Who Wore the Golden Fillet?

Guanyin Bodhisattva suddenly had a bad feeling. It seemed things had once again gone a little beyond expectations.

But how had Tang Sanzang managed it?

The Black Bear Spirit already possessed the cultivation of a Grand Unity Immortal. His hide was thick and tough, impossible to damage, and his combat strength far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Yet now he wailed in agony, slammed his head against the ground again and again, and kept calling Tang Yu "Dad." It was clear that he had been completely subdued.

With that question in mind, Guanyin Bodhisattva flashed into the cave.

One look nearly made her explode with rage.

The Golden Fillet originally prepared for Sun Wukong was already wrapped around the Black Bear Spirit's head, while Tang Yu continued reciting the Golden Fillet.

Sun Wukong watched the Black Bear Spirit writhe in unbearable pain, a glint flashing through his eyes.

If that thing had been placed on his own head, then the one rolling on the ground and begging for mercy right now would have been him.

The Buddhist Sect truly was vicious, trying to control him this way.

Fortunately, Tang Sanzang had taken pity on him and told him the truth.

As he looked at Tang Yu, Sun Wukong began to accept the fact that Tang Yu was his master.

"Amitabha. Bodhisattva, under this humble monk's profound Buddhist teachings, this Black Bear Spirit has decided to turn back from his misguided path and return to the shore. The Buddhist Sect values the preservation of life, and those who have left home should hold compassion in their hearts. Why not spare his life, Bodhisattva?"

Tang Yu pressed his palms together and uttered a Buddhist invocation, looking every bit like a compassionate monk.

Inside, however, he was smug with delight. I really am a genius.

As for how the Golden Fillet had ended up on the Black Bear Spirit's head, it had taken hardly any effort. He had come to offer up a treasure in the first place.

Besides, the golden cap glittered brilliantly. One glance told anyone it was no ordinary object.

So the Black Bear Spirit had put it on himself.

A cold smile curled at Guanyin Bodhisattva's lips, and they twitched twice.

Your Buddhist teachings are profound? You claim monks should be compassionate?

When you told Sun Wukong to kill people and slaughter those bandits, you had not shown the slightest mercy.

But now that the Golden Fillet was on the Black Bear Spirit's head, things seemed rather troublesome.

It had been decided beforehand that the Golden Fillet would go on Sun Wukong's head.

The three fillets Tathagata had given her had all been personally refined by a Saint: the Golden Fillet, the Binding Fillet, and the Tight Fillet...

She truly had no way to remove it from the Black Bear Spirit's head. What was she supposed to do now?

The helplessness in her heart grew stronger. She had originally thought this trial would fall naturally into place and was certain to succeed.

Who could have expected Tang Yu to refuse to follow the script entirely, throwing the plan into complete disarray?

"Tang Sanzang, what the hell are you doing?" Guanyin Bodhisattva demanded in a low voice.

Tang Yu pointed at the Black Bear Spirit. "This humble monk is subduing a demon!"

Damn it!

Guanyin Bodhisattva nearly fainted. She took a deep breath, feeling as though her state of mind had cracked a little further, and hurriedly steadied herself. "I am asking how the Golden Fillet ended up on his head!"

"He wanted to wear it himself," Tang Yu said.

The Black Bear Spirit had put it on willingly in the first place, so Tang Yu was telling the truth.

"Ask him. Didn't he put it on himself?" Tang Yu said, pointing at the Black Bear Spirit.

With tears and snot streaming down his face, the Black Bear Spirit said, "Y-Yes, I wanted to put it on myself."

He regretted it to death. How had such a cursed thing ended up on his head?

His head felt as if it were splitting apart. Living was worse than dying!

Seeing Guanyin Bodhisattva, he repeatedly kowtowed and begged, "Bodhisattva, I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! Please, take this fillet off!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed. "This is a magical treasure refined by a Saint. Even I have no way to remove it. You have committed no evil for many years, and you are also close to Jin Chi of Guanyin Monastery. Mount Putuo of the South Sea lacks someone to guard it. Come back to the South Sea with me later and serve as its guardian."

