Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 414 - 398 The Weapon is Gone_2

Chapter 414: Chapter 398 The Weapon is Gone_2

"My three sons have always been fond of martial arts. Today, with devout hearts, they wish to become your disciples and learn some martial arts. We hope the Master will open your magnanimous heart, steer the vessel of mercy, and instruct them. They will surely repay you with wealth enough to replenish a city."

"This..."

Xuanzang couldn’t help feeling somewhat troubled, partly because King Hua had personally come to request his help, making it hard for Xuanzang to refuse. However, accepting the request would mean his three disciples would have to teach the princes martial arts, potentially causing delays to their journey. Hence his hesitation.

Seeing this, King Hua hurriedly said, "I hope the Elder will consent. Surely you wouldn’t force me, a king, to kneel down and beg you."

"I dare not! I dare not!"

Xuanzang quickly replied, "It’s just that we are on our way to the Western Heaven Seeking Scriptures, and I’m afraid we cannot stay long in Yuhua State City."

King Hua replied with a smile, "Don’t worry about that. The honored Elders are just to stay here for a while. Whenever free, the three Elders can teach my three sons some martial arts. How much they learn will depend on their own abilities. When the time comes for you to leave, you can continue on your journey. If the honored Elders can agree to this, I am sure to reward you handsomely."

Seeing this, Xuanzang had no choice but to agree.

When Sun Wukong saw that Xuanzang had agreed, he spoke up, "Your Thousand Years Old, you really don’t understand. We monks always welcome more disciples! Since your sons are earnest in their pursuit of goodness, we can take them as our disciples and ask for nothing in return."

At this point, Zhu Bajie also interjected, "Right! We don’t ask for anything in return. Just make sure there are enough good food and wine every day to satisfy this Old Zhu."

Seeing that Sun Wukong and the others had agreed, King Hua was overjoyed. He immediately ordered a grand banquet to be prepared in the main hall of the royal palace to entertain Xuanzang and his disciples and arranged for them to stay in the palace.

After the banquet, the ceremony of becoming a disciple began. Sun Wukong approached Xuanzang, bowed deeply, and said, "Forgive your disciple’s transgressions."

"Since the day you rescued me from Two-Realm Mountain and taught me as a Buddhist monk, I have journeyed towards the west, never repaying my teacher’s kindness, yet I have crossed waters and climbed mountains, exerting all my heart power.

"Now we have come to the lands of Buddha, and fortunately met the wise king’s three sons who wish to become our disciples and learn martial arts. As they are to be our disciples, they also become the disciples of my teacher. I respectfully report this to my teacher to seek permission to instruct them."

According to the rules, when you accept disciples, you must first seek the approval of your own teacher. Although Sun Wukong’s abilities were not taught by Xuanzang, since Xuanzang is, after all, his teacher, Sun Wukong naturally sought his consent. Moreover, this was the proper etiquette, which Sun Wukong understood well.

Xuanzang was naturally delighted and hurriedly helped Sun Wukong to his feet, continuously praising him.

At this time, Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk came forward and respectfully performed the ceremonial bow to Xuanzang, saying, "Master above, we are dull and not eloquent; we are not good with words. We ask the Master to preside over the Dharma Appearance and allow each of us to have a disciple to remember on the Western Road."

Xuanzang nodded and agreed to their request.

Consequently, the three princes formally became disciples of Sun Wukong and his two brothers. After the ceremony of apprenticeship,

Sun Wukong smilingly asked, "What kind of martial arts would you like to learn?"

The princes replied, "We wish to learn the staff for those accustomed to it, the rake for those who fancy it, and the staff for those who love it."

Sun Wukong said with a smile, "Teaching you is easy, but you don’t have the strength to wield our weapons. I’m afraid you might end up ’drawing a tiger that looks like a dog’, and that would be troublesome.

"The ancients say, ’A teacher’s laziness corresponds to lax instruction, a student’s failure is his own fault.’

"Since you are sincere, you should go and make offerings to Heaven and Earth. I will first bestow upon you some divine power, and then I can teach you martial arts."

Upon hearing this, the three princes were overjoyed and ordered the incense table to be set, prepared the offerings, gave thanks to the grace of Heaven and Earth, and then Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sand Monk each performed rituals to bestow some divine power on the princes.

Under the influence of this formidable force, the bodies of the three princes were transformed, not only becoming stronger and more robust but also greatly increasing in strength, a true metamorphosis.

Although they could not be compared to Sun Wukong and others, wielding weapons weighing a thousand eight hundred pounds was no longer an issue for them.

