Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

Just as they stirred the water a few times, they heard a commotion at the bottom of the river. A huge wave surged up, and a red-haired monster rushed out.

The red-haired demon fought with Sun Wukong, but was eventually defeated by him. Tang Sanzang immediately told him to speak, "Wukong, wait! Don't hurt him."

Upon hearing this, Wukong dragged the red-haired monster ashore, and Tang Sanzang asked, "What kind of demon are you?"

The red-haired demon was terrified by Sun Wukong and had no choice but to honestly say, "I was originally the Curtain-Raising General in Heaven, but I accidentally broke the glass lamp. The Jade Emperor demoted me to a demon and I am suffering in the Tongtian River."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said, "You must be a demon with a tragic fate. I am going to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures. I wonder if you would be willing to go with me if you become my disciple? If we reach the Western Paradise and retrieve the scriptures, then we will have achieved enlightenment."

The monk Sha asked, "Is that really true? If I get the scriptures, I won't be a monster anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang immediately put his hands together in prayer, speaking in the tone of a highly virtuous monk, and said, "Of course, a monk does not lie."

The red-haired demon was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately knelt down respectfully, kowtowing three times to Tang Sanzang, thus completing the apprenticeship ceremony.

Seeing the red-haired demon so obedient, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but feel extremely proud, thinking, "This disciple is much more unruly than that pig and the monkey. I suppose I'll have a servant to order around in the future."

Tang Sanzang laughed and said, "My disciple, those are your two senior brothers. The one who looks like a monkey is your eldest brother. The one who looks like a pig demon is your second brother. You are my third disciple."

The red-haired demon was naturally kind and honest, so he greeted Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie in turn and bowed.

Tang Sanzang couldn't help but think to himself: After all, he had served in the Heavenly Palace, which is why he is different from my two wild beasts.

Seeing how kind the red-haired demon was, Sun Wukong smiled and said to Zhu Bajie, "Looks like we've got someone even more clueless than you. You can have him help you carry your luggage from now on."

Pigsy was naturally very happy to hear that he no longer needed to carry luggage.

Tang Sanzang then asked, "Disciple, how about I give you a name?"

The red-haired demon said, "I will obey Master's orders."

After thinking for a moment, Tang Sanzang said, "Alright, from now on I'll call you Sha Wujing."

Upon hearing this, the red-haired demon imitated the monk, putting his hands together and saying, "Thank you, Master, for bestowing this name upon me."

Although the Liusha River was wide, a monster still emerged from it. In the end, it was suppressed by Sun Wukong and later became Sun Wukong's third junior brother.

Tang Sanzang, in a fit of great compassion, named the demon Sha Wujing.

From then on, they traveled together. There were four of them in total, master and disciples.

Since Sha Wujing joined the pilgrimage team, Zhu Bajie's task became much easier, as he became the horse handler.

The original luggage was carried by Sha Wujing. As for Sun Wukong, his job was even easier.

At this point, Sun Wukong is merely clearing the way ahead; his main task is to protect the safety of Tang Sanzang and his companions.

However, among the five travelers heading west, Sun Wukong was undoubtedly the most skilled. As for Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, their fighting abilities were roughly equal.

However, the white dragon is a variable. Normally it is just a white horse, but if there is an emergency, it can transform into a white dragon, which is extremely majestic.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples continued their journey westward, but they did not find Li Xiuyuan's benevolent corpse, the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva, who had somehow appeared behind them.

The Bodhisattva looked at the group of master and disciples in front of him and sighed, "Hehe, the four of them have finally gathered together."

Chapter 537 Wukong Asks for Help

That day, Li Xiuyuan was meditating when he suddenly sensed someone approaching.

Looking up, I saw that it was Sun Wukong.

Li Xiuyuan quickly calculated and figured it out: it turned out that on their way to the Western Paradise, Tang Sanzang and his disciples passed by the Taoist temple of the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi. That Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi had a precious tree called the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

The fruit that grows on the Ginseng Fruit Tree is indeed the ginseng fruit. The Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi had a close relationship with Tang Sanzang's previous incarnation, Ling Chanzi.

