Chapter 947
The Silent Mountain
Chu Yang smiled and said, "That's roughly the idea."
Pigsy clicked his tongue: "Then the question setters have to watch the examinees answer, right? Otherwise, how do they grade the questions?"
“This is what I wanted to verify.” Chu Yang finished the remaining wine in his bowl in one gulp and put it down. “If the Bodhisattva is really watching, then if we sit here eating without going to save Master, she will get restless sooner or later.”
Sun Wukong scoffed, "You're using your master as bait to lure the Bodhisattva."
Chu Yang said frankly, "Brother Monkey isn't wrong. However, my bottom line is very clear—Master won't be in any real danger. Given the Yellow Wind King's behavior, he won't harm Tang Sanzang tonight. If the Bodhisattva still hasn't made a move by late tonight, we'll go rescue him ourselves."
Sun Wukong thought for a moment, then picked up the wine jar and poured himself another bowl.
"Alright. Let's wait a bit longer. Anyway, I, Old Sun, also want to see if that Bodhisattva is really watching us."
The three continued eating and drinking.
Pigsy let loose completely, devouring all the dishes on the table, and then added a bowl of rice, a plate of peanuts, and half a roast chicken.
Sun Wukong drank most of a jar of sorghum liquor, his face flushed slightly, but his eyes remained clear. He glanced out the window every now and then, his gaze sharp as a knife.
Chu Yang didn't eat much; he spent most of his time observing the activity outside the window.
The flame of the oil lamp flickered in the draft, casting ever-changing shadows on the wall.
There were no other customers in the tavern besides the three of them. The innkeeper was dozing behind the counter, occasionally letting out a snore or two.
The dogs in the street barked a few times, then fell silent.
The chirping of insects came from under the wall, a soft, monotonous sound.
Time passed little by little.
Hai hour (9-11 PM).
It's almost midnight.
Pigsy was already stuffed, leaning back in his chair with his belly round and snoring loudly.
Sun Wukong finished the last bowl of wine and slammed the empty bowl down on the table.
"Brother Chu Yang, isn't that enough? If you don't come soon, I, Old Sun, will have to go myself."
Chu Yang was about to speak when he suddenly stopped.
His gaze settled on the entrance to the tavern.
The curtain was lifted slightly by the wind—but there was no wind outside.
A hand reached in from outside the curtain.
It was a slender, fair hand with long, jade-like fingers and neatly trimmed, rounded nails, exuding a purity that seemed otherworldly.
He hooked his fingers around the curtain and gently lifted it.
A figure walked in.
She was a woman.
She appeared to be around thirty or forty years old, dressed in a dark blue coarse cloth dress with a gray apron tied around her waist. Her hair was wrapped in a blue cloth, revealing a fair and handsome face.
She wasn't particularly beautiful; in the city, she would have been just an ordinary middle-aged woman. But her demeanor possessed an indescribable composure and tranquility, like a deep pool of water, calm on the surface but unfathomable beneath.
She was carrying a bamboo basket covered with a white cloth, so it was impossible to see what was inside.
She walked into the tavern, her gaze sweeping over the three men before finally settling on Chu Yang's face.
Then she laughed.
That smile wasn't the kind of smile a common woman would have; it wasn't obsequious or distant. It was a gentle smile, containing a hint of helplessness and a touch of approval, like a mother who had seen through her child's trickery.
Chu Yang's back tensed slightly.
He looked at Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong's pupils suddenly contracted.
He didn't speak, but his hand was already pressed against his ear—where his golden cudgel was stuffed.
This woman did not possess any demonic aura.
But she had a Buddha-like aura about her.
A faint, almost imperceptible aura of Buddha light enveloped her like a thin morning mist.
If it weren't for Sun Wukong's fiery eyes, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.
"Gentlemen, still drinking so late?" The woman's voice was gentle and calm, carrying a touch of the warmth unique to country women. "I was just passing by and saw the tavern was still lit, so I came in to rest for a while."
She sat down at an empty table next to the three of them, placed the bamboo basket on the table, and unveiled the white cloth.
The basket contained a few steamed buns and a small pot of water.
"Travelers, judging from your dusty appearance, you must have traveled a long way," she said casually as she broke off a piece of steamed bun.
Pigsy was awakened by her voice. He opened his eyes groggily and was startled to see a strange woman sitting next to him.
"Who...who are you?"
The woman smiled and said, "I'm from a nearby village. I came to town to visit relatives, and I'm heading back now that it's dark."
Pigsy relaxed a bit, rubbed his eyes, and yawned.