The three princes fell into a coma after being endowed with divine power, and only woke up the next day to come over and express their gratitude for their master’s kindness.

Sun Wukong and his two brothers each took out their weapons for them to test their strength. The Eldest Prince still could not lift the Jingu Bang, but he was able to shake it, straining with all his might and only able to drag it slightly.

Although the Second and Third Princes could barely lift the Nine-toothed Rake and the Demon-Subduing Staff, they were unable to wield them properly.

The three princes knelt before their master, speaking respectfully, "Thank you, Master, for bestowing divine power upon us. However, we can lift our Master’s divine artifacts but are unable to use them."

"Why not have craftsmen create weapons of the same style as our Master’s divine artifacts, albeit lighter, for us to use? It would be wonderful if our teacher would permit this."

Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "I was thinking the same thing. Even if you could use our divine weapons, we would not possibly let you, else we would be left without weapons. You three young Highnesses should better ask the best craftsmen in the city to tailor-make three similar weapons for you."

The three young princes were overjoyed at this and immediately sent for the artisans to come. Being eager to learn martial arts, the princes ensured everything was done efficiently. Soon, the craftsmen were summoned, and thousands of pounds of fine steel were purchased. A workshop was set up in the rear courtyard of the royal palace, and the craftsmen were ordered to work day and night to create the weapons.

However, creating weapons weighing over a thousand pounds was not something that could be completed in just a day or two, even if the craftsmen worked around the clock.

During these days, Sun Wukong and his brothers’ weapons were kept in the workshop.

Speaking of the Jingu Bang, Nine-toothed Rake, and Demon-Subduing Staff, all of them were divine weapons. While they were usually carried by them without any problem, now that they were placed aside, a myriad of dazzling lights shot up into the sky, and a thousand auspicious vapors enveloped the earth. Such a spectacular scene could be seen clearly from dozens of miles away.

Seventy miles away from Yuhua Imperial City, there was a mountain called Leopard Head Mountain, and on this mountain, there was a cave named Tiger’s Mouth Cave. Within this cave lived a group of demons, and the Demon King among them was a Yellow Lion Demon.

The Demon King, having nothing to do at night, suddenly saw bright lights and auspicious vapors rising within the city and could not help but show a hint of surprise, muttering to himself, "I have lived in Yuhua Province since my youth and never heard of this city having such treasures. What kind of treasure could emit such lights and vapors? I must investigate."

The demon’s heart was already filled with greed, and he rode his clouds straight towards Yuhua Imperial City, guided by the lights, arriving at the royal palace.

Peering out of the clouds, the demon looked down and saw that the rays and vapors were emitted from the three weapons: the Jingu Bang, the Nine-toothed Rake, and the Demon-Subduing Staff, all stored inside the workshop.

At this time of deep night and silence, the craftsmen had already gone to sleep, and Sun Wukong and his brothers were not guarding the place. Seeing that nobody was around, the demon used his divine skills to conjure a gust of wind and swept up the three treasures, then rode the clouds back to Leopard Head Mountain.

The Yellow Lion Demon stole the three magical treasures, overjoyed, and kept chanting, "Great treasures! What fantastic treasures! It must be fate that led me to encounter these three treasures. Truly, a tremendous stroke of luck!"

The next day, when the craftsmen got up and found that the three treasures had disappeared, they were utterly astonished and quickly reported the matter to the three princes.

After hearing this, the three princes did not take it too seriously. The Eldest Prince laughed and said, "My master’s treasure weights over ten thousand pounds, and the treasures of my two martial uncles each weigh over five thousand pounds. Who could move them? The masters must have taken the treasures back."

The three princes nodded and said, "It must have been the masters who collected them. Still, to be safe, we should ask to make sure."

So, the three princes made their way to the lodgings of Sun Wukong and the others. It was still early, and they did not dare to enter hastily, only calling out from outside the courtyard, "Master!"

Sand Monk had just gotten up and was about to feed the horses when he saw the three princes waiting. He immediately asked, "What is it?"

The three princes stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Master, have you collected your weapons?"

Sand Monk frowned, puzzled, and said, "Aren’t the weapons always kept in the workshop?"

"Ah?" The three princes’ faces changed suddenly, and they could not help but gape in shock.

At that moment, Sun Wukong leaped out of the house and asked, "We did not take back our weapons. Could it be that they have disappeared?"

The three princes could only report truthfully, "To inform Master, this morning the craftsmen suddenly discovered that all three of your weapons were missing. Despite a thorough search, none was found. We thought perhaps the masters had taken them, which is why we have come to inquire."