Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
Ren Xiaosu stared at Chen Wudi in dismay. “I have to explain that I’m not your master, and I won’t go to the Western Paradise on a pilgrimage to obtain Buddhist scriptures.”
“That can’t be right.” Chen Wudi shook his head. “Master, which direction are you heading?”
“Southwest?” Ren Xiaosu was a little stunned. “Stronghold 109 is to the southwest.”
Chen Wudi said solemnly, “The Western Paradise is also in the southwest. Perhaps Master hasn’t realized it yet, but you’re already on your pilgrimage.”
What the hell! This was the first time Ren Xiaosu was so confused by someone. “I’ll repeat myself: I’m really not your master, Old Wang is not Pigsy, and the person next to him is Wang Dalong, not Friar Sand!”
Chen Wudi gave a wave of his hand. “That isn’t important!”
Ren Xiaosu and Wang Fugui were dumbfounded. What did he mean by it wasn’t important? It was very important, alright!
Beside them, Yan Liuyuan was trying to hold back his laughter as he was afraid he would attract Chen Wudi’s attention. Xiaoyu was hiding behind Yan Liuyuan, and the two of them were laughing so hard their bodies began to tremble!
At this moment, someone asked, “What did you guys encounter during the escape?”
Those who had just joined the larger group were still in a state of shock. “Those bugs with human faces on their backs were terrifying. Last night, we even heard wolves howling. We were so frightened we did not dare to sleep for the entire night. But fortunately, Chen Wudi—”
“Call me the Great Sage,” Chen Wudi corrected.
“OK. Fortunately, the Great Sage helped us drive away all the bugs. They seemed to be quite afraid of him.” The person speaking was exhausted as he had been in constant fear for the past two days. Now that they had joined thousands of others, they finally felt a sense of security.
Meanwhile, Ren Xiaosu was starting to think about how to get along with this Chen Wudi.
This guy claimed to be the reincarnation of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but Ren Xiaosu did not believe his claims. He presumed this fellow had heard too much of the story of the Monkey King when he was young, so he ended up fantasizing himself to be said hero.
In fact, Ren Xiaosu realized after reading Journey to the West that the unyielding heroic image of the Great Sage who subdued evil was purely the imagination of the people. They only exaggerated his image because they needed a hero to look up to.
At this moment, Wang Yiheng and the others came over. He deliberately avoided Ren Xiaosu and said to the group of people who had just arrived, “Hand over all your valuables!”
He still had his eyes on Ren Xiaosu as he spoke. Wang Yiheng’s strategy was very simple: First, I won’t provoke you and your people. But when I’m bullying the others, you had better not interfere either. We’re both wielding guns, so mind your own business!
However, he was stunned when his gaze fell on Ren Xiaosu’s side where he saw Chen Wudi materializing a black and gold metal staff out of thin air. Ren Xiaosu was also shocked. The metal staff had a gold band on each end, with the middle section being black!
Isn’t this the Golden-Hooped Rod from Journey to the West?
When Wang Yiheng turned his head to Chen Wudi, he saw Chen Wudi pointing the Golden-Hooped Rod at him and saying, “It’s you, Xiaozuanfeng 1 !”
Wang Yiheng was confused ‘Who the hell is Xiaozuanfeng?!’ Wang Yiheng thought that even if this guy had a mental illness, surely he should be called the Black Mountain Old Demon, Yellow-robed Monster or something of that level, right? ‘By calling me Xiaozuanfeng, aren’t you looking down on me a little too much?!’
But before Wang Yiheng could react, he saw Chen Wudi swinging the staff at him. Chen Wudi roared, “You’re not allowed to bully the folks here!”
Ren Xiaosu had Yan Liuyuan and the others take a few steps back. He was afraid someone would accidentally get injured by the battle. Wang Yiheng still possessed a gun.
When Wang Yiheng saw the Golden-Hooped Rod being swung at him, he reflexively backed off and drew his gun in a hurry. Chen Wudi’s staff brushed past the tip of Wang Yiheng’s nose before slamming into the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust as the ground trembled.
In his surprise, Ren Xiaosu wondered whether Chen Wudi’s staff really weighed more than 13,500 catties 1 . No, it shouldn’t be that heavy!
With a loud bang, a muzzle flash appeared from Wang Yiheng’s gun. But everyone was stunned. No one knew when Chen Wudi had placed his staff horizontally in front of his chest. He laughed and said, “No bullets can penetrate my Golden-Hooped Rod!”
Nearby, Yan Liuyuan curiously said, “But the bullet didn’t hit your Golden-Hooped Rod. Your chest is bleeding.”
Chen Wudi looked down at his chest, then took a deep breath and said, “Fuck…” After that, the veins on Chen Wudi’s neck pulsated, and the bullet that went into his chest was squeezed out of his body with brute force!
In fact, Ren Xiaosu noticed the bullet itself did not penetrate his skin. He could still see part of the brass bullet exposed on the surface of Chen Wudi’s skin.
According to the story, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven was so strong he was basically invulnerable. But what kind of muscle strength would it take to stop bullets from penetrating?
Ren Xiaosu was absolutely sure he couldn’t do the same.
Wang Yiheng clenched his teeth and attempted to fire off another shot. But in the blink of an eye, Chen Wudi vanished from view.
A moment later, the heavy Golden-Hooped Rod appeared on Wang Yiheng’s left, vibrating as it swooshed through the air. It almost felt like the air around it was resonating.
As the refugees around Wang Yiheng fled from the scene of battle, the Golden-Hooped Rod smashed ruthlessly into Wang Yiheng’s waist.
With an audible crack, Wang Yiheng’s body was twisted in an irregular fashion from his waist. This strike had broken his spine!
In that instant, Wang Yiheng was sent flying away. He could feel his whole body paralyzed as he lay on the ground!
Chen Wudi plunged the Golden-Hooped Rod hard onto the ground with a loud thud. Holding the staff upright, he looked majestic.
Chen Wudi turned around and looked at Ren Xiaosu. “Master, am I cool?”
“I’m really…” Ren Xiaosu was dumbfounded and did not know how to continue the conversation.
The refugees quickly distanced themselves from Wang Yiheng. They were all afraid of getting implicated by Wang Yiheng, who was wailing in agony on the ground, while other escapees’ eyes were filled with joy. They had long hated Wang Yiheng and knew he would only get more and more difficult to satisfy.
Someone said to Chen Wudi, “Thank you!”
“Why are you thanking me?” Chen Wudi waved his hand without a care. “You should thank my master instead!”
A few people were stunned as they turned around and looked at Ren Xiaosu. “Thank you!”
Ren Xiaosu’s eyes lit up, because he had received more than ten gratitude tokens with almost no effort!
He had been worrying about how to collect more gratitude tokens. He did not expect Chen Wudi would help him get so many of them without him needing to do anything.
Yan Liuyuan looked at Ren Xiaosu. He wanted to ask him what they should do next. However, he saw Ren Xiaosu walking eagerly towards Chen Wudi. “Disciple, does your injury still hurt? Master has an excellent medicine here that can treat wounds!”
Yan Liuyuan was confused
Wang Fugui was confused
Everyone watching was confused.
Did they really have to head to the Western Paradise to obtain the Buddhist scriptures?!
