Chapter 130: Chapter 124 My Filial Son [Please Subscribe]_1
Sha Chen’s eyes flashed with wariness. It was Guanyin again. The question was whether she was involved this time, or if Jinmaohou had acted on his own accord, seeking credit for himself. Either way, Jinmaohou was definitely to be held accountable for this.
"He came to me before, but I was too weak to contend with him. I thought he had given up, but I didn’t expect him to deceive Red Boy into troubling me."
"I fear he didn’t stop at involving Red Boy. Therefore, I must give him a lesson he will never forget."
Sha Chen was already harboring a murderous intent, surprising even himself that he now dared to contemplate assassinating Guanyin’s mount. However, he definitely couldn’t be the one to go.
He then looked at Red Boy, who was cursing Guanyin, and an idea struck him.
Sha Chen said, "Boy Sage, what do you plan to do once you’re out?"
Red Boy replied, "I’m going to settle scores with that old hag! How dare she scheme against me!"
Sha Chen grew nervous and quickly said, "That won’t do. As the saying goes, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. Perhaps Guanyin doesn’t know about this; it’s Jinmaohou you should be settling accounts with."
He couldn’t possibly let Red Boy go directly to Guanyin, even if Guanyin was the one scheming behind the scenes. Otherwise, if Guanyin were to suppress and then convert Red Boy, it would be troublesome. If Red Boy killed Jinmaohou, it would be tit for tat. Even if Guanyin bore a grudge and sought trouble, she would need a valid reason. Bull Demon King would definitely retaliate. Bull Demon King was not to be trifled with, and Guanyin had likely taken Red Boy as a disciple in large part to draw Bull Demon King and his allied forces to her side. Having Red Boy kill Jinmaohou would be like severing one of Guanyin’s arms, causing her a major headache. Furthermore, Guanyin would undoubtedly have a complete falling out with Bull Demon King’s family, and they would never reconcile. Guanyin would be preoccupied with this and would likely stop focusing on him. With this in mind, Sha Chen became even more determined not to let Red Boy confront Guanyin directly.
After considerable persuasion, Red Boy began to agree that he should indeed go after Jinmaohou, not Guanyin.
Flushed with alcohol and hot-blooded impulsiveness, Red Boy was deeply moved.
"Uncle," he declared, kneeling before Sha Chen with a thud and weeping bitterly, "you’ve been so good to me! I offended you, yet not only did you spare me, you even considered my well-being. How can I ever repay you?"
Sha Chen smiled, just as he was about to speak.
Red Boy continued, "How about you become my adoptive father? A woman named Fox Yu Mian has recently come to my home. I’ll introduce her to you as a concubine."
Sha Chen was taken aback, his expression turning peculiar.
He also gave Red Boy a deep look. He suspected the boy wasn’t truly drunk. Fox Yu Mian was the vixen who had seduced Bull Demon King. Red Boy probably knew this; offering her to him would conveniently solve their family’s problem as well. A painted skeleton, a femme fatale—he had no need for such a thing. Moreover, if he truly dared to take Fox Yu Mian, Bull Demon King would likely come after him with the Plantain Fan the very next day.
Sha Chen chuckled. "No need for that. If you wish to acknowledge me as your adoptive father, that’s fine. But let’s not speak of offering concubines again."
Having Red Boy as an adopted son would make their relationship even more solid. Red Boy would be more obedient, making it easier for him to help sell Elixirs or disrupt Guanyin’s schemes.
Flushed with wine and bravado, Red Boy genuinely knelt before Sha Chen, respectfully performing the three kowtows and nine prostrations, acknowledging a scoundrel as his father—no, an adoptive father.
Red Boy’s eyes were red as he threw himself at Sha Chen’s knees, wailing and repeatedly slapping Sha Chen’s thighs.
His behavior left Sha Chen bewildered.
It was just acknowledging an adoptive father; there was no need for such drama. You’re overdoing it, little brother.
But he could see that Red Boy was genuinely emotional, truly in tears, a raw nerve clearly having been struck.
Sha Chen paused, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. Most likely, Red Boy was upset due to recent family turmoil. Bull Demon King had brought a mistress home, and after the ensuing conflict, Red Boy felt he had lost his father’s love. Now, having acknowledged me as his adoptive father, he was experiencing a profound sense of paternal affection. Sha Chen felt his guess was pretty close to the mark.
He sighed inwardly, patted Red Boy on the head, then discreetly put away the wine he had drugged.
This drug really gets to your head. It also evokes sadness. The next time Tianpeng and the others come over, I’ll give them some too. I’ll try to elevate my status further, from brother to father.
After crying bitterly for a while, Red Boy began muttering to himself, and sure enough, he started speaking of his family’s misfortunes.
It turned out Bull Demon King had indeed brought the mistress, Fox Yu Mian, home, and subsequently had a fight with Princess Iron Fan, which Red Boy witnessed.
Afterward, he didn’t know what to do.
Bull Demon King had then openly declared he would leave Flaming Mountain, divorce Princess Iron Fan, and departed with Fox Yu Mian.
Red Boy naturally chased after him to question him, but Bull Demon King slapped him and told him to mind his own business.
Being hot-tempered himself, Red Boy then threatened to kill Fox Yu Mian, which earned him another beating from Bull Demon King.
As a result, a rift formed between father and son.
Red Boy didn’t actually go kill Fox Yu Mian because he was afraid of Bull Demon King.
In fact, even by the time the pilgrimage began, he still hadn’t killed Fox Yu Mian, nor had he forgiven her.
