Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

The voice was filled with indescribable ecstasy, excitement, and a longing that had been suppressed for five hundred years and was about to break through everything!

However, to Tang Sanzang, who had just experienced the tragedy at General Yin's cave, been captured by a demon, and suffered the pain of having his finger severed, this earth-shattering, wildly powerful roar was nothing short of a demon's death knell! Especially that "Master," which instantly reminded him of the eerie laughter of demons when they caught their prey!

"A monster...a demon! There's a monster ahead!"

Tang Sanzang's face turned deathly pale in an instant. The confidence he had just gained from his "cultivation" and "new Buddhism" vanished in an instant, completely overwhelmed by the bloody and terrifying memories of the cave.

He didn't have time to look or listen carefully anymore. He suddenly grabbed the reins, turned around and ran back the way he came, tumbling and crawling as he ran, shouting in a trembling voice with a sob in his voice.

"Benefactor Liu! Benefactor Liu, save me! There's a monster ahead! Farewell! This humble monk must take his leave now!!!"

He ran so fast that even the skinny horse was dragged along, its tail almost flying off. In the blink of an eye, the man and horse disappeared around the bend in the path leading down the mountain, leaving behind only a cloud of dust, a shout at the foot of the mountain followed by a deathly silence, and then a furious and utterly bewildered "Huh?!"

The Wuxing Mountain area.

Above the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva witnessed Tang Sanzang being so frightened by the cry of "Master is here" that he turned and ran away, almost unable to hold back his horse. Her originally cold and solemn face was instantly covered with a layer of frost.

Her brows furrowed, and a hint of undisguised anger flashed in her eyes.

"That cowardly, incompetent fool!"

Guanyin cursed inwardly.

She painstakingly planned and promoted the Journey to the West, and after finally getting to this point, the pilgrims retreated out of fear when they were just one step away from the first crucial "helping hand"!
If this journey to the West were to end here under the Five Elements Mountain, becoming a laughing stock in the Three Realms, wouldn't the merit and fortune she had expended countless efforts and even used to break through be greatly diminished? All the subsequent calculations and benefits would be out of the question! Under no circumstances could this plan be allowed to go awry!
Below, Tang Sanzang was already terrified. The horrific scene of his brother Lu Heshang being devoured alive and his followers being chopped into mincemeat overlapped instantly with that wild and powerful roar; the brocade cassock that had once given him a false sense of security but ultimately proved useless now seemed to be a symbol mocking his incompetence.

He had only one thought in his mind.

Monster! There's an even more powerful monster ahead! If I encounter it again, I'll definitely die a more gruesome death than Brother Lu!

Fear overwhelmed everything; the great mission of obtaining the scriptures and the true meaning of Buddhism were all thrown to the winds at this moment.

He ran back as fast as he could, and the tiny bit of spiritual power in his body was activated at the critical moment, making him run very fast, even surpassing Liu Boqin who was slowly going down the mountain and preparing to return to the village!
As Liu Boqin was pondering the mysteries of Tang Sanzang's "new Buddhism," he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and the neighing of a horse behind him. Turning around, he saw Tang Sanzang with a terrified expression, pulling on the reins and rushing down the road in a nearly tumbling manner, his speed leaving Liu Boqin speechless.

"Elder Tang... Elder Tang? Why are you back?"

Liu Boqin quickly stopped him and asked in astonishment.

Tang Sanzang was panting heavily, his face pale, pointing in the direction of the mountain, speaking incoherently.

"A demon...a monster! Ahead...a huge monster! Its roar...is like thunder! Benefactor Liu, hurry, hurry back! We can't go to the Western Paradise! This humble monk...this humble monk must return to Chang'an first, practice martial arts, no, practice Buddhism, then it won't be too late to come back!"

He was so frightened that he was talking nonsense, even saying things like "go back to Chang'an to practice martial arts".

High in the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth and send down a beam of Buddha's light to wake this good-for-nothing pilgrim! She really wanted to rush down and grab Tang Sanzang by the ear to tell him.

What are you so afraid of! The one trapped under that mountain is your disciple, the one prepared for your future journey to the West! That's Sun Wukong! Not some man-eating monster!
But she can't.

Firstly, as a Bodhisattva, she is of noble status. It would be too beneath her to personally explain these things to a terrified mortal monk, and it would also make her seem impatient.

Secondly, given her current cultivation level and status as a half-step quasi-saint, it would be strange for her to try to "persuade" a mortal, which would only arouse deeper suspicion.

Thirdly... She glanced at Lin Zhu, who was sitting next to her, looking relaxed as if he were watching a monkey show, and knew that this guy would never miss any opportunity to make a fool of himself or cause trouble.

