Chapter 934
Are you also protecting Tang Sanzang?
"Very well, since Benefactor Chu is so hospitable, this humble monk shall humbly accept."
Chu Yang smiled slightly: "Master is wise."
The three people and one horse quickened their pace and headed towards the town ahead.
……
The town is called Qingshi Town. Although it is not big, it is very lively.
Shops lined both sides of the street, with vendors calling out their wares incessantly, and pedestrians coming and going in an endless stream.
Chu Yang led Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong to the largest restaurant in town—Yuelai Inn.
Yuelai Inn is a three-story building with two large red lanterns hanging at the entrance, making it look quite impressive.
"Please come in, gentlemen!"
A waiter greeted them warmly and led the three into the restaurant.
Chu Yang booked three superior rooms and ordered a sumptuous meal.
"Master, Monkey King, let's eat first."
The three sat down at a table in the lobby on the first floor, and the waiter quickly brought over the food.
Braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables...
A table full of dishes, all looking and smelling delicious, made one's mouth water.
Of course, Chu Yang ordered vegetarian dishes for Tang Sanzang.
It looks like a vegetarian dish, at least on the surface.
"Master, please have some." Chu Yang pushed a bowl of "vegetarian braised pork" in front of Tang Sanzang.
Tang Sanzang looked at the tempting-looking plate of braised pork with anticipation in his eyes.
"I have already witnessed the culinary skills of Benefactor Chu," he said with a smile. "The chefs in this restaurant are probably no match for Benefactor Chu."
Chu Yang smiled slightly: "Master, you flatter me. Although the dishes in this restaurant cannot compare to what I cook, they still have their own unique flavor. Master, please try them."
Tang Sanzang picked up a piece of "meat," put it in his mouth, chewed it, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad, indeed not bad. Although it can't compare to what Benefactor Chu made, it's still quite delicious."
Sun Wukong was enjoying his meal and had no interest in saying a word.
He was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years. Although he ate a lot of good food with Chu Yang after he was released, he still had an endless passion for food.
"Delicious! So delicious!" he exclaimed between bites. "I, Old Sun, think that if we could eat this well every day on this journey to the West, that would be such a blessing!"
Tang Sanzang shook his head slightly: "Wukong, you mustn't indulge in gluttony. We're on a journey to retrieve the scriptures, not to enjoy ourselves."
Sun Wukong chuckled, "Master is right, I understand."
Although he said that, his hands didn't stop moving at all.
Chu Yang felt a surge of warmth as he watched this scene.
These days are really great.
……
After the meal, the three returned to their respective rooms to rest.
Chu Yang lay on the soft bed, gazing at the night sky outside the window, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
"According to the plot, Gao Village should be not far ahead," he thought to himself.
"When we get there, we'll meet Pigsy (Zhu Bajie)."
"Although that pig had many flaws, it was also an important companion. With it, the pilgrimage team was not complete."
Thinking of Zhu Bajie's gluttonous and lazy nature, Chu Yang couldn't help but smile.
"Hopefully that pig won't be too difficult to deal with."
He turned over, closed his eyes, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
……
The next morning, the sun shone brightly.
After having breakfast, the three continued their journey westward.
After leaving Qingshi Town, the scenery along the official road gradually changed.
The once flat wheat fields have been transformed into rolling hills, which are covered with various fruit trees. Peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and pear blossoms are in full bloom, creating a vibrant and colorful scene.
"This place is truly beautiful," Tang Sanzang exclaimed. "It's like a paradise on earth."
Sun Wukong, however, disagreed: "Master, don't be fooled by appearances. The more beautiful the place, the more likely it is to harbor monsters."
Tang Sanzang shook his head: "Wukong, don't be so suspicious. The scenery here is so beautiful, there shouldn't be any monsters."
Sun Wukong pursed his lips and said nothing more.
Chu Yang walked behind, looking at the surrounding scenery, and his confidence grew stronger.
This should be the vicinity of Gao Lao Zhuang.
Sure enough, after walking for about half an hour, a village appeared ahead.
The village is small, but very clean, and every household has a house with blue bricks and tiles, which looks quite prosperous.
At the entrance of the village stands a stone tablet with three large characters engraved on it: Gao Laozhuang.
"Gao Village..." Tang Sanzang murmured the name, "The name of this village is quite interesting."
Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "Gao Village, it's an old man's village run by someone surnamed Gao. What's so interesting about it?"
Tang Sanzang shook his head helplessly: "Wukong, your mouth..."
Chu Yang looked at the stone tablet, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Gao Laozhuang.
The family of Pigsy's father-in-law.
“Master, let’s go into the village and take a look,” he said. “We might encounter something interesting.”
