The monk wanted to continue, but Lord Buddha had already raised his hand. Instantly, the whole hall fell silent, and everyone turned to look at Lord Buddha. The monk stared at him wide-eyed.
Everyone waited for Lord Buddha to explain this baffling situation.
Just then, another monk rushed in from the doorway, blurting out, "Honored ones, Damon Six-Ears has gone to Phoenix County!"
"What?" The Arhats present were all shocked.
At that moment, Lord Buddha still sat quietly, maintaining his raised-hand posture, his gaze fixed on the empty floor before him. His lips curled slightly, as if in a smile.
...
Tripitaka—!
A thunderous shout rang out, and instantly, everyone in Phoenix County stepped outside, looking up at the sky. Even Monkey was no exception.
He no longer had to suppress himself, no longer needed to wear a mask to inspire fear. He could laugh freely now. It was a comfort he had never known.
At last, he collapsed onto a hillside not far from Lionback Kingdom, gazing blankly at the night sky.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed. He reached at his waist and drew out the Jade Tablet.
"Great Sage..."
On the other end of the Jade Tablet, Gavin Goathorn’s voice came through.
"Relax, I’m just out for a bit of fun. The Three Realms aren’t that big—I won’t get lost!" Damon answered, laughing as he spoke. "Anna Yang? Lift her soft confinement—she can do as she pleases. Clara Heart? No need to watch her, let her go. Oh, and let Many-Eyes the Centipede out, and everyone in the dungeons—yes, everyone. I’m granting amnesty under heaven! Don’t ask why. Your Great Sage is just in a good mood today. That’s all!"
With that, Damon shoved the Jade Tablet back at his waist, breathing heavily as he stared up at the sky.
Stars twinkled overhead, and the night wind was cool.
Warm breaths rolled out, turning to mist in the air, drifting away on the wind.
His gaze grew gradually hazy.
He didn’t know why, but it felt as if the world—once so hostile—suddenly held a hint of beauty. Just a hint, but it was there, wasn’t it?
At least, from now on, there was someone he didn’t have to guard against. The world was no longer wholly hostile.
After a long silence, he rolled around in the grass like a child, laughing so hard that tears streamed from his eyes.
Grinning from ear to ear, he leapt into the air and vanished into the night sky.
...
"What is he doing?" On Spirit Mountain, Lord Buddha watched the messenger monk with a puzzled gaze.
"He... he..." The monk stammered for a long time, glancing around, unable to form a complete sentence.
One of the Arhats snapped, "Just say what he's doing!"
The monk gritted his teeth, bowed, and said, "Honored ones, Damon Six-Ears is... wandering."
"Wandering?" In the great hall, the Arhats furrowed their brows, exchanging confused glances.
"Yes," the monk replied seriously. "He saw a wolf chasing a sheep, so he froze the wolf and set the sheep free. Before leaving, he plucked a monkey hair and turned it into another sheep for the wolf..."
"What’s the meaning of this? He let the real sheep go, but can the transformed sheep even be eaten?"
"It probably can’t be eaten. If the wolf tries, it’ll feel full, but its body will grow weaker day by day."
"Is he just toying with the wolf?"
"Probably not. If he were, he’d have turned a whole flock of sheep, not just one."
The Arhats began to discuss among themselves, while Lord Buddha simply sat quietly on his lotus seat, his brows slightly furrowed.
"There’s more," the monk added hesitantly. "He met a vagrant sleeping in the wild and conjured a gold ingot for him..."
"A conjured gold ingot? How long will his spell last?"
"If it’s Damon Six-Ears, it should last at least a few months. Whoever ends up with it will be unlucky."
"And there’s more..."
"More?" All the Arhats turned to the monk, growing more bewildered with every word.
"Yes, much more." The monk nodded emphatically and continued, "He found some demons traveling, and instantly sent them all to their destination. He saw two groups fighting, knocked them all unconscious. And not just that, he also..."
Forging the soul with qi to extend life, forging the body with blood. This is a ruthless move. Normally, with such a gambit, Damon Six-Ears would be a disaster for the Three Realms. But they miscalculated.
What did they miscalculate?
They miscalculated the heart. Damon Six-Ears is just a child. Everyone has goodness in their heart—a seed. If the seed doesn’t find the right environment, it stays dormant. But with sunlight and spring water, it will sprout. That’s why Lady Nuwa always hoped to change the Three Realms. From the beginning, she planted a seed of goodness in all things.
