I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Jiang Wang frowned, his tone turning colder: "Fairy, enough with the jokes."

Our current situation is delicate; if our whereabouts are discovered by someone with ulterior motives, we will be in serious trouble.

I suggested we go to crowded places and blend in with the crowd to avoid being easily targeted.

Chang'e was taken aback for a moment, then clapped her hands and laughed, "Great idea!"

The mortal world is bustling and chaotic, making it the perfect place to hide.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, where do you think we should go?"

Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, then looked into the distance: "Jiangzhou City is densely populated, bustling with merchants, and its atmosphere is diverse, making it the perfect place to conceal one's whereabouts."

Do you have any objection? "

Chang'e laughed so hard she almost fell over: "Wherever Fellow Daoist Jiang says we'll go, we'll go. I'll do whatever you say."

She paused, her eyes gleaming mischievously, "However, once we're in the mortal realm, you must protect this weak woman and prevent anyone from bullying her."

Jiang Wang glanced at her, but didn't respond to her words. With a flick of his sleeve, the two figures disappeared outside the Guanghan Palace amidst the swirling starlight.

Jiangzhou Prefecture was bustling with activity, its streets teeming with people and vehicles.

Jiang Wang and Chang'e, disguised as mortals, entered a hotel in the city called "Fu Lai Inn".

The place.

Inside the inn's lobby, the waiter was busy greeting guests. Upon seeing the two, he quickly put on a smiling face and greeted them: "Gentlemen, are you here for a stay or just for a meal?"

Jiang Wang glanced around the lobby and said indifferently, "Do you have any superior rooms available?"

The waiter scratched his head, looking troubled: "Sir, unfortunately, we only have one top-class room left tonight. It's spacious, comfortable, and reasonably priced. Would you two like it?"

Upon hearing this, Chang'e's eyes lit up, and she smiled meaningfully: "A room?"

That's truly... a match made in heaven.

She glanced at Jiang Wang sideways, her tone teasing, "Jiang Lang, what do you think?"

Jiang Wang frowned slightly, his tone calm but tinged with impatience: "Let's go to another one."

Upon hearing this, the waiter became anxious: "Sir, Jiangzhou City is bustling with activity tonight, and all the inns are already full. Our top-class room is the last good place we have. You'll have a hard time finding another one!"

Chang'e covered her mouth and chuckled, then took Jiang Wang's arm and said softly, "Jiang Lang, why bother?"
"What's wrong with sharing a room? We're traveling the same way; wouldn't it be better to look after each other?"

She deliberately used the phrase "going the same way"

He emphasized the word "two" and his eyes were full of mockery.

Jiang Wang withdrew his arm without making a sound, his cold gaze sweeping towards the corner of the hall.

In that corner, several men dressed in coarse cloth were talking and laughing loudly, seemingly merchants who had just arrived from out of town.

With a thought, he subtly made a hand seal with his fingertips, and a wisp of light flew out from his sleeve, silently merging into the shadows of the corner.

Before long, a cold wind suddenly swept through the hall, and the candlelight in the corner flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

The men suddenly felt a chill down their spines. One of them jumped up and exclaimed, "This...this place is not right!"
I think I just saw a dark shadow drift by!

Another man, his face pale, stammered, "Could it be that we've encountered a ghost?"
"Brothers, let's find somewhere else, this inn is creepy!"

The group hurriedly packed their belongings, left behind a few pieces of silver, and quickly departed.

The waiter was dumbfounded and hadn't even reacted when Jiang Wang spoke up: "They're gone, give me the empty room."

The waiter hesitated for a moment, then nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen, I'll go get it ready right away!"

He turned and ran towards the backyard, muttering to himself, "That's strange. They were fine just now, why did they run away in fright?"

Chang'e looked at Jiang Wang with a half-smile: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, your little tricks are really interesting."

"What, are you afraid that sharing a room with me will disrupt your peaceful practice?"

Jiang Wang said expressionlessly, "You're overthinking it, Fairy."

I'm just used to being alone.

Chang'e pouted and snorted, "Boring."

She turned around, her skirt swaying slightly, and walked upstairs, tossing out a sentence as she went, "Jiang Lang, would you like to come and see me when I take a bath tonight?"
Not everyone is fortunate enough to witness the fairies bathing in the moon palace.

Jiang Wang's brow twitched, and his tone was cold and hard: "Fairy, please have some self-respect."

Chang'e's laughter came from the stairs, tinged with a hint of smugness: "Jiang Lang, you really do look like a gentleman."

Unfortunately, no matter how well she pretended, she couldn't fool my eyes.

Jiang Wang rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

He sighed inwardly, followed the waiter upstairs, and entered another cleaned room, putting Chang'e's teasing out of his mind.

A few days later, Jiang Wang and Chang'e settled down in the bustling downtown area south of Jiangzhou Prefecture.

They found two adjacent abandoned houses, made some minor repairs, and moved in.

Jiang Wang transformed into a pot-bellied, bald, middle-aged man, calling himself "Butcher Jiang".

He set up a pork stall on the street and started doing business by hawking his wares.