Chu Yang picked up the empty bowl and fiddled with it for a moment before saying, "Sister-in-law, aren't you afraid of encountering monsters while traveling at night? That Yellow Wind Ridge to the north is monster territory."
The woman sighed, her face full of sorrow, and said, "That's right. The monsters on Yellow Wind Ridge have become increasingly rampant lately. I heard a few days ago they captured a passing monk. I wonder if that monk is dead or alive now."
Chu Yang's finger paused for a moment on the rim of the bowl.
He looked up and met the woman's eyes.
The woman's eyes were calm, but beneath that calm lay a subtle, unspoken meaning.
Chu Yang smiled slightly.
"My sister-in-law is very well-informed. We happen to know that monk too."
The woman said, "Really? Then you'd better hurry and rescue him. I've heard that the monster in Yellow Wind Cave has a bad temper; it won't keep someone locked up for long."
Chu Yang said, "Sister-in-law, don't rush, we'll go after we've eaten."
The woman's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
"You'll only go after you've eaten your fill? Aren't you worried about that monk being locked up in the monster's cave?"
Chu Yang said calmly, "There's no use in rushing. The monster needs to light a fire and cook a pot to eat him; it won't be able to finish him off quickly. We'd better fill our stomachs first and conserve our energy so we'll have the strength to fight the monster when we go."
The woman looked at him, and the smile on her lips deepened.
"You young man are quite composed."
Chu Yang smiled too.
"My sister-in-law is quite composed. An ordinary country woman, traveling alone in the dead of night, walked into a tavern where a monster was sitting, and didn't even blink."
He pointed to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie.
"Sister-in-law, you should be able to see what these two look like clearly. Most people would be terrified and run away at the sight of them. But not only did you not run, sister-in-law, you even sat down and chatted with us."
"Sister-in-law, are you really just a country woman visiting relatives?"
The tavern fell silent.
The flame of the oil lamp suddenly stopped flickering and stood steadily on the wick, like a solidified golden droplet.
The woman sat upright at the table, putting the half-eaten steamed bun she was holding back into the basket.
She did not deny it.
She raised her head, and a soft yet profound light suddenly shone in her otherwise ordinary eyes, like a Buddhist lamp lighting up from the darkness.
The light wasn't dazzling, but it was impossible to look directly at it.
It wasn't because it was too bright, but because it was too quiet.
The tranquility was so profound that it seemed all the noise and chaos of the world would melt away before those eyes. Pigsy's drowsiness vanished instantly. His eyes widened, and the wine bowl slipped from his hands, crashing onto the table with a clatter.
Sun Wukong had already stood up from the chair, but he didn't take out his golden cudgel. He stared at the woman for a couple of moments, then slowly bowed and performed a salute.
"Buddha."
The woman—or rather, the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva—smiled slightly.
That smile was completely different from before. It was no longer the polite greeting of a common woman, but a compassionate, gentle, and insightful mercy.
“You three are quite patient,” she repeated, but this time with a hint of helplessness in her voice. “I’ve been watching from the shadows for over an hour, waiting for you to rescue Master Xuanzang. And what did you three do? You swaggered into the tavern to eat meat and drink wine.”
Pigsy knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Please forgive me, Bodhisattva! I...I didn't mean to! Brother Chu Yang sent me!"
Sun Wukong kicked him: "You idiot, you're quick to betray your companions."
Chu Yang stood up and bowed slightly to Guanyin.
"Please forgive me, Bodhisattva, I truly did it on purpose."
Guanyin looked at him, her gaze lingering on his face for a few moments.
"Did you know that I've been secretly watching you all this time?"
Chu Yang frankly replied, "This disciple didn't know; it was merely a guess. Tonight's events have confirmed this disciple's guess."
Guanyin remained silent for a moment.
Then she suddenly burst out laughing—not the compassionate and dignified smile of a Bodhisattva, but a heartfelt laugh that was almost a mixture of laughter and tears.
“You young man…” She shook her head, “In all my years, this is the first time I’ve been outmaneuvered in this way.”
She put the bamboo basket away and stood up.
"Very well. Now that you all know that I have been paying attention to the pilgrimage, there is no need for me to hide it any longer."
Her gaze turned serious.
"But this humble monk has something to tell you."
All three of them pricked up their ears.
Guanyin said, "This humble monk has indeed been watching you in secret, but that doesn't mean you can be reckless. Each of the eighty-one tribulations is a true ordeal. All this humble monk can do is lend a hand when you truly cannot overcome them, not to help you get through every single one."
