Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

When Laozi entered the cave, Jinjiao and Yinjiao wisely dismissed the lesser demons and personally served tea and water, their movements swift and efficient, showing no sign of negligence.

Although the two children had already returned to their original forms, they remained respectful and did not even dare to raise their eyes.

Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, stood behind Yun Zhao. Unusually, he didn't make any jokes and just quietly observed the legendary Laozi.

The Black Bear Demon and the Yellow Wind Monster held their breath, not daring to utter a sound.

Sha Wujing stood at the back with his head bowed, his hands gripping the Demon-Subduing Staff tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Laozi sat down on the stone chair, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly put it down. His gaze fell on Yun Zhao, and he smiled, "Holy Monk, you have come from afar. I should have come to pay my respects earlier, but I have been tied up with worldly affairs and have not had the time. It is quite a coincidence that we meet today."

He spoke casually, like ordinary neighbors chatting, but his seemingly cloudy eyes were constantly observing Yun Zhao, not missing a single subtle movement.

Yun Zhao clasped his hands together and smiled, "You flatter me, Laozi. This humble monk is but a wandering monk; how could I dare trouble you to descend to the mortal realm in person?"

Laozi chuckled, knowing that the man before him had gone to great lengths to have his page deliver a message; it was definitely not just a casual chat.

However, with so many people talking, it was inconvenient to say many things. So Laozi waved his hand, and the scene in the cave suddenly blurred, like a reflection in water being ruffled by the wind.

When the scene before him became clear again, Yun Zhao was no longer in the Lotus Cave, but standing in another world.

The sky was bluish-gray, without clouds or sun, yet a soft halo enveloped the surrounding area.

The ground was covered with unknown flowers and plants, and the spiritual energy was so rich that it seemed to have condensed into mist. Taking a breath of it made one feel refreshed.

In the distance stands a small thatched pavilion, with a stone table and two stone benches inside.

Laozi walked into the thatched pavilion, sat down on the stone bench, placed his whisk on his lap, pointed to the stone bench opposite him, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, please."

He no longer addressed Yun Zhao as the Holy Monk.

It doesn't make any sense.

Yun Zhao sat down opposite him without any hesitation.

He knew that since the old Taoist had invited him here alone, he wouldn't say any more empty pleasantries.

Laozi's voice was unhurried: "This place is quiet and undisturbed. Fellow Daoist, please speak freely if you have anything to say."

He paused, then said, "I have lived for countless years and have seen many strange and unusual things, but I have never seen anything like what you are doing before."

"Fellow Daoist's transformation technique is truly superb, so superb that even this avatar of mine cannot see the flaw. If Fellow Daoist had not revealed some of his skills, I would have been kept in the dark."

He spoke in a gentle tone, like an elder in the family caring for a younger generation, which made people feel comfortable.

Yun Zhao remained silent for a moment, then smiled slightly, no longer concealing anything, and cupped his hands, saying, "Since Laozi has seen through it, then this junior will not hide it any longer. This junior is indeed not the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, nor is he some kind of Xuanzang Master."

Although he was called a fellow Daoist by Laozi, he himself did not really think that they could be on equal footing.

Putting aside the fact that his strength is currently insufficient, even if Yun Zhao really had the strength to contend with a saint, what's wrong with showing appropriate respect to such a senior expert as long as the other party has not made enemies with him?

Therefore, he would not take it for granted to refer to himself as "this humble Taoist," but would humbly refer to himself as "this junior."

"My surname is Yun, and my given name is Zhao. As for my background, it's a long story. Today I'm paying my respects to Laozi only to inquire about one thing: what is the Daoist school's attitude towards the eastward transmission of Buddhism?"

The question was direct; he was actually gambling—gambling on the Taoist patriarch's attitude towards Buddhism, on whether the patriarch would turn against him for concealing his identity, and on whether he could get the information he wanted from him.

But Yun Zhao insisted on asking.

Now that he has reached his current level of strength, there are some things he can no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb about; this is a problem he will have to face sooner or later.

Even if this ends in a muddle, we'll inevitably face each other again in the future. Rather than that, it's better to find out the truth sooner rather than later, so we can make preparations for future simulations.

Even if we lose the bet, we can just start over. It's not the first time anyway.

Laozi looked at him with a hint of amusement in his eyes. Instead of answering, he smiled and asked, "What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

Yun Zhao smiled, picked up his teacup, but didn't drink it immediately: "Laozi and Buddhism are both major religions in the Three Realms, so on the surface they are naturally of the same ilk and support each other."

"But I think Laozi might have other plans in mind."

He didn't finish his sentence, leaving half of it unsaid, waiting for Laozi to continue.

Upon hearing this, Laozi burst into laughter: "What a cunning fellow! Are you testing my intentions?"

Yun Zhao remained noncommittal, simply watching him quietly.

After a moment, Laozi slowly spoke: "The eastward spread of Buddhism is inevitable. The Heavenly Way is now established, and a great calamity is about to begin. This is an irreversible trend. But the Daoist sect will not yield to them in everything."

He changed the subject, "If you've only come to ask me this, then I can tell you, the Taoist sect won't stop you, but it won't rush to help either. How you handle things is up to you. As long as you don't cause a huge mess, we won't interfere."

Upon hearing this, Yun Zhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his face remained expressionless. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Lao. I finally feel more confident now."

Laozi smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. Fellow Daoist, the journey to the Western Paradise is long. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to send someone to the Tushita Palace to let me know. Although I am too lazy to meddle in other people's business, I cannot bear to see such an interesting person perish halfway."

A promise from such a powerful being was no ordinary matter. Yun Zhao's heart tightened, and he quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Laozi!"

"No need for such formalities."

Laozi smiled slightly, then stretched out another hand and said, "Give it to me."

Yun Zhao gave an awkward smile: "What did Laozi say?"

Lao Tzu remained silent, simply smiling as he watched him.

Knowing he couldn't renege on his promise, Yun Zhao had no choice but to take out the Golden Rope and the Purple Gold Gourd and hand them over. Only then did Laozi nod and flick his whisk. The gray-white void rippled like water, and the scene of the Lotus Cave reappeared before his eyes.

Golden Horn and Silver Horn stood cautiously to one side, holding teapots, while Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, remained behind Yun Zhao.

They spent about half an hour in that small world, but only a moment passed in the Lotus Cave.

Laozi stood up and said with a smile, "We've had our tea and our words, so it's time for me to go back. I'll take these two boys with me to avoid causing any more trouble for the holy monk."

He glanced back at Golden Horn and Silver Horn, and the two boys quickly put down the teapot, walked behind Laozi, lowered their heads, and dared not speak.

Laozi nodded to Yun Zhao again, turned around, walked out of the cave, and mounted the green ox.

The blue ox mooed, stepped on auspicious clouds, slowly rose into the sky, and disappeared into the clouds in the blink of an eye.

Golden Horn and Silver Horn followed behind the ox like two small tails, and also transformed into two streams of light, flying towards the Thirty-Third Heaven.

Inside the Lotus Cave, only Yun Zhao and his disciples remained.

Sun Wukong then spoke up: "Master, what did the Dao Ancestor say to you?"

Yun Zhao smiled and said, "It's nothing, just a few pleasantries."

Sun Wukong naturally didn't believe it, but seeing that his master was unwilling to say more, he didn't press the matter and just chuckled.

The Black Bear Spirit, the Yellow Wind Monster, and Sha Wujing exchanged glances but didn't ask any further questions.

The master had his reasons, and they just had to follow. The master and his disciples packed their belongings, left the Lotus Cave, and continued westward along the mountain path.