All Heavens: Sharing Talents with Countless Mes

"This...this is certainly excellent, a great act of merit!" Zhao Guangcai wiped his sweat, bowing and scraping. "However, the expenses are enormous, I'm afraid it will be more than it costs..."

"You don't need to worry about that." Chu Yang pulled out two spirit stone tickets he'd swiped from Bai Ling and slammed them on the table with an air of extravagance. "These two tickets are enough to buy half of Tianfeng City. I'll pay for it. You organize the people. But let me make this clear: if I find out that even a single grain of rice in this courtyard has ended up in the mouth of someone who shouldn't have..."

Chu Yang suddenly turned his head and slammed his palm on the corner of the table. The hard solid wood table instantly turned into a pile of dust.

Zhao Guangcai was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground: "Young hero, rest assured! This humble official will personally oversee the matter. If anything goes wrong, I am willing to offer my head as a reward!"

"Master, do you think this is a good idea?" Chu Yang turned to look at Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang's face had regained its usual compassion. Looking at the gold and silver that had been retrieved from the cellar, he sighed softly, "The Buddha said that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Benefactor Chu's actions have built a haven for these unfortunate people. I wholeheartedly agree."

"Alright, now that the location is settled and the money is enough, all that's missing is a name." Chu Yang chuckled. "Master, you are a man of great wisdom. This place needs a resounding name that can ward off evil spirits and give the poor hope. Can you come up with one?"

Sun Wukong also came over, his fiery eyes gleaming: "That's right, Master, I can't remember all those scripture names you used to give us. Let's come up with something more down-to-earth, so that those little beggars will know they'll have food to eat as soon as they hear it!"

Tang Sanzang fell into deep thought.

He turned his head and looked out the window. At this moment, the sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The long night was finally coming to an end, and the first rays of dawn were trying to pierce through the thick clouds and shine upon this muddy yet bustling city.

He remembered the stubborn eyes of the stone, the half-dirty bun in the little grass's arms, and the nameless children who died in the darkness.

“Let’s call it… ‘Ciguang Orphanage’,” Tang Sanzang said softly, his voice gentle yet full of strength.

"The light of compassion is not the light of gods and Buddhas, but shines only on suffering beings in the mud. Nurturing children is meant to protect those children who are like tender sprouts, so that they can grow strong like roadside weeds after the storm. We do not ask them to become Buddhas or ancestors, but only that they can eat their fill, dress warmly, and live like human beings in this life."

"Great! Ciguang Orphanage! What a nice name!" Sun Wukong exclaimed.

"Lord Zhao, did you hear me clearly?" Chu Yang looked at Zhao Guangcai.

"Listen carefully! Ciguang Orphanage! I will prepare the paperwork right away, and construction will begin at dawn. I guarantee that all the children will be able to move in within a month!" Zhao Guangcai was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly.

Chu Yang looked at the first rays of dawn outside the window, then at the piece of paper with the words "Ciguang Orphanage" written on it. He turned around and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Tang Seng.

“Master, now that things are settled here, we should continue on our way. Wukong, go and strip Lin Wanguan of his clothes, change him into a beggar's outfit, and throw him into the dung heap in the west of the city. He's been a great philanthropist for too long; it's time for him to experience the taste of 'human life'.”

"Alright! I, Old Sun, love doing this kind of arduous work the most!"

Amidst bursts of hearty laughter, the three people and one horse walked out of the city lord's mansion.

The next day.

Gemini said
As dawn broke, the towering walls of Tianfeng City shrank into a blurry dot on the horizon behind them.

With the situation at the "Ciguang Orphanage" largely resolved, and Chu Yang having secretly left a sword aura on the main beam of the City Lord's Mansion, ensuring that Zhao Guangcai would be taught a lesson about "heavenly justice" should he dare to harbor any ill intentions, the group felt an unprecedented sense of lightness throughout their journey.

The official road gradually disappeared among the wild grass and scattered rocks, and the surrounding mountains became gentle and lush. It was the season when grass grows and birds fly, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the sweet scent of unknown wildflowers.

"Brother, do you think Zhao Guangcai is squatting on the ruins of the Shanxintang Temple crying right now?" Sun Wukong asked, leading the white dragon horse and clutching half a braised pork knuckle he'd bought in town, his mouth dripping with oil. He had now reverted to his original thunderous form, only now he was wearing a large, moon-white monk's robe, which looked extremely incongruous, making him appear more like a monkey spirit who had stolen clothes.

