Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

Li Xiuyuan smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right, I'm leaving now."

Upon hearing this, the woman was greatly surprised and asked incredulously, "What did you say? Are you joking?"

Li Xiuyuan said, "Do you think I'm joking? Let me ask you, why are you using heavy troops to detain those who were with me?"

The woman was speechless for a moment, but Li Xiuyuan spoke up: "Since you don't want to talk, let me tell you. Ever since you summoned us in the main hall, you immediately detained them in that pavilion."

On the one hand, you and I live in that quaint courtyard. You've already planned ahead; if I also have feelings for you, then it'll be a natural progression.

If I resist, His Majesty might force himself on me, and it's not impossible that he would rape me.

Of course. I can see the situation clearly. Rather than being tied up and abused by you, I'd rather take the initiative to abuse you.

Now that they all have the clearance documents, there's no need for me to stay any longer.

Upon hearing this, the Queen, though Li Xiuyuan was absolutely right, still couldn't help but burst into tears.

Li Xiuyuan watched the queen shed tears. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy; after all, she was a woman who had been devoted to him and had been entangled with him for four or five days.

For a moment, Li Xiuyuan felt helpless and said, "Why are you doing this? You've tasted the pleasures of a man before, and you're probably the only one in the entire Women's Kingdom who has."

The woman seemed stubborn, saying, "I want to experience this for a lifetime. I want you to stay by my side for a lifetime."

Li Xiuyuan was really at his wit's end. He said, "It's impossible for us to stay together for a lifetime. Being able to be together for a while is already good enough."

The Queen shook her head, clearly puzzled. Li Xiuyuan, too lazy to explain, pulled the Queen aside and said, "I can only tell you that it's impossible for a lifetime. At most, I can only accompany you one more time."

Then, the woman was pinned down by Li Xiuyuan again and subjected to another round of brutal abuse.

.........

The night was very quiet. The Queen leaned against Li Xiuyuan's chest and said, "Look how good this is. Isn't it good for us to stay like this? Don't go."

Li Xiuyuan gave a wry smile and said, "Beauty, don't you understand?"

The woman gave a coquettish laugh and said, "What is there not to understand? Even if I let you go, do you think all the women in the country would let you go? If word gets out that we've severed all ties, you'll probably be taken in by countless women as soon as you step out of the palace gates, and you'll probably be worked to death in a few days!"

Even if you are incredibly strong, you probably couldn't handle all the women in a country. Besides, I'm not trying to monopolize you. If you see someone you like, bring her back. As long as your heart is with me, that's enough.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan said, "Alright, I've really run into a fool. Let me make it clear to you, you'll live to be a hundred at most. But I am immortal, I am a cultivator. Understand?"

Upon hearing this, the woman looked at Li Xiuyuan with a strange expression and asked, "Are you a monster?"

Li Xiuyuan said, "Can't we look on the bright side? Monsters are low-level creatures that can't live forever."

The Queen spoke again: "So you're a god?!"

Li Xiuyuan nodded and smiled, "I guess so, and the kind that's quite powerful."

The Queen still didn't believe it, saying, "You must be lying to me. He must have been betrothed before. I can just send someone to bring him over. Why do you have to be so sure?"

Li Xiuyuan shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Alright. I won't talk to you anymore, I'm leaving now."

Li Xiuyuan then got up, grabbed some clothes, and put them on.

The Queen had no idea what he was up to and asked, "Li Xiuyuan, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Li Xiuyuan laughed and said, "I've already said I'm leaving. If an immortal wants to leave, do you think your soldiers can stop him?"

Chapter 555 Another Accident

Then, Li Xiuyuan suddenly emitted divine light and flew out of the pavilion window.

The Queen of the Women's Kingdom stared at the unbelievable scene before her, speechless for a moment, and then burst into tears.

But Li Xiuyuan is already gone. Even if she cries, she probably won't be able to hear it and will never come back.

Li Xiuyuan did not return to Pangu Cave, but instead stayed with Zhenyuanzi for several days. Although Zhenyuanzi despised what Li Xiuyuan had done back then, he was still quite interested in the battle Li Xiuyuan had fought in the Lingxiao Palace.

