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

Tang Sanzang's fingers trembled like withered leaves in the wind, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead, soaking the collar of his monk's robe.

His eyes went out of focus, staring at the cracks in the bluestone floor tiles in front of the hall, as if those cracks were the wounds in his own heart, growing larger and larger, unfathomably deep.

Helping the common people...

Seeking the true scriptures...

These words echoed repeatedly in his mind, yet they grew increasingly unfamiliar and distant.

He suddenly felt that his journey to the west over the years had been like an absurd dream.

In my dream, he was a high monk, the emperor's younger brother, and the supreme leader of all monks.

Outside of his dreams, he was merely a sinner who allowed his accomplices to commit murder.

Inside the hall, a deathly silence lasted for a moment.

Seeing that their master seemed to be truly broken by the city lord's words, Pigsy and Sandy could no longer hold back.

Sha Wujing knew that if he didn't speak up, something terrible would happen.

He quickly spoke up:

"My esteemed master, what you've said... is going too far."

"My master is just a mortal, with only ordinary eyes and mortal form. How could he possibly have the ability to kill so many people?"

"It was all done by the eldest brother, Sun Wukong. With his fiery eyes, he spotted the demonic aura and immediately killed it."

"My master may be my master, but... how could he possibly stop my eldest brother?"

"The blame shouldn't be placed entirely on my master!"

He looked up at Yun Zhao, his eyes full of pleading.

Pigsy nodded repeatedly, his pig face twitching.

Yun Zhao smiled upon hearing this.

His gaze swept over Sha Wujing, his voice calm:

"Haven't you heard the saying, 'If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault; if the teaching is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness'?"

"This is a phrase that even a three-year-old in my city can recite."

"How ridiculous."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was taken aback at first, and then someone chuckled softly.

There are indeed many primers in White Tiger City, but the Three Character Classic has not yet been published. However, this does not prevent Yun Zhao from taking it and using it directly, and saying it is perfectly reasonable.

Tang Sanzang and his two companions took it seriously.

They looked at each other, their hearts heavy.

Can a three-year-old recite this?

This White Tiger City... actually has such a profound culture?

Even a child knows that "if the teacher is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness"?

Then what about my master...?

Tang Sanzang's forehead was covered in even more cold sweat.

He lowered his head, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a word.

Pigsy rolled his pig eyes, wanting to refute, but didn't know where to begin.

Sha Wujing also lowered his head.

Yun Zhao pressed his advantage, his voice neither hurried nor slow, yet every word was like a knife:

"If that's the case, wouldn't you, as the master, be more despicable and hateful than the murderer?"

"Sun Wukong fought and killed, and it was he who wielded the golden cudgel."

"But your indulgence, Tang Sanzang, is your tacit approval."

"He killed someone with one blow."

"Your words of exoneration have only fueled the killing."

"Who is more despicable?"

"Who is more hateful?"

These words struck a chord deep within Tang Sanzang's heart.

Tang Sanzang trembled, cold sweat pouring down his face.

He recalled yesterday, when he tacitly allowed Wukong to take action.

He recalled his own attempt to justify his journey westward: "How can we travel westward without eliminating the monsters?"

Now, these excuses, like venomous snakes, have backfired on them.

Is he... really more despicable than Wukong?

The Buddha's heart cracked open once more.

Seeing that his master was about to be made to look bad again, Pigsy became anxious.

He disregarded all decorum, twisted his body, and began to writhe and scream as if throwing a tantrum:

"Hey! Master, you're exaggerating!"

"Even so, we're all monks who entered the monastic life halfway through!"

"This master... I've only known him for a short time, how could he have taught me so much?"

"That monkey is inherently fierce and has a fiery temper; who can stop it?"

"The fact that that woman and her family were killed is somewhat related to us, but at most it's just that we didn't stop them in time!"

"How could it be that serious?!"

"My lord, please have mercy! We are the pilgrims on the journey to the West, destined by Heaven!"

Pigsy became more and more anxious as he spoke, his snout pursed high, and his voice sounded like he was crying.

Ah Niu clenched his fists in anger: "You pig! Still trying to shirk responsibility! Sir, why don't you chop off his pig snout first and serve it to you with your wine? Consider it interest!"

Yun Zhao smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Pigsy shrank back in fright: "I'm a spirit born from an old wild boar! This snout is tough and dry, it's not tasty!"

"Alright!"

Yun Zhao was too lazy to waste any more words with them.

His gaze swept over the three of them, and he said coldly:

"Today, I am not here to argue with you about any principles."

"What's going on with you is none of my business."

"Murder and arson are established facts."

"It doesn't matter which deity's disciple you are, or which Buddhist sect's relative you are."

"Those who break the laws of White Tiger City will be punished."

"Do you... plead guilty?"

After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent once more.

Pigsy and Sandy opened their mouths as if they wanted to say something.

But then Tang Sanzang's voice rang out, hoarse yet resolute:

"This humble monk...is willing to submit to the law."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy and Sandy's expressions changed drastically.

Pigsy was so anxious he almost jumped up:

"You mustn't, Master!"

"We still have to go to the Western Paradise to obtain the Buddhist scriptures!"

"How can you confess to any crime here!"

"The journey to the West is a matter of utmost importance, personally overseen by the Bodhisattva; it cannot be delayed!"

He also tried to use the Bodhisattva to suppress Yun Zhao.

Sha Wujing also hurriedly said:

"Master confesses... and if he confesses, he'll really be punished! It's nothing for us to suffer some punishment, but I'm afraid it might mess things up!"

The two of them talked at once, their voices filled with panic.

The people inside the hall were also somewhat surprised.

Unexpectedly, this high monk was so decisive.

Tang Sanzang slowly raised his head, his weary eyes carrying a hint of nonchalance:

"shut up!"

Pigsy and Sandy were taken aback and immediately shut up.

Tang Sanzang took a deep breath and continued:

"I deeply regret not stopping Wukong from killing people before."

"If you continue to shirk responsibility, evade the issue, or refuse to confess your guilt at this point..."

"Do you really want to put your teacher in a position of being unjust and immoral?"

"What is the compassion they speak of?"

How much of the Buddha-nature remains within us?

"The journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures is for the purpose of saving all sentient beings."

"If you can't even admit your own sins, how can you save others?"

"Bajie, Wujing..."

"My mind is made up."

"If you're going to submit to the law, then submit to the law."

His voice trembled slightly, yet remained as firm as iron.

Pigsy opened his mouth as if to try to persuade him again, but he couldn't utter a word.

He was actually panicking.

Master's behavior is... too abnormal.

My usually indecisive master is now so fierce.

But he didn't want to plead guilty and be punished!

Inside the hall, everyone looked at Tang Sanzang; some sighed, while others admired him.

No matter how much hatred Ah Niu felt, he couldn't utter a word at this moment.

Brothers, don't go yet! There's one more chapter today, and I'll finish it before midnight.

To be honest, this book hasn't been doing well at all so far, and it hasn't even had a premiere yet. It's all thanks to the support of my brothers that I can barely earn enough for a pack of cigarettes every day.

When I checked my earnings today, I was shocked to find that I had received tips, especially from Brother Starship, who gave me a "splash of flowers for a super update" tip. I was a little overwhelmed and really thanked all my brothers for their support!