Chu Yang rode his donkey backwards—a pure white, stubborn donkey he'd casually bought in town. He held a scroll of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, which he'd acquired from who-knows-where, engrossed in reading it. Without looking up, he replied, "He's not crying, probably busy burning Lin Wanguan's old account books hidden in a secret room. But he's a smart man; he knows we haven't gone far and wouldn't dare touch the orphanage's money and food. As for that kid Shi Tou, he'll probably be able to treat his sister to a proper meal of white rice today."

Tang Sanzang, walking in the middle, insisted on walking instead of riding a horse today. The hem of his monk's robe was already covered with grass clippings, and there were even several tears from being scratched by thorns, but he was completely unaware of it. Instead, he pointed with great interest to a small, strangely growing grass by the roadside and turned to ask Chu Yang, "Benefactor Chu, look at this grass. Its leaves are serrated, but its roots are purplish. Is it some kind of precious medicinal herb?"

Chu Yang glanced at it sideways and chuckled: "Master, that's a close relative of the Heartbreak Grass. Eating it won't stop your intestines, but it'll definitely leave you squatting in the grass all night. Your dedication to research is admirable, but don't mess with the wildflowers and grasses."

Tang Sanzang reluctantly withdrew his hand and awkwardly chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha, it seems that this humble monk's experience is indeed far from sufficient."

……

As the sun sets in the west, weary birds return to their nests.

"Let's rest here tonight," Chu Yang said, jumping off the donkey and pointing to a flat riverbank ahead.

The riverbank was backed by a moss-covered cliff, with a crystal-clear stream flowing in front, its waters babbling and tinkling. Several huge, crooked willow trees swayed in the wind, making it a perfect spot for a night's rest.

"Alright! Brother, rest. I'll go beg for some alms... Oh no, where would I get alms in this desolate wilderness? I'll go hunt some pheasants and rabbits!" Sun Wukong twirled his golden cudgel, making a move as if he were about to take flight.

"Come back!" Chu Yang called out to him impatiently. "Master hasn't even spoken yet, you monkey, you're taking the rules and regulations less and less seriously these days. Why hunt pheasants? Let's eat something different today."

Sun Wukong scratched his cheek and chuckled, "Brother, I was just worried that Master would go hungry. Master, what would you like to eat?"

As Tang Sanzang skillfully untied the baggage from the horse's back, he smiled and looked at Chu Yang: "Judging from your confident demeanor, Benefactor Chu, you must be planning some trick regarding food. As long as you don't kill any living beings, I will grant your request."

"Alright, Master, your words are truly wise." Chu Yang pulled a specially made large iron pot out of the big bag on the donkey's back as if by magic, and then took out a large bag of all kinds of spices. "Brother Monkey, go and dig some mud by the stream and make a few pits. Master, go and collect some dry willow branches. Remember to make sure they are completely dry so that the fire will burn well."

Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang exchanged a glance and then got to work.

Before long, a bonfire was lit on the riverbank. The firelight illuminated the faces of the three men, as well as the white dragon horse and the stubborn donkey standing quietly beside them.

Chu Yang rolled up his sleeves, walked to the stream, and slapped the clear water.

"rise!"

A surge of energy jolted several plump bluefish out of the water. Chu Yang reached out and scooped them up with incredible precision, then swiftly scaled and gutted them with a swift, clean motion. "Brother, with skills like that, it's a real shame you're not a chef," Sun Wukong remarked, squatting by the fire, chin in hand.

"Being a cook is an art, but I call this a survival skill." Chu Yang placed the prepared bluefish in a large iron pot, and then threw in a lot of ginger slices, scallions, and a few bright red wild peppers.

The most crucial step has arrived.

Chu Yang took out a delicate little jar from his pocket and carefully scooped out a few spoonfuls of thick, black sauce and poured it in. Instantly, an indescribable, extremely pungent aroma filled the riverbank.

The aroma is a blend of the richness of soy sauce, the spiciness of Sichuan peppercorns, and a subtle sweet aftertaste.

Tang Sanzang, who was gathering firewood, stopped, sniffed, and exclaimed in surprise, "Benefactor Chu, where did you get this seasoning? It's even more tempting than the one from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the city."

"This is my secret recipe for 'red oil bean paste,' specially made to deal with wild game." Chu Yang added a spoonful of stream water to the pot, put the lid on, and sat down by the fire with a smug look on his face.

Sun Wukong, on the other hand, was far less reserved. He practically pressed himself against the pot lid, his fiery eyes flashing incessantly: "Brother, when can we eat? My stomach is rumbling."

