Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

Chapter 994 Lotus Imprisoned

After Sun Wukong left, he didn't say a word. Zhu Bajie stood aside, feeling uneasy. His senior brother must be angry, otherwise he wouldn't be like this.

"Brother Monkey..." Pigsy spoke cautiously, carefully observing Sun Wukong's expression. He was terrified; his senior brother was quite frightening, and he usually didn't show such an expression.

"No, I must avenge those people of Wangsi! Bajie, let's go!!!" Sun Wukong interrupted Zhu Bajie, suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, startling Zhu Bajie.

"Brother Monkey, where are we going?" Pigsy still looked completely bewildered. Why couldn't he keep up with his senior brother's train of thought? He must have been scared by him.

"Let's take revenge," Sun Wukong said resolutely, while Zhu Bajie listened with even greater fear.

Putting aside whether they can find those people or defeat them, they still have a mission! They must find the relic as soon as possible so that they can have some power to contend with Wutian. If Wutian really rules the three realms, it will undoubtedly be a cataclysmic event for all living beings in the three realms.

Although Zhu Bajie couldn't keep up with Sun Wukong's train of thought, he had to admit that he was relatively calm and, upon careful consideration, was determined to stop his senior brother.

"Senior Brother, this is absolutely unacceptable! Have you forgotten the task Buddha entrusted to us? If we insist on going our own way and ruin Buddha's great cause, then even more sentient beings will die because of us. Can you really bear to see other people's wives and children torn apart, their families destroyed and their lives ruined?"

It has to be said that Pigsy's words struck a chord with Sun Wukong, bringing him back to his senses. Yes, they still had a mission, and they couldn't let innocent people suffer any more. A small act of impatience could ruin a great plan. He needed to remain calm and composed.

At this moment, Bai Lianhua had awakened from her coma. When she learned that Qiao Ling'er had been lured away by a giant eagle, Bai Lianhua was devastated. She began to wander through the streets and alleys, searching for Qiao Ling'er's whereabouts.

Yes, she fell in love with him. She, Bai Lianhua, was a person who dared to love and hate. She did everything simply because she didn't want to leave any regrets in her heart in the end.

As Bai Lianhua walked through a deep alley, he was mesmerized by the person in front of him, as if he were the only person left in the world. Bai Lianhua looked at Qiao Ling'er, who was standing on the street looking around, and his eyes stung with tears. He hadn't felt this way in a long time.

"Qiao Ling'er..." Bai Lianhua rushed forward and hugged Qiao Ling'er tightly. In that instant, she felt a sense of satisfaction and peace, and tears welled up in her eyes. Bai Lianhua buried her head tightly in Qiao Ling'er's chest.

Qiao Ling'er was embraced by Bai Lianhua, and he felt his whole body stiffen. His chest was soaked with tears. Only then did he realize that he was really being embraced by a woman, and it was that fierce woman.

Qiao Ling'er instinctively hugged Bai Lianhua tightly. She never expected that the ruthless woman would have such a vulnerable side, which suddenly stirred up a protective instinct in Qiao Ling'er.

"Ling'er, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I shouldn't have treated you like this." Bai Lianhua's voice choked with sobs, but her head was still buried in Qiao Ling'er's chest.

"It's alright." Hearing Bai Lianhua's apology, Qiao Ling'er still felt a little unreal. It was unbelievable that Bai Lianhua would apologize, considering that she was a strong woman.

"Ling'er, I love you! Will you marry me?" After thinking for a long time, Bai Lianhua decided to express her true feelings. Although she felt shy and uneasy, she didn't want to keep it to herself and regret it for the rest of her life.

"Lotus, is what you're saying true? You're willing to marry me?" As soon as Qiao Ling'er heard Bai Lianhua say that she wanted to marry him, she forgot all the previous abuse she had suffered, and even forgot about finding Biyou.

All that kept echoing in her mind was Bai Lianhua's words, "I love you!" Qiao Ling'er felt like she couldn't breathe, couldn't think anymore, her mind was a complete mess, her heart was pounding with excitement and strength.

"Guards! Arrest that vixen for me!" Suddenly, the street was blocked by a group of guards, and a slightly overweight man in official robes stepped out from the middle.

