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

#1990 - Drought in Fengxian County

With the Jade Emperor's mediation, the matter was temporarily settled. The Buddha of the Western Paradise led his people to clean up the mess.

The Jade Emperor also left with his entourage to return to the Heavenly Court, while Chu Hao and Sun Wukong returned to Mount Yinwu.

Back at Mount Yinwu, Sun Wukong and the others brought out the treasures they had plundered from the Western Paradise, piling them into a small mountain.

"Brothers, this is quite the haul! All ill-gotten gains from the Western Paradise. Let's divide it up."

"This old pig grabbed the most! This is my way of showing my loyalty to the boss."

"So many treasures! We're rich!"

Sun Wukong and the others, along with Chu Hao, looked at the treasures before them and began to divide the spoils on the spot.

"While these treasures are all good, this one is the most valuable."

For Chu Hao, these treasures were nothing much, but there was one item that even he valued greatly.

Chu Hao was referring to four fruits the size of dragon eyes. These fruits were shaped like apples, but golden in color and shimmering with light.

"These are Buddha Fruits, formed from the spiritual energy of the Western Paradise, a great creation of fortune."

Chu Hao introduced them to Sun Wukong and the others, saying that these Buddha Fruits were treasures of heaven and earth, probably treasured by the Buddha himself, who was reluctant to consume them casually.

"Since the boss likes them, then they belong to the boss."

Although Pigsy was greedy, he was not stingy at all when it came to Chu Hao.

"Brothers, you can choose first."

Sun Wukong also said.

"Since we obtained them together, let's each take one. If this item leaves the land of the Western Paradise, its spiritual energy will dissipate quickly. Let's consume them immediately."

Chu Hao shook his head and divided the Buddha Fruits equally among Sun Wukong and the others, which greatly moved them.

The four of them consumed the Buddha Fruits separately, but Pigsy ate his too quickly, almost swallowing it whole.

"Boss, Monkey, what did the Buddha Fruit taste like?"

Pigsy, who hadn't tasted the flavor, asked Chu Hao and Sun Wukong, causing them to laugh.

After consuming the Buddha Fruit, the four of them immediately felt spiritual energy overflowing within their bodies, and their bodies felt incredibly light. This was a sign that their cultivation was improving and they were about to break through their current realm.

One Buddha Fruit was better than ten thousand peaches. Such a creation of fortune was naturally very beneficial to the improvement of the four's cultivation.

Then, the four of them each chose the remaining treasures, dividing them all up, before discussing their next course of action.

When Tang Sanzang first arrived in Fengxian Prefecture, he was greatly shocked by the scene before him.

Fengxian Prefecture was located in a central transportation hub. In theory, it should have been a prosperous place with rich and well-fed people, or at least a place where people had no worries about food and clothing.

However, what Tang Sanzang saw was poverty and desolation. The people were sallow and emaciated, the travelers on the roads looked like refugees, and some people were even starving to death by the roadside.

"Amitabha, how could Fengxian Prefecture be so miserable?"

Tang Sanzang was very puzzled by this and asked a passerby on the road.

"May I ask, is this Fengxian Prefecture?"

Tang Sanzang asked the man.

"Indeed!"

The man nodded in response.

"How could Fengxian Prefecture be like this?"

Tang Sanzang then asked.

"Venerable One, you must not be from around here. You don't know, but Fengxian Prefecture hasn't seen a drop of rain in three years. The rivers have dried up, and the wells have run dry. Not only can crops not be planted, but even the drinking water for the people in the city has become a problem."

The man had a dejected and desperate expression as he introduced the situation to Tang Sanzang.

"How could this be?"

Tang Sanzang found it hard to believe. Three years without rain was a disaster for the people.

"Alas, now the people of Fengxian Prefecture are either starving to death or fleeing. The entire Fengxian Prefecture has become a land of despair."

In fact, Tang Sanzang could also see that if the entire Fengxian Prefecture continued like this, it would probably become a dead place before long.

Just then, the sound of chanting scriptures and reciting the Buddha's name came from afar. Then a team appeared. The team was large, with several monks chanting scriptures leading the way.

"What are they doing?"

Tang Sanzang asked, puzzled, looking at the team.

"This is a team offering sacrifices to the heavens and praying for rain. The one in the middle of the team is the local Prefect. This Prefect is a good official who loves the people.

Since the drought, the Prefect has personally led the people, diverting water and digging wells, trying every possible method. Otherwise, Fengxian Prefecture probably wouldn't have been able to last three years, and there would have been no one left."

Speaking of the Prefect, the man showed gratitude, indicating that the Prefect did have prestige in the hearts of the people.

"Although the Prefect has tried every possible method, people cannot contend with the heavens, and the situation in Fengxian Prefecture remains unchanged.

Therefore, the Prefect arranges sacrifices to the heavens and prayers for rain almost every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, hoping that the heavens will have mercy and send down sweet rain."

Hearing this, Tang Sanzang basically understood everything. The calamity of Fengxian Prefecture was here.

"What Immortal Chu Hao meant by 'building a plank road in the open while secretly crossing Chencang' was that they would go and entangle with the Western Paradise, while I would first come to Fengxian Prefecture to deal with this matter."

Tang Sanzang couldn't help but admire Chu Hao's arrangement at this time.

Tang Sanzang was a mortal, a body of flesh without magic power. He naturally couldn't help in fighting demons or contending with the Western Paradise.

However, the matter in Fengxian Prefecture was a disaster sent by heaven, not caused by demons, and the Prefect was a good official who loved the people.

Then things would be much easier, and there would be room for Tang Sanzang to exert his abilities.

"I will follow and see, and meet the Prefect after they offer sacrifices to the heavens and pray for rain."

Tang Sanzang said, following the team making sacrifices to the heavens.

The team making sacrifices to the heavens had monks chanting scriptures in the front, the Prefect and others in the middle, and ordinary people following spontaneously in the back. Tang Sanzang was dressed as a monk, so no one would notice him in the team.

The team making sacrifices to the heavens came to a temple, where an incense table had been set up and offerings had been placed in front of the temple.

"May the heavens have mercy, and the gods and Buddhas be compassionate. Fengxian Prefecture has suffered a three-year drought, and the people have no food or clothing and are displaced.

We hope that you will send down sweet rain to save all living beings. The Prefect of Fengxian Prefecture leads the people in sincere worship."

The Prefect stood up and recited the words of sacrifice to the heavens. After reciting, he led the people in endless worship.

But even with such sincerity, the sky remained scorching hot, and not even a single cloud appeared.