Chapter 968
Guarding Master
Chu Yang shook his head.
"I can't bear to lose my master's trust."
"And..." he paused, "...I can't bear to say what I said."
Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow.
"Which one?"
Chu Yang repeated in a low voice:
"'Pretend until you can't tell the difference between reality and illusion. Pretend until... you don't want to leave.'"
Sun Wukong fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally uttered a curse.
"You little bastard...you're fucking cunning."
The old monk brought over a pot of thin porridge and some pickled vegetables.
The porridge was made from old rice, with a faint musty smell, but it was steaming hot and warming to the stomach. Tang Sanzang ate very slowly, spoonful by spoonful, as if he were savoring something.
Halfway through the meal, he suddenly looked up and asked:
"Miss Cui'er... is she alright?"
Chu Yang put down his bowl.
"Don't worry, Master. She said it's inconvenient for a woman to come into the temple, so she's resting outside. She should still be there when we come out early tomorrow morning."
Tang Sanzang nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
But there was a faint trace of sorrow in those eyes.
The wind picked up at night.
A mountain breeze slipped in through the cracks in the broken window, carrying the mournful sound of distant pines. The oil lamp flickered in the wind, casting long, distorted shadows on the wall, like countless hands dancing silently.
Chu Yang was not asleep.
He sat cross-legged on the edge of the couch, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.
The spiritual consciousness, however, was like an extremely fine net, silently spreading outwards for three miles around the temple.
The yellowish-brown light curtain was still there, a thin layer, like an inverted glass bowl, completely covering the entire valley.
Cui'er didn't go far.
She hid in a cave less than a mile from the temple.
The cave entrance was mostly obscured by withered vines, and it was pitch black inside. She curled up in a ball, her bony claws tightly gripping her knees, and the green flames flickered in her eye sockets.
She wanted to leave.
I really want to leave.
But every time she tried to break through that barrier of light, she would hear Chu Yang's light and casual words.
"They've faked it so much that even they can't tell what's real and what's fake."
"I'll keep you dressed until... you won't want to leave."
The more she thought about it, the colder she felt.
It was so cold that I was shivering to my very bones.
She suddenly chuckled softly.
Laughter echoed in the cave, hoarse and hollow.
"Well... well, Chu Yang."
"I'd like to see... just how far you can push me."
Two days later.
The group left Ciyun Temple and continued westward.
The mountain path grew steeper, the stones beneath our feet were loose, and one wrong step could send us tumbling down the cliff. A faint, indistinct cry drifted in the wind from afar, like a murmur in a dream, or the low growl of a wild beast.
In the afternoon, they came to a three-way intersection.
At the intersection stood a dilapidated stone tablet, its inscription long since weathered away, leaving only a few blurred strokes. Beside the tablet squatted an old woman dressed in mourning clothes.
Her hair was gray, her face was covered with deep wrinkles, and she was leaning on a withered branch with her hands. At the top of the branch was a piece of white cloth with the words "Seeking Justice" written crookedly in charcoal.
Upon seeing the group of pilgrims approaching, she stood up shakily and then knelt down with a thud.
"Masters! I beg you, please do justice!"
Tang Sanzang quickly dismounted and went forward to help him up.
"Old man, please get up. Tell me what grievances you have."
The old woman cried with tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse.
“My daughter… my Cui’er! She came with you a couple of days ago! We were supposed to go to Qinghe Town to stay with relatives, but who knew… who knew she’d be caught by that monkey on the way…”
She suddenly pointed at Sun Wukong.
"He beat him to death with one blow!"
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes, and the golden cudgel had already spun half a circle in his hand.
"What did you say?"
The old woman cried even harder.
“I saw it with my own eyes! That monkey has a terrible temper. He'll start hitting you with a stick at the slightest provocation! My daughter was kindly following you around, serving you tea and water, but he thought she was in his way, so he hit her with his stick... and my daughter's brains splattered out!”
As she spoke, she pulled a blood-stained strip of cloth from her bosom, with a few strands of long hair still stuck to it.
"I tore this from her hair! The blood hasn't even dried yet!"
Pigsy gasped.
Tang Sanzang's expression changed instantly.
He looked at Sun Wukong, his voice trembling.
"Wukong... what's going on?"
Sun Wukong sneered.
"Master, do you believe her?"
Tang Sanzang remained silent.
However, obvious doubt had already arisen in those eyes.
Chu Yang suddenly spoke up at this moment.
The sound was very soft, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"Old man, you're saying that Cui'er was beaten to death by Monkey King?"
The old woman nodded vigorously.
"Yes! I saw it with my own eyes..."
"Did you see the body?"
The old woman was taken aback.
"A corpse... a body?"
Chu Yang took a step forward.
"You said brains were splattered out, so there should be a body, right? Where's the body?"
The old woman's eyes flickered.
"It was... it was carried away by a wild beast."
Chu Yang asked again:
"Where's the blood? Killing someone should leave a large bloodstain, and you only took this small piece of cloth?"
The old woman's voice trailed off.
