But the script seemed far too contrived. Sun Wukong had spotted a loophole and nearly cracked the case; he had even used the plot itself to catch Zhen Yuanzi out.
To keep the Journey to the West's tribulations from being exposed, Zhen Yuanzi had acted.
Naturally, he had adapted to the circumstances and taken the initiative to change the script. There was nothing wrong with what Zhen Yuanzi had done!
The mistake lay in treating Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and the others as fools when they first devised it. Now the only actual fool, Tang Sanzang, was still being kept in the dark.
"Bajie, this really is Zhen Yuanzi taking revenge..."
Fortunately, Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong knew only half the story. That was Guanyin's sole consolation. Her eyes flickered, and she followed their line of reasoning, nodding to confirm Zhu Bajie's deduction.
"Ah, really?"
Zhu Bajie's jaw dropped in surprise. "I guessed right? Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi is deliberately making trouble for our Journey to the West?"
"Mm, more or less. Bajie, you know Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi's background."
"We of the Western Lands did indeed offend him. Back then, at the Purple Heaven Palace, his dear friend Red Cloud met his downfall because he gave up his seat. Now that the Journey to the West is ushering in the rise of the Western Lands, Zhen Yuanzi is probably using this incident as a pretext to seek justice for his dear friend Red Cloud!"
Guanyin steeled herself and deliberately fleshed out Zhen Yuanzi's motives along the lines of Zhu Bajie's speculation. After spinning her tale bit by bit, she actually came up with a seemingly perfect explanation.
"Hm? It's because of what happened to Senior Red Cloud?"
Zhu Bajie naturally knew about the dispute at the Purple Heaven Palace.