txolops Chapter 53 Flowing Sand River: Saving General Rolling Curtain
Chapter 53 Flowing Sand River: Saving General Rolling Curtain
Li Fa watched Lingji Bodhisattva's departing figure, secretly calculating in his heart.
When this Bodhisattva arrived, the merit chart reacted, revealing the Bodhisattva's background and destiny, confirming that he was indeed a person burdened with predetermined karma.
The reward is quite generous, but with his current cultivation level, the chances of winning a direct confrontation are slim.
Most importantly, Lingji possesses the Flying Dragon Staff bestowed by the Buddha, and I doubt I can take it down directly.
The Seven Arrows of Nailhead technique can be used to secretly curse, but it requires the target's hair as a catalyst.
The problem is that this Bodhisattva is bald, without a single hair, so this method cannot be used.
Li Fa sighed inwardly, realizing that his current strength was insufficient to overwhelm such a powerful being with a destiny bestowed upon him. He needed to slay more demons and accumulate reward powers before making his move.
Thinking of this, Li Fa turned around and said to Wukong:
"Elder Sun, hurry and save your master. Set off for the west as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Wukong slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering the important matter at hand.
So he drew his golden cudgel, quickly swept away the remaining demons in the cave, and leaped towards the back hall, shouting, "Master! Master! I've come to save you!"
Before long, Wukong helped Tang Sanzang out of the back hall.
Upon seeing Li Fa, Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together, his eyes brimming with tears, and bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you, Daoist Master, for subduing the demon and saving my life. I am eternally grateful!"
Li Fa nodded slightly: "Elder Tang, there's no need for such formalities. It was thanks to your disciple's help that we were able to escape this predicament. Just continue your journey westward. This humble Taoist will take his leave."
After saying that, he swayed and transformed into a gust of wind, disappearing into the sky.
The three members of the Tang Monk's group packed their luggage and horses, identified the main road, and set off westward.
Meanwhile, Li Fa rode the clouds and mist ahead of Tang Sanzang and his group, arriving at the Liusha River region.
The moment they stopped, the merit chart in their sea of consciousness lit up on its own and slowly refreshed:
[Those who cannot be killed: Sha Wujing (the chosen one)]
[Target that can be saved: General Rolling Curtain]
[Unemployment Assessment]
Rewards for a successful rescue:
[Optional Reward 1: Three Jiazi of Mana from the "Creating Heaven and Earth Technique"]
[Optional Reward Two: Flying Sword Piercing the Heart (Supernatural Power)]
[Optional Reward 3: Demon-Subduing Staff Technique (Martial Arts)]
Li Fa stood on the bank of the Liusha River, gazing at the surging, turbid waves, and pondered in his heart:
This Sha Wujing was originally a general in the Heavenly Court, but he was banished here to suffer because he accidentally broke a glass lamp and violated the Heavenly Laws. Every seven days, he had to endure the punishment of being pierced through the heart by a flying sword. Furthermore, due to his loss of mind and his depravity, he ate nine groups of pilgrims.
The Record of Merits clearly states that he is a person chosen by Heaven, and cannot be killed, but can only be converted and saved.
But this monster has been trapped in the river for hundreds of years and is extremely vicious.
Most importantly, the merit chart says that the person he is saving is General Curtain-Rolling, and the one who cannot be killed is Sha Wujing.
Isn't General Rolling Curtain just Sha Wujing?
Are there some differences between them?
It's really quite unbelievable.
After much deliberation, Li Fa concluded that there was only one method that was the safest.
In the original story, it was only after Tang Sanzang touched Sha Wujing's head and gave him the precepts that the latter was able to escape divine punishment.
This means that as long as Sha Wujing declares that he will follow the pilgrim and join the Buddhist order, the divine punishment will stop, and the rescue mission will be completed naturally.
Since that's the case, why not just transform into Tang Sanzang's appearance and enlighten Sha Wujing in advance? That way, it will save Tang Sanzang and the others the trouble of assembling their team and getting them to work for him as soon as possible.
Thinking of this, he transformed himself into the appearance of Tang Sanzang and pretended to cross the river.
As they were walking, the river suddenly churned with turbid waves, and sure enough, a monster emerged.
