Journey to the West: Break the entire Western Heaven!

The bandits charged at them with a howl as soon as they heard.

Sun Wukong looked up at Tang Sanzang and inquired, "Master, what do we do?"

Tang Sanzang replied indifferently, "They're neither women nor demons..."

Zhu Ganglie scratched his head and asked Sun Wukong in a low voice, "What does Master mean? Did you understand?"

Sun Wukong slightly shook his head...

The White Dragon Horse whispered, "Idiots, women are useful, demons are edible, but these evildoers are neither; hence, they're not worth the Master's time to think about their fate."

The two were suddenly at a loss for words.

Zhu Ganglie tentatively asked, "Master, do you mean we should show mercy?"

Tang Sanzang brought his palms together and said with a face full of compassion, "Amitabha, what I mean is... beat them up!"

The disciples were first taken aback, then they came to their senses, stamped their foot, reverted to their true forms, and then...

"Demons!"

At one moment, the fierce bandits; in the next, they turned tail and ran...

But alas, Sun Wukong's staff struck down, splitting the earth, and the gang of murderous bandits screamed as they fell into the fissures, and then the earth closed up, burying them all!

Seeing this, Zhu Ganglie exclaimed, "Eldest brother, isn't that a bit too harsh?"

Sun Wukong replied, "A bunch of evildoers, leaving them alive would only harm the good; it's better to kill them, right, Master?"

Sun Wukong looked up at Tang Sanzang.

However, Tang Sanzang, with his palms together and a face of Buddhist compassion, said, "Amitabha, Wukong, how can a monk so readily take lives? With this action, have you lived up to the teachings I impart every day? As punishment, you'll eat an extra bowl of meat tonight, I'll let the guilt of eating meat punish you harshly!"

Upon hearing this punishment, Zhu Ganglie and the others rolled their eyes, thinking, "If I had known there was such a benefit, I would have made a move..."

Sun Wukong cooperatively put on a bitter face and said, "Master, I realize my mistake; I won't act rashly again..."

"There's nothing greater than to repent and mend one's ways; let's go," Tang Sanzang waved his hand, and the group continued on their way.

In the distance, the Six-Eared Macaque narrowed its eyes and muttered, "As expected, he was just spouting nonsense when he spoke earlier to deceive people… This sentimentality is his true nature. It seems there's already a rift between him and the monkey… Here, I should be able to make a move."

The Six-Eared Macaque sneered inwardly, its gaze growing sharper.

"Master, there's a household up ahead, should we ask to stay there for the night?" Zhu Ganglie called out.

Tang Sanzang shaded his eyes with his hand and looked.

He saw wildflowers lining the path and trees veiling the doorways. Across the bank coursed the mountain stream, amidst the fields grew wheat and sunflowers. Reeds glittered with dew where seagulls roosted; willows fluttered in the breeze where tired birds perched. Cypress and pine competed in verdant splendor; blooming sorrel set against knotweed, a riot of colors. The village dogs barked; the evening chickens crowed, as the shepherds led the full-fed sheep and cows home. The blue smoke twined with the fog as the yellow millet ripened – a mountain home entering dusk.

Tang Sanzang commented, "A fine place, let's go have a look!"

The bunch hurried to the entrance of a large household at the village's edge. As they approached, the gate slowly opened, and an elder stepped out.

Upon seeing the group, the elder asked curiously, "What brings you noble monks our way?"

Sun Wukong promptly stepped forward and said, "Elder, we are emissaries from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, intending to travel to the Western Heaven to obtain the True Scriptures. We happened to pass by and, with night falling, we'd like to request lodging for the night."

The elder laughed, "You young one sure can spin a tale. That Great Tang is said to be tens of thousands of miles away from here. Even an ordinary person on horse would take many years to make the journey... let alone with your master bringing along three children."

At these words, while Sun Wukong was fine, Zhu Ganglie and Sha Wujing were quite disheartened.

Children...

If they showed their true forms, I reckon this old man could give birth right on the spot!

But looking at their own one-meter tall stature, they let out a sigh.

Zhu Ganglie said, "Old benefactor, who are you calling a child? Take a good look, I'm certainly not a child!"

As he spoke, Zhu Ganglie took a step forward. Continue reading at empire

The old man also took a step forward, bent down and looked closely, then with a face of astonishment said, "Oh, it turns out you are a dwarf!"

Pfft!

White Dragon Horse spewed out a mouthful of water, nearly bursting into laughter, thinking, "This TM would rather be a child."

While they were talking, a grandmother walked out from behind, leading a five or six-year-old child. As soon as the child saw Sun Wukong and the others, he clapped his hands and shouted, "I want to play with the little brothers!"

The grandmother laughed, let go of the child, and sure enough, a five or six-year-old was slightly taller than Zhu Ganglie and the others. No wonder he was calling them little brothers...

Zhu Ganglie, Sun Wukong, and Sha Wujing's faces grew even darker...

Then the grandmother came over with a chuckle, took out some candy from her bosom, and offered it to Zhu Ganglie and the others, saying, "Here, have some candy."

Zhu Ganglie, Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing: "@#￥..."

Fortunately, the old man came back to his senses, "Wife, these are not children, they are three dwarfs."

Sun Wukong quickly said, "Old benefactor, please don't speak anymore... I'm afraid you'll anger me to death. Just tell us whether we can stay for one night."

The old man was straightforward, opened the gate and said, "Of course, you can! Please come in!"

Relieved, they followed the old man into the courtyard, took care of the horses, and sat down.

The old woman, worried about the children making trouble, took them out and also instructed her daughter-in-law to start cooking quickly to host the monks.

As the sky gradually darkened, the old man lit a lamp.

Sun Wukong curiously asked, "Elder, what is your esteemed surname?"

The old man said, "My surname is Yang, and I'm seventy-four this year. How should I address the venerable elders?"

Sun Wukong knew Tang Sanzang's disposition; if he started talking, he might easily make someone cough up blood, so he preemptively answered the old man and introduced himself and his brothers, then asked back, "Elder, how many children do you have at home?"

The old man sighed and said, "Ah... don't remind me, I have only that one."

Tang Sanzang asked, "Is it because you are not capable, or is the old sister-in-law not capable?"

At these words, the old man's expression immediately stiffened.

Sun Wukong quickly intervened, "Since you have a son, why not call him over to sit with us? We would like to extend our thanks for your hospitality."

The old man took a breath and then shook his head with a sigh, "Ah, it's better not to see that scoundrel. I am cursed with bad luck, having given birth to a beast I can't control."

Tang Sanzang stroked his chin, looking serious, "Given birth to a beast... Elder, you must have had good stamina when you were young!"

The old man's hands trembled as if he was about to hit someone.

Sun Wukong quickly intervened, "What my master means is, raising a child like that must be extremely difficult. So you definitely have to be strong..."

The old man frowned, "Is that really what he meant?"

Sun Wukong immediately said, "Absolutely, he's a monk, what else could he mean?"