Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Last night, a lone man and a single woman shared a room, and yet Xuanzang had no thoughts of even touching a finger of his own, causing Princess Gaoyang to toss and turn until she finally fell into a shallow sleep in the wee hours.

Awakened at this time with dark circles under her eyes, she looked at Jiang Liu with a deeply resentful expression.

"There's a story here!"

Observing Princess Gaoyang's dark circles and her resentful gaze fixed on the master, Zhu Bajie and Wujing exchanged looks, both stifling laughter without a word.

However, as for Jiang Liu's recent claim that nothing had happened last night, both of them were clearly skeptical.

"Madam, please sit!"

Barely holding back his laughter, Zhu Bajie, considering himself the top lackey, was the first to stand up and pull a chair over for Princess Gaoyang.

"Thank you!" As Zhu Bajie called her "Madam," Princess Gaoyang's eyes narrowed with obvious delight, and she thanked Zhu Bajie.

"This guy, is he getting too deep into his role? Does he really think he's Princess Gaoyang?" Observing Princess Gaoyang's every move, which strikingly resembled the real Princess Gaoyang, Jiang Liu secretly scoffed in his heart.

"Madam, you don't look too well. Did you have a bad rest last night?" Seeing that Princess Gaoyang was quite approachable, much more so than the master, Zhu Bajie curiously asked.

"Yes, indeed, I had a hard time sleeping until late into the night!" Princess Gaoyang nodded and replied.

"Late into the night!?" Hearing Princess Gaoyang's words, Zhu Bajie pondered, recalling how the master and 'Madam' had retired to their room quite early last night, yet hadn't slept until the latter half of the night.

So, what were they doing in the early part of the night?

At this thought, Zhu Bajie and Wujing's glances surreptitiously brushed past Jiang Liu, their eyes conveying a trace of disdain.

The master really lacked responsibility, having fun all night and then deliberately getting up early to claim that nothing happened?

Capable of the deed, but not of admitting it?

"By the way, Princess Gaoyang..."

Not wanting Zhu Bajie and Princess Gaoyang to continue their conversation, Jiang Liu interjected, saying, "You've come to subdue demons and eliminate evil and are willing to stay with me, which I'm very happy about. However, wouldn't it be problematic if Bodhisattva found out?"

Jiang Liu was indirectly hinting at when the other party would leave.

"Not at all, as long as Bodhisattva doesn't find out, there won't be any trouble!" Princess Gaoyang shook her head and replied.

After a brief pause, she continued, "Jiang Liu, you don't want me to stay, do you?"

"How could that be!? If it were up to me, I'd prefer you never left, but, you see, I'm just worried about you being punished by Bodhisattva Guanyin," Jiang Liu shook his head and replied.

His feelings for Princess Gaoyang were known throughout the three realms; if he truly acted as if he wanted Princess Gaoyang to leave, wouldn't that reveal that he had uncovered her identity?

Thus, Jiang Liu naturally couldn't admit that.

Even if Princess Gaoyang wanted to leave, he had to show a very reluctant demeanor.

"Really? You want me to stay? Then, I'll stay and won't leave!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, a joyous expression spread across Princess Gaoyang's face.

"Uh, this isn't playing by the rules!" Jiang Liu's face showed a mix of surprise and concern, yet he couldn't help but internally complain.

What a joke? Muzha is dead, Yuanling is still of a low cultivation level, is the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's work so leisurely that she can stay indefinitely?

In the following seven or eight days, the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden, disguised as Princess Gaoyang, indeed showed no intention of leaving, continuing her journey westward with the Journey to the West Team!

Previously suspecting that Wujing might be a spy for the Immortals and Buddhas, Jiang Liu had found a way to kick him out of the team.

But now, with an outright spy right by his side, he couldn't send her away, yet had to pretend to be very happy...

During these seven or eight days, Jiang Liu felt as if each day dragged on like a year.

If Gold Horn King, Silver Horn King, or even Ancestor Huangmei from the other day were here and knew what Jiang Liu was feeling now, they might well celebrate.

He had finally experienced what they had felt!

As the days passed, the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden, disguised as Princess Gaoyang, marched on with the Journey to the West Team, exploring mountains, enjoying beautiful scenery, savoring delicious foods, staying in the Exquisite Immortal Mansion, all while accompanied by the perfect man Xuanzang, who showed deep affection for her.

Although aware that this affection was not meant for her, such days still made the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden somewhat reluctant to think of home.

That night, Princess Gaoyang returned to her room early to wait for Jiang Liu, all the while contemplating when she might successfully seduce Xuanzang.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of fatigue wash over my consciousness, and then I was caught in a state between sleep and wakefulness.

"What is the matter? These days, have you not yet clarified the matters you were to investigate? Why have you not returned!?" Bodhisattva Guanyin's voice emerged amid the fuzziness of half-asleep and half-awake, as she questioned the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden.

"Bodhisattva!" Hearing the words of Bodhisattva Guanyin, the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's heart tightened.

