I start by accepting Sun Wukong as my disciple and reshape the Journey to the West

Chapter 191 A Disciple with Some Martial Arts Skills
Looking at the man in blue before her, Gao Cuilan felt all her distracting thoughts vanish instantly, as if he were a being capable of curing all three thousand ailments.

"Who are you?" Gao Cuilan was certain that there was no face similar to the man in blue in Gao Village; she had always been very confident in her memory.

"A traveler passing through this place saw the girl in tears and couldn't bear it, so he took the liberty of approaching her, hoping not to frighten her."

The man in blue was none other than Ye Xuantian.

As Ye Xuantian used soothing words, Gao Cuilan's vigilance completely dissipated.

"Young lady, you were crying so sadly earlier, is something on your mind? Would you like to tell me?"

"I fell in love with a monster. Although it was our first time meeting, it felt as if we had known each other for hundreds of years. I had a fight with my father and ran away. I know I was wrong, but I really couldn't control my feelings."

"What you love may be separated by mountains and seas, but mountains and seas can be leveled. If you really like her, then go ahead and pursue her."

"But……"

"The reason your father can't agree might be that he hasn't seen the good in that monster, or perhaps the benefits he brings to the Gao family aren't enough. If that monster also likes you, he will definitely use his most sincere heart to move your father."

As Ye Xuantian finished speaking, his body slowly dissipated. Gao Cuilan suddenly stood up, realizing that she had encountered another master.

"What you said is too idealistic, and it seems like you are intentionally helping that monster. What are you really up to?"

"The cause and effect of countless lifetimes cannot be escaped. I am merely planting a seed in your heart, waiting for it to sprout. As for its intentions, there is nothing else to it. Only you can dispel its demonic nature; this is your destiny."

By the time he finished the last word, Ye Xuantian's voice was barely audible.

Gao Cuilan didn't think Ye Xuantian's words were just a charade, because she could sense that Zhu Bajie had completely different emotions when he looked at her and when he looked at his father.

She even felt that if it weren't for her existence, her father would be dead today.

"So, it wasn't love at first sight, but rather a preordained cause and effect? ​​If it's truly necessary for me to dispel his demonic nature and guide him onto the righteous path, then I will do everything in my power to win over his family and make them accept him."

Gao Cuilan seemed to be speaking to Ye Xuantian, or perhaps she was trying to convince herself.

Inside Chenjiazhuang.

Old Chen was unusually uneasy today. Ever since the rumbling sound like an earthquake a few days ago, he felt that he could not keep his mind at ease, as if something was slipping out of his control. But when he looked at his children, they seemed to be completely unaffected.

Boom boom boom!
Finally, as the sun set, there was a knock at the door.

Old Chen's son was about to go and open the door, but Old Chen stopped him: "These past few days have been unsettled, and those bandits have become increasingly rampant, demanding more and more things. We don't have much left to offer them."

Old Chen's son, however, didn't take it seriously at all: "Dad, those bandits just want some food to satisfy their appetites. It's not as exaggerated as you're making it out to be."

Old Chen slapped his son across the face: "When a person's desires are endless, ambition will grow, and slowly they will head towards utter ruin. You can no longer guard your true self. When will you finally understand?"

"Dad, you hit me!" Old Chen's son looked incredulous.

"Do you believe I'll go with those robbers or not?" he threatened.

"Fine, go. And don't ever come back. My Chen family will pretend you never existed." Old Chen showed no sign of backing down in the face of his son's threat and immediately roared.

"Alright, you'll regret this!" Old Chen's son immediately opened the door and shouted, "Brothers, from now on I'm with you all..."

hiss!
In Old Chen's son's eyes, a thunder god's face suddenly magnified. At that moment, all the distracting thoughts in his mind vanished, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Aaaaaah! A monster!"

The form manifested by the power of the innate true one is naturally intimidating to all villains. How could those whose minds have been bewitched by bandits withstand the rebuke of the true gold energy that comes head to head?

He immediately scrambled to Old Chen's side.

"Father, monster! Monster!"

Old Chen stared at Sun Wukong for a long time before finally leaning on his cane and staggering forward: "Great Sage, a few days ago I heard the roar of the earth dragon. Was it the Great Sage who escaped?"

"You old man, you have a good eye. My stone statue is blurry, yet you can recognize it?"

"The Great Sage is the Great Sage in the stone box, protecting the peace of this place. How could I not recognize him? May I ask who this gentleman is?"

Old Chen pointed to Tang Sanzang behind him, his face full of curiosity.

