Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 263 - 264: The Six Eared Macaque Takes Action

Chapter 263: Chapter 264: The Six Eared Macaque Takes Action

Sun Wukong watched this scene with curiosity, then descended swiftly towards the direction of the monks.

Upon nearing, he found that the carts carried by the monks were loaded with bricks, tiles, wooden plants, and clods of earth.

However, this was just a narrow path with towering walls on both sides, and the path was a steep slope, resembling a cliff. How could these monks pull it up?

Additionally, although the current weather was fairly warm, the monks were dressed in tattered clothes, looking exceedingly wretched.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong couldn’t help but feel puzzled, muttering to himself, "Could it be that this city’s population reaps bountiful crops every year and no one is willing to do such menial work anymore?"

"So now these monks have to roll up their sleeves and build their own temple?"

Just as Sun Wukong was lost in his doubts,

he saw two men, appearing to be Taoist priests, stagger out from the city gates.

They wore shining Star Crowns on their heads and were draped in Brocade and Colorful Clouds.

Their feet were clad in Cloud-Stepping Boots; a Silk Ribbon was tied around their waists.

Their faces resembled the full moon, radiant with wisdom; they looked as graceful as Heavenly Immortals from the jade realms.

Seeing the Taoist priests, the tattered monks were terrified, pulling even harder at the carts with a sense of desperation.

Sun Wukong, observing this sight, immediately understood why the monks exerted themselves so fiercely.

"Presumably, these monks are afraid of the Taoist priests, hence they tug at the carts with such effort!"

"Furthermore, on my way here, I overheard someone say that, on the Western Road, there is a place where Taoism is revered and Buddhism is suppressed; it seems this must be the place."

"I must quickly return and inform master to avoid blundering into this area!"

Having discovered the origin of the thunderous noise, Sun Wukong soon lost interest in the matter and prepared to depart upon the clouds.

However, Sun Wukong suddenly had a second thought, realizing that his task was not yet fully understood, and hence, it wouldn’t be right to hastily return.

After a moment of contemplation, Sun Wukong decided to transform and go down to inquire clearly about what was happening with the monks!

Thus resolved, Sun Wukong descended from the clouds, and upon touching the ground, he transformed into a Little Daoist who roamed the lands freely.

On his left arm, he hung a Fire and Water Basket, tapping on a Fishing Drum, while chanting Daoist sayings.

He slowly approached the city gate when the two Taoist priests walked towards him, eyeing Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong, looking at the two priests, bowed and said, "Daoist Priest, I have a request."

The Taoist priest returned the bow, asking, "Where does the gentleman come from?"

Sun Wukong spoke softly, "I, as a disciple, have wandered to the corners of the sea and strayed to the ends of the earth. This morning, I’ve come here, hoping to find a charitable household."

"I wish to ask the two Daoist Priests, which streets in this city are more favorable to Taoists? Which alley has kind-hearted people? So I, as a poor Daoist, can go and beg for some vegetarian offerings."

Upon hearing this, one of the Taoist priests laughed and said, "At such a time, why speak of such discouraging matters?"

Sun Wukong, slightly taken aback, asked, "What is a discouraging matter?"

"Is not seeking alms a dispiriting act?"

Sun Wukong gave a wry smile and said, "Monks live by begging for alms. If I don’t beg for food, where will I get my meals from?"

After hearing Sun Wukong’s words, the Taoist priest laughed and said, "You must be from afar, naturally unaware of the affairs of our city!"

"Here, literary and military officials alike are fond of Daoism, and whoever it is, they will provide sumptuous vegetarian meals to the Taoists!"

"Still, all this is nothing compared to the fact that our city’s king deeply believes in Daoism!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was surprised, but he saw an opportunity to learn more about the situation and promptly responded with a smile, "I come from afar, a stranger in these parts, and indeed am ignorant. Perhaps you two Daoist Priests can elaborate on how the king holds Daoism in such high esteem?"

The two Daoist priests, without any hesitation, began to explain, "Our city is called Cart Slow Kingdom, and the king atop the treasure palace is a relative of our Daoist Sect!"

Sun Wukong heard this and laughed heartily, "So, a Taoist priest has become the Emperor!"

The two shook their heads and clarified, "No, no, it’s because twenty years ago, the People of Cart Slow Kingdom suffered a great drought that led to crop failure. Only later did three Immortals arrive, and they saved the people!"

Sun Wukong exclaimed in astonishment, "Who are these three Immortal Daoist Priests, and how did they possess such skills?"

The two Taoist priests puffed up with pride and said with an air of arrogance, "They happen to be our masters!"

Sun Wukong, even more astonished, asked curiously, "What are the names of your masters?"

"Our eldest master is called Immortal Huli; our second master is Luli Immortal; our youngest master is Yangli Immortal."

"And what skills do these three masters possess?"

Sun Wukong nodded and continued inquiring with interest.

The two priests shared everything without reserve.

