Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

Kong Xuan nodded:

"That black bear spirit has cultivated for a thousand years and is quite powerful."

"Elder Jinchi coveted his offerings and befriended him."

"It's simply a matter of each getting what they need."

Sun Wukong grinned:

"That's perfect."

"When that black bear demon arrives, I, Old Sun, will kill him as well."

Kong Xuan said calmly:

"No rush."

"Let him suffer a loss first."

Sun Wukong was taken aback:

"To suffer a loss? To let that monk suffer a loss?"

Kong Xuan nodded:

"Don't worry, you won't die."

"Let him know that on this journey to the West, the human heart is more terrifying than monsters."

In the meditation room.

Xuanzang had finished his vegetarian meal and was about to rest.

But Elder Jinchi arrived.

He was carrying a tray with a robe on it.

"Please take a look, Master."

He unfolded his robe, filling the room with radiance.

The robe was adorned with jewels and gold and silver threads, making it extremely magnificent.

Elder Jinchi said smugly:

"This is a brocade kasaya that I have treasured."

"Priceless and unparalleled in the world."

Xuanzang glanced at it and smiled slightly:

"Indeed magnificent."

Elder Jinchi looked at him:

"The monk has come from the Tang Dynasty in the East; he must have brought some treasures with him, right?"

"May I have the pleasure of seeing this?"

Xuanzang shook his head:

"I am but a humble monk, possessing nothing of value."

"He only received a robe and a staff from the Buddha."

Elder Jinchi's eyes lit up:

"May I have a look?"

Xuanzang hesitated for a moment.

But then I thought again, monks don't lie.

He then opened the bundle and took out the cassock.

The cassock was unfurled.

In an instant, the room was filled with Buddha's light.

The robe was embroidered with images of deities, bodhisattvas, arhats, and vajras, with radiant light and auspicious clouds surrounding it.

Elder Jinchi's eyes widened instantly.

He stared blankly at the robe, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

After a long pause, he murmured:

"This...this is the real treasure..."

Xuanzang put away his cassock:

"You flatter me, Elder."

"This is merely a ritual implement bestowed by the Buddha."

Elder Jinchi took a deep breath, suppressing the greed in his heart:

"The monk is right."

"It's getting late, Master, you should rest early."

After saying that, he turned and left.

But as he stepped out of the meditation room, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

outside the window.

Sun Wukong saw it clearly:

"This old monk was overcome by greed."

"He wanted to steal the robe."

Kong Xuan said calmly:

Let him take it.

"Perfect timing for you to do it."

Sun Wukong grinned:

"Okay!"

In the meditation room.

Xuanzang lay down to rest.

For some reason, he always felt uneasy.

The look in Elder Jinchi's eyes...

It's too bright.

He was so bright he didn't look like a monk.

He turned over and silently recited scriptures.

Amitabha.

I hope I'm just overthinking it.

backyard.

In a dimly lit meditation room.

Elder Jinchi sat upright on a futon, with a dark figure standing in front of him.

The dark figure was over ten feet tall, covered in black fur, and had a pair of eyes that gleamed with an eerie light.

It was the black bear spirit.

Elder Jinchi whispered:

"Brother, have you ever seen the robes of those monks from the East?"

The black bear spirit shook its head:

"Never."

Elder Jinchi's eyes were filled with greed:

"That's a treasure!"

"The Buddha's light flows, and auspicious clouds swirl!"

"Wearing this will bring you the Buddha's protection!"

The black bear spirit licked its lips:

"What about the monk?"

Elder Jinchi said:

"Just kill him!"

"He's all alone, completely powerless."

"Kill them, and the robes will be ours."

The black bear spirit grinned:

"good!"

"but......"

He paused:

"I've heard that eating the flesh of that monk can grant immortality."

"Hey bro, how about we split it in half?"

A hint of hesitation flashed in Elder Jinchi's eyes.

But soon, it was swallowed up by greed.

