Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything
Chapter 874 - 874: Jiang Liu: Let me try persuading the King

The guard beside him glared fiercely at the innkeeper, obviously blaming him for revealing the matter of the king using the hearts and livers of over a thousand children as ingredients for medicine.

However, when Sha Wujing glanced at the guard, he no longer dared to glare at the innkeeper and immediately lowered his head.

"What!? Using the hearts and livers of so many children as medicine ingredients!? How could such an evil act exist!? No, I must enter the palace and persuade the Great King!"

Upon hearing the innkeeper's words, Jiang Liu's face was filled with astonishment, and he exclaimed aloud. As he spoke, he turned and prepared to leave.

"Master, no!"

Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, the innkeeper hastily cried out, "In the beginning, many people opposed this matter, but the Great King was determined to proceed, and many who protested fervently met untimely deaths! Master, I urge you not to go, lest you suffer a tragic fate!"

"That's right, Master, please don't mention this matter! To this day, no one dares to speak up anymore!" The guard beside him, emboldened, stepped forward and said to Jiang Liu.

"No, my journey to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures is to save all beings from suffering. Now that I have learned of this, if I stand by and watch, wouldn't my mission be a joke?!" Ignoring the two men's pleas, Jiang Liu shook his head and insisted.

As he spoke, Jiang Liu left the inn and headed towards the royal palace.

Though Jiang Liu had left, the people in the inn quickly began discussing.

In many wuxia novels, ordinary people like to gather information in inns because of the diverse and numerous conversations, where all sorts of true and false information emerge.

Jiang Liu's declared intent to enter the palace and persuade the king naturally sparked discussions in the inn, and the news quickly spread.

"Master, I beg of you, please don't persuade the Great King! If you do, not only will the innkeeper suffer, but even we might be implicated!" The leading guard following Jiang Liu, begged with a sorrowful face.

"Don't be afraid, I believe the Great King is reasonable! My persuasion to abandon using children's hearts and livers is also for the welfare of the people of Biqiu Nation!" Jiang Liu strode towards the royal palace while answering seriously.

"Master, Master, please listen to my advice..."

...

A dozen guards accompanied Jiang Liu, attracting the attention of countless onlookers. As Jiang Liu spoke loudly on his way back, naturally, his conversation with the guards was overheard by the surrounding citizens.

A high-ranking monk from the Great Tang in Eastern Land was going to the palace to persuade the king to abandon using children's hearts and livers as medicine ingredients!?

This news quickly spread through the royal city of the Biqiu Nation in no time.

Of course, the reactions of the citizens in the Biqiu royal city varied.

"Is Master Xuanzang really going to persuade the king? Can Master Xuanzang succeed?" A young woman muttered softly, her eyes filled with hope.

If he could succeed, wouldn't her child be able to survive?

The woman's heart discreetly prayed for Master Xuanzang's success.

"Don't hope for such things!" But as the woman's words fell, the man beside her shook his head and said.

"At first, when the Great King proposed using the hearts and livers of 1,110 children as medicine ingredients, many opposed it, including many civil and military officials!"

"But what happened? Those who opposed were removed from office or killed. Master Xuanzang is merely an outsider; how could the king listen to him?"

The man's words dimmed the hope in the woman's eyes.

Indeed, it made sense; so many people could not stop it, and Master Xuanzang being an outsider, is unlikely to sway the king.

"Oh, the master is truly a good person, but unfortunately, the king is adamant! Hopefully, the master won't completely enrage the king!"

...

Because Jiang Liu intended to persuade the king to abandon using children's hearts and livers as medicine ingredients, many citizens engaged in discussions, but the consensus was almost unanimous.

Almost no one believed the king would genuinely heed Master Xuanzang's words.

Jiang Liu didn't speculate about the citizens' thoughts, but he could roughly understand them.

Jiang Liu led the way, but upon entering the royal palace, he didn't immediately seek out the king, instead returning to the palace arranged for him.

