Chapter 152: Chapter 146: Jin Chanzi’s Reincarnation, Flying Across the Sky and Crossing the River [Seeking Subscriptions Seeking Monthly Tickets]_1
The appearance of the reincarnated Jin Chanzi left Sha Chen stunned for a long while, unable to snap back to reality.
Meanwhile, the reincarnated Jin Chanzi muttered to himself on the shore, seemingly troubled by the prospect of crossing the Flowing Sand River. One moment he would sit in meditation to contemplate strategies; another, he would rise to act and test his ideas. For example, he tried felling trees and various other methods.
But not even a goose feather could float on the Flowing Sand River, let alone trees; they would sink straight to the bottom. Furthermore, with the river now boundless and the slightest breeze triggering endless raging waves, it was more terrifying than the sea. Above the Flowing Sand River, there was a thunder formation eye, the center of the thunder punishment, surrounded by dark clouds. This place, the Flowing Sand River, presented a scene reminiscent of the apocalypse.
Yet the reincarnated Jin Chanzi was not afraid; he simply felt despair, but not fear. It was as if his heart had never been so tranquil.
"Brother, is this monk the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi?"
By Sha Chen’s side, Chang E, who had emerged from her seclusion, had appeared at some unknown point. Having been in closed-door meditation, she was unaware of recent events.
Sha Chen nodded. "It’s him."
Chang E nodded and then asked, "Brother, what do you plan to do? Just watch him drown in the Flowing Sand River?"
Sha Chen said, "He can die, but not in the Flowing Sand River. If he finds a way to cross it himself, then let him. If not, I will help him across."
Chang E nodded, and only then did she notice that the state of the Flowing Sand River seemed different.
In shock, she exclaimed, "Brother, has the Flowing Sand River been altered? Why are the formations gone, and instead— HISS—is that the Black Tortoise Shell?" She was astonished. "Brother, where did you get this?"
Sha Chen replied, "Right under the Flowing Sand River, there’s a cavity. I stumbled upon it by chance."
If he had said this before, Chang E certainly would not have believed him. But after witnessing Sha Chen being acknowledged by the Sky Shaking Bow, and because of her deep feelings for him, she trusted him completely. Whatever Sha Chen said, she believed. It didn’t matter if he claimed to have found it in a pit; even if he said he had dug it out of a latrine, she would still believe him.
Chang E then asked, "Brother, why is there a new thunder eye over the Flowing Sand River?"
Sha Chen recounted the recent events, incensing Chang E.
"The Jade Emperor is truly senile! To think he’d listen to slander and increase your punishment. This is unacceptable; I’m going to find him and plead on your behalf," she said, preparing to leave.
But Sha Chen stopped her. "There’s no need. I think it’s quite good this way. For the time being, the Heavenly Court won’t focus too much attention on me."
Indeed, the Heavenly Court had already intensified the thunder punishment. If they still harbored designs against Sha Chen, they might as well just send a large army to march upon him. Moreover, Sha Chen was using the thunder punishment to temper his body, but he did not share this detail with Chang E.
His gaze remained fixed on the reincarnated Jin Chanzi.
Chang E also glanced in that direction, but after a short while, she turned to cook for Sha Chen. Her culinary skills were excellent. Using some ingredients at hand, she prepared a sumptuous feast and called Sha Chen over to eat.
Sha Chen was not reserved; he had come to terms with the situation. As long as Jin Chanzi didn’t die in the Flowing Sand River, it was fine. In fact, as long as the reincarnated Jin Chanzi wasn’t ambushed by people from the Heavenly Court or Buddhism, he wasn’t likely to die there. Sha Chen had noticed that the Heavenly Court still had people keeping an eye on the reincarnated Jin Chanzi, just hidden behind the thunderclouds.
Normally, apart from personnel from the Thunder Department—who would only appear when heavenly lightning was to strike—no one else would want to come here. After all, Sha Chen’s defeat of Wen Zhong had instilled fear of his strength in others; his formidable reputation had spread throughout the Heavenly Court. If Sha Chen were to suddenly go berserk one day, they might all meet their end. To avoid being killed, they would hardly show up outside of their designated tasks. As for the higher-ups who wanted to monitor Sha Chen, they would naturally use magical tools or divine powers for remote surveillance, not send people for such low-level monitoring.
While they were eating, Chang E suddenly said, "Brother, I feel that you’re somewhat overly concerned about this scripture seeker."
Sha Chen replied, "It’s quite normal. He’s crucial to the future of the Journey to the West. Both Buddhism and the Heavenly Court are trying everything to make me accompany him on this Journey to the West, so naturally, I must pay attention."
But Chang E questioned, "So, Brother, do you want to go?"
Sha Chen replied, "No." He expressed his thoughts decisively, without any hesitation.
Chang E nodded; Sha Chen’s response was within her expectations.
But then she said, "However, Brother, if you don’t want to, you should be very wary and disgusted with both the scripture seeker and the people of Buddhism. Yet, you don’t seem to dislike this reincarnated Jin Chanzi."
Sha Chen paused, looking at Chang E with a hint of surprise. He hadn’t expected her to be so insightful and perceptive, able to see through his thoughts.
After a moment of silence, he spoke solemnly, "Actually, there’s some history between me and this reincarnated Jin Chanzi..."
Chang E rested her chin on her hands, her cool face softened with tenderness as she looked at Sha Chen, full of anticipation, waiting for him to explain.
Sha Chen glanced at her and hesitated for a moment before deciding not to disclose everything. Instead, he said, "Because the scripture seeker is tied to my own safety, I have always been monitoring everything about him. I started paying attention to him from the moment he was born."