Chang'e, on the other hand, transformed herself into "Moon Lady," the top courtesan of the brothel across the street.

She sells her art, not her body; with her exceptional musical skills and stunning beauty, she attracts countless young men from all over the city.

That morning, Jiang Wang was chopping meat at his stall, sweat dripping down his shiny forehead, which drew teasing remarks from the surrounding vendors: "Butcher Jiang, look at your physique, if business keeps getting good, you'll probably get as fat as a ball!"

Jiang Wang grinned and said in a gruff voice, "Being a little chubby is good, being chubby brings good fortune!"

He chopped off a piece of fatty meat with his knife and handed it to the woman who was buying the meat. "Sister-in-law, this piece of meat is perfect with a good balance of fat and lean meat. It's great for making soup. Here, take it!"

Just then, a melody of a zither drifted from across the street, clear and melodious, like flowing moonlight.

Jiang Wang looked up and saw Chang'e in a red dress, leaning against the window on the second floor of the Yihong Courtyard, her fingertips lightly plucking the strings of her zither, attracting passersby to stop and watch.

Her eyes sparkled, and she gave Jiang Wang a flirtatious wink, her voice sweet and charming: "Butcher Jiang, come listen to me play the zither tonight?"

I've just learned a new piece of music; I guarantee you'll like it!

The surrounding vendors immediately started jeering: "Hey, Butcher Jiang, Yue Niang has a crush on you!"

"Hurry, hurry! Don't let this beauty's kindness go to waste!"

Jiang Wang's lips twitched, and he slammed his knife on the cutting board, saying in a muffled voice, "What's so good about playing the zither?"

I still have to sell meat!

He lowered his head and continued working, pretending not to hear.

Seeing that he ignored her, Chang'e snorted and suddenly changed the tone of her zither, making it sound somewhat provocative.

Jiang Wang felt as if thousands of enchanting sounds were swirling around his ears. His heart stirred slightly, but he immediately activated his Dao Heart to shut out the seductive sounds.

He shook his head inwardly and muttered, "This woman is really bored."

Meanwhile, at the Western Paradise, inside the Thunder Sound Temple, golden light shone brightly and Buddhist chants filled the air.

The Sage Zhunti sat serenely on a lotus throne, the seven-jeweled tree in his hand radiating a shimmering light.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, his fingertips calculating as if he were deducing the secrets of heaven.

Beside him, Bodhi Patriarch stood with his head bowed, his expression respectful.

“Bodhi.” Zhunti opened his eyes, his voice low and deep, “Jiang Wang is a slippery fellow who has repeatedly ruined my plans.”

This time I have rebuilt the Sumeru Boundless Array, relying on the Seven Treasures Tree to seal off space and cut off his ability to teleport.

If you encounter him again, first set up an array to trap him, then break his supernatural powers, sweep away the Primordial Golden Cauldron, and finally unleash the attack of the sage I have entrusted to the Mystic Tree, to utterly annihilate him.”

Bodhi bowed and said in a low voice, "Disciple will obey Master's command."

However, Jiang Wang is cunning and possesses many magical treasures, especially the Six Pure Bamboo Roots…

Upon hearing this, Zhunti frowned slightly and began calculating even faster with his hands.

He tried to sense the location of the Six Pure Bamboos, but found that his consciousness was as if it had fallen into the void, and there was no response at all.

His expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Strange, how could the Six Roots Pure Bamboo not sense it?"

Could it be..."

He suddenly opened his eyes, a look of surprise and doubt flashing in them. "This child has actually refined the Six Roots Purification Bamboo?"

Bodhi was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Master, the Six Roots Purification Bamboo is an innate spiritual treasure. Jiang Wang is just a rogue cultivator. How could he refine such a treasure?"

Zhunti snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with a cold light: "This boy's methods are unpredictable and should not be underestimated."

Bodhi, you must be careful on your journey. If you encounter Jiang Wang, do not underestimate him.

The power of the Seven Treasures Tree is enough to suppress him for now, but if it fails, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Bodhi bowed his head and replied, "Disciple understands."

Zhunti waved his hand, signaling him to step back. He then closed his eyes, and the Seven Treasures Tree in his hand shone even brighter, as if it were brewing an even more terrifying power.

Night was falling in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

After Jiang Wang finished tidying up the meat stall, he returned to his house. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Chang'e sitting at the table in his room, her hand supporting her cheek, smiling at him.

"Butcher Jiang, you must be tired after a long day."
Would you like me to massage your shoulders?

Chang'e rose and walked gracefully towards them, her skirt swaying gently, a fragrant breeze wafting through the air.

Jiang Wang didn't even look up, and walked straight into the inner room: "Fairy, it's late, go back to your own courtyard."

Chang'e pouted and snorted, "How boring."

Jiang Lang, how can you, a grown man, be so clueless about romance?

All those young masters at the brothel doted on me, but you, you don't even give me a smile."

Jiang Wang stopped and turned to look at her, his tone calm: "Chang'e, we each have our own purposes, and staying here temporarily is just a temporary measure."

If you're really so bored, you should practice your piano skills more and stop bothering me.

