For more than half a year, the journey was uneventful. Not only did they not encounter any demons or monsters, but they also did not encounter any ordinary bandits.
That's why Tang Sanzang found the journey rather dull and uninteresting.
Last night, the master and his apprentice rested at the foot of a cliff.
During the daytime today, Sun Wukong hunted a wild boar, and the two of them prepared the food at the foot of the cliff and had a hearty meal.
After a hearty meal and drinks, the master and his disciples set off westward once more, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
As night fell, Tang Sanzang, unwilling to travel the dangerous road at night, was looking for a place to rest when he suddenly noticed a house not far away.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a temple!
Although Tang Sanzang's temperament had changed, his compassion as a Buddhist disciple remained undiminished.
To avoid disturbing the monks in the temple, he immediately said, " Little White Dragon, transform into human form and come with me to the temple to stay for the night."
"Remember not to reveal your true form, lest you frighten the peaceful people in the temple."
Upon hearing this, the Little White Dragon nodded in agreement and immediately transformed into a handsome young man, quietly following behind Tang Sanzang.
Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong couldn't help but wonder how the person this Little White Dragon had transformed into could be so handsome.
But he didn't ask any further questions, and simply followed the two of them slowly forward.
Before long, Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and the Little White Dragon arrived at the temple.
It was indeed a temple, and quite large in scale.
One could see layers of palaces and pavilions, crisscrossing corridors, with bell and drum towers standing tall and pagodas piercing the Yunxiao!
Clearly, this temple has a long history and profound cultural heritage.
Ordinary temples may only have halls and side rooms, but it is extremely difficult to build such a tall and majestic pagoda.
It should be noted that even the pagoda of the temple where Tang Sanzang practiced in his early years is not as magnificent as this one.
Tang Sanzang led the two to the mountain gate, and seeing that the temple gate was not closed, they were about to enter.
Just then, a group of young novices who had just returned from outside came towards them.
Upon seeing that he was a monk, Tang Sanzang immediately stepped forward gently and bowed with his palms together.
" Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk Tang Sanzang. I apologize for disturbing you."
Upon seeing this, the group of young novices returned the greeting respectfully and then asked, "May I ask, Elder, where do you come from?"
Tang Sanzang smiled slightly and calmly replied, "This humble monk was personally selected by Guanyin Bodhisattva to receive the scriptures. I was ordered to go to the Western Paradise to pay homage to the Buddha of Spirit Mountain and seek the true Mahayana scriptures."
"Oh?"
A strange look flashed across the eyes of the monks, but they feigned surprise on their faces.
He thought to himself, "This pale-faced monk is even better at playing tricks than we are?"
A group of monks inquired about the origins of Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon Sun Wukong, and then respectfully invited Tang Sanzang to the temple to be served tea.
Sun Wukong noticed the strange look in the monks' eyes and frowned slightly.
Unlike the low-key Tang Sanzang of the past, the Tang Sanzang of today is extremely flamboyant!
He held the Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff in his hand, and wore the kasaya that was given to him by Guanyin Bodhisattva that day!
The robe was inlaid with countless gemstones!
One glance is enough to tell it's priceless!
Clearly, these monks had long coveted the precious robe worn by Tang Sanzang.
After Tang Sanzang followed the monks into the inner courtyard, Sun Wukong shook his head slightly and muttered to himself, "These unlucky monks probably don't realize who they've messed with."
Upon hearing this, the Little White Dragon seemed to understand something, and then asked, "Senior brother, do you know Master's true cultivation level?"
"Master's cultivation level?"
Sun Wukong shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I don't quite understand this either. But a master once enlightened me, saying that someone whose depths I, This Old Sun, cannot see through even with my Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze, must be at least Daluo Golden Immortal of the fifth rank or higher!"
"In my opinion, Master's level of attainment has probably already reached this level."
Upon hearing this, even the Little White Dragon was startled and filled with astonishment. Wasn't the strength of this pilgrim far too astonishing?
When the Buddhist monks visited the Little White Dragon, they told him that the only way to resolve the karmic obstacles he had created in the past was to complete a mission.
The purpose is to escort the pilgrim to the Western Spirit Mountain when he arrives, so that he can travel west to Mount Ling, obtain the true scriptures, and then return to the Tang Eastern Land!
