Volume 3: A Long Journey, Chapter 388: With You, Peach

The Southern Pole Immortal’s scheme failed, leaving him shocked. When Jumang knocked him to the ground with a single move, his terror surpassed the pain in his body. It turned out that for Jumang, defeating him was as easy as reaching into a bag—his utmost efforts and cunning had only served to be a source of laughter.
Jumang struck again twice, shouting, “How can the path to immortality be seized by force?” A great Emperor of Immortality was scolded by the Wood God Jumang like a child, unable even to dodge, only protecting his vital areas with his hands.
Guanyin watched coldly, as if it were not her concern. After delivering three more blows, Jumang’s anger subsided slightly. Fengtong broke the Great Five Elements Spirit Blood Formation and returned to tell Jumang, “Wood God, the formation is broken.”
Jumang nodded and said to the Bull Demon King, “Take everyone out of the formation. Staying here, their lives will be in danger.” The Bull Demon King agreed and went to rescue them.
Guanyin said coldly, “The Wood God is truly merciful.”
Jumang replied, “Not as merciful as the Great Bodhisattva Guanyin.”
Guanyin said, “Now that the formation is broken and your wishes are fulfilled, why stay in My Free Palace?”
Fuhai Jiao used his silver whip to remove the luminous wall from the door of the Free Palace and said, “Let’s go!” He then used his whip to create a path, and the people from Qitian Ridge left under threat.
Guanyin looked at the ruins of the Free Palace, dark and dilapidated, and used her magic to shout, “Everyone, disperse!” The monks, as if pardoned, fled for their lives.
The Southern Pole Immortal got up from the ground. Having been struck three times by Jumang, he felt his vital energy stagnate. He didn’t know what mystery lay in those blows, but with a little magic, he concealed his injuries. Approaching Guanyin, he said, “With the demons of Qitian Ridge being so arrogant, why doesn’t the Bodhisattva inform Buddha and the Laozi?”
Guanyin replied indifferently, “Enough. After all, they belong to others. It’s pointless to worry.” With that, she floated away, ignoring the Southern Pole Immortal, and returned to Mount Luoguo.
Seeing himself alone in the vast ruins, the Southern Pole Immortal shook his head and sighed, “It’s a shame—hundreds of monks scattered like this.”
※　※　※
As for Wukong, after everyone left, he went to the stone chamber to check on Tang Seng.
Tang Seng was still curled up as before, the jade box beside him untouched. Wukong gazed at Tang Seng, thinking of his ten lifetimes under Buddha’s control, and felt uneasy.

Previously, when reading Journey to the West, I thought Tang Seng was just an annoying and stubborn ordinary monk. It was only in this world that I realized Tang Seng was actually the one most helpless. I hope that upon waking this time, I can help him become his true self! Whether it’s the fated entanglement between Tang Seng and Sun Wukong or their blood connection as divine apes, I won’t allow him to be manipulated by others anymore.

Sun Wukong silently swore, opened the jade box, and took out the last peach emitting a fragrant aroma.

Suddenly, Tang Seng moved and opened his eyes, staring fixedly at the peach. If not for keeping his mouth closed, saliva would have streamed down. Sun Wukong handed the peach to him and said, “Here, for you.”

Tang Seng seemed incredulous and didn’t reach out to take it. He asked, “For me? Really for me?”

Sun Wukong nodded and said, “If I say it’s for you, it’s for you.”

Tang Seng glanced at the peach, then at Sun Wukong, and suddenly said, “You’re truly wise!”

Sun Wukong was overjoyed and said, “Yes, that’s me!”

But Tang Seng shook his head and said, “If you give it to me, I can’t eat it.”

Sun Wukong was puzzled. “Why not?”

Tang Seng replied, “I still owe you a peach!”

Sun Wukong was confused. When did that happen? When did I ever give you a peach to eat?

Tang Seng continued, “You may have forgotten, but I remember. Back then, on the Peach Tree, the seven of us went to look for peaches. You had the sharpest eyes and found two in no time, while I didn’t find any at all. So you gave me one.”

Sun Wukong realized Tang Seng had slept for a while but still remembered the time at the beginning of creation when he had given him a peach. He actually remembered this!

Sun Wukong said, “It’s only natural for me to give you a peach. Just eat it; there’s no need to talk about debts.”

Tang Seng shook his head and sighed, “I’m already like a useless person in this life. Eating it is pointless. Ah, it’s better to give it back to you.”

Sun Wukong thought to himself, This peach isn’t meant to enhance your cultivation—it’s meant to increase your essence of fate, which will be of great benefit both in this life and the next.

Sun Wukong didn’t argue with Tang Seng. He grabbed him, forced open his mouth, and stuffed the peach in. Tang Seng, being just a mortal, had no chance to resist and swallowed the peach whole, with skin and core.

As soon as the peach entered his mouth, Tang Seng tightly closed his lips, afraid that even a drop of juice might spill out and waste Sun Wukong’s kindness. Finally, after swallowing the peach, Tang Seng said with a bitter smile, “How dare you be rough on your master?”

Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment before laughing heartily. “Your master? Do you still want to go to the West to obtain the scriptures?”

