I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Bajie, carrying the luggage, asked with a grin.

Wukong picked a willow branch to tease him, while Sha Wujing silently started a fire to brew tea.

Seeing their master remain silent the whole way, the three knew that the adventure at the bottom of the abyss was extraordinary, but they dared not delve into it.

Tang Sanzang stood on the riverbank, gazing at the setting sun in the west, and sighed, "What brings me joy? I have discovered a shocking secret that concerns the safety of the Three Realms."

"If I do not report this to the Buddha, I will find it difficult to eat or sleep."

He originally intended to speak frankly about the otherworldly black hole, but then he remembered that his disciples' cultivation was shallow, and if they knew this secret, they would be afraid and might want to back down.

Moreover, he used his divine knowledge to deduce that if he rashly set foot on Mount Ling before the Journey to the West was completed, he would surely be struck by heavenly tribulation and suffer endless calamities.

"Wukong, go to Mount Ling and invite the Buddha Tathagata to this place."

"I have important matters to report and cannot go in person."

Upon hearing this, Wukong put away his staff, scratched his head, and said, "Master, the road to Mount Ling is far. It will take me more than a month to go there and back."

The Buddha's golden statue never leaves Mount Ling; how could he easily descend the mountain?

Tang Sanzang's eyes were sharp: "This matter is urgent, concerning the Three Realms. Just go and ask them."

The Buddha is compassionate and will not refuse.

Helpless, Wukong transformed into golden light and departed.

On his way, he passed by a peach orchard, where the fragrance of peaches filled the air and the peaches looked so fresh and red.

"Oh my, these peaches are even sweeter than those in Heaven! I'm curious about Master's secret, but let's fill our stomachs first."

He stole a few baskets of fruit, hid under the tree and ate heartily. After eating, he felt sleepy, so he leaned against the tree and pretended to sleep until the sun was high in the sky.

When he woke up, he had a plan. He pretended to be tired and went back to the Blackwater River.

"Master, I have already invited Brother Monkey."

The Buddha said that this was a trivial matter and not worth his personal attention.

Let us continue our westward journey; the sacred mountain will know.

Wukong blinked and started making things up.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's dragon eyes flashed with golden light, and the phantom of the Ancestral Dragon Spear appeared, causing the river to boil instantly: "Nonsense! The Buddha is merciful, how could he so disregard the safety of the Three Realms? You impudent monkey, you've been slacking off on the journey again!"

He struck out with his palm, and Wukong tumbled out, nearly losing his grip on the staff.

The three were shocked. Pigsy and Sandy quickly intervened to break up the fight: "Master, please calm down. Brother Wukong must have misunderstood."

Tang Sanzang stopped, then laughed in exasperation: "You, Wukong, it was a huge mistake for your master to trust you even once! From now on, wait here."

"I will not continue my journey westward until I see the Buddha arrive!"

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to meditate, and a faint dragon aura emanated from his body, causing the wind and clouds on the riverbank to change color instantly.

Wukong was covered in dust, Bajie chuckled, and Sha Wujing shook his head. The three had no choice but to set up camp on the spot.

Night was falling on the banks of the Blackwater River.

Tang Sanzang's mind was in turmoil. The whispers of the otherworldly black hole seemed to echo in his ears. The West Sea Dragon King's spying and Jiang Wang's strange movements on the stone slab were all intertwined like spider webs.

On the journey to the West, the sun blazed down and dust swirled. Tang Sanzang rode his white dragon horse, his brow furrowed, gazing at the endless, winding mountain road ahead.

The pilgrimage party had reached the foot of Mount Ling, the air filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, but the master's mind was entirely focused on the safety of the Three Realms.

on.

Ever since Sun Wukong casually mentioned that the Buddha seemed to be acting strangely, Tang Sanzang has been restless and insisted on writing a letter himself, which he sent directly to Mount Ling to ask the Buddha to appear and talk to him.

But who would have thought that this letter would stir up an undercurrent of tension between master and disciple?

"Wukong, you monkey, you're usually so eloquent and persuasive, why do you stammer when it comes to a crucial moment?"

