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

After the golden and silver boys burned incense and prayed, outside the thirty-three heavens, the Dao Ancestor, though sensing something, merely smiled slightly and did not respond.

However, the smoke from the incense rose straight up to the heavens, startling an old star lord in the Lingxiao Palace.

On this day, Venus was on duty in the palace when the incense stick came right in front of him and transformed into two figures.

"Old Star Lord, how could it be you?"

The Golden and Silver Boys were taken aback when they saw the person in front of them. Then they realized that this was their patriarch, who was guiding them through their confusion.

Venus was also puzzled. The two were the Golden and Silver Attendants of the Tushita Palace, the most favored by Laozi. Everyone in the Heavenly Court knew this. How could they have used this incense-burning method to get to him?

Although he was puzzled, his expression remained gentle: "My two young disciples, I was the one who wanted to ask you. What kind of charade are you up to, putting on this show?"

Jinjiao and Yinjiao exchanged a glance. Since they were in the Heavenly Court and in front of their own people, there was nothing they couldn't say, so they recounted the truth as it was.

Upon hearing this, Venus frowned.

The guardian deity reports to the pilgrim every day, saying that he is well. How come he hasn't seen him for four years?

This is not right.

His heart sank, and he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

Without time for further words, he thanked the boy and rode the cloud straight into the Tongming Hall.

The Jade Emperor was admiring the celestial maidens' dance when he saw Taibai rushing over. He asked, "Taibai, what brings you in such a hurry?"

Venus bowed and reported the whole story of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor smiled slightly but remained silent.

Taibai said, "Great Heavenly Venerable, Tang Sanzang and his disciples should have arrived at Lotus Cave on Pingding Mountain long ago. They haven't been seen for four years. Could something have happened? I beg Your Majesty to order me to descend to the mortal realm and investigate!"

The Jade Emperor nodded: "Granted."

Taibai received the decree and, filled with rage, rode a cloud down to earth.

He first found the cloud where the guardian deities were located.

The Five Directions Protectors, the Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Four Duty Officers are hidden in the clouds, trembling with fear.

Over the years, when they reported on their work, they always said, "The pilgrims are doing well."

But deep down, I was still uneasy.

Now, seeing Venus approaching in a rage, his beard and hair standing on end, everyone's hearts skipped a beat.

Taibai landed and coldly shouted, "You guardian deities!"

"I ask you, what exactly happened between Tang Sanzang and his disciples?"

"He hasn't been seen for four years!"

"Even the attendants of the Supreme Dao Ancestor have come to the Heavenly Court!"

"What are you still hiding?"

"Tell the truth!"

The gods looked at each other, hesitant and uncertain. They swore an oath to the heavens that they could not tell the whole story.

Clinging to a sliver of hope, they said in unison:

"Reporting to the Old Star Lord... the pilgrims are all well."

"No danger to life."

"There was just a slight delay along the way."

Venus was furious upon hearing this!

His beard and hair stood on end, and Venus shone brightly:

"Oh! Still lying!"

"Delayed? Delayed for four years?"

"What exactly happened?"

"Tell the truth!"

"If you continue to conceal this, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

This appearance terrified everyone. For many years, Venus had presented himself as a kind old man, making them forget that he was a star lord in charge of killing and warfare, and his fierce aura was unmatched in the Heavenly Court!

The gods bowed their heads, deeply troubled.

They had sworn an oath not to reveal the details of White Tiger City.

I can only say it tactfully:

"Old Star Lord... don't be anxious."

"This matter... is not something we can say more about."

"You can find the local mountain god and earth god and ask them."

Upon hearing this, Taibai snorted coldly.

He thought to himself: These divine generals must have been coerced by someone.

He waved his hand, summoning the mountain gods and local deities near White Tiger Ridge.

The mountain gods and local deities, trembling with fear, immediately bowed upon seeing him.

Taibai asked, "Is Tang Sanzang, the pilgrim on his journey to the West, residing in your territory?"

The mountain god and the local earth god exchanged a glance and whispered:

"Reporting to the Old Star Lord... the pilgrims... have entered the White Tiger City."