Tang Seng thought for a moment and murmured, “Now that I know my true nature, I certainly won’t take another step westward. But… how can the Tathagata just give up so easily?” After saying this, he tilted his head and fell asleep again.
Wukong looked at Tang Seng, at a loss for words, and had no choice but to wait for him to wake up. With nothing else to do, Wukong fortunately used his soul-observing technique to carefully examine Tang Seng’s three souls and seven spirits.
Upon seeing this, Wukong was overjoyed—the power of the peach fruit was indeed most suitable for nurturing a being of creation. The essence of creation within Tang Seng’s three souls and seven spirits had increased slightly compared to before, and the peach fruit was still slowly releasing its creative power. Perhaps when that power was exhausted, Tang Seng would wake up.
As he was thinking this, he heard Tang Seng mumble, “The nine-ring staff… the nine-ring staff…”
“Huh?” Why was Tang Seng talking about the nine-ring staff? Wukong glanced outside and saw the staff leaning against the door. He said, “The staff is here.”
Tang Seng said only that before falling into a deep sleep, remaining unconscious for over an hour. Wukong heard noises outside and then flew in through the ventilation.
Wukong asked, “Has that matter been resolved?”
Fengtong nodded and said, “The formation has been completely broken. It would be extremely difficult to rebuild it.”
Wukong asked, “Why do you say that?”
Fengtong replied, “The twenty-five people with the Great Five Elements constitution, aside from those who died tragically, have all been brought back. To find those twenty-five people again would likely take thousands of years.”
Wukong nodded and said, “That’s to cut off the Tathagata’s plans.”
Fengtong added, “With the Freedom Palace destroyed and the Western Sea’s Nightlight Wall returned by the Sea Dragon, things are finally back to their rightful owners.”
Before Wukong could respond, they heard the White Dragon Horse let out a long neigh, startling them both. Wukong laughed and said, “I forgot he’s here too.”
The White Dragon Horse trembled and transformed into human form, saying, “Thank you, senior brother. Thank you to this elder for your help.”
Wukong was surprised and asked, “How did you transform back into human form?”
The White Dragon replied, “I heard my eldest brother and master say they wouldn’t go on the pilgrimage anymore. There’s no point for me to remain in horse form.”
Wukong felt ashamed. Having accompanied Tang Seng on the pilgrimage for so long, he hadn’t treated the White Dragon Horse as a being of significance, merely seeing it as an ordinary horse. All their conversations earlier had been overheard by the White Dragon Horse—talk about colluding secretly with Qi Tian Ling, about the lineage of creation, about the wise divine ape… The White Dragon Horse wasn’t stupid; it could easily discern some clues. What should he do now?

Yu Long said, “Senior brother, although I am also going on the quest for scriptures, it’s not out of devotion to Buddhism. It was the Ancestral Dragon who ordered me to spy on Mount Ling. I happened to overhear what happened today, but I know this is a serious matter, and I will never reveal a single word.”
Wukong nodded. He mostly believed Yu Long’s words. Though they had been together for a long time, they had never become close friends. Buddha’s tactics were inscrutable, so it was necessary to be extra cautious.
Wukong glanced at Tang Seng, who was still fast asleep, and thought to himself that since the quest was no longer going ahead, it was only a matter of time before he clashed with Buddha. Now was the perfect time to take action.
So Wukong said to Feng Tong, “Stay here and keep watch. I’ll go up to heaven for a while.”
Wukong led the White Dragon Horse away from Lion Camel Ridge and headed straight for the North Heavenly Gate of the Thirty-Six Heavens.
In front of the Purple Sky Palace, the two of them landed. The Turtle and Snake generals came forward cheerfully, saying, “The Great Sage has arrived.” Wukong replied, “Is the Great Emperor Zhenwu in the palace?”
The Turtle general said, “The Great Emperor has already given orders: outsiders must be announced before they can enter, but since it’s the Great Sage, he can go straight into the hall.”
Wukong laughed and said, “The Purple Sky Palace really knows how to treat guests. Is it always like this whenever someone comes?”
The Turtle general hurriedly replied, “How dare we! It’s absolutely true.”
Wukong led Yu Long straight into the main hall. When Zhenwu saw Wukong, he showed joy and said, “How did Wukong find time?”
Wukong replied, “I’m not only free today, but I might be idle every day from now on.”
When Yu Long saw Zhenwu, he stepped back a few steps and bowed deeply. Zhenwu asked, “Yu Long from the Western Sea, didn’t you go on the quest for scriptures with Tang Seng? How dare you return to your human form?”
Yu Long was too frightened to answer. Wukong laughed and said, “Let me explain this slowly. First, Great Emperor, please find a place for little Yu Long.”
Zhenwu nodded, summoned one of the five dragons under his command, and took Yu Long to the back hall.
Wukong asked, “Did the Great Emperor hear about the battle between Qitian Ridge and Mount Ling?”
Zhenwu replied, “How could I not know such an important event?”
Wukong asked, “What does the Great Emperor think of it?”
Zhenwu said, “I’ve discussed this several times with Zi Wei. Taoism is indifferent, while Buddhism is cunning. If it weren’t for the emergence of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who knows how long this would have dragged on—maybe it would have ended without resolution.”
Wukong thought for a moment and said, “So, Ksitigarbha has made contributions this time?”
Zhenwu laughed heartily and said, “As someone who loves battle by nature, I naturally think so. Not only has Ksitigarbha contributed greatly, but Qitian Ridge also played a vital role.”
Wukong said, “Among the people of Qitian Ridge, many are aggressive but few are strategic. But as the saying goes, strength can overcome all schemes. No matter what tricks they use, just keep fighting forward, and their true nature will be revealed.”

Zhenwu stood up and said, “Come to my private chamber for a detailed discussion.” Wukong followed Zhenwu into the private chamber, where he realized it was similar to Laojun’s Gourd Hall and Randeng’s Dingguang Hall—both designed with time flowing slowly. Alas, time passes swiftly; how can I afford to delay? Who says immortals don’t cherish time?