Tang Sanzang reined in his horse and glared at Sun Wukong.

Those clear eyes were filled with disappointment. "As your teacher, I care deeply for all living beings in the Three Realms. How could I not ask the Buddha for guidance? But with your mouth, I'm afraid you can't even convince the gatekeepers of Mount Ling."

As your master, I've decided to let Pigsy go.

Although he was gluttonous and lazy, he was quite adept at using his silver tongue to deceive people.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's heart tightened, but he put on a smile.

His sharp eyes held a sly glint.

If Master's letter were to be delivered to Mount Ling by Pigsy, Pigsy would surely expose the truth the moment he opened his mouth—that Pigsy had long remembered how he had been lazy and hadn't gone to Mount Ling back then.

How can we just sit here and wait to die? "Master is right, that blockhead Pigsy has a sweet tongue."

"I'll go get him right now."

He readily agreed verbally, but his mind was already racing with countless thoughts.

Pigsy was fast asleep, leaning against an old locust tree by the roadside, steam rising from his nostrils, and crumbs of candied fruit he had stolen the night before still clinging to the corner of his mouth.

Sun Wukong kicked him, and Pigsy cried out, "Ouch!"

With a thud, he sat up, rubbing his eyes and muttering, "Brother Monkey, what are you doing? I, Old Pig, was having a wonderful dream, dreaming that in Marshal Tianpeng's mansion, there were tables upon tables laden with delicacies from land and sea..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tang Sanzang had already arrived on horseback, holding a scroll of yellow silk letter in his hand, the seal marked with bright red cinnabar.

"Bajie, I have an important matter to entrust to you."

Tang Sanzang's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority: "This letter concerns the safety of the Three Realms. You must personally deliver it to Mount Ling and hand it over to the Buddha himself."

Do not disassemble or examine it during the journey, or you will give up halfway.

Go quickly and return promptly, lest you keep your teacher waiting.

Upon hearing this, Pigsy's face immediately fell, his eyes narrowed into slits, and his mind raced: Mount Ling? That's no small task. It'll take at least three to five days, with wind and rain on the road. My lazy pig's back will suffer.

He would have to climb mountains and wade through rivers, and if he got hungry, he would have nothing to eat or drink... No, absolutely not! But his master's eyes were both soft and firm, so he could only grit his teeth, accept the letter, and bow, saying, "Master, don't worry, I, Old Pig, will go right away."

"I'll deliver the letter to Buddha and then come back to boast to you!"

Sun Wukong watched from the side, secretly sneering.

That idiot's hands were shaking when he received the letter; he's definitely up to no good.

After Tang Sanzang turned around, he whispered to Bajie, "Fool, be careful on the road, don't embarrass your old man."

Pigsy winked and said, "Brother Monkey, don't worry, I understand."

The two understood each other without saying a word, and Pigsy, carrying his rake, swayed and headed towards Mount Ling.

At the rest stop of the group, Tang Sanzang chanted Buddhist mantras and closed his eyes to rest.

Sun Wukong, however, couldn't stay still. Under the pretext of "letting the horse go," he plucked a hair, blew a breath of magic, and transformed it into an identical fake Monkey King, staying in place to amuse his master.

He leaped into the air and, now invisible, followed Pigsy.

Pigsy hadn't walked half a mile when he found a grassy slope, the grass was knee-high, and wildflowers dotted the landscape.

He threw down the rake, lay down sprawled out, casually stuffed the letter into his ear, and muttered, "Lingshan? To hell with it! I'll just take a nap, and when I wake up I'll make up a story to fool my master."

As he spoke, his snoring was so loud it shook the grass.

Sun Wukong, hidden in the clouds, watched this scene and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

He thought to himself: You idiot, this saves me a lot of trouble! He pulled a sleep bug out of his ear. The bug was the size of a palm, with buzzing wings, and it was specially designed to cure lazy pigs.

With a gentle toss, the worm crawled into Pigsy's nostril, and Pigsy slept even more soundly, drooling profusely, smacking his lips in his dream as if he were gnawing on a whole roasted lamb.

