Chapter 455: What If I Refuse?
"Here's what we'll do, Guanyin. Go to them immediately and have them depart westward at once. We can't afford to waste any more time. As long as they don't have enough time, then even if they want to participate in the Golden List, they simply won't have the opportunity!"
Time might be a luxury for some, but for others, it's extremely tight.
Take Tang Sanzang and his disciples right now—time is something they're sorely lacking.
When Guanyin heard this, she immediately understood. Of course! If she went to Tang Sanzang now and told him to hurry on with his journey, then he simply wouldn't have the time to participate!
So, Guanyin said, "Buddha, you truly are wise!"
"Hmm. Now go, quickly."
"Understood."
At that moment, Guanyin swiftly departed. Tang Sanzang was currently meditating and seeking enlightenment, seated upon a large boulder, completely immersed in contemplation.
"Tang Sanzang!"
Hearing the voice, Tang Sanzang opened his eyes and saw Guanyin approaching. He looked at her and said, "Bodhisattva, what brings you here?"
"I've come today to tell you something important—you must speed up your journey. You've already wasted too much time along the way. You can't stay here meditating anymore. You need to get moving!"
"But Bodhisattva, I'm already participating in the Golden List right now. I need time to meditate!"
"Don't forget what your mission is. Your task is to journey west to retrieve the scriptures. Don't be swayed by others into joining something like the Golden List. That sort of thought is completely improper for you!"
"But I already promised him!"
"Then let me be clear—you must not make such a mistake. I've already warned you: Ye Tian is not a good person. You absolutely must not listen to everything he says. If you keep doing that, you'll be making a grave mistake."
"This…"
Tang Sanzang began to waver. What she said did seem to make sense. All along, he had been striving to reach the West and retrieve the scriptures, so that he could truly attain Buddhahood.
But now, doubt lingered in his heart. After a long pause, he finally said, "Bodhisattva, just this once. Give me this one chance. I'll benefit greatly from this. It's not like I plan to join every Golden List, but this one is about meditation and enlightenment—something I excel at. So why shouldn't I join this time?"
"No."
Guanyin was completely unyielding. She looked at him and said, "Don't forget who assigned you this task. It was I who sent you on this pilgrimage, and now you're defying me? Don't you think that's going too far, Tang Sanzang?"
"I'm going too far?"
Tang Sanzang laughed bitterly. He hadn't expected Guanyin to say something like that. Yes, it was true that she was the one who assigned him the task of retrieving the scriptures.
But he had also given so much for this mission. And now, to be told he was in the wrong? Of course he wasn't happy about it!
"Yes. Don't lose sight of your mission. Just focus on journeying west to fetch the scriptures. As for anything else that wastes your time—if it can be avoided, then avoid it. The Golden List? I suggest you don't participate!"
"Hmph. And what if I refuse?"
"If you refuse, then I'll be forced to compel you to head west. I'll stop you from meditating here."
"So you'd stop me just for the sake of stopping me? Bodhisattva, I've always respected you deeply. But now, why are you showing me no respect at all?"
In truth, Tang Sanzang felt bitter. He hadn't expected Guanyin to act like this. The Bodhisattva began reciting a mantra under her breath.
A moment later, Tang Sanzang clutched his head, feeling intense pain.
"What's going on? What are you chanting? Is that the Tightening-Curse Spell?!"
Tang Sanzang hadn't expected the pain in his head to intensify just because of her chanting. Sun Wukong couldn't stand by any longer either. He knew all too well how powerful the Tightening-Curse Spell was.
But the strange thing was, Tang Sanzang didn't even have a golden circlet on his head. So why was he in such pain?
"Bodhisattva, please stop! What you're doing right now isn't right!"
"Monkey, are you criticizing me too? Let me tell you this: everything you're doing now is wrong. You all put your trust in Ye Tian and clearly no longer take me seriously. So giving you all a little punishment is only natural!"
"This…"
Sun Wukong was momentarily speechless. But then he said, "Fine! In that case, I won't be polite with you either!"
With that, Sun Wukong charged forward. He was no longer the same as before—his power had grown immensely. Seeing him coming at her like that, Guanyin exclaimed, "Sun Wukong, how dare you attack me?!"
"And what if I do? You were the one who disrespected my master first! So I'm not about to show you any courtesy now!"
"Stop this, Wukong! Don't be rude!"
Tang Sanzang tried to hold Sun Wukong back, but it was already too late. Sun Wukong had already lunged toward Guanyin.
"You impudent monkey! You actually dare run wild in front of me? This is outrageous!"
Guanyin steeled herself. She figured she had no choice now—this monkey needed a serious lesson. Otherwise, he'd completely lose all sense of order!
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