Chapter 135: They Wont Misunderstand Right
[Kakakakakakaka!]
Sun Wukong laughed refreshingly, enough to ring in my head.
Fortunately, his personality was not as explosive and impatient as described in the Journey to the West.
[If all the stories in the novels were true, would I be in heaven right now?]
Some parts are true, some are false.
Although I felt a chill down the back of my neck for some reason, anyway, that was how it was said to be.
“It seems to be highly convenient somehow.”
Since thinking deeply about it would only give me a headache, let’s drop it.
[That’s the good part. In any case, my partner didn’t care about such things either. Kakakaka!]
Suddenly, he was bragging.
It seems they even love in heaven.
‘Come to think of it, didn’t Teacher Hua Tuo also mention something like that? That the One-horned Dragon got stabbed in the flank while cheating on his partner or something?’
[That stone monkey’s partner is a fellow you have met before as well.]
“Uh? Yes?”
If it was an entity in heaven that I had met before?
“Could it be from Mount Song……?”
The gold-furred ape whose overwhelmingly broad shoulders were impressive?
[That’s the one.]
It was somehow extremely baffling.
[As you saw for yourself, her fur is very beautiful. Kakakaka!]
“……That is quite a contrasting pair.”
A very harmful imagination flashed through my mind.
‘No, this won’t do.’
I quickly changed the subject.
With content aggressive enough to divert my thoughts.
“But is it acceptable for someone who took refuge in Buddhism to engage in romance?”
[If one wishes to draw close to heaven, one must discard it. Kakakakaka! Since emotions make existence unstable.]
“Emotions make existence unstable?”
Was there still a further realm to reach even for the existences high up in heaven?
[Kakaka. If there are emotions, thoughts arise. If thoughts arise, a self is born, and when a self is born, one begins to think. Kakakaka. Thinking creates prejudice and finally defines and nails down existence.]
“Is that bad?”
[For the lot called seekers of truth, it would be so. No-thought and no-idea, and natural non-action. Forget oneself and erase thoughts. Since nature is the greatest, resemble it. Kakakaka! Isn’t that telling you to become a stone block on the street!]
To those pursuing a high realm, they would be words like a golden rule, but the words heard through that fellow Sun Wukong felt scary somewhere.
‘That I will no longer be myself…… huh…….’
[Emotions define the existence of ‘me’! To discard myself in order to become complete, what meaning is there in that! Kakaka! This body was not born to become a natural object that has no need for thoughts! If I were to live that way, this Victorious Fighting Buddha would not have broken the stone and come out into the world! Kakakaka!]
He poured out a passionate speech that naturally made the listener clench their fists.
I was also swept up in that heat.
However, when I regained my composure a moment later, something was strange.
“……In the end, you are saying you will date no matter what happens, right?”
[Kakakakaka!]
“What! Give me back my touching moment!”
It felt somewhat hollow to be the words of Sun Wukong, a great existence in heaven.
It felt like the act of clinging to something trivial.
For a moment.
‘No. That’s not it. Ultimately, those words are right.’
Come to think of it, I was not particularly different either.
‘Clinging to what seems trivial and not great. I suppose that is what existence is. It is not that I don’t understand what that fellow is saying.’
If the price of ascending to heaven was to abandon Sister Seol-ah?
I would rather not ascend.
Even if I remain as a trivial existence on the ground, I will live for love.
Well, since even that kind of fellow ascended to heaven, there will be a way.
“Shall I get ready to leave.”
Judging by the story roughly, it seemed to be a task of gathering what that fellow Sun Wukong left behind on the ground.
Since we need to move quickly, it is best to just go and return alone.
It was also appropriate in the situation I currently faced.
However, there was one problem.
‘A sacrificial offering…… no, I mean, I need someone to manage the Bright Fate Escort Agency in my stead and soothe those uncontrollable gentlemen.’
I contemplated this way and that, but Baek Mu-ho was perfect.
He is in charge of the practical operation of the Bright Fate Escort Agency and is acquainted with both the Divine Monk and Senior Jang Mun-gyeong.
If necessary, he could also become a toy (?) for those hopeless gentlemen.
In that process, Baek Mu-ho will also gain (?) a lot.
