Journey to the West: I am the fiercest bird under Bodhi's seat

As Di Ting said, the saying "I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty" was originally aimed at the Asura race.

If Mara truly intended to unleash a catastrophe, he would likely have been stopped by Ksitigarbha before even setting foot on Mount Taihuang.

"It turns out the Great Celestial Venerable had already made plans. This old minister was overthinking it." Venus smiled bitterly, but then remembered something else.

"Does God Gouchen know about this matter?"

"Perhaps he knows, perhaps he doesn't," the Jade Emperor replied casually, but his answer was ambiguous and essentially meaningless.

In fact, at this moment, the Jade Emperor, like Di Ting, could no longer see through Ye Feng.

As for Venus, he was utterly bewildered. He had a feeling that there was some profound scheme hidden between Ye Feng, the Jade Emperor, and Buddha.

But he dared not think too deeply, nor could he. In the end, he could only sigh softly, and like Bai Qi, he stood silently beside the Jade Emperor, saying nothing more.

After all, the journey to the West is about to begin, and the Holy Emperor Chongen of the East will soon personally intervene.

As for the truth about the Asura race, the Jade Emperor revealed a hidden story.

However, all of this was no longer relevant to Ye Feng.

At this moment, he was sitting by the lotus pond in the Taihuang Mountain Herb Garden, leisurely fishing.

Ao Luan and Hong Yu stood on either side, quietly serving.

He spends his days talking about Taoist teachings, drinking with monkeys, and living a leisurely and carefree life.

They truly achieved a state of complete detachment from worldly affairs.

In the past few days, Ye Feng has been fishing much more often.

Ao Luan finally couldn't help but ask, "Master, haven't you been going fishing a bit too often lately?"

"The pond is teeming with fish and shrimp; there's no way to catch them all. Besides, didn't I say that fishing is also a way to cultivate one's mind?" Ye Feng said calmly and indifferently.

That's true. The lotus pond is crystal clear, teeming with fish and shrimp, and their numbers won't decrease at all due to fishing.

But Hongyu wouldn't have it, pouting as she interjected, "But Master, haven't you been 'cultivating your mind' for far too long?"

She held up her fingers and counted them seriously: "Yu'er and Senior Sister have been guarding this place for three days, they're practically moldy."

Her brows furrowed slightly, with a touch of playfulness; she spoke frankly, yet with an innocent and adorable charm.

Of course, she wasn't really bored—it's just that Ye Feng had never fished for so long before.

Ao Luan, quick-witted as ever, immediately asked in a low voice, "Master, have you been... troubled by something lately?"

Ye Feng glanced at her but didn't respond. Instead, he chuckled lightly at Hongyu.

"Your cultivation of mind is not yet sufficient; you need to learn more from your senior sister."

He said that, but in his heart he sighed quietly.

Lately, things have indeed been different. It's not that I'm feeling depressed, but rather that the constant scheming and fighting have left me physically and mentally exhausted, so I'm taking the opportunity to calm my mind and rejuvenate by fishing.

Unexpectedly, even Ao Luan noticed it.

Thinking of this, he put down his fishing rod, looked at Ao Luan, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"I'm fine, I've just been thinking about the Asura clan lately."

Ao Luan was taken aback, then blurted out, "But Mara is dead, what trouble can the Asura race possibly cause?"

Ye Feng's expression was inscrutable as he calmly said, "The Asura race is far more than just one Mara."

"Is their entire clan going to come and kill us?" Hongyu was startled, her voice rising several decibels.

Ye Feng looked up, smiled, and ruffled her hair, a hint of mystery flashing in his eyes.

"No matter how arrogant the Asura race is, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly. Besides—if something really happens, within the Three Realms, there are no ones who can handle such matters, and it's not up to me to step forward alone."

Hongyu was completely confused, but she still obediently nodded.

"As long as Master is safe and sound, that's all that matters."

His adorable appearance made Ye Feng chuckle and stand up.

"Alright, that's enough fishing for today, call it a day."

……

Meanwhile, after leaving Chechi Kingdom, the Journey to the West team trekked across the 800-mile-long Tongtian River. Guanyin herself intervened, suppressing the goldfish demon causing trouble in the river. This made Tang Sanzang suddenly realize—he was ultimately a Buddhist disciple. His previous journey westward, escaping danger and turning misfortune into good fortune, had relied not on the Buddha's protection, but rather on the support of Ye Feng and the Heavenly Court.

It wasn't until the Tongtian River incident that he truly felt the power and prestige bestowed upon him by Buddhism.

After the turmoil subsided, the master and his disciples set off again. When they arrived at Jindu Cave on Jindu Mountain, they encountered a monster who called himself the King of the Unicorn Rhinoceros.

This demon was no ordinary being; he set a trap and captured all the people except for the Six-Eared Macaque.

