Chapter 975
Entrusted by the Prime Minister
As soon as Pigsy entered the guest room, he collapsed onto the bed, stretched, and said, "Oh... I'm so tired! Today I climbed mountains and waded through rivers, and even watched the Taoist priest refine elixirs. I'm practically falling apart. I need to get a good night's sleep."
Sun Wukong, however, was not sleepy. He walked to the window, opened it, and gazed at the night outside. As night deepened, a bright moon hung in the sky, its silvery light spilling into the courtyard, falling on the stone table and benches like a thin layer of frost. The sounds of the mountain wind and birdsong gradually subsided, making the entire Taoist temple exceptionally serene.
"Brother Monkey, why aren't you asleep yet?" Chu Yang walked up to Sun Wukong and asked.
Sun Wukong turned around, grinned, and said, "I'm not sleepy. I want to practice the Tranquility Technique for a while longer and see if I can calm my mind faster. Brother Chu Yang, aren't you sleepy either? Want to practice together?"
Chu Yang smiled and said, "Okay. I also want to practice the Wind Control Technique for a while longer, and try to master it as soon as possible."
The two walked into the courtyard and found a quiet stone bench to sit on. Sun Wukong closed his eyes, silently recited the Tranquility Mantra, calmed his mind, cleared away distractions, and focused on his cultivation. Chu Yang also closed his eyes, mobilized the spiritual energy within his body, silently recited the Wind-Riding Incantation, and attempted to ride the wind. Moonlight shone on them, gilding them with a faint silver glow, blending into the serene night.
Tang Sanzang sat in his guest room, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing, silently reciting scriptures. He could hear the sounds of Sun Wukong and Chu Yang cultivating in the courtyard, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.
As night deepened and the moonlight grew brighter, the entire Qingxu Temple was enveloped in tranquility. The charcoal fire in the alchemy room continued to burn, wisps of white smoke rising from the furnace, and the aroma of herbs permeated the entire temple, mingling with the cool mountain air and the fragrance of herbs, creating a particularly pleasant atmosphere.
Sun Wukong practiced the Tranquility Mantra for a while and felt that his heart was indeed much calmer, no longer as impatient as before. He opened his eyes and saw Chu Yang riding the wind. Although the speed was not very fast, he was already very skilled and could move freely, steadily three feet off the ground.
"Brother Chu Yang, you've improved so quickly!" Sun Wukong couldn't help but say. "You've only been practicing for a short while, and you're already so proficient."
Chu Yang stopped his wind-riding technique, landed on the ground, smiled, and said, "It's all thanks to the Daoist's excellent guidance. If it weren't for the Daoist's patient instruction, I wouldn't have been able to master the wind-riding technique so quickly. Brother Monkey, how about you? How's your cultivation of the Tranquility Technique going?"
Sun Wukong grinned: "I've made great progress too! Now, when I close my eyes, I can quickly calm down and clear my mind of distractions. I no longer have random thoughts like before when I close my eyes."
"That's good." Chu Yang nodded and said, "From now on, let's set aside some time every day to cultivate diligently. I believe that it won't be long before our cultivation levels improve."
"Alright! It's settled then!" Sun Wukong nodded and said, "I, Old Sun, must diligently cultivate the Tranquility Technique to overcome my impatient nature, and I must also diligently cultivate the Wind Control Technique. Having another skill will make me even more formidable when encountering monsters in the future!"
Before they knew it, dawn was breaking. A pale white hue appeared in the east, gradually tinging the sky with red. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, falling into the courtyard and onto Sun Wukong and Chu Yang, bringing a touch of warmth. The mountain mist began to rise again, wisps and strands clinging to the tree trunks and grass, like a beautiful painting.
Qingxuzi and the young Taoist had already prepared a vegetarian meal, which they placed on the stone table in the courtyard. The meal consisted of several dishes of vegetarian food, several bowls of white rice, and a pot of fragrant tea.
Tang Sanzang also came out of the guest room. Seeing Sun Wukong and Chu Yang, he smiled and said, "Wukong, Chu Yang, you've been cultivating all night. You must be tired. Come and have some vegetarian food. After we finish eating, we'll continue our journey west."
"Master!" Sun Wukong and Chu Yang said in unison, and walked to the stone table to sit down.
Pigsy rubbed his eyes and came out of the guest room. Seeing the vegetarian meal on the table, he immediately perked up: "Master, Monkey King, Brother Chu Yang, you're all up! That's great, I've been starving for ages!"
The group sat down and began to eat their vegetarian meal. Qingxuzi sat to the side, watching them with a gentle smile on his face: "Everyone, after today's meal, we will continue our journey westward. The road westward is fraught with danger, so please be extra careful. I have some healing pills here for you, in case you encounter danger or get injured, you can use them to heal your wounds."
As he spoke, Qingxuzi took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Tang Sanzang.