"The blood... the blood was absorbed by the soil."
Chu Yang smiled.
"Old man, this mountain path is full of stones and pine needles, where would you find soil that can absorb blood?"
The old woman was speechless.
Sun Wukong snorted coldly.
"He puts on a convincing act, but unfortunately, he's not smart enough."
Tang Sanzang did not immediately express his opinion.
He looked at the old woman, then at Sun Wukong, his brows furrowed.
“Wukong…this humble monk believes you wouldn’t kill someone without a reason. But this matter…is still suspicious.”
Sun Wukong's face darkened.
"Master, are you believing her but not me?"
Tang Sanzang sighed.
"This humble monk simply wants to find out the truth."
Chu Yang suddenly turned to the old woman and said:
“Old man, if you really want to seek justice, why don’t you come with us for a while? When we get to the county town ahead, the government will take care of you. When the coroner examines the body, the blood-stained clothes will serve as evidence, and the truth will come to light.”
The old woman shuddered.
"No...no need! I'm just an old woman from the countryside, how dare I go to see the officials!"
As she spoke, she began to back away.
Chu Yang took a step forward, his voice gentle.
"Don't be afraid, old man. We are all monks and nuns, and we will not harm you. Your daughter's grievances must be addressed."
The old woman's face turned deathly pale.
She suddenly turned around and stumbled into the woods.
"I...I'm not going to sue anymore! I want to go home!"
The figure quickly disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.
Sun Wukong slammed his staff into the ground, sending stones flying everywhere.
"You run fast!"
Tang Sanzang stared in the direction she had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.
"Chu Yang..."
"Ok?"
Have you... seen Cui'er?
Chu Yang shook his head.
"No. I haven't seen her since that day when she stayed outside the temple under the pretext of having her period."
Tang Sanzang closed his eyes.
"Perhaps... this humble monk has misunderstood Wukong."
Sun Wukong snorted.
“Master, you should have believed me sooner.”
Tang Sanzang did not speak again.
However, the doubt in those eyes had not completely disappeared.
The group continued moving forward.
The sky gradually darkened.
The wind picked up, swirling withered leaves in the air like countless gray butterflies fluttering about.
Chu Yang walked at the very back, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
He suddenly stopped, took out a piece of dry rations from his storage bag, broke it in half, and handed it to Pigsy beside him. "Pigsy, have something to eat."
Pigsy took it and took a bite.
"Brother...you're saying that old woman...was really the White Bone Demon in disguise?"
Chu Yang smiled.
"Not an old woman."
"It was her."
Pigsy was taken aback.
"Her? Cui'er?"
Chu Yang nodded.
"She didn't go far."
"She will come back."
Pigsy scratched his head.
"Isn't she afraid we'll just beat her to death?"
Chu Yang looked at the gradually darkening mountain road ahead.
"What she fears most right now... is not death."
"Instead, we're not giving her a chance to 'act' any further."
As night fell completely, they set up camp outside a cave.
The entrance to the cave was very narrow, allowing only one person to pass sideways. The inside was dry, with a thick layer of withered grass on the ground that provided some shelter from the wind.
A campfire was lit, and its light reflected off the cave walls, casting a vibrant orange-red glow.
Tang Sanzang sat by the fire, his hands clasped together, silently reciting the Heart Sutra.
The sound was low and slow, like a stream flowing over stones.
Sun Wukong leaned against the cave entrance, his staff resting on his knees, his eyes fixed on the dark night outside.
Pigsy dozed off, clutching his rake, his snores coming in fits and starts.
Chu Yang, however, did not sleep.
He sat on the other side of the fire, drawing something on the mud with a dry twig.
It was drawn very slowly.
Like they're waiting for something.
It was just past midnight.
Suddenly, a very light footstep sound came from outside the cave.
Their steps were slow and hesitant.
It's like someone hesitating in the dark.
Sun Wukong's ears twitched, and he gripped his staff tightly.
Chu Yang gently waved his hand.
"Brother Monkey, don't move."
The footsteps grew closer.
It finally stopped at the entrance of the cave.
A figure appeared at the edge of the firelight.
It's Cui'er.
She was still wearing that light purple cloth dress, but the hem was dirtier, her hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in mud and withered leaves. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying for a long time.
She stood at the entrance of the cave, not daring to come in.
The sound was very soft, as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind.
"Master...Masters...I...I'm back."
Tang Sanzang opened his eyes.
Upon seeing her, he was taken aback at first, then stood up.
"Miss Cui'er? You...you're alright?"
Cui'er knelt down with a thud.
"Master! I...I'm so sorry!"
She was crying so hard she was shaking all over.
“I…I had a stomachache that day and hid in the woods. Later I met my uncle, who said there was an emergency at home and insisted on taking me back. I…I didn’t have time to tell you, and then…I left.”
She was crying so hard she could barely breathe.
"Later I found out... my uncle lied to me! He said he was going to take me to Qinghe Town, but he actually wanted to sell me to bandits in the mountains for money! I risked my life to escape... I searched for you all the way... I searched so hard..."