"Who are you people? Why are you capturing Bai Lianhua?" Qiao Ling'er and Bai Lianhua were stunned by the sudden turn of events and didn't know what to do for a moment.

"White Lotus, you collude with bandits and steal the Emperor's personal silk quilt! You have nine heads and still wouldn't be enough to chop you off! You're incredibly audacious, showing no respect for the Emperor! Guards! Arrest him!"

"Yes!" the guards responded, and orderly surrounded Qiao Ling'er and Bai Lianhua in the center.

Bai Lianhua was initially filled with unease and a touch of unfounded excitement, but now, after being disturbed by these clueless soldiers, she felt her anger flare up and glared at the county magistrate with great hostility.

When Er Qiao Ling'er saw this white lotus, her heart skipped a beat. This was the true appearance of the white lotus—a fierce woman, not at all virtuous and gentle. Compared to Bi You, she was far inferior.

When Bai Lianhua started fighting with the guards, everyone automatically ignored Qiao Ling'er. Perhaps it was because her presence was too weak, but after the guards captured Bai Lianhua, the magistrate immediately ordered the troops to retreat, as if Qiao Ling'er was invisible and had no presence at all.

"Lotus, let Lotus go!" Qiao Ling'er looked nervously at Bai Lianhua, who was locked in the prison cart, and felt anger rising in her heart for the first time.

"Who are you? If you shout again, I'll lock you up too." After saying this, the magistrate turned his head and left with Bai Lianhua without looking back.

"Lotus, Lotus..." Qiao Ling'er ran after the prison cart, chasing after the white lotus. The white lotus was unaware...

"Ling'er, go back and wait for me. Don't worry, I'll be fine." Bai Lianhua shouted to Qiao Ling'er. His anxious appearance deeply moved Bai Lianhua, and she couldn't bear to see him chasing the prison cart for so long.

Qiao Ling'er had just died once and had only just woken up. Her body was still not feeling well, and coupled with the fact that he had been chasing the prison cart all the way, he was exhausted and finally collapsed on the road.

Chapter 995 Lotus Execution, Protected by All

On July 26, Bai Lianhua was taken away by the county magistrate for public interrogation. Bai Lianhua confessed to his bandit identity without hesitation. The county magistrate was furious and sentenced Bai Lianhua to be beheaded and displayed to the public at noon three days later.

Qiao Ling'er paced around the county government office every day, anxiously waiting for news about Bai Lianhua. The moment the notice announcing Bai Lianhua's beheading was posted, a storm raged in his heart. He didn't want Bai Lianhua to die, even though she had caused him to starve to death once.

Qiao Ling'er's heart was already tied to Bai Lianhua. This woman had given him too many surprises. People generally like to challenge themselves with unexpected events, and Qiao Ling'er was no exception.

Bai Lianhua was kept in solitary confinement in a cell, quietly waiting for noon three days later. She had seen Qiao Ling'er chasing after the carriage, and wondered how she was doing now. Would he be even slightly worried about her? Not knowing what was happening outside, Bai Lianhua helplessly tugged at her hair.

Looking at the long hair she was holding by the tail, Bai Lianhua paused for a moment, then picked up her own hair and started checking numbers. This place was just too boring, especially for a girl like her who had ADHD and couldn't sit still.

Staying here for even a second longer would be excruciating for her. It was truly a case of: "Walking into a room with walls on all four sides, seeing rats when you look up and cockroaches when you look down."

"Lotus, how are you? I'm sorry you've suffered so much in there." It turned out that Qiao Ling'er had bribed the jailer to come to the prison to see Bai Lianhua after seeing the notice.

Bai Lianhua was counting her hairs one by one on the ground when she suddenly heard someone calling her. Her body stiffened abruptly, and she quickly turned around, smoothed her hair, straightened her clothes, and gave a big smile before turning back to look at Qiao Ling'er.

"Ling'er, why are you here?" Bai Lianhua was conflicted. On one hand, he was very happy and excited to see Qiao Ling'er, but on the other hand, he didn't want Qiao Ling'er to see him in such a disheveled state.

"Lotus, don't worry, I will definitely not let anything happen to you." Qiao Ling'er looked at the disheveled yet proud White Lotus with tender affection. Her heart ached.

