Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"We don't have much time left, say a proper farewell to the two children, and we still have to put on a good show," Kui Mulang said.

Bai Huaxiu nodded gently, called the two children in, and gave them a series of instructions until the children grew somewhat impatient. Only then did she stop her sermon, her eyes brimming with reluctance as she watched them.

The two children, seeing the deep sorrow on their mother's face, also felt terribly uncomfortable. They knew they would no longer be able to see their parents, and the happy family life of being together had slipped away from them.

Suddenly, a faint fragrance wafted through the air, and the two children felt their eyelids heavy as Mount Tai, and involuntarily closed their eyes, falling into sleep.

Kui Mulang embraced the two children and laid them gently on the bed. By this time, Brother Monkey and his fellow disciples had walked in from outside.

"Kui Mulang, it's about time," Monkey reminded.

Hearing this, Bai Huaxiu couldn't help but weep. She knew the time had come for the family to part. Kui Mulang held his beloved tight, his face filled with reluctance. Although there was still a chance to meet again, who knew when that would be?

The three disciple brothers were fed up with this display of affection. Monkey was devoted to the path, and Sand Monk was simple and honest; these two were fine, but Bajie felt his teeth aching from watching and thought he shouldn't have come in.

Monkey, paying no mind to the couple expressing their sorrow of parting, walked slowly to the window, glanced at the two sleeping children, then pulled out two strands of hair from the back of his head, chewed them in his mouth, and sprayed them lightly, saying quietly, "Change!" Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

Instantly, two duplicates playing merrily appeared on the ground, the spitting image of the two children.

The sounds of play interrupted Kui Mulang and his wife's moment of affection. Bai Huaxiu, astonished, looked at the two children frolicking on the ground, then back at her own sons sleeping on the bed, momentarily confused.

Kui Mulang sincerely praised, "Great Saint, your Doppelganger Technique is unparalleled in this world; I didn't expect to see it reach this level after so many years."

He looked at the transformed children, feeling that they were exactly like his own, unable to find any differences, relying solely on a parent's intuition to distinguish the real from the fake.

The usually proud Monkey this time did not boast but spoke very peacefully, "It's not that my Doppelganger Technique has improved, but these strands of hair come from the willow leaves of Bodhisattva Guanyin's Jade Vase, which is why they are so miraculous."

"I have heard that these willow leaves in the vase were the remnants of a Chaos Deity, possessing the mystery of creation. Seeing this today gives me a glimpse," Kui Mulang exclaimed in admiration.

"A Chaos Deity?" Monkey knew very little about this and typically wouldn't care about such past matters, but having a friend as curious as Lu Yu, he too asked.

"Yes, it is said to be a friend the Ancestral Master met while exploring the Chaos. His name has never been spread, and later for some reason, he left behind this remnant," said Kui Mulang, one of the few disciples of the three teachings who might know such secrets.

"Chaos, how curious I am about what the outside world is like!" Kui Mulang's words piqued Monkey's curiosity, and he very much wanted to see the outside world and understand what it was truly like.

While Monkey longed for it, so did Kui Mulang; the pursuit of the unknown is an instinct deeply etched into the souls of Divine Spirits. But he had also heard that the Chaos was fraught with danger, and even Saints could not stray far for long, or they would risk perishing. Only a powerful being like the Ancestral Master could roam the Chaos unreservedly.

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However, the Ancestral Master was extremely secretive about the events occurring within Chaos, leaving not a single word behind, thus no one knew what lay beyond, perhaps only when All Saints reached Transcendence would they have a chance to glimpse the mysterious veil.

After sharing their feelings, the two set about the task at hand. Kui Mulang stealthily returned to the Imperial Palace, pretending as though nothing had happened, while Bajie and Sand Monk led the fake children to the palace.

Meanwhile, Bajie and Sand Monk brought the children to Treasure Elephant Country, and threw them onto the White Jade stairs. The powerful impact turned the two doppelgangers into a mass of flesh, with blood spurting and bones shattering, causing panic and mayhem among the palace attendants.

"Disaster! Disaster! Two people have been flung down from the heavens!"

Bajie bellowed, "Those children belong to the Yellow Robe Demon; it was I and Sha Di who captured them!"

Only then did the crowd realize that the ones beneath the Jade stairs were the demon's children, filling them with dread of an unwarranted calamity.

Yet, as they turned, they saw Kui Mulang transformed into a whirlwind, chasing after Bajie and Sand Monk, which allowed them to slowly breathe a sigh of relief, feeling that their entire lives' experiences couldn't compare to the excitement of these past few days.

High above in the clouds, Sand Monk chuckled, "Second brother's method was truly effective. Once Wukong's hair doppelgangers died, they reverted back to hairs. Had we not caught some wildlife and skinned them along the way, how could we have such convincingly fake flesh pancakes."

"Yet, second brother, can we really fool anyone with this?"

Bajie laughed, "This is merely to silence the masses. How could those sharp individuals in heaven not see through this ruse. This is what's called 'Let those who know, know; prevent those who see from seeing.' In the end, we'll firmly claim that the children are dead, and without evidence on their part, it will simply be a war of words."

However, based on Bajie's understanding of the Jade Emperor, had it not been for this act, he surely would have wanted to keep the children under his control, compelling Kui Mulang to hold back. But with this drama, the Jade Emperor would likely turn a blind eye, since mobilizing forces over such an incident wouldn't be worthwhile.

Elsewhere, far upon Mountain Luoxia, Lu Yu's rare moments of leisure were abruptly disrupted by the unwelcome visit of a monkey.

Opening his eyes to look at the monkey's doppelganger, he said irritably, "This isn't a kindergarten; why do you keep bringing me children?"

The monkey did not understand what 'kindergarten' meant, but Lu Yu often spoke words he had never heard before, so he thought little of it.

Smiling, he said, "It's well said that the capable are tasked with more. Scholar, your fame is widespread now, acknowledged throughout the three realms as an excellent mentor. I made a decision on your behalf this time, which was my fault. But, for the sake of our brotherhood over the years, please don't refuse."

"With such words, how could I refuse? Whether it's herding one sheep or a flock, it makes no difference; I accept my fate," Lu Yu said resignedly.

He felt as though he had somehow become the director of a kindergarten without realizing it, as if everyone wanted to place a child in his care. It was a pity that in Journey to the West, there was no institution for education and training, otherwise Lu Yu would surely be a gold standard.

Having said that, he quickly called out for his head disciple, who was in seclusion, to come out and meet his uncle.

Liu Qingyun awoke from his meditation, stepped outside, and saw a small, thin monkey sitting in front of his teacher, both laughing and conversing. He understood at once that this must be his illustrious uncle, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong.

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