An ill-fated fall into Pansi Cave (XIX)

Meanwhile, Bajie feigned illness and was carried back by Wukong.

Once inside the house, Wukong placed Bajie on the ground.

Tang Sanzang was initially angry and didn't want to pay attention; but later, seeing that Bajie was still lying on the ground, he called out twice.

Bajie didn't get up either.

Tang Sanzang stepped forward to look and saw that Bajie's face was flushed and his cheeks were red, he was feeling hot and bothered, he was drooling, his eyes were glazed, and he seemed to be suffering from a cold.

Tang Sanzang was startled and immediately became anxious, hurriedly calling out:

"Bajie! Bajie! What's wrong with you?"

Bajie grumbled and mumbled, uttering only two words out of three sentences, saying:

"Master, Master, when I, Old Pig, woke up this morning, a rat gnawed on my face, and I was afflicted with evil spirits. When I went to their hall to discuss something, before I even entered, I caught a gust of evil wind outside the door, and suddenly felt a headache, dizziness, and weakness in my limbs. I collapsed outside the door, not knowing whether it was a fever or Wind-Cold. Fortunately, my Elder Brother carried me back."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang became very anxious. He quickly instructed Wukong and Sha Wujing to carry Bajie to the bed, wrap him in three layers of blankets, and then told Wukong to go and find some medicine.

Wukong laughed and said, "No need to bother finding the medicine. I'll just go and tell our in-laws."

Tang Sanzang scolded, "You, as an elder brother, have no family affection whatsoever! What kind of time is this to be making such jokes?"

Wukong laughed, "This is no joke, Master, please wait." Then, Wukong called a Little Demon from outside and said, "Quickly go and tell your Granny that a married-in-law Elder Zhu, has caught Wind-Cold, and ask her to bring some medicine!"

The Little Demon was a Reed Bee Demon, narrow-waisted and broad-browed, with a pair of antennae. She spoke, "We only have mothers here, no Granny."

Wukong said, "Go and report this quickly."

Upon hearing Reed Bee Demon hurried off to report.

Wukong returned and told Tang Sanzang, "The medicine will be here soon."

At this moment, Tang Sanzang was so anxious about Bajie's illness that he didn't care whether the medicine was given by Demon or not.

Sha Wujing, who was watching over Bajie alongside Tang Sanzang, noticed that Bajie was quite ill and Earthly Way with some confusion:

"Logically speaking, Second Senior Brother is the Marshal Tianpeng, protected by divine power; he shouldn't be sick!"

Bajie, fearing he would expose his feigned illness, quickly said:

"Sha Wujing, you see others carrying loads without getting tired? I, Old Pig, have been under Master's tutelage for twenty years, through wind and rain, and tens of thousands of miles of arduous journeys. It's hard for me to carry such heavy loads alone, and I often encounter Demon. Even if my body were made of iron, how could I withstand it? Isn't this exhaustion enough to break me?"

Sha Wujing, upon hearing this, found it difficult to refute.

Tang Sanzang felt even more sorry for him.

At this moment, the Reed Bee Demon brought over the medicine.

The Reed Bee Demon was rather ugly, but Tang Sanzang was no longer afraid. He hurriedly took the medicine and ordered Sha Wujing to decoct it.

Sha Wujing then borrowed the kitchen to boil the medicine.

The Reed Bee Demon brought firewood.

Sha Wujing was boiling the medicine, and the aroma that wafted out was unpleasant. Sha Wujing frowned and said, "What kind of medicine is this? Why does it smell musty and fishy?"

Sha Wujing was unaware that this was not medicine, but rather the poison of the Spider Demon's seven sons, mixed together. Only in this way could Bajie's disguise be convincing; it was a plan they had discussed beforehand.

The Reed Bee Demon dared not say more, and could only vaguely reply, "These are our local medicinal herbs. As the saying goes, good medicine tastes bitter, and medicine is never palatable. Elder, please don't find them offensive."

Sha Wujing listened and thought it made sense, so he continued to boil the food.

Soon after, Sha Wujing brought the prepared medicine to the house.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang quickly took the spoon and prepared to feed it to Bajie. He took a spoon, scooped up a little, and wanted to taste it himself first.