However, Red Boy was a classic people-pleaser. Beneath his explosive temperament lay a desire to please those he idolized and revered. Like Bull Demon King, for instance. That was why, upon capturing Monk Tang, his first thought was to invite Bull Demon King to share the monk’s flesh. He hoped this act might mend their father-son relationship, allowing Bull Demon King to change his heart and leave that vixen.
Evidently, Bull Demon King thought with his lower body: he wanted to eat Monk Tang’s flesh, and he wanted the vixen too. Red Boy’s efforts were destined to be in vain.
His easy instigation by Jinmaohou was actually due to this family turmoil, coupled with his long-suppressed frustrations that he wanted to vent, which led him to pick a fight with Sha Chen.
Secondly, he also wanted to defeat Sha Chen to prove his own strength, thereby intimidating the vixen into leaving on her own.
In short, a combination of countless reasons had brought him here today.
Then, Sha Chen showed him a little kindness, and he was so moved he couldn’t stop his tears, even acknowledging him as his adoptive father.
This, too, stemmed from a lack of love in his family. If someone was good to him, he would repay them twofold.
Sha Chen actually felt a pang of pity. He patted Red Boy’s head and comforted him, "Boy Sage, don’t be sad. This will all pass."
Red Boy looked up, his face tear-streaked like a pear blossom after rain. "Adoptive father, are you really not considering it? That vixen is very seductive; you’ll definitely like her."
Sha Chen’s face darkened. So much for sympathy.
He firmly refused.
Red Boy, not giving up, pestered him relentlessly, trying every trick to persuade Sha Chen to take the vixen off their hands.
Sha Chen, however, repeatedly refused and demurred.
Red Boy was puzzled. "Adoptive father," he questioned, "could it be that you suffer from the ’king’s ailment’?"
Sha Chen retorted, "All such ’kings’ in the world deserve to die!"
Red Boy asked again, "Could it be... you’re incapable of performing your manly duties?"
Sha Chen’s face grew even darker. What on earth is this kid thinking!?
Red Boy sighed again. "Adoptive father, you must be cooped up here day and night, using the water as your mirror, seeing only yourself until you’ve lost all... interest. If you could just see that vixen, you’d surely be captivated by her, utterly smitten."
Sha Chen rapped him on the head. "If you think she’s so beautiful, why don’t you pursue her yourself?"
Red Boy looked aggrieved. "Adoptive father, how could you encourage your son to do such a rebellious and improper thing?"
Sha Chen was defeated by that look. He was thoroughly exasperated. You don’t want to do it yourself, so you want me to take the bait and provoke your father!? This brat needs to be taught a lesson!
Just as he was pondering how to teach Red Boy a lesson, the boy got up and began to drink by himself, looking dejected.
Sha Chen’s heart softened again. He offered some kind words of comfort, but they had little effect.
Thus, the banquet ended on a rather discordant note.
「The next day.」
Red Boy was once again full of vim and vigor, as if he had forgotten the previous night’s unpleasantness, only remembering that he had acknowledged Sha Chen as his adoptive father.
Even when sober, he called Sha Chen "Adoptive father" without the slightest awkwardness, and with even greater sincerity.
"Adoptive father," Red Boy said, clasping his fists in greeting, "thank you for overlooking my previous offenses and taking me in."
Sha Chen nodded inwardly. He had genuinely worried that Red Boy, upon sobering up, would disown their new relationship and turn insubordinate. In that case, he would have had to find a way to make the boy recall their heartwarming father-son moments. Fortunately, Red Boy was a filial son.
Red Boy said, "Adoptive father, this place is spacious. How about I temporarily stay here and keep you company for a while? I can go out and kill Jinmaohou a bit later."
Sha Chen said, "That’s fine. We, father and son, have just acknowledged our bond; it’s a good time to strengthen it."
In truth, he was also worried this might all be an act on Red Boy’s part. He needed to observe him for a period to decide whether Red Boy should stay or go. Otherwise, if Red Boy left and word of his current situation here got out, becoming common knowledge, he would be in huge trouble. A demoted general living so comfortably? Would the Heavenly Court tolerate it? Would Buddhism allow him to continue developing like this? Impossible. They wanted Sha Chen to suffer miserably, to be driven to desperation, and finally, to be converted by Buddhism.
After Red Boy decided to stay, Sha Chen was unusually generous for once, not charging him rent.
However, he also hinted that gifts for festivals and important occasions were not to be forgotten.
He wasn’t worried about Red Boy depleting his resources, as they were already mostly gone. Very little remained. He himself didn’t have enough, let alone enough to give Red Boy.
Instead, it was Red Boy who, seeing Sha Chen’s apparent destitution (unaware of his unopened storeroom), couldn’t bear it and paid out of his own pocket.
He took out a Qiankun Bag, saying, "Adoptive father, I don’t have a proper welcoming gift. These are my savings from my days as a demon. It’s all honestly plundered, very ’clean’ earnings. Please accept this as a token of my filial piety."
Sha Chen was moved beyond words. These resources were all plundered by Red Boy with his own spear; they were hard-earned spoils and thus indeed very ’clean’. He hadn’t expected Red Boy to be willing to offer it all to him.
Sha Chen said, "You’re still a child. I haven’t even given you a welcoming gift, and yet you’re giving one to me. What will you use for yourself?"
Red Boy replied, "It’s fine, I have another bag."
Sha Chen sighed. Where was the trust between people? Couldn’t he have just given it all? Would I really have taken everything? And if I had taken it all, wouldn’t I have praised him, saying, ’My son is so filial!’?