Mentioning his father, Jack Rivers' heart suddenly skipped a beat. He forced a smile and said, "You don't need to scare me. What could possibly happen to my father? The Netherworld is perfectly safe. As long as I obey orders, Earth-Store King will never harm my father."
Tripitaka said softly, "Even if you disobey, Earth-Store King won't harm your father."
Jack was slightly stunned when he heard this, and with difficulty turned his head to look at Tripitaka.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Isn't it so?" Tripitaka spread his hands and said, "Earth-Store King has never even said to block my Scripture Quest, so what reason would he have to act against your father? From beginning to end, everything you know probably wasn't spoken by Earth-Store King himself, was it? Even if he really allowed you to avenge your father, at most he'd refrain from stopping you beforehand or pursuing you afterward, but he would never truly lend you a helping hand. On the contrary, if you really succeed this time, my life may not matter much, but the Great Sage will hardly let things go so easily."
Jack narrowed his eyes and stared at Tripitaka for a long time, then closed his eyes and said, "You don't need to frighten me. Besides, it won't work anyway—my father's soul is in their hands, and I will never gamble with my father's life."
Tripitaka did not reply, and the two simply sat together in silence.
Another hour passed, and the sky was now completely dark.
Waves on the river slapped against the embankment Monkey and the others had built, making a constant sound.
In the pitch-black night, even the figures of Monkey and his companions on the sandbar could no longer be seen clearly.
During this time, several people came by more than once. Prince Adrian, the Little White Dragon, checked on Jack Rivers' injuries, but left after saying only a few words. Barry Bear came to remind Tripitaka that in at most six more hours, this place would be completely submerged.
Time ticked by, bit by bit. Some conserved their strength, some polished their weapons; the others had already begun tense preparations for battle. Only Tripitaka remained calm and composed. Jack, however, grew increasingly uneasy.
Just as Tripitaka had said, those trapped now included not only the scripture party, but Jack Rivers himself.
If the scripture party's predicament is so hard to break, is his any easier to resolve?
The Jing River Dragon King's soul is in the Netherworld, which is under Earth-Store King's jurisdiction. Even if Earth-Store King truly won't act against the Jing River Dragon King, what about the others?
As the saying goes: "Yama is easy to see; the little ghosts are hard to deal with."
Earth-Store King would never openly say he wants the Jing River Dragon King annihilated to punish Jack Rivers, but if even one Ghost Messenger near him sees through this, eager to claim the credit and curry favor, would anyone stop them?
Any Ghost Messenger, Yama, or demon king granted free access to the Netherworld could easily snuff out a soul with a flick of the wrist.
If Jack Rivers really undoes the spell for the scripture party, then even if Earth-Store King does nothing, it can be almost certain that the Jing River Dragon King will be doomed.
Precisely because of this, no matter how severe the torture, Jack Rivers never loosened his grip. The moment he lets go, the Jing River Dragon King will be annihilated.
But even if things succeed, will everything really be fine?
Everyone in the Three Realms knows the Great Sage's temper. The only reason I dared to come was, first, because of my connection to the Western Sea Dragon Palace—so even if he wants revenge, my life shouldn't be at risk—and second, because my father's soul is in their hands. Jack Rivers had no choice but to come.
But if I succeed—if I avenge my father and ruin the scripture quest—how will the Great Sage retaliate?
After a night of torture, Jack Rivers didn't dare imagine.
Earlier, it was all impulse; he hadn't thought too much. Now, lying here in silence, he didn't dare think at all.
Because the Great Sage was nothing like what he'd first imagined.
This demon king who achieved the Heavenly Dao not only lacked the slightest elegance of an immortal, but instead looked and acted like a street thug—more a villain than any other demon. He could personally administer torture, and did so with relish, tirelessly reviving Jack Rivers over and over, inventing bizarre new torments for six or seven hours straight...
There may be no other person like him in all of Heaven and Earth.
After a night of torment, Jack Rivers was now certain: even if he wasn't killed outright, if this peerless demon king ever sought revenge, he'd make sure Jack's entire family suffered a fate worse than death.
Because that's exactly the kind of person he is.
On this point, Jack Rivers now had no doubt.
But having come this far, was there any way left to retreat?
Thinking this, Jack Rivers couldn't help but smile wryly.
The path back had never existed, not from the very start. He'd had no choice at all—from beginning to end, he was nothing but a puppet on a string.
For him, perhaps the best outcome now would be for things to end smoothly, and for the Great Sage not to vent his anger on his father's soul.
But in this world, does luck ever come so easily?
For some reason, Jack Rivers suddenly said to Tripitaka, "Master Tripitaka, um... if possible, could you please plead for my father, ask the Great Sage not to take his anger out on him?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just—help me persuade him, ask the Great Sage not to take his anger out on my father. Whatever punishment, let it fall on me. Even if I'm utterly destroyed, I won't complain." As he spoke, Jack Rivers gave an awkward smile and said softly, "Sorry, I was just asking. If you can't, that's fine."
With that, he slowly closed his eyes.
After a brief silence, Tripitaka smiled faintly and said, "Once this is over, if all goes well, the Great Sage surely won't vent his anger. If things go wrong, I'm afraid I will already be dead—how could I persuade him then?"
Jack Rivers quickly opened his eyes and asked, "If you aren't dead, will you promise?"
Tripitaka slowly turned his face to look at Jack Rivers.
The two stared at each other in silence.
Jack Rivers' eyes widened slightly, his face full of hope.
Tripitaka remained calm, thoughtful.
After a long while, Tripitaka said softly, "To save a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. If I am still alive, I will certainly advise the Great Sage."
"Really? Are you... are you making this a condition for me to undo the spell?"
"Would you be willing?"
Jack Rivers did not answer.
After another long, silent gaze, Tripitaka pressed his palms together and said mildly, "You are concerned for your father's soul, so of course you won't undo the spell—I understand that. Even so, if I get the chance, I will still advise the Great Sage. Please, don't worry."
At these words, a look of astonished laughter appeared on Jack Rivers' face.
He'd only made the request offhand, never expecting Tripitaka would agree so easily.
What was this supposed to mean?
He'd come here to take the monk's life, yet Tripitaka had so readily agreed to his request, without conditions or even a hint of bargaining.
How does this bald donkey's mind work, anyway?
Or maybe his virtuous facade is just an act, and he won't actually do it?
Jack Rivers simply couldn't figure it out.
The two fell silent again.
After a long while, seeing Jack Rivers still puzzled, Tripitaka said softly, "Would you like to hear a story, my friend?"