Hearing Sun Wukong's words, a smile appeared on Tang Sanzang's face, and he said softly, "They've arrived."
Before the words were even finished, Sun Wukong and the Little White Dragon immediately looked up.
Zhu Bajie walked towards them with a helpless and ashamed expression. Tang Sanzang smiled slightly and asked, "What's wrong? Did you miss last night's last chance and now you're regretting it?"
"I wouldn't say I regret it."
Zhu Bajie sighed softly and said slowly, "Since I was born a pig, I have never done a single good deed. Now, Miss Gao is being forced by her family to share a bed with me. To be honest, I still can't get over it in my heart, and I'm really uneasy."
"So you felt guilty and didn't dare to seize that last chance last night?"
Tang Sanzang smiled and said, "I never expected that you, Zhu Bajie, would have such thoughts. Perhaps the reason why Buddhism chose you to join the pilgrimage is precisely because of this."
"It's getting late. If you can let go of your ties to Gao Village, then come with me."
After saying this, Tang Sanzang turned and slowly walked westward, with Sun Wukong and the Little White Dragon following behind.
Zhu Bajie watched their retreating figures, took a deep breath, and turned back for one last look at Gao Village.
This place was the only place where he had ever felt any warmth after being reborn as a pig, even though that warmth was something he had only gained by transforming into human form and concealing the truth.
But Zhu Bajie knew in his heart that the Gao Village had treated him with genuine sincerity and without any pretense.
That's why, as he was about to leave, he felt a pang of reluctance.
But then he thought of his mission and the promise the Bodhisattva had made.
As long as the pilgrim is escorted to the Western Paradise, Buddhism will find a way to resolve the calamity of his wrong birth as a pig and restore him to a true human form!
In Zhu Bajie's view, the journey to the Western Paradise to obtain the Buddhist scriptures would only take a few years.
He turned back to gaze at Gao Village once more, and murmured to himself, "I wonder if Miss Gao would be willing to wait for my return?"
Indeed, he had already severed his marital ties with Gao Cuilan last night.
It wasn't that he was heartless, but rather that he felt he, being a pig, was ultimately unworthy of that beautiful woman.
That night, he also left behind a message.
If Gao Cuilan is willing to wait for him to return from his pilgrimage to the Western Ox Continent, to shed his demon form and regain his human form, and not to mind his past as a pig demon,
He will surely return and marry her again.
But at this moment, Zhu Bajie was uncertain: would Gao Cuilan really wait for him? After all, he knew all too well the pain he had caused her.
To spare her from worrying every day, Zhu Bajie even left her a book on internal energy cultivation.
In this Primordial World, such cultivation methods are not uncommon, and Zhu Bajie is not stingy with them. Passing on the cultivation method to her may allow her to live out the rest of her life in peace.
However, if she fails to switch to a more profound Dharma Gate afterward, she may never be able to enter the realm of immortality in her lifetime.
If one lacks talent, one may even be stuck before the second stage of the mortal path, " Refining Qi into Spirit," and remain at the peak of " Refining Essence into Qi " for life.
Refining Essence into Qi, Refining Qi into Spirit, Refining Spirit into Void, Returning to Void and Merging with the Dao.
Based on Gao Cuilan's aptitude, among the four realms of cultivation for mortals, she might reach the pinnacle of Refining Essence into Qi, but then she would likely encounter a bottleneck.
But Zhu Bajie didn't care about any of that. If she was willing to wait for his return, on the day of his return, he would personally help her break through her shackles and embark on the path of enlightenment.
If she was unwilling to wait in vain, she could marry another man during his journey west.
This Qi cultivation method can be considered his compensation to her, a silent repayment.
Zhu Bajie sighed, turned around and continued on his way, chasing after Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong and the Little White Dragon.
However, at that moment, a strange movement occurred, causing Tang Sanzang and the others to turn their heads slightly.
Zhu Bajie also noticed the disturbance and turned around to see that all the men, women, and children of Gao Village had come. He couldn't help but feel a little confused.
