"Your Majesty, if you have something to say, please speak plainly."

  Xu Fang's gaze was fixed on the Jade Emperor, devoid of any reverence.

  The Jade Emperor, however, didn't seem to mind. He spoke calmly, "I consider you a trusted confidant. There are some things I cannot tell you, but there are others I wish to share."

  "That monkey's ascension to heaven as an official, and the chaos he caused at the Peach Banquet, all of it has a reason."

  The Jade Emperor looked at Xu Fang with a composed expression, pausing for a moment before continuing, "All of this is known to your master, to me, and to the Buddha of the West!"

  At this point, the Jade Emperor was essentially telling Xu Fang outright that the mastermind behind Sun Wukong's ordeal was none other than the Buddha.

  "Your Majesty, I’ve said it before. If you have something to say, please speak plainly. I am slow-witted and do not understand Your Majesty's deeper meaning."

  Although Xu Fang was aware of what the Jade Emperor was hinting at, he couldn't openly acknowledge it. Moreover, he hadn't fully grasped the Jade Emperor's intentions yet. He could only wait for the Jade Emperor to elaborate.

  "No need to rush. Since I’ve summoned you here, I naturally intend to tell you everything."

  The Jade Emperor stood up slowly and walked over to Xu Fang, standing just a foot away. He stared into Xu Fang's eyes and said, "After all, if I am to consider you a trusted confidant, I must show sincerity, must I not?"

  Xu Fang remained silent, his eyes locked with the Jade Emperor's.

  "You are aware that my position as the Heavenly Emperor is not entirely secure. Within the heavens, the Four Heavenly Kings watch me with covetous eyes. Outside, the Buddhist and Daoist sects vie fiercely for the faith of the Three Realms. With the power I currently hold, bringing order to the Three Realms is an immense challenge. Therefore, I have no choice but to rely on external forces."

  The Jade Emperor continued, his voice steady, "Among the Buddhist and Daoist sects, the Daoist sect dominates the East, with countless followers. They are on the verge of surpassing the Three Realms in influence. If I wish to suppress the Daoist sect, I must ally with the Buddha of the West. At the same time, I can use the Buddha's power to keep the Four Heavenly Kings in check."

  "The Buddha wishes to spread Buddhist teachings to all beings, which does not conflict with my own goals. Thus, the Buddha approached me and revealed the Buddhist sect's plan."

  "The eastward spread of Buddhism!"

  "And that monkey is the key to this plan!"

  "You’ve seen the plan unfold. We brought the monkey to heaven as an official, allowed him to cause chaos, and eventually rebel against the heavens. Then, I would invite the Western Buddhist sect to intervene, amplifying their influence and paving the way for Buddhism's eastward expansion. Unfortunately, I miscalculated."

  The Jade Emperor sighed, "I did not expect the monkey to provoke the Daoist Patriarch. Not only did he steal the Immortal Peaches, but he also raided the Tushita Palace and devoured all of Laozi's elixirs!"

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  "Once Laozi learns of the Buddhist sect's plan, he will undoubtedly seek to kill Sun Wukong. If that happens, all my efforts will be in vain!"

  At this point, the Jade Emperor turned to Xu Fang, his gaze piercing. "Xu Fang, I might as well tell you the next phase of the Buddhist sect's plan. Originally, they intended to imprison the monkey for five hundred years. Then, under the guise of spreading Buddhist teachings, they would release him and grant him a position as a Buddha. For you, isn’t that a decent outcome for Sun Wukong?"

  "But now, he has fallen into Laozi's hands. If Laozi kills him, all my hard work will be wasted, and you will lose a brother you truly care for."

  Seeing that the Jade Emperor had finally gotten to the point, Xu Fang spoke slowly, "What does Your Majesty want me to do?"

  "Ah, you finally understand my meaning."

  The Jade Emperor smiled faintly. "I want you to use your sworn brotherhood as a pretext to visit the Tushita Palace. No matter what, you must ensure Sun Wukong's survival! After all, it’s better to live a humble life than to die in vain. Becoming a Buddha in the end is far better than being reduced to ashes in the Eight-Trigrams Furnace, don’t you think?"

  "Your Majesty, aren’t you afraid that I might reveal your plan to everyone?"

  Xu Fang met the Jade Emperor's gaze, his tone steady.

  "Haha, you are a sensible man."

  The Jade Emperor chuckled. "I have lived through 1,750 kalpas and have seen countless things. You, on the other hand, are barely a hundred years old. Even if you were to speak out, who would believe you? Moreover, I have ways to ensure you remain silent."

  "So, what will it be? Will you go, or not?"

  Two choices lay before Xu Fang. He took a deep breath and said, "Very well, I will go."

  In truth, Xu Fang had no real choice.

  He had studied at Mount Fangcun, where the emphasis was on cultivating the heart and following one's inner guidance.

  Although Xu Fang knew that Taishang Laojun wouldn't kill Sun Wukong, he now had an opportunity to help his sworn brother, and he wasn’t about to let it slip away.

  He was well aware that the tide of fate was against him, but Xu Fang was stubborn. He wanted to test the limits of that fate.

  ...

  "Xu Fang, I hope you do not disappoint me. However, I will not place all my hopes on you alone."

  As he watched Xu Fang's retreating figure, the Jade Emperor murmured to himself. At this point, there was no turning back.

  Sun Wukong must not die!

  Meanwhile, at the Great Thunderclap Temple on the Western Spirit Mount, Buddha sat alone in his meditation chamber. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and spoke softly, "Your Majesty has graced us with your presence. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

  A figure in a green robe materialized—it was the Jade Emperor.

  "That monkey has been thrown into the Eight-Trigrams Furnace. If you don’t want the plan to fail, think of a way to get him out!"

  The Jade Emperor spoke with a furrowed brow.

  Buddha, however, smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Laozi will not take the monkey's life."

  "Oh? Why is that?"

  Now it was the Jade Emperor's turn to be puzzled. Could it be that the Buddhist sect and Taishang Laojun were secretly colluding?

  This suspicion filled the Jade Emperor with unease. If the Buddhist and Daoist sects were to join forces, his position as the Heavenly Emperor might soon come to an end.

  A deep sense of crisis gripped the Jade Emperor, and his expression darkened as he looked at Buddha. "Is the Daoist sect also part of this plan?"

  "Your Majesty worries too much."

  Buddha shook his head slowly and smiled. "The reason he won’t kill Sun Wukong lies with one person."

  "Who?"

  The Jade Emperor's eyes widened. "Could there be some connection between the Buddhist and Daoist sects?"

  "The Buddha says, it cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken!"

  Buddha smiled enigmatically, holding a flower between his fingers. "This matter is known only to the sages. We need only follow the sages' plan. Your Majesty can rest easy. Laozi will not kill the monkey."

  The Jade Emperor nodded slowly. Although he chose to believe Buddha, the unease and shock in his heart did not dissipate.

  After all, this revelation had stirred a deep sense of foreboding within him. Were the Buddhist and Daoist sects secretly working together?

  If so, what did that make him in the grand scheme of the Three Realms?