in from different directions.

A green wooden hairpin, as cool and elegant as bamboo, belonged to Mu Hua.

Another figure, clad in dazzling golden armor, with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth, was none other than Sun Wukong.

The two caught up with Yun Zhao at the street corner, flanking him from the left and right.

Mu Hua looked him up and down, then cupped her hands and said, "Lord Yun, you're back."

Sun Wukong was much more direct, grabbing Yun Zhao's arm with joy in his eyes and raising his voice several decibels:

"Master! You've finally returned! I haven't heard from you at all these years, and I've missed you terribly. If you hadn't instructed me not to show myself, I would have come to find you long ago!"

Yun Zhao patted his shoulder and laughed, "What's the rush? Your master is perfectly fine. Come on, let's find somewhere to talk."

Sun Wukong pulled Yun Zhao along, saying as they walked, "Let's go to my residence! I have a general's mansion in Yingdu. Although it can't compare to your secluded valley, Master, it's still quite lively with wine and meat!"

The three walked through several streets and alleys and arrived in front of a magnificent mansion.

A golden plaque hangs above the doorway, bearing the six large characters "General Shenhou's Mansion," written in vigorous strokes with an imposing presence.

Two stone lions stood at the entrance, and next to them stood two guards at the Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness realm, dressed in armor and holding spears. Upon seeing Sun Wukong return, they quickly bowed.

Sun Wukong waved his hand casually and led Yun Zhao and Mu Hua into the mansion.

The mansion has three courtyards and three entrances, with a front hall, a rear hall, left and right wing rooms, artificial hills and flowing water, and exotic flowers and plants.

Passing through the front hall, we arrived at the backyard, where a stone table and several stone chairs were set out, with food and wine already laid out on the table.

Sun Wukong invited Yun Zhao to take the seat of honor, while he and Mu Hua sat on either side. He then ordered the servants to add several more dishes before raising his wine cup and saying with a smile, "Master, this disciple toasts you!"

Yun Zhao raised his glass and clinked it against his, then drank it all in one gulp.

Setting down his wine cup, Sun Wukong eagerly asked, "Master, what have you been doing all these years?"

He paused, then added, "You said back then that I could tell you when the time was right. I wonder if the time has come yet?"

Yun Zhao nodded, his gaze falling on Sun Wukong.

Although he used a fake puppet to replace Sun Wukong and was suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain, he could still feel the restraint from heaven and earth being lifted.

Now, if I want to say something to Sun Wukong, I can finally speak without being hindered by an invisible barrier.

Then Yun Zhao laughed and said, "Wukong, do you know your origins?"

Sun Wukong was taken aback, scratched his head, and said, "This disciple is a stone monkey born from Flower Fruit Mountain, sprang from a stone."

Yun Zhao shook his head: "It is true that you were born a stone monkey, but from the moment you were born, a huge scheme was already destined."

Sun Wukong blinked, looking completely bewildered.

Yun Zhao said, "This is a long story."

"In this world, every so often, a great calamity will occur."

"Looking back from now on, we have already experienced the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the Great Tribulation of the Witch and Demon, the Great Tribulation of the Dragon and Han Dynasties... Each great tribulation has reshaped the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall structure or pattern) of the Three Realms."

"Now, another great calamity is about to arrive. This time, the calamity will occur when Buddhism spreads eastward, and Buddhism will flourish."

Sun Wukong frowned: "Buddhism should flourish? What does that have to do with me?"

Yun Zhao said, "You are a key figure in the great calamity, and you are the divinely appointed protector of the pilgrimage."

"The Buddhist sect is sending a pilgrim to travel from the East to the West, enduring eighty-one tribulations to reach Mount Ling and obtain the true scriptures. You will be the great protector of that pilgrim, responsible for subduing demons and protecting your master on his journey to the West."

Sun Wukong was filled with rage.

"Me? Become a monk's disciple? And have to fight demons and monsters all the way to the Western Paradise?"

Yun Zhao nodded: "That's right, this is the Buddhist sect's plan."

"In order to make you obedient, you must be imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years to temper your wild nature, and then follow the pilgrims on their journey to the West, accumulating merits along the way, and finally attaining enlightenment."

Sun Wukong slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Damn it! Why does this damn Buddhist sect think it can just send me, Old Sun, like this? And I have to be imprisoned for five hundred years? Do they think I'm made of clay?!"

While he was still angry, he suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly asked, "Master, you said before that the time was not right, and you told me to stay in Chu and not to show my face. Could it be...?"

Yun Zhao guessed what Sun Wukong wanted to ask and laughed, "That's right, I disguised myself as you to thwart the Buddhist sect's plan."

Sun Wukong was stunned.

Yun Zhao picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and slowly said, "After you became my disciple, I have been thinking about how to help you avoid this calamity."

"Later, I came up with a plan: I would pretend to be you and walk the path that you were supposed to walk."

He recounted how he impersonated Sun Wukong, how he infiltrated Fangcun Mountain to learn martial arts, how he dealt with the Buddhist sect, how he became an official in Heaven, and how he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace.

The story also details how he used a substitute talisman to deceive Buddha and was subsequently imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain.

Sun Wukong was dumbfounded, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his eyes filled with shock and anger.

"Master...you..." His voice trembled, "You want to suffer the five hundred years of suppression in place of your disciple?"

Yun Zhao waved his hand and laughed, "What five hundred years? What was pressed under the Five Elements Mountain was a fake body that I created using a talisman puppet. Aren't I sitting here drinking with you perfectly fine?"

Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed three times to Yun Zhao, his forehead hitting the bluestone ground with a thud.

"Master!" His voice choked with emotion, "This disciple... this disciple is utterly unworthy to deserve such care and concern from you!"

Yun Zhao reached out to help him up and said with a smile, "Get up, it's nothing, you've always been my disciple."

"Moreover, besides shielding you from this calamity, I also have other plans."