Could it be that the people of Gao Village came to see him off and express their joy because he was about to leave?
However, what followed was a shocking sight!
Steward Gao Elder Gao of Gao Village, along with a group of Gao family relatives and even ordinary villagers, all rushed to Zhu Bajie's front, temporarily blocking his way.
Zhu Bajie knew these people weren't acting voluntarily because he clearly saw fear in their eyes!
Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang immediately said, "Gentlemen, this matter is settled, and Zhu Bajie will accompany me on my journey west to the Western Paradise to seek the true scriptures. Why are you blocking our way here?"
Everyone remained silent, except for Steward Gao took a deep breath, bowed respectfully to Tang Sanzang, and said in a deep voice, "Elder, please wait a moment."
Steward Gao focused his attention again, his gaze slowly landing on Zhu Bajie.
"Please wait a moment, Cuilan has something to give you."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie slightly, his doubts deepening.
Steward Gao did not say anything more to him, but turned to walk towards Tang Sanzang and took a tray from the servant.
They then uncovered the golden silk covering it, revealing over fifty taels of gold!
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but show a hint of surprise in his eyes.
What is the intention of this Steward Gao?
The reward I received for resolving the trouble was only five or four hundred catties of fine wine.
What is the purpose of these fifty taels of gold?
Steward Gao took another deep breath and said solemnly, "Elder, you have rid us of this Demon Menace. How could a mere few hundred catties of fine wine be enough to repay you?"
"A small gift has been prepared for you; please accept it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Sanzang smiled faintly and replied slowly, "No need. Zhu Bajie has not harmed anyone in Gao Village, nor have we punished him."
"Please keep these fifty taels of gold for yourselves. They are of little use to us."
Upon hearing this, Steward Gao felt slightly embarrassed. He had originally thought that if Tang Sanzang accepted the gold, he could take the opportunity to ask him for some advice.
Now that the other party has politely declined, it is naturally inconvenient to make any further requests.
He sighed softly, and just then, the sound of footsteps once again drew everyone's attention.
Gao Cuilan, carrying a bamboo basket of moderate size, slowly walked up to Zhu Bajie.
"Cuilan"
Just as Zhu Bajie was about to speak, he remembered that he was still a pig demon, and all his words turned into silence, unable to be uttered.
Gao Cuilan sighed softly, handed over the basket, and said gently, "Take this food with you on the road. I know you have a big appetite, and I'm afraid you'll go hungry along the way."
"It may not be enough for a full meal, but it will at least satisfy your hunger a little."
After hearing these words, Zhu Bajie accepted the basket with a grateful expression and replied softly, "Okay."
He originally wanted to tell Cuilan to wait patiently in Gao Village, assuring her that he would return soon.
But then he thought that if he said such things with that pig-faced appearance, it would probably only disgust her, so he kept quiet.
Zhu Bajie a deep breath, turned around abruptly, and strode toward Tang Sanzang and the others.
"Master, we can set off now," he said solemnly.
Upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashed in Tang Sanzang's eyes.
Clearly, he was quite satisfied with Zhu Bajie's words and actions at this moment; there was neither impoliteness nor overstepping of bounds.
He then looked at Steward Gao and said, "Alright, Steward Gao, we'll take our leave now. You may stay here."
After speaking, Tang Sanzang strode westward, with Sun Wukong following closely behind.
The Little White Dragon Horse looked at Zhu Bajie, who still seemed hesitant, gently patted his shoulder, and then said, "Let's go, the journey to the West is still long."
Zhu Bajie sighed softly and silently followed the group. He didn't look back once he left, because he knew in his heart that once he looked back, he would find it hard to sever the ties he had with Gao Village.
However, he was unaware that as he left, Gao Cuilan was gazing in the direction he had gone, and sighed softly.
Once everyone had completely disappeared from sight, an undisguised look of joy appeared in Steward Gao's eyes.
"This saves us fifty taels of gold. Oh, by the way, daughter, didn't you say that Zhu Bajie taught you a Qi cultivation technique? Tell your father quickly, so I can see if I can practice it."