Tang Sanzang quickly stepped forward to help him up.
"Girl, get up quickly. Now that you've returned, it must be fate. Don't cry."
Cui'er looked up, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Master...do you still want me?"
Tang Sanzang nodded.
"Of course."
Cui'er cried for a while before slowly stopping her tears.
She lowered her head and whispered:
"I...I know the Great Sage suspects me. But I really didn't mean any harm..."
Sun Wukong sneered.
"No bad intentions? Then who was that old woman the other day? Crying and shouting that I killed you with a stick?"
Cui'er was taken aback.
"Old...old woman?"
She suddenly realized what was happening, and her face turned even paler.
“That…that’s Granny Wang from my village! She’s in cahoots with my uncle! It must be her…she’s the one who framed me, saying I was dead, so you’d become suspicious and drive me away!”
As she spoke, she knelt down and kowtowed again.
"Great Sage! I beg you to believe me! I really... I really have no intention of harming anyone!"
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes.
"You're quite good at making up stories."
Cui'er cried even harder.
"I didn't make this up! Everything I said is true!"
Tang Sanzang sighed.
"Wukong, that's enough. Since there's no real evidence, don't pressure her any further."
Sun Wukong snorted and slammed his staff into the ground.
"Master is kind-hearted, it's none of my business."
He turned and walked to the cave entrance, his back to the crowd.
Cui'er slowly got up and sat down by the fire.
She was very close to Tang Sanzang.
But it is closer to Chu Yang.
The firelight reflected on her face, revealing a fleeting green glint in her eyes.
Chu Yang acted as if he hadn't seen it.
He simply threw the dry branches into the fire and whispered:
"Miss Cui'er, it's good that you're back."
Cui'er turned to look at him.
His eyes held a complex expression.
“Benefactor Chu… thank you for not stopping me that day…”
Chu Yang smiled.
"Girl, you can leave if you want, and come back if you want. We're not robbers."
Cui'er's lips moved slightly.
In the end, he said nothing.
She simply hugged her knees tightly, curling up even more.
The wind outside the cave grew stronger.
Sobbing and whimpering, like someone crying in the distance.
The fire crackled and popped.
The sparks shot upwards one by one, only to be quickly extinguished by the night wind.
Chu Yang closed his eyes.
A very faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The night was as dark as if ink had been splashed on it.
Outside the cave, the wind rustled pine needles against the cave walls, creating a soft, whispering sound, like distant whispers. The fire burned brightly, occasionally crackling as sparks scattered like startled insects before disappearing into the darkness. Inside, the cave was warm and dry, the air thick with the scents of pine resin, burnt wood, and a faint musty smell. Tang Sanzang was in deep meditation, his breathing long and even; Zhu Bajie slept soundly, sprawled out, clutching his rake, his snores like muffled thunder; Sun Wukong leaned against the cave entrance, his eyes half-closed, his golden cudgel resting on his lap, its tip casting a cold, silvery line in the firelight.
Cui'er huddled in a corner closest to the fire and also to Tang Sanzang, her knees pressed against her chin, her hands tightly hugging her calves. Her lotus-colored cloth dress was tinged a warm orange by the firelight, but her eyes remained a ghostly green, like two ghostly lamps buried in a deep pool. She remained motionless, as if even her breathing had been held back, afraid of disturbing anyone.
Chu Yang sat on the other side of the fire, leaning against the cave wall, with a clean piece of coarse cloth spread on his lap. On the cloth were a few pebbles he had picked up from the roadside. He slowly moved the pebbles with his fingertips, arranging them one by one into a winding line, as if silently tracing an invisible road.
Suddenly, it became quiet outside the cave.
Even the wind has stopped.
Sun Wukong's ears suddenly perked up.
"Someone."
The sound was extremely low, yet it was like a needle piercing the thin film of the night.
Chu Yang paused, then looked up at the cave entrance.
In the darkness, a faint golden light streaked across the distant mountain ridge like a shooting star, but without a trail. It paused in the air for a moment, then silently plunged into the dense forest on the other side of the valley.
Sun Wukong had already stood up, and the golden cudgel had spun half a circle in his palm.
"Buddha?"
Chu Yang gently shook his head.
They're not here to see us.
He stood up and dusted off the hem of his clothes.
"Brother Monkey, you stay here and watch over Master. I'll go check on him."
Sun Wukong frowned.
"you alone?"
"Don't worry," Chu Yang smiled. "I'm not stupid."
He squeezed out of the hole, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.
Inside the cave, Cui'er's fingers tightened subtly beneath her skirt, her knuckles turning white.
……
Deep in the dense forest.
The moonlight, fragmented by the branches and leaves, spilled across the forest path like scattered silver. The air was damp and cold, carrying the pungent smell of decaying leaves and earth. Guanyin Bodhisattva stood beneath an old pine tree, her moon-white robes shimmering softly in the darkness. Her hands were clasped together, the white hair between her brows glowing faintly, but her gaze was fixed on a blue stone not far ahead. (End of Chapter)