Now we know that this pilgrim actually possesses a cultivation level of at least the fifth rank of the Daluo Golden Immortal!
Suddenly, the Little White Dragon was filled with doubts.
"Has Buddhism become confused? The pilgrim already possesses such profound cultivation, why does he need a mere Golden Immortal like me to protect him?"
The Little White Dragon murmured softly, while Sun Wukong rolled his eyes and sneered, "Who says otherwise? But even so, we can only follow along and complete this journey to the West."
"After all, the karmic entanglements we bear mean we are destined to accompany this nominal master on his entire journey."
"I only hope that when our worldly ties are severed, we will still have a chance to escape, before it is too late."
Although the Little White Dragon was puzzled, he did not ask any further questions, knowing that Sun Wukong would not tell him all the secrets.
However, he actually held some respect for Sun Wukong because the Monkey was truly awe-inspiring!
The Little White Dragon had heard a little about the incident of causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace in the past.
That is why he held this Great Sage Equal to Heaven to Heaven in the highest esteem!
Soon after, Sun Wukong and the Little White Dragon also entered the temple.
At this moment, Tang Sanzang was already in the main hall, devoutly bowing before the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
He didn't even glance at the Great Sun Tathagata statue next to him.
Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong couldn't help but recall the words Tang Sanzang had spoken earlier.
"We'll storm Spirit Mountain, suppress the Great Sun Tathagata, and marry Guanyin Bodhisattva! From this day forward, the Western Paradise will have a new ruler!"
Thinking of this, Sun Wukong couldn't help but shudder, secretly alarmed.
Tang Sanzang's ambition is simply too terrifying!
As night fell, Tang Sanzang was alone in his room.
Sun Wukong and the Little White Dragon naturally squeezed into one room to rest.
As the night deepened and all was quiet, the Little White Dragon gradually fell asleep, but Sun Wukong was wide awake.
Looking at the crisscrossing wooden strips on the window frame, which firmly sealed the window shut, Sun Wukong suddenly felt as if he had become a bird trapped in a cage!
He took a deep breath and silently thought, "Back then, I, This Old Sun, wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. How heroic I was! Even though I later fell into the Buddhist sect's trap and ended up on that path."
"But if you ask me if I regret it, I, This Old Sun, absolutely do not regret what I did back then! But now I have become a pawn of Buddhism, step by step on the westward journey."
"When will I, This Old Sun, truly regain my freedom?"
He sighed softly. Since escaping from the Five Finger Mountain, he seemed to have gained his freedom!
In reality, it's nothing more than the liberation of the physical body!
For Sun Wukong, his current situation is even worse than when he was imprisoned under the Five Finger Mountain! At least back then, he could act as he pleased without any restrictions!
And now? Although his body has been freed from the suppression of the Five Finger Mountain and he has regained his freedom, Sun Wukong feels no joy whatsoever!
Because he clearly felt that his soul was as if it were firmly locked up, and there was no way he could be truly freed.
At that moment, Su Yang's image suddenly appeared in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, Sun Wukong silently pondered, "That Mister Su once said that he would be giving lectures and discussing philosophy in an inn in Qingshan City, Dongsheng Shenzhou."
"Now it's only about 7,000 li from Qingshan City. For me, This Old Sun, this distance is nothing more than an instant."
"But if I go to look for him now, and happen to implicate Mister Su in this matter of Tang Sanzang, causing trouble, wouldn't Mister Su blame me for it?"
For a moment, Sun Wukong hesitated, unable to make a decision. He also understood that if he went to Qingshan City and sought Su Yang's help, he might truly be able to break free from this invisible bondage and gain true freedom.
However, if such actions are taken, it is highly likely that the karmic consequences of the Western Buddhist Sect will be directed towards Su Yang, bringing him trouble.
"Forget it, I'll just get some sleep first!"
Sun Wukong sighed softly, muttered to himself, then leaned against the window and slowly closed his eyes.
In the next room, Tang Sanzang sat cross-legged on the bed, his gleaming golden cassock and Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff resting quietly on the side of the table.
Outside, a mysterious old monk noticed Tang Sanzang meditating and frowned, thinking to himself, "This man is indeed a devout Buddhist disciple, but if he meditates all night without sleeping, how can I possibly steal the robe?"