The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 4 The Future Buddha

As Hu Meiniang felt the approaching aura of death while listening to Jiang Feng's story, she realized that it was no wonder she had fallen into his hands.

Jiang Feng first used puppetry as a substitute, while his real body used invisibility to hide in the house and ambush her. Then he used animal creation magic to turn Zhao Ping'an into a donkey, thus disturbing her mind.

Finally, sacrifice the puppet to deliver the fatal blow when she lowers her guard.

The entire plan was meticulously crafted. If Zhao Ping'an hadn't been so foolish as to remove the talisman from his body without permission, the plan would have been almost flawless.

Even if her magical power were several times greater, it's hard to say she'd have a chance of survival under this design.

Sigh, the methods of exorcists are even more insidious than those of demons; where can one find justice in this situation...?

With her last glimmer of life extinguished, Hu Meiniang's demon core shattered, and she closed her eyes in resentment.

Jiang Feng did not step forward directly, but cautiously took out some flammable oil and poured it on Hu Meiniang's body, setting her on fire.

"Huff!"

The raging fire instantly engulfed Hu Meiniang's body, the illusion inside the room was broken, and the scene before them changed rapidly.

All the tables and chairs in the farmhouses and thatched huts have disappeared, replaced by weeds and piles of stones.

Looking at the desolate scene before him, Zhao Ping'an couldn't help but shudder again, saying with lingering fear, "Even the courtyard and houses were fake! This monster's methods are too powerful!"

As he spoke, he looked at Hu Meiniang, who was enveloped in flames, his expression slightly complicated: "What a pity, how come she's a demon? I've never seen such a beautiful face before..."

Jiang Feng glanced at him sideways: "It's not completely burned to ashes yet. If you feel it's a pity, I can put out the fire and let you enjoy it while it's still hot."

Zhao Ping'an: "@#￥%￥#@……"

Jiang Feng continued, "Can't accept it? Then I'll take pity on you and arrange a ghost marriage for you two after she's burned to ashes?"

"Can't you even be a human being?!" Zhao Ping'an shouted angrily, his face flushed red.

Although Jiang Feng's words were harsh, they completely brought him to his senses.

The monster showed him absolutely no mercy when it attacked; if Jiang Feng hadn't been there, he would be the one cremated right now. He secretly vowed that he would never be so reckless again when encountering a beautiful woman of unknown origin…

After a while, Hu Meiniang's body was burned to ashes.

Jiang Feng found a wooden stick and poked around in it a few times, revealing the Vajra pestle in the ashes. Next to the Vajra pestle, a white jade Buddha amulet lay quietly.

[Your compassion and kindness moved the heavens, and you were rewarded with mastery of the "Fox Charm Technique".]

[Your compassion and mercy in saving the young Zhao Ping'an from the bewitching fox demon have moved the heavens, and you are rewarded with ten years of cultivation.]

After putting the vajra back into his treasure pouch, he examined the jade tablet carefully under the moonlight, but still couldn't identify what Buddha was carved on it. He wiped it clean and put it back into his treasure pouch.

Seeing that it was getting late and guessing that the city gates had already closed, they called Zhao Ping'an and headed back to Xuyuan Temple.

Not long after the two left, a ghost emerged from the ground and drifted away into the distance, swaying in the night breeze.

The ghost drifted for an unknown amount of time before entering a secluded Buddhist temple.

The Buddhist hall was dark, with no lights on. There was only a clay Buddha statue sitting on a dusty lotus platform.

After the ghost entered the Buddhist hall, it knelt down on the ground, and its appearance slowly appeared, revealing itself to be none other than Hu Meiniang.

"Disciple Hu Meiniang pays homage to the future Buddha! May the Buddha have mercy; I kneel and beg for your divine intervention!"

Amidst the devout prayers, the Buddha statue suddenly emitted a great light.

The clay Buddha statue instantly came to life, opened its eyes, and transformed into a monk exuding an aura of compassion and empathy.

Upon seeing Hu Meiniang's ghostly figure, the monk frowned slightly: "How did your physical body become damaged?"

Hu Meiniang's face fell, and she began to cry: "I am cultivating according to the method of cultivation taught by the Buddha, absorbing the yang energy of lustful people. I only need five more people to achieve the Bodhisattva status."

When they found the sixth person, they encountered a strange monk named Jiang Feng. Jiang Feng had tricked and killed the disciple, and even burned his body.

"Buddha, have mercy! I beg you to restore my physical body. Once I attain enlightenment, I am willing to serve you for all eternity!"

"You can't even protect your own demon core, and you still have the nerve to ask me to rebuild your physical body?"

The monk glanced at Hu Meiniang, revealing an impatient expression.

Then, with a casual wave of his hand, pale flames ignited on Hu Meiniang's ghostly spirit, instantly burning away most of her soul.

"Buddha, spare me! Buddha, spare me!"

The pain, originating from the depths of her soul, caused Hu Meiniang to scream in agony, but she only managed to shout twice before her soul was burned away in the flames.

Watching the flames gradually dissipate in the air, the monk's eyes were filled with indifference: "A mortal being like this, yet he dares to dream of achieving the Buddha's path? What a fool's dream."

……

In the distant Wishing Temple, Jiang Feng had a dream.

In the dream, a world filled with rays of light, auspicious colors, and golden lotuses, was accompanied by celestial music.

A blurry, majestic figure emerged from the auspicious clouds, followed by a solemn and dignified voice resounding in the void.

"Jin Chanzi, why haven't you set off for the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures yet?"

Jiang Feng lay lazily on the soft auspicious cloud, looking indifferent: "I've never been married, so I don't want to go. Even Buddha had three wives, why shouldn't I?"

The Buddhist music that filled the world suddenly stopped, and the towering figure fell silent for a moment: "..."

Since Jiang Feng came of age, gods and Buddhas have frequently appeared in his dreams, urging him to go to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

Only then did he realize that he had become the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi.

If I became Tang Sanzang and followed Sun Wukong to the Western Paradise, I might even be able to attain a Buddhahood in the future.

The problem is, the current emperor is not Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, but Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian!

When Tang Sanzang crossed the Flowing Sand River, Sha Wujing had nine skulls of pilgrims hanging around his neck. If he were to go on the pilgrimage now, the result would be obvious: he would definitely become one of those nine skulls!

Going to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures is like delivering takeout to Sha Wujing at the Flowing Sand River, except the takeout bag contains himself...

Therefore, no matter how much the gods and Buddhas tried to persuade him to go on the pilgrimage, he always found various reasons to refuse.

From within the clouds, the imposing figure sighed, waved his hand, and Jiang Feng vanished without a trace.

Before long, several more imposing figures appeared, each occupying a side and forming a large circle.

"You all heard it, he still refuses to go west."

"The journey to the West cannot be delayed any longer. Since he wants to get married, then let him get married!"

"It's too late to arrange for the fairy to be reincarnated... Let the Old Man of the Moon tie the knot for him."

"Good. Just in case, let the Old Man of the Moon arrange a few more marriages for him."

"good."