Does a Brothel Make Money Out Here?

Old Mother Lishan knew full well why they had come.

It was just that she had never held much fondness for Buddhism and despised their hypocritical faces.

Especially her junior brother, Daoist Duobao, who had donned a kasaya and become the Buddha.

Seeing that Old Mother Lishan remained silent, apparently not taking any of them seriously as she continued tending her garden—

the several Bodhisattvas could not help feeling awkward.

Manjushri and Samantabhadra pretended not to notice Guanyin Bodhisattva's glance.

The meaning was obvious: you were in charge of the Journey to the West. You speak. Looking at the two of us was useless.

"Surely Old Mother already knows why we have come. We hope you can lend us your aid," Guanyin Bodhisattva said.

As Old Mother Lishan tended her garden, she casually said, "The Four Saints Testing Their Zen Hearts is completely unnecessary, in my view."

Uh, what did that mean?

Was she trying to decline?

Old Mother Lishan continued, "That Tang Sanzang drinks alcohol and eats meat. He has even broken his vow against lust. Do you think he still has any Zen heart?"

At that, all three Bodhisattvas became rather embarrassed.

Tang Sanzang had utterly disgraced the Buddhist Sect.

But they could not abandon this arranged trial over such a minor issue.

So no matter what, they still needed Old Mother Lishan to step in.

"Then there is Sun Wukong, who obeys Tang Sanzang's every command. As for Zhu Bajie, he is naturally gluttonous and lustful, while Sha Wujing is meek and timid, seemingly quite afraid of Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong. Do you think people like them possess Zen hearts?" Old Mother Lishan looked at them with a half-smile.

"Old Mother, no matter what, we must carry out this trial," Venerable Guanyin said.

If they were dissuaded by just a few words, they would have no explanation for Tathagata Buddha and the others.

As for whether it would succeed, that was no longer their concern.

The pilgrimage party had encountered one unexpected mishap after another since setting out, leaving them with no confidence at all.

After pondering briefly, Old Mother Lishan said, "Very well. I shall make the trip with you."

The group arrived at a forest, and with a wave of Old Mother Lishan's hand, a grand estate appeared.

Guanyin and the other two Bodhisattvas exchanged glances, each transforming into a young maiden.

Old Mother Lishan became an elderly woman, the three girls' mother.

"Mother."

The three maidens transformed from the Bodhisattvas giggled as they called out together.

They settled into the estate and waited for the pilgrimage party to arrive.

Western Heaven.

Seeing that Old Mother Lishan had agreed, Tathagata Buddha secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Naturally, he knew that this senior sister held quite a grudge against him.

He had even prepared for the worst—if Guanyin and the other two Bodhisattvas could not persuade her,

Tathagata Buddha was prepared to swallow his pride and personally invite her.

No matter what, the trials of the Journey to the West had to continue.

Looking at the estate before him,

Tang Yu sneered inwardly. Naturally, he knew it had been created by several Bodhisattvas.

"Master, this is the only household nearby. Let us rest here tonight."

Sun Wukong used his Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze to look inside. He found no demonic aura; instead, the place was filled with a peaceful Buddhist Sect aura.

Something was strange.

But there were definitely no demons present.

"Master, Monkey Brother is right. Let's rest here for a while." Er Daizi patted his huge belly. "We can also find something to eat. To be honest, Master, this old pig has been hungry for ages."

Hungry my ass. You were already a Grand Unity Immortal. How could you still get hungry?

What bullshit.

Just admit you were craving food.

Still, Tang Yu had no intention of going around it, because this time he had come specifically to make a move against the Bodhisattvas.

Just wait and see if I don't scheme you to death.

But he had to make them anxious first.

Tang Yu gave a light cough. "Wukeng, Er Daizi, San Lengzi, look. A lone household sitting in the middle of this forest—don't you find it strange in every way? In your master's opinion, there may very well be demons here."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong looked inside again. "Master, this old Sun sees this place filled with peaceful energy. I do not sense any demonic aura."

Tang Yu gave Sun Wukong a deep look and said meaningfully, "Wukeng, are you sure this place is filled with peaceful energy and has no demonic aura?"

Sun Wukong was just about to nod, but when he saw Tang Yu's gaze, he immediately understood. "Master, perhaps this old Sun was mistaken."

A teachable child indeed!

Seeing that their master and senior brother had both said so, Er Daizi and San Lengzi found it difficult to say anything else.

Especially San Lengzi. During this time following Tang Yu, he had been eating and drinking well.

Even if someone beat him now, he would not return to the Flowing Sand River.

He set down the luggage, plopped himself onto the ground, and took off the nine skulls hanging around his neck, turning them over in his hands.

He had polished the Nine Skulls until they gleamed.

Tang Yu grimaced. Of course, he knew those nine skulls had all belonged to Tang Sanzang.

San Lengzi had eaten all nine of his previous lives.

Even their skulls had been strung into a necklace.

"Since that is the case, let us rest here for the night." Tang Yu glanced toward the estate.

He sneered inwardly.

I'll make you panic to death.

The Bodhisattvas in the estate naturally sensed the arrival of Tang Sanzang and his group, but after waiting for a long time, they still did not come inside.

They cast a spell to take a look and were immediately stunned.

The group had actually set up camp not far from the estate.

They were even roasting wild rabbits and pheasants over a fire.

"What is going on?" Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at the master and disciples, utterly bewildered. Why had they reached the doorstep yet refused to enter?

Had they grown accustomed to sleeping in the open and become unable to live in a grand estate?

Who were you asking?

Manjushri and Samantabhadra said nothing.

In that short time, Tang Yu and the others had already started gnawing on their food.

The sight made all of them dizzy.

They could not help looking toward Old Mother Lishan.

Old Mother Lishan's expression remained calm, though a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips.

She glanced at the three Bodhisattvas, then slowly walked out and opened the gates.

Tang Yu and the others were eating with great relish, their mouths glistening with grease.

Seeing the state they were in, Old Mother Lishan's mouth twitched.

"Esteemed masters, since you are out here in this wilderness, why not come in and stay the night? Let me prepare some vegetarian fare..."

At this point, Old Mother Lishan hurriedly changed her words. "Let me prepare some food to entertain you, esteemed masters."

Guanyin and the other two Bodhisattvas followed her out.

Er Daizi froze at once, his mouth hanging open as meat fell from it. His eyes seemed glued to the three girls, unwilling to leave them for even a moment.

He was done for.

This Er Daizi was hopeless.

He could not walk straight when he saw beautiful women.

No wonder there was a term called breeding pig.

"Mother, who are they?" The girl transformed from Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled bashfully.

It had to be said, the women the Bodhisattvas had transformed into were quite beautiful.

But at the thought that two men were among them, Tang Yu shuddered.

"Does a brothel make money out here?" Tang Yu swallowed his final bite of meat.