Journey to the West: Monks do not tell lies, they only rob

Five or six days later, Jinping Prefecture.

Tang Shan and her companions arrived at the east street market. The wine shops and tea houses on both sides were bustling with people, and the rice shops and oil markets were bustling with activity.

When the young people strolling on the street saw Bajie and his companions, they gathered around curiously.

They only dared to gather and watch at a distance of two meters, for fear that they would be bitten by Bajie if they got too close.

Bajie didn't care much, he thought it would be better if it was a grown-up girl.

"Master, let's go find something to eat."

All he wanted now was to find something to eat.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Ciyun Temple has delicious vegetarian dishes today!"

Bajie turned around suddenly, "Who! Who is eavesdropping?"

Wukong led the white dragon horse, and after passing two alleys, they found the Ciyu Temple they had just heard of.

The temple was built in a low-key and luxurious style, and it was obvious that the owner was not short of money.

Bajie wiped the corner of his mouth and realized that he was not lying.

Tang Shan explained their purpose and the old monk quickly welcomed them in.

"I never thought that I would be able to see the legendary holy monk in my lifetime."

"Oh?" Wukong put down his luggage, jumped onto a chair, squatted down, and casually tore open a banana on the table and put it into his mouth. "What did they say about my master?"

Bajie was busy eating, and Tang Shan put down her chopsticks. She also wanted to know what kind of reputation she had outside.

"The holy monk has a heart of compassion and mercy, and is naturally a role model for our generation."

The old monk picked out the good things to say, "We have been slaying demons and monsters along the way. The hardships and dangers involved are beyond our imagination. Holy monk, why don't you take advantage of the Lantern Festival to rest here before continuing on your journey?"

If the people in Jinping Prefecture knew that the holy monk of the Great Tang Dynasty was with him, I'm afraid the incense would be much more prosperous than usual.

Of course, he had no evil intention of greed for money. He just wanted to humbly learn Buddhism from the holy monk.

Tang Shan was complacent: Wow~ I am so famous now.

"Lantern Festival?" Bajie poked his head out from the mountain of white rice, a few grains still clinging to his mouth and nose. "Then there's plenty to eat."

After saying that, he lowered his head and continued to gnaw on the rice.

Sha Seng looked a little embarrassed, "Second Brother, please eat slowly."

Be more polite, otherwise others will think that the master is mistreating them and not letting them eat enough.

"I know."

Bajie spoke incoherently, but his hands and mouth did not stop moving at all.

Tang Shan smiled and nodded, "I've been traveling under the stars and moon, and I've long forgotten what time it is. I just happened to catch up with you today, so I'll stay and take a look, just like the abbot said."

She vaguely remembered this part from the original novel, which was about Tang Monk going out to enjoy the lanterns on the Lantern Festival, but was abducted by a demon on the bridge.

When Wukong asked the fairies who were responsible for protecting Sanzang in the sky why they neglected their duty, it turned out to be because Tang Sanzang chose to watch the lanterns on the Lantern Festival, and was lazy and indulged in pleasure, secretly having fun!

Tang Shan felt that Tang Sanzang was wronged. He had walked diligently for more than ten years along mountain and river roads, and even took a breath before hanging himself. Now he was so distracted by watching lanterns that he had no desire to practice Buddhism?

She was not the type to endure hardship without any hardship, so she immediately decided to take her apprentice out for a walk in the evening.

After dinner, the master and his disciples took a walk on the back mountain of Ciyu Temple. There was a ten-story pagoda about ten meters away.

"Master gave it to me."

Tang Shan looked down at the broom handed to her by Sha Seng and said, "Sha'er, what do you mean?"

"Master, aren't you going to sweep the pagoda?"

Sha Seng blurted out something out of the blue, saying that someone as devoted to Buddhism as his master would definitely sweep the pagoda when he saw it.

Tang Shan: Then I choose to sweep the tower in Li Jing's hand...

"Lao Sha, why do you think I would want to sweep the pagoda?"