"We are still in the city now..."

Taibai pressed further, "What are you doing in the city?"

The mountain god and the earth god murmured:

"Well... our magical powers are too weak to see clearly."

"White Tiger City is isolated by a powerful array, which prevents divine sense from penetrating it."

Taibai was taken aback and turned to look at the guardian deities.

The gods bowed their heads and said:

"Old Star Lord...the pilgrims are not in any danger."

"As for the specifics... you'll find out for yourself when you go into the city."

Venus was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at them. He felt helpless. These guys knew things but dared not say them, and dared to say things but did not know them. He had no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

So as not to disturb the people in the city.

Taibai transformed into an old man in the mortal world, with white hair and a youthful face, holding a bamboo cane.

They quietly entered the city.

Upon entering the city, Taibai was somewhat surprised.

The streets are wide, clean and tidy, and that goes without saying. But the residents of the city are actually a mix of humans and demons, and they can still live together in harmony.

Peaceful and tranquil, without a trace of murderous intent.

Venus has traveled through the Three Realms for many years, but has he ever seen such a sight?

In the Three Realms, humans and demons are at odds, and slaughter is constant.

Demons eat people, and people eliminate demons.

When has there ever been such peace?

He thought to himself with a sense of wonder: In the Three Realms, there is actually such a place where humans and demons coexist harmoniously?

That's truly rare.

It's truly... a miracle.

As he walked, he inquired around, becoming somewhat acquainted with a group of old demons. Taking advantage of their conversation about interesting things happening in the city, Taibai abruptly changed the subject:

"I heard the most interesting ones are those monks?"

The residents laughed when they heard this.

"Oh, those monks who work as dung collectors?"

"That's true. In our White Tiger City, there are mostly good people. It's only because of these three monks who committed murder and arson that the city lord punished them by making them carry manure every day."

Upon hearing this, Taibai's heart sank.

Dung collector?

The pilgrim monks who went on a pilgrimage to the West were turned into dung collectors?

After quietly ascertaining the whereabouts of Tang Sanzang and his companions, he hurriedly left.

In a secluded corner, Taibai looked into the distance and finally spotted three figures.

Tang Sanzang was carrying a bucket of manure with his head down. The bucket was heavy on his shoulder. His monk's robe was old and patched. He smelled terrible, but his expression was calm.

Sha Wujing cleaned up the filth, working silently.

Pigsy was miserable, carrying buckets of manure, but dared not stop.

He even noticed that Pigsy and Sandy's magical powers were both imprisoned, unable to exert any of them, and they could only work with their mortal bodies.

Venus was dumbfounded.

This is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi...

They're actually collecting manure?

"This is bad."

Taibai hurriedly left the city, reverted to his original form, and didn't even bother to rebuke the gods.

He rode the clouds straight up to the ninth heaven, entered the Hall of Universal Brightness, and reported to the Jade Emperor:

"Great Celestial Venerable"

"That Tang Sanzang... Tang Sanzang is now working as a night soil collector in White Tiger City!"

"A thirty-year sentence!"

……

Li Bai recounted what he had heard in detail.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor slowly swallowed a celestial grape, and a smile immediately appeared on his lips:

"Jin Chanzi reincarnated as a dung collector?"

"Thirty years of atonement?"

"That White Tiger City Lord is quite resourceful. He claims to have created a peaceful paradise where humans and demons coexist, and even managed to trap the pilgrims on their journey?"

"Interesting, interesting!"

Venus urgently said, "Your Majesty! The matter of the pilgrimage..."

The Jade Emperor waved his hand and laughed:

"That's enough."

"This is not something you should interfere with, Taibai."

"This is a matter for his Buddhist sect; it only affects their reputation. What does it have to do with my Heavenly Court?"

"But now that you've seen him, why don't you go to Flower Fruit Mountain and ask that monkey for help?"

"Let him make a scene on his own."

"It's been a long time since such an interesting event has occurred in the Three Realms. I'd like to see how the Lord of White Tiger City will handle it."

Li Bai accepted the imperial decree.

They rode on the clouds to Huaguo Mountain.