txolops Chapter 147 Wuji Kingdom - Stealing the Flesh Body
Chapter 147 Wuji Kingdom - Stealing the Flesh Body
After bidding farewell to the Dragon King of the Well, Li Fa left the Crystal Palace and went ashore. He then used a wood-escape technique to leap into the air, transforming into a streak of green light and hiding in the banana tree, where the branches and leaves concealed him without leaving a trace.
Before long, the Dragon King of the Well summoned the Yaksha, hurriedly gave him a few instructions, prepared a generous gift, and took two attendants with him. He left the Crystal Palace, rode on a cloud, and headed towards the Western Sea.
Li Fa saw everything clearly from inside the tree. Only after the old Dragon King had gone far away did he emerge from the tree, transforming himself into the appearance of the Well Dragon King.
He was dressed in a dragon crown, a brocade robe, with a face like a red date, a beard like silver threads, a jade tablet in his hand, and cloud-patterned shoes on his feet—he was exactly the same as everyone else.
He leaped back into the well and arrived at the Crystal Palace. The Yaksha, seeing him, hurried to greet him, saying, "Your Majesty, didn't you just go to a banquet? Why are you back?"
Li Fa deliberately sighed and said, "Alas, I was halfway there when I suddenly remembered something important I forgot to tell you, so I turned back."
The Yaksha asked, "What urgent matter does Your Majesty have?"
Li Fa asked, "Where are those two corpses now? Take me there quickly."
The Yaksha, unsuspecting, quickly led the way, passing through several halls and pavilions, until they arrived at a side hall.
The palace doors were tightly shut. Yaksha said, "Your Majesty, the two corpses are inside. As Your Majesty instructed, they have been protected with the Youth Preservation Pill and have not been damaged."
Li Fa nodded and said, "You may step back now. I will go in and take a look. I am afraid that something may happen in the inner palace after I leave, so I must keep some contingency plans."
The Yaksha bowed and withdrew, then went to guard the palace gate.
Li Fa pushed open the palace door and slipped inside.
Inside the hall lay the bodies of a man and a woman. The man was a young man in his early twenties, wearing a crown and a dragon robe; the woman was in her thirties, wearing a phoenix crown and a wedding gown, with a dignified face.
Although he had been dead for several days, his face was still lifelike, a testament to the effects of the Youth-Preserving Pill.
Li Fa sighed, thinking to himself, "How pitiful! How pitiful! A perfectly good mother and child, yet they were used by the Buddhist sect to set a trap. Today, I, this humble Taoist, will save you."
He took out the water-overflowing bowl, recited the incantation, and threw the bowl into the air.
The alms bowl spun around a few times, then turned downwards, emitting a golden light that gently sucked the two corpses inside.
Li Fa put the alms bowl away, tucked it into his robes, and then swaggered out of the side hall.
Upon arriving outside the palace, they saw that the Yaksha was still guarding the area.
Li Fa said solemnly, "I have left a restriction in the palace. Anyone who dares to enter will die instantly. You will guard outside the palace for the next few days and must not let anyone in. We will discuss this further after I return from the banquet."
The yaksha hurriedly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! Rest assured, I will stay by your side at all times and will not let a single person in!"
Li Fa nodded, stepped out of the Crystal Palace, went up to the well bank, and with a leap, transformed into a gentle breeze and disappeared.
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
Meanwhile, Jinzha, escorting the prison cart, returned in a grand procession to the capital of Wuji Kingdom.
Inside the prison cart, Li Fa sat upright with his eyes closed, his expression unchanged, showing no fear whatsoever.
Jin Zha kept a close watch on them the whole way, not daring to relax his vigilance in the slightest.
Upon arriving at the palace gates, Jinzha ordered someone to announce his arrival and proceeded directly into the Golden Palace.
The green lion demon was already seated in the hall. Seeing the prince enter, he feigned concern and asked, "My son, has that evil Taoist been captured?"
Jinzha bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have captured the sorcerer Bai Yunhe and he is now being held outside the palace, awaiting Your Majesty's judgment."
The fake king stroked his beard and laughed, "Good! Good! Bring him here!"
Jin Zha waved his hand, and the soldiers pushed the prison cart into the Golden Hall. Sure enough, Li Fa was shackled and brought in.