When Li Xiuyuan arrived, Zhen Yuanzi immediately presented him with ginseng fruit, and the two enjoyed it together. They talked for several days and got along very well.

At the gate of the Taoist temple, the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi asked, "I wonder, Bodhisattva, did you fight against the Four Emperors that day?"

However, Li Xiuyuan did not respond, only frowning deeply, as if something was wrong. Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, asked, "Bodhisattva, what's wrong?"

Li Xiuyuan sighed, "It was my carelessness. A few days ago, I foresaw that Wukong and the others would face a calamity they would not be able to escape, so I went there in person to wish them a safe passage through that calamity. I never imagined that what was supposed to be one calamity would become two calamities after I went there."

I helped them through their first ordeal, but I never imagined there would be a second. Now they are all captured, and I must go to rescue them.

Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, also stood up and said, "Wukong and I are brothers. I will go with him this time to fulfill my duty as his elder brother."

Li Xiuyuan nodded and smiled, "That's very good. Daoist, please come with me."

Then, in the sky, Li Xiuyuan and Zhen Yuanzi transformed into two streaks of light and flew to the west.

In just a few breaths, Li Xiuyuan and Zhen Yuanzi landed on the ground.

Li Xiuyuan looked at the hole in the ground in front of him, calculated for a moment, and said, "This is it. Let's go down. The demon lord Pipa Spirit is not here, only some soldiers."

Brother Dao, after you rescue them, they must have suffered a lot these past few days. Treat them and let them continue their journey west. Then you may leave.

I have important business to attend to in this pipa spirit's cave, so I won't be going out with you.

Although Zhen Yuanzi knew that Li Xiuyuan probably had something he didn't want him to know, he didn't dare to ask too much. So, the two of them jumped into the cave.

As soon as the two landed, they were spotted by several lesser demons. Immediately, the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi unleashed several fireballs, burning them to ashes.

Li Xiuyuan stepped forward and said, "Wukong and the others are in the cave on the left." He then walked forward, with Zhen Yuanzi following behind him.

Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, was still self-aware. Although her strength was not weak, she was far inferior to Li Xiuyuan.

Li Xiuyuan was able to figure out where Tang Sanzang and his disciples were just by doing some deduction. If it were Zhen Yuanzi, he probably would have to turn the entire Pipa Cave upside down and still not be able to find out.

After traveling a short distance, they encountered several small monsters along the way, all of whom were turned into dust by Li Xiuyuan. Finally, they arrived at the cage.

Two henchmen were drinking in front of the cage. Inside the cage were Tang Sanzang and his disciples, along with Little Vajra. However, they all looked quite disheveled, with large bumps on their heads and looking listless and weak, lying together.

Li Xiuyuan stepped forward, killed the two henchmen, kicked open the door, and shouted, "Everyone, wake up! I'm here to save you."

Li Xiuyuan's call woke them all up. Little Vajra said, "Master, you've finally arrived. We've been lying here all day."

Li Xiuyuan immediately asked with concern, "Little King Kong, does the blister on your head hurt?"

Little King Kong nodded and said, "Master, you must be careful. That pipa spirit transforms into a beautiful woman, holding a pipa in her hand. As soon as she plays the pipa, people become mesmerized. When you wake up, you'll have a big blister on your head that hurts a lot, and you'll feel dizzy and weak all over."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan turned to Zhen Yuanzi and asked, "Brother Dao, can this be resolved?"

Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, stroked his beard and laughed, "It's alright. They've just been poisoned by the Pipa poison. Take them out first, and I'll naturally find a way to decipher it."

Li Xiuyuan nodded and said, "Since you have a way to detoxify, that's perfect." Then he said to Tang Sanzang and his disciples and Little Vajra, "I have important matters to attend to immediately. You should follow Immortal Zhenyuanzi out first; he will detoxify you."

After saying this, Li Xiuyuan turned and left.

Inside the cage, Pigsy complained, "I really don't know what the Bodhisattva could possibly do, that he doesn't even care about us."

