Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong-Chapter 232 Tianpeng Lodges a Complaint (3rd Update)

(PS: I saw a reader’s message that there was indeed a mistake with Qin Feng’s cultivation level; it is Taiyi Scattered Immortal, not Heavenly Immortal. This has been corrected, thank you for the reminder! In the process of writing, it’s inevitable for some errors to occur, so thank you all for pointing them out promptly and correcting them!)

The Taotie had broken its seal and was devouring a large number of soldiers from the Heavenly River Navy. Everyone was terrified and fled in all directions except for Sun Wukong, who, with a flicker of his form, transformed himself into a flying insect and landed on the Taotie.

After whispering a few instructions into its ear, he flew off its body and rode the clouds toward the Jade Pool Water Pavilion.

Inside the Jade Pool Water Pavilion, the Jade Emperor was strolling in the Hundred Flowers Garden with the Queen Mother, appreciating the flowers, when they suddenly heard a commotion outside. The Jade Emperor frowned slightly, displeased, "What is happening outside? Why is it so noisy?"

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, it’s terrible, something big has happened!" Your next journey awaits at novelbuddy

With a series of shouts, Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng rushed in from outside the Hundred Flowers Garden, knelt before the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, and reported anxiously with salutation, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, it’s awful!"

"What’s so awful? What exactly happened? Marshal Tianpeng, don’t be in such a rush, take a breath and speak slowly! Explain clearly to Us!"

The Jade Emperor said sternly, but his heart suddenly sank. If Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng was in such a panic, it was definitely not a trivial matter. What trouble had arisen this time?

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Taotie, it’s the Taotie! The demonic beast Taotie has been released by the Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong from the bottom of the Heavenly River, and now it’s rampaging everywhere, devouring our immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court!"

Dammit!

At this moment, Sun Wukong, who was perched on a flower branch a few yards away from Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng, transformed into a tiny bee, overheard everything clearly and cursed inwardly in great anger. That damned fat pig was shamelessly accusing him in front of the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother!

Well, to say "accusing" might not be entirely accurate, strictly speaking, as it was indeed Sun Wukong who had released the Taotie. However, the whole scheme was actually plotted by Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng and his two deputies, Chen Xueyou and Zhang Wenshan, and Zhu Tianpeng was likely unaware of the tricks Wukong had played.

By reporting to the Jade Emperor in this manner, he was clearly harboring ill intentions and seeking to frame Wukong!

"Absurd!"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor flew into a rage, "I have treated that demon monkey so well, summoning him to heaven, bestowing upon him the title of Great Sage Equalling Heaven, and giving him a position in the Heavenly River Navy. Yet he dares to commit such heinous betrayal. His heart deserves to be condemned, his heart deserves to be condemned!"

"Your Majesty, the most critical matter at hand is to deal with the rampaging demonic beast Taotie. As for who released it, we can investigate that matter slowly later. It’s best not to jump to conclusions too quickly!"

The Queen Mother spoke out, and upon hearing her, the Jade Emperor’s expression softened slightly, he nodded, asked the Queen Mother to stay put in the Jade Pool to preside over the situation, and left with a squad of soldiers to the outside of the Jade Pool. As the Lord of the Heavenly Court, how could he allow a demonic beast to wreak havoc inside the Heavenly Court?

Even if it was the ancient fierce beast Taotie, it was unacceptable!

"Marshal Tianpeng, you said that the Taotie was released by the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. Do you have any evidence?"

As the Jade Emperor had just left, Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng was also thinking of leaving right behind him but was stopped by the Queen Mother. Her eyes, filled with scrutinous intent and as piercing as lightning, made Zhu Tianpeng’s heart tremble.

It was true that Sun Wukong had broken the Taotie’s seal, but Zhu Tianpeng did not know that! In Zhu Tianpeng’s view, it was a plan he had cooked up with his two deputies. They had tampered with the seal so that the fluctuations of the fight above the Heavenly River would transmit into the seal, agitating the demonic beast Taotie to break free and devour Sun Wukong.

Normally, the Taotie would have exhausted much of its strength in forcibly breaking the seal, and after devouring Sun Wukong, it should have become so weakened that it could be easily subdued.

However, something went wrong, and the Taotie didn’t attack Sun Wukong; instead, it swallowed Deputy Chen Xueyou whole and then charged toward the command post of Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng and Zhang Wenshan. Zhang Wenshan was also devoured, and if Zhu Tianpeng hadn’t fled quickly, he might have ended up as the Taotie’s meal as well!

Zhu Tianpeng dared to accuse Wukong before the Jade Emperor because he was convinced that the Jade Emperor did not know the truth. As it turned out, the Jade Emperor indeed believed his words and became angry at Wukong. But what did the Queen Mother mean? From her expression, she seemed not to believe his words. Could it be that the Queen Mother had heard some rumors?

Impossible, only he and the two deputies should have known about the plan, how could there be any rumors spreading from that?

Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng’s thoughts raced, but he dared not speak casually, fearing that saying the wrong thing would infuriate the Queen Mother, which could be disastrous. It was clear to all in the Heavenly Court that although the Jade Emperor was revered, in reality, the immortals knew that the Queen Mother’s anger was much more fearsome than the Jade Emperor’s.