Tang Sanzang accepted the porcelain bottle with both hands and said respectfully, "Thank you for your generous gift, Daoist Master. My disciples and I are deeply grateful. We will never forget this kindness and gratitude."
"Master Tang, there's no need for such formalities." Qingxuzi smiled slightly and said, "You are all on a journey to the West to save all sentient beings, which is a meritorious deed. This is all I can do. I hope you can reach the Western Paradise soon, obtain the true scriptures, and save all sentient beings."
After finishing their vegetarian meal, the group packed their belongings and prepared to set off. Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Chu Yang all bowed to Qingxuzi and said in unison, "Thank you for your hospitality and guidance, Daoist Master. Take care!"
Qingxuzi returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "Take care, everyone! Have a safe journey and obtain the true scriptures soon! If you have the opportunity in the future, you are welcome to visit my humble abode again. I will certainly welcome you with open arms." The young Taoist boy also bowed and greeted him, "Masters, Great Sage, Benefactor Chu, take care on your journey!"
The group turned around, took the white dragon horse, and walked out of the Taoist temple.
On the afternoon of the third day after leaving Qingxu Temple, the mountain road finally emerged from the rolling green hills, revealing a vast plain. The wheat seedlings along the field ridges were lush and green, stretching into the distance. Smoke curled from the chimneys of a few scattered villages, and the sounds of chickens and dogs drifted on the wind, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the mountains. The white dragon horse's hooves trod on the sun-warmed yellow earth, kicking up fine dust. Chu Yang raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, and as his gaze passed over the field ridges and caught sight of the distant outline of the city walls, he couldn't help but say, "Master, that should be the capital of the Women's Kingdom ahead."
Tang Sanzang reined in his horse and looked in the direction the man pointed. The city walls were made of pale pink bricks, gleaming softly in the sunlight. The gate tower had upturned eaves and a gilded plaque with the three large characters "Women's Kingdom" written on it, the strokes rounded and exuding a gentle and graceful air. He clasped his hands together and said softly, "Amitabha, I never imagined that my journey to the West would lead me to the Women's Kingdom. It is said that this place is inhabited entirely by women; I wonder what its customs and traditions are like."
Carrying his golden cudgel, Sun Wukong darted to the front of the group. His golden eyes scanned the surroundings, and he sneered, "Master, don't worry. I, Old Sun, see that this place has peaceful spiritual energy and no demonic aura. It must be a safe place. I just wonder if the women of this Women's Kingdom are all as delicate as the rumors say. Will they be too frightened to move when they see me, Old Sun?" As he spoke, he deliberately puffed out his chest, and the tip of his tail swayed behind him, causing Pigsy to grin from side to side.
Pigsy, carrying his rake, his belly bobbing with each step, came over and said, "Brother Monkey, stop being so vain! I've heard that the Women's Kingdom is all women, and even male donkeys are probably rare. If we go there, we'll probably be treated like rare treasures. Master, why don't we find an inn to stay in first? I'll go and ask around to see if there's any vegetarian food."
"You idiot, all you think about is food as soon as you arrive!" Tang Seng shook his head helplessly, but didn't really scold him. "Let's go into the city first and see what the situation is like inside."
Chu Yang walked at the back, holding the reins of the white dragon horse, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the reins. He knew in his heart that the Kingdom of Women was the most unique obstacle on the journey to the West—there were no demons here, but the most tormenting love tribulations. In the original story, Tang Sanzang and his disciples were persuaded to marry here by the Queen, and even Tang Sanzang almost fell in love. If it weren't for Wukong's scheme, they might have really stayed here. Knowing the plot, he naturally wanted to avoid the water from the Abortion Spring to prevent the master and his disciples from getting into unnecessary trouble.
The procession slowly approached the city gate. The guards at the gate were all women dressed in light pink silk skirts, their hair adorned with pearl flowers, their features delicate and pretty. Upon seeing Tang Sanzang and his disciples, they were first taken aback, then blushed and quickly stepped aside to make way, saying softly, "Masters, have you come from afar? Please come into the city. His Majesty the King heard that monks from the East were passing through and specially instructed that you be invited to the palace for a chat."
Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow and winked at Chu Yang: "Brother Chu Yang, see, I wasn't wrong, was I? The women of the Women's Kingdom are more enthusiastic than anywhere else we've ever seen."
Chu Yang smiled faintly, offering no reply, and simply followed the procession through the city gate. The streets inside the city were more bustling than he had imagined. The shops on both sides were mostly run by women, selling cosmetics, embroidery, and pastries. The pedestrians were all women in flowing skirts, their steps light and graceful. Occasionally, children would run and play, their laughter clear and crisp. Sunlight shone on the bluestone pavement, reflecting the red lanterns of the shops, giving the entire city a soft, warm glow.
