Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 289 Senior Brother and Junior Brother

"Master, this is it, please take your time."

Pigsy led the white dragon horse with one hand and helped his master, who had dismounted, with the other, following behind Monkey King, who was clearing the way with his golden cudgel, on the mountain path.

As Sun Wukong approached the end of the winding mountain road, he leaped to the top of the mountain and saw a tall, pink peach orchard before him.

"Oh?"

When Sun Wukong saw these tall peach trees, his eyes lit up. Just then, a gust of wind blew by, causing countless peach petals to slowly fall from the sky.

A clear, light laugh suddenly came from the side, causing Sun Wukong to freeze.

"Who do we have here? It's that monkey who went up the mountain to eat peaches back then!"

"Junior Brother Wukong, how have you been lately?"

Sun Wukong quickly turned his head and saw a familiar figure standing not far away, looking at him, with the same familiar gold and silver hairpins on his head.

"Senior Brother? Senior Brother Guangyi??"

Sun Wukong rubbed his eyes hard, and when he looked at that familiar figure again, his eyes immediately became a little moist.

Looking at his senior brother Guangyi in front of him, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Only then did he suddenly recall that when he was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, he had heard the local deity of the Five Elements Mountain say that it was the Daoist Guangyi of Jindu Mountain who helped the True Martial Emperor exorcise the demon.
However, these four continents are vast and there are many mountains with the same name. He never expected that the Golden Gourd Mountain in front of him was his senior brother's dojo!
"Monkey King! Oh Monkey King, wait for me, Master, and Brother Sha!"

As Zhu Bajie's voice rang out behind him, Sun Wukong quickly turned around and saw Zhu Bajie leading the white dragon horse with one hand and supporting his master with the other as they walked up.

"Bajie, Master."

Sun Wukong quickly called out, glanced at Bajie and his master, and then at Sha Wujing who was following behind. He then turned to look at his senior brother Guangyi, who was smiling at him.

At this moment, what lies in front of him and what lies behind him are his past and present.

Niu Yi looked at Sun Wukong and the Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing who had climbed the mountain behind him, and took the initiative to step forward and greet the four of them, including Tang Sanzang, who was at the head of the group.

"Elder Tang, I have long admired your name. I am Guangyi, the master of Jindu Mountain."

As Niu Yi spoke, he looked at Sun Wukong standing to the side.

"Of course, I am also your eldest disciple's senior brother."

"This humble monk greets the Immortal Master Guangyi."

Tang Sanzang returned the greeting to the ethereal-looking Taoist in blue robes before him, and together with Bajie and Sha Wujing, they looked at Sun Wukong beside them, their eyes filled with surprise.

"Senior brother."

Sun Wukong and Niu Yi's eyes met, but Niu Yi was the first to look away.

Back then, he was banished back to Flower Fruit Mountain by his master, who forbade him to reveal the master's name if he ever caused trouble.

However, just as the patriarch had predicted, he first caused a great disturbance in the underworld, then in the heavenly palace, and truly caused a great disaster. In the end, he was suppressed by the Buddha under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years.

This makes him feel somewhat ashamed when he sees his senior brother now.

Niu Yi looked at Sun Wukong and said gently:
“Wukong, the past is past. Move forward and don’t look back. You are now traveling west with Elder Tang. This is to cultivate merit and attain enlightenment. I am happy for you.”

Sun Wukong wiped his eyes and grinned at Niu Yi:
"Senior Brother Guangyi, it's really windy up here on the mountain! Even my eyes are getting blinded by the wind!"

Niu Yi laughed heartily and bowed again to the group of master and disciples in front of him, saying:

"Elder Tang, I have prepared many fruits and vegetables picked from this mountain, and I have also personally cooked several vegetarian dishes to prepare a feast."

"Since you gentlemen have the opportunity to pass by my temple, please step aside and rest your legs. Let me, your humble Taoist priest, offer you a proper welcome and show you some hospitality. Please~"

"I cannot refuse your kind invitation, Immortal Master. Please accept my offer!"

Niu Yi smiled and nodded, then turned and walked deeper into the peach grove.

On the other side, Zhu Bajie, who was walking beside Tang Sanzang and had been muttering something after hearing the name Guangyi Daoren, suddenly showed a look of sudden realization.

"Bajie, do you know this immortal?"

Pigsy quickly leaned close to his master's ear and whispered to his master and his junior brother Sandy behind him:
"Hey, Master, I do have some recollection of that, but that was after I was banished to the mortal realm."

"I heard that this Daoist Guangyi once helped the current Zhenwu Emperor subdue demons and monsters, and helped him pacify the north and achieve the position of Zhenwu."

"I never expected that this person would be Monkey King's senior brother."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was filled with awe.

The legendary Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Ancestor, the True Martial Emperor, though he was a Buddhist, how could he not know what kind of being this was?

"So, Wukong's senior brother must also be very capable."

in the sky.

Bodhi Patriarch, along with Guanghui Daoist and Guangwu, watched this scene and slowly nodded.

Master Guanghui laughed and said, "If things continue like this, Junior Brother Wukong will surely be able to subdue the Mind Monkey soon. With Junior Brother Guangyi by his side to take care of him, his future will surely be bright."