Six Ears immediately engaged in battle in a rage, but was no match for the object in the demon's hand—a gleaming, white ring-shaped magical artifact. With a "whoosh," the weapon was swallowed, leaving him instantly disarmed and unable to fight back. Finally, he mustered all his strength and used the movement technique taught to him by Ye Feng to barely escape.

This battle was arguably the most dangerous on the journey to the West, far surpassing the battle with Red Boy. What was even more terrifying was that the demon clearly had spare strength, remaining calm and unhurried, as if he were toying with the enemy.

Liu Er knew something was wrong and, without hesitation, took to the air and headed straight for the Heavenly Court.

Having made several trips to the Heavenly Court, he went straight to Venus and then entered the Hall of Fragrant Breezes.

When the Jade Emperor saw him appear, he couldn't help but sigh softly.

"You're here to ask for help again?"

His tone carried a hint of helplessness. It wasn't that he was unwilling to get involved; it was just that this monkey had become incredibly shrewd these days—whenever trouble arose, he would first seek help from the Heavenly Court, then from Ye Feng, never confronting them head-on. The shadow of the Taihuang Mountain Lord was ever-present.

"Exactly." Liu Er clasped his hands in a fist salute and said succinctly, "When we arrived at Jindu Mountain, we encountered a monster. His skills weren't top-notch, but he had a strange magic weapon called the Circle of Wonders, which was incredibly powerful. My weapons were taken away, and I couldn't defeat him."

"Circle?" The Jade Emperor frowned slightly, secretly using his divine powers to deduce for a moment, then turned to Venus and said, "Venus, I would like to trouble you to make a trip to the Tushita Palace and see if the Supreme Dao Ancestor is here."

"Yes, sir." Venus accepted the order and departed.

In truth, the Jade Emperor already knew—that the One-Horned Rhinoceros King was none other than Laozi's Green Ox, who had secretly descended to the mortal realm. With his profound understanding, he could see through this cause and effect at a glance.

Naturally, it wouldn't be like in the original story, where they foolishly sent Li Jing (the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King) to lead troops to encircle and suppress the enemy, needlessly adding to their victory. Besides, who knows where the current Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King has been reincarnated into.

Although Liu Er did not understand why the Jade Emperor suddenly mentioned Laozi, he remained silent and waited.

Not long after, Venus returned.

"Great Heavenly Venerable, there is no one in the Tushita Palace, and the Supreme Dao Ancestor is not here."

"Hmm." The Jade Emperor's eyebrows twitched slightly, as if he remembered something. He turned to look at Liu Er and said in a low voice, "That demon's magic weapon has an extraordinary origin, and no one in the Heavenly Court can control it at present."

Liu Er's heart tightened.

"What should we do then? If this drags on any longer, my master might be torn to pieces!"

"Don't worry." The Jade Emperor's expression was calm, with a slight smile on his lips. "I recommend someone who can resolve this calamity."

"Who?"

"Mount Taihuang, the Great Emperor Gouchen."

"No, no!" Liu Er waved his hands repeatedly, shaking his head like a rattle drum. He remembered Ye Feng's warning—never set foot on Mount Taihuang unless absolutely necessary.

When he chased the three immortals of Chechi Kingdom before, he only dared to circle around the perimeter and did not even dare to enter the mountain gate.

Upon seeing this, the Jade Emperor was speechless for a moment: This impudent monkey is not afraid of me at all, so why is he so afraid of Gouchen?

Then it dawned on him—after all, that person was someone even the Jade Emperor dared to negotiate with, with an eccentric temperament and extraordinary methods, making ordinary people tremble with fear when they got close to him.

He had no choice but to back down, saying, "If we are to save this person, we must have Gouchen. In that case, I will order Chang Geng Xingjun to accompany you on this trip and personally invite him."

"That's more like it." Liu Er nodded. With Taibai Jinxing accompanying them, their confidence immediately increased.

However, Venus himself had a bitter look on his face and chuckled in a low voice, "Great Heavenly Venerable, you know how temperamental Gouchen God is... With my status, I can't persuade him."

He had dealt with Ye Feng many times and knew him well—he appeared respectful on the surface, but in reality, he was capricious and could even laugh at the Heavenly Rules.

The Jade Emperor smiled, a sly glint in his eyes.

"When you go, just ask him one question: 'Does the elixir of immortality from the Supreme Dao Ancestor that you stole back then still smell good?'"

……

Inside the Thai Royal Palace, Ye Feng remained seated on the cloud-shaped bed, his aura as deep as an abyss.

Outside the palace gate, Venus, accompanied by Liu Er, slowly entered.

"I have seen God."

Venus bowed in respect.

Ye Feng lightly waved his sleeve, ordering a servant to serve him immortal tea. His gaze swept over Liu Er as if he were nothing more than a wisp of breeze, and he looked directly at Venus, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"The Star Lord Chang Geng has taken the time and grace to grace the Thai Royal Palace with his presence today."

