Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 395 - 389 Let’s not meddle in the affairs here

Chapter 395: Chapter 389 Let’s not meddle in the affairs here

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, after finding Xuanzang and Sand Monk, returned to the Black Pine Forest and continued westward.

Before long, night fell, and the travelers had no choice but to sleep in the open forest.

At the break of the next day, they all got up and resumed their journey.

Not long after, they left the Black Pine Forest and kept pushing west. By the afternoon, it was getting dark.

Xuanzang, riding on his horse, said, "Wukong, it’s getting late. Is there anywhere we can find lodging?"

"Let Old Sun have a look."

Sun Wukong nodded, performed a somersault into the air, shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked around.

Soon, his face lit up with joy, and he jumped down, laughing to Xuanzang, "Fortune smiles upon us! There’s a building in the woods up ahead. It looks like either a temple or a Daoist Temple, less than twenty miles from here. If we hurry, we can reach it in time to find lodging."

Xuanzang, hearing this, was overjoyed and quickly nodded, saying, "That’s very good. If so, let’s quicken our pace to find lodging ahead and avoid another night out in the wild."

Zhu Bajie laughingly said, "Once we get there, not only can we find lodging, but we might also get a hot meal. I’ve been hungry for a while; let’s move quickly! If we miss dinner time, we’ll have to cook ourselves, which is a hassle."

Eager for a full meal, even the usually lazy Zhu Bajie couldn’t help but urge everyone to move faster.

So, full of energy, they sped along and soon reached the woods, indeed spotting a large temple ahead.

Approaching the temple gate, they saw the words "Jinghai Chanlin Temple" inscribed above it. Xuanzang brought his palms together and said, "Amitabha Buddha, it is indeed a temple."

"What are we waiting for? Let’s hurry in! Old Pig’s stomach has been growling for ages," urged Zhu Bajie.

Xuanzang quickly held Zhu Bajie back, smilingly saying, "Bajie, hold on. With your ugly appearances, you might frighten the monks, and they might refuse us lodging. Let me go in first to ask for lodging, and then I will bring you in."

"Master is right. If you charge in there without thinking, people will think a demon has come down from the mountain! If you don’t scare the monks half to death, it would be a surprise. Better let Master go in first!" Sun Wukong said, covering his mouth to hide a smile.

Zhu Bajie, feeling somewhat dissatisfied after hearing this, then retorted, "Saying that I look like a demon, as if you, this monkey, look any better than Old Pig!"

Although he spoke these words, Zhu Bajie didn’t insist and obediently stepped aside to wait.

Afterward, Xuanzang went in to ask for lodging and was warmly welcomed by the monks, who readily agreed. Xuanzang then mentioned that he had three disciples waiting outside, and the temple’s steward promptly said, "If that’s the case, please invite the three esteemed disciples in immediately!"

Only then were Sun Wukong and the others invited in. The Little Monks glimpsed the three strange visitors, one uglier than the next, and they couldn’t hide their fear.

However, with Xuanzang hastily explaining and soothing the monks, everything was settled.

The Fang Zhang treated Xuanzang and company as honored guests, immediately arranging food and accommodations, and cleaned out the best meditation room for them to stay in. Xuanzang was, of course, endlessly grateful.

Without incident, the night passed, and the next morning Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sand Monk got up early to gather their belongings, ready to hit the road at dawn.

Sun Wukong also got up early and strolled around the temple, taking in the scenery.

While packing, Zhu Bajie frowned and asked, "Brother Monkey, the day has brightened and the sun is warming our backs. Why isn’t Master up yet?"

Wukong smiled and said, "I just took a look; Master is still asleep."

At that moment, Sand Monk furrowed his brow and said, "Master is usually the first to rise. Why is he sleeping in today?"

"Perhaps the journey has tired him out," Sun Wukong said noncommittally; after all, they had recently escaped from the clutches of a demon.

"It’s odd today. Usually, Master gets up before anyone and barely has time to eat before he starts urging us to move quickly, as if he’s in a rush to be reborn. It’s the first time he’s ever been such a slacker," Zhu Bajie said, laughing, although he found it unusual, he didn’t dwell on it.

However, while the speaker meant nothing by it, the listener took it to heart.

Upon hearing Zhu Bajie’s words, Sun Wukong recalled the unresolved situation with the demon in the Bottomless Cave and couldn’t help worrying. He hurried into the meditation room.

There, he saw Xuanzang still lying in bed asleep!

Relieved, Sun Wukong breathed a sigh of relief.

Nevertheless, it was indeed getting late, and after hesitating briefly, he approached and called out softly, "Master!"

However, Xuanzang did not react. Wukong continued calling, and after several shouts, Xuanzang slowly opened his eyes, his brows deeply furrowed, and he let out a series of low groans, clearly in great pain.

Sun Wukong quickly asked, "Master, what’s wrong with you?"

Xuanzang weakly said, "I feel dizzy and my eyes are swollen. Every bone and muscle aches; I don’t know why."

When Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk saw Sun Wukong rush in, they followed.

They arrived just in time to hear Xuanzang’s comment, and Sand Monk quickly touched Xuanzang’s forehead, frowning, and said, "It’s a bit hot; Master is ill!"

Zhu Bajie, laughing, said, "I get it, Master ate his fill of free food yesterday, went to bed straight after, and now he’s indigested."