Chapter 109: The Green-Haired Lion is Rescued

The Green-Haired Lion said, “How shall we enter the palace?

We must publicly expose the fake king’s true face, so that the ministers and subjects all know, only then can we rightfully expel him.”

Bai Ze said, “When I came to this Uji Kingdom before, I discovered that the whole country reveres Buddhism. Tang Elder is a high monk from the Eastern Land, who has traveled far to reach this place. I believe he will be welcomed by the entire nation.”

Sun Wukong said, “That king is transformed from a demon, he may not necessarily respect Buddhism.”

Bai Ze said, “But that demon has to imitate the king, and the old king used to respect Buddhism, as do all the ministers and officials. Even if he doesn’t believe in Buddhism, he will definitely put on an act.”

Sha Wujing said, “Little Brother Bai Ze is right. The king transformed by the demon, in order to conceal his demon identity, will surely act the same as the Uji King. As long as Master reveals his identity, he will have no choice but to lead the civil and military officials to welcome him.”

The Green-Haired Lion said, “That’s excellent. We can take this opportunity to expose the true face of this fake king in front of the civil and military officials.”

Tang Sanzang said, “Alright, let’s do it that way.”

So, Tang Sanzang began to clean himself, put on his brocade robe, and sat upright on a prayer mat.

Bajie and Sha Seng stood on either side, and the Green-Haired Lion also disguised himself as Tang Sanzang’s disciple.

Bai Ze and Wukong, then, taking the travel permit and credentials, rode the clouds towards the Uji Royal Palace.

Two Immortals flew from the sky, and also conveyed the information that a Holy Monk was about to arrive. For the Uji Kingdom, which reveres Buddhism, this was a major event, and the news quickly spread throughout the city.

The Uji King immediately summoned a group of ministers to discuss going to welcome the Great Tang Holy Monk.

The Uji King said, “Where is the Royal Observatory?”

Zhang Chaoyang stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

The Uji King said, “You cultivators are faster, I order you, the Royal Observatory, to take my flying ship to welcome the Holy Monk.”

“Your subject obeys.”

Zhang Chaoyang led dozens of cultivators from the Royal Observatory, using various magical items, and brought the flying ship to welcome Tang Sanzang.

The group arrived in front of the dilapidated temple, first burned incense, and then Zhang Chaoyang entered.

Indeed, he saw a monk with a solemn and dignified appearance, extraordinarily refined, and skin like jade, sitting upright on a prayer mat.

And the pig-faced and ghost-faced attendants standing to the left and right of the monk, actually exuded an aura even higher than that of a Heavenly Immortal.

Although that aura did not deliberately suppress him, it was enough to make him terrified.

Zhang Chaoyang respectfully said, “Holy Monk, your passing through our humble kingdom is truly the good fortune of our Uji Kingdom. Our Great King is waiting in the Royal Palace with the civil and military officials. Please, Holy Monk, move to the Royal Palace.”

Tang Sanzang said, “The Uji King is too kind. This poor monk will go with his disciples.”

Tang Sanzang set off, stepping out the door and onto the flying ship. As for the others, they could all fly, while Bai Ze rode the Yellow Ox.

The group, surrounding the flying ship, and accompanied by a group of sword-wielding cultivators, headed straight for the Uji Royal Palace.

“Look, that group is the Great Tang Holy Monk.”

“Wow, what a magnificent procession.”

“As expected of the Eastern Tang Dynasty. I heard that the Divine Continent is the center of the world, and that the people there are all direct descendants of Nüwa. They are indeed extraordinary.”

The people of the entire city, watching the procession fly overhead, were full of praise.

Soon, Tang Sanzang and his group arrived above the Uji Royal Palace.

The Uji King, with his civil and military officials, bowed and said, “Holy Monk!”

The flying ship slowly descended, and Tang Sanzang stepped onto the ground. He bowed to the Uji King and the officials, “Your Majesty, esteemed officials.”

After they exchanged greetings, the Uji King invited Tang Sanzang and his disciples into the main hall, “Holy Monk, esteemed Elders, please come inside.”

“Alright!”

Tang Sanzang responded and entered the hall with the others.

After the Uji King took his seat, he offered seats to Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

Then, he looked around at Tang Sanzang’s companions and asked, “Are these all the Elder’s high disciples?”

Tang Sanzang shook his head, “I only have three disciples, named Wukong, Wuneng, and Wujing. The child and the Yellow Ox over there are our companions.”

The Uji King laughed, “I have already seen that Little High Immortal and Ox Immortal some days ago. But this one wearing a veil, since he is not the Elder’s disciple, who is he?”

The Green-Haired Lion pulled off his veil, and then, facing the civil and military officials, revealed the appearance of the Uji King, “Who do you say I am?”

The ministers were shocked!

“How can there be two Great Kings?”

“How did this Elder transform into the Great King? What is the reason for this?”

The Uji King over there pretended to be surprised.

The Uji King, transformed by the Green-Haired Lion, said, “I am your true Great King. The one sitting on the throne is the former State Preceptor.”

