Chaos Spirit Field

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi's expression changed. He said angrily, "Xuanzang, I treated you with such kindness, why did you allow your followers to commit such atrocities and knock down my ginseng fruit tree? Even if the two saints from the West come in person today, you must compensate me for my ginseng fruit tree, or you will not be able to leave."

When Zhu Bajie heard that he was not allowed to leave, he immediately became furious and said, "Aren't you slandering me, old Taoist? We brothers don't even know where your ginseng fruit tree is."

Zhen Yuanzi smiled and said, "Look at my poor memory. My ginseng fruit tree is in the backyard, and this is the largest one. Now you know it, right?"

Zhu Bajie said to Zhao Shanhe, "Master, why don't you say a word to defend yourself?"

Zhao Shanhe said earnestly, "Bajie, this is what they call a man under someone's roof, he has to bow his head. We are on his territory, so he can say whatever he wants. Instead of wasting your breath talking, you might as well eat more vegetarian food."

"Master, we really won't leave."

"Bajie, if you can defeat this shameless old Taoist priest, we can naturally leave. Let me remind you, his strength far exceeds that of your former master. There are few in the Three Realms who can surpass him, except for saints."

Zhen Yuanzi said confidently: "Xuanzang, I am indeed not as good as a saint, but apart from a saint, there is probably no one who can definitely defeat me."

Zhao Shanhe smiled and said, "If it was before the ginseng fruit tree fell, you would be invincible in the Three Realms except for the saints. Now there are at least three people who can defeat you."

"May I ask which three they are?"

"In Western Kunlun there is a Master Lu Ya. His Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife is exceptionally sharp, and it can defeat wood. I wonder how he would fare against you, Senior."

"It's hard for me to block his Immortal Slaying Flying Knife right now. I can barely block one, but what about the other two?"

Zhao Shanhe saw that Zhen Yuanzi didn't take Lu Ya Zhenren seriously, so he continued, "The Tathagata Buddha is the number one person under the saints. There is no doubt about that."

"The Tathagata Buddha is indeed far superior to me, but he is not the first one under the Saint."

Zhao Shanhe understood the meaning behind Zhen Yuanzi's words. It seemed that the identity of Tathagata Buddha was no longer a secret. He continued, "Zhao Zilong, the deputy head of the Chan Sect, has a mysterious background. His strength should be comparable to yours. If you were to compete, he would have a greater chance of winning."

Zhen Yuanzi didn't deny it. He nodded and said, "Zhao Zilong is indeed a character. Although I have never met him, we have a spiritual connection for a long time. I wonder which one you plan to ask to deal with me."

Zhao Shanhe shook his head and said, "Senior Zhen Yuanzi, you're joking. Saving the ginseng fruit tree isn't difficult. Why should I owe someone such a big favor? If my master, Taoist Zhunti, could help, I would naturally have a proper discussion with you."

Zhen Yuanzi smiled and said, "If Taoist Zhunti could come out, I wouldn't have invited you to Wuzhuang Temple. Qingfeng, Mingyue, go down and prepare a table of good vegetarian dishes. Fellow Taoist Xuanzang and I will have a few drinks and have a good chat about how to heal the ginseng fruit tree."

Qingfeng got angry and said with a look of grievance: "Master, our precious tree has fallen, and you still have the mood to drink."

Zhen Yuanzi didn't expect his young disciple to be so disgruntled. He sternly scolded him, "What do you know? A dead tree can still spring. Hurry up and go. Fellow Daoist Xuanzang, I've spoiled Qingfeng. Please wait a moment. The vegetarian food will take a while to prepare. Why not try the old Taoist's ginseng fruit first?"

"You are too polite, senior. I would be disrespectful to refuse." Zhao Shanhe put the ginseng fruit away after saying this. He did not eat it.

Zhu Bajie asked, "Master, why don't you eat the ginseng fruit?"

Zhao Shanhe replied, "This ginseng fruit is very useful to mortals. I have other uses for it."

"Master, why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have left the ginseng fruit to you."

"Your filial piety is enough. Senior Zhen Yuanzi, while the vegetarian dishes are still not ready, let's discuss how to heal the ginseng fruit tree."

Zhen Yuanzi said, "Xuanzang, I see that you are confident. It shouldn't be difficult to cure my ginseng fruit tree."

"As the saying goes, if you ask for a high price, you will pay a low price. There are many people in the Three Realms who can heal the ginseng fruit tree, but not many are still able to do it now. I wonder which one you plan to ask?"

"This ginseng fruit tree of mine was knocked down by your disciple, so you should be held responsible."

Senior Zhen Yuanzi, the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures requires going through eighty-one trials and tribulations. No matter who knocked over the ginseng fruit tree, I cannot escape the consequences. I can find someone to revive your ginseng fruit tree, but you must pay the reward. To be frank, I want to leave, and you dare not stop me. The saint is only temporarily unable to intervene, not forever.

Zhao Shanhe's words made Zhen Yuanzi fall into deep thought. After a cup of tea, he said, "Who are you planning to invite?"

"Nuwa and I have some friendship. What do you think?"

Zhen Yuanzi sneered and said, "It's not easy to owe a favor to the Goddess Nuwa. I would rather the ginseng fruit tree fall down than pay such a huge price."

"Then I'll try another candidate. How about the Queen Mother Hou Tu? She can also save your ginseng fruit tree."

Zhen Yuanzi's expression changed, and he quickly shook his head and said, "Even if you and your wife join forces, my little fortune wouldn't be enough to compensate you."

Zhao Shanhe sighed helplessly, then asked, "Then my sworn brother Zhao Zilong is okay, right? He's not a saint."

Zhen Yuanzi hesitated for a moment and asked, "Can he do it?"

Zhao Shanhe replied, "He was the one who built the fifth-ranked Peach Garden. The Queen Mother gave him three peach trees as a reward. If you still don't agree, please forgive me for being unable to help you."

At this moment, Qingfeng and Mingyue arrived with vegetarian dishes. Zhen Yuanzi said, "Xuanzang, you guys enjoy the vegetarian dishes first. I need to think carefully about this. If you need anything, you can ask Qingfeng and Mingyue."

Zhao Shanhe said, "Senior Zhen Yuanzi, I cannot stay in Wuzhuang Temple for too long, otherwise the Saint will be unhappy."

"I'll give you an answer in three days at the most. Qingfeng, Mingyue, treat your distinguished guests with no neglect, or I'll hold you responsible."

"Disciple obeys. Elders, please enjoy the vegetarian meal."

Zhao Shanhe picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the vegetarian dish and said, "It tastes good. Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Seng, stop standing there and pick up your chopsticks."

Long Shisi said aggrievedly, "Master, you forgot to call me Little Shisi."

Zhao Shanhe patted his bald head and said, "My memory is getting worse and worse. I actually forgot you. Mingyue, lead the horses to the stables and prepare the best fodder."

Long Shisi said dissatisfiedly: "Master, I also want to eat vegetarian food."

Zhao Shanhe said earnestly, "Little Fourteen, you've already eaten ginseng fruit. Why are you still eating vegetarian food? Horses should eat grass."

Long Shisi wanted to argue, but found that he could not speak. Then he realized that his bad mouth had caused trouble for his master.