She couldn't simply admit that she had thought of sleeping with Xuanzang, which had delayed her for so many days, could she?

Therefore, after a moment of silence, the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden began to recount her previous conversation with Xuanzang to Bodhisattva Guanyin in detail.

Hearing that Xuanzang said he respected her the most, a look of gratification crossed Bodhisattva Guanyin's face.

Pretending to be Princess Gaoyang to draw out these words, Bodhisattva Guanyin believed that his words must have come from the heart, which made her even more pleased.

Unexpectedly, she marveled at how many times she had been unwittingly fooled by Xuanzang. But, did he actually respect her the most?

Then, when she heard the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden mention how Jiang Liu sternly refused to elope with Gaoyang, abandoning the grand endeavor of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, Bodhisattva Guanyin felt even more joy in her heart.

It appeared that Xuanzang was quite responsible for the great task of the Journey to the West for Scriptures. This was indeed wonderful.

She feared nothing else as much as him abandoning the task of the scripture seeking midway. That would have been a serious problem.

Of course, she also vividly recounted to Bodhisattva Guanyin what Jiang Liu had planned to do after the scripture-seeking journey was over.

"Once I feared that affection may hinder my Buddhist devotion; entering the mountains I feared parting from the beloved city. How can one in this world satisfy both, neither betraying Tathagata nor betraying thee?"

Hearing this Buddhist-inspired verse from Jiang Liu, Bodhisattva Guanyin murmured quietly within her heart.

Chewing over this Buddhist verse in her mind, she could genuinely feel the dilemma that Xuanzang was experiencing.

Bodhisattva Guanyin had a deep memory of Xuanzang's verses.

She remembered when, back at Jinshan Temple, he wrote the "Formless Gatha," "The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind a mirror bright; Carefully wipe them hour by hour, and let no dust alight," which shook the world.

Later, as she transformed into the Scabrous Monk, she went to Chang'an City to guide Xuanzang on the path of the Journey to the West for Scriptures with another verse, "Bodhi Verse," which she still remembers vividly and found utterly stunning.

"Bodhi originally has no tree, the mirror has no stand, originally there's nothing, where can dust alight."

Unexpectedly, today, having the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden transformed into Princess Gaoyang to inquire about whether Jiang Liu would stay in the Buddhist Sect or elope with Gaoyang after his journey, he actually uttered the words, "How can one in this world satisfy both, neither betraying Tathagata nor betraying thee."

Between the lines, Bodhisattva Guanyin could naturally sense the difficult choice facing Jiang Liu.

Since it was such a difficult choice, clearly, the Buddhist Sect and Gaoyang held nearly equal importance in Xuanzang's heart, which is why he found it so hard to choose between them.

And Jiang Liu's affection for Gaoyang was recognized by everyone across the three realms and six paths!

"Unexpectedly, is this the conclusion that comes out after this test? It seems that both Buddha and I have misunderstood him?" A verse related to Buddha fully conveyed the difficult choice of Jiang Liu and allowed Bodhisattva Guanyin to understand Jiang Liu's intentions, as she murmured to herself within her heart.

Of course, Bodhisattva Guanyin believing she had misunderstood Jiang Liu was not just because of the information the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden gathered from Jiang Liu, but also because of Guanyin's own surveillance over Yuanling.

Originally, she thought Yuanling might be a spy Xuanzang had placed by her side, so she explicitly had the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden transform into the likeness of Gaoyang in front of him. During this time, Bodhisattva Guanyin had been secretly monitoring every move of Yuanling.

Confident in her abilities, Bodhisattva Guanyin was certain that with Yuanling's cultivation level, it was impossible for him to evade her surveillance and pass the message.

However, after monitoring him for so long, Bodhisattva Guanyin noticed that Yuanling showed no inclination to relay messages, which made her shake her head quietly within her heart.

Really? Had she been overthinking, thus seeing shadows everywhere?

Combining her surveillance on Yuanling and the information the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden gathered from Jiang Liu, Bodhisattva Guanyin could now be certain that the Buddhist Sect was indeed in Jiang Liu's heart and that he greatly valued it.

Having drawn this conclusion, Bodhisattva Guanyin naturally felt that her mission this time was also accomplished.

Besides, one more "further testing of Zen heart" calamity had been added to Bodhisattva Guanyin's Calamity Book, which was an unexpected joy.

"Since you have clearly investigated what you needed to, why haven't you returned these past few days?" As thoughts flickered in her mind and she reached a definite conclusion, Bodhisattva Guanyin immediately asked the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden.

"Bodhisattva, didn't you say that these matters need to be carefully verified? So, I thought it was best to observe and listen more to further ensure the accuracy of this information!" Bowing her head slightly, the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden dared not meet Bodhisattva Guanyin's eyes.

With a thud!

Seeing the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden's blatantly guilty demeanor, Bodhisattva Guanyin felt a sense of suffocation in her heart.

She wasn't about to lose the Pearl Holding Dragon Maiden too, was she?