After transmigrating into the body of the Jade Rat Spirit, I became Nezha's adopted sister.

Several times, if it weren't for the protective golden light left behind by Sun Wukong before he left, Tang Sanzang would probably have already become a withered skeleton in the wilderness. Even so, he was quite frightened, and his originally fair face became even more haggard, and his steps became increasingly unsteady.

That evening, Tang Sanzang was leaning against an old tree, catching his breath. He touched his empty belly, looked at the setting sun, and felt both aggrieved and regretful.

If I had known that disciple was so bloodthirsty, I should have... Alas, but without him, how could I have made it to Mount Ling?

Just as he was feeling sorry for himself, he suddenly heard a rustling sound from the branches above his head.

Tang Sanzang was startled and hurriedly looked up, only to see Sun Wukong squatting on a branch, scratching his ears and cheeks as he looked at him, his golden eyes holding a half-smile.

"Wukong!"

Tang Sanzang was both surprised and delighted. He quickly stood up, clasped his hands together, and said, "You...you're back?"

Sun Wukong jumped down from the tree, circled Tang Sanzang once, and clicked his tongue twice: "Master, you've lost quite a bit of weight in just a few days! Was the journey smooth?"

Tang Sanzang's face flushed red and then turned pale. He could easily tell that there was a hint of mockery in the man's words, but at this moment he had no time to argue and simply said:

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back! It was my fault, I shouldn't have kept stopping you. Without the protective items you left behind, I would have already... Alas! Wukong, now that you're back, you're still my disciple. Let's continue our journey westward!"

Seeing his genuine regret and lingering fear, Sun Wukong's displeasure dissipated considerably.

He was naturally carefree and, although he didn't agree with Tang Sanzang's compassionate approach, he wouldn't really abandon his promise to the Bodhisattva to help him go west.

Besides, seeing this pedantic monk suffer is a way of venting my anger.

"Alright, since Master is so sincere in wanting you to stay, then I, Old Sun, will protect you for a while longer."

Sun Wukong waved his hand, letting the matter drop. He walked to the luggage pole, about to pick it up, when his gaze suddenly stopped.

A brand-new floral hat peeked out from one corner of the carrying pole. The hat was exquisitely crafted, embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in colorful silk thread, and the brim was adorned with a circle of tiny gold beads, making it quite beautiful.

Sun Wukong frowned, a sharp glint flashing in his golden eyes. He reached out and picked up the flower hat, weighed it in his hand, and then brought it to his nose to smell it. It had a faint sandalwood scent, nothing unusual. But he couldn't help but recall Bai Yeying's mysterious warning from that day.

"Master," Sun Wukong turned around, holding the flowered hat in front of Tang Sanzang, and asked casually, "This hat looks quite new. I didn't see it when I was packing my luggage a few days ago. Did you buy it on the road?"

Tang Sanzang, still pleased with his disciple's return, looked over upon hearing this and smiled. "Oh, this hat. The other day, I passed through a mountain valley and met a kind old woman who said she saw this poor monk sleeping in the open and gave him this hat as a token of her kindness, hoping it would protect him from the dust and wind. I couldn't refuse, so I accepted it. Why, Wukong, do you think there's anything wrong with this hat?"

An old woman? A mountain valley?

Sun Wukong sneered inwardly. This desolate mountain wilderness, rarely visited by humans, where would a kind old woman come from? And why would she specially bring a flowery hat that monks wear? This trick is far too clumsy.

He recalled Bai Yeying's serious yet worried expression at the time. "Especially when he tries to comfort you, you should be on high alert!"

"There's nothing wrong with it."

Sun Wukong twirled the flowery hat between his fingers, his golden eyes fixed on Tang Sanzang, and drawled, "I just feel that this hat, with its bright colors and unique style, doesn't quite match your simple monk's robes, Master. You are a highly virtuous monk; wearing such a flowery hat might diminish your dignity, wouldn't it?"

Tang Sanzang, after hearing what he said, felt there was some truth to it, and his face flushed slightly: "This... that benefactor meant well. Since Wukong feels it's inappropriate, then let's put it away for now." He reached out to take the hat back.

Sun Wukong flipped his wrist, stuffing the flower hat back into the depths of his luggage and covering it with something else. He grinned and said, "Master is right. It's a token of his good intentions, not something to be wasted. Keep it for now; it might come in handy when we reach a populated town. Getting on with the journey is important, Master. Let's set off now!"

