Sun Wukong held his hands high, feeling the little demon clinging to his chest. He tilted his head back, at a loss.
All my glorious reputation is about to be ruined by this little demon.
He had to admit that Bai Xue was attractive to him, and for the time being, he didn't want to analyze what exactly this attraction was.
However, Bai Xue's reaction exceeded his expectations. Originally, he just simply didn't want to appear in front of her in that previous inexplicable image to help her...
"Great Sage, if you don't say anything, I'll take it as you admitting that you like me." Yang Xue wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm extremely delighted that you came back to see me."
Sun Wukong blushed and his heart raced. He patted her on the shoulder and pulled her away from himself. "Miss Yang, I came back just to confirm where you're going to hide?"
"Actually, my name is not Bai Xue but Yang Xue. From now on, will you call me Miss Yang?" She had hinted to Sun Wukong before that she was not a real White - Bone Demon, and later he never asked, perhaps he had forgotten.
"Okay, Miss Yang, stand still." Sun Wukong grabbed her two wrists, as soft as boneless, for fear that she would throw herself into his arms again.
"Okay." Yang Xue stood still obediently, smiling like a flower. "Sun Wukong, you're not here to capture me and send me to the Buddha, are you?"
"Huh?"
"Even if so, it's enough for me in this life to see you dressed like this just for me, not wearing the monk's robe." Yang Xue looked at the real Sun Wukong in front of her, who seemed like an ordinary mortal man, and her heart was full.
Although she didn't quite believe that Sun Wukong would do these things for her.
Before, she admired him more, but now after getting in touch with and getting familiar with him, she began to like this real and easily - teased man.
"You doubt me?" Sun Wukong took a step back and then flicked her on the head. "You actually doubt the character of this Great Sage?"
"Pfft~" Yang Xue burst into laughter, with watery eyes. So he really came because he cared about her.
"What are you laughing at?" Sun Wukong grabbed her back collar angrily and took her onto the cloud. "It's almost dawn. I'll take you to a place. It's not too late for you to carry out your plan in a few days."
"Okay." For some reason, she trusted Sun Wukong's arrangement very much, as if she suddenly had a sense of belonging and direction.
Just like a stray kitten that suddenly found its owner, as long as he made any arrangement, she would trust him.
However, she never expected that the place he mentioned was still his old lair, Flower - Fruit Mountain!
There was also a small Water - Curtain Cave in the left mountain depression of Flower - Fruit Mountain. This was the cultivation cave of Sun Wukong alone.
"In the past, when I was cultivating, little monkeys would come to clean. Now this place has been vacant for a long time, and they are all reluctant to come." Sun Wukong waved his hand, and the cave became quiet and tidy. Compared with the cave of the Leopard King, it was like heaven and earth.
This place was almost like a palace courtyard. The tables, chairs, beds and cabinets were all made of wood, with an antique flavor; the bed curtains and veils were all off - white. Outside the window, on the cliff, there was an ancient vine twined with pink flowers, looking very dreamy.
"Great Sage, did you prepare this specially for me?" She just didn't believe that it was like this when Sun Wukong lived here before.
"I just made a little arrangement." He turned his head and touched his high nose tip. "I should go. If you feel bored staying alone, I've told a few little monkeys. They will come to accompany you. Since you like cooking, just tell them. They can find any materials for you and do whatever you order."
Such a thoughtful arrangement was made by him in just half an hour?
If she didn't come, wouldn't all these preparations be in vain?
Yang Xue was extremely touched. Seeing Sun Wukong about to slip away quietly again, she stepped forward and grabbed his palm from behind.
"Don't move." Yang Xue held his hand tightly and watched his ears turn red. "Thank you for your arrangement. Don't worry. I'll leave when I've had enough."
"Okay." He didn't turn back, but he didn't shake off her hand either.
"Great Sage..." These actions had already made Yang Xue have the impulse to marry him and bear his children.
But she couldn't be impatient. Otherwise, he might be so scared that he would never dare to return to Flower - Fruit Mountain again and would wander in the Three Realms, leaving behind the monkeys and grandchildren.
"Okay, what else?" His voice was very soft, obviously nervous.
"Do well on your journey to obtain the scriptures, and I'll also practice hard. When I achieve the right result, Great Sage, you mustn't fall in love with other fairies."
"..."
Yang Xue got anxious. "Great Sage, will you promise me or not?"
"I've never been interested in fairies." Sun Wukong broke free from her hand and flashed out of the cave. "I'm leaving."
---
In the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Heaven.
All the Buddhist dignitaries were extremely panicked that Manjusri Bodhisattva and his entourage went to the town where the White - Bone Demon was but still let her escape smoothly.
What on earth was the origin of this White - Bone Demon that she could slip away right under their noses again and again? This matter must be more complicated than it seemed on the surface.
"Didn't the Heavenly Court send people to the mortal world to capture the White - Bone Demon? They also got nothing?" A look of uneasiness appeared on Tathagata's face.
Guanyin stepped forward. "They sent the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming. I met him in the mortal world before, and so far, he has found nothing."
The arhats and all the bodhisattvas in the main hall were all amazed.
"I heard that the Wordless Stone Tablet in the Heavenly Court cracked. Ten thousand years ago, an ancient god prophesied that 'when the stone tablet cracks, a heavenly sage will come'. Could it be that the White - Bone Demon is protected by a sage?" As soon as Samantabhadra Bodhisattva spoke, it made everyone whisper to each other. "Perhaps we shouldn't capture the White - Bone Demon. Bullying a little demon is not in line with the deeds of our Buddha."
Guanyin nodded. "What Samantabhadra said is very true. I also think that it's not the White - Bone Demon's fault that she escaped our plan."
After a while, Tathagata nodded. "Forget it. Let her go."
After the court meeting was over, Manjusri Bodhisattva received a private summons from Tathagata.
"That White - Bone Demon was instigated by someone. We mustn't let her roam free. Send people to search for her in the mortal world. Don't slack off." A strange look flashed across Tathagata's eyes, and his powerful voice echoed above Manjusri's head.
"Yes, disciple will obey the decree."
---
It was noon, near Flat - Top Mountain.
Tang Seng and his disciples were walking through the forest. Zhu Bajie was leading the White Dragon Horse and looked up at Tang Seng.
"Master, hasn't Brother Monkey been acting weird these two days? He has fallen from the tree several times. Could it be that he has encountered some evil spirit and gone crazy?" Zhu Bajie pointed forward.
Tang Seng looked up and saw Sun Wukong lying on a tree trunk in the distance, crossing his legs and twirling a willow branch in his hand, staring blankly at the sky.
That monkey was always steady and serious, but these two days, he would sometimes laugh and sometimes look sad. Before, he always stayed around the team, not too far away.
But in these two days, Sun Wukong often flew up to the clouds and waited for them from afar.
Several times, everyone saw Sun Wukong fall straight from the tree. Even when he was in pain, he didn't make a sound. He just grimaced, then got up unsteadily, patted his butt, looking like a drunkard.
Obviously, he had rarely drunk recently, but he still staggered and didn't walk properly.
"Master, could it be that this monkey has been bewitched by some demon? I'm really scared. How about telling the bodhisattva to come and take a look and send him back to Flower - Fruit Mountain?" Zhu Bajie was quite well - informed, but he had never seen anyone act so crazy. There was not a trace of the image of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.