Why Am I Fighting Sha Wujing?
On the Flowing Sand River, the sun blazes down.
Fang Yu squatted on a flat rock by the river and took out a pottery jar from his package.
As soon as the lid was lifted, a rich aroma of meat wafted out, causing Zhu Bajie's nose to twitch.
"Hehe, junior brother, this Braised Tofu Jelly smells even better than usual today!" Zhu Bajie rubbed his hands together and came closer, his saliva already dripping from the corner of his mouth onto his rake.
Fang Yu stirred the translucent meat jelly in the jar with a wooden spoon. The amber-colored gelatinous substance glistened enticingly in the sunlight. "The shopkeeper deliberately simmered it for two extra hours and added some new seasonings." He glanced at Tang Sanzang, who was wiping his forehead not far away. "Old Tang, dinner's ready!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's stomach rumbled first, and he touched his noticeably protruding belly somewhat embarrassedly.
In the past three months, his waist has grown two sizes larger, and his once loose robe is now stretched taut.
"Amitabha Buddha." Tang Sanzang chanted the Buddha's name as he walked quickly over, his eyes fixed on the jar of Braised Tofu Jelly.
Fang Yu served Zhu Bajie, and then served Tang Sanzang rice. When Tang Sanzang took the bowl, his fingers trembled slightly. He carefully tasted it, and his eyes immediately lit up. "This tastes really good!"
"That's natural," Fang Yu said, watching Tang Sanzang wolf down his food, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "A big belly can hold the whole world! That's the highest realm that Buddha pursued!" He pointed to Tang Sanzang's protruding belly. "Look at the Tathagata and the future Maitreya Buddha, which one is thin?"
With his mouth full of Braised Tofu Jelly, Tang Sanzang mumbled, "I believe in seeing is believing, and what is taken from the people should be used for the people. Who it is doesn't matter." He then scooped up another large spoonful and stuffed it into his mouth, saying, "Eat first, eat first."
Zhu Bajie looked at the rapidly empty Braised Tofu Jelly in the earthenware pot, then at Tang Sanzang's swift and dejected eating, and his pig ears drooped in frustration. "Junior brother, you made Master eat so much, he can't even walk a few steps yet, this... this..."
Fang Yu rolled his eyes at him. "Old Tang rides the Earth Grudge Fear, not you, so what are you talking about?"
Sun Wukong, who was squatting on a tree branch eating wild fruit, laughed out loud when he heard this, "Fool, are you afraid your food will be stolen?"
Just as Zhu Bajie was about to retort, a loud "splash" suddenly echoed across the river!
Everyone turned to look and saw that the calm Flowing Sand River had suddenly surged into towering waves, with strange bloodstains mixed in with the turbid water.
A giant, nearly four meters tall, emerged from the water. He had fiery red hair, a blue face, and fangs. A string of white skulls hung around his neck, each skull's eye Central City flickering with eerie blue flames!
"Hahaha! Finally, the food has arrived!" The giant roared like thunder, his Crescent Moon Spade pointing directly at Tang Sanzang. "I'll eat you first, you fat monk!"
Tang Sanzang was so frightened that his hand trembled, and the bowl fell to the ground with a "crash" and shattered, splattering the Braised Tofu Jelly all over the ground.
Zhu Bajie looked at the delicious food on the ground with heartache, and then looked at the monster in the river with fear. He was unsure whether to feel sorry for the Braised Tofu Jelly or protect his master.
Sun Wukong somersaulted to the front of the crowd, Golden Cudgel grew longer with a "whoosh": "Where did this water monster come from, daring to act wildly in front of your Grandpa Sun!"
The giant remained calm and unhurried, hoisting his Crescent Moon Spade onto his shoulder. "Water monster? I am the Curtain-Rolling General, banished to the mortal realm for Teuchi Glazed Lamp!"
He sized up Monkey King, "And what are you?"
Sun Wukong slung his Golden Cudgel over his shoulder, his Fiery Golden Eyes gleaming with fighting spirit. "Old Sun, am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven wreaked havoc in the Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago! If you know what's good for you, get out of my way!"
"Hahaha!"
Sha Wujing's laughter shook the river, causing ripples to spread. He swung his Crescent Moon Spade, the nine skulls clicking and rattling with each movement. "Who do we have here!" His red hair danced wildly in the wind. "It's just the Bimawen!"
"Pfft!"
Zhu Bajie on the shore was the first to burst out laughing, so much so that he could barely hold onto his rake.
Seeing Sun Wukong's murderous gaze sweep over him, he quickly covered his pig mouth. "Brother Monkey, I was wrong! I just couldn't hold it in." His fat finger pointed to the middle of the river, "Hit him! Beat him to death!"
"You're asking for it!"
Sun Wukong's Golden Cudgel suddenly extended, drawing a white wave across the river.
Sha Wujing blocked with his Crescent Moon Spade, and sparks from the clash of weapons splashed into the water, making a hissing sound.
After three moves, Sha Wujing's tiger's mouth split open.
He feinted with his shovel, then suddenly plunged into the river.
The turbid river water surged and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"What bad luck!" Sun Wukong landed on the shore, slamming his Golden Cudgel heavily on the ground.
He grabbed Zhu Bajie's protruding ears. "You idiot! Weren't you Marshal Tianpeng, who commanded the navy back then? Get down!"
Zhu Bajie covered his ears and jumped up and down, shouting, "That bastard's Crescent Moon Spade is designed to stab people in the groin! I, Old Pig, have long since lost my Old Pig skills!"
As the two struggled, Fang Yu squatted down next to Tang Sanzang.
The monk was staring blankly at the river, the hem of his robe covered in splashes of mud.
"Old Tang, do you know where that skull on the monster's neck came from?"
Tang Sanzang shook his head blankly.
"This is the head of your previous nine incarnations."
Fang Yu suppressed a laugh, "Every time I come here in my previous life, that guy gnaws me down until there's nothing left but bones."
"What?"
Tang Sanzang was terrified. "Did I die like this in my previous nine lives?"
"It's absolutely true. If you don't believe me, wait a moment and lick the bone hanging around the red-haired monster's neck a couple of times. See if it looks familiar."
"This"
"Old Tang," Fang Yu said earnestly, looking at the still trembling Tang Sanzang with a meaningful smile, "You can't entirely blame this red-haired water monster for eating your past life. Think about it, the Western Paradise needs to complete all eighty-one tribulations, just like a grand opera, you can't miss a single one."
"Every time you grow up and want to go on your pilgrimage, they will find a suitable moment to kill you. This pilgrimage is not just your business; there are many complex interests involved!"
Tang Sanzang frowned and began to think, clearly having been thoroughly fooled.
"You are the most crucial link, but the other links are also indispensable, just like..." He suddenly took out a string of candied hawthorns from his bag, "Just like this string of candied hawthorns, you are the wooden stick in the middle, without you it can't be strung together, but with only you, it won't work."
Tang Sanzang stared at the string of bright red candied hawthorns, subconsciously swallowing. He hunched his shoulders and looked at the turbulent Flowing Sand River, his voice barely audible. "But... but there's no need to make me die so many times, is there?"
"Ha!" Fang Yu suddenly burst into laughter, startling Tang Sanzang. "You think they're trying to harm you? They're helping you!" He counted on his fingers, "The first time you died, you learned caution; the second time you died, you learned observation; the third time..."
"What have I learned?" Tang Sanzang couldn't help but ask.
Fang Yu winked mysteriously. "You've learned how to die faster."
Just as Fang Yu was teasing Tang Sanzang, the pig and the monkey finally reached a consensus.
"Alright! Let's get our junior brother in the water!"