Chapter 754: Chapter 754

The Three Saint Mothers heaved a deep sigh, bowed her respects, and said with an apologetic tone, "Thank you, Daoist, for enlightening me. I had no idea this would be the outcome." To see a person of exceptional abilities turn to ash before her, unable to save him, there was an indescribable discomfort in her heart.

The Three Saint Mothers stood up and stepped onto the stone platform, gazing at the clouds rolling beneath her, her expression complex. If one does not enter the pit of fire, how can one extinguish it? Is this Daoist suggesting that I too should experience a trial of Immortal love?

Thought after thought flickered through her mind. If I were to face a tribulation, perhaps my Master would save me. Would my Master then change the Heavenly Rules? Previously, Emperor Gouchen had said that the lady had once been superior to half of heaven.

As soon as this thought emerged, it formed a seed of obsession in her heart and took root, growing deeper and deeper.

At the Mountain of Mind and Heart in the Three Star Cave, Master Puti floated back, standing on the peak with a smile. What needed to be done was done, the seed planted, waiting for it to bloom and bear fruit. If she succeeds, she will owe me thanks, and it won’t be as if I had calculated against her. Everything depends on her own choice.

Time slowly passed. After the battle with the Bull Demon King on Jilei Mountain, the number of Demon Kings in the Western Continent had greatly diminished, and the Eighty-one Difficulties seemed to be back on track. Tang Sanzang and his disciples continued their noisy and contentious journey.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Court, Bai Jin worked day and night fabricating Immortal Dresses and bags, sighing with wistfulness in the dead of night, thinking, I, once a great power in the Heavenly Court and known far and wide, how have I become a mere craftsman of Female Skill? Who would believe such a tale?

On this day, in the Lower Realm, the weather was fine and sunny. Tang Sanzang and his disciples were aboard a small boat, floating on a clear, vast river, with an old woman standing at the bow ferrying them.

With the fierce sun overhead, even on the surface of the great river, one could feel the scorching heat.

Tang Sanzang licked his dry lips and said, "Wu Jing, fetch me a bottle of the frozen drink from the luggage, I’m feeling rather thirsty."

Sha Wujing, holding a large hat, fanned Tang Sanzang, and said, "Master, the luggage is all on the horse carriage, and the eldest brother has taken it away."

Zhu Bajie took out the Purple Gold Bowl with a beaming smile and said, "Master, the river water is clear and refreshing. It should help cool you off. Please have a drink of the river water first!"

After scooping up two bowlfuls of water, Zhu Bajie handed the bowl to Tang Sanzang and urged, "Master, please drink."

Tang Sanzang took the bowl and drank two large mouthfuls, then wiped his mouth and said with a smile, "Indeed, it is good water. Wuneng, Wu Jing, you should also have some." He passed the bowl to Zhu Bajie.

Zhu Bajie took the bowl and took a couple of big gulps before passing it to Sha Wujing and calling out, "Sha, junior brother, do you want some?"

"Thanks, second brother, but I’m not thirsty yet."

Zhu Bajie took the bowl back and tucked it into his robe.

"Wuneng, why do you have a bowl with you?"

"Disciple was worried that you, Master, might get thirsty. For eating and drinking, Old Pig always carries it with me, ready to relieve Master’s immediate needs."

Tang Sanzang said, moved, "Wuneng, you are very good to your master."

"Master, it’s the least a disciple should do."

As they spoke, the boat reached the shore, and the ferrying old woman said with a smile, "Honorable elders, please disembark."

Tang Sanzang stood up, took out a silver ingot from his robe, and handed it to the old woman with a gentle tone, "Thank you for the ride, this is the fare."

The old woman accepted the silver ingot and said cheerfully, "Thank you, elder!"

Tang Sanzang, with the help of Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, disembarked. He thought to himself that with the worldly wealth they now had, there was no need for change, so he gave the extra as a reward — such was the generosity of a poor monk.

Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing had not walked a few steps ashore when they saw a hovering horse carriage parked by the roadside. Sun Wukong was leaning against it, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle, feigning depth.

Tang Sanzang approached Sun Wukong and curiously looked up at the sky too, asking, "Wukong, what are you looking at?"

Sun Wukong said morosely, "Heaven and Earth possess immense beauty beyond words, the four seasons follow clear laws without discussion, all things have their reasons without explanation."

"Can you speak in a way humans can understand?"

"I, Old Sun, am lost in thought."

"You, this monkey’s head, are just slacking off again. Time to hit the road."

With a flip in the air, Sun Wukong seated himself atop the carriage and, with a grand wave of his hand, called out, "Let’s go!"

Zhu Bajie helped Tang Sanzang onto the carriage as well, and sat beside Sha Wujing on the shaft, steering the carriage forward.

The carriage creaked along the main road. They encountered some women who, curious, looked at Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, following alongside the carriage and whispering among themselves.

Zhu Bajie whispered, "Master, something seems off here!"

"Bajie, what’s wrong?"

Zhu Bajie whispered, "Master, we’ve only encountered women all along the road, not a single man. When things are abnormal, there must be demons at work. I fear we might run into a female demon spirit again!"

"Wukong, you must protect your Master well!"

Sun Wukong, unconcerned, said, "Where’s the demon spirit? I, Old Sun, haven’t detected any demon Qi. Maybe in this country, it’s the women who make money to support the men."

After traveling for a brief moment, Tang Sanzang suddenly cried out "Aiyo~" and exclaimed in pain, "Ah~ it hurts so much, my stomach hurts!"

Zhu Bajie also cried out in agony, "I hurt too!"

"Hu~" Sha Wujing quickly reined in the horse carriage.

Sun Wukong leaped down from the carriage and instantly dove inside.

Inside the carriage, Tang Sanzang was seen clutching his belly, lying down within, moaning out one painful sound after another, rolling from side to side.

Examining Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong scratched his head with both hands and said, "Little monk, I, Old Sun, didn’t cast the Tightening Spell on you. Don’t you falsely accuse me." Google seaʀᴄh NoveIＦire.net

Sha Wujing, at the carriage shaft, supported Zhu Bajie shouting, "Brother Monkey, the second brother is also in terrible pain. They might really be in trouble. It might be due to drinking cold water and catching a chill earlier."

Sun Wukong observed Tang Sanzang’s belly, which was visibly swelling at a rapid pace. Out of curiosity, he reached out to feel and sensed something like blood clots and lumps inside, moving about chaotically, muttering to himself, "Odd, very odd, how has this monk’s body harbored another form of vitality."

"Big brother, come take a look! The second brother’s belly is swelling."

Turning around and lifting the carriage curtain, Sun Wukong leaped out to see Zhu Bajie lying on the carriage shaft, weak and wailing in pain, his already plump belly now appearing even bigger.

Sun Wukong immediately exclaimed, "Sha junior brother, help Bajie inside for now. Let’s continue ahead to see if there’s an apothecary to get them some medicine."

"Alright!" Sha Wujing immediately helped Zhu Bajie up, about to shove him into the carriage.

"Drive~" Sun Wukong bellowed, and The White Dragon Horse instantly began running at high speed, galloping along the road like lightning.