"Of course I'm fine! Don't worry, look at me, I'm perfectly alright! Okay, you should leave now!" Bai Lianhua didn't want Qiao Ling'er to worry about her; the boy in front of her was too innocent and pure.

"Your visiting hours are over. Get out of here now." A jailer walked in and forcibly took Qiao Ling'er away.

Although Qiao Ling'er was very reluctant, she was not as strong as the man and could only be dragged on the ground to be forcibly taken out of the cell.

For the next few days, Qiao Ling'er locked himself in his room, racking his brains. He wanted to find a way to rescue Bai Lianhua, but he couldn't afford to worry about Biyou Fairy right now.

When Biyou was transferred to the Heavenly Court, all the immortals in the Heavenly Court had already been banished to the Underworld, making the vast Heavenly Court appear exceptionally desolate and deserted.

Biyou Fairy searched around and found that there was no one left in the Heavenly Court, and the South Heavenly Gate had been destroyed, which clearly indicated that a great battle had taken place. Biyou Fairy was heavy-hearted and finally decided to go to the Western Heaven to investigate as well.

I didn't know until I went there that even the Western Paradise was deserted. Compared to the chaotic and corrupt Heavenly Court, the Western Paradise was much better, and there seemed to be no trace of any fighting.

Unable to find everyone, Biyou felt even more anxious and fearful. She was also worried that the reincarnation of the Buddha had been harmed by evil people, so she decided to go down to the mortal world to find Qiao Ling'er.

The three days in the mortal realm passed quickly. After Biyou Fairy had made her rounds in the Heavenly Court, the white lotus on the ground was about to be beheaded and displayed to the public. In an instant, all the people in the city gathered to watch, causing a sensation throughout the city.

These people had all received kindness from Bai Lianhua and had come to plead for her. If it weren't for Bai Lianhua's help, they would probably have run out of food and water long ago, and now they would be wandering in some corner, whether dead or alive!

"Please, sir, release Miss Lotus!" Suddenly, a loud shout came from the crowd, and chaos ensued.

More and more guards surrounded the prison cart carrying Bai Lianhua, and the crowd began to throng. In the eyes of the imperial court, Bai Lianhua was a Japanese pirate and a bandit, but in their eyes, she was a living Bodhisattva and a savior. They could not sit idly by.

They couldn't bear to watch their savior lose his life because of saving them.

So when they saw Bai Lianhua being treated this way, the masses were furious. These so-called officials of the imperial court protected each other and did not care about the lives of the common people at all. Now they even wanted to kill the benefactors who allowed them to live. Naturally, they were extremely unwilling.

"Quiet down, everyone!" The county magistrate, seeing this scene, was instantly enraged and shouted for silence, but his words were drowned out by the crowd's discontent.

"Lotus, Lotus..." Qiao Ling'er appeared in the white lotus's sight. Qiao Ling'er felt that he could not be weak. Although he could not imagine any way, he could just die with the lotus at worst.

"Ling'er, run!!!" Bai Lianhua saw Ling'er's figure and told him to leave. The sight of being beheaded must be very ugly. She didn't want him to see her in such a miserable state. She, Bai Lianhua, must always be the most beautiful.

"Sir, please release Miss Lotus! Miss Lotus is a good person, you can't treat her like this!" The masses of people only had one thought in their hearts: they couldn't hurt White Lotus. White Lotus had sacrificed so much for them. Although she was a bandit recognized by everyone, and even she herself called herself a bandit, in the hearts of these people, she was a living Bodhisattva. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also incredibly kind-hearted.

Bai Lianhua was deeply moved by everyone's actions. Everything she had done for them before was worth it, even if it meant her death. Sometimes, Bai Lianhua even wondered if she was dreaming. Otherwise, why would so many people speak up for her? They all didn't want her to die, right?

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Chapter 996 Meeting with the Jade Lotus

"Your Honor, Miss Lotus is truly a good person, please, please let her go!" Suddenly, an old man rushed out of the encirclement and knelt before the magistrate, pleading for Bai Lianhua.

Perhaps because one of them took the lead, the other people quickly rushed in, knelt down, and begged for the white lotus to live.

"You unruly people, stop talking nonsense! I am acting on the Emperor's orders to apprehend the bandit Bai Lianhua!" The county magistrate was so enraged by these people that he almost lost his mind. If there hadn't been so many of them, he would have had the urge to beat them all to death.