Chang E nodded; this was quite normal.
Sha Chen continued, "I watched him from childhood to adulthood. Someone else joined him then, someone who grew up with him. In order to influence Jin Chanzi, I secretly gave that person some pointers, effectively taking him as my disciple..."
Then he recounted the various incidents, big and small, involving Hanshan and the reincarnated Jin Chanzi: going up the mountain to provoke monks, going down to butcher dogs, raiding bird nests, catching fish, fighting... There were moments of laughter and tears in these events. Three days and nights wouldn’t be enough to tell it all, and Chang E’s eyes were already moist.
Gradually, she felt drawn into their lives. Such innocent childhood experiences were far too distant from her own. But as Sha Chen narrated, it was like watching a film, scene by scene, deeply moving and tear-jerking.
With teary eyes, Chang E said, "Brother, I never imagined you actually regard them as juniors, showing such care and consideration. No wonder you hold no resentment toward Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation."
Sha Chen said, "He’s just a pawn, unable to control even his own life and death. However much I don’t resent him, he will still be led by the nose by Buddhism. And as long as he is led by them, he will have conflicting interests with me."
Chang E also grew troubled. As Sha Chen had said, it seemed the best outcome might be to watch the reincarnated Jin Chanzi die en route. As long as he didn’t die right before his eyes, that would be sufficient. In the next life, he would be a different person altogether.
The reincarnated Jin Chanzi had already spent several days on the riverbank but had found no way to cross. He had tried every possible method to no avail. He even thought of building a trebuchet to fling himself across like a stone. But the Flowing Sand River was too vast, spanning a thousand miles; he probably couldn’t be launched across it.
Chang E said, "I really can’t understand. He’s a monk, cherished and adored by many. Apart from his rituals and prayers, he’s not supposed to labor. Why does he appear so world-weary?"
Sha Chen remained silent.
Just then, Chang E suddenly exclaimed, "The old monk is trying to cross the river! What’s he planning? Does he intend to fly across? How could he come up with such an ingenious idea?"
The reincarnated Jin Chanzi had no mana and couldn’t cultivate, so he naturally couldn’t ride the clouds and definitely couldn’t fly across.
But, with remarkable ingenuity, over more than ten days, he preached Buddhist principles to eagles, communicating with them heart to heart. He actually managed to win over two eagles. Then, grabbing a bedsheet, the reincarnated Jin Chanzi was lifted into the air, with the two eagles pulling the sheet.
Chang E was dumbfounded, not expecting Jin Chanzi to have such inventive ideas. How could an old monk have such an active mind?
Sha Chen’s expression turned complex as he said, "When they were young, they had experienced the sensation of riding birds and flying from a cliff, though they both ended up falling off."
Chang E froze, covering her mouth, her eyes slightly red. She knew who "they" referred to in Sha Chen’s story.
The reincarnated Jin Chanzi attempting to fly across the Flowing Sand River using eagles quickly attracted the attention of many. The celestial beings in the sky pointed and gestured, their words dripping with mockery.
"Looks like the old monk will die here."
"That’s right. Dying in the Flowing Sand River is good; it will involve Sha Chen in karma, and he won’t be able to escape."
"Those eagles can’t carry the old monk. If they somehow manage it, we’ll just kill the eagles and let him fall into the river."
The assembled immortals laughed heartily and then continued to watch the spectacle.
Sha Chen also watched as the reincarnated Jin Chanzi was carried through the air by the eagles. His face remained unchanged, his hands joined in prayer, seemingly chanting Buddhist Law.
It seems I still can’t change him. The mark of Buddhism is too deep; he is still fundamentally a Buddhist.
Using his Downwind Ear, he could hear that the reincarnated Jin Chanzi was chanting Hinayana Buddhism. These teachings must have been learned in the monastery.
「Half a day passed.」
The eagles were exhausted and could no longer fly. Releasing their grip, they and the reincarnated Jin Chanzi plummeted from the sky.
The reincarnated Jin Chanzi sighed. "I’ve implicated you both. I am truly sorry. In the next life, may I be an eagle and you be human, and I shall carry you in flight." Then he closed his eyes to await death.
The celestial beings in the sky all burst into laughter. After half a day, he hadn’t even flown a few dozen miles; the opposite bank was still a great distance away. And now, the eagles were falling. They also breathed a sigh of relief; it was best if they didn’t have to act themselves.
Within the Flowing Sand River, Sha Chen furrowed his brows and stretched out his hand, intending to slap the reincarnated Jin Chanzi to the other side. He couldn’t let someone die in the Flowing Sand River.
The celestial beings in the sky saw a giant handprint emerge from the river, aiming for the reincarnated Jin Chanzi. Their eyes darted about.
Taoist Master Gou thought to himself, The Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong said Sha Chen doesn’t want to participate in the Journey to the West. His actions now are definitely not to eat the scripture seeker; he could have done that long ago. Therefore, he must be trying to save him. But he’s not grabbing him; he’s slapping him. He probably wants to send the scripture seeker directly to the other bank to sever his own connection to the matter.
He then bellowed, "Great General Juanlian, don’t harm the scripture seeker! We are under orders to protect him and will not allow you to act recklessly!"
"Men, arrange the formation! Nine Heaven Divine Thunder!"
Then, a heavenly thunder, a hundred times stronger than the usual punishment, began to gather. Lightning snaked and flashed; dragons soared and phoenixes danced. Thunderclaps boomed and lightning flashed, as dark clouds and mist filled the sky. In the clouds, celestial gods glared, their eyes wide with fury. In the river, a giant stood, fearless of the light.