Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 225 - 226: This is Marshal Tianpeng Descending to the Mortal Realm

Chapter 225: Chapter 226: This is Marshal Tianpeng Descending to the Mortal Realm

The man blinked, and it was as if several centuries had passed; his heart filled with an indescribably strange sensation.

Now, looking at Xuanzang again, he no longer felt the previous disdain.

"Master!"

With hands clasped together in utmost sincerity, Gao Cai said.

Xuanzang nodded calmly and replied, "Take us there, if needed, both of us surely can aid your family!"

"Both of you, please come with me!"

Gao Cai dared not delay, for what he glimpsed in that brief moment was akin to Buddha filling the heavens—an image of a mighty being. If these two could offer their help, it would certainly benefit the Gao family.

Without hesitation, he led the two to Gao Family Manor.

"How did you return so quickly? Aren’t you supposed to be looking for someone?"

Old Master Gao cursed with unrestrained irritation.

Gao Cai hurriedly responded, "Old Master, I was just about to look for powerful Taoists and monks, but at that moment, I came across two monks!"

"One of the monks had the likeness of a Buddha welcoming all living creatures. Just one glance inspired an urge to convert!"

"Moreover, he is the Imperial Brother from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, on a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from Buddha—surely he possesses genuine abilities!"

Hearing Gao Cai’s words, Lord Gao was also overjoyed and promptly went out to welcome them, not daring to show any disrespect.

"Two elders."

Lord Gao looked at Xuanzang and Sun Wukong with an amiable expression.

Xuanzang returned the greeting; Sun Wukong stood aside, watching Lord Gao with a somewhat amused smile.

Lord Gao, upon seeing Xuanzang was truly as his servant had described, felt elated, but upon laying eyes on Sun Wukong, fear unexpectedly took hold.

Sun Wukong asked with a smile, "Old man, why do you seem so frightened upon seeing me?"

Looking at Wukong speaking, Old Master Gao whispered fearfully to Gao Cai, "Are you trying to scare me to death, boy? There’s already one ugly son-in-law in the house, why did you have to bring this Thunder Duke to frighten me too?"

Gao Cai was about to say something, but Wukong immediately overheard and couldn’t help but retort with a laugh, "Old Gao, you’ve lived for so long in vain; judging by appearances is where you’ve gone wrong!"

"How am I ugly? Besides, I’m not here to scare you. If you want to catch a demon, seeing your daughter also depends on my master. If you talk like that, I might just prevent my master from helping you!"

Hearing the monkey with the furry face speak thus, Lord Gao could only offer a wry smile, feeling a mixture of fear and resolve, he then said, "Please, come in."

Afterward, they all sat down in the hall, and though Wukong was somewhat intimidating, Xuanzang seemed genuinely affable, his presence exuding a sense of peace that stilled the mind—a truly peculiar phenomenon.

Old Master Gao continued, "I heard from my servant that the two elders have come from the Eastern Land?"

Xuanzang nodded and said, "Indeed, this humble monk has been tasked to travel to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Passing by Bao Manor, we seek lodging for the night and will leave at dawn tomorrow."

Old Master Gao, momentarily taken aback, replied with a bitter smile, "The two of you are here for lodging, and yet you spoke of capturing demons?"

Sun Wukong cut off the old man’s words, "Don’t underestimate us just because we came for lodging. My master’s understanding of the Buddhist Law is profound, and capturing a few demons is nothing difficult. Let me ask, how many demons are in your manor?"

Startled, Old Master Gao replied, "What are you talking about, monk? There’s just one demon son-in-law, and he’s already too much for me to bear."

Wukong nodded and said, "In that case, you should tell us the whole story of this demon, his abilities, so my master can help you catch him."

Old Master Gao then narrated the whole affair.

It turned out that Old Master Gao’s daughter had fallen in love with a demon who had transformed.

Moreover, the Gao family had treated the demon well, which had led to the two getting married. But they discovered their son-in-law was a Pig Demon and immediately regretted the union.

Enraged, the Pig Demon locked Old Master Gao’s daughter in the backyard, preventing the Gao family from entering.

Old Master Gao expressed his lament with heavy sighs as he spoke these words.

"You, Old Master Gao, have been unfair. It was your family who wanted the match; to change your mind because he’s a Pig Demon is unjust. If I were in your shoes, I would be dissatisfied too!"

Wukong shook his head after hearing Old Master Gao’s story.

It seemed that just because someone was a Pig Demon, they had no rights. It was the family’s decision to take him as a son-in-law, and it was also their decision to back out; this seemed somewhat unreasonable.

"Well... As mortals, we hope for a normal son-in-law, not a Pig Demon. You agree, right, elder?"

Feeling culpable, Old Master Gao turned to look at Xuanzang.

"Amitabha Buddha, it’s all right. Karma and divine will intertwine; having encountered the cause, one must accept the fruit of not seeing his daughter for years—it should soon come to an end," Xuanzang said, nodding.

"Then we shall trouble the great Master,"

Relieved by Xuanzang’s words, Old Master Gao heaved a sigh.

