Why on earth must I go on the Buddhist scripture pilgrimage?
Sun Wukong leaned against the trunk of a tree, pondering this question for a long time. If he hadn't remembered to catch fish for Yang Xue, he could have sat on the tree for a whole day.
"Your Majesty, since you don't want to go, why not just give it up?" The old monkey who managed Huaguo Mountain on behalf of Sun Wukong stood under the tree and gently advised. There was a hint of rebellion on his wrinkled face. "We all can't stand to see you being ordered around by the Western Heaven and Tang Seng. Even though the golden hoop is gone, their intention to restrain you won't change."
"I understand." His voice was desolate, and his eyes looked even more melancholy in the afterglow of the setting sun. He leaped down from the treetop and flew towards the river above the waterfall. "Xue'er is in poor health. This Great Sage is going to catch a few fish. You prepare more dishes. This Great Sage has something important to discuss with your mistress!"
The old monkey replied cheerfully, "Sure, I'll go right away." Although he had a bad leg, he was in high spirits. He walked shakily towards the cave.
Since the Great Sage brought Miss Yang back, their monkeys and descendants had been much more active than before, racking their brains to please her.
They had never thought that their Great Sage would one day bring back such a beautiful wife. What's more important was that she was very kind to them. She never bossed them around or put on airs.
So, if the Great Sage went on the scripture pilgrimage, they were afraid that such a beautiful wife would be lured away by others, and they would be helpless.
After all, in their monkey community, such things happened frequently. If a male monkey didn't accompany his wife well, it was quite common for her to be coaxed and lured away by another male monkey.
When Yang Xue woke up, her head was groggy, as if she had had a heavy night of drinking. Her whole body was weak and listless.
Soon, someone came in from outside. Seeing her awake, she served her to wash her face.
Originally, Yang Xue was not used to being served, but today she really had no strength, so she let it be.
Since Sun Wukong had returned from the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave after learning his skills, many monkeys on Huaguo Mountain had also started to practice. Now there were dozens of male and female monkeys who had cultivated human forms. They all helped the old monkey manage Huaguo Mountain.
Noticing the red marks on Miss Yang's neck, which were quite shocking, and her slender and soft waist, the maid thought that the Great Sage was really lucky.
Maybe they were going to have a little Great Sage soon.
Hearing this, Yang Xue secretly regretted that it was evening again.
She was very hungry, famished. If her stomach hadn't been growling, she wouldn't have wanted to get up for the time being.
After a simple dressing, Yang Xue came to the round table outside and saw a table full of delicious dishes, extremely sumptuous.
"Where's the Great Sage?" After drinking a bowl of tea, Yang Xue didn't see Sun Wukong's figure. "Why doesn't he come to have dinner with me?"
"Some demons from other mountains have come to pledge their allegiance to the Great Sage outside. He must have been detained. The Great Sage has ordered that the lady should eat first, and he will come later."
Yang Xue then buried her head in eating. She was really too hungry.
Not long after, the sound of footsteps came from the corridor outside, getting closer and closer.
Yang Xue looked over. The Great Sage lifted the curtain. Seeing her, he showed a smile. "Xue'er is up. Are you still tired?"
"Ah..." She glanced at the two maids standing on both sides and blushed. "You two go back and have dinner first. There's no need for you to serve here."
"Yes!" The two maids stole glances at Yang Xue and snickered.
"Great Sage, how could you ask such a question in front of them? People will be shy." Yang Xue picked up a piece of fish and put it in his bowl. "The fish today is very delicious. I heard you caught them in the river?"
"Yeah, Xue'er, eat more. This Great Sage has already eaten." He sat beside Yang Xue, staring at her affectionately and dotingly. "I'll just watch you eat."
Yang Xue buried her head and didn't look at him. She thought that the Great Sage was so charming today. Could it be that he was thinking about something improper again?
She quickly looked up and glared at him. "Don't look at me like this. We must sleep in separate rooms tonight! We're going on the Buddhist scripture pilgrimage to the Western Heaven. Be more serious."
"Xue'er is right to scold me, but I'm not being improper. I just want to look at you more. This Great Sage has such a beautiful wife. Many people envy me." He propped his chin on his hand and gently gazed at her. "Xue'er, I don't want to go on the scripture pilgrimage anymore."
"Hmm?" She spat out the bone in her mouth. Her cheeks were bulging, and she asked in surprise, "Why?"
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside again. They were striding quickly, and in a blink of an eye, the person arrived at the door.
Yang Xue wondered who it was. The footsteps were so similar to the Great Sage's...
"Xue'er?"
"..."
Yang Xue was stunned. She looked at the Sun Wukong standing at the door with wide - open eyes, and then at the person sitting beside her. They looked exactly the same!
"Who are you?" The Sun Wukong at the door suddenly rushed over, took out his golden cudgel, stood on the chair beside the table, and pointed at the person beside Yang Xue. He gritted his teeth and said, "What kind of demon are you? Why are you pretending to be me!"
The one sitting beside Yang Xue was not intimidated either. He immediately jumped onto the chair, took out his golden cudgel at the same time, and pointed at the other one. He said, "Where did you come from, demon? Why did you break into my room and transform into an exact copy of this Great Sage? Who sent you!"
"Xue'er, come here. Stand behind me!" The Sun Wukong who came in from the door anxiously stretched out his hand and called to the still - dazed Yang Xue. "Hurry up. He's dangerous!"
"Xue'er, he's a demon. Don't go over!" Then he quickly jumped off the chair and pulled Yang Xue behind him. "He must be a demon sent by Tathagata. Don't go over!"
"..." Yang Xue was holding a chicken leg, staring blankly at the two identical Sun Wukongs and their identical golden cudgels. She thought, why did the Six - Eared Macaque appear so early?
She stepped aside, not getting close to either of them. Under their surprised gazes, she slowly took a bite of the chicken leg. "Don't be in a hurry. Sit down and talk slowly. I'll be the one to decide who is the real Sun Wukong."
"Xue'er! Look clearly. I'm the man who slept with you last night!" The Sun Wukong still standing on the chair was so anxious that his eyes turned red. He rushed towards her desperately but was blocked by the magic barrier!
"Xue'er, the one who was with you last night was clearly this Great Sage!" The other one was not willing to be outdone. He stuck out his neck and roared, "Don't be stupid. He's fake!"
Yang Xue calmly looked at the two of them, looking from left to right, amazed. If it was really the Six - Eared Macaque sent by Tathagata to confuse her, then the golden cudgel must be real.
It was actually easy to verify who the real Sun Wukong was, but she didn't want to expose it for now.
"One of you must be the Six - Eared Macaque. Since Tathagata sent you here, he must want to take this opportunity to get rid of one of us." Yang Xue said calmly. "It's really 'no trace in the long search, but all found without effort'. I don't even need to look for you anymore."
"Xue'er, he is the Six - Eared Macaque. We went to the Northern Jambu Continent to look for him together, and we even met the Patriarch Bodhi! Don't believe him. I'm your man!"