Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 27: Subhuti

Xiao Chen and the other two came out of the forest, found a path, and after walking over a hill about seven or eight miles away, they saw a cave.

Xiao Chen looked up and saw that the cave was filled with colorful mist and the sun and moon were shining, revealing an immortal aura.

There stood a stone tablet on the cliff, about three meters high and eight feet wide, with a line of ten large characters on it, which read "Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Xieyue Sanxing Cave".

However, at this time, the cave door was closed, and it was quiet and deserted.

The monkey had been searching for the truth for many years and had been driven out many times. He finally found the immortal's cave, but he was a little timid and did not dare to knock on the door. He just tiptoed up the tree and picked two pine cones to eat, to get rid of his fear and build up his courage.

Seeing that this usually brave monkey was showing his cowardice at this moment, Xiao Chen couldn't help but smile. Since they could find the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave, it meant that Master Subhuti would naturally meet them.

Since you are willing to meet them, you should accept them.

Thinking of the many magical spells of Master Subhuti, Xiao Chen couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

Xiao Chen strode forward, knocked on the door, and said in a loud voice: "Golden Horn, Monkey King, and Mo Lang of the Flower and Fruit Mountain in Dongsheng Shenzhou, wish to see Master Subhuti and learn the magic from him!"

After waiting for a long time, the surrounding forest became lively with cicadas chirping, birds singing, and squirrels playing.

However, the gate of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave was still tightly closed, and there was no movement at all.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Chen, Monkey, and Mo Lang each looked at each other, and the three of them were about to step forward, kneel down, and kowtow in front of the door.

At this moment, Xiao Chen found that there was a force supporting him and he could not bow down no matter what. He turned around to look at Mo Lang and found that he was in the same situation as him.

There was only the monkey, who prostrated himself in front of the entrance of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave, and kowtowed repeatedly.

Seeing this, Xiao Chen's face turned pale and he thought to himself:

"Could it be that this Subhuti Patriarch is unwilling to accept me?"

"You're only willing to take the monkey?"

At this moment, there was a creaky sound, and the door opened, and a round-faced fairy girl dressed in cloud-white clothes and a high bun on her head walked out.

"I am a boy under the seat of Master Subhuti."

The girl came out and introduced them to Xiao Chen and the other two, then said to Mo Lang:

"Master said that you and him are not destined to be master and disciple, so go down the mountain."

When Mo Lang heard this, his face turned pale, his whole body trembled, his eyes turned red, and he couldn't help but shed tears.

He was filled with endless hatred and had followed Xiao Chen and Monkey on their search for so many years because he also wanted to learn some skills, fight to the sky, and avenge his parents and clansmen.

It was a rare first time that there was a fairy cave and the three of them were not driven away. Unexpectedly, he was turned away again.

"Master also said that when you get down the mountain, just head north. You will find your destiny there."

The girl paused and continued.

Hearing this, Mo Lang stopped crying and his expression looked better.

Xiao Chen also comforted:
"Mo Lang, relax. The old immortal will definitely not lie to you. Since that's what he said, there will be great fortune waiting for you in the north."

"When you come back after learning this, please take care of me, Toad."

Upon hearing this, the little girl glanced at Xiao Chen and thought that this guy was quite nice.

Mo Lang suppressed his disappointment, his eyes reddened, he bowed to Xiao Chen and Monkey, and said:
"Toad, Monkey, if I really come back after completing my studies, I will come to Huaguo Mountain to find you."

Xiao Chen reached out his hand, touched the black-faced boy's head, and said with a smile: "Okay, the monkey and I will wait for you there."

The monkey also said, "Little dragon, I will wait for you in Huaguo Mountain."

After the three of them said goodbye, Mo Lang lowered his head and walked down the mountain step by step with a dejected pace.

As Mo Lang walked, he suddenly raised his head and his steps became more and more firm.

As the sun sets, the sunlight stretches the stubborn figure of the black-faced boy into a long shape, and Mo Lang seems to have grown up overnight.

Looking at Mo Lang's figure, Xiao Chen himself also smiled bitterly. Judging from the intention of this Subhuti Patriarch, he only asked the monkey to kneel down, obviously recognizing the fate of this master and disciple.

