With the King's decree issued, the soldiers naturally didn't dare block their path. They prepared a table of vegetarian dishes for Duanmu Huai and Sun Wukong and served them until they had finished eating. Then they respectfully returned their travel document and sent someone to escort them through the checkpoint. Even Sun Wukong clicked his tongue in wonder.
"Master, I really didn't expect the King here to be so reasonable. I thought we'd have another great battle."
"We already fought in Chechi Kingdom, so there's no need to fight here."
Duanmu Huai sat on his horse, looking quite calm.
"As the saying goes, one punch opens the way and prevents a hundred punches from coming. You and I have subdued demons and exterminated devils all along this journey, and our reputations have already spread throughout the Western He Continent. As long as that King has heard of what happened to the King of Chechi Kingdom, he absolutely won't dare come looking for trouble."
At this, Duanmu Huai gave a cold laugh. Tathagata had arranged this Journey to the West in the first place so that Tang Sanzang could serve as a living advertisement for him, but Duanmu Huai naturally refused to let him have his way. Basically, whether subduing demons and exterminating devils or helping those kingdoms drive away their troubles, he attributed all the credit to the emperor of the Great Tang, constantly talking about the might of the Great Tang and the emperor's blessings. "That's why I came here to subdue demons and exterminate devils. So if you want to offer thanks, thank the emperor of the Great Tang, not that useless Tathagata."
Because of this, the kingdoms they passed along the way either thanked them or submitted, all turning toward the Great Tang. As for revering Buddha...