Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

Chapter 532 The Journey to the West Again

Upon hearing this, Wukong bowed again and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Li Xiuyuan nodded and said, "Disciple, it's getting late. Let's go find Tang Sanzang."

Wukong nodded, said "yes," and then followed Li Xiuyuan on a cloud to find Tang Sanzang.

It was late, and the night was deep, but in the distance, a mountain pass was lit up with lights.

This place seems to be a den of thieves, with two sentry posts. A dozen or so bandits are drinking around a bonfire in the middle, and next to the bonfire is a monk tied up, who is none other than Tang Sanzang.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang regretted his actions. He realized he shouldn't have driven the monkey away in the first place. If he hadn't been scolded, the monkey probably wouldn't have thrown a tantrum. Keeping him around, even if he might indiscriminately kill others, was still better than letting others kill him.

If it really doesn't work and I can't stand watching him fight and kill indiscriminately, I can slowly teach him a lesson. I just regret that I was short-sighted and drove the monkey away.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang was filled with regret and wished he could bring Sun Wukong back. But now that his life was in danger, where could he find Sun Wukong?

At this moment, Li Xiuyuan, who had just arrived, was floating in the sky with Wukong. Li Xiuyuan looked down with a smile and said, "I didn't expect that I was right. Before I even made a move, a group of bandits actually intercepted Tang Sanzang."

Wukong said, "Master, I will go and rescue Tang Sanzang right away." After saying that, he was about to go down.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiuyuan suddenly reached out and stopped Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong was puzzled and asked, "Master, what do you mean?"

Li Xiuyuan looked at Tang Sanzang below and laughed, "This Tang Sanzang deserves to suffer the consequences. Let him be frightened and suffer a bit first. When those bandits are about to disembowel him, then you can rescue him. Otherwise, how will he know to be grateful to you? How will he know that you have done him a favor?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong was naturally a little smug, and then he stayed in the sky with Li Xiuyuan, watching from above.

Li Xiuyuan remained silent, simply gazing down at the scene below, speechless for a long time. Sun Wukong couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "We're both masters, but I just don't understand how this bald monk could be so different from my master?"

Li Xiuyuan, of course, knew what Sun Wukong was thinking, and immediately said, "Wukong, you should not underestimate this Tang Sanzang."

Upon hearing this, Wukong asked, "Oh? Could it be that he has some kind of background?"

Li Xiuyuan said, "It's nothing much. It's just that Tang Sanzang was a disciple of Buddha in his previous life, named Ling Chanzi. In this life, he was banished to the mortal world to complete the mission of obtaining the scriptures from the West."

I, your master, will take advantage of this Tang Sanzang to send you to the Western Paradise. However, there will likely be several others who will join you along the way. Although there will be many people, only you and Tang Sanzang, because you are both under the care of me and the Buddha, will attain Buddhahood.

The others are Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and messengers.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong said, "I still thank you for your help, Master."

Li Xiuyuan laughed and said, "You also have a senior brother named Bodhidharma. A hundred years ago, I made him the Arhat who subdues dragons, and now he has become the leader of the Eighteen Arhats. Not long ago, I also passed on the Eighteen Arhat Formation to him, and now he has a small foundation in the Western Paradise."

You too should be diligent and quickly escort Tang Sanzang to the Western Paradise, so that he may attain Buddhahood, and your teacher's promotion will not have been in vain.

Just then, two bandit henchmen appeared from below and took Tang Sanzang away.

Tang Sanzang, still shaken, begged for mercy, "Your Majesties, take whatever you can give me. I only beg you to let me go back. I still have something to do. I humbly beg Your Majesties to spare my life."

Seeing Tang Sanzang plead for mercy, the bandits became even more arrogant. They all drew their knives and surrounded Tang Sanzang, trying to intimidate him.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, "Men, make way! Watch what your king has to offer!" The henchmen then scattered.

Tang Sanzang looked up and saw a burly man, about eighteen feet tall, carrying a six-foot-long chain-linked broadsword, striding towards him.

At this moment, Li Xiuyuan finally spoke, "Wukong, it's time. Get ready and go down. Your master is leaving now."

Wukong nodded and said, "Respectfully seeing off Master." Then, Li Xiuyuan disappeared from sight.

At this moment, the burly man, holding a gleaming six-foot-long linked broadsword, weighed it in his hand and suddenly exerted all his strength, slashing at Tang Sanzang, intending to cut him in two. Tang Sanzang, unable to defend himself, screamed in terror.