He is the possessor of a talent that even the Heavenly Demon Master would have definitely taken as a disciple had he been on earth.
‘Moreover, since the subject of this matter is heaven, having a companion would be distracting.’
One might call it a cowardly excuse, but what can’t be helped simply can’t be helped.
Wishing peace to the soul of Baek Mu-ho’s future, which would be chewed up and torn apart, I looked to the side.
“You will go with me, right? Since you said my fire divine power stabilizes only when you are by my side.”
“Yes.”
Unnoticed, Yi Hwa was already sticking close to my side.
As expected, it seemed she could not be separated.
“Then, we are fleeing quietly, right?”
I quickly packed our bags with Yi Hwa and left.
***
“Yeon Cheong-un, you bastard! To abandon me and flee alone!!”
“Spit it out honestly. Where did this fellow Cheong-un flee?”
“Pushing me to earn my keep, yet the master himself disappeared. This is indeed a unique experience.”
The pressure from the Divine Monk and Jang Mun-gyeong was terrifying.
It was truly being surrounded on all sides.
“No, if I knew, would I be here! I would have followed and thrashed that bastard!!”
Baek Mu-ho, backed into a corner, diligently denied the allegations, but it did not make the slightest impact.
Since it was a situation where giants stepped forward, they only watched, but the expressions of Jang So-wol and Tang Sa-yeon were also not good. Their expressions were of chewing and swallowing rage that had risen to their throats.
Was it fortunate that the old man named Jong-geuk kept his composure and took a step back?
Just before the heated air finally exploded like that!
Suddenly, the heat inside the room cooled down coldly as if winter had arrived.
!
The room door was thrown open roughly as a chilly cold qi swept in.
Although it was a rudeness that should not be shown in a place where a respected elder and a great senior of Martial World were present, no one scolded it.
Pure white Baek Seol-ah walked inside with soft footsteps.
As the Divine Monk and Jang Mun-gyeong cleared their throats and stepped back, Baek Mu-ho’s complexion grew even paler.
He sent a pleading gaze with tearful eyes, but the Divine Monk and Jang Mun-gyeong avoided his gaze, pretending not to notice.
Baek Seol-ah’s slender jade hand grabbed Baek Mu-ho by the collar.
“Cheating? Affair? Escapade? It isn’t, right? Yes? Mu-ho, it isn’t, right? Yes?”
“Of course, Sister! Absolutely not! Absolutely not!!”
Baek Mu-ho shook his head violently.
Despite the appearance of his younger brother who looked ready to cry at any moment, Baek Seol-ah tilted her head without any change in expression.
“But then, why.are.you.here? The.thieving.cat.followed.him, though? Yes?”
“Sister! Save me! I was wrong!! Sister!! Sisteeeeer!!”
Baek Mu-ho begged desperately.
An emotionless smile hung on Baek Seol-ah’s face.
“Save meeeeeee!!”
***
Once the journey with Yi Hwa began, I could converse comfortably with those in heaven.
Because although I had to watch my words when there were people around, the only one by my side right now was Yi Hwa.
The gift of the Queen Mother of the West, which I heard about in the process, was truly something out of legends.
“If it is a flat peach, is it that celestial treasure? The one said to grant eternal youth and immortality with just a single bite?”
[Kakaka! Wake up from your dream, human. Would there be such an efficacy for one grown on the ground? Kakakaka!]
“I don’t even wish for such a thing. It is enough if it can cure Sister Seol-ah.”
[Kaka! Although it is not one grown in the Flat Peach Orchard, if the celestial power remains, you will be able to obtain the wood divine power. Wood overcomes Water, and since wood qi suppresses water qi, you will also be able to suppress that girl Baek Seol-ah’s power. Kakaka! Moreover, since it was planted in a place that is the center of the earth’s dragon vein yet has strong water qi, if things go well, you might even obtain fruit. Kakakaka!]
Having lived with him for the past few days, I felt he was a man who lived life quite easily.
It seemed at least he would not suffer from headaches due to useless worries.
Could it be a feeling of a reinforced Baek Mu-ho?
Come to think of it, I felt like I heard the sound of Baek Mu-ho wailing since a few days ago, but that must be an illusion, right?
‘Well, in any case, the important thing is this side.’
