Chapter 739
Guanyin's Gift of a Hat is Disliked by Tang Sanzang
"A... a demon?"
Tang Sanzang's "enlightened" smile froze instantly, a chill running from his tailbone to the top of his head! He suddenly remembered the horrific scene of his brothers being torn apart by demons, the experience of almost fainting from fright, and even more so, his own delicate skin and the fact that he had just "killed" a few "bandits," his blood still fresh...
'Could it be...could it be that another demon has caught a whiff of something?!' Alarm bells rang in Tang Sanzang's mind, his face turned pale, and the pride he had felt from his "progress in Buddhism" was instantly replaced by fear of his fate as "meal on his plate." He subconsciously moved closer to Sun Wukong, and even the broadsword in his hand, stained with "blood," trembled slightly.
Sun Wukong's fiery eyes suddenly shot out two dazzling golden beams, piercing through the faint demonic aura and surging killing intent permeating the mountains and forests ahead like two searchlights!
Although the aura wasn't extremely strong, it was unusually abrupt, carrying obvious malice and restlessness, completely out of place in this mountain wilderness that had just gone through a "root-cutting" storm and was not yet fully calm.
"Master!"
Sun Wukong suddenly turned around and said in a deep voice to Tang Sanzang, who was still slightly smug about his "progress in Buddhist teachings".
"There's a demonic aura ahead! It's very thick, and it's filled with murderous intent! The newcomer is up to no good! You stay here and don't move. Wait patiently while I, Old Sun, go and come back! I'll definitely twist off that ignorant monster's head and bring it back to Master as a snack... uh, as a memento of a lesson for Master!"
His words were menacing, his golden cudgel already in hand, and his monkey face was full of eager excitement. Since escaping his predicament, he hadn't had a proper fight yet. Fighting tigers was his master's job, and dealing with a few petty thieves was even less interesting. This monster that had come knocking on his door was perfect for him to stretch his muscles!
Upon hearing the word "monster," Tang Sanzang's smugness vanished instantly, replaced by a deep-seated fear and tension.
He nodded hurriedly, like a chick pecking at rice, his voice trembling slightly.
"My disciple, be careful! Go quickly and come back! Your master... your master will wait for you here, and will not move an inch!"
He seemed to think that words alone were not enough, so he took another step forward, grabbed Sun Wukong's furry arm, and added with an unusually serious expression.
“My disciple, you have no idea how terrified I am of those monsters! Ever since my brothers… well, let’s not talk about it. But ever since then, I’ve had nightmares almost every night! I dream of that monk Lu… no, I dream of myself, being captured by a blue-faced, fanged monster and torn to pieces!”
Blood and flesh flew everywhere, internal organs were ripped out and devoured, and those screams... still echo in my ears! If it weren't for... if it weren't for Immortal Lord Lin's protection, which gave me some confidence, I would have... would have long ago fled this journey to the West and returned to Chang'an to hide in a cellar!
His words were heartfelt, and his eyes were even a little red, clearly indicating that the psychological trauma from that nightmare was quite significant.
Looking at his appearance, Sun Wukong felt a slight unease from his master's ruthless act of "severing the six roots," which had just caused him to realize that his master was indeed still the same cowardly monk, and a touch of sympathy.
He patted Tang Sanzang's hand.
"Master, don't worry! With me here, no demon or monster can get close to you! Rest assured, I'll be right back!"
Having said that, he didn't delay any longer. With a flicker, he transformed into a golden streak of light, carrying the force of wind and thunder, and shot towards the direction from which the demonic aura and killing intent were coming! His speed was so fast that he left an afterimage in his place.
As Sun Wukong ran, he pondered to himself.
'The area around these two worlds is truly strange! First, a fierce tiger appeared out of nowhere, then a strange old man blocked the way, and then six mountain bandits with strange names who seemed to be testing the waters... Now, this obvious demonic aura and murderous intent have emerged, as if afraid that others would not notice it.'
All of this is too much of a coincidence! Could it be... that someone is secretly orchestrating this, deliberately trying to lure me, Old Sun, away?
Thinking of this, the golden light in his eyes intensified, and he increased his speed by three points, determined to strike at the heart of the matter, capture the culprit behind the mischief, and see who was playing tricks on him and his apprentice!
Little did he know that his "direct attack on the enemy's lair" had fallen right into Guanyin Bodhisattva's carefully crafted trap of luring the tiger away from the mountain.
The seemingly surging demonic aura and murderous intent in the distance was merely a bluff created by Guanyin using a clone and some magic, with the aim of drawing away Tang Sanzang, the biggest variable and obstacle!
At this moment, only Tang Sanzang was left alone in the arena, along with the skinny horse that had been casually taken away last night and had wandered back from who-knows-where this morning.
