279: Verbal Agreement

Within the entire Purgatory, after Ksitigarbha broke free, a peculiar change occurred.

The extreme cold and scorching heat vanished in an instant, replaced by warm, spring-like light and a constant breeze; the sky was a brilliant blue, and the ground was lush with greenery, filled with grass and tiny flowers everywhere.

"This..."

Tang Ku and Arhat Jiang Long were both astonished. Tang Ku couldn't help but ask, "Is this still the Purgatory that strikes fear into everyone's hearts?"

Ksitigarbha laughed: "This Qiongqi was the last prisoner in Purgatory. Once he escaped, Purgatory ceased to exist. Unless another heinous criminal is imprisoned here, Purgatory will remain in this state forever!"

"Then... how do we get out?"

Tang Ku was slightly taken aback, then suddenly saw Ksitigarbha point forward. "Look, isn't that a portal to leave?"

The two looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw a massive portal appear on the grassland. Its shape was identical to the Gate of Hell, but its overall color was a bright red, completely different from the blood-red hue of the Gate of Hell. It actually gave off a sunny, and even inviting, feeling.

"Escaping means one's sins have been redeemed, so the exit portal appears automatically. This is all predestined!"

Ksitigarbha smiled and led the two toward the gate.

The moment they passed through the gate, they felt their bodies lighten, and in a blink, they appeared on the summit of Mount Tai, right on the Mount Tai Fengchan Platform.

"You two, since Ksitigarbha has come out, I have something I'm not sure whether I should say."

Tang Ku looked at the sky, then at the two men, and smiled, revealing his white teeth.

"Usually, things like that shouldn't be said!"

Arhat Jiang Long gave a helpless, bitter smile. "But I also know that you didn't just save the Bodhisattva for the sake of saving someone, did you?"

Ksitigarbha said, with great ease and generosity, "I probably know what Sanzang wants to say... Honestly, having received such a huge favor from you, I don't know how to repay it... Since you have a request, I will help you."

Arhat Jiang Long was surprised and said, "Bodhisattva, you are also part of the Buddhist sect..."

"Aren't you also part of the Buddhist sect?"

Ksitigarbha laughed. "If Sanzang is in trouble, would you not help him? The injuries on your body... they were likely left by Guanyin, weren't they? Isn't that because you were helping Sanzang?"

Arhat Jiang Long was taken aback. "You can even tell that?"

Tang Ku curled his lips. "Never mind the Bodhisattva, even I could tell! You were extremely weak when you arrived. Given your strength, that couldn't have been caused by hunger!"

Arhat Jiang Long scratched his head. "I have a personal vendetta with him, so it doesn't count as favoring Golden Cicada. You, however, are a legitimate successor of the Buddhist sect and hold the position of a Bodhisattva. If you weren't bound by your vow, you would have already become a Buddha. If you openly help him, you will be completely at odds with the Buddhist sect!"

Ksitigarbha narrowed his eyes slightly, looking into the distance. "At odds? Being at odds is exactly right. We were never on the same path to begin with!"

"Bodhisattva, you..." Arhat Jiang Long was speechless. It turned out the strongest rebel was right here; Ksitigarbha and the Buddhist sect had never been of one mind.

Tang Ku smiled, a bright smile. He said calmly, "I knew it would be like this. It seems I didn't save the wrong person!"

From Ksitigarbha's great vow, from the Buddhist sect's isolation of him, and from all the subtle clues, Tang Ku could tell that Ksitigarbha had long been unable to tolerate many of the Buddhist sect's practices!

And this time, with the destruction of the Buddhas of the West, it was an excellent opportunity—an opportunity to break with the Buddhist sect.

Of course, if Tang Ku hadn't come in time and again to save him, he would never have had another chance.

With ambitions unfulfilled, there was always a thorn deep in his heart.

Now, it was time to pull that thorn out!

Thinking of this, Ksitigarbha felt a sense of satisfaction. He immediately said to Tang Ku, "Sanzang, my strength hasn't fully recovered, and I'm truly powerless to help you for now... I need to find a place to Cultivate. I need to be in Peak condition to face strong enemies, don't I?"

Arhat Jiang Long couldn't help but laugh at himself. "You only need to ask him for that. In Chang'an City, his official residence is where all the Dragon Qi of Chang'an gathers and where Luck is concentrated. If you Cultivate there, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

Ksitigarbha was surprised. "Is that true?"

Tang Ku laughed. "I have already successfully planted a pan tao tree seedling there. Before long, we will be able to eat pan tao!"

He knew that Ksitigarbha must understand the significance of this statement!

In the Human Realm, any place capable of growing a pan tao tree is undoubtedly a blessed land of the immortals.

Ksitigarbha pressed his palms together. "Excellent, excellent. So that's how it is. Since that is the case, this Poor Monk will not stand on ceremony. I will go with you to Chang'an. I believe that with me guarding Chang'an City, you will be able to act freely and do even more."

Tang Ku turned his gaze to Arhat Jiang Long. Arhat Jiang Long helplessly pressed his palms together. "You have your persistence, and I have my convictions. Once a Disciple of the Buddhist sect, one is a Disciple for life!"

Tang Ku sighed. "That is up to you... Well, no matter what, you and I will always be friends!"

"That's right!"

Arhat Jiang Long nodded and smiled. "Anyway, as long as they deal with you, I will trip them up. But as for dealing with others, I have no choice but to collude with them."

"That's no problem. Regardless, the two of us... are still brothers!"

Tang Ku laughed.

The three smiled at each other, understanding without words; everything was left unsaid. However, what Tang Ku did not know at this moment was that back in Chang'an City, an inconceivable event had occurred. If handled carelessly, it would mean the ruin of the nation.

In Chang'an City, outside the Si Tian Jian, Fang Xuanling was pacing anxiously, waiting for a Daoist acolyte to deliver a message.

Not long after, a Daoist acolyte ran out in a hurry, holding a box in his hand. He said to him in a deep voice, "My Lord, this is the last of the Ling Que Pills. There are only three inside. However, these Ling Que Pills only have a preventative effect and no curative ability. You must be careful; do not use them on people who are already infected, otherwise... the condition will become even more severe!"

"Understood, understood. Thank you, thank you... Well, most people in the palace have already taken the medicine, but the people below... Sigh... I only hope this great plague passes soon..."

Fang Xuanling looked back and saw that every household on the main street had their doors closed. There were many people lying on the street, critically ill and waiting to die. The entire city of Chang'an was immersed in endless wailing. Looking up at the sky, a visible gray aura shrouded it, as if it were Death Qi!