Bamboo, Bamboo, I'm Not Taking You as My Master Anymore!

When will the scramble for fame and fortune end? Early to rise and late to bed, there is no freedom.

Riding a donkey, one longs for a fine horse; holding the official position of prime minister, one aspires to be a king or nobleman.

I only worry about the toil of food and clothing; I have no fear of the King of Hell taking my life.

Their adopted sons and grandsons, seeking wealth and status, are all unwilling to turn back.

Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng, having been 'robbed' at Gold-Silver Mountain, was beheaded and tailless by a monkey and made into a bamboo staff, thus entering the mortal world.

Watching the monkeys learn to dress like humans, swaying and waddling, they traveled from state to state.

In the marketplace, learn proper etiquette and proper speech.

Breakfast and lodging.

With a single-minded heart, he sought the ways of Buddha, immortals, and saints, hoping to find a way to Changsheng.

Although they are monkeys, they are truly sincere and steadfast.

This stands in stark contrast to those in the world who pursue fame and fortune.

Because bamboo canes are durable, resistant to insects and damage, and provide warmth when held close to the body at night, they are not hot even under the scorching sun in the sweltering heat. Even the monkey, though oblivious, knew it had found a treasure.

I take them with me wherever I go.

Sometimes, when he was running through the streets and alleys, he would be chased and beaten so badly by those ignorant people that they would not let go.

Seeing the monkey's pitiful state and feeling his pure heart and sincere desire for immortality, Lu Qingfeng was moved by compassion and released a great deal of the essence of the sun, moon, and stars that he had accumulated day and night to heal the monkey's wounds.

Good deeds will eventually be rewarded.

The monkey gripped the bamboo staff, no longer banging it aimlessly, but instead treating it like a precious treasure.

When resting, especially in the evening, one should wipe the dust off the bamboo walking stick. If one encounters a stream or river, before washing it oneself, one should take advantage of the clear water to wash the bamboo stick thoroughly.

Lu Qingfeng benefited from it.

They weren't in a hurry to leave.

"At least we were destined to meet."

"Once I have attained immortality, I will take you as my disciple and guide you to immortality."

Having spent a long time with the monkey and witnessed all its experiences, Lu Qingfeng had the idea of taking it as a disciple.

In this way.

Days passed by.

Immortal Dao monkey sought out immortals but failed to find one. Instead, he wandered the Great Wall and visited small counties in the Southern Continent for eight or nine years.

Suddenly they arrived at the Western Ocean.

Splash!

The waves crashed, creating a magnificent spectacle.

"I have been searching for all these years, but I have not encountered any immortals. I suppose these immortals are either on land or in the sea."

The monkey gazed out at the Ocean, thinking that there must be immortals overseas.

He immediately got excited.

They plunged into the mountains, enthusiastically felling trees to build rafts.

Lu Qingfeng found it amusing. "There are many immortals and gods in the Continent of Southern Jambudvipa, but you silly monkey are running around like a headless fly, without any connections. How can you possibly become an immortal's disciple?"

One cannot attain immortality on land.

It's probably even worse at sea.

Little did the monkey know that the bamboo staff he carried day and night for the past eight or nine years was actually a celestial being who could help him Attainment of the Dao enlightenment.

But Lu Qingfeng did not stop him.

Whether on land or at sea, let the monkey roam freely for now; it will serve as a form of training.

Moreover, this monkey is full of energy and, more importantly, never gives up. Whenever it enters the city, it is driven away and beaten, or when it enters the mountains, it is chased and torn apart by jackals, wolves, tigers and leopards. It gets angry and curses, but soon forgets about it and continues to hop and skip on its way.

This mindset also touched Lu Qingfeng.

The raft was made.

The monkey gathered many wild fruits and peaches in the mountains, cut down bamboo to make many bamboo tubes to hold a lot of water. It didn't seem like it was its first time going out to sea; it was quite familiar with the Zhou Quan and well-prepared.

Lu Qingfeng simply assumed it was the monkey's agility and didn't think much of it.

Looking at the cut bamboo, a chill ran down his spine. "Thank goodness I'm not bamboo."

He felt relieved.

At least it retains a complete shape after being shaved into a bamboo cane. But if it were made into individual bamboo tubes, that would be a disaster.

Looking at the bamboo tubes on the raft, Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but shudder.

The monkey is ready.

I don't even know what fear is.

Let's go!

"Let's set sail!"

They pushed the raft out to sea, and it drifted into the West Sea.

