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

A long-awaited reunion.

A hint of joy flashed in Tang Sanzang's eyes.

That familiar face, that familiar arrogance, warmed my heart.

But soon, the joy turned to cold.

He put down the manure bucket, clasped his hands together, and whispered:

"Wukong... what brings you here?"

His voice was calm, feigning detachment, but also carrying... worry.

Over the years, I was punished by being made a dung collector, and I came into contact with all sorts of people and demons.

Tang Sanzang's thinking had already undergone a fundamental change.

He was no longer the pedantic monk who harbored illusions and was easily swayed.

He had seen the innocence of demon children and the kindness of human elders.

I have seen great demons heal the human race, and I have seen human races teach demons to read.

There is no essential difference between humans and demons.

They are all ordinary people.

All things have good and evil aspects.

All possess Buddha-nature.

Wukong killed that woman to protect him.

With keen eyes, she sensed the demonic aura and feared that she might harm her master.

Others may complain or hate.

But I cannot do it myself.

Simply because the person he wanted to protect was himself.

Because of this incident, we, as accomplices, were sentenced to thirty years as night soil workers.

Now that Wukong, the ringleader, has arrived, how could the city lord possibly let him off easily?

Isn't his crime even greater?

Tang Sanzang did not want Wukong to suffer such hardship.

Therefore, cold noodles are made with ice and frost.

Pigsy and Sandy were different, especially Pigsy. He had been looking forward to seeing Monkey King day and night, and he was incredibly happy to finally meet him.

He threw down the manure bucket and rushed forward with a splash:

"Monkey King!"

"You've finally arrived!"

"I, Old Pig, have missed you so much!"

Sha Wujing exclaimed happily, "Brother Monkey!"

The two men reeked of foul odors and were dressed in rags, yet their joy was impossible to hide.

Their magical powers were sealed, and they could only labor with mortal bodies. How could they not feel good about it? Now that the monkey has returned, how could they not be happy?

Sun Wukong looked at the three of them.

My mind is filled with mixed feelings.

He was angry at his master's stubbornness, pitied Pigsy and Sandy's suffering, and felt even more sorry for his master.

He waved his hand: "This isn't the place to talk."

"Come with me."

He then displayed his magical powers.

A flash of golden light.

In the blink of an eye, they had moved to a secluded, abandoned courtyard in the east of the city.

As soon as they landed, Pigsy couldn't hold back anymore, bursting into tears and sobbing, "Brother Monkey! Why didn't you come to save us sooner?"

"I've suffered terribly these past few years! Every day I had to carry manure and clean up filth; the stench made me dizzy and lightheaded!"

"How prestigious he was when he commanded troops in Tianhe! Now he's reduced to a disgraceful dung collector."

"Master, we can't persuade him! That city lord is incredibly powerful; our magic is sealed, we can't escape even if we wanted to! Brother Monkey, please take us out of here!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong scratched his cheek and then teased, "You blockhead! Back when Master was kicking me out at White Tiger Ridge, weren't you the one who was most vocal in supporting him?"

"What nonsense about 'Master is right, the monkey is too bloodthirsty'! Why are you suddenly thinking of me, Old Sun? Where were you all this time?"

Pigsy was embarrassed, his face turning red:

"Brother Monkey... Back then, I, Old Pig... contracted swine fever and wasn't thinking clearly, so I was just spouting nonsense."

"I've had enough of carrying manure all these years! I, Old Pig, regret it! Brother Monkey, please don't hold it against me, take us away!"

Sun Wukong snorted, knowing the fool's character, and stopped bothering with him.

With his keen eyes, he scanned the two and saw the restrictions placed on them.

It is because the Five Elements Divine Power binds the magical power, preventing it from functioning normally; it is profound and mysterious.

The spellcaster's skills are remarkable.

He sneered, "Impressive tactic! Seal my brother's magic!"

Then, with a flick of his finger, his magical power pierced into the two people's bodies like needles, which took some effort.

The restrictions have been lifted.

With two soft "pop" sounds, the magical power within Pigsy and Sandy surged out like a river bursting its banks.

His supernatural powers reappeared.

