"How did you get here?" Patriarch Bodhi looked at Yang Xue, visibly surprised. "Aren't you supposed to be on Flower-Fruit Mountain?"
"It's a long story. Anyway, I need a quiet place to focus on my cultivation. Since you're Sun Wukong's master, I've come here boldly." As she spoke, Yang Xue presented two jars of Nu'erhong wine. "It's just mortal wine, not very valuable, but it's a token of my gratitude. I hope you'll accept it."
She had put a lot of effort into finding this wine. It wasn't ordinary Nu'erhong, but in Bodhi's eyes, it probably wasn't that precious.
Seeing that Yang Xue was sincere, Bodhi thought for a moment and guessed why she might be here. He didn't decline. Instead, he asked the young disciple following him to take the wine and led her into the Nameless Cave.
"Qingzhu will arrange a place for you to stay. Don't disturb me unless necessary." Bodhi suddenly appeared on a distant platform. His calm voice drifted over on the wind. "You're free to come and go without asking for my permission."
Yang Xue was overjoyed. She quickly bowed to thank him. "Thank you, Patriarch!"
She knew that Bodhi still cared about his disciple Sun Wukong. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given her such convenience.
This time, Yang Xue had no intention of going out to drink and eat. After following Qingzhu to a charming small courtyard, she was ready to focus on her cultivation without any distractions.
"I heard you've made a private vow of marriage with that monkey?" Before leaving, Qingzhu finally couldn't resist the urge to gossip. "Don't you know that he'll become a Buddhist in the future and won't be able to get married?"
Yang Xue turned to look at Qingzhu. The last time they met, Qingzhu had been quite critical of them, but this time he seemed more amiable.
"Maybe. What if he just escorts Tang Sanzang to the Western Heaven and refuses the title?" Yang Xue sat down casually and poured herself a cup of water. Then she asked, "Where did you hear that?"
"Master said it." Realizing he might have said something wrong, he quickly explained. "Master just said it casually. Sun Wukong isn't suitable for you. Your being together has caused a lot of trouble for many people."
"I see." Yang Xue knew this well and didn't intend to ask further. "Go and do your work."
"Why did you fall for him? I thought you'd be attracted to the gentle and handsome Tang Sanzang." Not satisfied with the answers, Qingzhu didn't want to end the conversation. "If that were the case, after obtaining the scriptures, you'd naturally lose your memories and part ways..."
"You're so nosy!" Yang Xue interrupted him impatiently. "You're just a kid. Mind your own business."
"I..." Qingzhu seemed offended by the "kid" label. His face turned red as he opened his mouth.
"If you keep talking, sister will teach you about love and let you experience the taste of mortal love, so you won't be so curious." Yang Xue wasn't in a good mood. Leaving Sun Wukong in a hurry had left an empty feeling in her heart.
"You... are so shameless!" Like a cat with its tail stepped on, seeing Yang Xue's delicate and charming face, Qingzhu's face turned as red as a tomato. He fled in a hurry.
Sighing, Yang Xue thought to herself that youth was really wonderful.
Thinking carefully, she realized she had been quite impulsive. She had made bold remarks in front of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and even said she wanted to fight with the Tathagata.
After calming down, she found that she didn't have much actual combat experience and needed to practice more.
Yang Jian's words had enlightened her, but being separated from Sun Wukong had made her clearly taste the pain of lovesickness.
In the past, every time she had teased the Great Sage and made him flee, she had never felt so attached. Now, after only two days of separation, she had lost her appetite.
After taking a sip of water, she sat in the courtyard and began her closed-door cultivation.
If nothing unexpected happened, she would cultivate without eating or drinking for forty-nine days.
Great Sage, wait for me!
This time, I won't cause you any trouble.
...
The news that Yang Xue had left Flower-Fruit Mountain had spread throughout the Three Realms. Everyone was curious about what Sun Wukong would do.
When the Tathagata heard the news, he felt slightly relieved.
"It's best if he's willing to continue his journey to the West. After the master and his disciples set off, go and find Yang Xue. Make sure to bring her to see me." The Tathagata's inner demons had been suppressed, but he had something more important to discuss with Yang Xue.
"Your disciple obeys." The Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva still appeared in male form.
"Where is the Six-Eared Macaque?" The Tathagata narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since they're continuing their journey to the West, you can recall him. He'll be of great use in the future."
Although the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva didn't know exactly what the Tathagata meant by "great use," it must be unfavorable to Sun Wukong.
"The Six-Eared Macaque has been taken to the Heavenly Court by Yang Jian. I'm afraid I won't be able to bring him back."
"He's gone to the Heavenly Court?" The Tathagata smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, he ultimately obeys me."
"Yes." The Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva lowered his eyes. A strange look flashed across his eyes, disappearing in an instant.
...
When Xuan You heard that Sun Wukong was going to continue his journey to obtain the scriptures, he reacted strongly.
"Why don't you want to be the demon king and instead insist on going back to obtain the scriptures?" He scolded Sun Wukong in disappointment. "Great Sage Equal to Heaven, do you think that by continuing this journey, they'll forget your second attack on the Heavenly Court and the havoc you caused?"
"What else can I do?" Sun Wukong said in a self - deprecating tone. "Without Xue'er, I'll escort Master to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures. Obtaining the scriptures has been his lifelong goal."
"He's just a mortal. Why are you so stubborn? Isn't there any other way besides these two?" Xuan You paced back and forth in the room, trying to persuade Sun Wukong earnestly. "Isn't there the Six - Eared Macaque? Since the Tathagata wants him to replace you, why not let him go on the journey instead?"
"Easy to say," Sun Wukong gradually came to his senses from his dejected state. He looked at Xuan You carefully. "What do you want this Great Sage to do? Attack the Heavenly Palace again, lead you all to confront the Three Realms, and make them proclaim me the King of the Demon Realm so that we'll stay out of each other's way?"
"Yes! You finally understand my good intentions!" Xuan You sat down excitedly opposite him. A rare blush appeared on his pale face. "Do you think I've worked so hard to make you the demon king just for you to go on this journey to obtain the scriptures?"
Sun Wukong smiled knowingly and leaned back on the chair. "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. If the Demon Realm opposes the Heavenly Court, this Great Sage's death will be near. I don't care about this demon king title. I'll return it to you."
"You..." Xuan You realized his over - reaction and stopped talking. "Fine. I'll go home and accompany my wife."
The black leopard Xuan You had now taken Yue Bai back to the Great Green Mountain. Since her condition was unstable, the only way to save her now was to find Yang Xue and form a new contract.
Three days later, full of worries, Sun Wukong led Tang Sanzang to the Kingdom of Daughters.
Watching Tang Sanzang and the queen reluctantly part, full of affection, this time, Sun Wukong didn't dare to tease his master anymore.
He understood that the reluctance in his master's eyes was no less than his own.
But Tang Sanzang carried a mission. He had been a monk all his life and couldn't stay to be the queen's royal brother.