Tang Sanzang nodded: "Alright, that'll help us get some food."
The three entered the village and walked along the village path.
The villagers looked on with curiosity when they saw them.
Especially when they saw Sun Wukong's pointed mouth and monkey-like face, many people were so frightened that they hid in their homes.
"Why are all the people in this village so cowardly?" Sun Wukong muttered. "I, Old Sun, don't eat people."
Chu Yang smiled slightly and remained silent.
He knew that the villagers were so timid because they had recently been harassed by a monster.
That monster was none other than Marshal Tianpeng descended to earth—Zhu Bajie.
"There seems to be a house up ahead, with quite a few people standing at the door," Tang Sanzang said, pointing ahead. "Let's go take a look."
The three of them walked toward that house.
It was a rather grand mansion, with a plaque hanging at the entrance that read "Gao Mansion".
Several servants stood at the door, whispering amongst themselves.
"Have you heard? The master is looking for someone to exorcise demons again."
"Can we not look for it? That monster harasses the Third Miss every day; Master is almost driven crazy with worry."
"Sigh, I wonder when we'll be able to get rid of that monster."
Tang Sanzang frowned slightly upon hearing these words.
"Are there monsters here?" he asked in a low voice.
Sun Wukong chuckled, "Master, I told you, the better the place, the easier it is for monsters to hide. Look, here they are!"
Tang Sanzang sighed, "Well, since we've run into this, we can't just stand by and do nothing. Wukong, go and ask what's going on."
Sun Wukong nodded and strode forward.
"Hey, what kind of monsters are you talking about? I, Old Sun, specialize in exorcising demons and monsters! Tell me!"
When the servants saw Sun Wukong's appearance, they were so frightened that they retreated repeatedly.
"Who...who are you?" one of them asked in a trembling voice.
Sun Wukong patted his chest: "I, Old Sun, am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong! I protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures! Whatever monsters you encounter, just tell me, and I, Old Sun, will help you deal with them!"
The servants looked at each other, then their expressions lit up with delight.
"The Great Sage Equaling Heaven? The one who wreaked havoc in Heaven?"
"Great! There's hope! Quickly, go and inform the master!"
A servant ran quickly into the mansion, and soon after, an elderly man in a brocade robe came out. The old man was about sixty years old, with a kind face, but his brows were furrowed with worry.
"Are you the eminent monks on your pilgrimage?" He looked at Tang Sanzang, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "I am Gao Taigong, greetings from the front."
Tang Sanzang quickly returned the greeting: "Amitabha, this humble monk Xuanzang greets the esteemed benefactor."
Grandpa Gao looked at Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Chu Yang with anticipation in his eyes.
"The three of you have come from afar; I wonder if you could do me a favor?"
Tang Sanzang asked, "What difficulties do you face, Benefactor Gao?"
Old Master Gao sighed and said, "To be honest, I have a young daughter who just turned eighteen this year. She is as beautiful as a flower and is the apple of my eye."
"Three years ago, I found her a son-in-law who would live with her family. He was strong and hardworking, and I was initially very satisfied."
"But later I discovered that my son-in-law was actually a monster!"
"Every night he reveals his true form—a monster with a pig's head and a human body—terrifying my daughter half to death."
"I've invited many Taoist priests and monks to exorcise the demon, but they've all been driven away by it."
"Now I am at my wit's end, and I beg the assistance of these esteemed monks!"
Sun Wukong chuckled after hearing this.
"So that's what happened. Old Gao, don't worry, I, Old Sun, will handle this monster!"
Old Master Gao was overjoyed: "Really? That's wonderful! If you gentlemen can subdue that monster, I'm willing to reward you handsomely!"
Tang Sanzang waved his hand: "Benefactor Gao, there's no need to be so polite. Subduing demons and monsters is our duty."
Grandpa Gao quickly invited the three into his mansion and hosted a banquet in their honor.
During the meal, Chu Yang ate while taking in his surroundings.
The Gao family mansion was indeed a large residence, with pavilions, towers, carved beams and painted rafters, showing that Gao Taigong's family was well-off.
"Benefactor Gao, where is that monster now?" he asked.
Old Master Gao said, "That monster doesn't come out during the day, only at night. He lives in a side room in the backyard, and he's locked my daughter up there too."
"If you gentlemen wish to subdue the demon, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until nightfall."
Chu Yang nodded: "Then we'll wait until tonight."
Sun Wukong rubbed his hands together, looking eager to try.
"Alright! I, Old Sun, want to see just how much that monster is worth!"
……
Night fell, and the moon and stars were few.
In a side room in the backyard of the Gao residence.
