"Don't you three handsome gentlemen know?"
"Just a few days ago, the Tathagata Buddha of Spirit Mountain was bullied by some mysterious big shot. He was miserable, covered in countless scars, his face swollen and terrifying, weeping incessantly. It was truly pitiful."
"Because of this, he dared not stay in Spirit Mountain any longer and quickly ordered everyone to move. The speed was incredible!"
"Just yesterday, those bald monks passed by my stall. They were starving, but to escape the pursuit, they didn't even drink a drop of water."
"Truly pathetic, it pains the heart. What kind of demon or monster dares to bully the Tathagata Buddha of Lesser Vehicle Buddhism like this?"
"I'd best not find out, or I'll be the first to kill him!"
On their way back to Spirit Mountain, Sun Kong and his two companions passed by a small mortal kingdom. The scenery was pleasant, and delicious aromas wafted through the air, so they descended from the clouds.
Unexpectedly, while stopping to eat steamed buns and millet porridge, the breakfast stall owner winked and spilled this "secret."
The three were instantly speechless!
Wu Zhiqi and Zhou Wuxian naturally admired Sun Kong even more, believing only he could accomplish something that would force the Tathagata to move.
But Sun Kong didn't think so.
As someone who had shamelessly snuck into Spirit Mountain multiple times, he knew his past actions were measured and could never have forced the Tathagata to this extent.
There was physical damage.
There was mental anguish.
Soul persecution... not entirely absent, but limited, targeting only a few unwise Bodhisattvas like Guanyin.
However, it absolutely couldn't reach the level described by the stall owner – countless scars, a terrifyingly swollen face, and incessant weeping.
This was undoubtedly the embellishment of mortals, fueled by sympathy for the Tathagata.
But then, considering that without the mortals' deliberate exaggeration, they wouldn't have dared to spread such rumors if the Tathagata hadn't moved.
This meant, had the Tathagata actually moved?
Then the only possible reason, and no other, was the battle when Sun Kong broke through to Hunyuan Daluo Jinxian. It had made the people of Spirit Mountain and the Heavenly Court fearful.
"Good heavens, Little Lai Lai is a Buddha, and he's playing tricks on me? Is this what they mean by love disappearing?"
"I am the Mani Pearl he painstakingly cultivated for years, my body formed from the five-colored stone gifted by the Witch Empress. Doesn't he have any affection?"
"I want to go to Spirit Mountain, but not to drive him away and become the overlord. Without Little Lai Lai, is it still Spirit Mountain?"
The more Sun Kong thought about it, the more he felt like crying, his eyes reddening.
But he also knew that whatever forced the Tathagata to do this must be more than just the previous fight. It was also his recent astonishing performance.
It had made the Tathagata afraid!
Afraid that he couldn't suppress his growth and that he would become even more powerful and uncontrollable in the future.
Afraid that if he couldn't guide him back to the right path, he wouldn't cooperate with the Journey to the West and would be unmanageable.
Because after that incident, Sun Kong, who had clearly disrupted the predetermined Journey to the West, was not punished by the Heavenly Dao and was suspected of being indulged. Thus, they no longer intended to confront him directly, opting instead for a delaying tactic by moving.
Or, in the minds of the Tathagata and others, no matter how powerful, how formidable, or how thick-skinned Sun Kong was, the Journey to the West was about to begin.
They had made up their minds.
This move, this avoidance, would last at least five hundred years.
After five hundred years, when the Journey to the West began, there would be interesting developments.
Jinzanzi would not have reincarnated, meaning no Tang Sanzang, and no Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, would seek him for the journey.
This consequence must be borne by Sun Kong.
And Sun Kong?
He hadn't achieved his wish of becoming the Keeper of Horses, nor had he wreaked havoc in heaven and battled the celestial beings, causing them to fulfill their destinies and gain merit.
He also hadn't caused the Jade Emperor to summon the Tathagata Buddha from the West to suppress him for five hundred years.
This meant none of the subsequent events where Tang Sanzang rescued Sun Kong.
This consequence must naturally be borne by Sun Kong.
It seemed the Tathagata and others held this mindset, playing a game theory with Sun Kong, willing to wager their Spirit Mountain and the merit of the Journey to the West.
But Sun Kong?
Firstly, he truly didn't want to completely push to death one of his benefactors, the Tathagata.
Secondly, his intention of sneaking into Spirit Mountain was not to become a mountain king or overthrow Lesser and Greater Vehicle Buddhism, but genuinely to avoid suffering and hardship on the old path.
Finally, since things had reached this point, Sun Kong no longer considered other options and focused on two matters!
"Second brother, third brother, Little Lai Lai must have moved because he's worried we're too many to fit. How about we split up?"
"You two go to Flower Fruit Mountain and bring my monkey descendants. Take them to the foot of Spirit Mountain and establish a village. They just need to live there properly."
"As for me, I still need to search for my Little Lai Lai everywhere. As I said, without Little Lai Lai, Spirit Mountain is incomplete. They can prevent me from entering, but they absolutely cannot let Spirit Mountain lose Little Lai Lai."
"Brother is heavy-hearted. I shall leave now."
Having said this, Sun Kong didn't wait for his two brothers, Wu Zhiqi and Zhou Wuxian, to be shocked, to misunderstand, or to question why the Tathagata was affectionately called Little Lai Lai.
In short.
With a single-minded focus on bringing his Little Lai Lai back home, Sun Kong ascended to the heavens, riding the Chaotic Somersault Cloud, frantically searching for the Tathagata and the others.
His speed naturally stunned the breakfast stall owner, but before he could exclaim "monster," Wu Zhiqi erased his memory with a flick of his finger.
Then, Wu Zhiqi and Zhou Wuxian obediently went to Flower Fruit Mountain to carry out their orders!
After they had settled the numerous monkey descendants, they discussed this matter.
There was a complex emotion in their eyes!
"Second Brother, do you think Brother Sun actually slept with the Tathagata Buddha, which is why he moved overnight, too ashamed to face anyone?"
"Third Brother, speak with caution. We understand Brother Sun's free spirit and carefree demeanor, but these words cannot be spoken carelessly. Even if they are true, they cannot be said, understand?"
"If I were to analyze it, it's not just sleeping with him; I suspect something even more heartbreaking and untold has happened. But as Brother Sun's brothers, we'll follow him to the end."
...
"Achoo!"
"Achoo achoo a-achoo!"
The few words exchanged by those two unreliable brothers actually caused Sun Kong, billions of miles away, to catch a cold. But he had no time to dwell on it, as he was drawn in by the latest news.
It was said that the Tathagata and others, ashamed to return to the Western Teachings and not daring to go to their former master, Tongtian Sect Master, had temporarily taken up residence in Jade Void Palace.
Sun Kong arrived outside the palace.
He decisively knocked!
"Little Lai Lai, open the door! I know you're home!"
"Don't hide in there and pretend not to hear. I am your most beloved Kong Kong!"
These two sentences alone.
Alarmed the entire Jade Void Palace.
And the Grand Pure One of Heaven, Yuanshi Tianzun, his eyes flared with anger!