The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 82 Betraying One's Master and Ancestor

After reciting the Thirty-Six Vows of Buddhism, Jiang Feng lashed out with his knife at Sha Wujing's back and shouted sharply:

"I ask you, do you love your brothers or your gold?"

Sha Wujing quickly replied, "I love my brother!"

Jiang Feng asked again, "Do you love your brother or your sister-in-law more?"

Sha Wujing said, "I love my brothers!"

Jiang Feng continued, "Do you love your sister-in-law more or the gold?"

"Master...whom should I love?"

Sha Wujing turned his head with a troubled expression and asked.

Jiang Feng coughed and said awkwardly, "I misspoke and asked the wrong question. I've been busy all day and I'm a little hungry. Why don't you go and beg for some alms for me?"

Upon hearing the word "begging for alms," Sha Wujing's eyes immediately lit up, and he swallowed hard, saying, "Master, please wait here a moment, I will go and beg for alms right away!"

After saying this, he rose into the air on a cloud and headed towards the Tuyuhun tribe.

Before long, Sha Wujing spotted a tent in the distance from the sky. He went to the tent, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

"This humble monk is on his way to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I've stopped by to beg for alms. Please share any food you have with me; anything edible will do!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly recognized the person in the tent as Mu Zha, who had just left!

"Huian Xingzhe, you haven't left yet?" Sha Wujing asked in surprise.

Mu Zha took out a bundle, opened it, and inside was a monk's robe and an incomparably beautiful monk's hat inlaid with five-colored gemstones.

"The Sui Dynasty monk Sanzang is unruly and does not abide by Buddhist precepts. You must persuade him to learn to behave properly and obediently go to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures."

There is a golden headband given by Buddha inside this hat. If you trick him into wearing this hat, the golden headband will be stuck on his head and will take root in his flesh, making it impossible to remove.

If he violates the precepts or rules, or uses magic on the journey to the West, you can recite the incantation for the Tightening-Headband Mantra, and his eyes will bulge, his head will ache, and his forehead will feel like it's about to split open, thus disciplining him to obey you.

Sha Wujing felt a sense of bewilderment.

"Wouldn't that mean he'd be doing my orders? Would he be the master, or would I be the master?"

Mu Zha said, "It's up to you, as long as you trick him into putting on the golden headband."

Sha Wujing's eyes lit up, realizing that his chance for revenge had finally come. He quickly grabbed his monk's robe and hat and was about to turn and leave.

Muzha quickly stopped him: "I haven't taught you the Tightening-Headband Mantra yet! You haven't brought any vegetarian food either. Don't forget you're out begging for alms!"

Sha Wujing quickly apologized, learned the incantation, took the vegetarian meal that Muzha had prepared in advance, and excitedly returned to Jiang Feng's side.

At this moment, Jiang Feng was sitting by the campfire roasting meat. The lamb leg was roasted to a golden brown, and the fat was sizzling. Paired with the unique seasoning he had obtained from Tuyuhun, it emitted an incredibly tempting aroma.

Sha Wujing glanced at the vegetarian meal in his hand, then at the roasted lamb leg, and said with a resentful look, "Master, don't you have food on you? Why are you making me go begging for alms?"

Jiang Feng cut off a piece of mutton, tasted its blandness, and said, "This is what I'm eating. As a Buddhist disciple, you should abide by the precepts and eat vegetarian food."

Sha Wujing cursed inwardly, swallowed the vegetarian meal in a few bites, smacked his lips a couple of times as if he hadn't had enough, and then untied his bundle.

"Master, when I went to beg for alms just now, I met a kind benefactor. He saw that my clothes were tattered and specially gave me a monk's robe."

"I heard you are a high-ranking monk from the Great Sui Dynasty in the East, so I'm presenting you with a Buddhist hat!"

As he spoke, he held up the monk's hat, which was inlaid with five gemstones, and handed it to Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng picked up the hat and examined it carefully for a few moments, then exclaimed, "Every gem on this hat is priceless, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. It's far superior to my other hats!"

Sha Wujing urged, "Master, please put it on quickly and see if it fits!"

