Journey to the West: Black Six Ears

031.8 Quicksand Boundary

After concealing the secret, Sun Qiong immediately left Huangfeng Ridge and headed west.

They found a place not far from the Liusha River and took out the peaches.

Sun Qiong did not rush to arrange things for Sha Wujing.

Although with his current strength, dealing with Sha Wujing would be a simple matter.

But he knew even better that after dealing with the matter at Liusha River, what awaited him was the attack of the Dragon Girl.

Since that's the case, why not eat the six-thousand-year-old peach and strengthen myself first?

Once he has enough strength, even if the Dragon Girl appears before him, armed with a host of magical treasures, he will be able to fight her.

This peach is quite large; you can see it when you take it out—it's about half the size of a person.

I can't even imagine how big a 9,000-year-old peach would be; it might be as big as an adult.

Sun Qiong took a bite.

Unlike the peaches of immortality three years ago, these six-thousand-year-old peaches were even more delicious. Although they didn't melt in the mouth, the pure spiritual energy gradually seeped into Sun Qiong's body.

When Sun Qiong ate the peach, the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts within her body unconsciously began to operate.

Soon, the magical power in Sun Qiong's body increased at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The benefits brought to Sun Qiong by the six-thousand-year-old peach did not allow him to directly leapfrog into the realm of True Immortal, but it did continuously strengthen Sun Qiong's body.

Why can't we break through?

After consuming the six-thousand-year-old peach, Sun Qiong still hadn't reached the realm of a true immortal.

The feeling of being blocked by only a thin layer of paper is unsettling.

But Sun Qiong had no choice but to end her meditation and turn her gaze to the distance.

The Liusha River, with its raging torrents and turbulent waves, is certainly not a good place.

Especially down there, there's a red-haired monster.

Sun Qiong's eyes darted around, and she began to make a plan.

At this moment, Sha Wujing was underwater, his face full of sorrow.

He looked up at the sky, his heart trembling.

Today marks the seventh day; it is time to suffer the punishment of having a flying sword pierce through one's chest and ribs.

The punishment was simply unbearable for him, yet the Jade Emperor wanted to torment him, making him unable to live or die.

Fortunately, Guanyin Bodhisattva passed by the Liusha River some time ago.

Sha Wujing thought back to what he had done some time ago and couldn't help but feel fortunate.

He truly couldn't bear the flying sword, which is why he jumped out and attacked Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Eight parts of his mind were set on suicide, and two parts on living.

In fact, Sha Wujing did not think he could survive after attacking the Bodhisattva.

Having once served as the Heavenly Curtain-Rolling General, he knew very well that the rules in the heavens were strict, and the price for breaking the laws and regulations was this flying sword.

Unexpectedly, after fighting Muzha for dozens of rounds, he unexpectedly received guidance from Guanyin Bodhisattva.

From that day on, Sha Wujing waited in the Flowing Sand River.

"When will you arrive, you pilgrim from the East?"

Clinging to the necklace adorned with the skulls of nine pilgrims, Sha Wujing slowly rose to the surface, stepping on the ripples of the water.

Every seven days, a flying sword will arrive, but when it arrives is random. It may arrive in the next second, or it may arrive at midnight.

Generally, on such days, Sha Wujing would leave the water and find a relatively quiet place to wait to be stabbed by the flying swords from the sky.

After all, the underwater area is his lair, and if it gets dirty, he'll have to clean it up.

Today was no different. Sha Wujing found a shore, sat down, and looked up at the sky.

Countless days and nights, Sha Wujing regretted it, regretting how he had made such a mistake.

He also felt resentment, resentment towards the maids who placed the glass cups there, wondering why they put the things there.

You hate the Jade Emperor? Killing someone is just a matter of beheading them, why torture him like this every day, it's endless, isn't it?

It is true that I, Sha Wujing, broke the glass lamp, but you, Jade Emperor, are not at all wrong?

Today, Sha Wujing was also cursing the gods in heaven in his heart.

However, this time, Sha Wujing heard footsteps coming from afar.

"Who?"

Sha Wujing turned his head and looked at the shore not far away.

At this moment, a young monk dressed in monastic robes and wearing a Vairocana hat is standing on the riverbank with a worried expression.

monk?

Sha Wujing jolted awake and scrambled to his feet.

If this guy were a monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East, then Sha Wujing could avoid using the flying sword today and instead go with him to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures.

Otherwise, it just so happens that Sha Wujing hasn't eaten human flesh for a while and is getting a bit craving.

"Over there!"

Sha Wujing called out to the monk.

The monk turned around following the sound and was startled to see the ferocious, ugly red-haired monster.

"Oh dear! What a monster!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing's eyes widened like lanterns, and he spoke in a harsh tone:

"You monk, you don't recognize me? I am not a demon or monster, nor am I nameless."

These words failed to appease him, and the monk remained trembling with fear.

Seeing him coming, she immediately turned to leave.

"stop!"

Sha Wujing shouted and rushed forward, grabbing the monk's shoulder.

The monk cried out "Ouch!" and almost fell to the ground.