Therefore, they prepared a few ginseng fruits to entertain Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

However, it just so happened that the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi had to go out on business, so he entrusted the ginseng fruit tree to the two boys to take care of, and also asked them to treat Tang Sanzang and his disciples well.

When Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived at the Taoist temple, they were surprised to receive a warm welcome. Two young boys even offered them several ginseng fruits.

However, Tang Sanzang was timid and dared not eat it, nor would he allow Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and the others to eat it. So the two attendants took the fruit back and secretly enjoyed it themselves.

Unexpectedly, Sun Wukong, with his great magical powers, learned of this matter and stole a few ginseng fruits, which Pigsy, Sandy, and the others ate.

Later, when the truth came out, the two boys, being disrespectful, scolded Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Wukong, enraged, pushed down the Three Realms Treasure Tree.

Afterwards, the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi arrived and captured Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Wukong was no match for the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi and had to escape alone, seeking help from Li Xiuyuan.

When Li Xiuyuan saw Sun Wukong arrive, he slowly stood up and said, "Wukong, what brings you here to see your master?"

Wukong immediately knelt down and begged, "Master, I have committed a terrible crime. Please help me."

Li Xiuyuan had already foreseen the cause and effect, and immediately said, "Wukong, I have foreseen your matter."

Wukong confessed, "Master, Tang Sanzang and I passed by the Taoist temple of Zhenyuan Daxian. Because we were angry at the boy's scolding, we knocked down the ginseng fruit tree. Unexpectedly, Zhenyuan Daxian came, and I was no match for him. Please show me the way."

Li Xiuyuan laughed and said, "That's not difficult. However, if I were to go and beat up that Zhenyuanzi Immortal, it would seem that I, as his master, lack magnanimity. So, I will go with you and help prop up that ginseng fruit tree. Let Zhenyuanzi Immortal's precious tree survive. I'm sure that Zhenyuanzi Immortal won't be able to say anything then."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Master. Thank you for your kindness, Master."

He immediately rode on a cloud to clear the way for Li Xiuyuan. However, Li Xiuyuan still scolded Sun Wukong along the way, saying, "Wukong, tell me, what you did in this incident, was it right or wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong felt ashamed and said, "It was all because I lost my temper and pushed over the precious tree."

Sun Wukong shook his head and sighed, "Alas, it was that boy who started the cursing. To be honest, if it were Zhen Yuanzi's boy who had reprimanded me like that, I would have wiped out the entire Taoist temple and Zhen Yuanzi himself on the spot."

"When the time comes, I will revive the Treasure Tree and seek justice for you. I'll let them know that while you, Sun Wukong, are ostensibly Tang Sanzang's disciple, you are actually my disciple. They won't dare to act disrespectfully towards you again."

Upon hearing Li Xiuyuan's words, Sun Wukong immediately became careless and said, "Thank you, Master, for standing up for your disciple."

Li Xiuyuan smiled slightly and said, "It's nothing, but you were also at fault this time. Don't be so arrogant in the future, and learn from this!"

Sun Wukong nodded and replied, "This disciple has learned a great deal."

After saying this, the master and disciple headed west to Wuzhuang Temple, which was the Taoist temple of the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi and also had the only ginseng fruit tree in the Three Realms.

The story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples' journey westward to obtain Buddhist scriptures is actually related to the great prosperity of Buddhism, which is why many immortals and bodhisattvas were secretly watching.

Among them was Guanyin Bodhisattva, who at this moment was making a series of calculations in her mind and taking some measures.

If the ginseng fruit tree were to be saved, perhaps only Guanyin Bodhisattva's Three Lights Holy Water could revive the plant. Guanyin Bodhisattva thought to herself, "With my Three Lights Holy Water, Li Xiuyuan is helpless."

If I insist on not helping, then Li Xiuyuan and his disciples will probably run out of options and will have no choice but to beat up Zhen Yuanzi.

