After some consideration, Wukong chose the one at the back.
Seeing this, Taishang Laojun closed the one at the front.
Wukong touched his Golden Cudgel, shouldered two wooden buckets, one filled with water and the other with manure, and began watering the Herb Fields.
Wukong did not mind the filth. Back when he had crossed the sea in search of the Dao, he had endured hardships worse than this.
Time passed unmarked in the fields. Wukong's robe had long since worn through, and he had replaced it with grass and leaves to cover himself. Who knew how much time had passed? When he reached the ten-thousandth plot, he gazed at the medicinal fields still stretching beyond the horizon and began to regret his choice.
Wukong shed all the hairs on his body and turned them into eighty-four thousand clones. He was about to turn the wooden buckets into eighty-four thousand as well, but could not.
Wukong thought, That old official must have put a spell on them to keep me from transforming them.
With no other choice, Wukong could only keep watering.
Who knew how much time passed, or how many plots he had reached?
At last, Wukong could stand it no longer. He went back and asked Lord Lao, "Old official, how much time has passed outside?"
Taishang Laojun said, "Don't fret, monkey. Only one day has passed outside."
Wukong said, "Old official, Old Sun just remembered that there are two others outside who offended your immortal majesty. Let Old Sun bring them here to water the fields together. How about having a few more helping hands?"
Taishang Laojun laughed. "Go on! Go on!"
Wukong was about to leave.
Taishang Laojun noticed something and said, "Wait."
Wukong stopped.
Taishang Laojun raised a hand and conjured up Wukong's pilgrim's clothes.