"What's the rush? Slow and steady wins the race." Chu Yang took out a few sweet potatoes from his pocket, threw them into the ashes of the fire, and buried them. Then he looked at Tang Sanzang and said, "Master, since we're just idling around, why don't you tell us what this 'Journey to the West' was like in your imagination before?"

Tang Sanzang sat on a large rock by the campfire, gently stroking his somewhat worn nine-ringed staff, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

"In the past..." Tang Sanzang smiled bitterly, "When I received my precepts at Huacheng Temple, I always felt that the journey to the West was a sacred ritual. Every inch of land had to be measured with my own feet, and every word had to be understood with my heart. I thought that the monsters on the road were all tests set by Buddha, and that as long as one's heart was sincere, one could influence all things."

"And now?" Sun Wukong interjected from the side, poking around in the fire with a willow branch in his hand.

Tang Sanzang glanced at the large iron pot that was bubbling and steaming, and then at Chu Yang's ambiguous smile.

"Now I think... Buddha is probably too busy to care about these trivial matters of the mortal world." Tang Sanzang's voice was soft but firm. "Along this journey, I haven't seen many demons who have been converted. On the contrary, I have seen quite a few demons whose eyes have been blinded by 'holy light.' If it weren't for your sword and fire, Benefactor Chu, I'm afraid I would have become a clay sculpture in some City God Temple or a snack in some demon's belly by now."

"Master, don't let Guanyin Bodhisattva hear you say that, or she'll come after me." Chu Yang joked.

"If you hear it, then you hear it," Tang Sanzang sighed. "Before, I sought the ultimate bliss after death; now, I seek the freedom of living. Even if this freedom is tinged with the smell of cooking oil and the aroma of red bean curd, it is still real and tangible."

"Well said!" Sun Wukong slapped his thigh. "Brother, that's what I like about you. You're straightforward and honest! Come on, let me show you some staff techniques to liven things up!"

Sun Wukong suddenly stood up, and the golden cudgel in his hand instantly grew longer.

"Alright!"

Sun Wukong moved with incredible agility, his golden cudgel transforming into a golden dragon that weaved through the firelight and moonlight. Each swing created a golden whirlwind, rustling the leaves around him, which then swirled in the air, forming strange patterns.

The shadows of the sticks were heavy, their power overwhelming.

However, this cool moment didn't last more than three seconds.

"Ouch!"

Because Sun Wukong was engrossed in his performance, he didn't notice the withered branches of the old willow tree above his head. With a "snap," the end of his golden cudgel hooked onto a branch. Sun Wukong was spinning around, and the force of the blow was immense, pulling the branch off and causing him to lose his balance, falling into the cool stream with a "plop."

By sheer coincidence, the broken willow branch struck the stubborn donkey's rump, which was resting with its eyes closed.

"Roar—! Roar—!"

The stubborn donkey was startled and let out an extremely shrill cry. It kicked out with its hind legs and landed right in one of the two pits that Sun Wukong had just painstakingly dug.

In an instant, dirt flew everywhere and ashes filled the sky.

"My sweet potato!" Chu Yang cried out in despair.

"My back..." Sun Wukong climbed out of the stream, soaking wet, with a poor little shrimp that he had casually crushed in his hand.

Tang Sanzang stared at the chaotic scene for three seconds, then burst into laughter without any regard for his image.

"Hahaha! Wukong, your 'staff technique' is truly divine! Even Master Chu's donkey can't stand it!"

A burst of extremely cheerful laughter erupted on the riverbank.

With a dark expression, Chu Yang dug out the sweet potato buried in the ashes, patted the dirt off it, and glared at Sun Wukong with annoyance: "Brother Monkey, if you dare to practice your skills while eating again, I'll stuff a pound of croton seeds into your headband."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Sun Wukong shrank back, instantly dried his monk's robe with his magic, and sheepishly walked back to the fire: "It was an accident, it was an accident. Brother, look at this pot, it looks like it's on fire!"

Chu Yang quickly lifted the pot lid.

In that instant, the aroma of chili oil exploded, accompanied by the freshness of the fish and the richness of the fermented bean paste, and the entire riverbank seemed to be filled with this flavor.

"It's done!"

Chu Yang served everyone a large bowl.

The fish was stewed until incredibly tender, melting in your mouth. The wild chilies, soaked in the broth, danced on your tongue, sending shivers of numbing sensation through you. Although Tang Sanzang was sweating profusely from eating, he couldn't stop. With chopsticks in one hand and half a steaming sweet potato in the other, he ate with gusto. (End of Chapter)