However, if Li Xiuyuan were to actually do this, he would likely earn a bad reputation throughout the Three Realms, and many immortals, Buddhas, and saints would probably look down on him in the future.

It makes sense, considering that Li Xiuyuan and Sun Wukong, the master and disciple, had one disciple stealing and eating the ginseng fruit from someone else, and even pushing down the only ginseng fruit tree in the Three Realms.

Li Xiuyuan was the same; not only did he not seek a peaceful resolution, he also bullied Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal.

Such a thing is something that no one can stand by and watch. Although none of them would dare to take action against Li Xiuyuan, there is no guarantee that Li Xiuyuan will not be weakened in the future.

Li Xiuyuan's actions are bound to draw criticism and he will inevitably face condemnation from the public in the future.

But he never expected that Li Xiuyuan, whom Sun Wukong had invited, also possessed the Three Lights Holy Water.

Li Xiuyuan followed Sun Wukong westward and soon arrived outside the Taoist temple of Zhen Yuanzi.

Upon seeing Sun Wukong arrive, the two gatekeepers immediately ran back in a panic.

In the main hall of the Taoist temple, an old Taoist was meditating. Suddenly, two young boys rushed in. The old Taoist was none other than Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal. Zhen Yuanzi was the ancestor of all earth immortals and a very powerful figure, but he was still a notch below Li Xiuyuan.

Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, said, "Child, don't be impatient. Tell me slowly what's wrong."

The two boys immediately said, "Master, that Monkey King who escaped is back! He's even brought reinforcements!"

Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, was already lamenting the loss of his ginseng fruit tree when he heard that Sun Wukong had arrived, and he immediately became furious.

He immediately exclaimed, "Oh! I'd like to see what kind of reinforcements this monkey has brought!"

He then appeared outside the Taoist temple. Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, had never seen Li Xiuyuan before, so of course he did not recognize him.

Looking around, one could see Sun Wukong standing respectfully next to Li Xiuyuan.

Chapter 538 Three Lights Divine Water

After inviting Sun Wukong and Li Xiuyuan to the Taoist temple, Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, dared not act recklessly any further, of course, because Li Xiuyuan had come to support Sun Wukong.

Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing were all released by the attendants of Zhenyuanzi, the Great Immortal.

Li Xiuyuan immediately said, "Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi, where is your precious tree? Please take me there."

Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, certainly dared not be negligent. He immediately went to lead the way, gesturing for permission and saying, "Bodhisattva, this way please."

Li Xiuyuan chuckled to himself: This Zhen Yuanzi does know the rules.

However, Sun Wukong was all smiles at this moment. Just like that day, when Zhen Yuanzi was so rude to them, he had become so well-behaved after inviting Li Xiuyuan.

The Tang Monk and his disciples followed behind, but Pigsy and Sandy whispered among themselves.

Then Pigsy stretched out his snout and said to Sandy, "Brother Sandy, look at Zhen Yuanzi, the usually imposing immortal, today, why does he look like a dog with its tail between its legs?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing covered his mouth and chuckled. However, Tang Sanzang overheard these words, and sighed, saying with deep emotion, "Alas, we are no match for others. We have no choice but to accept it."

While Tang Sanzang expressed these sentiments verbally, he secretly thought that he would definitely find an opportunity to get to know Li Xiuyuan better later.

After all, for Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of earth immortals, to be so cautious, he must be someone like the Four Emperors of that time.

After going back and forth, turning several corners, they finally arrived at the ginseng fruit tree. Li Xiuyuan stared intently at the scene before him, and what a tragic sight it was.

That was originally the only tree in the Three Realms that bore the fruit of life, and it was probably even better than the peaches of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West.

Now, however, it was overthrown by Sun Wukong in a fit of anger.

Li Xiuyuan also felt regret and wanted to scold Sun Wukong, saying, "You monkey, you are really naughty! How could you bear to cut down such a precious tree?"

When Wukong saw that Li Xiuyuan was scolding him again, he naturally dared not resist. He simply said, "Master is right. I will be careful in the future and will not cause you any more trouble."