txolops Chapter 54 Flowing Sand River: Fierce Battle with Wooden Fork Walker
Chapter 54 Flowing Sand River: Fierce Battle with Wooden Fork Walker
Seeing this, Li Fa helped him up and said, "Amitabha, since you have this intention, then come with me to the shore, and I will bless you with the blessing of your head and give you the precepts."
Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing said, "Thank you, Master."
So the two of them came out of the water together.
Li Fa, however, transformed the Five Elements Mixed Yuan Spear into a razor and began to shave Sha Wujing's head.
After the tonsure was completed, the catalog was indeed updated:
[Target for rescue: General Rolling Curtain]
Rewards received:
[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)]
The reward wasn't particularly great, but it was better than nothing. Li Fa didn't choose it for the time being, but instead said to Sha Wujing, "Now that you've joined my Buddhist sect, go back to your underwater palace!"
Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing was somewhat surprised and asked, "Master, what do you mean? Aren't we going to the Western Paradise?"
Li Fa said, "This is my Dharma body. Since my true body has not yet arrived, I have asked you to wait here first."
Sha Wujing was an honest man, and he didn't suspect anything. He said "Yes, sir" and prepared to return to the Water Palace.
Just then, a golden light suddenly descended from the sky, and a loud shout rang out: "Sha Wujing, don't believe him! He's not Tang Sanzang!"
Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing was greatly surprised and quickly looked up. He saw a pilgrim in mid-air, standing on auspicious clouds, holding a mixed iron cudgel, and carrying two Wu hook swords on his back. This was none other than the second son of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, the original disciple of the True Man Samantabhadra, and now serving under the Bodhisattva Guanyin, the pilgrim Muksha Huian.
With a shout from the monk Namo Chakravartin, Sha Wujing was stunned. He looked at Huian in mid-air, then at Tang Sanzang in front of him, and was caught in a dilemma, his face full of surprise and doubt.
Li Fa remained calm and composed, merely glancing at him indifferently: "How do you know I am not Tang Sanzang?"
Moksha said, "Others may not know, but I do. I am here to guard the Flowing Sand River on the orders of the Bodhisattva. Although you have transformed into the appearance of Tang Sanzang, you cannot transform into Sun Wukong or Zhu Wuneng."
Furthermore, the Bodhisattva once told me that in the past, on Black Wind Mountain, someone disguised himself as the nephew of the Black Bear Spirit and made some demands. He was injured by the Bodhisattva with the Three Lights Divine Water, and I have long remembered this.
"I never expected to run into you here today. Perfect timing! Capture you and take you back to guard the mountain for the Bodhisattva!"
Li Fa said, "The Monkey King has misunderstood me. I merely helped Tang Sanzang take on a disciple ahead of schedule; I didn't harm him. Why are you so eager to kill me?"
Upon hearing this, Mokcha became even more furious.
This ordeal, where subduing Sha Wujing was supposed to bring him merit and benefit, has now been prematurely taken by Li Fa. Doesn't that mean this ordeal no longer exists?!
The difficulties no longer exist, and the merits that originally belonged to him are gone. How could he not be angry?
Growing angrier the more he thought about it, the wooden fork sneered and said, "Stop talking nonsense, take this!"
Before Mu Cha could finish speaking, the iron rod, carrying golden light and thunderous force, came crashing down on him!
He was a direct disciple of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, and had also cultivated diligently under the tutelage of Guanyin for many years. His staff technique was powerful and vigorous, and the force of a single strike could shake the turbid waves of the Liusha River to the point of surging.
Li Fa remained unfazed, suddenly raising his Five Elements Mixed Yuan Spear without dodging or evading, and forcefully parrying the attack!
"clang--!"
With a loud bang, a shockwave exploded, sending sand and stones flying from the shore.
Moksha felt a violent tremor in his arms and took two steps back. He was shocked: this fake Tang Sanzang had powerful magic and immense strength, and was in no way inferior to him!
However, his wooden fork was not made of clay. He was a person who cultivated both Buddhism and Taoism and whose golden body was indestructible. During the Investiture of the Gods, he even followed the True Man Samantabhadra to break the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.
But this fake Tang Sanzang appeared out of nowhere. Not only could he escape from Guanyin Bodhisattva's Three Lights Divine Water, but his martial arts and magical powers were no less than his own.
