Journey to the West: Man in heaven, working nine to five

#2175 - Hydrangea Laureate

It wasn't just the fake princess who was paying attention to Tang Sanzang's arrival; Guanyin, hidden not far away, was also watching him.

This time, the Tathagata Buddha had invested a lot, so he needed it to succeed. He sent his most capable subordinate, Guanyin, to oversee the entire plan's execution.

From the moment Tang Sanzang and his disciples entered the capital of Tianzhu, their every move was under Guanyin's surveillance. Seeing that Tang Sanzang and the others were about to reach the location for the tossing of the embroidered ball, a smile appeared on Guanyin's face.

"Order all the Buddhas to cooperate according to the plan and ensure the embroidered ball ends up in Tang Sanzang's hands," Guanyin commanded.

Although Tang Sanzang and his disciples were walking on a bustling street filled with people, most of the passing and gathering pedestrians were not ordinary citizens.

Instead, they were Buddhas from the Western Paradise transformed by Guanyin, all to keep Tang Sanzang and his disciples firmly within the plan.

However, what they didn't know was that Tang Sanzang and his disciples had already seen through the deception.

"The Western Paradise Buddhas are terrible actors; they can't even convincingly disguise themselves as ordinary people," Sun Wukong said to Tang Sanzang and the others.

Although those Buddhas had transformed into the appearance of commoners, their walking gait, expressions, and movements still carried the habits of Buddhas.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples could basically see through it, but they were just pretending not to notice.

"The Western Paradise Buddhas are all like this; we don't need to pay them any attention," Tang Sanzang said softly to Sun Wukong, shaking his head. However, his gaze towards those fake commoners showed great disgust and disdain.

They continued forward for a while and arrived at the place where the crowd was gathered.

Tang Sanzang pretended to be curious and said to Sun Wukong and the others.

"Disciples, this Tianzhu Kingdom truly lives up to its reputation as a great nation; it's so lively and extraordinary.

Why are so many people gathered here? There must be something happening. We might as well stop and take a look."

After Tang Sanzang finished speaking, he dismounted and led Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples into the crowd, feigning curiosity to investigate.

The fake princess saw Tang Sanzang appear in the crowd and knew her chance had come, so she was already prepared.

Below, Tang Sanzang curiously asked one of the commoners.

"Esteemed benefactor, may I ask why you are all gathered here?"

In fact, Tang Sanzang naturally saw that this commoner was fake, transformed by a Buddha.

The Buddha who had transformed into a commoner naturally introduced the situation to Tang Sanzang.

"Elder, you may not know, but this is our Tianzhu Kingdom's princess, tossing an embroidered ball to choose a husband," he said.

Immediately, another commoner transformed by a Buddha chimed in, saying to Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

"Our Tianzhu Kingdom's princess is as beautiful as a flower, like a fairy, captivating the country and the city."

"If someone can grab the embroidered ball, the princess will marry him, and he will become the驸马 (imperial son-in-law) of our Tianzhu Kingdom."

"This is a great opportunity to rise to the heavens in one step, gaining both wealth and beauty."

Hearing these words, Tang Sanzang naturally had to show off his acting skills. He immediately put his palms together, looking pious.

"Amitabha, so it's a marriage selection. Then this poor monk, as a monk, is not suitable to participate.

Disciples, let's leave quickly," Tang Sanzang said, about to lead Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples away from here.

Seeing that Tang Sanzang was about to leave, those Buddhas who had transformed into commoners naturally couldn't let him go.

They immediately created chaos, blocking Tang Sanzang and his disciples' path, preventing them from leaving.

Seeing this situation, the fake princess immediately raised the embroidered ball high with both hands and threw it downwards.

In order to ensure that the embroidered ball reached Tang Sanzang's hands, the Buddhas also secretly began to squeeze Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples towards the surroundings.

It seemed as if the crowding was caused by the chaos of the crowd, but Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples were all clear in their hearts.

"Master."

"Be careful, Master, don't get knocked over."

"Master, where are you?"

Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples were separated, pretending to be nervous as they shouted to Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang was now surrounded by the Buddhas, and Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples were pushed away, unable to help at all.

The Buddhas began to push the embroidered ball towards Tang Sanzang.

Those Buddhas pretended to be competing for the embroidered ball, but instead of grabbing it with their hands, they deliberately patted it.

Under the patting, the embroidered ball continued to bounce in the crowd, heading towards Tang Sanzang.

"Disciples, where are you?" Tang Sanzang saw the embroidered ball coming towards him and feigned a wave of his hand, directly knocking the embroidered ball away.

Seeing Tang Sanzang like this, those Buddhas became even more excited. Then, they patted the embroidered ball again, and the embroidered ball continued to come towards Tang Sanzang in its jumping.

Tang Sanzang pretended to frown unhappily and knocked the embroidered ball away again.

However, the embroidered ball would never be snatched by others. Soon, it came towards Tang Sanzang for the second, third, and fourth time.

Those Buddhas who had transformed into commoners, in order to ensure that Tang Sanzang got the embroidered ball, further used their methods, pretending to be crowded and chaotic, and began to secretly control Tang Sanzang's hands.

"They're really despicable enough," Tang Sanzang naturally felt it, but he still pretended not to know anything, just cursing secretly in his heart.

With Tang Sanzang's hands being controlled, he naturally couldn't knock away the embroidered ball that flew over again.

And that embroidered ball seemed to be alive, aiming at Tang Sanzang's sleeve and directly钻 (duān, to enter) inside.

This was naturally someone secretly casting a spell, controlling the embroidered ball to enter Tang Sanzang's sleeve.

Tang Sanzang naturally knew this, but he still pretended to struggle desperately, seeming to want to shake the embroidered ball out.

But those Buddhas who had transformed into commoners tried their best to control Tang Sanzang, preventing him from moving.

"The embroidered ball has been snatched by this elder!"

"The embroidered ball is in the elder's sleeve!"

"This elder is really lucky!"

The Buddhas who had transformed into commoners took the opportunity to shout, directly confirming Tang Sanzang's identity as the one who got the embroidered ball.

"Oh dear, this poor monk didn't do it on purpose. What should I do?" Tang Sanzang naturally acted again, appearing flustered, looking innocent and not knowing how to explain.

At the same time, he glanced at Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples. Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples naturally understood, knowing that it was time for them to cooperate.

They all came towards Tang Sanzang, also appearing greatly surprised.

"Master, how did the embroidered ball get into your hands?"

"That's right, grabbing the embroidered ball means becoming the imperial son-in-law!"

"Master, you're in trouble!"

Sun Wukong and his three fellow disciples also pretended to be surprised and unexpected, saying to Tang Sanzang.