Wukong landed, transformed back into his original form, and carefully pried the letter out of Bajie's ear.

The yellow silk was covered with dense Sanskrit characters, like earthworms crawling across it. He squinted at it, scratched his head, and said, "This scribbling is completely incomprehensible to me."

"Fine, let's tear it all up cleanly to avoid future trouble!"

He quickly tore the letter into pieces and scattered them into the wind.

The fragments scattered like snowflakes, instantly turning into dust.

After finishing his task, he clapped his hands and disappeared back to camp.

In the camp, Tang Sanzang opened his eyes and asked, "Wukong, when will Bajie return?"

The fake Wukong's true form had dissipated, and he revealed himself, smiling obsequiously, "Master, don't worry. The road to Mount Ling is long, and Pigsy is slow as a pig. It will take at least two or three days."

Tang Sanzang sighed: "The safety of the Three Realms is of utmost urgency."

As your teacher, I feel uneasy. If the Buddha does not appear, the journey to obtain the scriptures may encounter unexpected changes.

Wukong bowed and scraped, "Master is wise. I, Old Sun, will wait with you."

Three days passed, the sun was setting, and Pigsy finally sauntered back.

His body was covered in bits of grass, and his face was streaked with mud, as if he had just crawled out of a pigsty.

Tang Sanzang stepped forward and asked urgently, "Bajie, has the letter been delivered? What is the Buddha's decree?"

Pigsy yawned, rubbed his eyes, and his mind raced. He made up a story: "Master, you have no idea how far the road to Mount Ling is! I, Old Pig, walked and walked, crossed mountains and ridges, ate wild fruits when I was hungry, and drank mountain springs when I was thirsty. I finally made it here."

The letter was handed to Buddha, who took a look and exclaimed that the rain had soaked it and the writing was blurred and illegible.

I told him it was my master's handwriting, but he didn't take it seriously. He just waved me back and told me to come back and report.

Master, why does the Buddha seem so indifferent to the safety of the Three Realms?

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang turned pale, clasped his hands together, and murmured Buddhist prayers: "Amitabha, the rain soaked it? How could the letter I personally sealed be wet..."

His chest heaved with anger, and his eyes turned red. "Bajie, you blockhead, how could you not be careful on the road? The letter contains a matter of great importance. If Buddha doesn't take it seriously, won't the Three Realms be in danger!"

Pigsy lowered his head and feigned pitifulness: "Master, I tried my best."

The wind and rain were so strong that I almost lost my rake.

Sun Wukong interjected, "Master, please calm down. Pigsy has also had a hard time on this trip."

Perhaps it was fate, and Buddha had other plans.

He secretly rejoiced: "That fool's lie is so convincing!" But was Tang Sanzang so easily fooled? Stubborn as he was, and concerned for the common people, how could he give up so easily? "No! This matter concerns the safety of the Three Realms. How can I, your master, sit idly by? Wukong, your eloquence is lacking, and Bajie is incompetent. This time, let Sha Wujing go."

He's honest and reliable; he'll surely deliver the letter.

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing raised his head from his luggage, his honest face remaining as calm as ever.

He took the newly written letter—which Tang Sanzang had copied overnight, in neat Sanskrit and sealed more tightly—and bowed, saying, “Master, rest assured, your disciple will not fail you.”

Sun Wukong frowned slightly, thinking to himself: "Brother Sha is usually the most diligent, never slacking off on the journey to the West. Why does his gaze seem a bit off this time? Could it be...?" He dared not think too much about it and smiled on the surface, saying, "Brother Sha, be careful of demons on the road."

Sha Wujing nodded, picked up his luggage, and headed towards Mount Ling.

After Wukong and his team settled in, he used the excuse of patrolling to pluck a hair and transform it into a fake body to stay behind, while his real body disappeared and chased after them.

Despite the rugged mountain path, Sha Wujing walked steadily and steadily, his steps as usual.

But Wukong, hiding in the treetops, kept watching and felt that something was wrong.

This junior brother usually carries his luggage with ease, but today he walked and stopped, seemingly deliberately delaying.

