India Captures the Jade Rabbit (10)

Meanwhile, Wukong left the Imperial Palace and found the residence of Bajie and Sha Wujing.

It turns out that Bajie was good at saving Belongings. The emperor gave him a lot of travel money, but he didn't use it and went back to the Courier Station to eat and stay.

When Wukong arrived, Bajie was plotting with Sha Wujing.

"Food, drink, and fodder all cost a few taels of silver. Looking for shops outside is risky, as we're unfamiliar with the area and might attract the attention of scoundrels. This Courier Station is much better; it saves us Silver Taels, allowing us to share more."

Sha Wujing was still nodding, saying, "That makes sense! That makes sense!"

Wukong came in and sat down, looking troubled.

When Bajie and Sha Wujing saw this, they asked, "Elder Brother, what's wrong?"

Wukong exclaimed, "Oh no! Oh no! You don't know, as soon as we left, Master really lost his Zen Nature!"

Sha Wujing exclaimed in surprise, "Master is the reincarnation of Elder Golden Cicada, Tathagata Buddha. How could he have lost his Zen Nature?"

Wukong said, "I didn't believe it either, but I saw it with my own eyes. Just now I transformed into a bird and flew into the palace. I saw my master discard Imperial Son-in-Law Kasaya and put on the clothes of a prince consort, adorned with jade and gold, chatting and laughing with the emperor and ministers of India, strolling in the garden. What a grand display!"

Sha Wujing exclaimed in shock, "How could this be! Is... is this real?"

Wukong said, "I also found it strange, but after looking at it carefully, it is undoubtedly real."

Bajie laughed from the side, "What's so strange about that? Don't you know what Master is thinking?"

Wukong asked, "What are you thinking, Master?"

Bajie said, "Master has worked hard for many years, and now he's marrying the emperor's daughter. How could he not want that? It's just that with us around, he was too embarrassed to agree. Now that we're gone, he'll save face and become someone else's Imperial Son-in-Law!"

Wukong pondered to himself, "Could it really be as that fool said? Otherwise, why would Master have changed his clothes and been laughing and joking with them?"

Sha Wujing said, "I absolutely do not believe it! Master was single-mindedly Journey to the West, and encountered countless Demon along the way, yet he never wavered in his heart. Take that Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit, for example; in terms of beauty, how could she be inferior to this India Princess? Master was not tempted then, so how could he have lost his mind now?"

Bajie said, "How can that be compared? That Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit is a demon in human form, living in an underground Cave Heaven, eating human flesh and drinking foul wine; this is Princess from India, living in a palace on earth, eating delicacies and drinking fine wine. The emperor values her highly and has invited her to be his Imperial Son-in-Law, and she may even be granted titles and rewards in the future. Master is an old man, how can you resist?"

The three brothers, each with their own thoughts, were about to part ways as they approached Spirit Mountain.

Bajie was eager to divide the luggage, so he started unpacking and inspecting the packages.

Wukong and Sha Wujing sat to one side, unsure whether to stay or leave, and had no intention of stopping Bajie.

Bajie was browsing around, but couldn't find the Brocade Kasaya. He asked, "Elder Brother, did you take Master's Brocade Kasaya?"

Wukong asked, "When did I take it?"

Bajie asked, "Junior Brother Sha, did you take it?"

Sha Wujing said, "I didn't take it. Master wore the Brocade Kasaya when he went to the palace to exchange the travel documents."

Bajie slapped his thigh and said, "Oh dear! So the Kasaya is still in Master's hands! He's become Imperial Son-in-Law prince consort, enjoying endless wealth and glory. What use does he have for the Kasaya? The three of us have followed him for so many years, serving him faithfully, carrying his belongings and begging for alms. Now that we can't retrieve the scriptures, the cassock should at least be left behind. Elder Brother, you, as the Big Brother, go and get the Kasaya back!"

Wukong was annoyed and said, "Go away! Go away! I don't want to go ask for it!"

