Volume 4: The Revelation Revealed Chapter 497: Punishing Minor Evils

After chatting with Wukong for a while, Zhang Hui simply recounted his own situation. He didn’t dare ask too much about Wukong’s origins, so he respectfully took his leave.

Upon leaving the small shop, his fellow disciples cast strange looks at Zhang Hui. The senior uncle leading them this time had the cultivation level of a Fifth-Rank Heavenly Immortal and was also a master in the Kingdom of Bhiksu. How could this plain-clothed scholar subdue him without even moving a finger? It was no wonder it filled everyone with fear.

When the senior uncle saw Zhang Hui finally come out, he snorted silently and led them to find an inn. Along the way, the disciples whispered among themselves, wondering what magic Wukong had used. The senior uncle tolerated it at first but eventually lost patience and shouted, “There are countless evil spells in the world. What’s so special about it? Stop talking nonsense!”

Unoccupied, Wukong wandered around the city. The people of Jinping Prefecture were simple and honest, with few criminals. Wukong felt greatly relieved, knowing that it must be because the rulers governed well, allowing the people to live in peace.

Before he knew it, it was already late. The streets gradually became lively as lanterns lit up the six streets and three markets, filling the sky with brightness. That night, the moonlight was clear, enhancing the brilliance of the lanterns, while the lanterns reflected the moonlight, making it even more dazzling.

Watching the countless lights and buildings in this mortal world, creating a world of illusions stretching for miles, he felt as if he had entered a celestial realm. Tourists crowded the streets, enjoying themselves in a lively and festive atmosphere.

Soon, they reached the Golden Lantern Bridge. Wukong suddenly smelled a strange fragrance. There were three golden lanterns, each about half a zhang in diameter, covered with delicate two-layered structures woven from golden threads, lined with thin pieces of colored glass. This strange scent came from the oil used in these lanterns.

Wukong’s mind stirred. Three more lanterns! He pulled aside the person beside him and asked, “Why does the oil in these lanterns have such a wonderful fragrance?” The person replied, “This isn’t ordinary oil. It’s a fragrant oil made with great effort by the entire people of Jinping Prefecture.”

Wukong asked, “Why gather so much? How many years will it take to use it all?” The person said, “Ordinary people can’t afford it. These three lanterns are prepared for the Buddha.”

“The Buddha? Which Buddha?” Wukong asked.

“Shh! It’s just the Buddha. Whatever sect he belongs to, he will surely ensure good weather and prosperity for Jinping Prefecture,” the person replied.

Wukong immediately understood. So the Rhinoceros Demon was still around. It wasn’t harming the people, nor had it taken on a monstrous form. It even claimed to be a Buddha. Although temples to the Earth Goddess were built everywhere in Qitianling, no one complained, so no one knew that three demons were hiding in this peaceful place. It wasn’t surprising that the Rhinoceros Demon could hide safely.

As they spoke, a howling wind was heard in the sky, and the people watching the lanterns scattered in panic. Wukong grabbed one of them and asked, “What’s going on?” The man replied, “The Buddha has arrived. It happens every year. Why do you still ask me?”
Wukong certainly knew that three rhinoceros demons had arrived in the sky; he just wanted to confirm that they indeed came to plunder every year.
With the Lantern Festival so lively, the disciples of the Ciyun Temple in the Buddhist Country naturally came out to watch as well. Their master told the disciples not to wander around, but he himself was so engrossed in the sight that he forgot to leave. Just then, a fierce wind blew from the sky. The master’s expression changed as he sensed the evil aura and quickly gathered all the disciples around him.
Someone asked, “Master, what should we do?”
The master replied arrogantly, “Hmph! Subduing demons and evil spirits is our sect’s sacred duty. What’s there to hesitate about?”
As a cultivator with sharp eyes, he saw six bright lights in the sky. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be three enormous ox-headed demons. Having lived in comfort in the country for a long time, the master had never seen such evil creatures before, and his legs began to tremble.
After a moment, the other disciples could see clearly as well. Zhang Hui asked nervously, “Master, what should we do?” The master didn’t dare speak anymore, regretting that he had arrived too late, fearing that they had already been targeted by these demons.
At that moment, a white figure leaped from the Jinping Bridge. With a wave of his sleeves, the dark mist dispersed, and three figures fell from the sky to the ground—three rhinoceros demons roaring loudly. Wukong used only a little strength to throw these demons into disarray.
“It’s our savior!” Zhang Hui exclaimed joyfully.
Wukong stepped in front of the three rhinoceros demons and said, “Daring to commit evil deeds under the guise of the Buddha is a serious crime. Do you want to die or live?”
Seeing that Wukong was just an ordinary mortal, the three demons reluctantly got up from the ground. The one in the middle, named King Bihan, shouted, “What magical weapon are you using?”
Seeing that these demons still refused to submit, Wukong exerted a slight pressure of a sage. The rhinoceros demons couldn’t withstand it and knelt down immediately, unable to even open their mouths.
Wukong asked again, “Do you want to die or live?”
The three hurriedly replied, “We want to live!”
Wukong tapped his fingers three times, imposing restrictions on them. Though he knew little about magic formations, the restrictions he placed were beyond the ability of these rhinoceros demons to break. Wukong said, “From today onward, you three will serve hard labor in Jinping Prefecture for a hundred years to atone for your past sins. If you try anything, I have ways to take your lives!”
The three nodded eagerly in agreement.
Wukong added, “After a hundred years, go to Qitian Ridge to find work. Do not stay in the mortal world for even a moment. Do you remember?”
“We remember, we remember! Thank you, immortal, for sparing our lives!”