Tang Shan looked at him straight, hoping for a reasonable explanation.

"Sweeping the pagoda is about sincerity, humility, and sincerity. Master, haven't you swept it before?"

Wukong covered his mouth and laughed. Master doesn't seem to be such a diligent person. He doesn't even recite a single sutra in normal times.

Bajie simply sat down and lay down under a big tree, "Then you guys sweep first, I'll keep watch for you from over here."

"You're being lazy again!" Wukong kicked him on the butt. "You're the one who's doing bad things."

Tang Shan still refused to take the broom from Sha Seng's hand. After thinking seriously for two seconds, she put on an attitude of heavy responsibility and placed her palm on Sha Seng's shoulder.

"Lao Sha, today I will give you this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shine the Buddha's shoes. No, I will give you this opportunity to pay my respects to the Buddha. Please don't let me down."

"Ah?" Sha Seng was so confused that he didn't react.

Bajie keenly sensed Tang Shan's subtext and pointed it out: "I mean, I want you to sweep."

Wukong whispered, "Master, what does it mean to polish shoes?"

Tang Shan: "A kind of performance art with a purpose."

Wukong: ???

He turned around in thought, but it felt like nothing had been said. He still didn't understand.

At night, Tang Shan and others changed into ordinary men's clothes. She wore a felt blanket on her head, and looked like a handsome young man from a close distance.

Several people happily followed the old abbot into the city, and everyone felt a little bit of anticipation in their hearts.

The streets were crowded with people, and lanterns of various shapes were hung on both sides of the street.

The lantern stall was filled with men, women, young and old, all excitedly vying to guess the riddles in order to win the biggest and most beautiful one.

The master and the disciple had never experienced such a lively scene before, so they just put the matter of obtaining the scriptures behind their minds and enjoyed the present moment.

"Holy monk, this is the most luxurious and beautiful place for the Lantern Festival."

On the Golden Lantern Bridge, three golden lanterns as big as water tanks are neatly placed.

The shape of the two-story pavilion is made of fine golden threads, and the glazed tiles inside are filled with crispy fragrant oil.

Each lamp contained 500 jin, and the three lamps weighed a total of 1,500 jin, with a total cost of 48,000 taels.

Tang Shan couldn't help but sigh: It looks really good, but it's a waste of money and manpower.

Thinking of what was going to happen, she sneaked up to the golden lamp, put her fingers inside, and white powder fell down.

She curled her lips slightly, hehe, the added sesame oil doubles the happiness.

While we were admiring the lanterns, a sudden gust of wind blew up in the sky, getting stronger and stronger, and the lanterns were blown all over the place.

"Holy monk, please follow me. The Buddha is coming to collect the lanterns."

Tang Shan let the old abbot lead them away from the bridge, and then sat in the corner of the wall, staring intently at the Golden Lantern Bridge.

"Holy monk, have you ever seen the Buddha?"

The Buddha who the old abbot said would come to collect the lanterns always came in clouds and fog with strong winds, and he had never seen him clearly.

The ultimate idol of every monk is probably the Buddha, and it is rumored that Tang Seng was the person chosen by Guanyin to go to Leiyin Temple to obtain the scriptures in person, so he asked this question.

Tang Shan: Could it be that he wants me to help him get the Buddha’s autograph?

An idea suddenly occurred to her. Yes! That’s not impossible!

I feel like another road to wealth is beckoning to me.

"Shh~ Coming."

Wukong looked closely at the wind and saw that there were clearly three demons.

"Don't go yet."

Wukong stood up with the stick in his hand, and Tang Shan quickly held him down, saying that it would not be too late to beat him after they drank the sesame oil.

The master and his disciple remained motionless, but before they knew it, the old monk next to them rushed forward.

"Buddha is above, and the disciple is sincere"

Before he could finish his words, he and Xiangyou were captured by the demon.

Tang Shan and his disciples looked at each other in bewilderment. Who had asked him to go up there?