Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"Why should I!?"

Facing Bodhisattva's question, the Six-Eared Macaque bared his teeth and, full of hostility, shouted loudly, "What virtues and abilities does Sun Wukong have? He can create havoc in the Underworld, disrupt the Peach Banquet, and even seek the True Scriptures from the West? In terms of Supernatural Powers, in what way am I inferior to him?"

"Therefore, I, the Six-Eared Macaque, also intend to create havoc in the Underworld. As for that Dragon King? I have already slain him! I see so many Underworld Soldiers pressing down on him; he must be a very important criminal! Hahaha! I even specifically went to beat up Xuanzang and his team!

If you hadn't arrived so quickly, I, the Six-Eared Macaque, would have led these monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain to declare war on the Heavenly Court, hahaha, if Sun Wukong can create Havoc in Heaven, why can't I?"

"You evil demon, not only do you seek your own death, but you also tarnish I, Old Sun's reputation, and even wish to drag all monkeys and grandchildren of Flower Fruit Mountain to be buried with you? I, Old Sun, will kill you, you evil demon!"

The frenzied words of the Six-Eared Macaque both shocked and angered Sun Wukong, who bared his teeth and glared fiercely, raising the Jingu Bang in his hands and smashing it down on the Six-Eared Macaque's head.

"Wukong! Wait!" Seeing Sun Wukong's ferocious outburst, Bodhisattva tightened up inside and spoke out to stop him.

But by this time, Sun Wukong's ferocity had escalated, and how could he possibly be restrained by Bodhisattva?

The Jingu Bang mercilessly smashed down on the Six-Eared Macaque's head, directly smashing him into unconsciousness.

"Amitabha, well done, well done..."

Seeing the tragic death of the Six-Eared Macaque, Bodhisattva, unable to bear the sight, bowed her head, averted her eyes, and softly chanted the Buddha's name.

"Hehehe, this demon deserved to die!" Shaking the Jingu Bang, Sun Wukong put it away with a look of unresolved resentment.

"You rascal monkey, didn't I tell you to stop? Although this monkey was despicable, wasn't the sin you committed back then even greater? Didn't you also get a chance to reform?" Bodhisattva shook her head helplessly and said to Sun Wukong.

"Hehehe, Bodhisattva, you may have a compassionate heart, but I, Old Sun, do not!" Grinning, Sun Wukong responded nonchalantly.

"You monkey, alright, this matter is settled, you better hurry back and protect the Scripture Seeker!" Seeing Sun Wukong's stubborn demeanor, Guanyin also helplessly shook her head.

"Folks, I, Old Sun, am going to continue protecting the Scripture Seeker. Don't worry, just wait another three to five years, and when I, Old Sun, have obtained the True Scriptures in Western Heaven, that will be my time to return!"

Having calmed down, Sun Wukong didn't hesitate, turning to address the monkeys and grandchildren of Flower Fruit Mountain.

Swiftly, under the reluctant gazes of these monkeys and grandchildren, he started the journey with Bodhisattva towards Fuling Mountain.

"Three to five years, huh?" Sitting on the Lotus Platform, flying, Bodhisattva's gaze subtly swept over Sun Wukong sitting beside her, quietly murmuring to herself.

Had what Sun Wukong just said truly meant that obtaining the True Scriptures from the West could be completed in about three to five years?

Guanyin internally calculated again; the ninety-nine hardships had just begun.

If they really moved quickly, what would happen if they reached Western Heaven too early and the calamity was not yet full?

It seemed that she had to make good arrangements for the ninety-nine hardships during these days, as time waits for no one.

"Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva, what are you thinking about?" Guanyin was sitting on the Lotus Platform, internally pondering her issues, while Sun Wukong, beside her, swayed his monkey paw in front of her eyes, curiously asking.

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just thinking that this great world truly knows no bounds, who knows when some people with great supernatural powers might pop out!"

Having her thoughts interrupted by Sun Wukong, Guanyin came back to her senses and spoke casually.

"Bodhisattva, now that this matter is settled, why don't you head back to Mount Luojia?" Not mulling over Guanyin's sentiment, Sun Wukong, instead, thought for a moment and then curiously asked.

"Isn't it because of you, you rascal monkey?" Sun Wukong's words made Guanyin give him a vexed look.

"Because of I, Old Sun? What about me?" Sun Wukong felt utterly baffled.

"You'll see when you get there!" Sighing lightly and shaking her head in resignation, Guanyin replied.

In their conversation, Sun Wukong and Bodhisattva soon arrived above Yunzhan Cave of Fuling Mountain.

Sun Wukong descended through the clouds, spotting Jiang Liu sitting by a boulder with White Dragon Horse lowering its head nearby and Zhu Bajie lying on the grass beside them, soundly asleep.

"Master, I, Old Sun, am back!" Having landed, Sun Wukong called out to Jiang Liu.

However, no sooner had Sun Wukong spoken than Jiang Liu, as if startled by some fierce beast, actually got so frightened that he tumbled off the boulder onto the ground.

"Master, what's wrong with you!?" Seeing Jiang Liu's intense reaction, Sun Wukong quickened his steps to help Jiang Liu up from the ground.