The monster had fluffy red hair, a blue face, and fangs. Nine skull prayer beads hung around its neck, and it carried a demon-slaying staff. It stood on the crest of the wave, looking like a ferocious demon.
He immediately fixed his gaze on Li Fa, and roared, "What a clean-cut monk! Just my type! Now that I've stumbled upon you, I can eat you up and fill my stomach!"
Having said that, Sha Wujing swung his demon-subduing staff and smashed it down on Li Fa's head!
Li Fa was prepared and quickly withdrew. A burst of spiritual light appeared around him, and the Five Elements Chaos Spear instantly appeared in his hand. The spear body was shimmering with five colors and exuded a chilling aura.
He neither dodged nor dodged, but instead held his spear horizontally upwards!
"clang--"
A loud bang was heard.
The shockwave caused sand and stones to tumble down from both banks of the Flowing Sand River. Sha Wujing felt his arms go numb and was secretly astonished: "Where did this monk come from? How can he be so strong?!"
Although he thought this way, he was still unwilling to give up. He roused his spirits and wielded his staff like a windmill, launching a fierce attack from the top, middle, and bottom, each move deadly.
Li Fa, spear in hand, met the attack with composure, his spear flashing as he seamlessly executed parries, counterattacks, and counter-attacks.
The two fought back and forth for more than ten rounds on the banks of the Liusha River.
Sha Wujing grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed, realizing that his opponent's spear technique was exquisite and his magical power profound. Not only could he not gain any advantage, but he was also gradually losing strength, his moves becoming scattered, and his breath becoming labored.
Knowing Sha Wujing's martial arts skills, Li Fa intensified his spear techniques, forcing Sha Wujing to retreat repeatedly.
Sha Wujing fought and retreated, all the way to the edge of the river.
Li Fa thought to himself, "Sha Wujing is already in dire straits on land, so he's trying to escape by water."
As expected, seeing that he was no match for the enemy, Sha Wujing roared, feinted with his staff, turned around and jumped into the turbulent waves. With a "plop," he plunged into the water, intending to escape back to his cave at the bottom of the river.
Li Fa sensed something was wrong. If Sha Wujing got away, how would he complete his mission?
So he cast a water-entry spell and followed into the water.
Sha Wujing had only been away for a short while when he saw Li Fa chasing after him with a spear. He was both shocked and furious, and had no choice but to turn back and fight again.
Although Sha Wujing was excellent at swimming, Li Fayi had the supernatural ability to enter water and sit on fire, and with the Five Elements Escape Technique, he was indeed very powerful.
The two fought several more rounds in the water. Sha Wujing was no match for Li Fa and was forced to retreat step by step, almost losing his staff.
Forced to the side of a hidden reef, he was both shocked and furious, and shouted angrily, "Where did you come from, monk?! How can you possess such powerful magic?!"
Li Fa stood holding his spear, looking at Sha Wujing, and said, "My disciple is named Tang Sanzang, and he is the one who is sent to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures by order of the Buddha."
Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing was struck dumb, his face paling with shock. He immediately dropped his staff, prostrated himself in worship, and choked out, "Master! Your disciple, Sha Wujing, was instructed by Guanyin Bodhisattva to wait here for the pilgrims. I wish to accompany you to the Western Paradise!"
Li Fa said, "Amitabha, since you are enlightened by a Bodhisattva, why did you attack me?"
Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing kowtowed repeatedly, his voice choked with tears, and said in fear, "Master, please forgive me! Master, please forgive me!"
My disciple was originally a celestial general who rolled up the curtain, but he was banished to the Flowing Sand River for accidentally knocking over a glass cup at the Peach Banquet.
Suffering for a thousand years, he was pierced through the heart by a flying sword every seven days. With no food in his stomach and no clothes on his body, he only harmed and killed when he was extremely hungry.
Guanyin Bodhisattva enlightened her disciples and instructed me to wait for the person who would go to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures. However, over the centuries, all the monks who have come have been ordinary people, not the true God.
The disciple saw that Master had a fair complexion and assumed he was just an ordinary wandering monk, and thought he could capture him to fill his stomach.
Unexpectedly, my master's divine power was unparalleled; he was indeed extraordinary.
"It was all my fault for being momentarily confused and ignorant of the true Buddha, thus offending my master. I beg my master to have great compassion and forgive my sin of ignorance!"