This group wasn't large—only about twenty people.
Wu Kong had long since learned of the situation in the Western Ox Continent. But his previous actions alongside Donggua might have already been detected by the demon hidden within the Buddhist sect. The Western Ox Continent operation wasn't something he could push forward or decide.
By comparison, returning to the Buddhist sect alone was already dangerous enough.
Wu Kong's return to the Buddhist sect drew no one's attention—not even a question or a passing glance. Everything seemed to have returned to calm. The Buddhist sect remained the same Buddhist sect, and no one cast him a second look.
He was still just that Buddhist Son who wandered freely within the Buddhist sect.
He had expected gathering storm clouds, but instead found a clear sunny day.
The good news was that his life was probably safe. The bad news was that his information had likely been more than half exposed, and he was still completely in the dark.
Wu Kong was in the light, while the hidden Buddha lurked in the shadows.
This kind of peace was not what Wu Kong had hoped for. But fortunately, he wasn't kept at the Buddhist sect for long before being pushed toward the gathering storm—the Western Ox Continent.
By order of the Present Buddha Ru Nan of the Great Thunder Sound Temple, Buddhist Son Wu Kong would lead a team across the Pudu River to join the three sects in saving the Western Ox Continent.
That was the Buddhist sect's official decree.
But the tasks that fell upon Wu Kong were nothing like the decree suggested.
Before arriving at the Pudu River, three Buddhas had already sought him out privately, each assigning him numerous additional tasks.
Such as uncovering all of the three sects' actions in the Western Ox Continent, investigating whether they had other operations targeting the Buddhist sect, and gauging the common people's views of the Buddhist sect in the Western Ox Continent—on and on.
Both what could be said openly and what couldn't be said openly had been assigned in abundance.
The Western Ox Continent was fundamentally a matter of the Buddhist sect's interests.
And as the Worldly Affairs Buddhas grew increasingly numerous, the Buddhist sect had begun to lose its former purity.
In the past, facing pressure from the Immortal Sects, the strategy had been to first secure the Buddhist sect's place among the Eighteen Immortal Sects. Yet this had also caused the current Buddhist sect to lose the purity it once possessed.
Worldly Affairs Buddhas, even with Tribulation Transcendence cultivation, could not escape or let go of the word "interest."
So the Buddhas who came to assign him extra tasks might not harbor any Demon Buddhas—interest alone was sufficient motivation for them to issue these orders.
But regardless, he had already been pushed to the forefront.
Wu Kong understood clearly: this was both a test and a sounding out.
Huang Miao still stood at the Pudu River. And what method this Buddhist Son would use, what attitude he would face them with, and even whether he could cross the Pudu River at all—every aspect was a sounding out.
Facing this sounding out... Wu Kong also had absolutely no confidence.
Even the possibility that Huang Miao would cut him down with a single sword strike was not out of the question.
Despite the turmoil in his heart, he still had to face things head-on.
The matters of the Great Thunder Sound Temple could only be entrusted to that Buddha. For now, he needed to make it back alive from the Western Ox Continent before discussing anything else.
Wu Kong's gaze could already clearly see the Pudu River. He could also see the Buddha upon the river accompanied by Arhats and Bodhisattvas, the golden sea of clouds stretching endlessly outward, and the razor-sharp yet immensely heavy presence of Huang Miao upon the waters.
Without hesitation, Wu Kong transformed into a streak of rainbow light and flew toward the Pudu River.
At the river's edge.
Wu Kong first bowed to True Buddha Yuan Gui, who hadn't dared set foot on the Pudu River. This one was also a Worldly Affairs Buddha—though to be fair, most of those who went out to handle affairs for the Buddhist sect were Worldly Affairs Buddhas.
But even if he was a Worldly Affairs Buddha, as a Buddhist Son, Wu Kong still had to bow to him.
True Buddha Yuan Gui had been in a standoff with Huang Miao at the Pudu River for quite some time. Calling it a standoff wasn't entirely accurate—whenever True Buddha Yuan Gui dared to set even a toe on the Pudu River, Huang Miao would unhesitatingly draw his sword.
Huang Miao had even issued a harsh declaration—not a single drop of water here could be touched by anyone from the Buddhist sect.
Given that he truly couldn't win a fight, True Buddha Yuan Gui hadn't actually planned to sacrifice himself here. But with such a large contingent of Bodhisattvas and Arhats behind him, simply retreating would mean losing face entirely.