Bajie said, "Junior Brother Sha, you can talk, go and get the Kasaya back!"

Sha Wujing remained Gourd, pretending to be tight-lipped.

Bajie said, "Fine! Fine! If none of you want it, I, Old Pig, will be the Evil Person! Let me make this clear: if you want it back, I'll keep it as Family Heirloom, and you can't fight me for it!"

After saying this, Bajie was about to leave.

Wukong said, "Fool, come back. Stop making a scene. Tonight, I'll go to the Imperial Palace again and find out what Master is thinking. If he really wants to stay and get married, I'll take the Kasaya back."

Upon hearing this, Bajie sat back down and continued picking through the luggage.

Sha Wujing sat there sighing.

Wukong closed his eyes and focused his mind.

As night fell, Wukong sneaked into the Imperial Palace and returned to the Palace Pavilion, calling out, "Master! Master!"

No one responded.

It turned out that Ao Tu had already instructed someone to hide Tang Sanzang elsewhere, so Wukong naturally could not find him.

A Attendants outside heard the noise and pushed the door open. Wukong flicked his wrist and hid in the wall.

Seeing no one around, the Attendants asked, "Has Elder Sun, Elder Zhu, or Elder Sha arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong revealed himself and asked, "How did you know I was coming?"

The Attendants said, "It was the Imperial Son-in-Law's order that if there is any movement in the room, it must be Elder Sun coming over. He told us to wait here and speak with Elder Sun."

Wukong asked, "What do you want to tell me?"

The Attendants said, "His Imperial Son-in-Law said, 'Monks and laypeople are on different paths, entangled in worldly affairs; let us not allow them to meet again and cause further trouble.'"

Upon hearing this, Wukong muttered to himself, "Meeting again will only bring trouble! Meeting again will only bring trouble!" His mind was in turmoil, and he staggered away.

Ao Tu watched Wukong leave from a distance, a faint smile on his face.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit hugged Ao Tu and said with a smile, "Father, you can send Bima Wen away now!"

Ao Tu nodded with a smile.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit then playfully rubbed her hands against Ao Tu's body.

Zhu Li peeked out from Ao Tu's arms and bumped into two rabbits, which it then pecked at with its beak.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit cried out "Ah!" and collapsed weakly into Ao Tu's arms, complaining, "Father, Zhu Li pecked me!"

Zhu Li, not to be outdone, retorted, "Master, this Lewd Rabbit is being flirtatious again; she should be punished!"

Ao Tu laughed and reached out to embrace both of his pet beasts in his palm, saying, "Alright! Alright! Stop arguing! Stop arguing!"

Ao Tu took the two pet beasts back, teasing the birds and rabbits, and admiring the White Chi. He thought to himself that he had gotten rid of Wukong this time, and at least for the time being, he had no worries.

Just as Ao Tu had predicted, Wukong returned dejected and told Bajie and Sha Wujing everything that had happened.

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing couldn't help but shed tears, not knowing what to do next, and said:

"Master! Master! You endured countless hardships and finally reached Spirit Mountain, how could you succumb to worldly temptations and fall into the mortal realm? How can your disciples save you!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong couldn't help but feel heartbroken and shed tears, crying helplessly:

"Master, you couldn't resist the temptation of wealth and status, and you committed adultery and got married. Even if your disciple has a thousand tricks up his sleeve, how can I save you?"

The two wept there, but Bajie, with his Wisdom Eye, said, "Don't cry! Don't cry! That's a lie!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong quickly stopped crying and said, "How could it be fake?"

Bajie sneered, "Master is so lazy! He says seeing him again is an obstacle, but wouldn't it be an obstacle for him to be someone's Imperial Son-in-Law? He's clearly using this as an excuse to keep the Kasaya. He'll only give us the Buddhist Staff, the White Horse, and the Alms Bowl to send us away. But I know that Kasaya is the most valuable thing. We've done so much hard work for him for decades; we can't let him do it for nothing! We'll definitely demand it back from him tomorrow."