Zhen Yuanzi smiled upon hearing this and said, "The Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva naturally has his own matters to attend to. Alright, everyone, please come with me quickly so I can detoxify you as soon as possible. You can also hurry on your journey to the West."

Then everyone followed Zhen Yuanzi out of the cave one after another. Little Vajra, riding on Pigsy's neck, suddenly whispered a few words next to Pigsy's ear.

Upon hearing this, Pigsy burst into laughter.

Sha Wujing stayed by Zhu Bajie's side and asked, "Second Brother, what did Little Vajra tell you that made you so happy?"

Bajie seemed very happy and started pointing and saying, "Sha Wujing, you don't know, the Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva, he..." But he couldn't continue and just kept wailing.

Little King Kong was pulling on his pig ears, scolding, "What a gluttonous and talkative pig!"

Pigsy's ears were being pulled painfully, and he begged for mercy, "Master, I won't talk nonsense anymore, please spare this old pig."

Little King Kong then let go of her hand and said, "If you dare to say another word, I will turn into Fire Boy and make you carry a ball of fire with you every day."

Led by the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi, the group finally left the Pipa Cave. They flew a short distance to a relatively safe area and sat down. Zhen Yuanzi then began to detoxify them.

Chapter 556 The Pipa Spirit

Zhen Yuanzi, standing not far away, took out the Taoist antidote, the Xuanbing Acupuncture, and used it to detoxify Tang Sanzang and his disciples one by one. After observing their reactions and confirming that everything was alright, the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi said, "Now that you have all recovered, hurry on your journey west. The Bodhisattva instructed me to urge you on, for the journey west is long, and you must be diligent."

Though they may endure years of hardship and exposure, they can live a carefree life for countless eons to come.

Tang Sanzang nodded and smiled, "Amitabha, thank you Zhen Yuanzi for conveying the Bodhisattva's message. We will head to the Western Paradise immediately."

Then Pigsy led the white dragon horse over, and Tang Sanzang mounted the horse, bidding farewell to the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi, saying, "Great Immortal, you should also return as soon as possible." Then he turned and headed west.

Pigsy, Tang Sanzang, and Sandy had all left, and Little Vajra had ridden away on Pigsy's neck. Sun Wukong, however, did not leave. Instead, he bowed to Zhenyuanzi, the Great Immortal, and said, "Brother, take care. I will take my leave now. We will meet again after we obtain the true scriptures."

Zhen Yuanzi nodded, patted Sun Wukong on the shoulder, and laughed, "May my brother soon attain enlightenment and become a Buddha, just like me, living a carefree and happy life."

Sun Wukong nodded and left.

With everyone gone, Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, had no reason to stay any longer and immediately rode a cloud eastward back to her Taoist temple.

Speaking of Li Xiuyuan, they were still inside the Pipa Cave.

It turns out that the Pipa Spirit's cave was located in the north, but it was heavily guarded because a person was imprisoned inside—a mortal.

This place is completely different from the place where Tang Sanzang and his disciples were imprisoned; it is decorated in a magnificent and luxurious style.

However, Li Xiuyuan dealt with all the heavy troops. Inside, red gauze fluttered, and everything seemed shrouded in a layer of mist, hazy and dreamlike, appearing both unreal and fantastical. Li Xiuyuan was in the middle of it with a woman.

After a long pause, Li Xiuyuan smiled broadly and said, "How could you, the ruler of a country, be captured by a monster and brought here?"

It turns out that this woman was the queen who had parted ways with Li Xiuyuan not long ago, the Queen of the Women's Kingdom.

The woman lay on Li Xiuyuan's lap, pitifully recounting, "After you left, I was heartbroken. I found a cliff and was about to end my life. But I was saved by a demon, a female demon who played the pipa."

She said, "Since I don't want to be queen, then she'll be queen." Later, she locked me up here, keeping me from seeing the light of day. I wonder what's happening in the Kingdom of Women.

Li Xiuyuan sighed, "What a foolish woman, but she really breaks my heart."