The fake king slammed his fist on the table and roared, "You audacious sorcerer! Do you know your crime?"
Li Fa said, "This humble Taoist travels the world, making a living by exorcising ghosts and telling fortunes. What crime have I committed?"
The fake king angrily retorted, "Last night at Baolin Temple, you conspired with that monk from the East to plot something sinister, and you still dare to deny it?"
Li Fa laughed and said, "This humble Taoist is merely seeking lodging for the night. How could I have any ill intentions? If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may summon Tang Sanzang and his disciples for questioning."
Just as the fake king was about to drink again, the queen sitting beside him suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, this sorcerer is spreading falsehoods and misleading the public; he should not be trusted. In my opinion, it would be better to first imprison him and keep him under strict guard, and then deal with him after the matter has been investigated."
The queen was actually Manjushri in disguise, and the Green Lion dared not disobey, so he nodded and said, "The queen is right. Guards! Take this evil Taoist to the Heavenly Prison and keep him under strict guard!"
The soldiers stepped forward, shoving and pushing, and took the fake Li away. The tiger was also led away and locked up elsewhere.
Once only the Green Lion, Manjushri, and Jinzha remained in the hall, Manjushri wiped his face, revealing his true form.
The Green Lion Demon immediately knelt down and said, "Bodhisattva, now that we have captured the demon, what should we do next?"
Manjushri pondered for a moment and said, "This man is cunning and treacherous; we must not be careless. Jinzha, come with me to the Heavenly Prison; I want to interrogate him personally."
Jin Zha replied, "Yes, sir!"
The two arrived at the imperial prison.
Li Fa was chained to a wooden stake, resting with his eyes closed. When he saw Manjushri enter, he was not alarmed, but opened his eyes slightly and said, "So it is the Queen and His Highness the Crown Prince. Please forgive me for being unable to perform the full ceremony due to my chains."
Manjushri sneered, "So your name is Plasma? What are you pretending for! You may fool others, but you can't fool me. You have repeatedly killed my Buddhist disciples and disrupted the journey to the West. You only managed to escape because the Old Mother of Lishan vouched for you. But now you've fallen into my hands. What do you have to say for yourself?"
The fake Li said, "Bodhisattva has mistaken me for someone else. I am Bai Yunhe, not some Plasma."
Manjushri said, "It doesn't matter if you don't acknowledge it. When we arrive at Vulture Peak, the Tathagata will decide your fate. Whether you acknowledge it or not, it is fine."
He called out again, "Jin Zha!"
"Disciple is here!"
"Take out the Dragon-Hiding Stake."
Jinzha then took the treasure and handed it to Manjushri.
Manjushri Bodhisattva threw the Dragon-Hiding Stake at the head of the fake Li Fa. The treasure hung in mid-air, scattering thousands of golden rays that enveloped him.
Manjushri said, "This is the Dragon-Hiding Stake, also known as the Seven-Treasure Golden Lotus. It can lock the primordial spirit and imprison the five elements. No matter how great your abilities are, you can forget about escaping."
The fake Li was unable to move, and could only laugh and say, "Bodhisattva, please be careful, this humble Taoist is not going to run away."
Jinzha then stepped forward and said, "Master, now that the evil Taoist has been captured, why not escort him back to Mount Ling immediately to report back, lest things get complicated?"
Manjushri said, "No rush. Since I have immobilized this fellow with the Seven Treasures Golden Lotus, even if a Great Luo Golden Immortal helps him, he cannot break free. Let's be patient and wait a few more days."
"The Tang Monk and his disciples will soon arrive in Wuji Kingdom to confront the emperor in the Golden Palace. At that time, let the Green Lion put on a show to smooth things over, and we can then return to Mount Ling together. Wouldn't that be convenient for both of us?"
Jin Zha said, "Disciple obeys. Master's consideration is indeed thorough."
Manjushri glanced at the fake Li Fa again, snorted coldly, and said, "You wretched creature, stay put."
After saying this, he left the prison with Jinzha, and ordered the jailers to keep a close watch on him before returning to the palace.
It is said: The Buddhist sect devised a clever plan, imprisoning a false immortal in the Heavenly Prison.
What happens next? Stay tuned for the next chapter.