They were all Tribulation Transcendence cultivators. Though the gap in strength was indeed vast, face—once lost—could never be recovered. He already held a low position among the many Buddhas of the Buddhist sect, and was the most recently joined Worldly Affairs Buddha to boot.
So besides calling for reinforcements from the rear, all he could do was watch Huang Miao looking at him with a mocking expression.
Now someone had finally come. Even though it was only a Buddhist Son, and the Great Thunder Sound Temple was showing signs of concession, at least he didn't have to stand alone on the shore, not even daring to step onto the Pudu River.
Even if this Buddhist Son got instantly slain by Huang Miao with a single sword strike, at least his retreat to request reinforcements would be justified.
True Buddha Yuan Gui raised his hand to signal Wu Kong to rise. Having lost all his fighting spirit, he didn't take his frustration out on this somewhat kindred Buddhist Son. Instead, he offered some counsel:
"I've received Buddha Ru Nan's message. That Huang Miao is unreasonable."
"If he refuses to follow Buddha Ru Nan's command, don't force the issue. I'll explain the situation to Ru Nan on your behalf."
Wu Kong bowed again. "Thank you, True Buddha Yuan Gui."
True Buddha Yuan Gui gave a gentle nod:
"Go ahead. If things go wrong, I'll cover your retreat."
Wu Kong straightened up and raised his hand, signaling the Buddhist cultivators following behind to halt:
"I'll go alone. If I can cross, I'll call for you."
With that, Wu Kong headed toward Huang Miao alone.
True Buddha Yuan Gui narrowed his eyes, focusing his attention on Wu Kong, watching as his figure stepped onto the waters of the Pudu River...
Perhaps because the newcomer was merely a Buddhist Son whose cultivation was unremarkable in the eyes of Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, Huang Miao didn't instantly cut him down with a single sword.
He looked over, his divine sense following, preparing to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Wu Kong moved slowly, stopping when he was about a hundred meters from Huang Miao. He pressed his palms together in a Buddhist salute:
"I am Buddhist Son Wu Kong. It is an honor to meet you, Senior Huang."
Huang Miao sized Wu Kong up and down, then spoke as if deliberately mocking True Buddha Yuan Gui:
"You've got nerve. Even Buddhas don't dare set foot on the Pudu River, yet you little Buddhist Son actually walk right up."
"I suppose my cultivation is too insignificant to catch Senior's eye." Wu Kong spoke to save face for True Buddha Yuan Gui, not daring to attempt any more pleasantries. From this one's opening words, it was clear he was also a master of passive-aggressive remarks.
From his spatial ring, Wu Kong produced the Buddhist decree personally written by Buddha Ru Nan and stamped with the Central Plains Buddhist sect's grand seal. He extended his hand and gently offered it forward:
"I have come by order of Buddha Ru Nan, leading our followers to the Western Ox Continent, to ferry the people to safety."
Huang Miao said nothing more. He simply raised his hand and used spiritual energy to summon the Buddhist decree from Wu Kong's hand.
He looked at the decree. The entire document was written with righteous grandeur, but that was all it amounted to. There was not a shred of substantive content—even the matter of the Western Ox Continent was glossed over with a single passing mention.
Seeing this, Huang Miao couldn't help but laugh aloud. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he crushed the Buddhist decree with spiritual energy.
Wu Kong's expression turned grave.
This Buddhist decree essentially represented Buddha Ru Nan's face. Destroying it outright was no different from slapping Buddha Ru Nan in the face.
True Buddha Yuan Gui's Buddha light also surged at the riverbank, as if ready to aid Wu Kong at any moment.
Huang Miao's gaze swept toward Wu Kong.
"Ridiculous thing. Even if he came in person, he couldn't cross this river. Did he think sending a broken decree would do the trick?"
Wu Kong said nothing, nor did he respond to those words.
True Buddha Yuan Gui's Buddha light had already extended toward Wu Kong in support.
Huang Miao disdainfully glanced at True Buddha Yuan Gui's subtle maneuvering, then spoke calmly:
"However, you may cross today."
The Buddha light halted. Eyes widened in shock.
Wu Kong's expression also showed considerable confusion.
A faint smile appeared on Huang Miao's face:
"A certain someone mentioned you. His word carries far more weight than Buddha Ru Nan's decree."
"For his sake, I won't make things too difficult for you."
Wu Kong was momentarily speechless.
Chu Xingchen's face... wasn't it working a little too universally?
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