With a loud bang, Tripitaka's door was flung open.
Before Tripitaka could react, Monkey darted to his side, snatched something from Tripitaka, and tossed it straight to Louis Quickpaw behind him.
Caught completely off guard, Tripitaka was stunned. Only when he looked closely did he realize that what Louis Quickpaw held was the Jade Tablet given to him by Damon Six-Ears.
"Great Sage, what are you—"
"Let me borrow the Jade Tablet for a moment."
Monkey replied offhandedly, then left the room with Louis Quickpaw. In the blink of an eye, the two had vanished without a trace. Tripitaka rushed outside but could only stare helplessly at the empty courtyard.
......
In the courtyard crowded with demons, Louis Quickpaw carefully channeled his spiritual power into the Jade Tablet, sensing it with utmost care.
Soon, he opened his eyes and said softly, "Great Sage, Damon Six-Ears is in Lionback Kingdom."
"In Lionback Kingdom? Then it can't be him."
"No, it's also possible he doesn't have the Jade Tablet on him."
"Isn't that simple? Just have someone imitate Master Tripitaka's voice and try it. If he responds, it means he has the Jade Tablet with him. If he doesn't, it means he doesn't."
"Even if he has the Jade Tablet, so what?" Marshal Silver looked around at the gathered demons, frowned, and said, "How far is Lionback Kingdom from here? At his speed, how many round trips could he make in one night? Even if he did it, he'd have plenty of time to run back to Lionback."
At those words, everyone fell silent and looked toward Monkey.
Throughout, Monkey simply stood to the side with arms folded, quietly watching the two corpses on the ground, deep in thought. The surrounding demon generals, seeing Monkey's expression, felt a vague sense of unease.
After a long while, Louis Quickpaw craned his neck and cautiously asked, "Great Sage, what should we do next?"
That question seemed to finally wake Monkey from his thoughts.
Monkey took a deep breath and said, "Everyone, increase your vigilance. Remember, do not act alone. Louis Quickpaw, handle the burial of the corpses. Marshal Silver, stay here. The rest of you, get back to your tasks—disperse."
Disperse... just like that?
Do I need to say it again?
"Understood!"
With the order given, soon only Marshal Silver and Monkey remained in the once-crowded courtyard.
A morning breeze rustled the leaves.
Arms folded, Marshal Silver asked quietly, "What do you think?"
"You're right—unless we pinpoint him nearby, location alone proves nothing." Monkey pursed his lips and said, "I'm considering two possibilities. First... if it really was him, why would he do it? To sabotage the Westward Quest? Didn't he say he wouldn't? And even if he wanted to sabotage, what good would killing two demon generals do? Logically, it doesn't make sense. Of course, there may be other reasons, but that's hard to say."
"What's the second possibility?"
"The second possibility is more likely. I think Lucas Ling may be behind this."
"Lucas Ling?" Marshal Silver was slightly taken aback.
"Right. If I and Damon Six-Ears come into direct conflict, who benefits most? Without a doubt, the Buddhist Order. So..."
"Whoever benefits is the real culprit?"
Monkey nodded silently.
Suddenly, both men fell silent.
If it's the Buddhist Order, that's a serious problem. Are they preparing to strike at Monkey directly? Monkey doesn't fear them—he already fought them to the death centuries ago, and at worst could be crushed under Five Elements Mountain again. But if word spreads, his demon generals likely won't sit still.
This would shake the army's morale.
Louis Quickpaw might hold his ground, but what about the other demons?
After a long while, Marshal Silver asked quietly, "So... what do you plan to do?"
"Increase defenses—let's catch the perpetrator first!"
......
In Little Thunderhill Abbey, a monk led Aiden Chen slowly out of the back hall.
Watching Aiden Chen's departing figure, Lucas Ling smiled faintly and said offhandedly, "Activate all the abbey's barrier formations."
After bidding farewell to the monk, the County Prince and his son walked cheerfully toward the main hall, where they opened the letter.
The old County Prince glanced at the letter, furrowed his brow in thought, then suddenly burst out laughing.
The heir quickly asked, "Father, is there good news?"
"Here, take a look," said the old County Prince, handing the letter to his son.
The heir glanced at the letter, furrowed his brow, but did not smile.
Can't understand it?
"No, I don't understand." The heir shook his head. "That monk was always with the Venerable, so the letter must be genuine. But... I really don't get why the Venerable wants us to invite a highly respected person to pray for blessings. He says as long as we invite one, Thunderhill County will be peaceful for a hundred years... It's rather puzzling."
"What's so hard to understand?" The old County Prince beamed. "A highly respected person—he wants us to find one ourselves, and yesterday the Venerable met Master Tripitaka. Who do you think he means?"