This trial could not continue. It was completely ruined.

But she still had to take the Black Bear Spirit back with her. At least she could recover a tiny fraction of her enormous losses.

Hmm? She wanted to take him away? That would not do.

She wanted to take him away, but Tang Yu absolutely would not allow it.

He had gone through great trouble to subdue the Black Bear Spirit. He could not let the Buddhist Sect profit from it.

Tang Yu had meant to recite a Buddhist invocation, but he accidentally recited the Golden Fillet instead.

The Black Bear Spirit howled and rolled around in pain. "Dad! Dad!" he cried endlessly, begging for mercy.

"Uh, sorry, I said the wrong thing." Tang Yu showed not the slightest embarrassment. Smiling, he recited a Buddhist invocation. "Amitabha!"

The wrong thing?

The Black Bear Spirit had the urge to die. Tears filled his eyes as he stared pitifully at Guanyin Bodhisattva, silently begging her to stop Tang Yu at once and keep him from chanting random nonsense.

It hurt! It hurt so badly he could not bear it!

"Bodhisattva, I believe this is inappropriate. This Black Bear Spirit is the incarnation of a demon, and the demonic aura on him is too heavy. If someone like him is brought into the Buddhist Sect, it will clearly damage the Sect's reputation," Tang Yu said righteously, looking as though he cared deeply for the Buddhist Sect.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression turned cold as she snapped, "Tang Sanzang, this is my business. You need only continue your Journey to the West. The rest is none of your concern."

Tang Yu stared at her in silence for a moment, then patted the Black Bear Spirit on the shoulder, seemingly sticking something onto him without anyone noticing.

"I believe it is absolutely necessary for me to worry about it. What if this black bear does something bad in the future?" he said earnestly.

"That is none of your concern," Guanyin Bodhisattva said.

Could a mere Black Bear Spirit possibly overturn the heavens? Besides, he was still wearing the Golden Fillet. Wouldn't dealing with him be effortless?

"Fine." Tang Yu spread his hands. "Since that is the case, I will say nothing more."

He then turned to the Black Bear Spirit and instructed him, "Bear, from now on, you must study Buddhist teachings properly under the Bodhisattva and cultivate yourself well."

Naturally, the Black Bear Spirit agreed to everything he said, nodding and bowing.

"Bear, thank me. If it were not for me, would you have become some mountain-guarding bear?" Tang Yu said, patting his shoulder.

Thank you, my ass!

The Black Bear Spirit dared not voice his anger. If not for this damned monk, how would he have ended up wearing this thing on his head?

"Yes, yes. Many thanks, Holy Monk." The Black Bear Spirit smiled on the outside, while inwardly he cursed Tang Yu's ancestors.

Seeing that the matter was settled and nothing could be changed, Guanyin Bodhisattva prepared to take the Black Bear Spirit back to Mount Putuo first. Then she would return to Spirit Mountain to report to Buddha.

The burning of Guanyin Monastery and the Buddhist Robe Assembly—she had failed to complete either trial. Worse still, the Golden Fillet had ended up on the Black Bear Spirit.

It might not seem like much, but it could very well alter the direction of the entire plan.

The most urgent matter now was returning to Spirit Mountain to discuss with Buddha what should be done next.

As for these two trials, things had already come to this. They would have to find a way to make up for them later.

Hopefully, nothing else would go wrong with what came next.

Guanyin Bodhisattva felt utterly exhausted. She had always watched over and followed the great undertaking of the Journey to the West from the shadows.

She had even been grateful that Buddha had assigned her this task, because once the Journey to the West was complete, she would receive considerable credit and immense rewards.

But now, she vaguely regretted it. It seemed that everything had become unpredictably beyond her expectations...