Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 335 - 112: The Origin of the Jade Cicada

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She looked at the monk with eyes full of compassion, her usually steadfast self now unable to hold back tears that flowed down her cheeks like a river bursting its banks.

Yet all her sorrow could not sway the resolute man, who continued to leave her behind in pursuit of the Mahayana Buddhism he sought.

Watching Tang Xuanzang’s retreating figure, she, the Queen of the Kingdom of Women, felt a sense of desolation for the first time.

Just as tears blurred her vision and she could no longer see clearly ahead, a warm and compassionate voice sounded by her ear.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The Queen hastily wiped away her tears and turned to see the face that quickened her heartbeat. Overjoyed, she asked, "You’ve come back, no longer seeking the True Scriptures?"

Tang Monk stood with his palms together, eyes slightly closed, and gently shook his head, saying, "The poor monk once vowed to obtain the Mahayana Buddhism to help the people of Great Tang escape from suffering—I cannot abandon my quest mid-way."

In this moment, Tang Xuanzang’s eyes were filled with resolve, his face etched with compassion. His heart moved to save those in misery, and she couldn’t help but look on with reverence; this was indeed the man she acknowledged in her heart.

"Then go seek your True Scriptures," the Queen said, breaking into a smile through her tears.

"Ultimately, my heart is troubled, and my will uneasy. Therefore, I turned back to see you one last time," Tang Monk maintained his hands in prayer, but his expression lacked its former calm and dignity.

"And what do you plan to do? One can’t have it all in this world!" the Queen inquired.

Tang Monk then removed a Jade Cicada from around his neck, which was crystalline and lifelike, still retaining the warmth of Tang Xuanzang’s body, clearly a personal treasure.

"This was given to me by a man in a green robe when I was young," he explained. "That man was no ordinary mortal; it is said that he was the founder of Jinshan Temple. This Jade Cicada has a destiny with me; I was overjoyed at first sight and have since never parted with it." Find more chapters on novelbuddy

"Now, I present this to you, the Queen. May your life henceforth be smooth and free of illness or disaster!"

After Tang Monk finished speaking, he placed the Jade Cicada around the Queen’s neck, then folded his hands again and said, "Amitabha Buddha, this monk must depart now!"

The Queen gazed at the departing Tang Monk and shouted, "Go seek your True Scriptures! I won’t stop you from saving all beings, but I will continue to wait here for you. If one day you grow weary, come find me!"

Her words echoed in the wind but elicited no response.

Yet, the Queen minded not, smiling through her tears, gripping the Jade Cicada tightly, feeling the remaining warmth on it, a warm smile playing on her lips.

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"Sister, why won’t you answer my question?" Xuan Yue’s voice startled the Queen from her memories.

Clasping the Jade Cicada, the Queen replied with a smile, "This is something he gave me!"

Xuan Yue had never seen such a smile on her sister’s face—a smile like the warm sun in winter, a refreshing breeze in summer, one that naturally brought happiness from the depths of the heart.

"Who is he?" Xuan Yue asked curiously.

Only then did Xuan Yue notice that a blush had appeared on her dignified sister’s face, her voice tinged with a touch of shyness as she said, "He, he is a very remarkable man!"

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Xuan Yue suddenly had a moment of realization and said, "Is it the Royal Younger Brother from Great Tang, the Monk journeying to the West, correct?"

The King nodded gently, and only then did Xuan Yue understand that her sister had truly fallen in love with that westward-bound Monk, the one who had abandoned her to pursue his Buddhism.

At this moment, she felt as though something she treasured had been stolen by someone else. A slight discomfort murmured in her heart, "What’s so great about him!"

"He is indeed a remarkable person," Lu Yu, who had been standing silently at the time, suddenly said.

"Lu Yu, you know this Monk as well?" Xuan Yue asked with some surprise.

"Haha, I cannot say, I cannot say!" Lu Yu just laughed it off, provoking Xuan Yue to pout in annoyance.

At this point, the King scrutinized Lu Yu’s attire closely, and for some reason, she recalled the words Tang Xuanzang had said when he gifted the Jade Cicada, incredulously asking, "Could you be the gentleman who presented the Jade Cicada to Xuanzhuang?"

Lu Yu looked at the Jade Cicada on the King’s neck, and the image of Golden Cicada’s disdainful face flashed through his mind. Time had passed, but these memories had not become blurred; instead, they were even clearer.

Perhaps this was the reason why, despite years of cultivation, he had managed to perfectly maintain his humanity. These past experiences were like an anchor, securing his humanity, preventing it from fading away with the passage of time.

Lu Yu sighed lightly and said, "Take good care of it, it will bring you good fortune."

Upon hearing these words, the King realized that Lu Yu was confirming his identity, and he stared incredulously at the young-looking gentleman in the green robe before him.

Although she had come across records of Immortals’ eternal life in many texts, she had always regarded them as legendary tales. Yet, when a truly immortal being stood alive before her, she couldn’t help feeling a sense of unreality.

"Can you tell me its origin? I don’t know why, but wearing it always warms my heart," the King asked with a plea in her tone.

Lu Yu pondered for a moment before saying, "It is a very ancient story. A passionate girl fell in love with a Monk devoted to seeking Buddhism. They went through trials and tribulations together and forged a deep friendship."

"One day, the girl’s family suffered a terrible calamity, which led to their demise, and from then on, the girl’s personality changed drastically as she fell into the Demonic Path. Out of compassion, the Monk injured the girl."

"The girl who deeply loved him shed tears of sorrow, and thereafter vanished without a trace, while the Monk further strengthened his resolve and eventually sacrificed himself to subdue the demon, turning into a Jade Cicada after his death."

Lu Yu’s voice was gentle but struck the hearts of the sisters Xuan Yue, refreshing their memories.

Xuan Yue looked at the Jade Cicada on her sister’s neck with astonishment, tears glistening in her eyes. She turned to Lu Yu and asked, "So this Jade Cicada is the transformation of the Monk who sacrificed himself to the demon?"

Lu Yu nodded gently.

Xuan Yue continued, "I feel that the Monk must have had the girl in his heart, otherwise he wouldn’t have strengthened his belief because of the girl’s disappearance and ultimately sacrificed himself to the demon."

However, the King beside them remained silent. While listening to the story from Lu Yu, she felt an inexplicable sorrow in her heart, as if she could transcend time and see that fiercely passionate girl who would recklessly pursue love.

She also saw a truly compassionate Monk and couldn’t help but clutch the Jade Cicada around her neck tightly, feeling warm inside, with a slight smile curling at the corners of her mouth.