The burly man was even more annoyed by Tang Sanzang's incessant shouting. He thought to himself that he should just chop Tang Sanzang down with a swift stroke to stop him from making a fuss in the future.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang was even more alarmed and cried out, "Wukong, Wukong, Wukong, save me!"

The burly man laughed, "Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he couldn't save you today! You noisy little bald monk?"

Just as the broadsword was about to fall, a stick suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked it.

The man looked up and saw a monkey wielding an iron rod, staring right at him.

Tang Sanzang saw that it was Sun Wukong who had come, and immediately said, "Wukong, I knew you wouldn't abandon me and leave alone. Quickly save me."

Sun Wukong asked impatiently, "What should we do with these bandits?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said "Amitabha," and then said, "Injure or cripple them, but don't kill them. Make sure they can't do bad things in the future."

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Hmph, you monk, you've really come to your senses." He then struck with his staff, breaking the mountain bandit's right arm. The bandit writhed on the ground in pain.

Seeing that the Mountain King had been injured, the bandits all grabbed swords and knives, ready to fight Sun Wukong. But they were no match for Sun Wukong; he struck them down one by one with his staff, leaving them all wounded on the ground.

There were more than twenty of them, all lying on the ground rolling around, howling in pain. Most of them had their legs broken or their hands knocked off by Sun Wukong, and they probably wouldn't be able to commit violence again.

Sun Wukong put away his golden cudgel, looked at Tang Sanzang, and asked, "How was it?"

Tang Sanzang was a little embarrassed and said, "Amitabha, that's fine then." Then he went to find his white horse mount.

Sun Wukong led the white horse, and Tang Sanzang rode on it, embarking on their westward journey in hopes of finding a place to stay.

Chapter 533 Passing Through Gao Village

Since that day on the mountaintop when Sun Wukong rescued Tang Sanzang from the bandits, the journey has been much safer, and they haven't encountered any more bandits.

Tang Sanzang also realized the importance of Sun Wukong, and dared not scold him too much along the way. Because of Li Xiuyuan's instructions, Sun Wukong also restrained his impatient nature.

After traveling for another ten days or so, the master and disciple arrived at another manor. Sun Wukong looked up and saw the three characters "Gao Lao Zhuang" engraved on the archway.

Sun Wukong said, "Master, this is a village. Let's find a house to rest for a while before continuing our journey."

Looking at the scorching sun, Tang Sanzang wiped his sweat and said, "That's fine. Let's find a family to stay with for now."

After Tang Sanzang finished speaking, Sun Wukong led the white horse towards the village. Not far away, they saw a house. Just as Sun Wukong was about to go and investigate, the man suddenly shouted "Monster! Monster!" and closed the door.

Sun Wukong was also helpless, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that it might be because of his appearance, so he immediately transformed into a little novice monk.

Tang Sanzang wasn't surprised to see Sun Wukong transformed into a young novice monk, since he already knew Sun Wukong possessed extraordinary powers.

Just then, a few more people passed by, and Sun Wukong immediately went up to inquire, asking, "Benefactor, may I ask which family in Gao Village is the most wealthy?"

A burly man passing by asked, "Why are you asking this, little monk? Are you thinking of robbing or stealing chickens and dogs?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "What are you saying, benefactor? My master and I just wanted to ask for some alms, but we were afraid that poor people would not be willing to receive us."

The burly man nodded and said, "I doubt you two monks have the guts. The richest family in our Gao Village is Old Master Gao's family. They've recently encountered some trouble. Since you're monks, you can go and exorcise the evil spirits for them. Old Master Gao will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Sun Wukong nodded, said "Amitabha" in a perfunctory manner, and then the big man and his companions left.

Sun Wukong thought to himself: What kind of demons and monsters are they? I'd like to go and see for myself!

At this moment, Tang Sanzang, sitting on his horse, couldn't help but ask, "Wukong, have you found a family where we can stay yet?"

Sun Wukong turned his head and said, "Found it, found it! The house of Old Master Gao is just ahead. Old Master Gao is kind and generous and very wealthy. He will surely treat us to a meal."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was somewhat pleased and said, "It's so high, then let's hurry up and go."

Then Sun Wukong led the white horse, and the two arrived at the gate of Old Master Gao's house. However, they were immediately stopped by two gatekeepers. The gatekeepers said, "Who are you? If you are a guest, you must inform us in advance."