When Bajie saw this, he was greatly alarmed and hurriedly tried to stop him.

The poison from those Little Demon didn't bother him much; it only made his face flush and feel hot. But if Tang Sanzang were to eat it, wouldn't he be poisoned instantly?

Fortunately, at this moment, Wukong stepped forward and stopped Tang Sanzang, saying with a smile, "Master, let me feed him!"

Tang Sanzang said, "What's the point of arguing now?"

Wukong laughed and said, "You always teach us brothers to be more affectionate. Now that Bajie is sick, it's my duty as the elder brother to feed him."

Tang Sanzang thought it was a good idea and handed the medicine to Wukong.

Wukong, holding the medicine, laughed and said, "Fool, let me feed you."

After more than ten days of this, Bajie's illness showed no improvement.

Tang Sanzang was anxious, fearing that Bajie was really sick, and wanted to ask Wukong to find another doctor to take a look.

Bajie could only say that it is a doctor's greatest taboo to change the prescription halfway through, barely managing to cover it up.

But if they managed to cover it up this time, how will they cover it up next time?

Bajie had no choice but to secretly ask the Eldest Sister Spider Demon and her companions when their senior brother would arrive while Tang Sanzang and the others were away.

The Eldest Sister Spider Demon also made excuses to delay.

Another ten days or so passed, and a month had gone by in total.

On this day, while Tang Sanzang and the others were away, Bajie got out of bed and stole some fruit.

Because he was bedridden, the Spider Demon sisters had brought him many fruits and tonics in recent days. However, he had to pretend to be sick and could not eat them in front of Tang Sanzang and the others. He could only eat them secretly after Tang Sanzang and the others left.

Bajie got off the bed and was eating a fruit when he suddenly heard a noise outside. He quickly swallowed the fruit, stem and pit, in one gulp, then lay back on the bed and pretended to be sick.

Soon, Wukong pushed open the door and walked in. He noticed the missing fruit on the table and immediately knew what had happened.

Wukong stepped forward, sat down on the edge of the bed, and said to Bajie:

"My dear brother, it's been a month. Are you feeling any better?"

Bajie feigned weakness and said:

"I'm feeling much better. I think I'll be fully recovered in a few more days."

Wukong rolled his eyes and tricked him, saying:

"It's been so long, and there's been little improvement. Master, Junior Brother Sha, and I discussed it and said that your illness might not be a mortal's ailment, but rather Immortal one. They told me to go to the Heavenly Realm to ask Perfected Lord Taixi to refine a Elixir Pills to cure you."

Upon hearing this, Bajie realized the situation was escalating and panicked, quickly saying:

"No need! No need! I'll be fine after taking the medicine for a few more days!"

Wukong said:

"You've been taking this medicine for so many days without any improvement. I'm afraid it's useless. I'll have to swallow my pride and go to the Heavenly Realm to ask for a cure. Master often says that we have no brotherly affection, but how can I just watch you suffer from such a serious illness?"

Upon hearing this, Bajie realized that things had really gotten out of hand. If Wukong were to go to Heaven to ask for the elixir, exposing his trick would be a minor matter; the real problem would be losing a favor for nothing.

He had also served as an official in the Heavenly Realm and knew how difficult it was to obtain Elixir Pills. Although Wukong had some friendship with that Daoist Taixi, he always had to ask for favors, and favors eventually ran out. How could he risk losing more for such a small matter?

Therefore, Bajie hesitated for a moment, then Earthly Way:

"Brother! I'll tell you the truth, please don't be angry with me!"

Wukong laughed, "Tell me! Tell me! I'll definitely hold back and not beat you to death!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie Earthly Way fearfully, "If that's the case, I'd better not tell you!"

Wukong sneered, grabbed Bajie by the ear, lifted him off the sickbed, and cursed:

"You idiot, do you think Old Sun don't know? You've been faking illness here, almost getting Master into trouble! I thought you could keep it up for ten days Half a Month, but it's been a month now, you lazy Clod!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie said with a bitter face, "Brother! You knew all along?"

Wukong said, "What can you possibly hide from Old Sun?"

Upon hearing this, Bajie hurriedly begged for forgiveness, explaining the whole story and pleading with Wukong not to tell Tang Sanzang.