"No, don't come over!"

However, Jiang Liu looked utterly terrified as he shouted at Sun Wukong, "You brute monkey, fierce and ruthless, don't follow me to seek the Scriptures in Western Heaven any longer. I am not fortunate enough to have your protection!"

"Master, everything just now was a misunderstanding! The one who attacked you wasn't I, Old Sun, but that Six-Eared Macaque. That villain who tarnished my reputation, the Six-Eared Macaque, has already been killed by me! You can be completely reassured!" Jiang Liu's words clarified for Sun Wukong what had happened, and he said with some sense of grievance.

"Indeed, Xuanzang, I just went to Flower Fruit Mountain with Wukong, and we indeed met that Six-Eared Macaque, who also admitted to his own crimes. This has nothing to do with Wukong!" Seeing that the scripture-seeking team seemed to be encountering problems, Guanyin naturally stepped forward to explain.

"Bodhisattva, since it's your testimony, I naturally believe it, but just, just..."

With his palms folded, Jiang Liu faced difficulty as he spoke the last words.

"Just what? Feel free to speak your mind!" Seeing that Jiang Liu seemed to have other concerns, Guanyin invited him to speak openly.

"It's just that this monkey, by nature fierce, moves along our journey constantly resorting to violence and killing. How can he reach Western Heaven like this? Although I try to teach him, he never listens!"

Jiang Liu also presented a look of grievance and complained to Guanyin, "Bodhisattva, having this monkey by my side, I always feel as though there's a fierce tiger beside me. I can neither eat nor sleep peacefully. Please, let him go!"

"Hey, you unreasonable Little Monk!"

With these words, Sun Wukong also couldn't bear it anymore and snapped angrily, "Think about it, when I, Old Sun, wreaked Havoc in Heaven, how majestic I was. Today, I willingly accept you as my master to protect your journey to Western Heaven—what a great fortune for you, yet you dare to despise I, Old Sun?"

With that said, Sun Wukong looked towards Guanyin and continued, "Bodhisattva, under your guidance, I took this clueless monk as my master to protect his journey to Western Heaven. I have always believed I did nothing to wrong him. Well, since this Little Monk disdains I, Old Sun, I might as well leave right now and return to my Flower Fruit Mountain to enjoy a carefree and joyful life."

"You Rascal Monkey! Don't be unreasonable! There's an old saying—a promise is worth its weight in gold. How can you easily dismiss your own pledge!?" Guanyin chided Sun Wukong in a low voice.

It was headache-inducing, and Guanyin indeed felt quite a headache at this moment.

Jiang Liu may have disliked Sun Wukong for a long time, and this incident with the True and False Monkey King, after being beaten, seemed to magnify his biases and views indefinitely, despite having explained already that it was a misunderstanding. However, he still harbored some fear towards Sun Wukong and therefore wanted to kick him out of the team.

Similarly, as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong had his own pride. From an outsider's perspective, he was indeed doing quite well.

Would they really force him to become a submissive little monkey? Let alone him, Xuanzang, even the Tathagata couldn't manage that, could he?

This master-disciple pair were in a heated argument today, even shouting about going their separate ways. This situation indeed gave Guanyin quite a headache.

However, looking at the current situation, the root of the problem still lay with Xuanzang. Sun Wukong was merely provoked by his words, which is why he angrily talked about returning to Flower Fruit Mountain.

After scolding Sun Wukong to quiet him down, Guanyin's gaze fell on Xuanzang, and after a slight pause, she gently said, "Xuanzang, tell me, ever since Wukong became your disciple, has there ever been anything where he wronged you?"

"He has never wronged me, but since he is my disciple, shouldn't he follow my teachings? Always resorting to violence, such a bloodthirsty nature, I cannot accept a disciple who does not heed teachings," Jiang Liu continued to express his grievances to Guanyin.

Upon saying this, Jiang Liu paused briefly, then added, "Bodhisattva, I really can't control this monkey anymore. I also don't know, if I upset the monkey, whether he might strike me dead someday. Please, let him go!"

Jiang Liu's words made Guanyin sigh softly and waved him over to a secluded side, whispering, "Had I known this day would come, why didn't you use the Tight Hoop I gave you!?"

Thinking of the Tight Hoop, Guanyin felt embarrassed and even somewhat frustrated.

The Tight Hoop she gave him he had used on the Black Bear Demon he fancied, but today, having a conflict with Sun Wukong, he had no means to restrain him.

"Right!"

Slapping his own head, Jiang Liu looked like he had just remembered, and said, "Bodhisattva, about that Tight Hoop you gave me last time, do you have any more? Give me about ten or eight of them? With these on this monkey, I won't have to be afraid of him anymore!"

"This..." Guanyin's expression showed some hesitation.

"Bodhisattva, you don't have any? Then, forget it. I'd like to meet Buddha and ask if he has any. He must have some, right!?"

Seeing Guanyin look troubled, Jiang Liu didn't press her and merely mentioned that he was considering consulting Tathagata.

This remark caused a slight change in Guanyin's expression, and with some reluctance, she spoke, "Well, actually I still have one Tight Hoop..."