But he had no time to think it over, because Li Fa's spear was about to strike again.
Mu Cha quickly grabbed an iron bar to stop them.
They fought for another ten rounds before Li Fa said, "Why are you angry, pilgrim? General Curtain-Roller has already touched your head and given you the precepts; this is the merit of the Bodhisattva's enlightenment. I merely performed the tonsure on your behalf. The merit book still records the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva. What are you so anxious about?"
Upon hearing this, Mokcha's anger intensified.
What's the rush?
He was ordered to guard the Flowing Sand River, and on the day Sha Wujing returned to his post, the guard would naturally have the merit of receiving him.
Now that this credit has been stolen halfway, someone wants to brush it off with a simple "shaving the head on his behalf"? Does he think Huian Xingzhe is a three-year-old child?
"Enough with the nonsense!" Mu Cha drew his staff and attacked again, this time channeling all his power. The staff's shadow was like a mountain, pressing down layer upon layer.
Li refused to back down or yield.
Gunfire, like a dragon, surged upstream against the tidal force of the collapsing mountain.
The two weapons clashed together, golden light flashed, and their energy intertwined.
Sha Wujing knelt on the shore, stunned, and for a moment he didn't know whose words to believe.
The monk clearly shaved his head and called him "my disciple Tang Sanzang," but the pilgrim in front of the Bodhisattva pointed out that he was a fake—which one is the real one?
But I can't help anyone now. If I help Hui'an, what if the other side turns out to be a real Tang Sanzang? I'll be in trouble later.
Helping Tang Sanzang, if he turns out to be an imposter, would be a grave sin.
So Sha Wujing simply decided not to help either side.
While he hesitated, the battle raged even more fiercely over there.
Mucha was getting impatient after fighting for so long without success.
He was originally a powerful protector under Guanyin, serving her for many years. His cultivation was far superior to that of ordinary demon kings. Today, he was forced to a draw by someone of unknown origin. Wouldn't it be a laughing stock if word got out?
He immediately stepped back and sheathed his staff, his left hand forming a hand seal, and the two Wu hook swords behind him were drawn with a clang.
The two swords, one blue and one white, are protective treasures personally passed down by the immortal Samantabhadra. When drawn, they will surely draw blood.
Mu Cha rarely used these two swords, but today, driven to desperation by Li Fa, he disregarded his pride and immediately drew both swords at once.
Two sword lights, one blue and one white, intertwined like dragons and snakes, flashing back and forth. Their sword strikes were dense and seamless, combining illusion and reality, and every move was aimed at Li Fa's vital points.
His swordsmanship was originally taught by the immortal Samantabhadra, and further enlightened by the Bodhisattva Guanyin. He has reached the realm of controlling the sword with his mind and letting the sword move at his will. Compared with his previous staff technique, it is far more exquisite.
The two fought again, and it was only then that:
A sharp blade rises, a long spear lies horizontal, and the shadows of swords and the gleam of spears collide.
This one is called Huian under the seat of Putuo, that one is called the fake Tang Monk before the Liusha River.
Swordsmanship is exquisite, revealing the workings of nature; spears are powerful, shaking mountains and hills.
The frost fades, the rainbow shines, and the twin dragons wreak havoc on the sea, startling even the gods and demons.
Its unorthodox approach defies the length of the pole; its sword pierces the clouds and forces its way to the top of the palace.
One said, "Cutting off my path to enlightenment is like killing me!" The other said, "Shaving his head on his behalf is a human act."
One gritted his teeth and unleashed a furious rage that stretched three thousand feet high, while the other remained calm and composed, taking it all in stride.
They fought for thirty rounds. Mu Cha became more and more courageous, attacking left and right with his two swords. He feinted at the throat with one sword and then actually slashed at the waist with the other.
Li Fa aimed his spear at Mu Cha's waist, but unexpectedly, Mu Cha suddenly withdrew his sword from his left hand and his right sword, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, pierced through the gap under the spear shaft and went straight for the top of his head!
That sword came too fast.
Li Fa only saw a flash of white light before his eyes, but it was too late to dodge—
"when--!"
A clear, resonant metallic sound was heard, like the striking of a bronze bell.
The wooden fork's sword struck Li Fa squarely on the top of his head!