As soon as Sun Wukong's golden light disappeared from sight, the deliberately created sense of "security" seemed to vanish as well.
The surrounding mountains and forests suddenly became deathly silent; even the chirping of birds and insects seemed to have disappeared. Only the rustling of the wind through the leaves sounded particularly eerie.
Tang Sanzang couldn't help but shiver, and the composure he had just put on in front of Sun Wukong instantly crumbled.
He looked around nervously, craning his neck and darting his eyes around, as if afraid that a blue-faced, fanged monster would suddenly jump out from some bush or behind a tree.
"Amitabha, Amitabha... May Immortal Lin protect us, may Immortal Lin protect us!"
He clasped his hands together and kept muttering to himself in a strained voice.
"Immortal Lord, please keep an eye on your disciple! Please don't let those blind demons, or... or that wretched Bodhisattva come and torment your disciple again! Your disciple's heart can't take any more frights!"
Although he spoke in a low voice, how could he hide it from Guanyin Bodhisattva, who had already been quietly lurking nearby, disguised as an old woman with a wrinkled face, carrying a bamboo basket, and walking with difficulty?
The words "Lao Bi Pusa" (meaning "Bodhisattva of Deceit") clearly entered her ears. The old woman who was Guanyin in disguise staggered and almost fell. Her face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and the evil fire that had been pent up in her chest for a long time suddenly rose three feet high!
She gripped the handle of the bamboo basket tightly, her knuckles turning white, barely suppressing the urge to immediately reveal her true form and strike that scoundrel monk with a willow branch. Endure! For the Journey to the West! For the golden headband!
Tang Sanzang muttered to himself for a long time, but seeing that the surroundings remained silent and there was nothing unusual, he felt a little relieved, but he dared not wait foolishly in the same spot any longer.
He glanced at the skinny horse and thought that having a horse in front of him would give him some courage. So he quickly and nimbly carried his simple luggage onto the horse's back, checked the broadsword hanging beside the saddle, and then, with one hand on his nine-ringed tin staff and the other tightly gripping the reins, as if grasping at a lifeline.
He took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and without waiting for Sun Wukong to return, he took the lead of his thin horse, started walking, and continued westward along the official road, feeling miserable and uneasy.
That figure, standing alone on the empty mountain path, looked exceptionally lonely and... comical.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and turning around a mountain bend, a figure suddenly emerged slowly from under an old locust tree by the roadside.
She was an old woman who looked very old, with sparse, gray hair and wrinkles on her face that could trap flies.
She wore a faded coarse cloth dress, carried a bamboo basket covered with a blue cloth, and walked with a faltering gait, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
Tang Sanzang was hurrying along, head down, wondering when Sun Wukong would return, when suddenly a figure appeared in front of him, startling him so much that he almost threw his staff like a javelin. Upon seeing that it was a trembling old woman, he calmed down slightly, but his vigilance remained undiminished—in this desolate wilderness, old men and bandits had appeared one after another, and now an old woman? Something was definitely amiss!
When the old woman saw Tang Sanzang looking over, she forced a "kind" smile, lifted the blue cloth on the bamboo basket, and took out two items from it—a cotton robe that looked to be of good quality, and an exquisite flower hat embroidered with gold thread and inlaid with small gold sequins.
She held the clothes and hat, and walked shakily toward Tang Sanzang, as if she wanted to hand them to him.
Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang's pupils contracted slightly. Instead of advancing, he reacted as if he'd seen a ghost, abruptly pulling on the reins and turning back! His steps were swift, as if a vicious dog was chasing him. "Hey? Elder? Elder, please wait!"
The old woman was stunned, and then quickly called out, her voice old and hoarse.
Tang Sanzang didn't turn his head, his feet barely touching the ground, muttering to himself.
"What bad luck! What bad luck! In this desolate wilderness, an old woman suddenly appears delivering clothes and hats. It's an ominous sign! And she looks...and she's so ugly. It's terrifying!"
"This humble monk is well-versed in Buddhist scriptures and knows that one should not easily answer when someone calls one's name at night. And anyone suddenly delivering something during the day is certainly not a good person! They are either a ghost or a demon! Trying to deceive this humble monk? No way!"
His logic was unique, flexibly applying the taboo of "calling names at night" to "delivering gifts during the day," and firmly believing that the old woman was not human.
He made up his mind to ignore it and insist on heading west—or rather, he insisted on going back first and waiting for Sun Wukong to return.
As the old woman watched him walk further and further away, she grew increasingly anxious. The monkey might return at any moment, and time was of the essence! She coughed twice and raised her voice to call out.
"Hey, you horse-leading master! Please wait! I have something to ask you!"
Tang Sanzang didn't stop walking, only throwing out a curt remark.