"This is my master. He was the one who saved me not long ago."

"This humble monk is Tang Sanzang from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East. May I ask how you are addressed, sir?"

"No, no, you are the master of the Great Sage, and must be an immortal. I am only 130 years old, how can I be worthy of the title of Holy Monk? Please call me Little Chen."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was also taken aback. The old man looked to be in good spirits, with a gleam in his eyes, and appeared to be only in his forties or fifties, but he was actually 130 years old.

Tang Sanzang immediately put his hands together in prayer: "Uncle Chen, you flatter me. I am but a mortal, not an immortal. It is quite interesting, though, that we are both from the Hua Sect."

"Hey? Master, aren't you surnamed Tang? How come you and this old man are from the Hua clan?"

“My secular surname is Chen, and my Buddhist name is Chen Xuanzang. Emperor Taizong bestowed upon me the title of Imperial Brother and took Tang as my surname, hence the name Tang Seng.”

Old Chen stared at Tang Sanzang for a long time and said, "Indeed, the holy monk has no death aura on him, but is a proper Tang person. He still needs the protection of the Great Sage."

"Old minister, I'm sorry to bother you. I've been trapped under the mountain for five hundred years and haven't had a bath. Could you please make me some soup?"

"Natural nature."

Then Tang Sanzang spoke up: "Old man, my disciple only has tiger skin as clothing, so I need you to prepare some needles and thread so I can help him sew it up."

Old Chen immediately spoke up: "Holy Monk, I still have some cloth at home. Why don't we make a new garment for the Great Sage?"

"No, no, this is his spoils of war, so this tiger skin is fine."

Upon hearing this, Old Chen stopped trying to persuade him and sent someone to fetch needles and thread.

While Sun Wukong went to take a bath, Tang Sanzang began mending the tiger skin by candlelight.

Before long, the Great Sage emerged, having washed and dressed, and saw Tang Sanzang diligently mending the tiger skin by candlelight. He quickly asked Old Chen to bring another oil lamp to support him. Instantly, the light shone even brighter, and Tang Sanzang glanced at Sun Wukong, a gratified smile appearing on his face.

Sun Wukong stared at Tang Sanzang as he mended the clothes and said, "Master, you actually know how to do these kinds of things?"

"My parents passed away early when I was young. To survive, I had to be frugal. That's what I learned. It's nothing special," Tang Seng said casually. His words were simple, but the hardships he endured were beyond what outsiders could understand.

Finally, Tang Sanzang tied a knot in the needle and thread, then bit it off and handed the tiger-skin skirt to Sun Wukong.

"Why don't you give it a try?"

Sun Wukong hurriedly accepted it, saying, "Thank you so much!"

He then put it on and tied the cloth strip in front of his body.

“Not bad, he really does resemble a pilgrim. In the future, he will have to practice in real-life situations.” Tang Sanzang’s words seemed incoherent, but Sun Wukong responded earnestly.

"Master is absolutely right. We will surely find a bright future."

"You should rest early," Tang Sanzang said to Sun Wukong, while he took out scrolls of scriptures from his luggage and began to read them.

"Master, have you always been this diligent?"

"Not really. It's just that I've had a fortuitous opportunity. If I don't put it into practice and leave the treasure lying around, wouldn't that be a waste? Since I'm going to the Western Paradise eventually, I have to walk this path eventually, so I might as well walk it more solidly."

"Master, may I recite it? I would like to learn as well."

"Judging from your lineage, it does not seem to be Buddhist."

"The three paths of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism ultimately lead to the same goal. Having a discriminating mind is being attached to appearances."

"In that case, your resolve is superior to mine. I currently only have the opportunity to enter the Buddhist path, which is probably not as solid as yours. I'm afraid I'll need Wukong's help on the journey ahead."

Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes. Tang Sanzang's cultivation level was evident, and his understanding of the Dao was readily apparent. However, his desire for the Dao was somewhat beyond Sun Wukong's imagination.

“Now that Master has entered the path, he is not far from the Great Dao. We should support each other.”

Tang Sanzang smiled, said nothing more, and then began to recite the scriptures.

Outside the door, two figures leaned against each other by the window, and the sound of chanting drifted out. Old Chen couldn't help but rub his eyes: "I'm getting old after all, and I'm so sentimental."

The next second, he looked at his son: "Are you still going to find those robbers?"

"Father, it was just a thought I had at the time, it doesn't count, it was just something I said in anger, why are you still holding onto it?"