Master Sage Subhuti slowly closed his eyes and said, "A seed planted in the heart won’t sprout without the right environment. But even if the world is harsh, the seed remains. Where there’s a seed, there’s hope."
Hearing this, Lord Lao let out a long sigh and smiled, "Is that why you trust Tripitaka?"
Master Sage Subhuti pressed his lips together and nodded.
Then you should be the one to bring salvation. If you can find a way even for Damon Six-Ears, you should be the one to save the world.
No." Master Sage Subhuti shook his head. "He has something I do not."
Damon Six-Ears?' In an instant, Monkey recognized the newcomer’s aura. He gripped his Golden Staff, nerves taut.
Relax, I’m not here to fight you. There’ll be plenty of chances for that—and we must fight!
It’s really him?' The Bull King quickly recognized the newcomer. 'He can’t have found out about our rain theft so soon, can he?'
At those words, the demon generals tensed, hurriedly drawing their weapons. Monkey raised a hand, signaling them not to act rashly.
He’s too far—at least a hundred li away. He’s even concealed his aura; I can’t pinpoint his exact location.
Hearing this, the demon generals finally relaxed a little.
At that moment, Damon Six-Ears’ voice came again: "Tripitaka, I’m here to apologize. My subordinates were out of line before—please don’t hold it against me. If you ever need my help, just say the word and I’ll do my best. You can travel west in peace! If anyone troubles you and the fake Monkey can’t handle it, just let me know! All right, I have to go now—here’s a Jade Tablet for you!"
Before he finished speaking, a Jade Tablet shot through the dark night sky like a meteor, coming to a halt before Tripitaka.
Tripitaka was left dumbfounded by these words, unable to make sense of them.
Monkey, along with the crowd of demons around him, was equally baffled. At that moment, they all blinked in confusion, utterly at a loss.
...
Inside Holy Mother Palace, with a wave of the demon general’s hand, the troops poured out like a receding tide.
A servant hurried into Anna Yang’s room and bowed, saying, "Her Holiness the Holy Mother, everyone’s gone. I’m not sure why—the Goat Chancellor brought the Great Sage’s orders and withdrew all the troops."
No specific reason?
No." The servant shook his head.
Hearing this, Anna Yang only grew more unsettled.
She couldn’t make sense of the situation at all. Although Damon Six-Ears’s sudden intervention had surprised her, it was undeniably his best move. But now, why rescind the order? Did something happen outside?
Anna Yang truly didn’t understand.
...
In the attic, Gavin Goathorn bowed deeply to Clara Heart and said, "The Great Sage has issued orders—Miss Windchime may go wherever she pleases. There will be no further obstacles. But... I hope you’ll stay a few more days, at least until the Great Sage returns to say goodbye."
He’s letting me go?
He’s letting you stay, not letting you go,' Gavin Goathorn said with a grin. 'The Great Sage would much rather you remain.'
This, in his mind, is how the Great Sage, Miss Windchime, and Her Holiness the Holy Mother should interact.
Clara Heart frowned. "If he’s letting me go, why should I stay?"
You were never imprisoned on Blossom Mountain, but you stayed for years. And Her Holiness the Holy Mother chose to stay willingly, didn’t she?
Is that the same?
Isn’t it?' Gavin Goathorn countered.
With that question, Clara Heart’s frown deepened.
What did Master Sage Subhuti say to him, to make such a sudden change?
...
In Crescent Star Cave, Yu Yi rushed in and reported all that Damon Six-Ears had done since leaving. Lord Lao was speechless. But Master Sage Subhuti smiled.
Forging the soul with qi to extend life, forging the body with blood. This is a ruthless move. Normally, with such a gambit, Damon Six-Ears would be a disaster for the Three Realms. But they miscalculated.
What did they miscalculate?
They miscalculated the heart. Damon Six-Ears is just a child. Everyone has goodness in their heart—a seed. If the seed doesn’t find the right environment, it stays dormant. But with sunlight and spring water, it will sprout. That’s why Lady Nuwa always hoped to change the Three Realms. From the beginning, she planted a seed of goodness in all things.
Master Sage Subhuti slowly closed his eyes and said, "A seed planted in the heart won’t sprout without the right environment. But even if the world is harsh, the seed remains. Where there’s a seed, there’s hope."
Hearing this, Lord Lao let out a long sigh and smiled, "Is that why you trust Tripitaka?"
Master Sage Subhuti pressed his lips together and nodded.
Then you should be the one to bring salvation. If you can find a way even for Damon Six-Ears, you should be the one to save the world.
No." Master Sage Subhuti shook his head. "He has something I do not."