Without giving Tang Sanzang a chance to look closely or think, he quickly picked up the load and urged Tang Sanzang to mount the horse.

Tang Sanzang was not a particularly shrewd person. Seeing that his disciple no longer held a grudge and even took the initiative to carry the luggage and urge them to hurry on their way, he was overjoyed. He would not bother to investigate the whereabouts of a hat. He quickly nodded in agreement and mounted his horse.

The master and his disciple traveled for several more days and arrived at Eagle's Sorrow Gorge.

Nezha hid behind a cloud, his gaze sweeping across the area below.

Tang Sanzang stood by the stream, while Sun Wukong led the white horse, preparing to cross it.

Suddenly the stream burst open!

A white shadow darted out from the water and rushed straight towards Tang Sanzang on the shore!

It was a small white dragon, its entire body silvery-white! Its eyes were filled with rage, and it opened its mouth, ready to swallow Tang Sanzang and his horse whole!

"Master, be careful!" Sun Wukong reacted quickly, his golden cudgel already blocking in front of Tang Sanzang.

However, the little white dragon did not seem to have completely lost its mind. At the last moment, it suddenly twisted its body to avoid the golden cudgel, and with a flick of its tail, it grabbed the mortal horse next to Tang Sanzang and dragged it into the water!

With a "plop," water splashed everywhere, and the white horse disappeared into the rushing stream before it could even neigh.

"My horse!" Tang Sanzang exclaimed, his face turning deathly pale.

"You wretched beast! How dare you steal my master's horse!" Sun Wukong roared in fury and plunged into the water.

Soon, the sounds of fierce fighting came from underwater. The stream surged and the waves crashed to the sky. Golden light and white shadows could be vaguely seen intertwined.

On the cloud, Nezha stood with his arms crossed, watching with a leisurely air.

He recognized the little white dragon; he was the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King. He had set fire to the palace pearl, was accused of disobedience by his father, and the Jade Emperor sentenced him to beheading. He was later saved by Guanyin Bodhisattva and punished by being sent here to wait for the pilgrims, where he was supposed to be a porter...

It seems something went wrong, causing him to go berserk.

His gaze swept over the anxious Tang Sanzang below, then turned to the churning stream.

Sun Wukong could easily handle this little dragon. However, this little dragon had a special status and could not be killed; subduing it would probably take some effort.

Sure enough, a moment later, Sun Wukong grabbed a small white dragon covered in wounds and burst it out of the water, slamming it heavily onto the shore.

The little white dragon landed and transformed into a bruised and swollen boy, lying on the ground panting. The madness in his dragon eyes faded, leaving only confusion and pain.

"Speak! What kind of demon are you? Why did you attack my master and steal his horse?" Sun Wukong pressed his golden cudgel against the boy's throat and shouted sternly.

Ao Lie struggled to lift his head, looking at Tang Sanzang, then at Sun Wukong, his voice hoarse: "I...I am not a demon, I am Ao Lie, the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King, waiting here for the pilgrims. I don't know why, but just now I suddenly lost control of my mind and became uncontrollably agitated..."

He looked at the stream, fear in his eyes: "This stream seems rather strange lately..."

Sun Wukong frowned, his golden eyes fixed on the still churning stream, his nose twitching slightly: "There's definitely something strange about this. Is there something else mixed in with the fishy smell of the water?"

Just then, another unexpected event occurred!

From the depths of the ravine, a large torrent of pitch-black silt suddenly surged forth! The silt emitted a nauseating stench, and countless dark shadows, like living creatures, spread toward the shore!

"Oh no! The accumulated resentment and foul energy has taken shape! How many corpses must have been buried there, and what triggered it?"

The mud was moving extremely fast, and even more terrifyingly, tentacles emerged from the mud and reached for the three people on the shore!

Tang Sanzang had never seen such a sight before and was so frightened that he kept chanting Buddhist prayers. Ao Lie, already severely injured, was powerless to resist.

Sun Wukong wielded his staff with impenetrable force, temporarily protecting Tang Sanzang and Ao Lie, but he was still struggling to keep up.

"This thing is weird! It keeps breaking apart and then coming back together, it never ends!"

The foul stench and silt surged ever higher, threatening to engulf the shore and swallow them whole...