Lodging

"We've been walking for a long time and it's getting late, so we thought we'd stay here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow. We hope you can help us out."

The fat monk came over again, took Tang Xuanzang's hand, and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Please don't say things like that. We were all forced to become monks because our parents were sick and we couldn't survive at home, so we became Buddhist Order disciples. Please don't say things like 'severing the seven emotions and six desires'."

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang smiled and said, "Actually, I was telling the truth."

"How long is the journey from the Eastern Lands to the Western Heaven? There are mountains and demons along the way. How can a refined and cultured monk like you be expected to be on a pilgrimage?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang smiled and said, "Actually, I have three disciples with Divine Ability abilities who split mountains to open roads and built bridges over rivers to protect me, which is why I was able to come here."

"Where are your three apprentices?"

The fat monk asked Tang Xuanzang a question.

"They're waiting right at the door!"

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang pointed to the door and said to the fat monk.

Upon hearing this, the fat monk quickly said, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and let your disciple in!"

Then Tang Xuanzang hurriedly went outside and brought Sun Wukong Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie in. Everyone was shocked when they saw them, because the three of them looked extremely ugly.

The fat monk then pulled Tang Xuanzang and said, "Elder, it was our fault. We didn't watch your disciple properly, so he was eaten by a monster."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang smiled and said, "You must have seen the Duke of Thunder's Mouth and the remaining few ugly-looking people, and there was also a woman next to him. I rescued that woman from the jungle."

The monk, holding a lantern, smiled and said to Tang Xuanzang, "Elder, you are so handsome, but why are your disciples all so ugly?"

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang patted the monk on the shoulder and said to him:

"Actually, you don't need to think too much about it. They may be ugly, but they're all useful. Hurry up and bring them in. If you're any later, that Duke of Thunder's mouth might cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, one of the young monks hurriedly ran out and, upon seeing Zhu Bajie, "Sir, Elder Tang wants to invite you in."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Just tell us to come in, why are you so afraid?"

At this moment, Sun Wukong suddenly appeared beside Zhu Bajie, grabbed Zhu Bajie's ear, and said, "You idiot, can't you think about it? You must be scared because you see how ugly we are."

"I think what you said is utter nonsense. We're born this way, and it's not my fault I'm ugly."

After speaking, Zhu Bajie looked at Sha Wujing with great helplessness, hoping that Sha Wujing could say a few words of justice for him.

However, things didn't go as Zhu Bajie expected. Sha Wujing said to Zhu Bajie:

"Second Senior Brother is right. Why don't we tidy ourselves up now? It wouldn't be good if we scared them when we go in."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie wiped his pig nose, instantly transforming it into a normal human nose. He lowered his head and led the horse, Sha Wujing carried the load.

Sun Wukong followed behind, pointing his Ruyi Jingu Bang at the woman, and they went inside together. They passed through the collapsed eaves and entered the third door, where they finally met Tang Xuanzang.

Upon seeing the three people, the monks immediately arranged some food, and the woman ate some as well. As it grew darker, the Fangzhang lit lamps. The monks' primary purpose was to assist Tang Xuanzang in his pilgrimage, and their secondary purpose was to see the woman.

Tang Xuanzang sensed that things were not as he had imagined. He turned to the monk and said, "Abbot, we will be leaving here tomorrow. I wonder what the road ahead will be like?"

However, the monk immediately knelt down and said to Tang Xuanzang, "The road will be very smooth when you leave tomorrow, so you don't need to worry too much. However, there is one very important matter at hand."

"Get up right now! I'm just asking you for directions, why are you kneeling down to talk to me?"

Seeing this, Tang Xuanzang quickly stepped forward and grabbed the monk.

After speaking, the monk felt relieved and said to Tang Xuanzang, "Actually, there is something I'm not sure if I should say. Ever since you entered, I've been thinking about it, afraid of upsetting you. Now that we've finished eating, I feel more comfortable speaking up."

"Tell me quickly, what exactly happened? Tell us so we can work together to solve it."

Seeing the monk's worried expression, Tang Xuanzang couldn't help but urge him on.

"You've come all this way from so far away, enduring countless hardships along the way. You can all sleep in my disciple's room, but this female bodhisattva is currently unavailable. I don't know where it would be best for her to sleep."

The monk was relieved after hearing what Tang Xuanzang said.

However, Tang Xuanzang believed that the monk was questioning Tang Xuanzang character, so Tang Xuanzang said:

"Please don't overthink it, sir. We had no ill intentions at all. We just happened to see this woman tied to a tree when we were passing through the forest earlier."

"So we took pity on her and saved her. After that, you can just arrange for her to stay somewhere."

Upon hearing this, the monk smiled and said, "Since you've already said so, then I'll place her behind a Buddha statue in the temple and arrange a straw mat for her to sleep on."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang nodded. Then the young monk led the woman towards the back of the main hall. Everyone dispersed. In the middle of the night, Tang Xuanzang instructed Sun Wukong:

"You've all walked for so long today, you must be tired. You should get some rest and get some sleep."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong nodded and then dared not leave, so he protected Tang Xuanzang until late at night.

The next day at dawn, Sun Wukong got up and told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to pack the bags and horses and take Tang Xuanzang on their journey. However, Tang Xuanzang was still asleep. Sun Wukong finally lost his patience and went up to Tang Xuanzang, patting him and saying:

"Master, you need to think of something quickly. We should get going now; we can't keep sleeping like this."

However, Tang Xuanzang simply raised his head and did not respond to what Sun Wukong said.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong was very puzzled, so he continued to say to Zang Xuanzang, "Master, what happened? You seem to be feeling unwell."

Just then, Tang Xuanzang spoke to Sun Wukong, saying, "Actually, I don't know what happened either. When I woke up, I found myself dizzy and my bones ached all over."