Chang'e was taken aback for a moment, then laughed even harder: "Alright, Jiang Lang, you wait, one day I'll make you willingly talk to me!"

She turned and gracefully departed, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.

Jiang Wang shook his head, closed the door, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

With a thought, a section of emerald green bamboo appeared from his sleeve; it was the Six Roots Pure Bamboo, emitting a faint, clear light.

He said in a low voice, "Zhunti, after all your scheming, do you know that this bamboo has already recognized me as its master?"

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a soft glow on the bamboo branches.

Jiang Wang's lips curled slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Come on, I'm waiting for you."

The night was as dark as ink, and the streets and alleys of Jiangzhou City were already silent, with only a few lonely lamps swaying in the wind.

Jiang Wang sat at the stone table in his courtyard, with a pot of warm old wine beside him. The wine in the cup reflected the moonlight and shone with a faint glow.

He looked up at the sky. The stars were sparse, but the sky seemed to exude an uneasy atmosphere, as if there were undercurrents surging throughout the three realms.

He sighed softly, picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, muttering to himself, "The Three Realms are about to get lively."

In the corner of the yard, a white rabbit hopped over. Its fur was as white as snow in the moonlight, but its eyes held a lively spirit.

Jiang Wang glanced at it, a half-smile on his face: "Fairy Chang'e, are you here tonight again?"

Or perhaps you've grown tired of living in the Moon Palace in Heaven and insist on coming to my humble mortal courtyard for some fun?

The white rabbit swayed and transformed into a woman in white, her wide sleeves fluttering, her appearance exquisitely beautiful—it was Chang'e.

She snorted softly, sat down opposite Jiang Wang, rested her chin on her slender hand, and said reproachfully, "Jiang Wang, you're really boring."

People come to see you out of kindness, but you always say things that are meant to hurt me.

The moon palace is cold and desolate; how can it compare to the liveliness of your little courtyard?
Besides, you sell pork during the day and drink and cultivate yourself at night, living a carefree life. What's wrong with me coming to see for myself?

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow and leaned back lazily in his chair: "If you're really bored, why don't you go to the Heavenly Court and ask the Jade Emperor why the Three Realms have been so restless lately?"

My humble courtyard isn't the kind of place you'd be entertained with.

Upon hearing this, a sly glint flashed in Chang'e's eyes: "Oh?"

You noticed it too?

The Heavenly Court has indeed been in turmoil lately. I heard that the four sages have returned from Chaos, and the Jade Emperor is extremely busy. Even I, a fairy from the Moon Palace, was summoned for a few questions.

She paused, leaned closer, and whispered, "Jiang Wang, tell me honestly, have you gotten into trouble again?"
"How come I've heard that even the saint Zhunti hates you with a vengeance?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang laughed heartily and waved his hand, saying, "Zhunti?"
That old monk just didn't like me.

I refined his precious Seven Treasures Tree, how could he not be angry?

However, if he were truly capable, he would have already descended to the mortal realm to cause me trouble. Why would he need to hurl insults and curses behind my back?

Chang'e covered her mouth and chuckled, but a hint of worry flashed in her eyes: "You make it sound so easy."

Are sages not to be trifled with?
It is said that the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa have returned, and the two Western saints, Zhunti and Bodhi, do not look pleased.

"You're just a mortal. No matter how high your cultivation level is, you're only at the Golden Immortal realm. How dare you challenge a sage?"

Jiang Wang put down his wine cup and gazed intently at the night sky: "So what if he's a sage?"

They are high above, scheming and plotting, but isn't it all for their own lineage?

The game of the Three Realms is no longer under their control.

I've been selling pork in Jiangzhou City for fifty years, living a leisurely life, but that doesn't mean I'm oblivious to their intentions.

Meanwhile, deep within the chaos beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Daoist Zhunti sat beneath a Bodhi tree, his face ashen.

He held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, but the beads trembled slightly because of his restless state of mind.

Opposite him, Patriarch Bodhi sat cross-legged, holding a whisk in his hand, and said calmly, "Senior brother, why get angry over Jiang Wang?"
Although this boy refined your Seven Treasures Tree, with his Golden Immortal cultivation, it is absolutely impossible for him to do so alone.

There must be a powerful figure helping them behind the scenes.

Zhunti snorted coldly, his anger still burning in his eyes: "Expert?"
Hmph, the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa have just returned from chaos, and they are all very aggressive, clearly intending to challenge my Western Sect.

That brat Jiang Wang had to jump out at this crucial moment and ruin my plans!
"If the Dao Ancestor hadn't given me this task, I would have personally descended to the mortal realm to capture him and get to the bottom of things!"

Bodhi Patriarch shook his head and slowly said, "Senior brother, let's put aside the matter of Jiang Wang for now."

The Dao Ancestor must have had a profound purpose in ordering us to search for the remnants of the Wu tribe and the Pangu Temple.

With the return of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, the fortunes of the East are flourishing. If our Western Sect does not seize this opportunity, it may be difficult to regain its position as the dominant force in the Three Realms.

Zhunti remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and said in a deep voice, "Enough. Jiang Wang is merely a Golden Immortal; he can't cause any real trouble." (End of Chapter)