Guanyin Bodhisattva gave Tang Yu a brief instruction. "Tang Sanzang, continue on your journey. Under no circumstances may you delay the great undertaking of obtaining the scriptures." With that, she flew away with the Black Bear Spirit, too lazy to spare Tang Yu another glance.
What was wrong with me? Why has my state of mind become more and more unstable lately?
Watching the two depart, a faint, imperceptible sneer curled at Tang Yu's lips.
Just wait and see how I screw you over at the crucial moment.
He had just exchanged for something good from the system and discreetly stuck it onto the Black Bear Spirit.
As for what it was...
Heh. It might come in handy at a critical moment!
"Master, what did you stick on that bear demon just now?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva had not noticed it, but Sun Wukong had seen Tang Yu seem to slap something onto the Black Bear Spirit, after which it vanished.
That was why he asked.
Tang Yu had not expected this monkey's eyes to be so sharp that he had noticed it. Of course, the main reason was that Tang Yu had never intended to hide it from him.
Did he really think that, as a mere mortal, anything Tang Yu did could escape Guanyin Bodhisattva's notice?
The reason she had failed to notice was because he had activated the Heavenly Secrets Concealment Formation at that very moment.
"Wukong, you'll know what it is eventually. Your master will only tell you this: follow your master, and there'll be meat to eat," Tang Yu said.
Sun Wukong vaguely sensed that his master seemed to be plotting against the Buddhist Sect as well, carrying out something unbelievable.
But it was rather strange. What could this frail monk, powerless enough to be unable to truss a chicken, possibly do?
Any random god or Buddha could blow him to death with a single breath.
Yet Tang Yu's face was filled with confidence.
The moment they stepped out of the Black Bear Spirit's cave abode,
the system's notification sounded.
And it sounded twice!
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for altering the course of the Buddhist Sect's Journey to the West and plundering destiny from the Buddhist Sect."
"Reward: 200,000 Destiny Points!"
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for altering the course of the Buddhist Sect's Journey to the West and plundering destiny from the Buddhist Sect."
"Reward: 200,000 Destiny Points!"
Huh? Why was it so much this time?
Those two changes had directly earned him 400,000 Destiny Points.
But Tang Yu understood. The previous two incidents had been about assembling the Journey to the West party. He had only made minor changes, so each had rewarded him with 100,000 Destiny Points.
These two, however, marked the true beginning of the tribulations, so the rewards were naturally greater.
Tang Yu grinned happily. Just moments ago, he had thought he was broke, but now he was prosperous again and could start splurging.
Of the two trials arranged by the Buddhist Sect, not a single one had been completed.
Moreover, Tang Yu had effortlessly resolved both with outrageously slick maneuvers. Sun Wukong had barely even needed to lift a finger.
Spirit Mountain!
Great Thunderclap Monastery!
At this moment, the place was deathly silent. Tathagata Buddha felt that matters were increasingly slipping beyond expectations and out of control.
He had seen Guanyin Bodhisattva's handling of the matter as well. She had adapted to the situation, changed the script, and beguiled the Black Bear Spirit into abducting Tang Sanzang.
Tathagata Buddha had nearly felt like giving her a thumbs-up.
He could not help thinking, Venerable Guanyin truly understands my heart.
Then he swept his gaze over the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain and let out a quiet sigh. The meaning was obvious: if any of you had even half of Venerable Guanyin's wit, I would not have to worry about every last thing myself.
What followed could truly be described as an unexpected turn of events. Of course, the turn had gone in Tang Yu's favor.
They watched Tang Sanzang walk voluntarily into the Black Bear Spirit's cave abode, then watched the Black Bear Spirit put on the Golden Fillet and call him Father while begging for mercy...
The Buddhas of Spirit Mountain all felt as though they had been struck by a club, their heads buzzing from the blow.
Buddha in particular even rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing!
"Buddha..."
Guanyin Bodhisattva had returned.
Tathagata Buddha said, "There is no need to say more. I already know everything."
Seeing that Buddha did not blame her, Guanyin Bodhisattva secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Buddha, I believe Tang Sanzang is very likely the variable!"
She had grown increasingly displeased with Tang Sanzang. Again and again, he disrupted her state of mind.
She could already feel it becoming more and more unstable.
If this continued, it would be dangerous. Her cultivation might never be able to advance again.
"If Tang Sanzang is the variable, would he really play himself to death?"
At Buddha's words, Guanyin Bodhisattva fell silent.
That was true. Even if he was the variable, he could not gamble with his life like this.
"I only hope there won't be any more problems with the next tribulation," Tathagata Buddha said, his tone carrying a hint of prayer.
Even he was no longer certain. This showed that the Journey to the West had long since ceased to be something he could control.
It was truly strange. Not long ago, when Tang Sanzang had set out from the Great Tang, they had all been brimming with confidence.
Once the Journey to the West was complete, their Buddhist Sect would truly rise to its feet.
Yet before long, accidents began happening one after another.
It was as though each incident were a resounding slap, striking the Buddhist Sect's face over and over.
The blows had left them all utterly dazed. Worse still, they did not even know who was delivering the slaps, which was truly frustrating.
The variable was hiding behind the scenes. They had no idea when he might suddenly emerge and do something detrimental to the Buddhist Sect.
"Could it be Sun Wukong? That monkey has always been unruly and defiant," Guanyin Bodhisattva said, turning her suspicions toward Sun Wukong again. That monkey had become increasingly bold; he had even dared to attack her.
Especially now that the Golden Fillet was gone and she could no longer control him.
If that monkey truly grew powerful, he would absolutely dare to wreak havoc in Western Heaven.
Tathagata Buddha performed a divination, but found nothing unusual. However, everything was unknown now.
Everyone was worth suspecting.
More likely, the variable was not within the Journey to the West party at all, but was hiding in the shadows and controlling everything. That was the truly terrifying possibility!
"It probably isn't Sun Wukong," Tathagata Buddha said uncertainly. "Leave that monkey alone for now. He cannot stir up much trouble. We can think of a way to impose a little control on him later."
Sun Wukong possessed limitless potential and absolutely had to be kept under the Buddhist Sect's control.
Above the Thirty-third Heaven.
Watching Tang Yu's performance, Taishang Laojun could not help letting a faint smile cross his lips. He had even secretly intervened to help Tang Yu conceal the heavenly secrets.
What Tang Yu was doing brought him benefits and no harm, so naturally he had to lend him some assistance.
This was becoming more and more interesting. He greatly anticipated the road ahead on the Journey to the West.
But what he anticipated even more was Tathagata Buddha discovering that Tang Yu was the variable, yet not daring to kill him.
What expression would Tathagata wear at that moment?
And then there were the two Western Saints. They had plotted the Journey to the West Tribulation for years, only for one of its main figures to become the variable and secretly undermine the Buddhist Sect. Now that was interesting.
At this moment, Tang Yu had no idea how others were plotting. Even if he did know, he would not care in the slightest.
He rode backward on the donkey, pondering the next tribulation.
The next tribulation would be Er Daizi.
Gao Family Village was not far ahead...
His second disciple, Er Daizi, was still waiting for him there...
Before you continue