The stone door remained motionless. Sun Wukong searched around in front of it to see if there were any mechanisms. Half an hour passed, but he still found nothing.
Yang Xue also gave it a try, but the two - zhang - high stone door still didn't budge.
"Forget it, Great Sage. Let's take a break and then try again." They had walked for quite a while, and Yang Xue was tired. She sat down at the stone table under the wisteria tree and took out her water bag and dry rations.
Sun Wukong was surprised to see her skillful movements. "You've prepared quite well."
"Of course," Yang Xue winked. "Aren't I very virtuous?"
Sun Wukong couldn't help laughing. "Yes, very virtuous."
However, he never expected that the dry rations she brought would be so abundant, just like being at home.
There were bananas, grapes, big lychees, and two plates filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and pine nuts. There was even a beggar's chicken wrapped in a lotus leaf!
Just as he sat down, he saw Yang Xue produce a small stove from somewhere, with a teapot on it. She could even make tea!
This was not just virtuous; she was simply a treasure.
Seeing Sun Wukong's incredulous expression, Yang Xue was especially satisfied. "Great Sage, please have some tea."
"Your preparations are so elaborate. People who don't know might think you're on a spring outing." Taking the tea she offered with both hands, Sun Wukong felt overjoyed. If Zhu Bajie saw this, he would surely be green with envy.
That gluttonous fool who was always eager to eat would definitely like a virtuous and beautiful girl like her.
"This is the first time I've traveled so leisurely with the Great Sage. I originally regarded it as a trip. Although it's summer, the scenery along the way is pleasant. We've come all the way to the Northern Jambu Continent thousands of miles away. The journey is long, so we naturally can't take it lightly."
As she spoke, Yang Xue produced a plate of desserts from somewhere. She picked up a piece and held it to his mouth. "Great Sage, open your mouth."
"..." Looking at the bright - smiling girl in front of him, who clearly had a bewitching face but was kind - hearted and sincere, and most importantly, had liked him from beginning to end, Sun Wukong felt it was unreal.
Why would such a girl take a fancy to him?
"Lost your mind?" Seeing Sun Wukong suddenly staring blankly at her, Yang Xue couldn't help but wave her hand in front of his eyes. "Great Sage, you're pouring the tea on your leg."
"Oops..." He quickly lowered his head and drank the tea in his hand. After thinking for a moment, he said seriously, "Yang Xue, I want to ask you a question."
"Go ahead." After adding water to the teapot, she unwrapped the lotus leaf and tore off a drumstick, offering it to him.
Sun Wukong took the drumstick and stared at her flawless features. He said softly, "Why did you choose to be with me instead of the gentle and elegant God of Wealth who controls all the wealth in the world?"
"Didn't I answer you before? Why are you asking again?" Yang Xue took a big bite of the meat and gave him a disdainful look. "Great Sage, are you still doubting me?"
"No..." Sun Wukong quickly shook his head. "To be honest, I'm just a reckless and clumsy monkey. And you came from beyond the sky. How could you..."
"Clang!" Just then, the stone door in the distance suddenly opened from the inside.
"Who dares to be so presumptuous here and disturb my master's cultivation!" A young immortal in white robes came down the steps angrily.
Sun Wukong stood up and walked over. His attitude was quite polite. "We're just passing by and taking a short rest here. May I ask where this place is?"
Yang Xue quickly finished the drumstick. She wondered if there was someone cultivating in this cave. Could it be that the Six - Eared Macaque wasn't here?
"This is the resting place of the Patriarch Bodhi. Who are you?"
"Patriarch Bodhi?" Sun Wukong stood still, stunned. Since he returned after learning his skills, he hadn't seen his master again!
Could this actually be his master's territory?
His master once said that from then on, they would never meet again as master and disciple, and he must never let anyone know their relationship.
By some coincidence, was he finally going to see his master again?
Yang Xue threw away the bone in her hand, wiped her hands, and walked over. "Great Sage."
She knew that Sun Wukong respected the Patriarch Bodhi very much. He was also a person who valued emotions and righteousness. Now that he had the chance to meet his master again, he must be eager to see him.
"Great Sage?" The young immortal looked at the handsome and elegant man in front of him in surprise and said in disbelief, "Are you Sun Wukong?"
"I am." Sun Wukong said excitedly. "I wonder if you could let us in to see the old master."
"Who is she?" The young immortal glanced at Yang Xue. "Is she the evil demoness who made you have inner demons and abandon the journey to the West?"
Yang Xue didn't like this. She frowned and retorted, "Who are you calling an evil demoness? How dare you be so rude at such a young age!"
If it weren't for knowing that the person inside was the Patriarch Bodhi, she would have argued with the young immortal.
"Don't be rude!" Suddenly, a deep and solemn male voice came from inside. "Wukong, come in."
Sun Wukong was extremely excited. "Master!"
Saying that, he ran up the steps, wishing he could rush in front of his master immediately.
Yang Xue suddenly felt a bit nervous. She thought that since it was his master, she shouldn't disturb them. She was still hungry, and there was still a lot of meat left. It would be a pity to waste it.
Just as she was about to turn around and go back to the stone table to continue eating, another voice came from behind the stone door. "Since the young lady is here, why not come in together."
"Alright." She reached out towards the stone table and put all the things back into the Qiankun Bag.
She thought she needed a Sumeru Ring that could hold a lot of things.
Sun Wukong turned around, stretched out his hand, and smiled. "Come."
Yang Xue looked at Sun Wukong's palm and happily ran over. "Okay."
At least in front of his master, the Great Sage didn't intend to hide her identity.
She had definitely chosen the right person. The Great Sage was still an open - and - above - board man.
After entering the stone door, they found a whole new world inside. Everywhere they went was magnificent, like a fairyland on earth.
The young immortal led the way in front. They rode on the fog and passed through the large garden shrouded in mist before arriving at the main hall on the high platform.
They saw an old man with an otherworldly air sitting on the futon. His hair and beard were gray. He waved his Buddhist whisk and looked directly at Yang Xue.
What a strong aura, full of hostility.
Presumably, he had heard about her and regarded Yang Xue as an evil demoness who had caused Sun Wukong to make another big ruckus in Heaven. Most of the blame was probably put on her.
Yang Xue faced his gaze fearlessly. She casually glanced at the legendary Patriarch Bodhi and thought that perhaps Sun Wukong's master was like an ordinary father, and he probably didn't look favorably on her.
"Master, disciple pays homage to you!" Sun Wukong knelt in front of him. When they met again, his eyes couldn't help but moisten.
"Get up." Although Bodhi looked unhappy, he still helped Sun Wukong up. "Didn't I say that I'm no longer your master?"
"Disciple will never forget the kindness of your teachings, master." Sun Wukong turned to look at Yang Xue and introduced, "This is..."
"I know. The White - Bone Demon." His eyes narrowed slightly, and he thought for a moment. "But why can't I see her true form?"
"Because she is no longer the White - Bone Demon." Sun Wukong said seriously. "Disciple knows that master blames me for my current choice, but it's not because of her."