An Unexpected Development

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong waved his hand dismissively and said:

"Master, it was indeed my fault this time. I didn't emphasize it to you repeatedly before going to Flower-Fruit Mountain to take care of my own affairs."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang, disregarding past grievances, said to Sun Wukong:

"What happened back then is over. Now we're both safe and sound."

After Tang Xuanzang finished speaking, the King of Kingdom of Precious Images immediately said:

"Elders, you have truly gone to great lengths today. Why don't you rest here for a while, have something to eat, and then leave?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang and his companions nodded, and then the group continued their journey to the Western Heaven to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

Just as Tang Xuanzang and his party were passing by a hillside, they suddenly encountered a woodcutter.

Seeing this, the woodcutter quickly stopped Tang Xuanzang, saying:

"Elder, please stop on the road ahead. There are wicked Yaomo on this mountain that prey on monks like you."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang scoffed, "What's wrong with such a thing?"

Ever since Tang Xuanzang injured the White Bone Spirit with a single palm strike, he gained a greater sense of confidence in his own strength.

Upon seeing this, the woodcutter laughed loudly, while Tang Xuanzang looked puzzled.

Why are you laughing? Is what I said really that funny?

Upon hearing this, the woodcutter's tone immediately turned disdainful.

"It's not that I look down on you, but with your outfit, even those two demons couldn't withstand it in one go."

Sun Wukong couldn't stand it any longer, so he immediately jumped out and said fiercely to the woodcutter:

"You're boosting their morale, making us look bad. Are you related to him or something, that's why you're saying that."

Upon hearing this, the woodcutter also became a little angry, and pretended to be serious as he said to Sun Wukong:

"You monk, you're being completely unreasonable! I came here out of kindness to warn you to be more cautious when you walk, but you just cling to me without even asking where that Yaomo came from?"

Sun Wukong suddenly felt a little anxious, so he scratched his monkey fur and said to the woodcutter:

"What's there to be afraid of in these Yaomo? If they come from heaven, I'll go to the Jade Emperor; if they come from the underworld, I'll go to King Yama, the King of Hell. Wherever they come from, that's where I'll go. What's there to be afraid of?"

After saying this, Sun Wukong gritted his teeth and glared at the woodcutter.

The woodcutter smiled upon hearing this and asked Sun Wukong, "Where did you come from, and where are you going?"

Before Sun Wukong could speak, Tang Xuanzang eagerly introduced himself.

"We came from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands, on our way to the Western Heaven Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. We were unaware that there were so many Yaomo here. Thank you for reminding us."

"Forget it then. Since you're Tang Monk, you shouldn't go this way. If you came from somewhere else, that's fine, but if you have the character 'Tang' in your name, then you absolutely shouldn't go there."

The woodcutter quickly reminded Tang Xuanzang.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong smiled and said to the woodcutter:

"Don't panic. We've survived so many monsters we've encountered this year, what's a few more? Do you think I'm afraid of them?"

Sun Wukong was completely fearless, his only thought being to protect Tang Xuanzang on their journey to the Western Heaven to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures. He quickly shook off the woodcutter and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Master, don't panic. It's just a demon here. It's just that the person is too timid. Don't take it to heart."

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, Tang Xuanzang turned his head and could no longer see the woodcutter. Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong knew what had happened. So Sun Wukong rode the clouds and flew to the sky. Looking closely, he saw that it was indeed the Day Duty Officer.

Sun Wukong suddenly lost his temper and scolded the Day Duty Officer:

"Why don't you come and say it yourself instead of changing your story? Are you acting like I am?"

Upon hearing this, the Day Duty Officer immediately and respectfully addressed Sun Wukong:

"Great Sage, please forgive my late arrival. But that demon is Divine Ability powerful and can transform in many ways. You must take good care of your master and not be negligent in the slightest. The journey to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures is fraught with difficulties."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong took it to heart. He then found Tang Xuanzang and suddenly had a plan. With red, tearful eyes, Sun Wukong went to Tang Xuanzang's side. Seeing this, Zhu Bajie spoke up:

"Master, please tell Junior Brother Sha to put down his load and take out the luggage. Let's divide it up."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang immediately felt a little angry and quickly said to Zhu Bajie, "Why would you say such a thing, you idiot?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Look, even the Brother Monkey is already crying. He's the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to the Heavenly Palace, who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. He's capable of anything, going up to heaven and down to earth. He even survived being boiled in oil, yet now he's crying. It must be because the mountains are high and the roads are treacherous, Yaomo are too powerful."

"How could people as weak as us possibly get through this journey?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang was immediately flustered, while Sun Wukong quickly said:

"What Master was worried about was the Day Duty Officer. He said the demons here are fierce and the journey is very difficult. Sure enough, we can't continue today. Let's go another day!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang was speechless. He then sighed and slowly said:

"Now that we've come this far, we can't give up halfway. But if you're saying how dangerous the Yaomo ahead are, then at least we should worry about our own lives first."

Then Tang Xuanzang suddenly realized that his words were very inappropriate, so he continued to dissuade Sun Wukong:

"Just ignore what I just said. Sun Wukong, you said it's difficult even for one person. As the ancients said, the few are no match for the many. I still have Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing here. If we still can't win, I also know a little bit of Law Technique. I hope it can be of some help."

Upon hearing Tang Xuanzang's words, Sun Wukong found it extremely amusing. So, Sun Wukong pretended to wipe away tears from the corner of his eye and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"I will definitely keep Master's words in mind, but if we really want to cross this mountain, Zhu Bajie must agree to two things for there to be any chance of success. Otherwise, I have no other way."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie immediately said to Sun Wukong:

"Brother Monkey, just tell me what you want me to do, and I will absolutely do it so as not to disappoint my master."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was overjoyed, but suppressing his excitement, he solemnly said to Zhu Bajie:

"The first thing to do is sit here and watch over the master. The second thing to do is carry your Nine-Toothed Rake and circle the mountains once."

After thinking for a moment upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie stood up and said:

"I'd definitely choose to patrol the mountains; I couldn't possibly handle two things at once."

After Zhu Bajie carried his Nine-Toothed Rake and went ahead to scout the way.