Meals were readily prepared, and the family hosted a feast to honor Xuanzang and Wukong.

After the meal, Old Master Gao finally turned to Sun Wukong and Xuanzang and inquired, "Do you need weapons? How many people should follow you? It’s still early, we can prepare ahead of time."

Wukong laughed upon hearing this, "What need has my master for weapons? His cultivation is profound, and winning converts is easy for him."

Wukong beckoned Old Master Gao, "Take us to that residence in the back where the demon lives."

Facing no further doubt, Old Master Gao led the two to the gate of the backyard residence.

Seeing chains on the doors of the backyard house, Xuanzang turned towards Old Master Gao.

Wukong also noticed and said, "Fetch the keys at once."

Old Master Gao replied with a bitter smile, "If I had the keys to open these doors, I wouldn’t need others to subdue the demon for me."

Upon hearing this, Wukong chuckled, "That’s no problem for me!"

As he spoke, Sun Wukong opened his mouth and blew a breath, a strong gust surged forth, the lock on the door fell off, and then the door swung open.

An entrance to the backyard was revealed.

"My daughter!"

Upon seeing this, Old Master Gao couldn’t help feeling overjoyed.

"Miss, come out quickly, we are here!"

Gao Cai, seeing this scene, was also filled with excitement.

It seemed that the commotion here had been heard, and soon a figure appeared from deep within the backyard.

"Father, why have you come!"

Gao Cui-Lan, the young lady of the Gao family, said with some surprise, showing no sign of happiness.

"Miss, you’ve suffered. We’ve come to rescue you, hurry and leave with us!"

Gao Cai said hastily.

Old Master Gao also nodded repeatedly, missing his daughter dearly although it had been many years and she hadn’t grown thin.

"Since I’ve found him to be a good man, no matter what he transforms into, I want to be with him, and what’s more, we are already married!"

Gao Cui-Lan shook her head, speaking very firmly.

This scene left Sun Wukong astonished.

If the lady Gao Cui-Lan herself said so, then why bother exorcising any demons? Just let them grow old together!

"Master, I don’t think we need to drive out a demon after all!"

Sun Wukong turned to look at Xuanzang, shrugged his shoulders, thinking they were going to showcase their master’s skills, but now it seemed unnecessary.

"What nonsense are you talking, hurry and leave with us!"

Old Master Gao naturally could not allow his daughter to decide, after all, he couldn’t afford to lose face over a monster.

Immediately, Gao Cai and the other servants pulled Gao Cui-Lan with them to leave the place.

Xuanzang shook his head and said, "Old Master Gao, since your daughter is willing to be with the demon, you should let them be together. Why insist on this!"

"All beings are equal, and demons that do not harm humans may not be much worse than ordinary people!"

Old Master Gao shook his head and replied, "Though that may be so, great master, humans and demons have different paths, and we mortals don’t wish to have any ties with demons!"

"Deal with this demon as you see fit, whether you drive it away or subdue it, I just don’t want to see it ever again!"

Old Master Gao said with a bitter smile.

He then left with Gao Cui-Lan, who despite her reluctance, was powerless to resist.

"Master, look at these mortals, truly ignorant, to not want a son-in-law who can transform!"

Sun Wukong shook his head as he spoke, and although he himself was a monkey demon, he understood the strength of demons; if they gained the help of a demon, their family would surely become very wealthy and prestigious.

"Everyone has their own choices, let’s see how this Pig Demon fares!"

Xuanzang refrained from making any further comments.

The two then entered the room in the backyard and waited quietly for the Pig Demon’s arrival.

Time passed, and it grew late.

Suddenly, a gust of wind arose.

At first it was just a breeze, but then it grew stronger and stronger, like a storm of flying sand and rocks.

After the fierce gust had passed, a demon appeared in the sky, extremely ugly, with a dark face, short hair, a long nose, and big ears; it was indeed the Pig Demon.

"Eh, Marshal Tianpeng!"

Sun Wukong had been preparing to let Xuanzang show his prowess, but he was taken aback when he caught sight of this sight.

He had a deep relationship with Tianpeng, and although they hadn’t seen each other for hundreds of years, he did not expect to meet him here.

And considering how handsome the other used to be, it was truly a lamentable change to have taken on a pig’s appearance.

"Pilgrim?"

Hearing the voice of Sun Wukong, Tianpeng was also startled, surprised in his heart.

He never expected to meet again here.

However, after years of pondering, he somewhat realized that he and Sun Wukong were destined to meet again someday, just not sure when.

"Tianpeng, long time no see. I didn’t expect you’d actually abduct a mortal girl, this is indeed a surprise!"

Sun Wukong couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head.

"It seems you know each other!"

Xuanzang brought his hands together in prayer, speaking with a calm expression.

He didn’t have much prejudice against demons, after all, even within Buddhism, there were many peculiar demons.

Even the Buddha’s uncle-in-law was the Great Roc Demon!

"Master, this is Marshal Tianpeng incarnate!"

"You must be the one travelling to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. Originally, I did not plan to be involved in this calamity, but since Brother Monkey is part of it, naturally I can be too!"

Tianpeng said to Xuanzang.