Sha Wujing wasn't in the mood for wasting words with him and went straight to the point:

"Where did you come from, monk, daring to wander aimlessly in my Flowing Sand River?"

The monk, unable to escape, could only tremble as he spoke to Sha Wujing:

"I am a monk from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East. And who are you?"

A monk from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East!

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing immediately beamed with joy.

He had been waiting for this monk from the Great Tang Dynasty for a long time, eagerly anticipating his arrival. Now, the monk had finally come.

Sha Wujing was thrilled and quickly put the monk down, but instead of bowing, he opened his mouth and said:

"From a young age, I was born strong and spirited, and I have roamed the vast universe... The Jade Emperor promoted me and personally appointed me as the Curtain-Rolling General... I accidentally broke a jade glass, and all the gods lost their souls... I was spared death but not punished, and was banished to the eastern bank of the shifting sands. When I am full, I lie in this mountain, and when I am hungry, I stir up the waves to find food."

After a series of words, totaling over a hundred, Sha Wujing's mouth was dry.

He said this to prove to the monk in front of him that he was someone of extraordinary status, not some demon or monster.

If the monk in front of you is truly the one who went on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures as described by the Bodhisattva, then it would be impossible for him to be disrespectful to this original visitor from heaven.

Furthermore, Sha Wujing genuinely wanted to join the pilgrimage team and travel to the Western Paradise as Xuanzang's third disciple.

In this way, he would no longer have to suffer, and would even have a bright future.

The monk in front of him scratched his head and looked at Sha Wujing:

"So, you are Sha Wujing?"

After saying this, the red-haired monster became even more excited.

The fact that one knows his Dharma name must be related to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

The monk before me must be genuine!

Sha Wujing knelt down without hesitation, and the red-haired man plowed into the ground, saying joyfully:

"Master, your disciple pays respects."

Next, there should be a scene of teacher-student harmony and filial piety, a time of great joy.

However, this monk didn't play by the rules. He looked at Sha Wujing in astonishment and said loudly:

"What disciple? I won't accept one, I won't accept one."

"Master, why won't you accept me?"

Sha Wujing was greatly surprised and quickly spoke up.

The monk waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I don't want you as my disciple unless you tell me, have you ever eaten people?"

Sha Wujing glanced at the nine skulls hanging on his body and immediately understood.

So that's what the monk was worried about all along; Sha Wujing didn't hide it from him at all:

"Woodcutters who meet me will perish, fishermen who see me will all die. They come and go, devouring many, and wreak havoc on life."

"No, we won't accept it."

Upon hearing this, the monk dared not accept any more disciples.

Sha Wujing's anger surged, and he thought to himself, "This old monk is actually soft-hearted."

"Master, rest assured, after following you, I will never eat people again."

"If you want me to believe you, you must swear to God that if there is no divine punishment, I will accept you as my disciple."

The monk continued to shake his head.

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing chuckled inwardly.

This old monk probably doesn't know how important the Journey to the West is to Buddhism and the Jade Emperor. Once the two connect, all the punishments from above will be lifted.

Sha Wujing quickly raised his finger to the sky and swore an oath:

"If I, Sha Wujing, ever eat people again after becoming Tang Sanzang's disciple, I shall be punished by having a flying sword pierce my chest!"

For Sha Wujing, this oath was the most solemn vow.

However, he believed that all of that was in the past, and that everything would be alright as long as he followed the monk on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures.

However, the instant the vow was made, a familiar whistling sound suddenly came to his ears.

"what?"

Sha Wujing only had time to let out a cry of alarm before several flying swords pierced through his chest, tearing open visible bloody holes.

How could this be?

This familiar punishment filled Sha Wujing's face with astonishment.

He genuinely intended to keep his promise and stop eating people, but the flying sword attached to him clearly indicated that Heaven did not recognize his vow.

"So you really are going to eat people!"

The monk was also startled and pointed at him, cursing loudly.

Seeing this, Sha Wujing was also at a loss.

But soon, amidst the excruciating pain, a thought popped into Sha Wujing's head.

This monk is fake!

He fell to the ground, pointed at the monk, and asked:

"You, you are not Tang Sanzang!"

"Oh? She's smart."

Upon hearing this, the monk laughed heartily.

Seeing his reaction, Sha Wujing knew perfectly well that he had been tricked.

His face contorted in a ferocious grin as he bared his teeth at Sun Qiong:

"You dare to commit such a heinous act at our doorstep? Today you'll have your fill of food. Don't say it's too coarse to eat; just hold on and we'll chop it into fermented fish sauce!"

Sun Qiong's face was full of smiles.

These super-hearing ears came in handy as soon as they were acquired.

Using this thing, Sun Qiong successfully found out the time of Sha Wujing's flying sword in the Heavenly Palace.

Now, Sha Wujing's fate hangs in the balance.

Sun Qiong had already made this decision long ago.

He asked with a smile:

"Sha Wujing, are the nine pilgrims delicious?"

After saying that, he sent out a palm strike towards Sha Wujing, and lightning rolled in his palm, instantly engulfing Sha Wujing.

With a scream, Sha Wujing instantly transformed into a gust of yin wind and vanished without a trace.

The wind blows westward and up Mount Luojia.