"Well..." The heir hesitated, then smiled awkwardly and shook his head. "I'm not clever enough, I really don't understand."
"If anyone could understand so easily, would he still be the Venerable?" The old County Prince gave him a look, then smiled, put the letter away carefully, and said, "Come, let's go ask Master Tripitaka!"
......
"Let him pray for Thunderhill County?" Hearing this from afar, Marshal Silver and Monkey, hidden on the rooftop, were stunned.
Ordinary people pray for blessings because they truly believe that if they are devout, the gods will grant them. But a Buddha, asking someone to pray for blessings? What does that mean?
He can't be allowed to do it.
Though they didn't understand, in an instant, both came to the same conclusion.
With a turn, they quietly flew toward the courtyard where Tripitaka lived...
......
Separated by a wall, the monks inside the abbey and the demons lurking outside formed a tense standoff. Even a minor clash could trigger a battle.
Yet amid this perilous situation, the common folk of Thunderhill County remained oblivious. The only exception might be Tripitaka.
The County Prince and his son visited several times, but he did not see them. The key issue was that every time he meditated, he recalled Monkey's strange behavior that morning, and his unease grew stronger. Unfortunately, he had no way to find Monkey for answers, so he could only stay quietly in his room, reciting sutras and chanting the Buddha's name.
Soon, night fell once again.
After a day's work, the weary people returned home, and the streets gradually emptied. Lamps were lit, and all of Thunderhill County was immersed in a peaceful atmosphere.
However, for the demons, their world was just beginning.
The demon generals who had hidden during the day emerged from the shadows and soon gathered on the rooftops, arranging a defensive net over all of Thunderhill County as Marshal Silver had ordered. Monkey stood quietly atop a three-story building, gazing intently at Thunderhill County.
Everything was ready; now, they waited for the enemy to walk into the trap.
Everyone was tense, on high alert.
Just then, a carriage slowly rolled out of Little Thunderhill Abbey. Instantly, all eyes were drawn to it.
"Who's inside? Lucas Ling?"
"Hard to say. That carriage is unusual—there's a barrier formation inside. It could be empty. Everyone, hold your positions and don't get distracted!"
"Understood!"
After instructing the demon generals, Marshal Silver silently slipped through the shadows of the buildings and appeared beside Monkey atop a three-story structure.
"Can you sense what's inside the carriage?"
Monkey watched the carriage and slowly shook his head.
The carriage traveled down the empty street for a while before stopping at the County Prince's mansion. The person who stepped out was the tall, thin monk who always accompanied Lucas Ling.
Hearing that the visitor was from Little Thunderhill Abbey, the County Prince and his son dared not show any disrespect and hurried out with their family to greet him.
But the tall, thin monk merely exchanged a few polite words at the door, left a letter said to be written by Lucas Ling himself, and then got back into the carriage and returned the way he came.
Watching the old County Prince bowing and thanking repeatedly in the distance, Monkey asked softly, "Looks like something's happening. What do you think is in that letter?"
"Hard to say." Marshal Silver slowly shook his head.
The two exchanged a glance and silently moved toward the mansion.
......
After bidding farewell to the monk, the County Prince and his son walked cheerfully toward the main hall, where they opened the letter.
The old County Prince glanced at the letter, furrowed his brow in thought, then suddenly burst out laughing.
The heir quickly asked, "Father, is there good news?"
"Here, take a look," said the old County Prince, handing the letter to his son.
The heir glanced at the letter, furrowed his brow, but did not smile.
Can't understand it?
"No, I don't understand." The heir shook his head. "That monk was always with the Venerable, so the letter must be genuine. But... I really don't get why the Venerable wants us to invite a highly respected person to pray for blessings. He says as long as we invite one, Thunderhill County will be peaceful for a hundred years... It's rather puzzling."
"What's so hard to understand?" The old County Prince beamed. "A highly respected person—he wants us to find one ourselves, and yesterday the Venerable met Master Tripitaka. Who do you think he means?"
"Well..." The heir hesitated, then smiled awkwardly and shook his head. "I'm not clever enough, I really don't understand."
"If anyone could understand so easily, would he still be the Venerable?" The old County Prince gave him a look, then smiled, put the letter away carefully, and said, "Come, let's go ask Master Tripitaka!"
......
"Let him pray for Thunderhill County?" Hearing this from afar, Marshal Silver and Monkey, hidden on the rooftop, were stunned.
Ordinary people pray for blessings because they truly believe that if they are devout, the gods will grant them. But a Buddha, asking someone to pray for blessings? What does that mean?
He can't be allowed to do it.
Though they didn't understand, in an instant, both came to the same conclusion.
With a turn, they quietly flew toward the courtyard where Tripitaka lived...