"Don't bother with people who aren't good! This humble monk is busy on his journey and has no time to deal with them!"
The old woman nearly choked to death, but barely suppressed her anger and pressed for an answer.
"Why did you leave as soon as you saw me, Master? Have I offended you in any way?"
Tang Sanzang finally turned around impatiently, glanced at her, and said righteously.
"A gift from a stranger in a desolate mountain is either a sign of treachery or theft! This is a taboo subject in metaphysics! If I were to agree to your request and accept the gift, it would be like a student being kept late by their teacher or a worker being called in for unpaid overtime by their boss—endless trouble would follow! Therefore, I will not answer, I will not accept, and I will not give the gift! Go find someone else!"
Lin Zhu, who was hiding in the shadows, almost burst out laughing at the metaphor.
Guanyin was so angry that she almost lost her ability to maintain her transformation. Seeing that Tang Sanzang was about to leave again, she had a sudden idea and hurriedly called out.
"Master, you misunderstand! This item is not something I wish to give away, but rather... it was entrusted to me by a white-robed immortal to be delivered to the holy monk who is on his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures!"
The four words "White-Robed Immortal Lord" acted like a spell to freeze Tang Sanzang, who had already taken more than ten steps, causing him to suddenly stop in his tracks!
He slowly turned around, his previous wariness and impatience instantly replaced by an expression that mixed surprise, anticipation, and a hint of disbelief.
He stared intently at the old woman.
"White-robed Immortal Lord? What kind of White-robed Immortal Lord? Explain yourself!"
Guanyin breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he had finally stopped, and quickly described Lin Zhu's appearance.
"That immortal lord... was dressed in white, spotless, and his appearance... was extremely handsome. Hmm... his temperament was transcendent, as if he were untouched by worldly affairs. When he smiled... it was a bit... um, in short, he was the most... the most handsome person I have ever seen in my life."
She racked her brains, but her vocabulary was limited. However, she managed to capture the core point: "extremely beautiful."
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's eyes lit up like two little stars, and a radiant, even slightly obsequious, smile bloomed on his face, his previous wariness vanishing completely! He immediately led his horse back at a trot, excitedly saying as he ran.
"White robes! Handsome! Transcendent! His smile is a bit mischievous... no, it's more like unique! That's right! It must be Immortal Lord Lin! Hahaha, as expected, the Immortal Lord has taken a liking to this humble monk!"
He ran up to the old woman, straightened his slightly disheveled monk's robe, and respectfully clasped his hands in prayer, his tone overflowing with enthusiasm.
"Old man! I was very rude just now, this humble monk Tang Sanzang apologizes! Since it was entrusted by the Immortal Lord, then he is no outsider! The Immortal Lord and this humble monk have a life-or-death friendship, we are very close! If the Immortal Lord has any orders, this humble monk will go through fire and water without hesitation! As for Guanyin Bodhisattva..."
He pursed his lips, lowered his voice, and gave an expression that said, "We're on the same side."
"To be honest, I don't get along with her. I always feel that she's troublesome and likes to trick people. But the Immortal Lord is different. The Immortal Lord is truly compassionate and reliable!"
This undisguised "discrimination based on closeness" caused Guanyin's lips to twitch wildly under her disguise, and a dull pain shot through her chest. She felt as if she might burst out laughing today.
She suppressed the urge to strangle the monk, and stiffly forced a smile as a response.
Tang Sanzang, however, remained oblivious and continued to ask questions with enthusiasm.
"What did the Immortal Lord entrust to the old man to deliver? Is there any important instruction he has given?"
Seeing that he had finally taken the bait, Guanyin felt reassured and quickly continued the conversation.
"These are the two garments. The Immortal Lord said that the holy monk's journey westward is long and arduous, and it would be difficult for him to reach his destination alone on horseback."
She tried to steer the conversation toward the need for "partners/apprentices" to set the stage for what would follow.
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang puffed out his chest proudly, patted the skinny horse beside him, and said loudly.
"Old man, you worry too much! Although I am traveling alone, I have already taken in a disciple who is incredibly powerful, loyal, and awesome! His name is Sun Wukong! He was the one who went ahead to subdue demons and protect me! With him by my side, what do I have to fear about the long journey?"
Guanyin cursed inwardly, "I just wanted to lure out this disciple!" She asked, feigning concern.
"Oh? So the Holy Monk already has a worthy disciple to protect him, that's wonderful. But... I've heard that the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, was once unruly and uncontrollable. Although he possessed great supernatural powers, he was wild and difficult to tame. Now that the Holy Monk has taken him as a disciple, is he... obedient? He won't abandon the Holy Monk and go off on his own, will he?"
Her words were laced with veiled meaning, pointing out that Sun Wukong might be "unruly" and implying that he might "abandon his master." (End of Chapter)