Only.

His raft had no sails and no oars; it moved forward and backward entirely on the force of the waves.

Lu Qingfeng looked at him and couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Silly disciple, I thought you were so capable, but it turns out you're just a monkey."

No sails, no oars.

How could it be Hainan Airlines?

It's likely that before long, it will either be overturned by the wind and waves or washed back ashore.

"Finally, I will have to step in."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

We're waiting for him to show his skills.

Left, etc.

Wait a minute.

On this sea, there was wind and waves. But the raft made by the monkey Chengfeng. Although it looked dangerous, it was never overturned, never fell apart, and never was pushed back to the shore.

They drifted along like this until they reached the territory of Continent of West Ox Congratulations.

"Goodness."

"Could it really be that gentleman?"

The monkey, clutching the bamboo staff, happily climbed ashore.

Lu Qingfeng looked at the West Sea, then at the land, and a question arose in his mind.

Continent of Southern Jambudvipa, no matter how much the monkey caused trouble, he never believed that the monkey was the Handsome Monkey King from Flower-Fruit Mountain.

But as the monkeys emerged from the West Sea, they arrived at Continent of West Ox Congratulations.

Some of them have become less resolute.

They intend to leave.

And they don't believe in superstitions.

"I'm determined to stay and see!"

Lu Qingfeng couldn't believe that such a coincidence could happen in the world. He had been trying so hard to avoid it, yet he still ran into it!

So they continued on their way with the monkey.

It was the same routine as when I was in Continent of Southern Jambudvipa: walking along the Great Wall, visiting small counties, and exploring deep mountains.

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

I have no clue.

Lu Qingfeng was about to believe that the monkey was that person, but then he hesitated.

This day.

Suddenly, the monkey spotted a tall, beautiful mountain with secluded forests. Unafraid of wolves or insects, nor of tigers or leopards, he climbed to the summit to observe. Although Lu Qingfeng was made of bamboo, he could still see, and saw—

A thousand peaks stand like halberds, ten thousand cliffs unfold like a screen. Sunlight reflects on the misty haze, lightly locking in the verdant green; rain ceases, the dark hue cools, retaining a bluish hue. Withered vines entwine ancient trees, an ancient ferry marks a secluded path. Rare flowers and auspicious herbs, tall bamboos and pines abound. The tall bamboos and pines, evergreen for ten thousand years, rival this Blessed Land; the rare flowers and auspicious herbs, never fading in four seasons, surpass even the immortals of Penglai. The calls of secluded birds are near, the spring water gurgles clear. Layer upon layer of valleys are surrounded by orchids and magnolias, everywhere moss grows on the cliffs. The undulating mountain peaks are auspicious, surely a hermit dwells there, his name hidden.

"Beautiful mountains!"

Upon seeing this, Lu Qingfeng sensed something was wrong.

Really.

A single thought arises.

Then they heard voices coming from deep within the forest. Listening closely, they realized it was singing. "Watching chess, the axe handle rots; chopping wood, the sound of hammering; strolling slowly along the valley's edge..."

I only heard a few words.

Lu Qingfeng immediately exclaimed in alarm, "This is terrible!"

My heart trembled.

They were filled with panic and uncertainty.

Daring not to linger, he quickly channeled his spiritual power, leaped out of the monkey's hand, and fled in the opposite direction from which the sound came, without even discerning which way to go.

"Bamboo, Bamboo."

"Where you go?"

Hearing the anxious cries of the monkeys behind him, Lu Qingfeng did not stop.

Before the Journey to the West began, this monkey was a real troublemaker, and Lu Qingfeng dared not get involved with him.

Moreover, the monkey was searching for the Slanting-Moon Three-Stars Cave and was about to become a disciple of the Bodhi Patriarch. If the Patriarch noticed him as an anomaly, he might face great calamity.

This is different from the earlier Black Wind Mountain incident.

At that time, the Way of Heaven Sect Master had not yet Attainment of the Dao, and Lu Qingfeng was originally from Black Wind Mountain. She was the daughter of the Way of Heaven Sect Master, and a Green Bamboo cultivated by the young sect leader Zhou Zhu. She had some connection with that sect leader, so going to seek refuge with him would not have been a big deal even if the Sage knew about it.

But this Bodhi Patriarch was Sage had already Attainment of the Dao.

Lu Qingfeng's rash visit is bound to backfire. Putting aside everything else, what will become of his wife and children if he is forcibly converted into the Buddhist Sect?