Venus sighed inwardly; Ye Feng's skill in playing Tai Chi was truly masterful. He didn't mince words, cupping his hands and speaking directly:

"God, the Six-Eared Macaque and his disciples have encountered trouble in the Golden Gourd Cave on Golden Gourd Mountain. The monster in the cave possesses extraordinary abilities and its magical treasures are capable of disrupting the natural order. The Great Heavenly Venerable has no choice but to send me to ask you to subdue the demon."

"Oh?" Ye Feng picked up his teacup, blew on it lightly, and said, "I've been preoccupied with trivial matters lately and I'm afraid I can't spare the time."

Before he could finish speaking, Venus had already anticipated this situation. He immediately lowered his voice, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.

"God may not know, but that demon—was actually the Green Ox under the command of the Supreme Dao Ancestor. Moreover…" He paused, his eyes flashing slightly, "Before we arrived, the Great Heavenly Venerable specifically instructed me to ask you: Is the elixir from the Tushita Palace still fragrant?"

The aroma of tea wafted through the air. Ye Feng, his expression unchanged, nodded slowly: "Naturally fragrant. How could a supreme elixir not be fragrant?"

He spoke in a serious tone, but everyone knew he was pretending to be stupid.

Liu Er, who was listening nearby, couldn't contain himself and quietly tugged at Taibai Jinxing's sleeve, whispering, "Old man, could it be that God stole Laozi's elixir of immortality back then?"

Venus almost couldn't catch his breath.

It wasn't just stealing food. Back then, Ye Feng led a bunch of mischievous monkeys into the Tushita Palace, and they almost took the alchemy furnace. The Supreme One's Purple Gold Gourd and the key to the Eight Trigrams Furnace were also stolen! But how could he dare to say these things out loud?

He could only manage a wry smile and turned to Ye Feng: "God, the elixir is a small matter, but the karmic consequences are far greater. Now that the Supreme Lord is gone, none of the gods and Buddhas in the heavens can subdue that green ox—only you can suppress it."

Ye Feng put down his teacup, tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and finally sighed.

"Very well, I'll take this task."

He sneered inwardly: "As expected, debts must be repaid sooner or later. Back then, he and the monkey swallowed pills like they were chewing beans, enjoying a moment of pleasure. Now, retribution has come."

"Thank God!" Venus breathed a sigh of relief, got up and left, quick and decisive, without even exchanging pleasantries, leaving Liu Er standing there blankly, looking around in confusion.

Inside the Thai Royal Palace, only Ye Feng and Liu Er remained, staring at each other in bewilderment.

"Teacher..." Liu Er was about to speak when Ye Feng raised his hand to stop him.

"No need to say more, this is not your fault."

Having already agreed, there's no point in refusing. Thinking about it, it's a way of settling old scores. But then another thought struck me—I wasn't the only one who took the pills back then!

With a thought racing through his mind, Ye Feng called out in a cold voice:

"Red Boy!"

Before he finished speaking, Red Boy had already strode over, bowed respectfully, and behaved in a proper manner, looking every bit the educated boy.

Liu Er watched in amazement.

"Go and call Wukong here," Ye Feng said calmly.

"Yes, sir!"

Before long, a golden figure broke through the air and arrived. The monkey grinned, its eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Senior brother! You're looking for me, Old Sun? Is there a fight to be had?"

These past few days I've been holed up in Mount Taihuang, drinking, playing with sticks, and counting clouds to pass the time. Now that I've been suddenly summoned, I thought we'd finally met a tough opponent!

Before he could finish speaking, his gaze swept across the room and he suddenly saw a monkey with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth standing in the corner, and he was immediately stunned.

"Who is this now?"

When the two monkeys first met, their eyes met and they were both stunned—their appearances were like looking in a mirror!

"This is the Six-Eared Macaque, a celestial monkey just like you, now accompanying Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures," Ye Feng explained casually.

Wukong scratched his head, then suddenly realized, "So it was him! I've heard of him!"

After hearing the whole story, Ye Feng slowly continued, "When they arrived at Jindu Mountain, they ran into a formidable character. As for that demon... we know him well."

"Oh?" Wukong's ears perked up.

"Do you still remember the blue ox that guarded the Tushita Palace?"

"I remember! Of course I remember!" Wukong's eyebrows instantly lit up, his tail practically wagging. "That was the highlight of our time, the day we brothers wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace! We can still brag about it with pride!"

But the next moment, he narrowed his eyes sharply, staring warily at Ye Feng: "Senior brother... could it be that that brat descended to the mortal realm without permission and caused trouble?"

"Exactly." Ye Feng nodded, his eyes flickering slightly. "That Green Ox is highly skilled and possesses a heaven-defying magic weapon. Six Ears was no match for him and sought help from the Heavenly Court. The Jade Emperor, holding onto our past mistakes, forced me to step in—after much thought, how could I pass up such a good opportunity for a battle of magic with you, a warmonger? So I've entrusted it to you."

They spoke in a grand and dignified manner, as if they were doing everything for their junior brother's sake.

But this time, the monkey, who always rejoiced at the mention of battle, shook its head repeatedly, bobbing like a rattle drum.