Feeling the magical power within them nourishing their bodies, which had been tormented by suffering over the past few years, the two of them burst into laughter:

"Cool!"

"My magic is back!"

"Old Pig is alive again!"

Sha Wujing was also pleased.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Then, with a gentle tremor, the spirit lock that Yun Zhao had placed on them broke in two and could no longer monitor them.

Sun Wukong waved his hand and turned to Tang Sanzang: "Master, it's your turn. This Spirit Lock is easier than the Five Elements Imprisonment Technique."

With a gentle whistle, the spirit lock on Tang Sanzang's body broke at his feet.

Tang Sanzang took a step back and shook his head, saying, "Wukong, your master will not leave. If you wish to depart, your master will not stop you, but your master wishes to stay and continue to atone for his sins."

Sun Wukong was taken aback.

"Atonement?"

"Master, to be honest with you, that little demon isn't dead at all."

"To my shame, that monster possessed some supernatural powers; she even fooled me. Old Sun didn't actually kill her back then!"

"It's just a corpse, a smokescreen!"

"You're just fooling ordinary people!"

"We didn't kill anyone!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was first taken aback.

Over the years, he has honed his skills in White Tiger City and is no longer the easily swayed and trusting monk he once was.

He has his own judgment.

Looking back on his time with Wukong, this disciple was proud and aloof, and although he was bloodthirsty, he never bothered to lie.

The monkey spoke with such certainty that it must be true.

He nodded slightly, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes: "Wukong... I see. I didn't believe you back then and wronged you."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was overjoyed: "Master! You finally understand! That's good, let's go now! The journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is the most important thing, let's not linger here!"

He was about to unleash a golden light to take everyone away, but Tang Sanzang shook his head again, firmly saying, "No, Wukong. Your master will not leave. Although that demon is not dead, it is also a fact that we can kill it at will."

"That little demon, though a demon, meant no harm. We attacked too hard and hurt Taiping."

"Furthermore, in these years in White Tiger City, I have witnessed humans and demons living together in harmony and peace. Humans and demons are not fundamentally different; they are all living beings. How can they be killed at will?"

"Back then, I was pedantic and only knew how to seek knowledge, but I didn't know how to adapt. Now, I am suffering this punishment, but it is also a kind of cultivation."

"Carrying manure and applying fertilizer is better than my twenty years of chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha. I must stay and complete thirty years of atonement to fulfill the cause and effect."

After listening, Sun Wukong remained silent for a while.

He stared at his master, at that face that, though covered in grime, seemed all the more serene, and felt a mix of emotions.

Back then, his master was too stubborn to distinguish between demons, and he was expelled for being angry.

Now that his master has changed and understands the equality between humans and demons, he doesn't want his master to continue suffering.

He scratched his cheek and sighed, "Master, you're right."

"I admit I was somewhat rash in my actions back then, but you are ultimately on your way to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures! If this continues, even if the Buddhas of the West can wait, how can the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty wait?"

"Besides, we didn't actually kill or set fires; it was just a trick by the monsters that deceived mortals."

"Even if you are guilty, Master, you have worked here for four years, carrying manure and toiling every day. That should be enough to atone for your sins. How can you not leave?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang hesitated.

Pigsy, who had been listening impatiently for some time, quickly interjected, "Master! Brother Monkey is right! Our journey to the West is the most important thing! These past four years carrying manure have nearly broken my back!"

"That city lord is good, and he governs White Tiger City very well, but punishing us with thirty years is too cruel!"

"Besides, Brother Monkey has already explained what happened back then. We didn't really kill anyone! Let's go, let's go! I, Old Pig, want to eat something delicious and get a good night's sleep! If we don't leave now, even Buddha won't be able to wait!"

Sha Wujing stepped forward and said, "Master, what the eldest brother said is absolutely right. We have already atoned for our sins for four years, and our character has been tempered. Staying here will not only be of no benefit, but will also hinder our important work."

Tang Sanzang looked at the concern in his three disciples' eyes, and after a long while, he finally sighed and nodded, saying, "Alright. Wukong, Bajie, and Wujing, you are right."

"I... I'll listen to you, let's go."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a voice suddenly rang out.

"Gentlemen, where are we going?"