Sun Wukong transformed into the appearance of a young woman and lay on the bed pretending to be asleep.
This was his plan—to disguise himself as Miss Gao and lure the monster into a trap.
Chu Yang and Tang Seng hid in the shadows, waiting quietly.
Around midnight, a gust of cold wind blew by, and the door to the side room was pushed open from the outside.
A figure walked in.
By the moonlight, Chu Yang could make out the figure's appearance.
He was a burly man, over eight feet tall, with a round belly that looked like a ball of flesh.
What's most striking is his face—it's a pig's face with a long snout, big ears, and protruding tusks, making him look quite comical.
He was none other than Marshal Tianpeng reincarnated as Pigsy (Zhu Bajie).
"My wife, your husband is here!"
Pigsy chuckled and walked toward the bed.
He threw off the covers and was about to pounce on the bed when he discovered that it wasn't Miss Gao lying there, but a furry monkey.
"Who...who are you?" Pigsy was startled and retreated repeatedly.
Sun Wukong sprang up from the bed with a somersault and burst into laughter.
"Fool, you've fallen for their trap!"
He took the golden cudgel out of his ear and smashed it at Pigsy.
Pigsy was terrified and quickly took out a nine-toothed rake from his waist to block the attack.
"Who are you? How dare you ambush your grandpa Pig!"
Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "I, Old Sun, am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong! I'm here to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures! You fool, how dare you cause trouble here? I'll beat you to death!"
The two started fighting, from the side room to the courtyard, and then from the courtyard to the roof.
The golden cudgel and the nine-toothed rake collided, making a clanging sound and scattering sparks.
Pigsy's skills were indeed formidable; he fought Sun Wukong for dozens of rounds without being at a disadvantage.
"You monkey, you've got some skills!" he shouted as he hit you, "But your grandpa Pig isn't one to be trifled with either!"
Sun Wukong laughed loudly: "Fool, stop bragging! I'll beat you into a pulp!"
The fight between the two became increasingly intense, alarming the entire Gao family.
Grandpa Gao and his servants all ran out, looking up at the two people fighting fiercely on the roof, their faces full of fear.
Chu Yang and Tang Seng also came out and stood in the courtyard to watch the battle.
"Wukong is truly amazing," Tang Sanzang exclaimed. "That demon didn't seem weak either, yet Wukong completely overwhelmed him."
Chu Yang smiled slightly and remained silent.
He knew this battle wouldn't last long.
Because Pigsy will soon find out that the monkey on the other side is protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West.
He himself was also going to join the pilgrimage team.
Sure enough, after several dozen more rounds, Pigsy gradually couldn't hold on any longer.
"Who...who sent you?" he asked breathlessly.
Sun Wukong said, "I told you, I'm here to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures! You idiot, are you deaf?"
Pigsy was stunned: "Tang Sanzang? Journey to the West to obtain the scriptures?"
He stopped what he was doing, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"The Tang Monk you're talking about, is he the eminent monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East?"
Sun Wukong said, "That's right, it's him! What, you know him?"
Pigsy laughed heartily: "I know him! Of course I know him!"
He put away his nine-toothed rake and bowed to Sun Wukong.
"Brother Monkey, it's a misunderstanding! You're actually Tang Sanzang's disciple!"
"I, Old Pig, am also going to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West! Guanyin Bodhisattva told me this herself!"
Sun Wukong was stunned: "What? You're also protecting Tang Sanzang?"
Pigsy nodded: "That's right! Guanyin Bodhisattva said I should wait here for Tang Sanzang, and then go with him to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures!"
"I've just been waiting too long and I'm really bored, so I decided to marry into this Gao Village and find a place to live."
"I didn't mean to cause trouble, but that old man Gao thought I was ugly and insisted on kicking me out. I got angry and started arguing with him."
Sun Wukong was both amused and exasperated after hearing this.
"You idiot, so that's how it is."
He put away his golden cudgel and called out into the courtyard, "Master, come out! This fool says he's also here to protect you on your journey to the West!"
Tang Sanzang and Chu Yang emerged from the shadows.
When Pigsy saw Tang Sanzang, he immediately jumped off the roof and knelt down on the ground.
"Master, please accept my bow!"
Tang Sanzang was stunned for a moment, then revealed a relieved smile.
"Amitabha Buddha, so you are the disciple that Guanyin Bodhisattva spoke of."
He reached out and helped Pigsy up, saying, "In that case, you shall come with me to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures."
"This humble monk bestows upon you the Dharma name—Wuneng."
Pigsy was overjoyed: "Thank you, Master! Your disciple will definitely protect you well!" (End of Chapter)