"Masters, this way please." The woman leading the way led them through several streets and alleys to a magnificent palace. The palace's beams and pillars were all vermilion, and wind chimes hung from the eaves, tinkling in the wind. At the foot of the steps in front of the palace stood dozens of palace maids in splendid attire. Leading them was a female official with slightly graying temples, holding a whisk. Upon seeing them, she curtsied and said, "Masters from the East, His Majesty the King is hosting a banquet in the Royal Garden. Please follow me."
Tang Sanzang nodded slightly and followed the female official into the palace. Passing through the main hall, they entered an elegant imperial garden, filled with various flowers. Peonies and herbaceous peonies were in full bloom, a stream flowed around a rockery, and several colorful butterflies fluttered among the flowers. In the stone pavilion in the center of the garden, a banquet had already been prepared. The tableware on the table was all made of lustrous white jade, and the dishes were exquisite, mostly vegetarian, with a few delicate pastries.
Beside the stone pavilion, a woman in a bright yellow silk dress leaned against a stone table. She wore a phoenix crown, her face was lightly powdered, her eyebrows were curved, and her skin was as white as snow. She was none other than the Queen of the Women's Kingdom. When she saw Tang Sanzang and his disciples enter, a hint of amazement flashed in her eyes. She then stepped forward, curtsied, and said in a voice as gentle as spring water, "Holy Monk, Imperial Brother of the Great Tang Dynasty of the East, I am the Queen of the Women's Kingdom. I have heard that you and your disciples are on your journey to the West to obtain the scriptures, and I have prepared this humble feast. I hope you will not find it offensive."
Tang Sanzang quickly dismounted, clasped his hands together, and bowed in return: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. My disciples and I were just passing through this blessed land and have disturbed Your Majesty. We hope Your Majesty will forgive us."
The king looked up at Tang Sanzang, his gaze falling on his gentle features and neat monk's robe. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he said softly, "Holy monk, there's no need for such formalities. Please take a seat."
The group took their seats in turn. The king sat beside Tang Sanzang, frequently refilling his tea and serving him food, his gaze often falling on him with an undisguised admiration. Sun Wukong sat to the side, munching on a sweet osmanthus cake, his eyes darting towards the king, thinking to himself: "This queen is quite beautiful, it's a pity she's a woman, otherwise she could be a good match for my master." Zhu Bajie, meanwhile, buried his head in his vegetarian meal, muttering indistinctly, "This sweet osmanthus cake is so sweet, much better than the ones at Qingxu Temple!"
Chu Yang sat at the end of the table, his gaze sweeping across the banquet, then fixed on the interaction between the king and Tang Sanzang, silently calculating in his mind. He knew the king had fallen for Tang Sanzang, and the next step would be the marriage arrangement, with the water from the Abortion Spring being the key. In the original story, Tang Sanzang and his disciples became pregnant after mistakenly drinking the spring water, and their journey would have been nearly delayed if Sun Wukong hadn't retrieved the abortion water. Knowing the plot, he naturally wanted to avoid this step, but he couldn't rashly disrupt the king's wishes—after all, this was Tang Sanzang's own love tribulation, and too much interference from others might not be a good thing.
Halfway through the banquet, the king dismissed his attendants, leaving only Tang Sanzang in the stone pavilion. She looked at him and said softly, "Holy Monk, I have heard of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty in the East. You have traveled westward, enduring countless hardships. I wonder, what is the true meaning of your journey to obtain the scriptures?"
Tang Sanzang put down his teacup, his expression solemn: "Your Majesty, the journey to obtain the scriptures may be fraught with peril, but it will also save all sentient beings, allow the Buddha's teachings to spread throughout the world, and relieve suffering. As the younger brother of the Emperor of the Great Tang, I bear a heavy responsibility and dare not slacken in the slightest."
A hint of disappointment flashed in the queen's eyes, but she still said softly, "Holy Monk, although the Kingdom of Women has no men, it is peaceful and prosperous, only lacking a lively atmosphere. If you wish to stay, Holy Monk, I am willing to entrust my kingdom to you and marry you. From then on, the Kingdom of Women will be your home. What do you say?"
Upon hearing this, Pigsy nearly spat out the pastry in his mouth, and Monkey King raised an eyebrow, looking at Tang Sanzang. Chu Yang, holding his teacup, took a sip without speaking—he knew this was the key to Tang Sanzang's love tribulation, and if he interfered, it would only cause Tang Sanzang to harbor resentment; it was better to let him face it himself.
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang stiffened slightly, a troubled expression on his face. Looking into the king's sincere eyes, and remembering his mission to retrieve the scriptures, he was momentarily at a loss for words. He remained silent for a moment, then softly said, "Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated. However, I bear the heavy responsibility of obtaining the scriptures and cannot linger here. I hope Your Majesty will understand." (End of Chapter)