The Western Queen Mother was indeed the leader among the female immortals, a true Quasi-Saint, and unlike the Jade Emperor who lacked combat power and was a support type, the Queen Mother was one of the strongest among the female immortals. To provoke her could mean not even the Jade Emperor could save him!

"Marshal Tianpeng, this palace is asking you a question! Do you have any evidence to prove that the Taotie was released by the Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong?"

Seeing Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng remain silent, the Queen Mother’s brow furrowed slightly, she spoke again, her tone already carrying a sharp edge.

"Reporting to Your Highness, your servant, your servant has no evidence, but it was during a contest between Sun Wukong and my lieutenant, Chen Xueyou, that the Demonic Beast Taotie broke its seal. It devoured my lieutenant in one gulp but did not attack Sun Wukong. To say there’s nothing fishy about it, I absolutely cannot believe it!"

Feeling the coercive aura of the Queen Mother, Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng, could no longer remain silent. His eyes shifted as he spoke. After all, the accusation he made was without evidence. But what he was saying now had been witnessed by all the naval soldiers of the Heavenly River, and they could all testify. From this angle, Sun Wukong definitely appeared suspicious.

It was now up to the Queen Mother to decide.

"No evidence? Without evidence, you dare to slander a colleague in front of His Majesty? Tianpeng, you have quite the nerve!"

The tone of the Queen Mother had become chilling. Because of Zi Lan Fairy, the Queen Mother had a favorable impression of Sun Wukong. That’s why she had spoken out to stop Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng, when he brought his accusation before the Jade Emperor. Now, hearing that Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng, had no evidence and was just speculating, the Queen Mother immediately became enraged.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger, I know I am at fault! It’s just that Sun Wukong has been insolent and uncontrollable since joining the Heavenly River Navy. I was worried he harbored malicious intentions, it was not my intention to slander, I beg Your Highness for clear judgment!"

Cold sweat streamed from the forehead of Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng. With the Queen Mother’s anger unleashed, the terrifying aura of a Quasi-Saint was unquestionable, and its oppressive force bore down entirely on Zhu Tianpeng. He hadn’t reached the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm yet, so how could he bear it? He almost collapsed to the ground.

"Enough! Considering you have the Heavenly Court’s interests at heart and your loyalty is commendable, I will spare you this time. But remember, without evidence, do not slander others based on your subjective conjectures! If there is a next time, I will not forgive you! Do you understand?"

"I understand, I understand clearly!"

Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng, quickly kowtowed to admit his mistake, "Your Highness’s teachings, I will remember them in my heart and dare not do it again! Your Highness, the Demonic Beast Taotie is still rampaging within the Heavenly Court. I will now go to organize the Heavenly River Navy to resist it, I take my leave!"

Zhu Tianpeng had seen it clearly now, the Queen Mother obviously had a soft spot for Sun Wukong. She was biased towards the Demon Monkey in every word she spoke. He wondered just how that rotten monkey had formed a connection with the Queen Mother. Staying any longer would not bode well for him; it would be wise to retreat quickly!

Getting up from the ground, Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng, ran from the Hundred Flowers Garden like his tail was on fire. Sun Wukong, watching from the flower branches, couldn’t help but chuckle. To see this fat pig in such a sorry state was truly satisfying!

"The Queen Mother really isn’t bad to old Sun. Suddenly, I feel like I might be letting her down!"

Sun Wukong’s gaze fell on the Queen Mother, and he felt a twinge of guilt in his heart. Although Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Tianpeng, was intent on his accusation, strictly speaking, it wasn’t nonsense. He had played his cards right and released the Demonic Beast Taotie himself.

But on second thought, Sun Wukong reassured himself. The Queen Mother favored him because of Zi Lan Fairy; it was a love for the house and its crow. Therefore, she looked at him with different eyes. The conflict between him and the Heavenly Court was irreconcilable, and there would eventually be a great battle. He couldn’t go soft just because of the Queen Mother!

His eyes darting about, Sun Wukong leaped from the flower branches, flew out of the Hundred Flowers Garden, and headed toward the sleeping quarters of Zi Lan Fairy. His main purpose in coming to the Jade Pool was to see Zi Lan Fairy. Since she wasn’t with the Queen Mother nor in the Hundred Flowers Garden, he assumed she would be in her bedroom.

"Zi Lan, Zi Lan!"

Zi Lan Fairy was indeed in her bedroom. It wasn’t her turn on duty today, so she did not follow the Queen Mother but stayed in her bedroom making sachets. However, she felt an inexplicable restlessness in her heart, as if something was about to happen.

As she grew increasingly uneasy, she suddenly heard Sun Wukong’s voice near her ear, which took her by surprise as she looked around, "Wukong, is that you?"

"It’s your old Sun!"

With a flicker, Sun Wukong’s true form appeared before Zi Lan Fairy. He casually cast a barrier that enveloped the bedroom, isolating them from external scrutiny. He certainly didn’t want anyone to discover him visiting Zi Lan Fairy’s chambers.

"Wukong, what brings you here?"

Zi Lan Fairy threw herself into Sun Wukong’s arms and then suddenly realized it was a bit unseemly. She tried to straighten up but was embraced by Sun Wukong, and after a brief struggle, she stopped resisting. Leaning gently against Sun Wukong, she asked.

In the past, Sun Wukong’s visits to the Jade Pool had been out in the open, never this secretive. Instinct told Zi Lan Fairy that something must have happened!