Yang Xue looked at the Avalokitesvara that first caught her eye. The male - looking deity radiated the light of Buddha. Although his face was extremely handsome, she didn't dare to look at it for too long, always feeling as if she was defiling the divine being.
She still preferred a more down - to - earth face.
If the Tathagata knew that his most favored disciple made Yang Xue too afraid to look at him for long, he would surely vomit blood in anger!
"Master!" Sun Wukong was the first to run towards Tang Seng. In the blink of an eye, he knelt in front of him. "Master, you've come!"
Tang Seng looked at the familiar Sun Wukong. Although he felt rather depressed in his heart, seeing his smile, he was still moved.
He was born with only one mission, which was to go on a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven for Buddhist scriptures.
However, after so many things had happened, he suddenly didn't know whom to trust. If he didn't go on this pilgrimage, what was the meaning of his rebirth as a human?
But seeing Sun Wukong kneeling in front of him, willing to call him "Master" even without the tightening headband, it made his life worthwhile.
He gently lifted Sun Wukong's arm. "Wukong, get up quickly."
"Brother Monkey, your Flower - Fruit Mountain is getting more and more bustling. It's even more magnificent than the last time I came. Is it because there's a mistress now? It looks more like the lair of the king of all demon kings. How imposing!" As soon as they entered the cave, Zhu Bajie took Sha Seng and wandered around. "Sha Seng, this is your first time here, right? Let this handsome guy show you around."
"..." The ignored Avalokitesvara rarely showed a hint of helplessness on his face.
Yang Xue just caught a glimpse of his expression and quickly greeted him. "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, please come inside."
"..." Looking at the gentle charm between Yang Xue's eyebrows and then at Sun Wukong beaming with joy, Avalokitesvara finally understood why the Six - Eared Macaque couldn't deceive Yang Xue.
He had advised the Tathagata before, but the Tathagata was determined. Unexpectedly, the Six - Eared Macaque had become a free gift, and instead, Sun Wukong and Yang Xue had outsmarted them.
After being a bodhisattva for so many years, he had never taken on such a thankless task.
"It's really rare for the Great Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara to come in person." Sun Wukong motioned for him to go ahead. "Did the Tathagata give you any instructions?"
"Wukong, don't blame the Buddha. He had no choice..." Just as he was about to persuade, Sun Wukong interrupted him with a smile.
"Avalokitesvara, we've known each other for many years. Every time I'm in trouble, I turn to you. But regarding this matter, don't make excuses for him." As he spoke, he walked forward and snapped his fingers. "Why don't you take a look for yourself? Is this something a decent person would do?"
Tang Seng and his two disciples were initially confused, but suddenly seeing the figure in front of them, they immediately leaned back. "This... this... this..."
"Wukong?" Tang Seng suddenly raised his voice. "Who is he?"
"Master..." The Six - Eared Macaque was wearing a yellow Buddhist robe and looked more like the former Sun Wukong. As he spoke, he was about to kneel in front of Tang Seng!
"Shut up!" Sun Wukong blocked in front of him. "He's my master. Who do you think you are to call him master? Don't kneel!"
Tang Seng's gaze passed over Sun Wukong and stared directly at the Six - Eared Macaque. "Wukong, what's going on?"
"Master..." His gaze met Tang Seng's, and he stubbornly said, "Master, please accept this disciple's bow!"
"You..." Sun Wukong wanted to stop him, but Yang Xue patted the back of his hand, and the rest of his words were swallowed back.
Fine, fine. Anyway, he would end up calling Tang Seng "Master" in the end.
"Alas." Tang Seng smiled. "Are you the Six - Eared Macaque?"
"Master, how do you know?" Unexpectedly, this was Tang Seng's reaction. Sun Wukong turned his head. "You knew about his existence all along?"
Guessing Sun Wukong's thoughts, Avalokitesvara explained, "I told him. Let's sit down and talk slowly."
...
After hearing the whole story, what everyone was most interested in was this Six - Eared Macaque who was exactly like Sun Wukong, and even his Ruyi Jingu Bang could pass for the real one.
Yang Xue watched quietly, staying out of it as if this matter had nothing to do with her.
"Miss Yang, then how did you tell them apart? Did you kiss them?"
However, Zhu Bajie's words made the tea she had just put into her mouth spray out.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Yang Xue quickly waved her hand. "I recognized him long ago. There's no need for that."
Sun Wukong grabbed Yang Xue's hand. "This is where that old bachelor, the Tathagata, miscalculated. How could he know that even if the Six - Eared Macaque looked exactly like me, as a single man who had never touched a woman's hand, he would show his true colors as soon as he got close to my wife."
The Six - Eared Macaque looked up and seriously explained, "No, actually, I could do the same to Miss Yang..."
"If you dare to have any other thoughts, my wife will definitely cripple you first and turn you into a eunuch. Do you believe it!" Hearing his bold words, Sun Wukong lost his calm and threatened fiercely.
"So, Wukong really plans to give up going on the pilgrimage to the Western Heaven with me and let the Six - Eared Macaque continue to escort me to the Spirit Mountain?" Tang Seng frowned. "You're going to stay on the Flower - Fruit Mountain?"
"Yes, Master." Sun Wukong nodded. "Once I go to the Spirit Mountain, I'll be at the mercy of the Tathagata. It's hard to guarantee that I can come back safely."
"..." Avalokitesvara remained silent.
"How could it be? He..." Although the Six - Eared Macaque was no different from Sun Wukong, he still hoped that Wukong would escort him.
"Master, look. Even Avalokitesvara has silently admitted it. The Tathagata really has no intention of sparing me!" Sun Wukong smiled faintly and said in a rascally way, "Moreover, I've negotiated terms with him. You don't have to go through the 81 hardships. You can just be sent directly to the Spirit Mountain to obtain the Buddhist scriptures."
Yang Xue hesitated to speak. Thinking of the Lion - Camel Ridge, she actually wanted to suggest that they go through the 81 hardships, but without too much suffering. At least, it would solve the problem of food and accommodation.
After all, although it was just a formality, it was too easy on those remaining demons and monsters.
If some demons weren't eliminated, it would still be the common people who suffered.
"I don't agree." Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Tang Seng flatly refused. "I'm willing to continue walking to the Spirit Mountain and go through the 81 hardships."
Avalokitesvara looked at Tang Seng and nodded slightly. He was indeed his disciple.
"Master..." Sun Wukong was stunned and didn't quite understand why he was so determined.
"Great Sage." Yang Xue held his hand and gently shook her head. "This is his belief. You don't need to persuade him."
Seeing Yang Xue's action, Avalokitesvara was surprised. But thinking of her identity, he didn't find it so strange.
However, there was a bit more inquisition in his gaze as he looked at Yang Xue.
"Then this disciple has to accompany Master. Let the Six - Eared Macaque stay on the Flower - Fruit Mountain and be the demon king in my place."
Sun Wukong's words were like a thunderbolt out of the blue.
"..."
"..."
"..."
No one expected that the seemingly lawless and unyielding Sun Wukong would say such things.
"The demon king is the leader of the demon race. Compared to the position of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, I prefer to be the king of the Flower - Fruit Mountain." The Six - Eared Macaque's gaze fell on Yang Xue. "Then will you be the demon queen?"
"Hey!" Sun Wukong struck the Six - Eared Macaque on the head with his staff. "You can go die in my place!"