Yang Xue naturally noticed Tang Seng's mood. She knew that after staying in the Daughter Country for so long, he must have had the queen on his mind to some extent. It was only natural for him to miss her.
However, given his nature, no matter how great the challenges were, his feelings for a woman would always be outweighed by the Buddha and the common people in the world in his heart.
This was exactly the reason why she hadn't fallen for Tang Seng back then.
People who had no self - interest would surely live the most tiring lives.
Based on the information Sun Wukong had obtained from the old man and combining it with the plot she had read before, Yang Xue guessed that the demons on the mountain were the lion demon, the elephant demon, and the roc demon.
If she remembered correctly, the roc demon was even the Buddha's own maternal uncle.
It seemed that this time, they would have to deal with the Buddha again.
"Great Sage, you'll have a tougher time this round. The demons in the mountain are all very difficult to deal with. What the Great White Planet said is true. Do you need any help?" Yang Xue sat on one side, watching the master and his disciples eating heartily, and whispered a reminder.
She turned to look at the white dragon horse not far away, which was eating forage and occasionally glancing in their direction. Thinking that he used to be the Dragon Prince of the Western Sea, she felt pity for him.
She walked over and patted his horseback, saying softly, "You can resume your human form now and eat with us."
"Really?" He had been eating forage for so many years and had almost forgotten the taste of food.
Yang Xue looked around. "It's noon. They're not around. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to deliver food so openly."
He knew that the Four Time - Keeping Meritorious Officials and the Guardians of the Dharma were constantly watching them. For his own safety, he had never dared to stray too far from the master and his disciples.
On the one hand, it was to fulfill his duty; on the other hand, he had a dragon's bone. If he hadn't been saved by the Avalokitesvara back then, he might have become a dish at the Flat - Peach Banquet - dragon liver and phoenix marrow.
"Okay." Hearing Yang Xue's words, the white dragon horse transformed into a human form and sat down beside Sha Seng.
Sun Wukong laughed. "It's still Xue'er who is considerate. After all these years, we almost forgot that the white dragon horse can also eat."
"Thank you, elder brother. If it weren't for sister - in - law, I might never have eaten such delicious food again." He picked up the bowls and chopsticks and gobbled it up.
Hearing his address for Yang Xue, Sun Wukong was quite pleased. "From tonight on, we'll eat together. Anyway, we're almost at the Spirit Mountain. They won't make things difficult for you at this critical moment."
The white dragon horse waved his hands repeatedly. "No need. My identity is special, so it's better to be cautious. The Queen Mother is about to hold the Flat - Peach Banquet. Maybe they're just short of a dragon's gall. If I make a mistake at this time, I might be tied to the Dragon - Slaughtering Platform by accident."
As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked. They all stopped what they were doing and looked at the white dragon horse with complex expressions.
What the white dragon horse said was true and not exaggerated.
Reminded of the past, their appetites faded.
No one said a word. They silently finished this sumptuous lunch and then found a shady place to lie down and rest.
Yang Xue waved her hand and set up a sunshade for them, with a lounge chair and a fan for each person.
Seeing such a considerate act, Sun Wukong moved his lounge chair closer to hers and whispered, "Wife, you're so thoughtful."
"It's just a small thing. You're not reluctant to do this. You're just used to hardships and rarely put in so much effort." Yang Xue couldn't help but feel sorry for him and fanned him. "After the journey to obtain the scriptures is over, we'll go back to the Flower - Fruit Mountain."
Tang Seng was sitting closer to Sun Wukong. Hearing their conversation, he couldn't help but open his eyes.
Looking at the large shed made of moon - white linen, he couldn't help but sigh at Yang Xue's thoughtfulness. Rarely having such a moment of leisure and comfort, he couldn't help but have a lot on his mind and thought of many old things.
"Wukong, are you really willing to let go of everything and go back to the Flower - Fruit Mountain?" Tang Seng advised earnestly, "The journey to obtain the scriptures has been so difficult, and the path to becoming a Buddha is just around the corner. If you give up, you'll just be a demon from then on and it'll be very difficult for you to achieve enlightenment."
"Master, disciple has already made up his mind. What's so good about becoming a Buddha?" Sun Wukong put his hands behind his head, with a confident smile on his lips. "Disciple has thought about it. After becoming a Buddha, one will just get an official title, and the immortals won't treat me as a wild monkey anymore. But then what? There will just be a lot of rules and chanting scriptures. Of course, the main thing is that I can't bear to part with Xue'er and her delicious cooking. There'll be wine, meat, and a fairy - like wife by my side..."
As he was speaking, Sun Wukong slapped his thigh, sat up, faced Tang Seng, and said seriously, "As the saying goes, 'I only envy mandarin ducks and not immortals'. This Great Sage finally understands the meaning of this saying."
Yang Xue listened quietly, with a smile on her lips. She stared at the Great Sage's expression and felt completely content.
"What about you, master? From tonight on, you'll be that chanting monk again. If you accidentally doze off, you might be punished to go down to the mortal world again..."
"Cough, cough, cough..." Yang Xue stood up and patted his shoulder. "One should not hit a smiling face, and one should not expose others' old faults when scolding them. It's not very kind of you to expose the master's old bottom."
Sun Wukong laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I'll go and see if there are any demons..."
Just as he finished speaking, a cloud of black smoke came rushing from afar at a speed as fast as an arrow leaving the bow!
"Master, be careful!"
...
In the Heavenly Court.
In the Hall of Miraculous Mist.
The Jade Emperor looked down at the immortals, and his voice, like a great bell, resounded through the hall.
"Great White Planet, where are Tang Seng and his disciples now?"
The Great White Planet stepped forward. "Reporting to the Jade Emperor, they've now reached the Lion - Camel Ridge."
"The Lion - Camel Ridge? So fast?" The Jade Emperor stroked his beard leisurely. "It seems that the demons there are not simple. If Sun Wukong can subdue those three demons on the spot, it'll be a great achievement. The mortals within a radius of hundreds of miles will be liberated."
"Exactly. That roc is the Buddha's own maternal uncle. Neither demons nor immortals dare to approach. Sun Wukong may not be a match for him."
"Humph, he even destroyed this Hall of Miraculous Mist twice. What's the Buddha's maternal uncle?" Hearing this, the Jade Emperor snorted. He was still angry when he thought about it. "Wasn't that white - bone demoness by his side also able to meet the Buddha? Such a small matter should be easy for them!"
The immortals whispered to each other and discussed animatedly.
The God of Wealth was unhappy. He stepped forward. "Reporting to the Jade Emperor, Yang Xue is not a real white - bone demoness. It's said that Xuan You hasn't attacked the Heavenly Court recently because he's going to marry the real white - bone demoness, Bai Xue. Yang Xue's identity is unknown. In my humble opinion, we should send someone to the mortal world to investigate. If she's really a reincarnation of a saint, the Heavenly Court must not miss such a person."
The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment. If she was really a saint, they couldn't let the Buddha win her over.
He nodded slightly. "So, who is willing to go?"
"I'm willing..." Just as the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming, was about to volunteer, someone beat him to it.
"Your Majesty, I'm willing to go." Yang Jian quickly spoke up. He turned to look in Zhao Gongming's direction, raised his eyebrows slightly, and smiled calmly. "Zhao Gongming has dealt with Miss Yang. How about the two of us going together to investigate? If she's really a saint, we'll surely show our sincerity and persuade her to join the Heavenly Court."
"That's great." If they could get Yang Xue to join the Heavenly Court, even if Sun Wukong disliked the Heavenly Court, he would have to think twice.
After all, according to the rumor, Sun Wukong was henpecked.