Sure enough, when they arrived at a stream, Sha Wujing put down his luggage and stared at the water in a daze.

The water was crystal clear, and fish swam around. He suddenly sighed, took out a letter from his pocket, and murmured, "Master, I am sorry."

But this pilgrimage... sigh, never mind."

As he spoke, he flicked his hand, and the letter drifted into the stream like a fallen leaf, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

Wukong stared in disbelief, his heart sinking: How could Junior Brother Sha also... He wanted to show himself and ask for clarification, but then he thought that if he showed himself, the whole truth would be revealed.

He could only stealthily return to camp, his mind a complete mess.

Sha Wujing didn't return to the camp until dusk.

Seeing that he looked travel-worn, Tang Sanzang hurriedly asked, "Sha Wujing, has the Buddha given any reply?"

Sha Wujing lowered his head and said in a calm voice, "Master, I have handed over the letter."

The Buddha looked at it, said only "I understand," and then waved for his disciple to return.

There were no further words, nor were there any decrees.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was struck dumb, his face turning ashen: "You know? That's all? In my letter, I detailed the hidden dangers in the Three Realms. How can the Buddha be so indifferent? Does the Vulture Peak no longer care about the suffering of the human world?"

He stood up angrily, flicked his sleeves, and said, "No! I must see Buddha and explain this to him personally."

Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing, listen up! From this day forward, the journey to the West is suspended! Right here at the foot of Mount Ling, let's build a thatched hut and prepare some provisions. Your master will wait for the Buddha to appear.

"This concerns the safety of the Three Realms; I will risk my life to force him out!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

He advised, “Master, you mustn’t! The journey to the West is of utmost importance, and the Buddha may have his reasons.”

Let's keep walking and wait as we go.

Pigsy chimed in, "Yes, Master, I'm starving. This thatched hut is swarming with mosquitoes."

Sha Wujing lowered his head and remained silent, a strange expression flashing across his face.

Tang Sanzang, however, remained adamant: "Stop talking! My mind is made up."

The safety of the Three Realms is of paramount importance.

"You all hurry and cut bamboo to build a shed. I will sit here quietly chanting scriptures, waiting for Buddha to have his conscience awakened."

As night fell, the campsite came alive with activity.

Pigsy slacked off while chopping bamboo, hiding behind a tree to doze off; Sandy silently built the frame, his movements mechanical; Sun Wukong put in the effort, but his mind was elsewhere.

He gazed at his master's seated figure, his face pale yet resolute in the moonlight, and couldn't help but feel regret: It's all my fault, Old Sun, for not going to Mount Ling in the first place, which has led to this mess.

Now, Pigsy and Sandy are also lying, and their master is kept in the dark, waiting foolishly.

Information asymmetry, master-disciple conflict—how did this journey to the West go astray? The thatched hut was built, three simple rooms that swayed in the wind.

Tang Sanzang entered the shed and sat down to meditate, reciting the Heart Sutra, but his eyes were full of sorrow.

Sun Wukong stood guard outside the door, gazing at the starry sky and sighing: Lies are like a snowball, growing bigger and bigger.

Pigsy crawled into the shed and mumbled as he fell asleep; Sandy was outside starting a fire, the firelight illuminating his puzzled face—why the change? Was it for personal gain, or was there some hidden reason? Wukong wanted to ask, but could only swallow his questions.

Within the team, this silent struggle has only just begun.

The next morning, as fog enveloped the foot of the mountain, Tang Sanzang rose early and instructed his disciples to prepare tea and burn incense, continuing to wait.

Sun Wukong outwardly agreed, but inwardly he was plotting how to cover up the lie.

Pigsy rubbed his eyes and complained, "Master, the wild fruits at the foot of Mount Ling are so sour they'll make my teeth fall out, and my old pig's stomach..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tang Sanzang glared at him and said, "Bajie! Stop talking nonsense."

My appearance as Buddha for you is for the sake of all living beings in the Three Realms.

If you continue to be lazy, I'll be the first to kick you off the mountain! (End of Chapter)