With Sun Wukong around, Yang Xue didn't dare to dawdle. She picked several vegetable stalls and bought some vegetables and tofu, as well as some seasonings, and fetched several catties of wine.
As for meat, there was no need to spend money on it.
Before leaving home, she told the cat fairy and the tiger spirit to go to the mountains to catch fish and pheasants. It was both delicious and cost - saving.
It had to be said that the White Bone Spirit was really poor. She rummaged through the box at the head of the bed and only found a box of valuable jewelry. The total amount of loose silver was no more than twenty taels.
"Get back early after you're done shopping. I'm sleepy, Great Sage." Sun Wukong saw that Yang Xue's hands were full of heavy things and had no interest in lingering on the crowded street.
"Yeah, I'm done shopping." Yang Xue suddenly thought Sun Wukong was a bit cute. "Thanks, Great Sage, for coming out with me to buy groceries."
"I just suspected you had ill intentions. I wasn't accompanying you." He cockily looked up at the sky. "But I advise you that even if a selected fairy doesn't eat Tang Seng's flesh, it can't escape their clutches."
"Thanks for the advice, Great Sage. But since I've met the Great Sage, it's not too late for me to slip away after dinner." She suddenly felt a bit sad and sniffled. "Maybe we'll never meet again in this lifetime. All I can offer is my cooking skills!"
Sun Wukong looked at her seriously but said nothing.
"Madam's back!" The cat fairy beamed when he saw her. He wasn't as afraid of her as before.
Although they felt that there was something different about their madam, she no longer beat or scolded them. Instead, she would say nice things and care about their lives, which touched them deeply.
"Yeah, how was your harvest?" Yang Xue handed the things to them. When she saw a bucket of fish and seven or eight wild game on the stone table in the kitchen, she was quite surprised.
"So much. Great job. I didn't expect you guys to be so capable. And the bamboo baskets you wove are quite nice." She picked up a bamboo strip and suddenly realized that these little fairies had many untapped skills.
"I'm glad Madam likes them. I used to like weaving things when I was free, but I never had a chance to use my skills." Having received Madam's approval, the rabbit spirit was a bit shy. She lowered her head and took a bite of a carrot.
The rabbit spirit had transformed into a girl about sixteen or seventeen years old. She had two little buns on her head with two beautiful camellias in them. She was so delicate and lovely.
She was one of Madam's maids. The other one was a rat spirit, but no one knew where she had gone.
Maybe seeing that they couldn't get a taste of Tang Seng's flesh, she had secretly run away.
"Madam, are we really not going to eat Tang Seng's flesh?" The cat fairy looked like a seventeen - year - old young master. He was handsome with a sunny smile. His big, round eyes made him look simple - minded but also very smart when he smiled.
"From now on, you'll be called Mao Mao. Your eyes are really nice." Yang Xue patted his head. "But Mao Mao, I have to tell you that Tang Seng's flesh won't make people live forever. For us, it's just a sleeping spell."
"Why?" The rabbit spirit curiously leaned over. "Madam, give me a name too."
"You'll be called Xiao Rou." Yang Xue was picking vegetables. She looked at the door and lowered her voice. "Their journey to the Western Heaven is a well - designed scheme. They were carefully selected and arranged to go on this journey. Only after experiencing eighty - one hardships can they achieve merit and obtain the Buddhist scriptures."
"Ah, it's so hard." Xiao Rou shook her head. "So they're just errand - runners."
"Xiao Rou is so smart. You've hit the nail on the head." She chuckled softly. "But it has nothing to do with us. The important thing is that we insignificant fairies are just tools for them to go through hardships. Every time a fairy encounters them, not only can't they eat Tang Seng's flesh, but they'll either be captured or killed. Those of us without a powerful backer will end up miserably."
As she said this, she suddenly remembered that the White Bone Spirit was the main reason why Sun Wukong was sent back to the Flower - Fruit Mountain.
Now with her as a variable, wouldn't it seriously disrupt their plan?
She suddenly slapped her forehead. "Oh, we can't stay here any longer. Cook the food quickly and send it over. Those who trust me, run away tonight!"
"Madam, is it really that scary? I'll go with you." Xiao Rou was easily frightened. She looked at her with teary eyes.
"Madam, the water is boiled and the meat is chopped. Leave the rest to the rabbit. I'll go pack my luggage." Hearing this, Mao Mao seriously dropped the firewood.
Having seen Sun Wukong with his own eyes, he thought Madam's words were very believable.
"Okay, go quickly. Those who don't believe me can do as they please. Anyway, as long as I leave, they should be safe." Yang Xue rolled up her sleeves. "Xiao Rou, start the fire. First, make the vegetarian dishes and send them to them. I need to eat meat."
What they didn't know was that every word of their conversation had fallen into Sun Wukong's ears.
He was highly magical. No one could detect him after he turned invisible.
Watching Yang Xue skillfully cooking in front of the stove, he always felt that this fairy didn't belong here.
How did she know the plans of those in the Western Heaven? Logically speaking, since she was so intelligent, she shouldn't just be a newly - transformed White Bone Spirit.
Judging from her words and deeds, she was even more insightful than the master.
There was no need for her to consult about Buddhist doctrines.
It was just a pity that he had been under the Five - Finger Mountain for five hundred years before he could figure out the real intentions of those in the Heavenly Court and the Western Heaven.
Before he knew it, Sun Wukong quietly left.
Yang Xue cooked a table full of vegetarian dishes and a soup. She asked Xiao Rou to send them over.
Then she made a braised fish and a spicy diced chicken for herself. She stood by the pot, drooling.
She mustn't let those monks smell it. It would be bad if it made them break their precepts.
"Master, Miss Bai's cooking is really good. It would be great if she could go on the journey to obtain the scriptures with us." Zhu Bajie was conquered by the two meals cooked by the White Bone Spirit. He had never eaten such delicious vegetarian food.
Even without meat, he thought these simple vegetarian dishes were no worse than the big fish and meat he had eaten before.
With such good cooking skills, it was a pity for her to be a fairy.
"Don't talk nonsense, Bajie." No matter how delicious the food was, Tang Seng ate it calmly.
He had to admit that the vegetarian food in the temple where he used to stay was also well - known for its deliciousness, but it was not as good as Miss Bai's cooking.
"Finish eating and rest early. Don't daydream." Sun Wukong got up after eating. "I'll go fetch some water for the master. It's been a long time since he had a hot - water foot bath."
"Okay, go." Tang Seng didn't expose him. He guessed that his eldest disciple was probably going to find Miss Bai.
It was okay. The journey to obtain the scriptures was also a kind of practice. Sun Wukong had always been indifferent to worldly desires. Tang Seng used to feel sorry for him.
Now, it would be good for him to experience the seven emotions and six desires of ordinary people.
It was just a pity that he didn't know if this fairy could really get away unscathed.
After walking for so long, he had gradually realized that the journey to the Western Heaven might not be as simple as he had imagined.
Sun Wukong came to the kitchen and found that the once - messy room was now neatly arranged and all the utensils were cleaned spotlessly.
The White Bone Spirit and several little fairies were sitting around, drinking and eating meat. They looked so carefree and happy.
Looking at this scene, he suddenly missed his days in the Flower - Fruit Mountain.
It was a pity that since he was released from under the Five - Finger Mountain, he had never returned to the Flower - Fruit Mountain to stay for a while.
Five hundred years had passed. Those days of living freely with the monkeys and monkeys were gone forever.