Yang Xue turned her head in surprise. The voice was clearly Tathagata's, but there was something off about him. Something very off.
It was not just his tone and expression, his dressing, but also every single subtle movement he made.
To be precise, he seemed like a completely different person.
Especially since he showed up here in person.
According to Yang Jian, there was a great snake demon in this deep mountain who captured children for cultivation.
Even if the Celestial Court had shifted this hot - potato task to the Western Heaven, there was no way Tathagata would show up in person.
Looking at his dressing again, he was in a smoke - blue suit of a noble young master. From head to toe, he just exuded one word: expensive!
In his hand, he also held a fan. Taking a closer look, the landscape painting on it was even animated, obviously painted by someone other than an ordinary mortal.
Perhaps her scrutiny was too blatant. Sun Wukong frowned and covered her eyes with his hand. "Xue'er, why are you looking at him? Am I not good - looking enough for you?"
"No," Yang Xue explained seriously. "Look at his dressing..."
"Like a peacock. It seems that deep down, Tathagata is just like ordinary men, having a heart for wealth and luxury. It's not strange," Sun Wukong said sulkily, pressing his forehead against hers. "The way you looked at him just now was the same as when you first looked at me."
"That's different. I just..."
"Xue'er, I'm not happy."
"..." Yang Xue turned her head and looked at Sun Wukong carefully. Seeing that he was really unhappy, she quickly hugged him and patted him. "Husband, I was wrong. But I'm not that shallow. It's just that this man is too strange. He's not Tathagata."
"You're right. I can't really be considered the real Tathagata," the man said as he opened his fan. By then, they had landed on the ground.
Yang Xue squinted, but couldn't find any clues from him.
"But I am also Tathagata. From now on, for this period, I'll represent Tathagata."
"?" Sun Wukong saw his playful smile and knew that this was far from the ever - kind Tathagata he used to know.
"Yang Xue, I'm here specifically for you. I've already captured the snake demon. From tonight on, it will be your attendant. Consider it a welcome gift. To be straight to the point, my goal is for you to accept a position in the Western Heaven, which will make it easier to handle many things in the future."
He slowly walked towards them. The gentle and refined Tathagata, smiling as he spoke, continued to explain.
"But I didn't expect that you came here more than three years earlier and even managed to win Sun Wukong's heart. You're really amazing. Originally, you were my top choice, but since you two are getting married, I won't steal your love. Ahem..." He lowered his head and coughed lightly, closed his fan, and stopped two steps away from them.
Yang Xue pursed her lips slightly. "No gifts during the Spring Festival?"
"Gifts should be Brain Platinum," the "Tathagata" said as he slapped his fan and smoothly continued. "Since you understand, let's not rush to explain. Come with me to the Western Heaven first. There's a very urgent matter that requires your presence."
Sun Wukong was completely confused by their incomprehensible conversation.
"What's going on, Xue'er? Why has he become like this?" At this moment, Sun Wukong also realized that although this man had Tathagata's appearance, he seemed to be possessed. He was completely different from before.
"He's from the same world as me," Yang Xue explained with a smile. Worried that he might misunderstand, she leaned closer to his ear and said, "Husband, we've got a new friend from now on."
"I see," Sun Wukong said with a faint smile. Thinking that he shouldn't show how petty he was, he nodded at the man and said, "Pleased to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you too, Great Sage," the man bowed to Sun Wukong, smiling brightly. "Since the journey to fetch the scriptures has been postponed, but the position of the Great Sage cannot be vacant. How about we set off immediately to Ling Mountain to receive our rewards?"
"What about the scriptures..." It was hard not to be shocked. This Tathagata was really unbelievable. Didn't he value the journey to fetch the scriptures the most?
"The scriptures have been entrusted to the White Dragon Horse to carry back to the Tang Dynasty. You don't need to worry about the rest. I've also sent people to invite your two junior brothers from Flower - Fruit Mountain to go to Ling Mountain to receive their rewards together." Tathagata looked at Yang Xue and gently explained, "Such a simple thing didn't need to be so complicated. Another fourteen - year journey to fetch the scriptures? I couldn't stand it."
"That's right. Well done," Yang Xue gave him a thumbs - up. "I really like this arrangement."
Sun Wukong opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but after thinking for a moment, he decided to hold back. He could ask his wife in detail after they got back. He couldn't act like a stupid monkey in front of this "peacock".
"Where is the real Tathagata?" This was what Yang Xue was most concerned about.
"I don't know. Maybe he's gone to another world to experience life. He still needs some practice to understand the people's feelings and save all sentient beings."
How pitiful! He used to be the high - and - mighty Tathagata Buddha, but in a blink of an eye, he became an ordinary mortal. Just thinking about it was enough to drive one crazy.
But thinking about all that had happened before, Yang Xue felt that he really needed some cultivation. Otherwise, he really wouldn't be worthy of his position.
Just one question: Were there more people who had traveled through time like her than she thought?
Also, all this time, she had been wondering who the person was who had given her the Heavenly Book back then.
"By the way, I heard that you get along very well with Sun Wukong and you're planning to get married at the end of the year?" He took the lead in stepping onto the cloud and turned to look at Yang Xue. "Your identity is really enviable. But as the current leader of the Western Heaven, I can't get married."
"How did you come here? From what you said, it sounds like you have quite a bit of experience traveling through time?"
"I was arranged to come here. But you're right. I've had experience traveling through time before. This is already my third time." As he said this, he proudly put his hands on his hips. "However, this role is the most powerful one. It meets all my fantasies."
Yang Xue thought to herself that this was really a man with no desires.
"It's a pity that I was careless. The rule of not being able to touch women is so annoying. I must complete my mission as soon as possible and change to another role, preferably like Xuan You."
"..." Yang Xue was speechless. "Tathagata, watch your words."
As if he had been frozen, he suddenly became serious. With a thought, he changed out of his outfit and put on a light - yellow Buddhist robe, looking like a completely different person.
After that, everyone received their rewards.
Tang Seng was conferred the title of the Buddha of Candana Merit, Sun Wukong was conferred the title of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Zhu Bajie was conferred the title of the Altar - Cleansing Messenger, Sha Seng was conferred the title of the Golden - Body Arhat, and the White Dragon Horse was conferred the title of the Heavenly Dragon of the Eight Divisions and restored to its dragon form.
Yang Xue was conferred the title of Bodhisattva, but the specific title was to be determined.
Yang Xue wasn't really concerned about this. But the questions she wanted to ask still hadn't been answered. The Tathagata Buddha made an excuse and left in a hurry, but the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva blocked her way in a hurry.
"Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, please step aside. I'm going to ask the Tathagata something."
"He told me to stop you. He said that he doesn't know the answer you're looking for. Maybe you'll know soon."
As she said this, Avalokitesvara looked around and then lowered her voice. "The Tathagata Buddha..."
"I know. He's changed," Yang Xue said with a mysterious smile. "From now on, you don't have to do things you don't like."
"What do you mean?" Avalokitesvara was confused.
"Because of Tang Seng's matter before, did you receive a punishment?"
"It's not really a punishment. The Tathagata Patriarch just gave me a slight punishment and asked me to reflect on my mistakes facing the wall." She said it calmly, as if she was used to such situations.
Yang Xue complained, "How dare he make you reflect on your mistakes facing the wall? Fortunately, he's not here now. No one will bully you from now on."
"No, you're wrong," Avalokitesvara said seriously, correcting her. "Reflecting on one's mistakes facing the wall is not a punishment. It's just self - reflection. His departure is not a good thing."
"..." Looking at the worried expression on Avalokitesvara's face, Yang Xue began to wonder if she was being too mean.