Even though he had a ten-year friendship with the monkey and a good impression of him, Lu Qingfeng didn't dare to act recklessly.

"Running away is the best option!"

The bamboo cane was really agile; it leaped out and disappeared into the forest in an instant. The four-foot-long bamboo cane hopped a long way through the forest and soon emerged from the woods.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I determined the direction.

I was just looking for a place to cultivate myself alone.

But then they heard a commotion coming from the woods behind them. Listening carefully, they realized it was the monkey chasing after them, frantically calling out, "Bamboo, Bamboo, where have you been?"

"This monkey, having found the path to immortality, why doesn't he go to learn from a master and cultivate himself, but instead comes chasing after me?"

Lu Qingfeng was stunned when he saw the monkey chasing after him.

He watched as this monkey sought immortality, traversing mountains and seas, wandering for ten years before finally finding the true immortal mountain.

At this moment, he actually gave up the Immortal Destiny right in front of him for this bamboo staff that was only useful for keeping warm in winter and cool in summer?

"Perhaps I haven't gone far enough."

Lu Qingfeng thought to himself.

He immediately used his Law Power and Divine Ability, and vanished into thin air from outside the forest.

They went to a Nameless thousands of miles away.

"Desolate."

I've spent ten years living with monkeys.

Lu Qingfeng was still a little unaccustomed to being separated from his partner.

The four-foot bamboo cane bounced and jumped.

Finally, he leaned against a tree and said, "What a pity for my disciple."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head inwardly.

His true intention was not to accept the monkey as the Handsome Monkey King's, and he was determined to take the monkey as his disciple. This is why, even though the monkey stumbled and fell from the Continent of Southern Jambudvipa, crossed the West Sea, and arrived at the Continent of Northern Kuru, Lu Qingfeng did not believe it and did not leave immediately.

But the final result was not what he had hoped for.

Lu Qingfeng had no choice but to reluctantly give up his love.

"I can't possibly compete with Bodhi Patriarch for a disciple, can I?" Lu Qingfeng thought with a wry smile.

He left in a hurry, partly because he dared not see the Bodhi Patriarch, and partly because he was worried that things might change like they did the first time he entered the dream, thus ruining the monkey's destiny.

However, considering the monkey's future fate, it's hard to say whether the Slanting-Moon Three-Stars Cave is a blessing or a curse for him.

"The Sage have already calculated this; it's not my place to question them."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

Daoist Wukong later became a top figure in the Three Realms. Although he faced a calamity during the killing spree, and his true self and all the avatars he had severed were killed, he was later guided back by the Way of Heaven Sect Master and escaped unharmed.

The ending was still good.

Thinking like that.

Lu Qingfeng cleared his mind, leaped to an open space, and prepared to release his roots and branches to settle down and cultivate.

But at this moment—

From the foot of the mountain, a monkey wearing tattered clothes ran up the mountain, panting heavily.

It was no stranger.

They found the Handsome Monkey King in the Slanting-Moon Three-Stars Cave.

Lu Qingfeng traveled ten thousand miles.

That monkey actually chased him for thousands of miles.

They were panting heavily from exhaustion, looking both ridiculous and pitiful.

But the monkeys didn't notice.

"Bamboo, Bamboo."

Seeing the bamboo staff in front of him, the monkey, forgetting his fatigue, happily went forward and hurriedly reached out to grab it.

"Well!"

"How come you caught up again?"

Seeing this, Lu Qingfeng sighed and hopped away from the monkey's two hands. He then unleashed his Law Power to distance himself even further.

But his Divine Ability had not yet been unleashed.

The monkey opened its mouth and called out, "Bamboo, Bamboo, I'm not going to become your apprentice anymore, so don't run away."

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

I simply can't run anymore.

The monkey stared longingly at Lu Qingfeng, looking pitiful.

"Aren't you going to find a master?"

Upon hearing this and seeing the pleading look in the monkey's eyes, Lu Qingfeng was stunned. "You came from Flower-Fruit Mountain, went through countless hardships, and finally found the immortal mountain. Are you just going to give up like this?"

That's just one aspect.

If Bodhi Patriarch found out that his chosen disciple had been abducted, wouldn't he skin him alive, tear out his tendons, and burn his soul to ashes?

That won't do.

"Flower-Fruit Mountain?"

The monkey blinked and shook its head, saying, "I am Six Ears, not that silly Stone Monkey from Flower-Fruit Mountain."