Volume One, Chapter Five: Journey to the West, Part Three

At Gao Village, Tang Xuanzang and his companions had already arrived at the outskirts. Tang Xuanzang gazed upon the humble thatched cottages of Gao Village, which were arranged in a charming, orderly manner. Along their journey, he had witnessed the devastation that had befallen this land during these prosperous times, yet now, seeing Gao Village thriving with abundant vitality, all the disciples felt a sense of relief, especially Tang Xuanzang.

Initially, he had heard tales about Gao Village on the road, expecting it to be like the rumors outside—overrun by pig demons, a wasteland of despair. But now, seeing the bustling population and the strong aura of fortune emanating from Gao Village, it was even better than the world beyond its borders.

Although Emperor Taizong of Tang was striving to maintain the status quo, humanity, having been stripped of their spiritual energy, was gradually declining, and the common folk were growing weary under relentless toil.

Without dwelling on these thoughts, the group stepped into Gao Village. Yet, the moment they entered, Tang Xuanzang’s expression shifted; he looked up slightly.

Before them, an overwhelming demonic aura instantly enveloped the disciples. The intensity was so great that even Sun Wukong felt a certain pressure. The demonic energy coalesced into a towering spectral image of a colossal pig demon, looking down upon them from above.

Tang Xuanzang clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully, addressing the demonic presence: “I am the humble monk Tang Xuanzang, greetings to Marshal Tianpeng.”

“Golden Cicada? How come a Buddhist comes here? Aren’t you afraid of dying in this place?” the voice sneered.

“Amitabha Buddha. Though I follow Buddhism, it is not the same as the one they believe in.”

“Oh? Do elaborate.”

“The Buddha they worship is one who cultivates the Great Way to perfection; my Buddha is one who saves all sentient beings. Buddhas are not identical; it depends on one’s faith.”

“Ha! So you were ostracized by that Buddha? Stripped of all your cultivation, condemned to ten lifetimes as a mortal?”

Laughter rang out heartily across the sky. The overwhelming demonic aura rapidly descended toward the ground. From within it, a somewhat corpulent figure emerged, stepping forward from the haze. It was Marshal Tianpeng.

He greeted the disciples with a bow: “Greetings, Great Sage, Ao Lie, and Master Golden Cicada. We seldom receive visitors here. May I ask your purpose in coming?”

“Heh heh, need I say more? Come on, let’s go with me, Old Sun, to strike the Heavenly Court.”

“Strike the Heavenly Court? You, stinky monkey, convinced me centuries ago, yet since then I haven’t held even the smallest office. They captured me alive on trumped-up charges, took away my immortal body, and reincarnated me as a pig demon. How do you expect me to fight now?”

“What’s that? Still blaming Old Sun?”

Sun Wukong’s tone was carefree, unbothered by the words. Marshal Tianpeng smiled warmly in return, as if two old friends who had been apart for ages were sharing a joke.

“Well, it’s not that simple,” Tianpeng said with a hint of doubt. “This strange phenomenon in the sky has lasted nearly a month now. You must have sensed it too, right?”

He glanced at Tang Xuanzang, who clasped his hands, neither confirming nor denying.

“The Heavenly Court, which even immortals wielding primordial chaotic power have not yet acted against after a millennium, is beyond our reach. Can we truly help in the chaotic battle from a thousand years past?”

Tang Xuanzang shook his head and approached Marshal Tianpeng.

“Marshal, you only see that primal force but have not considered the spiritual energy in this world that rivals it. Though a single unit of spiritual energy cannot match chaotic power, after that war, the Heavenly Court gained control over all living beings. Over thousands of years, it has absorbed countless spiritual energies. This world is no longer comparable to what it once was.”

“But this sky—”

Before Tianpeng could finish, Sun Wukong put an arm around his shoulder.

“No need to say more. We understand your concerns. But now that I stand here, you know what that means, don’t you?”

Marshal Tianpeng’s face showed inner conflict. He did not fear battle but dreaded that he might fail to save sentient beings once more. The helplessness weighed heavily upon him.

“Marshal, have you noticed that since the havoc in the Heavenly Palace, something has been missing from you all?”

“What?”

“That indomitable will, that faith to fight ceaselessly for the people until the very end—you have all lost it.”