"If you have distracting thoughts, it means your mind is not at peace. If you can truly calm your mind and listen to the immortal music, then even if you enter the immortal path, it will be the demonic path and a wrong path. If you are not pure in the six senses, you will not be able to obtain the immortal affinity and will ultimately be nothing more than a hundred-year-old cripple who will not be able to enter the immortal path."

Old Chen kept rambling on and on, giving his son a real headache.

"Dad, have you been talking nonsense lately?"

"You, you!" Old Chen pointed at his son's forehead and left with his hands behind his back.

"Unfortunately, I understood it too late."

The next day, the master and apprentice thanked Old Chen and his family repeatedly before embarking on their westward journey once more.

Several more days passed, and Tang Sanzang said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, we have been traveling for a long time, but we haven't seen a single bandit. Didn't that old Chen say that the road is dangerous and there are always robbers and thieves?"

Sun Wukong laughed heartily: "Master, do you feel lonely on this journey, so you'd rather cause some trouble so you can continue on your way with a clear conscience?"

Tang Sanzang laughed and scolded, "You monkey, how can you talk like that? I was just thinking that if there really are bandits on this road, we should convert them and make them wholeheartedly do good. This would also solve a major problem for the people of this place."

Sun Wukong asked seriously, "Master, if we really encounter bandits, what methods do you intend to use to convert them?"

"Of course, it's about persuading people to do good and encouraging them to practice Buddhism." Tang Sanzang said with an air of righteousness, as if anyone would convert to Buddhism if he wanted them to.

"What if Buddhism doesn't intervene? What if they only think about committing violence?"

"Isn't that what you are? Aren't you known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, with extraordinary strength? In the Three Realms, there are few who can rival you. This humble monk has Buddhist teachings, but if they cannot be educated, this humble monk also has a disciple who can fight."

"Is it enough to just beat them up and make them submit? But after we leave, who will suppress them?" Sun Wukong was not satisfied with Tang Sanzang's answer and continued to ask.

This time, Tang Sanzang remained silent and did not speak for a long time.

Sun Wukong didn't urge them on, but simply led the horse onward. Just then, a roar came from the roadside, and six people rushed out, each wielding a long spear and a short sword, angrily shouting, "Hey monk, stop! Leave behind your horse, gold, silver, and valuables, and we'll spare your lives. Otherwise, there will surely be two more skeletons here."

"Master!" Sun Wukong looked at Tang Sanzang, who immediately dismounted, put his hands together in front of the six people, and uttered a Buddhist chant: "I suppose you six are the bandits of this place."

The leader immediately said, "It seems you've heard of the methods of my six brothers. That's right, my name is Eye-Seeing Joy, and the other five brothers are Ear-Hearing Anger, Nose-Smelling Love, Tongue-Tasting Thought, Mind-Desire, and Body-Worry. If you put down your things now, you can still live. Otherwise, I will make sure you are reduced to ashes."

"Our Buddha is merciful and cannot bear to see you fall into the eighteenth level of hell. If you heroes are willing to take refuge in our Buddha, you can be reborn in the Pure Land in the future. If you continue to do evil, you will probably end up with your souls scattered."

Tang Sanzang's eyes were full of compassion, and as he spoke, a Buddhist aura subtly permeated his words.

"I have been listening to the teachings of the sage for many years, but the sage not only failed to convert us, but was even corrupted by us and developed impure thoughts. What are you, that you are worthy of converting us?"

As the joyful voice faded, a vast Buddhist aura emanated from the group, completely dissipating Tang Sanzang's Buddhist aura.

hum!
Even more terrifyingly, the Buddhist aura invaded Tang Sanzang's body. At that moment, Tang Sanzang seemed to see all the Buddhas of Buddhism falling into depravity. His spirit was severely damaged, and his faith showed signs of collapse.

"Hmm? It turns out to be something nurtured by the impure thoughts of a sage. Master, what do you say?"

Sun Wukong looked at Tang Sanzang, his eyes not mocking, but rather showing more sympathy. If even Buddhist saints have so many distracting thoughts, what about ordinary Buddhas?
“You, you must be the impure thoughts abandoned by the sages, and with the spiritual objects that reside within you, you have grown to this day. The fact that you have become so powerful shows that the sages themselves are pure. Now that you have converted, I can still give you a chance to live because you have the aura of Buddhism.”

Sun Wukong couldn't help but think to himself: What a strong sense of self-comfort.

"Hahaha! You dare to say that! What if we weren't so far away?"

"This humble monk also has a disciple who is somewhat skilled in martial arts!"

(End of this chapter)