What should we do? Are we really going to watch Tang Sanzang run back to Chang'an and end the Journey to the West?

In her anxiety and anger, Guanyin Bodhisattva's gaze involuntarily turned to Lin Zhu.

Right now, it seems only this "spectator" has the ability and the "reason" to interfere. After all, he took Tang Sanzang as his "disciple" and took away 30,000 of my merits!

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the resentment and anger in her heart, and transmitted her voice through divine sense, her voice cold but with a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"Lin Zhu! Are you just going to stand by and watch the pilgrim escape? What good will it do you if the journey to the West is interrupted?"

Lin Zhu seemed to only then notice her presence. He slowly turned his head and glanced at Guanyin with the look of someone appraising a novel species or perhaps caring for a fool. Then he lazily spoke, his voice resounding directly in Guanyin's consciousness.

"Benefits? I'm having a great time watching the show. As for the interruption... what's it to me? It wasn't part of my plan."

Guanyin was so angry at his lazy attitude that her chest felt tight, but the situation was beyond her control, so she gritted her teeth and said.

"You...you go and persuade him to come back! Tell him that the creature down the mountain isn't a monster, but his eldest disciple, Sun Wukong!"

"Why?"

Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving her lips.

"I came to watch the show, not to be a babysitter. Giving advice is such a thankless and exhausting task..."

"what do you want?"

Guanyin interrupted him directly, knowing that going around in circles with this guy was useless.

Lin Zhu smiled, a bright smile that sent a chill down Guanyin's spine. "Bodhisattva is indeed generous. That 30,000 merits just now... tasted good. Want some more?"

"you!"

Guanyin was so angry that her whole body shimmered with Buddhist light, and her beautiful face twisted slightly.

Those 30,000 golden rays of merit were essential resources for her to stabilize her realm and temper her saintly nature after this advancement. Giving them away was already painful, and this guy still thought it wasn't enough!

"You won't give it to me? Then forget it."

Lin Zhu pretended to look away and continue watching the comical scene below where Tang Sanzang was pulling Liu Boqin along and complaining incessantly.

"Anyway, it would be quite interesting to run back to Chang'an. Maybe the Tang Emperor will send him another troop of soldiers to slay demons and monsters along the way. The scene would be... tsk."

The thought of Journey to the West possibly turning into an absurd scenario of the Tang army's westward expedition made Guanyin feel dizzy. She glared at Lin Zhu, then flipped her jade hand, and a ball of golden merit light, slightly smaller than before but still dazzling, condensed in her palm, amounting to about thirty thousand more.

She almost gritted her teeth as she pushed the golden light toward Lin Zhu.

"Take it! Send him back immediately!"

Lin Zhu showed no politeness, and with a wave of his hand, the ball of golden light of merit fell into his palm, then disappeared as if it had been swallowed up by him.

He even deliberately smacked his lips, as if savoring a delicious treat, which made Guanyin's eyes twitch and her heart bleed.

After receiving the "reward," Lin Zhu nodded in satisfaction, but did not take immediate action. Instead, he remained standing there leisurely.

Just then, the situation below changed again.

After listening to Tang Sanzang's incoherent narration, and combining it with the shout from the foot of the mountain and the legends of this mountain, Liu Boqin already had a guess in his mind.

He grabbed the still-shaken Tang Sanzang and explained, with a wry smile.

"Elder Tang, don't panic, don't panic! I don't think that cry is from a mountain spirit or monster."

"Not a monster?"

Tang Sanzang calmed down a little, but he was still shaken.

"What...what is that? It screamed so scary!"

"Elder, you are unaware of this."

Liu Boqin pointed to the five-finger-shaped mountain peak in the distance.

"This mountain was originally called Five Elements Mountain, also known as Two Realms Mountain. According to the elders, it descended from the sky five hundred years ago when Wang Mang usurped the Han throne. A divine monkey, or rather... an old ape, was imprisoned beneath the mountain. It is said that the old ape was extremely powerful and once caused a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace. He was later subdued by the Buddha and imprisoned under this mountain."

The Buddha affixed a seal, ordering the mountain gods and local deities to guard it. It had been imprisoned for five hundred years, fed iron pellets when hungry and molten copper when thirsty, unable to move. The cry just now was most likely made by this imprisoned old ape.

He can't get out, and he can't hurt anyone.

"An old ape that's been trapped for five hundred years? Can't get out?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's tense nerves finally relaxed a little, and his pale face regained some color. As long as he can't get out, that's good, that's good.

He patted his chest and let out a long breath.

"I see... You scared this humble monk to death. Since we can't get out, then... then it's alright."

He remembered that he was, after all, a "highly enlightened monk" and protected by "new Buddhism," and that his hasty and disheveled escape just now was truly unbecoming. Besides, he still had to go to the Western Paradise; he couldn't really go back to Chang'an.

