Chapter 109: Three Burials and the Discussion of Zen
Bumble Baowen said, "Your Highness, I think that Sun Wukong is alright, but that Tang Sanzang is truly terrifying..."
Upon hearing this, Jiu Tou Consort immediately burst into laughter, "Bumble Baowen, are you confused or did you drink some fake booze? I know about Sun Wukong, he indeed caused a big fuss in the Heavenly Palace back in the day and had some skills, but that Tang Sanzang? Hahaha... he's just an ordinary monk. What's there to be afraid of?"
Bumble Baowen thought about how the bald one had knocked out Bumblebeowen with a single punch, and said with a bewildered face, "Are ordinary people really that fierce these days?"
However, Jiu Tou Consort clearly didn't care about these details and beckoned, "Bring me my armor and weapons!"
Immediately, a little demon brought the armor, and Jiu Tou Consort, holding the crescent shovel, strode out of the palace, parted the waterway, and rushed through the Bi Bo Pond on a wave. He intended to shout loudly to intimidate the other party, but then he realized there were too many monkeys in front of him, and he couldn't figure out which one was the legendary Sun Wukong.
So he shouted, "Which one of you is Sun Wukong?"
The Sun Wukong in the sky chuckled, "Old Sun is right here!"
Jiu Tou Consort angrily said, "Sun Wukong, instead of going to the West to fetch your True Scriptures, you come here to meddle in the affairs of my Bi Bo Pond. Are you overdosing on medication, or do you just have too much energy?"
Sun Wukong was about to say something when Tang Sanzang yelled out, "Stop the nonsense, that nine-headed whatever, just hurry up and bring out the Shariputra. I still need to rush back for dinner!"
Jiu Tou Consort heard this and immediately became furious, "I stole the Shariputra through my own abilities, why should I return it to you? I stole my treasure; what does this have to do with you, yet you come here to trouble me?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang sneered, "Heh, you're even more shameless than this poor monk!"
Jiu Tou Consort responded indignantly, "How am I shameless? I stole it fair and square, why should I return it?"
The Six-eared Macaque said, "You water monster are strange. You don't even believe in Buddhism; why do you bother stealing Buddhist Shariputra? You've caused Golden Light Temple so much trouble they're nearly wiped out."
Jiu Tou Consort said, "Shariputra is indeed useless to me, but my wife loves shiny things. Since Shariputra is so shiny, of course, I want to take it."
Sun Wukong sneered, "Just because she wants it, you steal it? What if she wants something every day, can you afford it?"
Jiu Tou Consort, looking somewhat embarrassed, said, "Well, I'll try my best to keep fit."
Sun Wukong was taken aback, feeling that this guy had somehow twisted his words.
Before he could speak, Tang Sanzang sighed, looking at Jiu Tou Consort with disdain mingled with pity, "I thought that the hero who outsmarted everyone to win the beauty would be a true hero, but turns out, he's just a lapdog."
Upon hearing this, Jiu Tou Consort instantly became enraged, "Tang Sanzang, you monk, what do you know about love, since we love each other, of course, I have to do my best to please her!"
Tang Sanzang looked at him with even more disdain and said, "It seems you really don't understand."
Curious, Jiu Tou Consort asked, "Tang Sanzang, do you understand how to flirt?"
Tang Sanzang shook his head nonchalantly, "Heh... on my journey, I've heard many stories and rumors. It's said that the entire Investiture of the Gods war happened because of a woman."
Jiu Tou Consort said, "That's Su Daji."
Tang Sanzang said, "Right, it's that Su Daji. But tell me, wasn't King Zhou just an ordinary man? Wasn't he a great emperor of his time? How could a mere vixen skilled in the Way of Enchantment bewitch such a man?"
Jiu Tou Consort agreed, "This... indeed makes no sense."
Tang Sanzang said, "So, why would such a great emperor be so devotedly in love with her?"
Curious, Jiu Tou Consort asked, "Why, indeed?"
Tang Sanzang said, "It's all because of her nine tails!"
The Nine-headed Fiance was shocked and caused water waves as he came before Tang Sanzang, respectfully greeting him, "Please, revered monk, clarify my doubts."
With utmost seriousness, Tang Sanzang replied, "Where exactly are those nine tails located?"
On the bottom," replied the Nine-headed Fiance.
Tang Sanzang clapped his hands and said, "That's right. Based on the rigorous research and analysis I've conducted on my journey, if nine tails are growing there, any action taken is bound to be especially thrilling. Just imagine the scene, the feeling of those tails flustering you… It's definitely better than twin ponytails."
The Nine-headed Fiance's eyes reddened and he began to breathe more rapidly, "That makes sense…"
But then the Nine-headed Fiance asked, "But what does that have to do with my courting girls?"
Your journey continues with empire
Tang Sanzang said, "Of course it's related! Su Daji is a nine-tailed fox spirit, and you are a Nine-headed Fiance, essentially similar. Both have nine, why shouldn't you succeed? Because she has nine entrancing tails on her bottom… And you?
You darn have nine heads sprouting on your body.
Playing the role of a grape spirit, are we?
Besides scaring and disgusting people, what other use do those nine heads have?
They add no charm at all, instead they drag you down."
The Nine-headed Fiance thought about it and seemed to recognize the logic, frowning, "Then according to the high monk, what should I do?"
Tang Sanzang said, "According to this poor monk, you should learn from Su Daji. If you get nine tails, it will definitely look better than having nine heads."
A gleam shone in the eyes of the Nine-headed Fiance, who then burst into laughter, clasping his hands in a bow, "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Monk. Listening to you is better than ten years of study. I'll get to it once I'm back!"
Tang Sanzang joyfully bowed in return, "Next time we meet, I should be calling you the Nine-tailed Fiance."
The Nine-headed Fiance chuckled and shook his head, "No... you still have to call me Nine-headed Fiance!"
Tang Sanzang was stunned, then both exchanged a look and burst out laughing simultaneously...
"By the way, revered monk, didn't you want Shariputra? Give me a moment, I'll fetch it for you!" The Nine-headed Fiance bowed and then dived back into the river.
Shortly after, the Nine-headed Fiance emerged with Shariputra, handing it over while saying, "Revered monk, here is Shariputra. Take care of it. And when you're free, please give me more guidance."
Tang Sanzang received the Shariputra and said, "Well said, well said..."
The Nine-headed Fiance then turned to Wukong and said, "Monkey, next time she wants something, I can afford to give it!"
Wukong watched the smug Nine-headed Fiance, dumbfounded...
On the way back, Tang Sanzang proudly said, "Disciples, let me tell you, journeying to the West for the True Scriptures isn't about fighting and killing, but understanding human interactions! See, with just a few words, I've enlightened a lost lamb. What do you call that?
That's called transformation, that's called merit, and that is the profound demonstration of Buddhist law!"
Wukong and the Six-eared Macaque snickered internally, "Damn, if the Buddhist Law in Mount Ling were all like this, the Buddha himself would probably die of anger…"