Soon, seeing the shocked look in his disciple's eyes, Tang Seng closed his eyes to compose himself. "I'm tired. I'll go to sleep first."
After saying that, he quickly got into bed to rest, afraid that Sun Wukong would say another word.
Sun Wukong stood in front of the bed, looking at Tang Seng's back. "Master, actually I can take you to see her..."
"No need. I only want to go to the Western Heaven." Tang Seng rested his head on his palm and closed his eyes tightly. "You misheard."
Sun Wukong remembered Yang Xue's reminder that Tang Seng might have received an order to do him harm.
But looking at his lonely back at this moment, he thought that even if Tang Seng had received such an order, so what? He believed that his master would never hurt him.
"Master, are you really willing and without any regret in doing this?" Sun Wukong turned around and looked at the window chiseled out of the cave wall. Sparse moonlight leaked into the room, sliding in like smooth and lustrous jade.
He couldn't help feeling a bit of sympathy for Tang Seng. "Master, I still have a way out, but once you enter the Western Heaven and receive the title and blessings, you'll have to chant scriptures for the rest of your life."
Tang Seng opened his eyes. His gentle features seemed emotionless, but his clear and dark eyes looked at the candlelight on the wall, reflecting the shadow of his head.
He had never felt such disgust at his bald head before.
But he quickly closed his eyes, ashamed to cover up the emotions that had just welled up.
"Disciple also knows that no one is perfect, not even immortals or Buddhas. But when I think that each of our fates has been carefully calculated and deliberately arranged, it's really hard to be completely willing and without resentment towards the mission we're about to complete." Sun Wukong stood in front of the bed, looking at his master's motionless back. It was rare for him to bare his heart like this.
"If you really want to see her, disciple can take you to meet her. Once we reach the Western Heaven, from now on, maybe even in the next life, you two may never have a chance to meet again."
Tang Seng's breathing became slightly erratic, and his chest rose and fell unevenly.
Hearing his breathing, Sun Wukong knew that his master also had a mortal heart. Putting aside his identity, he was just an ordinary man.
"Master..."
"Wukong, don't say any more. I am whole - hearted in pursuing the Buddha and have no other distractions. What does the next life matter? Romantic feelings are just a passing fancy. What difference does it make if you take one more look? It will only add to your troubles. Indulging in temporary happiness and bliss, but when all is calm, everything will return to normal, and you'll end up regretting it for the rest of your life. Why bother?"
Sun Wukong frowned. Did his master think that his relationship with Xue'er was just a passing fancy?
He was so agitated that he paced back and forth in the room, ready to argue with Tang Seng.
"Wukong, you're different from me. Tang Sanzang is just a dream. Once I return to the Western Heaven, I'll no longer be Tang Sanzang. Instead of giving her false hope, it's better to cut off the earthly ties and forget each other in the world."
This time, he suddenly stopped.
Sun Wukong felt a great deal of sourness in his heart. It turned out that his master had good intentions. He wasn't heartless. He just didn't want to hurt the queen.
In his master's heart, it was better to live a peaceful life than to have a passionate but short - lived love.
Wasn't this Tang Seng's original intention, to bring Buddhist scriptures to the people of the Tang Dynasty, to save all sentient beings and help them get out of the sea of suffering...
He sat down and looked at his master. What if there were still some villains with evil intentions who wanted to eat Tang Seng's flesh?
Xue'er should be on her way to the Western Heaven by now.
To be honest, this was the easiest and most care - free encounter since they started their journey to fetch the scriptures.
...
Erlang Shen Yang Jian and the God of Wealth Zhao Gongming came to the Lion Camel Ridge. They transformed into little demons on the mountain to investigate the situation. When they heard that the demons would dine with the Tang Seng and his three disciples in the evening, they were both stunned.
"What's going on? This Green Lion Demon once swallowed hundreds of thousands of soldiers. He has never given up his determination to eat Tang Seng's flesh over the years. This..." Yang Jian was very puzzled. "Could it be that they've drunk some kind of magic potion?"
Although the God of Wealth was surprised, he soon laughed. "It must be Yang Xue. She always surprises people. You don't know. I see infinite hope in her. Thinking about it this way, it's not so surprising. Why don't we go down and find out? I'll let you see clearly that the person I admire is not just a pretty face."
Yang Jian turned his head and saw his proud look. He felt very uncomfortable.
"What, are you getting so proud? Even Sun Wukong isn't that arrogant. What does it matter to you? Do you have to praise her so excitedly?" Jealousy welled up in his heart, and his tone was not very good.
Seeing his strong reaction, the God of Wealth raised his eyebrows with a smile in his eyes. "What, I'm just proud. Why are you so excited? Could it be that you're also infatuated with her and feel annoyed because you think you're being frivolous?"
"You..."
"It's only human nature. Why be so angry? I can face it calmly now. Since she only has feelings for Sun Wukong, I'm certainly not the kind of person who would snatch someone else's love. In the future, she will be a saint. I can't be worthy of her, but it doesn't stop me from admiring her." As he said this, he seemed to have a sense of enlightenment and said complacently, "It seems that the three - year cultivation of my mind has been very effective. Maybe one day I'll suddenly have an epiphany and reach a higher level..."
Before he could say anything else, Yang Jian raised his hand in disgust and covered his mouth.
"Stay away from me!" Throwing off his hand, the God of Wealth directly transformed back into his original form and strode into the cave.
Only then did Yang Jian raise his head satisfactorily. "Your current behavior pleases me. I won't argue with you."
"You're crazy!" As they were talking, they had already entered the cave. The demons in the cave didn't notice them at all.
But Sun Wukong quickly sensed something was wrong. He carried Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng to Tang Seng's bed, hoping that they wouldn't sleep too soundly if any demons approached.
He walked into the spacious hall and saw the God of Wealth and Yang Jian looking around.
"Why are you here?" Even though they had hidden their figures, they still couldn't escape his Fiery Golden Eyes.
"Great Sage, long time no see." The God of Wealth walked towards him with a smile on his face. "The Lion Camel Ridge, which even the Jade Emperor is wary of, and yet you can enter it as if it were your own home and sleep soundly. It's really incredible."
Seeing the God of Wealth again, although Sun Wukong didn't dislike him as much as before, he didn't welcome him either.
"Why are you here?" His eyes swept over Yang Jian who was following behind him. "Is the God Erlang short of money? You've been following the God of Wealth around for the past few years. Are you saving up to build a house or marry a princess?"
"Yeah, why didn't I think of that?" The God of Wealth looked at Yang Jian with a sudden realization, looking relieved as if he had just understood something. "You can just say if you're short of money!"
It had made him feel so awkward these years. Every time he saw Yang Jian's half - smiling and gentle look, he thought he had other intentions.
Especially since Yang Jian was used to saying some ambiguous words, which had made him toss and turn in bed many times!
So that was the reason. Zhao Gongming slapped his thigh and patted Yang Jian on the shoulder. "It's my fault. I even forgot my duty!"
Seeing that the God of Wealth was about to reach into his pocket and was probably going to take out gold in the next moment, Yang Jian quickly grabbed his arm and said with a dark face, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Do I look like someone short of money?"