Crisis

But he wasn't Sun Wukong. Just because Sun Wukong couldn't escape your grasp didn't mean he couldn't. Chen Tong clenched his fists, his expression tense, and was already looking for a way to flee.

As if he had seen what Chen Tong was thinking, Tathagata smiled faintly, as though nothing in the world concerned him.

"Young friend, don't you want to save Sun Wukong?"

Chen Tong, still tense, froze. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

What's going on? Has he found out I changed the Journey to the West plan? That can't be right. I'm the only one who knows about this. How could he know? Could he just be guessing? Yes, he definitely is. Chen Tong didn't dwell on it and immediately reaffirmed his belief.

"Tathagata, Sun Wukong and I have no friendship or history. Why would you ask me that?"

"Heh." Tathagata gave a noncommittal smile. "Young friend, my Buddhist school teaches non-action. Whether something is true or not, you'll know in your heart. Why not come up and sit for a while?" As he spoke, Tathagata waved his hand, and a meditation cushion appeared, floating in the air.

Chen Tong immediately grew wary. This old thief never made a show of himself and seemed to leave everything to chance, yet somehow he was always pulling the strings. If Chen Tong went up there, he'd probably fall right into his trap. Hmph. Does he really think I'm an idiot?

Chen Tong glanced around, then sat cross-legged in the water. "I've always liked water. This place suits me just fine. If you have something to say, get on with it."

"I see!" Tathagata seemed to understand something, a hint of meaning flashing deep in his eyes. "Very well. I invited you here only to ask you to hand over an item."

"An item?" Chen Tong was taken aback. "What item?"

"Young friend, a man may be innocent, yet become guilty by possessing a treasure. You should understand that." Tathagata's voice remained gentle, but now it carried a chill.

Chen Tong narrowed his eyes. By now, how could he not understand what was going on? This old thief was just like the Jade Emperor—he must have thought Chen Tong had some kind of divine treasure of the Heavenly Dao on him.

"What if I don't hand it over?" Chen Tong's voice gradually turned cold, as if they were one disagreement away from a fight.

"Heh!" Tathagata sneered. "With your Golden Immortal cultivation, how can you protect a divine treasure of the Heavenly Dao? Hand it over to me, and you can at least enjoy some peace."

As Tathagata spoke, a faint golden light appeared around him. One by one, golden characters began to spread in every direction!

"Though I don't know what kind of divine treasure of the Heavenly Dao you have hidden on you, I've observed you for several days and believe it has something to do with water. Such a treasure has never appeared, not even in ancient times. How could I not be tempted?"

Chen Tong looked at the golden characters spreading around him, forming chains and a cage. He made no effort to hide his disdain.

"Hmph. Since you know it has something to do with water, you should know that in water, there's nothing in heaven or earth that can hold me."

He turned his thoughts, but in the next instant, cold sweat poured down his back. This is bad! I can't draw on my divine power. Wh-what's going on?

"Ha ha ha!" Seeing Chen Tong's predicament, Tathagata burst into laughter, though the sound struck the ear as deeply unsettling.

"Don't waste your effort. This river is Spiritual Mountain's Spiritual River, transformed by the power of all beings' faith and sustained by my laws. As long as I say so, you won't be leaving."

Chen Tong struggled with all his might, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't summon his divine power. His body felt as though it had been shackled.

"Damn it!"

System, are you still alive? Hurry up and give me a way out!

Chen Tong glared at Tathagata, his face dark. He wanted nothing more than to tear the sanctimonious bastard to pieces.

"Old thief!" Chen Tong pointed angrily at Tathagata. "If you've got the guts, let me go and fight me fair and square. What kind of Buddha uses tricks like this?"

Tathagata neither showed anger nor pleasure. He slowly extended his golden left hand, then curled his five fingers. Chen Tong had been unable to summon his divine power; now he couldn't even move his body!

It's over. Am I going to die here today? Unable to move, Chen Tong felt the greatest crisis of his life. It was as though Death himself were beckoning him.

"System... System... Hurry... Hurry and save me!" Chen Tong cried out inwardly, hoping his shut-in system would wake up.

Beneath the light of Tathagata's palm, nothing about Chen Tong could be hidden. A vast divine sense relentlessly battered his mind, trying to pry into every secret he possessed.

"Argh!!"

The agony in his mind drove him to scream in utter torment, as if he could shatter the heavens with his voice. But Tathagata was an almighty being; as long as he wished it, no one could hear a thing happening there.

Tathagata slowly opened his eyes and looked at Chen Tong with interest. "The things you have on you are truly incredible. You even know the Jade Emperor's Five Thunder Technique."

Tathagata gave Chen Tong a long look, then continued to batter the barrier in his mind. He knew that the divine treasure of the Heavenly Dao must be hidden beyond it.

"Argh!!!"

Chen Tong was already in unbearable pain. What did it mean to reach one's limit? It meant the pain had become so intense that he couldn't bear another second of it, yet he still couldn't pass out. That was the limit.

Tathagata continued his assault. Suddenly, his brow twitched, and the laws covering his body dimmed slightly. In that fleeting instant, Chen Tong seized the opening and quickly escaped, leaving behind only a faint voice.

"Old Thief Tathagata, as long as I, Chen Tong, survive, you'd better prepare to face my wrath."

Tathagata stared at the place where Chen Tong had vanished, his expression grave and tinged with puzzlement.

Just now, while he had been attacking Chen Tong's mind, a force had struck back at his divine sense! What kind of divine treasure of the Heavenly Dao could wield such power? Tathagata couldn't calm his thoughts for a long time.

In the boundless sea, beneath the deep blue water, Chen Tong lay motionless with his eyes closed. Two trails of blood ran down his cheeks, and his face was as pale as a sheet of paper. He drifted aimlessly like a corpse.

Just then, a whirlpool appeared ahead, churning the surrounding seawater into ripples. Mixed in with the sound was playful laughter, as though a little girl from the neighborhood were splashing in the water.

"Princess, stop playing. The Dragon King will blame us if he finds out."

"That's right, Princess. We should hurry back."

"Hee-hee!" A mischievous voice rang out, sweet and melodious, innocent yet ethereal.

"You two! It's so rare for me to get out and play. How could I go back now? Come on, keep playing with me."

The girl who called herself a princess giggled and turned, about to continue on her way. Then she suddenly noticed a body ahead. Her lovely eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly flew closer.

The two maids exchanged glances and hurried after her. When they reached the body, they cried out, "Ah!" and whispered in trembling voices, "A... a dead person."

"Princess!"

When they saw the princess reaching toward the body, they hurried to stop her. The princess shot them a look. "It's just a corpse. What's there to be so surprised about?"

Then she examined the body carefully. He had a handsome face, peach-blossom eyes, and cherry-red lips. It was a shame for such a beautiful man to have died.