Chapter 615: Chapter 551, Bai Jin, it’s so hard for me!_2
Sun Wukong ran over to the side of the huge tiger carcass, sized it up, and chuckled: "Creation, creation~ your older brother Sun just got a bit hungry, and lo and behold, a big tiger is delivered right to me. Today, I shall feast on roasted tiger."
Tang Sanzang walked over to the front of the huge tiger carcass and sat down cross-legged, compassionately saying: "You’ve harmed people in these mountains, and today you’ve encountered this humble monk; your fated calamity has arrived. This poor Daoist will recite scriptures for you, in the hopes that you will commit less violence in your next life."
Tang Sanzang closed his eyes and began reciting scriptures: "Out of kindness, amass virtues, and vow to save all beings. With a golden tinsel in hand, swing open the gates of Hell. Holding the Bright Pearl aloft, its light illuminates the Great Thousand World. From the sound of wisdom, within the auspicious cloud. For the suffering beings of Yanfuti, be the main proof of Merit. Great sorrow, great vows, Great Saint, Great Compassion. I pay homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva..."
While Tang Sanzang was reciting scriptures, Sun Wukong had already dragged the tiger carcass away and gathered water from a stream nearby. Sitting beside it, he stripped the skin and deboned the meat, the sound of scripture reading echoing harmoniously alongside the skinning and sinew pulling.
Under the night sky, Sun Wukong kindled a bonfire to roast the meat, hissing and bubbling oil as a tiger leg cooked on the fire.
Tang Sanzang beside him stared at the sky, expectantly waiting for a delivery; in the Cultivator Zone, there were many food deliveries, a pity that most of them were a bit too expensive.
"Little monk, won’t you really try some?"
"Wukong, as a monk, I do not partake in meat and fish. You shouldn’t eat it either! Let me buy you a few peaches, I’ve heard that eating peaches is rather good for one’s fur."
"Who told you that?"
"I once knew an older Master who kept monkeys, he said as much."
Sun Wukong nodded thoughtfully. Your older brother Sun doesn’t really like peaches; I only ever nibble a little red part on top, he unconsciously stroked his golden facial hair which was split at the ends. Could it be because I don’t like peaches, that’s why my fur isn’t in great condition? "Little monk, buy me some peaches."
Tang Sanzang cleared his throat and puffed out his chest, coughing before speaking: "What did you say?"
"Master, Master, would you please buy some peaches for your older brother Sun?"
Tang Sanzang smiled and nodded: "That’s fine!"
"They have to be Flat Peaches; your older brother Sun has only eaten Flat Peaches since childhood, other types of peaches taste bland to me."
What are Flat Peaches? A question flashed through Tang Sanzang’s mind—could it be peaches that are coiled up? He looked up the price of Flat Peaches in the Three Realms Mall, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood. You never said you drank Three Light Divine Water since you were a child. No, no, can’t afford it.
After dinner, the two rested in the mountains, but alas, the Flat Peaches went uneaten.
Walking during the day and resting at night, it took two days for them to slowly make their way out of the forest and come upon a remote homestead where they asked for shelter.
After dinner, within a room lit by a lamp as small as a soybean, Tang Sanzang was sorting out the tiger skin. Thanks to Wukong’s craftsmanship, it was now dry and it seemed fit to make an article of clothing for Wukong.
Sun Wukong poked his head in and jogged inside, whispering: "Little monk, do you have any money?"
Tang Sanzang, puzzled, asked: "Wukong, what do you need money for?"
"Your older brother Sun just went to ask and found out this household doesn’t have the Three Realms Mall, so we need to pay in cash," whispered Sun Wukong.
Tang Sanzang hesitated, then said in a serious tone: "Wukong, this household has kindly offered us hospitality; can such kindness be measured in money?"
"Hehe~ You, little monk, are planning to freeload again, aren’t you?" Sun Wukong hopped onto a chair, sizing up Tang Sanzang from top to bottom.
"Ahem~" Tang Sanzang, embarrassed, turned his head away and said: "Wukong, I still have a Silver Wine Glass here, take it as payment for the lodging."
He stood up and rummaged through his bag, and pulled out a wine glass with a dragon carved into it, which looked distinguished and elegant.
Sun Wukong, scratching his ears and grinning, said: "Now you’re talking~ Leave it to your older brother Sun." He reached out and snatched the Silver Wine Glass from Tang Sanzang’s hands.
His expression suddenly changed, he turned his head to look outside. The figures of several people were seen coming through the woodland, noisy and in disarray.
Tang Sanzang also looked outside, saying: "Wukong, could it be their son has returned? Shall we greet them?"