“What?”

The ministers were instantly shocked, and the hall was filled with an uproar.

The Uji King coldly smiled, “What a joke. Anyone can come and say they are the Uji King. Even if you have the art of transformation and have turned into my appearance, how could the people and ministers of my Uji Kingdom be so easily deceived?”

The Green-Haired Lion took out an object from his bosom and held it up high, “I have the White Jade Tablet. You officials should know that this is an item I always carry.

But in these three years, have you seen this fake king wear it?”

◈◈◈

“This…it really is the White Jade Tablet. I was wondering why the Great King no longer wore the White Jade Tablet?”

“What exactly is going on?”

“Could it be that the one sitting on the throne is really a fake king?”

The Uji King said, “What can a mere White Jade Tablet prove?

I simply lost my White Jade Tablet three years ago.”

The Green-Haired Lion said, “You can deceive others, but you cannot deceive the Queen.

The Queen and I have a very deep relationship. In three years, it is impossible that she would not have noticed anything.”

“That’s right!”

Suddenly, a dignified and elegant woman, with a group of people, walked into the hall. It was the Queen of the Uji Kingdom.

The Prime Minister said, “Queen, what exactly is going on? Is His Majesty really the true one?”

The Queen immediately began to weep, “In these three years, this palace has been shedding tears every day.

At first, this palace thought that I had done something wrong, causing the Great King to be unhappy.

Later, I was surprised to discover that the Great King was actually a eunuch.”

“A eunuch?”

The civil and military officials were shocked. How could their own Majesty have become a eunuch?

The Queen said, “Now this palace finally knows that the real Great King was killed by him.”

The Uji King pointed at the Queen, “You vile woman, you’re talking nonsense!”

The Green-Haired Lion said, “Demon, quickly reveal your true form. How long do you intend to occupy my Uji King’s throne?”

The Uji King said, “You all must not listen to his nonsense. I am the real Uji King, he is the demon.”

At this time, Great Sage Sun jumped out, his eyes emitting golden light, “This old Sun’s fiery eyes can see at a glance who is the real demon.”

Saying this, Sun Wukong pointed at the Uji King, “You are a lion demon!”

The Green-Haired Lion said, “That’s right, it was this lion demon who killed me and seized my throne.”

The Uji King said, “You’re all talking nonsense!”

“Whether we’re talking nonsense or not, take this old Sun’s staff, and everything will be clear!”

Saying this, Wukong raised his staff and struck. The Uji King’s face instantly turned into that of a lion, and then he fled in all directions.

The civil and military officials in the hall were immediately in an uproar!

“So the king really is a demon!”

“Heavens, it’s been three whole years. We have been living with a demon. It turns out that the one we have been worshipping every day is a demon!”

“Fortunately, these Elders have arrived, otherwise, who knows when that demon would have been able to seize the kingdom.”

The Uji King ran ahead, and Sun Wukong chased behind, occasionally smashing his staff down, creating a large pit in the ground.

Of course, this was all a staged fight.

Before long, the Uji King ran out of the hall, and Wukong continued to pursue him relentlessly.

At this moment, a person descended from the sky on a lotus platform, and immediately, Buddha light illuminated everything.

He wore a heavenly crown, was draped in lotus vines, had wide eyes and high eyebrows, and possessed a natural majesty.

This was naturally Manjusri Bodhisattva.

The officials of the Uji Kingdom, seeing the Bodhisattva arrive, all bowed and said, “We pay our respects to the Bodhisattva.”

Tang Sanzang also came out with his disciples and clasped his hands together towards Manjusri Bodhisattva, “Disciple pays respect to the Bodhisattva.”

Manjusri Bodhisattva glanced at Wukong, “That mischievous monkey, do not fight anymore. Your pilgrimage should have this tribulation.

Some time ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva found me and borrowed this Green-Haired Lion, saying that she would use him to act as a tribulation. This poor monk would naturally not refuse such a thing.

Now that you have passed this tribulation, do not harm my Green Lion.”

Sun Wukong bowed towards the sky and said, “Since he is the Bodhisattva’s mount, then this old Sun will naturally show mercy. Please, Bodhisattva, take this Green Lion away.”

“Beast, do not return.”

Manjusri Bodhisattva scolded the Uji King, and the Uji King let out a ‘roar’, transformed into a large lion, and then, stepping on the clouds, returned to Manjusri Bodhisattva’s side.

Manjusri Bodhisattva left with the large lion.

The Green-Haired Lion, gazing at the departing backs of Manjusri Bodhisattva and the Uji King, sighed in his heart, “My benefactor has suffered. I, Green Lion, will never forget your kindness.”

At this time, the Uji King transformed by the Green-Haired Lion came before Tang Sanzang and knelt on the ground with a thud.

The Green-Haired Lion said, “Elder, after this incident, this little king’s mortal heart is at an end. I beg Elder to accept me as a disciple. I am willing to follow Elder to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures.”