Jiang Feng nodded with satisfaction: "Wujing, you're so thoughtful. Since you're so filial, I'll let you wear this hat. Lower your head and let me put it on you. Let me see if it looks good."

Sha Wujing made an excuse, saying, "Master, my hair grows so fast, and wearing a hat makes my scalp itchy!"

Jiang Feng asked in confusion, "If your scalp is itchy, just wash it more often. Come here and let your teacher put it on for you."

Sha Wujing quickly replied, "The weather is cold, and the water is too cold!"

Jiang Feng: "..."

Listen to whether you're speaking human language.

You, a monster living in the Flowing Sand River, actually complain that the water is too cold?

Jiang Feng glanced at him, shook his head and sighed, "Alas, fine, since you insist that I wear it, then I will wear it."

As he spoke, Jiang Feng picked up the Buddhist hat and put it on his head.

Sha Wujing immediately revealed a wicked grin, his mouth widening to reveal a mouthful of fangs: "Hehe, Master, have you heard of the Tightening-Headband Mantra?"

Jiang Feng was taken aback: "Oh, is that the headband that can make someone's forehead feel like it's going to split open with just a thought?"

Sha Wujing chuckled, "That's right! My good disciple, touch your head, and you'll see a golden headband on it!"

Jiang Feng took off his monk's hat, touched his forehead, and laughed, "There really is an extra golden headband. Wait a minute, Wujing, how can you call your master your good disciple?"

This is a heinous crime of betraying one's master and ancestors, and violating all human ethics!

Sha Wujing grinned maliciously, "Hehe, Sui Sanzang, you'd better obediently call me Master! If you refuse, I'll have to recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra!"

Jiang Feng shook his head slightly: "That won't do. Wujing, you'd better think this through. You've already joined my sect. If you betray your master and ancestors, you'll be punished with three cuts and six holes!"

Sha Wujing gritted his teeth in anger and said, "Since that's how it is, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

After saying that, he opened and closed his mouth and began to chant the mantra for tightening the headband.

Just as he was concentrating on chanting the incantation, a sharp knife suddenly pierced his chest.

Then there were two soft thuds, and the dagger pierced his heart three times—three cuts and six holes!

Sha Wujing turned around in surprise and saw Jiang Feng standing safely behind him, without any golden headband on his head!

"Another puppet?"

Sha Wujing turned around and saw that the golden headband was indeed on a piece of wood. His face immediately showed deep annoyance.

Jiang Feng lectured him with a look of utter disappointment, "You knew perfectly well that your master knew puppetry, so why couldn't you have been a little more patient in distinguishing the real from the fake? You're really embarrassing your master!"

As he spoke, he voluntarily gave up a space.

A monk in a white robe walked out from behind him, carrying a knife. He smiled and came to Sha Wujing. He looked exactly like Jiang Feng and was none other than the Eastern Han Dynasty monk!

"I am the previous incarnation of Sui Sanzang, my Dharma name is Han Sanzang. You ate me when I was crossing the Liusha River."

He and I were originally one. Your eating me is an act of betrayal against your master and ancestors, a violation of human ethics. Now it's my turn to enforce family discipline!

Having said that, he raised the sharp knife in his hand and stabbed, stabbing Sha Wujing three more times.

Looking at the hole in his chest, Sha Wujing said helplessly, "I've really lost this time. I'll take these six cuts. Let's just let this matter rest and go on our journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures."

The Eastern Han Dynasty monk revealed a strange smile: "It's not over yet. Wait until I've gathered everyone."

After saying this, the Eastern Han Dynasty monk Xuanzang began chanting the incantation.

In an instant, all eight skulls strung together around Sha Wujing's neck to form a necklace emitted a Buddhist light.

Following closely behind, seven more monks appeared one after another, and together with the Eastern Han Dynasty monk Sanzang, the eight monks completely surrounded Sha Wujing.

Jiang Feng stared at Sha Wujing with a strange smile and explained, "My good disciple, don't panic. These monks are the ones you ate before—my past lives!"

Three stabs per person, that's 210. A mere 210 stabs, it'll be over in the blink of an eye!

Sha Wujing: "..."

Who taught you that kind of math?!