Wukong dealt with the three rhinoceros demons and sent them away. He implanted his divine consciousness within them, allowing him to locate them at any time. With the pressure of his saintly aura, he believed they couldn’t escape. Wukong had no intention of killing these three monsters; they merely came each year to steal some sesame oil, did not disturb the people, and even helped ensure good weather in Jinping Prefecture, so they weren’t entirely wrong. Seeing the three rhinoceros demons vanish, Wukong felt a mix of emotions. Although Qitian Ridge held great power and controlled all the demons in the world, there were always some who refused to submit to others—though this couldn’t be blamed on them. Whether human or demon, everyone longed for freedom, the most precious innate desire, which couldn’t be taken away through violence or force. The people below were utterly astonished; they realized that with their own strength, they could never discern Wukong’s true power—there was a vast difference between them. As the bad wind dissipated, the people of Jinping Prefecture came out again to prepare for the lantern festival. Wukong used his magic and declared, “The Buddha says that seeing your devotion, starting this year, you need not pay for lamp oil!” Upon hearing this, the people paused for a moment before cheering together. The tax on lamp oil was a heavy burden for ordinary people, but they dared not refuse to pay it for the sake of a good harvest. Hearing this from the sky and seeing that no lamp oil would be required this year, they naturally believed him. Wukong had no choice but to do this; since the people believed in the Buddha, he could only play along—otherwise, they wouldn’t be convinced. Seeing them rejoice, he sighed and thought: What simple things the people desire—just enough food and clothing, and nothing more. Yet even these basic wishes are often hard to fulfill. Was it due to strength versus weakness, or greed? Was survival of the fittest truly the ultimate law of the world? Should the strong exploit the weak? Whether in cultivation or in life, becoming stronger is naturally good, but how could strength become a source of evil? With many thoughts in mind, Wukong left Jinping Prefecture. As he walked, he couldn’t help but think that after more than three hundred years in seclusion, he wondered what dynasty ruled the Eastern Land now. The last time he was there, it was during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the Western Wei period—this was quite confusing. In Wukong’s view, the only thing in this world that had any connection to his past life were those historical dynasties he was somewhat familiar with. The disorder of these dynasties might imply deeper meanings.

This world is not Earth in the universe, but a closed great furnace; using ordinary logic won’t work here. Rules are of utmost importance—finding the rules within this furnace is the key to escaping it.

It was the second watch of the night. Even if he went to the Eastern Lands, it would be inconvenient to inquire. So Wukong simply sat on the clouds and drifted slowly eastward. Lying back, he gazed at the sky—the moon was bright but the stars sparse. Yet by using the secrets of the Mysterious Sky Technique, he could see the dense stars clearly.

These starlights were no different from those in his past life… Suddenly, Wukong remembered something: if this world was a furnace, how could one see the stars beyond? Did this furnace not have a lid?

Without a lid, yet unable to escape—the winds outside were so fierce. He remembered Yin Yang saying that if he could leave this world, it meant he could pass through that most intense layer of winds. It seemed that the Heavenly Saint realm was the limit set by this furnace; reaching the Yin Yang realm would allow one to escape. But had Buddha, after striving for seven cycles of time, still not been able to break through even the Heavenly Saint realm? That was hard to believe.

Having not thought of Buddha for a long time, Wukong, with rare leisure, pondered for a while. Buddha was probably the most persistent and tragic figure in this world. He had no other desires—only to escape this world.

Perhaps when he first entered this furnace, Buddha also thought that by cultivating steadily, he would eventually be able to leave. But what he didn’t expect was that the calamities of each cycle of time turned everything to nothing—his life was saved, but his cultivation was not.

After repeated calamities, Buddha finally realized that on his own, he could never escape. He wasn’t born with extraordinary aptitudes; he didn’t have the potential to progress rapidly like the Seven Divine Apes. He had to find another way.

So he developed the concept of one Buddha with three bodies, set his sights on the Three Pure Ones, schemed against the Seven Divine Apes, and sought to harness the forces of Pangu’s creation to reverse fate… Buddha truly had a hard time!

When he first entered this world, he wasn’t an enemy of Buddha. But step by step, the Wise Divine Ape had become the biggest obstacle to Buddha’s escape. Was all this something he had willingly chosen?

At first, hearing that Buddha was scheming to weaken the Ape’s strength, he was filled with indignation and vowed to shatter Buddha’s plans. But upon reflection, it wasn’t the Seven Divine Apes who least wanted Buddha to escape—it was… Pangu? Or that mysterious being from beyond the sky?