On an ordinary afternoon, Tang Seng met the queen. His heart, which had never known great joy or sorrow, skipped a beat at that moment.
Although he had seen many beautiful women, the one before him was not the most beautiful.
When their eyes met, those almond - shaped eyes soft yet charming, full of affection, he was like a man possessed and instinctively dodged.
This was the first time he had felt a wild surge of emotions since he entered the Buddhist order.
At this moment, Tang Seng suddenly understood. He suddenly understood Sun Wukong's choice.
Previously, he had been somewhat displeased with Sun Wukong's actions, but now it all turned into a strong resonance.
"Your Majesty, would you please take a walk with me in the imperial garden?" When this beautiful woman appeared before him and made the invitation gracefully, Tang Seng felt his legs wouldn't listen. By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing in the flowerbed with the queen.
Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng watched their master's eyes following the queen like a lost soul. They were curious and anxious.
"Brother Sha, our master has never had such a passionate look in his eyes. Do you think he's fallen for the queen and might stay here and break his vows?" Zhu Bajie lay on the concubine's chair, looking at the unique courtyard. His mouth never stopped, and his hands were never without fruits.
"No," Sha Seng shook his head firmly. "Even if the master has feelings, he won't stop on the journey to fetch the scriptures."
Zhu Bajie sat up from the chair. Looking at Sha Seng's calm eyes, he couldn't help but feel curious. He leaned closer and probed, "Brother Sha, have you never been in love?"
"Why do you ask?" Sha Seng sat on the ground, his hands fingering the large Buddhist beads on his chest. A faint smile crossed his lips. "Are you thinking of going back to Gao Laozhuang again, Second Brother?"
"Go back to what Gao Laozhuang! This is the Land of Daughters! We should persuade the master now, before Brother Monkey comes back, to make the master fall head - over - heels in love with the queen and decide to stay. Then we two can stay here too. Didn't the female official say that as long as we're willing to stay, we can choose any woman in the palace!"
As he spoke, Zhu Bajie couldn't help but drool, his eyes shining. "The women here are much prettier than the girls in Gao Laozhuang. And they won't look down on me like my father - in - law did, nor will they be scared out of their wits when they find out I'm a demon."
Sha Seng nodded in agreement. "That's true. The women here are very enthusiastic. It's a bit overwhelming."
"Where's White Dragon Horse?" Zhu Bajie stood up and chuckled. "We should share the good fortune and bear the bad together. How could we forget him? I'll go and invite him for tea."
"White Dragon Horse will surely be more popular than us, but I think it's not appropriate. Second Brother, the master said we mustn't break our vows." Sha Seng stood up and walked towards the backyard. "I'll go find him. You rest first, Second Brother."
Zhu Bajie sighed. "I know, I know. We have to wait until the master makes a decision."
Since there were no beautiful women to embrace, he might as well fill his stomach first.
With that thought in mind, Zhu Bajie grabbed the grapes and bananas on the table, lay back on the chair, and ate with relish.
Yang Xue and Sun Wukong were hiding in the shadows, chuckling. "Zhu Bajie still has such a strong desire to break his vows."
"That idiot will never forget the girls in Gao Laozhuang. But didn't you say before that according to the original fate, this idiot didn't go back to Gao Laozhuang and completed the journey to fetch the scriptures?" Sun Wukong still didn't quite believe that Zhu Bajie didn't go back in the end.
"He didn't go back. Although he never forgot about going back to Gao Laozhuang on the way, he still persisted in finishing the journey with you and was conferred the title of the Clean Altar Envoy." She stroked her chin. "But I don't know if the ending will change now. After all, you, Great Sage, have exceeded my expectations and are very different from the original Sun Wukong."
Sun Wukong didn't comment. Standing on the wall, he looked at the garden in the distance. "Come on, let's go and see how the master is flirting with the queen."
"Let's go!" She was also more curious about Tang Seng and followed Sun Wukong to the imperial garden.
Tang Seng was wearing his monk's robe, with the red cassock on his shoulders. Standing with the bejeweled and gorgeously - dressed queen, they looked surprisingly harmonious.
The queen's eyes were big and bright. Every time she looked at Tang Seng, the affection in her eyes seemed to overflow, making people's hearts flutter.
Sun Wukong marveled. "I didn't expect that the master could be so elegant and considerate. He's smiling like a lotus. It seems I should let him stay."
"Don't be hasty." Yang Xue calculated the time. They had only been in the palace for two days. Even if he was smitten, it was just the beginning. If they made a decision now, Tang Seng would surely be angry and have a falling - out with Sun Wukong.
After all, Tang Seng was dedicated to Buddhism. Even if the queen was extremely beautiful and made him lose his mind, he would still turn around resolutely and choose his Buddha.
"Shouldn't we show ourselves?" Sun Wukong watched as the master lowered his head, trying to recite the Heart - Purifying Mantra to get rid of his wild thoughts. Suddenly, he didn't want to stay here anymore. "Since he's okay, let's go back."
"But I remember that here your master will be kidnapped by the Scorpion Demon of the Land of Daughters. She's always been at odds with the queen. Knowing that the queen has taken a fancy to Tang Seng, she can't wait to steal him away!"
"Then let's wait." Sun Wukong sat on the wall reluctantly. "I'd like to see where this..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a dark cloud floating down from the sky and landing directly in the imperial garden, right in front of Tang Seng!
"Monster!" Sun Wukong jumped off the wall. Before he could chase after it, he saw the figure that had just appeared wave its sleeve, pick Tang Seng up on its shoulder, and float into the air again!
"Great Sage, wait for me!" Yang Xue slipped and fell off the wall.
"There really is a demon who kidnapped the master. It seems that all this is still within Tathagata's control. Even if I didn't come, I'd still be called when something goes wrong!" He picked Yang Xue up from the ground, patted the dust off her. "If he recites the Tight - Headband Spell, I'd have some peace!"
Yang Xue knew he didn't mean what he said and didn't expose him. She pulled him and leaped into the air. "Alas, it's a pity that Tang Seng didn't recite the spell after all. Let's go and see what the female demon who kidnapped him looks like!"
She remembered that the Scorpion Demon was not easy to deal with. In the end, they had to invite the Rooster Star Official to subdue her.
She wondered if they could subdue her this time without asking the Rooster Star Official.
"Brother Monkey, Brother Monkey, is that you?" After Tang Seng was kidnapped, the queen was panicked and called her attendants. Hearing the commotion, Zhu Bajie ran over. Seeing the movement on the wall, he shouted at them.
Sun Wukong didn't show himself. "Do you think the Scorpion Demon wants the master to stay just like the queen?"
"She's much more aggressive than the queen. She'll use all her skills to try to make your master break his vows so that he has to stay."
"Oh?" Sun Wukong curled his lips. "Then let's wait a bit more. Let's see if the female demon can succeed."
"Ah?" Yang Xue was caught off guard. "But if we don't go, our master is just a mortal..."
"Second Brother, the master has been kidnapped by a demon. Let's go and save the master quickly!"