Guangwu looked at Niu Yi below with some reluctance, then turned to look at his master in front of him, hesitating to speak.

Guanghui smiled when she saw this, and patted Guangwu on the shoulder, saying:
“Junior brother, do not act like a little girl. Those who attain enlightenment survive countless eons. Just cultivate diligently, and we will meet again in the future.”

Guangwu nodded seriously.

"Yes, Big Brother."

Under the giant peach tree on Jindu Mountain.

Niu Yi seemed to sense something; he looked up at the sky but saw nothing.

But the gaze he had just clearly sensed felt strangely familiar to him.
Is that Senior Brother Guangwu?
Niu Yi snapped out of his daze, stood next to the stone table under the peach tree, which was already laden with fruit and food, and gestured for the four people behind him to invite him in.

"Please come in, everyone. These things were all planted and cultivated by my own hands. Please don't be shy."

Tang Sanzang stepped forward first, and after Niu Yi took his seat, he thanked the immortal for the banquet once again, and then took his seat with his disciples.

Looking around at the scenery, Elder Tang saw that not far from the peach tree were thatched cottages and fertile fields, seemingly ordinary yet in harmony with nature, inseparable from it.

Not far away, there are lotus flowers swaying in the water, fish leaping out of the pond, an antique and elegant stone pavilion, and several lush green tea trees around which the aroma of tea is wafting.

On the other side of the stone pavilion, there was a grove of orange trees with small white flowers, which seemed to have more trees than the peach grove on this side. They were emitting a sweet fragrance and the trees were sparkling with light.

"Immortal Master, this place is truly a blessed land of immortals. I am fortunate to be able to see such a beautiful scene today. I am truly grateful to you, Immortal Master."

"Haha, Elder Tang, you are too kind. Elder Tang's presence is a great honor for my humble abode, Golden Gourd Mountain."

Tang Sanzang and Niu Yi were talking to each other, while Sun Wukong looked at the peaches on the table with mixed feelings.

He hadn't eaten peaches grown by his senior brother for hundreds of years, but he still vividly remembered the taste of the peaches from that Rotten Peach Mountain back then.

Niu Yi looked at Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong sitting on either side below, picked up a plate of spirit peaches from the table, and presented it to Sun Wukong.

"The peach trees on my Golden Gourd Mountain have been cultivated for a much longer time than those on Rotten Peach Mountain. Especially the one on top of my head, which I planted on this mountain when I first started cultivating. It has been nurtured all the way and its peaches are the sweetest."

Sun Wukong nodded quickly, picked up a peach and ate it, saying it was delicious.

Pigsy watched from the side, covered his mouth with his sleeve, and chuckled.

Seeing this, Tang Sanzang helplessly reminded him:
"Bajie, you mustn't be rude."

"Hehe~ Master, look at that monkey! When have you ever seen him so well-behaved? He's not standing on the stool, nor is he crossing his legs. As expected, my senior brother really knows how to handle things~"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong became displeased. He put down the peach, glared at Bajie, and bared his teeth, threatening him. Bajie was so frightened that he fell backward to the ground.

"Ouch~~"

Sha Wujing shook his head and chuckled, then stepped forward to help Zhu Bajie get up from the ground.

Just as Pigsy was about to speak up for himself, he saw that Monkey was still glaring at him, so he had no choice but to behave himself and vent his frustration on the food on the table.

Niu Yi watched this scene with a smile. Just then, a young man in a blue robe walked over carrying a tea tray.

"Elder Tang, this is my servant boy, named Ao Xuan."

Ao Xuan bowed and greeted him, saying:
"Ao Xuan greets the four elders."

Tang Sanzang nodded in approval:

"Ao Xuan, the Immortal Child, is truly handsome and has an extraordinary temperament."

Sun Wukong looked at the familiar person before him, stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled:
"Fairy Boy, do you still remember me? I offended you a lot back then, please forgive me."

Ao Xuan sized up the man in front of him. He had heard from his master that this man's skills were now considered excellent in the Three Realms. He had once caused a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace, and he had heard many rumors about him.

For him, this was their first meeting in hundreds of years since they met on Rotten Peach Mountain.

“When my martial uncle first came up the mountain to learn martial arts, he was ignorant of etiquette. My master said there was a reason for it, so I naturally won’t blame you.”

As he spoke, Ao Xuan placed the teacups from the tea tray in front of the five people at the table one by one, and then left alone.

Pigsy watched with wide eyes, extremely curious about the monkey's past. He was itching to ask, but Sun Wukong noticed his gaze and scolded him. Pigsy lowered his head, determined to ask the fairy boy.

Niu Yi took it all in without saying a word, but simply raised his teacup and smiled:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this jujube tea is made from jujubes that grow on my mountain. Drinking it can prolong life and nourish the spirit. Please have a taste."

Upon hearing this, the seated people quickly put down the spiritual fruits and food in their hands, picked up the teacups in front of them, opened the lids, and saw the fiery red spiritual tea inside, emitting a warm aroma.

"This humble monk thanks you greatly, Immortal Master. Please, Immortal Master!"

"Please, please~"

After drinking the jujube tea, Tang Sanzang felt a warm sensation throughout his body and his spirits lifted. The fatigue he had felt from walking in the winter heat vanished instantly.

(End of this chapter)