Sun Wukong, leading the white horse, laughed and said, "Brother, we are monks who cultivate on the mountain. We heard that something happened to Old Master Gao's family, so we thought we would perform a ritual to relieve Old Master Gao's worries."

Upon hearing this, the gatekeeper considered for a moment and said, "Alright, you wait here for a while, I'll go and report to my master." After saying that, the gatekeeper went to the courtyard.

Tang Sanzang had been waiting for a long time, and sitting on the horse was not very comfortable, so he got off and stood with Sun Wukong. After a long while, the servant finally returned, but his expression was much kinder. He immediately said, "Two monks, my master invites you. Please come into the mansion quickly."

Then Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang entered the courtyard of Old Master Gao. Sun Wukong looked around and found that the family was indeed wealthy, but it also exuded a demonic aura.

It's not that there are monsters here, but rather that monsters used to live here. Sun Wukong was able to see the demonic aura because of his Fiery Eyes of Truth.

However, Sun Wukong discovered that there was a strong demonic aura emanating from behind the house, indicating that there was definitely a powerful demon inside.

Tang Sanzang's white horse was taken to the stable by servants early on and well taken care of.

Before the two had even fully entered the house, Old Master Gao hurriedly came out to greet them. Tang Sanzang went to pay his respects and immediately said, "We, master and disciples, have traveled a long way and are very hungry. We beg Old Master Gao to provide us with a vegetarian meal."

The old man with a full white beard replied, "Of course, of course. The meal has been prepared for the two monks." He then led the two to the main hall.

Although the two were hungry, they weren't too hungry. They ate for a while and then stopped. Tang Sanzang asked, "I wonder what kind of evil is happening in Old Master Gao's house? This humble monk can perform a ritual for this house, which will surely turn misfortune into good fortune."

Old Master Gao stammered, "Uh, well, I'm afraid one or two rituals won't solve this."

When Old Master Gao said this, Tang Sanzang was greatly puzzled and was about to speak when he heard Sun Wukong say, "Master, I can see demons and monsters. The house behind theirs is filled with demonic energy. There must be a powerful demon inside."

Upon hearing this, Old Master Gao was overjoyed and hugged Sun Wukong, saying, "Master is truly a Bodhisattva incarnate; he saw right where we were at a glance."

Sun Wukong, however, could tell there must be a reason. So he said, "Your family is quite capable, keeping a demon in your own backyard. It's really quite strange."

Old Master Gao smiled bitterly and said, "Young Master Mo Yan is joking. Our whole family is suffering terribly."

Tang Sanzang also understood a bit. Although there were monsters, he was not afraid because Sun Wukong was there. He immediately said, "Grandpa Gao, Grandpa Gao, why don't you explain things clearly so that we can resolve this matter for you?"

Old Master Gao had something difficult to say and was hesitant to do.

Sun Wukong grew impatient and complained, "Are you going to tell me or not? If you're not going to tell me, then we, master and disciples, have already eaten our fill and will be leaving now."

Seeing Sun Wukong in such a hurry, Tang Sanzang, though he himself did not know how to capture demons, had after all eaten a meal from Old Master Gao, and felt he should say something on Old Master Gao's behalf. So he said, "Wukong, don't be in such a hurry. Take your time. Old Master Gao will naturally explain."

Chapter 534 Battle Against Pigsy

At this moment, the old man finally spoke, saying, "You two masters are unaware of the truth, but I have no sons, only a daughter. I have always hoped to find an honest and capable son-in-law."

At that time, a servant happened to arrive. I thought he looked honest and kind, so I took him in. Later, he was able to do the work of ten people by himself, and his strength seemed inexhaustible. He was very diligent in his work. However, he could eat the equivalent of six or seven people's meals by himself, which was not unusual. I had my eye on him and intended to take him as my son-in-law.

My daughter also really likes him. And that's how it happened."

At this point, Sun Wukong sneered, "You old man, you're quite shrewd. That man can eat the food of six or seven people, yet he can do the work of ten. You must have made a fortune."

Sun Wukong's few words made Old Master Gao very embarrassed. At this moment, Tang Sanzang said again, "Wukong, you must not speak recklessly."

Tang Sanzang scolded Sun Wukong, who then shut his mouth, feeling embarrassed. Tang Sanzang then said to Old Master Gao, "My disciple's words are unreliable, please don't take it to heart, sir. Please continue."