He nodded:

"good!"

"Half for each of us!"

The black bear spirit laughed heartily:

"Then it's settled!"

"I'll make my move at midnight!"

outside the window.

Sun Wukong heard all of this clearly.

He scratched his head:

"That old monk is a real scoundrel."

"A monk, how could he want to take someone's life?"

Behind him, Kong Xuan said calmly:

"That's why I say, the human heart is more terrifying than monsters."

Sun Wukong grinned:

"fine."

"We're going to kill them anyway."

Kong Xuan looked at him:

"Remember my words."

"No matter who it is."

"Regardless of its origin."

"If you dare to make a move, kill you."

"No need to worry."

Sun Wukong gripped his golden cudgel tightly:

"I, Old Sun, will remember this!"

Night was falling.

It was around midnight.

A dark figure silently slipped into Xuanzang's meditation room.

Black Bear Spirit.

He grinned and stretched out his hairy hand to reach onto the bed.

But when he reached out, he found nothing.

The bed was empty.

The black bear spirit was taken aback.

next moment.

A voice came from behind:

"Who should we look for?"

The black bear spirit suddenly turned around.

The monk was standing at the door.

He was still holding the white horse by the hand.

The black bear spirit's eyes widened:

"You...how could you..."

Xuanzang put his hands together in prayer:

"Amitabha."

"Though I am foolish, I am not stupid."

"I can understand the look in Elder Jinchi's eyes."

The black bear spirit grinned maliciously:

"So what if I understand it?"

"You, a mere monk, think you can escape my grasp?"

He stepped forward and reached out to grab it.

then.

An iron rod fell from the sky.

boom!

The black bear spirit was sent flying by a blow, crashing through the wall and rolling into the courtyard.

He struggled to his feet and looked up.

A figure stood in the void.

With a hairy face and a thunderous mouth, a gleaming golden headband, and holding an iron rod.

Sun Wukong.

The black bear spirit's pupils suddenly contracted:

"Who...who are you?!"

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"You dare ask about my name, Old Sun?"

The black bear spirit turned and ran.

next moment.

The golden cudgel gave chase.

boom!

Another loud bang.

The black bear spirit transformed into a cloud of blood mist and vanished into the night.

In the courtyard.

Elder Jinchi rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

He stared at the cloud of blood mist, at Sun Wukong in the void, and trembled all over.

"You...you killed...killed..."

Sun Wukong landed and looked at him:

"Old man, it's your turn."

Elder Jinchi knelt down with a thud:

"Spare me! Spare me!"

"I was confused for a moment! I was confused for a moment!"

Sun Wukong raised his golden cudgel.

But just then...

Xuanzang's voice came:

"Donor, please wait."

Sun Wukong turned around.

Xuanzang stepped forward and looked at Elder Jinchi kneeling on the ground.

Hands clasped together:

"Amitabha."

"Elder, do you know your crime?"

Elder Jinchi kowtowed desperately:

"I admit my guilt! I admit my guilt!"

Xuanzang sighed softly:

"A monk should be compassionate."

"Yet you are trying to kill someone over a robe."

"How can this sin be absolved?"

Elder Jinchi trembled all over.

Xuanzang gazed at him for a long time.

He said slowly:

"This humble monk will not kill you."

"But from this day forward, you shall never wear a monk's robe again."

"You are no longer allowed to call yourself a monk."

"Right here in the temple, they chanted sutras every day to pray for the black bear spirit's salvation."

"Are you willing to accept this?"

Elder Jinchi nodded vigorously:

"I'm willing! I'm willing!"

Xuanzang nodded slightly.

He turned around, took the white horse by the hand, and walked out of the temple.

Sun Wukong scratched his head.

He glanced at Elder Jinchi, then at Xuanzang's retreating figure.

A wide grin:

"This monk certainly knows how to punish people."

"It's worse than being killed."

He put away his golden cudgel and followed.