"Tonight you tested this humble monk by endangering the safety of the Venerable Xuanzang, and I don't blame you. But I hope you remember this—this is a one-time exception."
She looked into Chu Yang's eyes.
"Chu Yang, you are meticulous and thorough in your work, which is a good thing. But being too clever can sometimes lead to disaster. If King Huangfeng makes his move tonight, your 'experiment' will no longer be an 'experiment'."
Chu Yang lowered his head respectfully.
"This disciple has learned much."
Guanyin's expression softened somewhat.
"The Yellow Wind King in Yellow Wind Cave is quite powerful. He possesses a Samadhi Divine Wind that can blind people. You'll likely suffer if you attack him head-on."
She took something out of her sleeve and handed it to Sun Wukong.
It was a golden pill the size of a pea, with a smooth, jade-like surface that faintly emitted a Buddhist light.
"This is the 'Wind-Stabilizing Pill.' If that monster blows out the Samadhi Divine Wind, hold this pill in your mouth, and you will be protected from its harm."
Sun Wukong took the Wind-Fixing Pill, weighed it in his hand, and put it into his pocket.
"Thank you, Bodhisattva."
Guanyin nodded, and her figure began to blur.
The flame of the oil lamp suddenly flickered, and the dim yellow light rippled outwards like water.
Her silhouette gradually faded in the halo of light, until only a faint wisp of sandalwood remained, lingering in the air of the tavern.
The person is gone.
The bamboo basket and steamed buns on the table had also disappeared, as if they had never existed.
The tavern fell silent once more.
The shopkeeper was still snoring behind the counter.
The chirping of insects came out again from under the wall.
The three of them stood there for a while.
Pigsy was the first to come to his senses, got up from the ground, and dusted off his knees.
"Has the Bodhisattva...left?"
Sun Wukong ignored him and turned to look at Chu Yang.
"Satisfied?"
Chu Yang thought for a moment and nodded.
"Satisfied."
He took out some silver and placed it on the table as payment for the food and drinks.
"Let's go. Let's go save Master."
Sun Wukong grunted in agreement, took the golden cudgel out of his ear, and held it in his hand.
"The Bodhisattva just said that the demon possesses the Samadhi Divine Wind; it seems he won't be easy to deal with." His eyes lit up, and an excited smile curved his lips. "It's been a long time since I've encountered a worthy opponent; I, Old Sun, am itching for a fight."
Pigsy let out a burp, picked up his rake, and followed behind.
"I, Old Pig, am full of energy. If that monster knows what's good for him, he'll hand over my master. If he doesn't—"
He slammed the rake on the ground, making a dull thud.
"—My old pig's rake doesn't discriminate."
The three walked out of the tavern and looked up at the silent mountain to the north.
There was no moon in the night sky, only a sky full of cold stars shining down. The outline of Huangfeng Ridge appeared as a dark silhouette under the starlight, like a giant beast crouching on the earth, waiting for its prey to walk into its trap.
Chu Yang took a deep breath of the night air.
The wind carried the dry, earthy smell, the bitter scent of distant bushes, and a faint, eerie aura emanating from deep within the mountain.
He gripped the scimitar he had seized from Tiger Vanguard at his waist.
His right shoulder still ached, and his spiritual energy had only recovered by less than half. He probably couldn't be of much help tonight, but at least he could watch and learn from the sidelines.
The previous battle with Tiger Vanguard taught him a lot.
He believed he could learn even more from this fight—if he could observe the battle between Sun Wukong and the Yellow Wind Monster up close.
"Let's go!" Sun Wukong leaped onto a somersault cloud and flew towards Huangfeng Ridge.
Pigsy followed closely behind, using his agility to ride the wind. Although his speed couldn't match that of the Somersault Cloud, it wasn't slow either.
Chu Yang mounted the white dragon horse and squeezed its belly with his legs.
The white dragon horse neighed loudly, its four hooves flying as it galloped towards the silent mountain in the darkness.
The night at Huangfengling is much thicker than the nights elsewhere.
It wasn't ordinary black, but a textured darkness, as if someone had soaked the entire mountain in ink, making even the air sticky. Starlight reaching the foot of the mountain was swallowed up by that thick blackness, unable to penetrate even a fraction.
The white dragon horse stopped at the foot of the mountain, exhaling two puffs of white breath from its nostrils, and pawing restlessly at the gravelly ground with its front hooves.
Chu Yang dismounted and patted the white dragon horse's neck to comfort it.
"You wait here, we'll be right back." (End of Chapter)