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Benefactor Liu."

Tang Sanzang straightened his clothes and tried to appear calm.

"Since there was no real danger, then this humble monk... will continue on his journey."

On the cloud, Guanyin Bodhisattva, who had just paid her "reward" while enduring excruciating pain, almost spat out blood upon seeing this scene! Liu Boqin! That talkative hunter! Why did he have to say it now, right after she had been extorted by Lin Zhu! He let that bastard Lin Zhu make another killing for her!
She was filled with remorse, blaming herself for being so angry that she had forgotten the legend of the Five Elements Mountain wasn't a closely guarded secret in the area. It was perfectly normal for a hunter like Liu Boqin, who frequented the mountains, to know it and explain it to Tang Sanzang! If she had thought of it sooner, or directly pointed it out to Liu Boqin, she wouldn't have had to pay those 30,000 merits!
How hateful! How infuriating!
Looking at Lin Zhu's amused and smug expression, Guanyin felt a surge of resentment rising in her chest, with nowhere to vent it. She could only turn her head away abruptly, out of sight, out of mind. Her fear and resentment towards Lin Zhu deepened even further.

Below, seeing that Tang Sanzang had calmed down, Liu Boqin continued speaking.

"Elder Tang, that old ape is said to be quite intelligent. It has been suppressed for five hundred years without dying, but it is unable to move. It must be a pitiful... uh, peculiar being. Since it's on the way, Elder, why don't you go and take a look? It would be a good opportunity to... broaden your horizons?"

He wanted to say "pitiful," but remembering the old ape's infamous reputation, he changed his mind.

Tang Sanzang's curiosity was piqued, and upon learning that the other party couldn't get out, his courage returned. After a moment's thought, he nodded.

"Very well. Since it has been suppressed here by the Buddha, there must be some karmic cause and effect. This humble monk will go and take a look, perhaps... I can recite some scriptures to resolve some of its malevolent energy?"

He recalled his profession of "exorcising the dead".

Liu Boqin chuckled twice, but didn't respond to the question.

He accompanied Tang Sanzang down the mountain for a while, and they were not far from the foot of the mountain where the shouts had come from. Liu Boqin suddenly stopped, a hint of hesitation and... inexplicable unease on his face. He looked around and lowered his voice to Tang Sanzang.

“Elder Tang, the place where the old ape was imprisoned should be not far ahead. I… I suddenly feel uneasy, as if I have a bad feeling. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to escort you any further. Elder… would you please go there yourself? After you’ve seen it, head straight west, cross this mountain, and that will be the road to the west.”

He spoke earnestly, as if he truly sensed some danger. In reality, he recalled the ferocity of the tiger that Tang Sanzang had restrained the previous night, and also thought of the ferocious ape that had been imprisoned for five hundred years. He felt that if these two "extraordinary" beings met, something unpredictable might happen, and it would be best for him to stay away.

Tang Sanzang's curiosity prevailed at this moment, and since he felt that the old ape couldn't come out and wasn't so scary, he nodded.

"Please go ahead, Benefactor Liu. Thank you for seeing me off all the way. I hope we will meet again someday."

Liu Boqin felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly bowed and took his leave, turning around and walking away much faster than when he arrived.

After Liu Boqin had gone far away, Tang Sanzang, alone, led his horse, took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and walked towards the place at the foot of the mountain where the Buddhist power was most concentrated and the terrain was the most low-lying and oppressive.

After passing several huge rocks, the view suddenly opened up, yet it also gave people a strong sense of oppression.

Sure enough, near the base of the mountain ahead, there was a naturally formed depression, like a stone box. And inside that stone box, there was a monkey!
The monkey was truly in a sorry state. It had a pointed snout, sunken cheeks, and fiery eyes. Its head was covered with moss that had accumulated over countless years, and vines had sprouted from its ears. The hair on its temples was sparse, mostly replaced by grass; its chin was beardless, but covered with green sedge.

The monkey's head was exposed, but its body was completely covered by rocks, no one knew how deep they were buried.

Five hundred years of wind and sun, rain and snow, ice and frost, flowers and grass have flourished and withered on his head, as if they regarded him as a warm and strange stone.

Seeing this tragic and strange scene, the last trace of fear in Tang Sanzang's heart dissipated, replaced by a mixture of curiosity, sympathy, and some indescribable emotion.

He cautiously took a few steps closer and saw that the monkey was motionless, seemingly asleep, or... already lifeless?
After hesitating for a moment, Tang Sanzang reached out and gently brushed away the weeds and moss piled up around the monkey's head, wanting to get a better look. (End of Chapter)