Chapter 618: Chapter 554, Hurting Each Other
Sun Wukong’s eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly took the hat, chuckling, "This is great! This is great! Thank you, Great Immortal, I’m off now!"
Sun Wukong immediately ran outside, eager to put the hat on Tang Sanzang, disappearing into the horizon on a Somersault Cloud.
Inside the grand hall, Yang Jiao expressed his worries, saying, "Master Uncle, the power of your Golden Hoop is tremendous, even the Daluo Golden Immortals can’t withstand it. Tang Sanzang is merely a mortal; what if the Golden Hoop Spell kills him? Buddhism won’t let this matter rest."
The Golden Ring Immortal reassured, "Don’t worry, this Golden Hoop doesn’t affect the physical body, but works on the Primordial Spirit.
Tang Sanzang is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi—his Primordial Spirit is strong, the spell won’t kill him."
Ao Bing grinned and said, "Speaking of Jin Chanzi, I remember there’s some Golden Zen Meat stored in the treasure vault of the Judicial Temple. Why don’t we take it out and have a Golden Cicada Banquet!"
The Golden Ring Immortal, rarely showing a smile, responded, "I heard even Saints like Golden Cicada Meat."
"I’ll go get it now!" Ao Bing immediately ran outside.
...
"Master, your old Sun is back!" A golden light descended from the sky, landing next to the stream where Sun Wukong stood on tiptoes, scratching his head and chuckling.
Tang Sanzang’s face first lit up with joy, then he closed his eyes, sitting upright on a rock, "The poor monk is very cold, the poor monk needs to fight off the chill!"
Sun Wukong took a step forward, smiling, "Master, have you eaten?"
"Thanks to the concern of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, this little monk hasn’t starved yet!"
"Master, have you had a drink?"
"The stream is right beside us, I’m not thirsty."
Sun Wukong jumped behind Tang Sanzang, quietly took out the Virochana Hat from behind, silently compared it above Tang Sanzang’s head, secretly delighted and nodding—almost the same size as Master’s head, a perfect fit!
"Wukong, come forward!"
Sun Wukong hurriedly put away the Virochana Hat, somersaulted over Tang Sanzang’s head, and sat down in front of him, grinning at Tang Sanzang.
Tang Sanzang said sternly, "Stand properly!"
Sun Wukong leapt up, saying, "Alright! Your old Sun will stand properly." He stood straight and upright.
Tang Sanzang carefully inspected him, inwardly nodding. The clothes given by the Bodhisattva fit perfectly, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
Sun Wukong had not been standing long before bending down, grinning, "Master, are you still angry with me?"
Tang Sanzang said sternly, "Wukong, although they were mere ruffians on the shortcut, even if taken to the authorities, they shouldn’t be sentenced to death.
You are the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, highly skilled—just driving them away would have sufficed. Why did you kill them all? This is senselessly harming lives, how does this make you a monk?
A monk fears even sweeping the ground might harm the life of an ant, cherishes a moth trapped in a lampshade—how can you indifferently end lives without distinguishing right from wrong? You lack any trace of compassion or kindness! Before, you were the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, the King of Demon Kings, and no one governed you.
Now that you have joined the Sramana, if you still act violently as before, indiscriminately taking lives, you will neither reach Western Heaven nor obtain the True Scriptures."
Sun Wukong covertly curled his lips, who would want to obtain the scriptures! He clenched his fists in salute, chuckling, "Master is right, your disciple knows his mistake and will not repeat it in the future."
Tang Sanzang’s tone softened a bit and said, "Since you were appointed by the Bodhisattva, this humble monk will give you another chance. Pack your luggage and let’s set out!"
Sun Wukong’s eyes darted around, and he quickly said, "Master, your disciple has just left and has deeply recognized his mistakes. I feel quite uneasy, so I have prepared a gift for you as an apology."
A gift? Tang Sanzang felt slightly relieved and said, "It’s the thought that counts, no need for a gift."
"No, no~" Sun Wukong reached forward, and a luxurious tray appeared in his hand, with a red silk cushion under a brand new Virochana Hat.
Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "Master, your old hat is worn out, how could it match the status of a Great Monk like you?!
This is a new hat made for you by a Fairy in the Heavenly Court. Wearing this hat will ensure your mind remains clear and enhance your understanding of the scriptures tremendously."
Tang Sanzang immediately felt a surge of emotion. Wukong actually brought me a gift, and then he thought of the clothes he had prepared for Wukong, guilt rising in his heart. Soon, he suppressed these feelings, thinking it was for Wukong’s benefit, and with his hands clasped together, he smiled and chanted, "Namo Amitabha Buddha! Wukong, realizing your mistakes and correcting them is truly virtuous."
Sun Wukong chuckled eagerly and said, "Master, let your disciple help you put on the new hat!"
Tang Sanzang smiled and said, "Wukong, actually your master has also prepared a gift for you."
"Huh~" Sun Wukong exclaimed in surprise, "Master also prepared a gift for me?" A hint of suspicion crossed his mind. Why would this little monk suddenly prepare a gift for me? Could there be deceit involved?
Tang Sanzang took the tray, smiling, "Wukong, go and check in the luggage."
Sun Wukong hopped and scurried to the carriage, hastily rummaging through the luggage, and pulled out a yellow traveler suit, indicating to Tang Sanzang and called out, "Master, is this it?"
Tang Sanzang nodded with a smile and said, "Wukong, seeing you wearing the same clothes every day without a chance to change when they get dirty has distressed me. I saved up and bought this suit for you. Try it on and see if it fits."
Sun Wukong carefully inspected the suit, finding nothing amiss – it was just an ordinary suit. A wave of long-missing emotion surged through him – after so many years, someone was finally taking care of him again.
Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly, touched, and said, "Thank you, Master. I really like it."
Remembering the hat he prepared for his master, a rare feeling of guilt arose in him. Rest assured, little monk, I, Old Sun, will not curse you easily.
Tang Sanzang urged, "Wukong, try it on."
Sun Wukong also urged, "Master, you should also change your hat."
Tang Sanzang nodded with a smile, "Let’s change together."
"Alright, let’s change together!" Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Tang Sanzang removed the old hat he was wearing and put on the brand-new one given by Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong spun around on the spot, a beam of light spun, and he was instantly dressed in the new traveler clothes, touching here, patting there, chuckling, his neck adorned with a string of prayer beads.
Tang Sanzang immediately became solemn, whispering a spell.
The prayer beads buzzed and tightened around Sun Wukong’s neck, each bead flashing with golden light inscribed with images of Buddha.
"Ah~" Sun Wukong shouted, grabbing at the prayer beads to pull them off, but it was futile; they only tightened more, suffocating him until his monkey face turned red, and he suddenly twisted his head, glaring at Tang Sanzang and bellowed, "Monk! How dare you harm me!"
Tang Sanzang paused for a moment, then said sternly, "Wukong, you take lives without restraint, and without discipline, you are bound to become a great demon one day."