Of course, such an impulse could not be fulfilled at this moment. The county magistrate looked at the neatly kneeling crowd, a sea of ​​people, and broke out in a cold sweat! Even the emperor's procession was nothing more than this kind of scene!

“Your Honor, if you don’t release Miss Lotus, we won’t get up. Miss Lotus is our benefactor, our provider. We cannot be ungrateful.” Suddenly, one person in the crowd started to jeer, and the others joined in: “Miss Lotus is our benefactor, our provider. Please, Your Honor, release Miss Lotus.”

With noon fast approaching and the prison cart still blocking the street, the magistrate was furious and ordered: "Whoever pleads for Bai Lianhua, kill them without mercy."

"Yes!" the guards replied in unison.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding people indeed became much more obedient, no longer daring to openly plead for leniency, but only whispering among themselves. The road was no longer blocked, and the prison cart began to move forward slowly again, with more and more people gathering around it.

"Magistrate, Bai Lianhua isn't a bad person, she's a good person, she shouldn't die!" Qiao Ling'er suddenly shouted. Originally, he didn't have the courage to speak up, but the thought of what Bai Lianhua was about to suffer filled him with panic.

"You audacious scoundrel! I have said that no one is allowed to plead for Bai Lianhua. Anyone who does will be killed without mercy. Do you have a death wish?" The magistrate's anger grew even stronger when he heard that someone was still pleading for Bai Lianhua.

"Bai Lianhua is innocent. If the magistrate insists on killing an innocent person, then I, Qiao Ling'er, am willing to be beheaded along with Bai Lianhua." As soon as Qiao Ling'er said this, there was an instant silence. No one expected that this handsome man would say such a thing.

Compared to him, who among them had that kind of courage? Honestly, not many people could give their lives for their savior; otherwise, there wouldn't be this silent scene.

Bai Lianhua was stunned by Qiao Ling'er's words. She didn't expect that Qiao Ling'er would be willing to die for her. Bai Lianhua's life had not been in vain.

The county magistrate was amused and angered by Qiao Ling'er's fearless attitude. Everyone wants to live, and this was the first time he had ever seen someone actively seeking death. Since she was actively seeking death, how could he not grant her wish? "Guards! Take this scoundrel into the prison cart and behead her along with Bai Lianhua at noon."

He did this to make an example of him; if he really released the man, the rioting crowd would probably not let him off easily.

"Ling'er, how could you be so foolish!" Bai Lianhua was moved to tears. This was the first time in his life that he had cried so heartbrokenly. It was a pity that she was about to die.

This time, no one dared to stop the prison cart from moving forward. After arriving at the execution ground, people escorted them to the guillotine, and everyone gathered below the guillotine.

As the sun moved further down, sweat began to pour from everyone's brows. The county magistrate looked up at the sky; the sun was now directly overhead. He bent down, took out a talisman, and roared, "Slay!"

Just as the two burly men raised their broadswords, ready to strike, a fragrant aroma suddenly wafted from the sky, and petals began to fall in a shower of vibrant colors, a beautiful sight that stunned everyone.

Even the burly executioner and the county magistrate couldn't help but look towards the sky. Suddenly, a purple light struck, hitting the two burly men hard and knocking them to the ground. Then, a woman dressed in a flowing blue dress descended from the sky.

A golden light flickered in the woman's half-draped hair, and a peony was painted on her forehead. Her features were exquisite, and her skin was smooth. When the woman touched Qiao Ling'er and Bai Lianhua, their chains broke.

The woman bent down, rushed to the guillotine, picked up Qiao Ling'er from the guillotine, and left everyone's sight.

As soon as Fairy Biyou arrived in the mortal realm, she saw a lively scene in the sky below. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that Qiao Ling'er was bound to a guillotine and someone was pointing a knife at her neck. This sight almost made her fall from the sky in fright.

If the reincarnation of Buddha were killed by mortals, wouldn't he have committed a grave dereliction of duty? Fairy Biyou hurried down and fortunately arrived just in time to save Qiao Ling'er from being beheaded.

"Biyou, what brings you here? Hurry and save Lianhua." Qiao Ling'er was worried that Bai Lianhua might be beheaded after they left, but little did she know that his words made Biyou's heart skip a beat.