The Female Benefactor, This Monk Has Arrived

Zhu Bajie hurried over and sat beside Sun Wukong. From time to time, he turned to glance at Sun Wukong, then chuckled foolishly. "Madam, this Old Zhu has always looked like this. I know I'm a bit ugly."

"Don't judge this Old Zhu by how I look. Many years ago, I was Marshal Tianpeng, commanding a hundred thousand naval troops of the Heavenly River."

So it was this fool!

Back when Sun Wukong had been appointed Bimawen, he had even met him before.

But how had this fellow ended up looking like this?

"How did you end up like this?"

At the mention of the past, Zhu Bajie sighed. "I violated the heavenly laws and was banished to the mortal world. Who knew I'd be reborn into a pig's body by mistake?"

Sun Wukong laughed. "Marshal Tianpeng, take a look at who I am."

He immediately revealed his true form, frightening Zhu Bajie so badly that he fell straight to the ground.

"Damn Bimawen! It's you, you damned monkey!"

Zhu Bajie stared at Sun Wukong. His expression shifted as though he had recalled something, and his gaze became complicated.

He got up and flew away.

"Stop! Where are you running to?"

Sun Wukong chased after him as well.

Outside Yun Zhan Cave!

The pig stared into the sky with a conflicted expression. At times, he ground his teeth in hatred; at others, he was filled with unwilling pain, as though he had no choice and no power to change anything.

"You fool, why aren't you running now?"

Sun Wukong caught up and laughed at Zhu Bajie.

"Bimawen, since you're here, then the monk traveling to Western Heaven must be here too."

Zhu Bajie asked bluntly.

Seeing that Zhu Bajie had no intention of fighting, Sun Wukong put away the Golden Cudgel.

"You know about the monk traveling to Western Heaven too?"

"Of course."

Zhu Bajie briefly explained that Guanyin Bodhisattva had instructed him to wait here for the scripture seeker.

After hearing this, Sun Wukong was silent for a long time.

He seemed to have connected it to something.

Although Tang Yu had not said so outright, he had vaguely revealed that the so-called Journey to the West was nothing more than a scheme of the Buddhist Sect.

Guanyin Bodhisattva had instructed him as well, saying that the scripture seeker would free him from his predicament and that he was to protect him on the journey west.

This fool had received the same instructions.

What exactly was the Buddhist Sect trying to accomplish by arranging all this?

Elder Gao received word from a servant that the monk had vanished.

His heart immediately sank. It was exactly like the demon-subduing monks who had come before—disappearing without explanation.

"Holy Monk, this..." Elder Gao had just begun to ask when Tang Yu interrupted him.

"Do not worry."

But inwardly, he grumbled, What's wrong with that monkey? Didn't I already tell him to inform Zhu Bajie that I'm the scripture-seeking monk and have him hurry over to kneel before me?

Why did he disappear instead?

"But, Holy Monk, your disciple has vanished. It's just like the monks from before."

Elder Gao spoke anxiously.

If they could not subdue this pig demon and it returned, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Benefactor, there is no need to worry. My eldest disciple possesses immense powers. Dealing with a single demon is effortless for him."

Tang Yu did not believe Sun Wukong could possibly be in danger.

Not to mention that they were all people arranged by the Buddhist Sect, that pig was simply no match for that monkey.

Thus, Tang Yu was not worried in the slightest.

He was considering something else now.

What did it mean when that girl Gao Cuilan had scratched his palm three times?

Suddenly, his eyes lit up slightly.

Everyone knew that Patriarch Bodhi had knocked Sun Wukong three times back then, telling him to come find him at the third watch so he could teach him his arts.

If Sun Wukong had failed to understand at the time, he would surely have missed his opportunity.

Could Gao Cuilan have meant the same thing, asking him to find her at the third watch?

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

But this monk was a man of the cloth. What was he supposed to do?

Accompanied by Elder Gao, Tang Yu gnawed on two pig trotters, ate a huge pork knuckle, and drank some wine.

Only after eating and drinking his fill did he return to the room Elder Gao had arranged for him to rest.

In the room, he could neither sit nor stand still.

When the third watch came, should he go or not?

That little girl Gao Cuilan was obviously trying to seduce him.

Amitabha. Although this monk is ordained, I am still a normal man.

Female benefactor, wait for this monk.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie stood silently for a long while, neither of them speaking, as though both were lost in thought.

Turning to look at Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie felt a little sad. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

Sun Wukong repeatedly shook his head.

Everything felt more and more like a scheme of the Buddhist Sect.

Suddenly, Zhu Bajie said, "There are golden morning clouds at dawn, red sunset clouds in the evening, and there used to be beautiful purple clouds at noon..."

As he spoke, he looked at Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong froze. A trace of confusion passed over his face, and he seemed to speak beyond his control. "Then... where are the purple clouds now?"

Everyone knew there were only morning clouds and sunset clouds; there had never been purple clouds at noon.

The moment the words left his mouth, Sun Wukong found them strange. Why had he asked such a question?

He hurriedly shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

Yet an almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of Zhu Bajie's mouth, and he said nothing more.

Sun Wukong remained motionless. He felt as though something was missing from him, yet he could not remember what it was.

It was truly strange. He clearly remembered being born from a stone, and he had all his memories, yet he always felt that something was missing, as though he was incomplete.

Western Heaven.

When the Buddhas saw this scene, they all let out long sighs of relief.

It seemed there should be no more surprises.

Tathagata Buddha also revealed a smile. "It seems there should be no more surprises."

"Buddha is wise."

The Buddhas immediately showered him with flattery.

Tathagata Buddha nodded with a smile, thoroughly enjoying their praise.

"Buddha, I believe that once Zhu Bajie joins the group and returns, they should be sent on their way immediately."

Guanyin Bodhisattva proposed.

She glanced at the Mystic Light Mirror, then looked away.

"Venerable Guanyin, why is that?"

Tathagata Buddha asked in confusion.

Guanyin Bodhisattva pointed at the Mystic Light Mirror, signaling for Buddha to look.

The instant he did, Buddha's eyes widened.

Tang Sanzang was pacing anxiously in his room. As soon as the third watch arrived, he impatiently opened the door and walked out.

But where did Gao Cuilan live?

Tang Yu paused, casually pulled over a servant, and asked, "Amitabha. May I ask where Miss Gao lives? This monk wishes to have an 'in-depth' 'exchange' with her."

In the middle of the night, he was asking where the young mistress lived?

If the man before him had not been a monk, the servant would have suspected he was a lecher.

But he was an eminent monk from the Great Tang. Even Elder Gao treated him with utmost respect, did he not?

"Miss's room is the second one along the corridor."

The servant pointed and answered truthfully.

"Amitabha, thank you, benefactor."

Arriving outside Gao Cuilan's room, he furtively looked around.

No one was there.

Tang Yu knocked on the door.

"Female benefactor, this monk has arrived."