"Our three masters, summoning wind and rain, do so with a mere flip of their hands; turning water into oil, changing stone into gold, these are merely ordinary skills for them!"

"With such Mana, they can manipulate the forces of nature and change the fabric of the cosmos, earning the respect of both sovereign and subjects, and thus becoming closely allied with us."

Sun Wukong heard the words and nodded, saying, "Then this Emperor is certainly blessed with too much good fortune. With such abilities, how could he lack benefits from the Emperor!"

"Oh right, monks and Taoists are all people who have renounced worldly life, so why should they be made to work for us?"

The two Taoists couldn’t help but laugh and said, "You don’t know because at the time of praying for rain, monks were worshipping Buddha on one side and Taoists were beseeching the heavens on the other, both needing the imperial court’s provisions!"

"Who would have thought that the monks were of no use, vainly chanting scriptures without any effect!"

"It was only after our master arrived, summoning wind and rain, saving the tens of thousands from disaster. Nevertheless, this also angered the imperial court, which said the monks were useless, tore down their mountain gate, destroyed their Buddha statues, revoked their monk’s credentials, and wouldn’t let them return home. Instead, they were bestowed to our Daoist sect to work, to be treated as little more than servants."

"Now, whether it’s tending the fire, sweeping the floors, or holding up the gate, it’s all him."

"There are still residences to be built in the back, which haven’t been finished yet, so these monks are being made to haul bricks and tiles, drag wood, and build the structures. Fearing they might be mischievous, idle, and unwilling to pull carts, we were sent to check on them."

By then, Sun Wukong had heard enough and understood the cause and details of the event. He decided not to help the monks for now but to return and discuss it first.

After saying his farewells, he leaped into the clouds, riding the clouds and fog away. Not long after Sun Wukong’s departure, a figure appeared in the sky.

Upon close inspection, this person was also a monkey, who, with a shake of his body, transformed into Sun Wukong’s form.

In both physique and demeanor, he was indistinguishable from Sun Wukong.

Even Sun Wukong himself might have trouble telling them apart at first glance.

While it was said he was no different than Sun Wukong, there were some subtleties in his demeanor that were not quite the same.

But other than that, there seemed to be no difference.

If not the Six-Eared Macaque, then who?

At that moment, the Six-Eared Macaque looked coldly in the direction Sun Wukong had left.

He dusted off his clothes, then descended from the clouds and landed atop the city wall.

"Intelligent Stone Monkey, oh Intelligent Stone Monkey, after receiving guidance from two Saints, I’ve now taken your form, and even the Saints might not recognize me. In this way, even if I frame you, probably no one will find out. Let’s see how you’ll deal with this!"

"Who is this monkey from?"

Just at that moment, the two Taoists had already seen the Six-Eared Macaque and angrily pointed at him, saying.

At this time, the Six-Eared Macaque was full of rage and pulled a staff from his ear.

The staff grew to the thickness of an arm as it caught the wind, and the Six-Eared Macaque, lifting it, smashed it down upon the two Taoists.

Bang bang!

With a scrape across their faces from the staff, the Taoists were struck until their heads bled, and they collapsed unconscious on the ground.

The monks laboring in misery saw this and became pale with fright, crying out, "Disaster, disaster, someone has killed the imperial relatives!"

The Six-Eared Macaque looked up at the monks and said in surprise, "Which one is an imperial relative?"

But the monks said, "These Daoist priests’ master has risen to the position of State Preceptor; he doesn’t salute the king in court or say farewell to the host when he leaves. What’s the difference between him and the imperial relatives? Why come here and cause trouble?"

"Their disciples come to supervise the work, it has nothing to do with you, why have you beaten them to death? If the State Preceptors blame us for this, where will our lives be then?"

The Six-Eared Macaque couldn’t help but laugh, "Don’t worry, I’ve come to save you."

Upon hearing this, the monks said, "You’ve killed someone, brought trouble upon us, so how can you save us?"

The Six-Eared Macaque continued, "I am Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong’s disciple from the Great Tang, here specifically to save your lives."

"Hurry and leave!"

Immediately following that, the Six-Eared Macaque’s figure flickered, and in a flash, he was gone.

Under these actions, the monks all believed that their savior was the Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong!

...

Meanwhile, at another location, Sun Wukong had already returned to Xuanzang and the others.

He naturally didn’t know about the events that had unfolded here.

Sun Wukong conveyed the information he had gathered to everyone.

Upon hearing it, everyone became furious, unable to believe there was a place that oppressed monks so severely.

They decided then and there to go to the Cart Slow Kingdom and rescue the enslaved monks.

The monkey led them all the way up to the gates of Cart Slow Kingdom.

But as soon as they entered the city, they were baffled.

They saw that the very two Daoists mentioned by Sun Wukong had already been beaten to the ground, unconscious.

And the monks said to have been enslaved, upon seeing them come, seemed to recognize them and crowded around.

While Xuanzang and the others were still confused, the monks knelt down, their faces showing appreciation.

"Thank you for your life-saving grace!"