52: Chapter 52 Who is not in the game?
52: Chapter 52 Who is not in the game?
Ksitigarbha smiled faintly and said, “I’m just grateful to the Great Sage for helping me escape, and since the Great Sage is a rare hero among the Three Realms, if I could help you gather incense and devotion power to enhance your strength, it would naturally be of great benefit to the living beings of the Three Realms.”
Sun Wukong’s face was expressionless as he brought his staff down hard on Ksitigarbha’s head.
“Don’t give me that official talk.”
Rolling his eyes, Ksitigarbha fell straight down towards the sea surface.
He didn’t expect Sun Wukong to really strike him, and he was directly knocked silly.
By the time Sun Wukong fished Ksitigarbha out of the water, the latter had a large bump on his head.
Ksitigarbha’s head swam, and his vision blurred.
Lucky for him that he had an indestructible golden body, otherwise that one strike would have cracked his skull and caused blood to flow.
The Jingu Bang could end lives with a mere swing and claim souls with a mere touch; a close brush would break the skin, and a mere graze would damage tendons.
Being hit on the head with a staff, even without full force, resulting in just a large bump, one could imagine the strength of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Barely conscious, he pointed at Sun Wukong and scolded, “You monkey, why are you so rash?
Did you truly wish to kill this poor monk?”
Sun Wukong grinned and joked, “The main reason is your head just looks too appealing.
I simply couldn’t help myself and gave you a good thump.”
Ksitigarbha rolled his eyes again.
Sun Wukong became serious, “Alright, I want to know the reason.”
Ksitigarbha’s expression turned solemn.
“I just wanted to save my own life.
There’s no need to ask more, Great Sage.
Actually, I don’t know much either.
If the Great Sage really wants to understand everything, I suggest you reach the Heavenly Venerate realm first.
Then look into these matters, so you’ll have some power to protect yourself,” he said.
Sun Wukong scrutinized Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, as though trying to discern the truth in his words.
Their gazes met, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s eyes were frankly calm and sincere.
Sun Wukong took a deep breath and said, “I understand.”
Then, he thought of a question.
“Am I being drawn into the game?”
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva laughed out loud.
He stood up tall and said with a laugh, “Drawn into the game?
The entire world is a chessboard, who is not within its confines?
What can Yuanshi Heavenly Venerate do?
To transcend and not enter the game, it’s not so easy.”
He had originally thought that players of the game were the likes of Lord Li.
Within this world, only beings like The Three Pure Ones would possess such mana and means.
Now, hearing what Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had said, it seemed they, too, were players in the game.
In this world, who could stay out of it?
The Monkey King once said our Teacher stepped out of it.
Now, it seems a bit wishful.
“Great Sage, try your best to improve your strength.
I will help you with this.
In this upcoming Jie, the Three Realms don’t hold much hope.
If you can rise, maybe it will increase the chances of survival,” Ksitigarbha said with a slight smile.
Sun Wukong was a bit surprised, he raised his eyebrows and said, “I thought you’d say I was capable of turning the tide.”
Ksitigarbha laughed softly, his eyes deep with meaning.
“World-ending calamities are not a matter for just one person.
Who can turn the tide?
It’s all a struggle for survival.
Those who succeed live on, those who fail vanish completely.
Just managing to live on borrowed time is lucky enough,” he said.
Sun Wukong felt the weight of his words.
What was going to happen?
These lofty individuals, each and every one shrouded in mystery, were truly frustrating.
Yet, Ksitigarbha’s words sparked his defiant nature.
Sun Wukong sneered and said, “Thinking they can kill Old Sun is not so easy.
Old Sun doesn’t believe in this nonsense.
Ksitigarbha smiled faintly; this was the Great Sage Equalling Heaven he knew.
Untamed and unsubmissive to anything.