Listening to Tang Xuanzang’s words, Marshal Tianpeng shook his head with a bitter smile. His immortal body had been lost, and his power was long gone. The realm he now protected was the limit of his current strength. To advance further was hindered by his pig form, an insurmountable barrier.

Tang Xuanzang seemed to perceive his frustration and said:

“Great Sage endured being sealed beneath the Five Elements Mountain, allowing the gods to absorb his chaotic power for five centuries to save the world. But after his chaotic power was drained, who fulfilled the gods’ needs? Similarly, Marshal, the realm you guard is merely because those gods have yet to unleash their true power against you. They wait until the spiritual energy in this land is fully abundant before moving. In the end, we are all just playthings caged by them.”

“Isn’t it good enough that the people here can live their lives peacefully? A day in heaven is a year on earth. For the gods, a century passes in the blink of an eye, but for mortals, it is a lifetime. Before the gods come for me, why not let them enjoy their best lives? Besides, my current strength probably couldn’t even defeat a great demon.”

“But Marshal, can you truly bear to see the suffering of sentient beings beyond this land? Even if you can protect Gao Village, surely your heart is torn?”

Marshal Tianpeng remained silent, standing still. He, like the Great Sage and Ao Lie, was hesitating, struggling—not over the war itself, but over the fate of the lives in Gao Village.

If he left, the people here would lose their shield; no one knew what chaos would follow.

As he hesitated, a tender voice came from below, and a small hand grasped his.

“Big Brother Pig, go! You will be a great hero. When you come back, Xiao Lan will cook lots of delicious food for you.”

Marshal Tianpeng was momentarily stunned. Looking down at the little girl holding his hand, his eyes softened with affection as he prepared to speak.

Suddenly, golden light burst forth from Tang Xuanzang. Countless rays of gold flowed into Marshal Tianpeng’s body. Within moments, the light dissipated, and the pig demon form slowly transformed back into his original immortal figure. His cultivated immortal body had returned!

Tang Xuanzang’s face was pale. Though he was the Golden Cicada and his strength rivaled the immortals, forcibly reconstructing Marshal Tianpeng’s body with a mortal frame was strenuous. It was a restoration, not a new creation. He barely managed it but lost centuries of cultivation and even sustained damage to his primordial spirit.

Marshal Tianpeng looked at Tang Xuanzang with astonishment, never expecting such sacrifice. He was about to speak when hundreds of figures emerged behind him. They stopped before him, led by a slightly stooped elderly man dressed plainly, who stepped forward. Beside him, a tall woman walked out and linked her arm through Marshal Tianpeng’s.

The elder, Gao Taigong, cleared his throat softly.

“Marshal, it must have been painful for you these past years. You wished to save the people but were powerless, only able to protect us here. Now you have this chance—go. Do not bring shame to the Gao family.”

His voice cracked slightly with emotion, and his coughing grew harsher.

Gao Cuilan, holding the marshal’s arm, echoed with tears in her eyes. Though reluctant, she knew Marshal Tianpeng’s heart remained with the people.

“Go, Marshal.”

“Marshal, good luck! When you return, we’ll drink together.”

“Marshal!”

“Marshal!”

The villagers behind them cheered continuously, encouraging Marshal Tianpeng. Tears welled in his eyes as he knelt down with a thud, bowing three times deeply to the villagers.

“Though I am a marshal, I was once banished to the mortal realm, my demon power sealed, a pig demon wandering with nowhere to turn. Thanks to you all for sheltering me and giving me a home.

“From today forth, I, Marshal Tianpeng, take the name Bajie. With the pig as my title, I vow to abandon greed. I will show the Heavenly Court that even if they change my race, they shall never witness the disgrace of Marshal Tianpeng assimilating into their realm. They claim this is the nature of living beings, but I will prove it is merely an excuse concocted by those petty gods of the Heavenly Court!”

As Bajie knelt, all the villagers, including Gao Taigong and Gao Cuilan, also knelt, tears streaming as they bowed deeply thrice. In unison, they declared:

“Marshal, victory is certain!”

Through tears, Gao Cuilan gently kissed Bajie’s cheek.

“Marshal, I will wait for your return.”

“To all, take care!”