Journey to the West: The gods and Buddhas panicked when the monkey was trapped inside him.

Inside the room, the lights were dim.

Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra exchanged glances as they looked at the mysterious monk's robe on the table.

Guanyin smiled and bowed to the Old Mother of Lishan with her hands clasped together.

"I am very grateful to my mother for her help in making this possible."

"If this matter can be accomplished, the Buddhist community will certainly be grateful for your kindness."

Manjushri and Samantabhadra also nodded in greeting.

The Old Mother of Lishan stood up, her expression calm, and waved her hand.

"Your Excellency, there's no need to be so polite. Since I've already agreed, it's no big deal for me to lend a hand."

"But please don't forget the rules I just mentioned, Your Excellency."

"If this causes a commotion, I will not acknowledge this cause and effect."

After saying this, Old Mother Lishan turned around and stepped out of the inner room.

After the Old Mother of Lishan left, Manjushri Bodhisattva turned to look at Guanyin.

"Venerable Guanyin, this first step has been successfully completed."

"I just hope that tomorrow morning, Sun Wukong will be able to smoothly remove the headband."

"Once the headband is on, Sun Wukong will no longer be able to cause any trouble."

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva also chimed in from the side.

"Sun Wukong is a mischievous monkey by nature, and he is also skilled in transformation."

"Will he notice anything amiss with the monk's robes and hat we prepared?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head with a faint smile on her lips.

"You two can rest assured, there will be absolutely no mishaps."

"That monk's hat with the tight band hidden inside was actually the result of the three of us working together to conceal the cause and effect and the aura."

"Given Sun Wukong's current level of cultivation, there is absolutely no way he could detect the slightest abnormality."

"Furthermore, it is perfectly reasonable for us to ask them to chant sutras and pray for blessings in the name of the deceased husband of the Old Mother of Lishan."

"Tang Sanzang is a compassionate person, and he would never refuse such a request."

"As a disciple, Sun Wukong naturally had to follow Tang Sanzang's instructions."

Upon hearing this, the two Bodhisattvas exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.

"With Your Excellency's planning, there is naturally no chance of failure."

"Once we tighten the bandages, we will have control over our journey westward."

Guanyin waved her hand and extinguished the candle flame on the table.

"It's getting late, you two should go back to your rooms and rest. Tomorrow, just act according to the situation."

Upon hearing this, Manjushri and Samantabhadra nodded and said no more.

The three of them went their separate ways, and the entire manor returned to peace.

......

Nothing happened that night.

In the blink of an eye, the sky outside the window turned a pale white, and the daylight was bright.

Soft footsteps could be heard outside the guest room door.

The Old Mother of Lishan transformed once again into the elegant and graceful middle-aged woman from yesterday, followed by three beautiful women who were transformed from Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra.

The four of them walked slowly into the courtyard and gently knocked on the door of the guest room.

The door opened, and the four members of the Tang Monk's group, already dressed and ready, stood in the room.

The Old Mother of Lishan stepped forward with a smile on her face and bowed slightly to Tang Sanzang.

"Holy Monk, did you rest well last night?"

Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together and returned the greeting with a peaceful expression.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir. My disciples and I have had a very good rest."

The old woman of Lishan's eyes darted around, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the four disciples.

"I wonder what the elders have thought about the matter of taking a son-in-law, which I mentioned last night?"

"As long as the elders nod, this vast fortune, along with my three daughters, will all be yours."

Tang Sanzang turned his head and glanced at his three disciples behind him.

Sun Wukong leaned against a pillar, picking his ear; Zhu Bajie kept his head down, eyes downcast; and Sha Wujing stood ramrod straight, saying nothing.

None of the three showed any intention of staying.

Tang Sanzang remained calm, his eyes clear, as he looked at the Old Mother of Lishan.

"I appreciate your kindness, sir."

"But my master and I, along with our four disciples, are all monks who have made a great vow to go to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures."

"We are not fortunate enough to enjoy the riches and romances of this mortal world, so please do not mention them again, old benefactor."

Pigsy stood behind, patted his big belly, and chimed in.

"Old benefactor, I, Old Pig, think the same way."

"The journey to the West is of utmost importance; I've long since given up on the idea of ​​settling down and starting a family."

Sha Wujing remained silent, simply hoisting his baggage onto his shoulder to show his stance.

Sun Wukong leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, looking at the Old Mother of Lishan, without saying a word.

Seeing this, Old Mother Lishan sighed.

"That's enough, that's enough."

"Since the elders have made up their minds, then I will not insist."

"It's also because we, a widow and her children, are not blessed enough to keep these living bodhisattvas."

Old Mother Lishan beckoned and called over the servants behind her.

"I have already ordered someone to prepare a vegetarian breakfast. Please have the meal before you depart, so that I may do my part as your host."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang thanked him again.

"I am deeply grateful for the expense incurred by the esteemed benefactor."

The four disciples followed the Old Mother of Lishan to a side hall, where a sumptuous vegetarian feast was already laid out on the table.

Pigsy didn't stand on ceremony and picked up the bowl to eat heartily.

After the meal, the servants cleared away the bowls and plates and served fragrant tea.

Old Mother Lishan sat in the main seat, holding a teacup, her expression becoming somewhat somber.

She put down her teacup, her eyes slightly red, and looked at Tang Sanzang.

"Holy Monk, I have a request that I am not sure if I should make."

Seeing the old man's appearance, Tang Sanzang quickly put down his teacup.

"Please speak freely, sir. As long as it is something that my master and I can do to help, we will certainly not refuse."

Old Mother Lishan sighed repeatedly and took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes.

"The elders have come all the way from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East. It is a blessing from a previous life that they are able to stay at my manor."

"My husband passed away early, and for so many years, I have been raising my three daughters alone and miserable. It has not been easy for me."

"Today, I have the honor of meeting a highly virtuous monk from the Great Tang Dynasty of the East who has stayed at my humble abode. I feel that this must be a blessing from Heaven and a great destiny."

As the old woman from Lishan spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I would like to humbly request that the holy monk and his three disciples stay here for another half a day to chant sutras and pray for my deceased husband."

"So that he can find peace in the afterlife."

The three pretty daughters standing behind the woman also lowered their heads at the right time, their faces showing deep sorrow.

The eldest daughter, who was an incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva, stepped forward lightly and pleaded with a choked voice.

"We beg the Holy Monk to have great compassion and grant our filial piety by performing a ritual to help our father pass on to the afterlife."

The women who were manifestations of Manjushri and Samantabhadra also bowed and pleaded in sorrow.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang looked reluctant and clasped his hands together in prayer.

"Amitabha, old benefactor, you flatter me."

"Compassion is the foundation of a monk's life. Reciting scriptures, praying for blessings, and helping the deceased are simply our duties as monks."

"This humble monk accepts the ritual."