Sun Wukong casually replied: "Little monk, just don’t mind it; your older brother Sun is here!" Looking outside with darting eyes, he noted that the group carried Blood Evil Qi about them, not the sort decent people would have.
Subsequently, Sun Wukong generously used a small piece of broken silver to pay the elderly couple. Yet this aroused greed in the mountain king returning home, who intended to poison Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang to death in a ploy for money. However, Sun Wukong saw through their scheme, killed all six of the villains, annoying Tang Sanzang. The two went their separate ways, one heading towards the Western region, and the other towards the Eastern region.
"Brother Dragon~"
"Brother Dragon~"
Sun Wukong shouted as he entered the Crystal Palace, hopping and skipping towards the inside.
The East Sea Old Dragon King emerged from the Crystal Palace, laughing heartily and said: "Monkey Brother, I heard you’re protecting the Saint Monk from the Eastern Tang on his Westward Journey to fetch the scriptures. How come you have some leisure time today, to visit my Dragon Palace of the East Sea?"
Sun Wukong jumped into a chair and said discontentedly: "Don’t mention it, what Saint Monk, he’s just a pedantic bald buffoon, who has thoroughly angered me."
The East Sea Dragon King laughed heartily and said: "Monkey Brother, surely that monk wouldn’t dare to trouble you, would he?"
"Don’t get me started, Brother Dragon, bring out your fine wine, today we’ll drink our fill."
"Ha ha~ excellent, servants! Prepare a banquet."
During the banquet, Sun Wukong poured out all his grievances, and the Old Dragon King nodded continually.
...
Within the Great Leiyin Temple of the Western Heaven, The Buddha sat upright on the Lotus Platform, with numerous Buddha Bodhisattvas below.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said with her head lowered: "The Buddha, Emperor Gouchen has been meddling too much in the affairs of the Westward Journey, appointing Sun Wukong as an extra-judicial Heavenly God.
Under Emperor Gouchen’s indulgence and incitement, Sun Wukong is unruly and disobedient, taking lives and causing harm, not respecting Xuanzang’s guidance, and has even left the Westward Journey group."
The Buddha’s grand voice echoed through the hall: "Emperor Gouchen is malicious and venomous, Sun Wukong, being assigned to journey westwards, must not be corrupted by him."
With an outstretched hand, The Buddha revealed three strands of Prayer Beads in his palm, each bead inscribed with the image of a Buddha: "These Prayer Beads are named Golden Bead, Silver Bead, and Copper Bead.
Take one and put it on Sun Wukong, recite the spell, and you can suppress his Heart Demon, making him calm and obedient.
Guanyin, you take them."
The Prayer Beads flew from The Buddha’s hand towards Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Guanyin Bodhisattva extended her hand and softly said with a smile: "Thank you, The Buddha!" and then she floated outward.
"Everyone, leave!" The room-filling voice arose in the Great Leiyin Temple.
All Buddhas, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas stood up, respectfully responding: "Yes!" They turned and all left.
Now, there was no one in the Great Leiyin Temple.
The Buddha spoke with dignity: "Bai Jin, the journey to the West is fixed fate, and Wukong belongs to Buddhism, you should no longer interfere."
In the Bird’s Nest, Bai Jin sat in a steaming hot spring, and suddenly with a smile, he opened his eyes and said: "The Buddha, let’s have a little contest, you do your part, and I’ll do mine, with no interference. Let’s see what Wukong ultimately chooses."
Inside the Great Leiyin Temple, The Buddha calmly said: "Wukong is inherently a disciple of Buddhism, why should I compete with you?"
Bai Jin laughed heartily and said: "Elder Brother, are you afraid?"
"I never engage in meaningless acts."
"The journey to the West was decided by the Seven Saints, bearing on the Calamity of the Primordial World, if you disrupt the Westward Journey, countless creatures in the Calamity will suffer a disaster, and it will all be your karma.
For the sake of all creatures, junior brother, do not act against the will of heaven, or you will face irredeemable catastrophe."
Bai Jin’s expression shifted, and he said with resignation: "Elder Brother, it’s not that I wish to trouble you, it’s impossible to disobey the Master’s command.
The Master has commanded me to sabotage and obstruct the Westward Journey to obtain the scriptures; as a disciple, I can but obey.
However, I do not wish to trouble you, Elder Brother, and damage the deep bond between us. That’s why I played a little trick on Sun Wukong, to deal with Master’s command.
If Elder Brother disapproves, I dare not oppose you, I can only follow the Master’s command. What do you think, Elder Brother? It is truly difficult for me!"
Bai Jin sat in the pool, with his legs cockily propped up, his speech full of sorrow.