"Master, are you really going to persuade the king?" Upon returning to the palace, Zhu Bajie asked Jiang Liu curiously.

"Of course!" Jiang Liu nodded and replied.

"But, from what those people said, the king won't listen!" Zhu Bajie asked puzzled.

Even he could see the king wouldn't agree; Master surely sees that too, yet why does he want to persuade him?

Could it be that Master has a way to make the king listen?

"I know he won't listen! That's precisely what I want!" Jiang Liu remained calm, answering matter-of-factly.

This answer left Zhu Bajie and the other disciples bewildered.

Knowing the king won't listen, yet Master still insists? He wants the king not to listen? What's going on?

"Sun Wukong…"

Glancing at his disciples, Jiang Liu spoke, "Actually, my intention is straightforward. I never thought the king would heed my advice. Instead, I will guide him to propose exchanging my heart and liver for the hearts and livers of those children!"

"Of course, if the king doesn't say it, I will voluntarily suggest it!"

Indeed, Jiang Liu deliberately caused a stir, letting the entire royal city know he intended to persuade the king, to ultimately display his righteous selflessness.

By then, he would genuinely win the hearts of the people.

In the face of destiny, the reward of experience points and treasure chest from an epic level task seemed insignificant.

Jiang Liu succinctly explained his thoughts and plan to Sun Wukong and the others.

Upon hearing, Sun Wukong and the others nodded in understanding, realizing Master's plan.

...

Upon learning the king intended to use children's hearts and livers as medicine ingredients, the news naturally was reported to the king and the state preceptor.

Furthermore, Jiang Liu's intent to persuade the king was also communicated.

"Oh? Master Xuanzang wants to persuade me? Humph, this is Biqiu Nation's affair, how dare he meddle!?"

The matter of using children's hearts and livers for medicine was a taboo for the king; he had suppressed this outcry with effort, now Master Xuanzang also wanted to persuade him?

"No, Great King, this news isn't necessarily bad!" At that moment, the state preceptor suddenly spoke.

"Not bad news? Why!?" The king looked at the state preceptor in surprise and asked.

"Your Majesty, think about it, what principles do those from the Buddhist Sect generally uphold? It's self-sacrifice, altruism, saving all beings!"

The state preceptor paused, then continued, "Since Master Xuanzang wants to plead for those 1,110 children, Your Majesty can propose using his heart and liver in exchange for the children's. Isn't that perfect!?"

"If Master Xuanzang refuses, it shows he's no different, a coward fearing death, how could he have the right to persuade Your Majesty?"

"If he agrees, all the better! No need for us to resort to poisoning, even Sun Wukong can do nothing, as it's voluntarily from his master!"

"Ha? The state preceptor makes sense!" Upon hearing the state preceptor's analysis, the king's eyes lit up, nodding in delight.

...

Believing the turn of events favored him, the king secretly felt pleased, even eager for Master Xuanzang to persuade him.

Jiang Liu, for his part, believed everything was in his plan, just awaiting the right moment to speak.

As night fell.

Soon, an attendant came to inform Jiang Liu that the prepared banquet was about to begin, inviting Master Xuanzang and his companions.

Amazing, as Jiang Liu and companions arrived at the banquet, they silently marveled; the banquet's scale was impressive.

Most of the civil and military officials were present just for a passing monk? Quite extravagant!

Time passed, and soon everyone was seated.

The king first spoke a few pleasantries.

Jiang Liu naturally nodded in response, maintaining a cordial atmosphere.

At least on the surface, harmony was preserved.

The civil and military officials mostly remained silent. For them, attending the banquet was a royal command, and many had heard of Master Xuanzang's intent to persuade the king to abandon using children's hearts and livers, uncertain of its outcome.

After several rounds of tea and dishes.

Jiang Liu stood up and spoke to the king, "Great King! I have a matter, not knowing if it befit to speak."