However, Master Subhuti did not ask him to kneel down, which meant that he would probably not accept him.

Xiao Chen sighed secretly: "It seems that I will not have the chance to catch up with this monkey." At this moment, the girl opened the door, bowed to Xiao Chen, and said respectfully: "Master invites you."

Xiao Chen was stunned, and couldn't believe his ears. He pointed at his nose and asked, "Fairy boy, are you talking to me?"

The girl looked at Xiao Chen's dazed look, chuckled, and said, "I'm speaking to you, so I'm summoning you."

"What about me, fairy boy? What about me?"

Seeing that the girl had made arrangements for Mo Lang and Xiao Chen but ignored him, Monkey scratched his ears and cheeks anxiously and asked.

The girl shook her head and said, "Master, you didn't tell me your plan."

Upon hearing this, the monkey was at a loss for words and could only kowtow in front of the door in panic.

Xiao Chen looked at the monkey and smiled gently. The monkey was confused by the situation. If he had no master-disciple relationship with Master Subhuti, how could Master Subhuti accept the gift from the monkey?

So the monkey could only watch helplessly as Xiao Chen entered the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.

"Strange, if this Subhuti Patriarch did not want to accept me, why did he see me again?"

Xiao Chen straightened his clothes and said respectfully to the girl, "Thank you for leading the way, fairy boy."

The girl in white clothes nodded and said, "Come in with me."

Xiao Chen followed the girl and went deep into the cave. He saw that the entrance of the Three Stars Cave was surrounded by clouds and mist, as if it led to another world. Looking around, it was a beautiful view, like a fairyland on earth.

The mist and clouds condense into auspicious haze, and the sun and moon emit brilliant light. The green old cypress and the mountain mist are like the same color as the autumn water and sky.

There are layers of deep pavilions and jade towers, and enter pearl palaces and shell palaces, and there are countless quiet rooms and secluded residences.

"The master is inside, please go in."

The girl led Xiao Chen to a nine-story building.

Xiao Chen arrived at the pavilion, only to see a table filled with delicious food and wine. A gaunt old man with white hair and green clothes was standing with his hands behind his back, looking a little lonely.

"Go down."

The gaunt old man waved his hand.

After the girl brought Xiao Chen up, she left obediently.
"Little demon pays homage to Master Subhuti!"

It was the first time that Xiao Chen saw such a powerful person, and he saluted cautiously.

Regarding this most mysterious great man in Journey to the West, there were many different opinions on the Internet in the past. Some people speculated that he was Taishang Laojun, some speculated that he was Tathagata Buddha, and some speculated that he was Zhunti Taoist...

But in short, there is no doubt that Master Subhuti, who can master the transformation techniques of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, and can train a monkey to have the ability to make trouble in the sky in just a few years, is definitely the most powerful person in the three realms.

"No need to be polite."

Master Subhuti turned around and was revealed to be a kind and amiable old man, but the dignity in his bones could not be concealed.

"Master, that monkey..."

Facing such a powerful person, Xiao Chen was naturally a little restrained, but he still asked on behalf of Monkey.

"The relationship between me and that monkey as master and disciple has been established long ago. No one in the three realms can teach this monkey except me." Master Subhuti said calmly.

"Except for Master Subhuti, no one would teach a wild monkey." Xiao Chen didn't believe it before, but after what he experienced along the way, he believed it.

"Among all the gods and Buddhas in the world, who would preach to a monkey or pity a little monkey?"

"Everyone who sees a monkey will call him a demon monkey or a naughty monkey. Even Tang Monk has scolded the monkey brother and made him cry so many times."

"Only Patriarch Subhuti doted on the monkey from beginning to end and never scolded the monkey." Xiao Chen said in his heart as he recalled the plot.

"But, that monkey came three hundred years earlier, and he will inevitably suffer more in the future because of it." Master Subhuti looked at Xiao Chen and sighed.

"He had come three hundred years earlier... Patriarch Subhuti knew about it."

Is everything really arranged?
Xiao Chen was shocked when he heard this.

(End of this chapter)