If I can obtain the wood divine power, it will be of great help in treating Sister Seol-ah’s symptoms. In addition, if things go well, I can also obtain the water divine power through the flat peach. Truly, only the things I exactly need are gathered here.
I could feel that it was a gift prepared by the Queen Mother of the West after deep contemplation, taking my situation into consideration.
“Telling me to go to the Water Curtain Cave yet saying it is not Mount Huaguo is also strange.”
Water Curtain Cave, Mount Huaguo, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province.
It is a place famous as the residence of Sun Wukong.
However, the destination we were heading to now was not that place.
[Although Mount Huaguo is also a place with decent water qi, the spiritual spring there is connected to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea. Would I have placed the treasure smuggled from heaven in a place where the celestial retainers are watching so clearly? Kakakaka!]
“Then why did you call it the Water Curtain Cave……”
[Because the place where I reside is the Water Curtain Cave. Kakakakakakaka!!]
‘He is truly arbitrary.’
Come to think of it, I know there are more than three or four caves called the Water Curtain Cave. Could they all be places this fellow roamed and resided when he was on earth?
[Kaka! Anyway, let’s go to Lake Tai quickly! I must see how the celestial peach blossom tree has bloomed! Kakaka!]
The problem was this.
He said that the place where he planted the seed of the Celestial Peach Blossom was Lake Tai.
Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.
You can think of the giant lake called Lake Tai as occupying an absolute share in the superb view of Suzhou mentioned in this saying.
‘Why of all places must it be there…….’
Why do people praise Suzhou and Hangzhou?
Of course, it must have been because the scenery is beautiful.
However, now the reason has changed. It is because of the luxurious entertainment district gathered there.
In other words, from the perspective of others, I was a dissolute (crazy) fellow who secretly escaped from home and threw myself into a city of entertainment.
Oh my god!
‘Let’s absolutely not cause trouble. We will just see to our business and return without anyone knowing.’
If a rumor should spread that I even abandoned my foot-friend Baek Mu-ho to visit a city famous for entertainment, I feel my neck would grow chilly somehow.
Then the wailing of Baek Mu-ho that seems to ring in my ears will change into my own wailing.
Above all,
“Umm……”
“Do you have something to say, by any chance?”
“No, how should I put it……”
Come to think of it, we are on our way to a place where couples go boating.
Just the two of us!
“……They won’t misunderstand, right?”
Of course, Yi Hwa is a young girl and a child who cannot be seen as a target for romance, but isn’t that strictly by my standard alone?
I keep getting an ominous premonition.
I really, truly must go and return quietly.
***
From Hubei to Jiangsu was quite a long way.
However, since we moved in a hurry, most of our lodging and meals took place on the streets. It meant we slept outdoors as routinely as eating meals.
Thanks to that, by the time we reached the border of Anhui, we had a serious appearance.
“Ugh! I must wash up. This is not a human appearance at all.”
It meant we were in such a mess that the Beggars’ Sect would recommend us to join.
Travel is not all about romance. It is only natural to get dirty when spending days and nights outdoors where sweat flows and dust clings.
Growl!
“…….”
And naturally, we were also hungry.
Having filled our stomachs only with dry rations for a while, it seemed Yi Hwa was also a bit hungry.
I asked Yi Hwa, whose face turned red rarely.
“Shall we eat first?”
“……Yes.”
Her face turned even redder.
Since our appearance was a mess, we went up to the second floor, which had few people, and took seats.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Duck soup…… it is.”
Seeing Yi Hwa hesitate as if she was awkward, I burst into laughter for no reason.
“Duck soup? Did you like duck?”
“That is…… because in the martial world storybooks I secretly read in the past, they often ordered it……”
Do they read such books even in the Demonic Cult?
Perhaps embarrassed that she read such things despite being the Divine Maiden of the Demonic Cult, she avoided my gaze with her face flushed red.
Her appearance, which was different from usual, was very cute.
Although I had a strong desire to watch her more, at the biological reaction heard again, I quickly called the waiter and made the order.
As I handed him silver coins while asking for a place to stay for a day and hot water for a bath, the waiter’s face bloomed, and he went back.
“Speaking of which, such scenes appear often in novels, don’t they?”
“When you order food and wait quietly……”
Crash!
“……The tavern gets destroyed.”