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

On this day, as usual, he was meditating in the Thai Royal Palace when a gatekeeper came to report:

"Your Majesty, the Star Lord Chang Geng has come to visit."

Ye Feng nodded slightly: "Please let him in."

Before long, Venus arrived slowly. Upon seeing Ye Feng, she smiled and bowed, asking, "Is Your Majesty well these days?"

Ye Feng also rose to return the greeting, bowing and saying, "Star Lord, it's a rare honor to have a guest at your door today. May I ask what brings you here?"

Venus took out an invitation from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "In three days, the Queen Mother of the West will host the Peach Banquet, inviting all the renowned immortals and Buddhas of the Three Realms. His Majesty, mindful of the Emperor's esteemed position, has specially ordered this old man to personally deliver the invitation."

Ye Feng took it; it felt warm and smooth to the touch. Although it was made of paper, it seemed to possess a spiritual quality. The edges were embroidered with gold thread, making it impervious to water and fire.

He gently unfolded it, and saw that the handwriting on it was neat and tidy:

"On the third day of the third lunar month, a grand peach banquet will be held, and the King of Thailand is specially invited to attend."

The signature was clearly—"Written by the Queen Mother of Yaochi".

Was this written by the Queen Mother?

Ye Feng remained expressionless and closed the invitation.

Although the Peach Banquet invited many guests, only a handful received a personal inscription from the Queen Mother.

Even the four great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism may not enjoy this honor.

He was merely a newly enthroned emperor, not yet among the Four Emperors, yet he received such treatment, which was the height of respect.

He carefully put away the invitation and smiled, saying, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Star Lord. Why don't you rest for a bit and have a drink before you go?"

Venus waved his hand and laughed, "I am carrying out an imperial decree and dare not linger. I still need to go to the Emperor of Mount Tai to deliver a letter, so I cannot delay any longer."

Ye Feng nodded, about to see the guest off, when he suddenly remembered something and asked:

"By the way, for this grand event... was the Monkey King invited?"

Upon hearing this, Venus paused slightly, his eyes flickering:

"This... I didn't ask in detail."

He then cupped his hands in farewell and said, "The remaining invitations have not yet been delivered, Your Majesty. We shall meet again at the Peach Banquet."

Ye Feng saw him off at the palace gate and then turned back to the hall.

The invitation reappeared in his hand, which he gently shook and patted onto his palm.

This matter is strange. Venus's reaction just now already hinted at something—

It seems that, just like the original situation, the monkey has already been added to the list.

Given the monkey's temperament, how could it tolerate such disrespect? After being insulted, it will surely fly into a rage, and a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace will be inevitable.

He never considers cause and effect in his actions, and getting into trouble is only a matter of a moment's thought.

And this invitation...

Ye Feng's gaze narrowed slightly.

On the surface, it seems like an attempt to sow discord between him and the monkey.

However, upon closer examination, this is not entirely true.

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother are both quasi-saints; how could they possibly believe that such superficial methods could actually work?

If not, what is the deeper meaning behind this move?

Could it be... that they're leaving me another way out?

Ye Feng closed his eyes and pondered, reviewing the entire plot of "Havoc in Heaven".

His greatest advantage lies in knowing how the plot will unfold.

If he is completely unaware of this matter and attends the banquet as usual three days later, he will be greeted by a devastated and ruined Yaochi.

At that time, the monkey, having been humiliated, might not have sought to join forces with him due to his pride and arrogance.

Their paths diverged, and they went their separate ways.

Even more frightening is-

If the monkey had fled to the mortal realm immediately after causing trouble at the Peach Banquet, while he remained in Heaven to hold the throne...

Ye Feng's heart skipped a beat.

From that moment on, the two of them embarked on completely different paths of destiny.

Without a sound, their destinies were completely severed.

This layout, seemingly natural and seamless, is in fact meticulously planned step by step.

This definitely doesn't seem like the work of the Jade Emperor.

It's more like... there's a saint behind the scenes pushing things forward, taking advantage of the situation.

who is it?

Lao Tzu?

Or perhaps... Bodhi?

Despite his reluctance to admit it, the name deepest in Ye Feng's heart was Bodhi.

Back in Fangcun Mountain, he once expressed disdain and rejection of Buddhism.

But now, Bodhi has made him guard the Heavenly Court and allowed the monkey to join the Buddhist system.

When chaos erupted in the Heavenly Palace, the Monkey King was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, and five hundred years later, he would inherit the calamities of the Journey to the West.

Everything became part of the Buddhist plan.

Ye Feng let out a soft breath.

With a flick of the fingertip, a wisp of golden flame quietly ignited, turning the peach invitation into ashes that drifted away with the wind.

He slowly closed his eyes, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

He understood that Patriarch Bodhi had no intention of harming him.

For both him and the monkey, following the path laid out for them would surely lead to a peaceful and carefree life.

Even the monkey was only suppressed for five hundred years—for a Taiyi Golden Immortal, it was just a short period of seclusion, which would pass in the blink of an eye.

But... when have you ever asked us if we were willing?

He sighed softly, finally understanding why the Queen Mother had personally written the invitation.

It wasn't because Ye Feng was particularly distinguished, but rather because the invitation reflected the respect and reverence shown towards the lineage of the Sage.

Flames erupted, golden flames engulfing the invitation, ashes scattering in the wind. Ye Feng stepped out of the Thai Royal Palace gates, and the magnificent scene of the Heavenly Palace unfolded before his eyes once more: flowing clouds like ribbons, rays of light in myriad forms, and celestial energy swirling around, as if it were an eternal realm. Even living in such a world for tens of thousands of years would not bore him.

The celestial officials on both sides bowed in respect.

He nodded slightly, his figure transforming into a golden rainbow as he sped westward.

Our destination was Yaochi (Jade Pool).

The Peach Banquet is still three days away, but the Jade Pool is already extremely busy.

I wonder if the Seven Fairy Maidens have already gone to the Peach Garden to pick peaches?

But it doesn't matter. As long as he waits at Yaochi, the monkey will naturally appear.

Ye Feng moved with incredible speed. As he approached Yaochi, he concealed his escape light, activated a concealment spell, and his figure quietly vanished into the void.

Upon entering the Jade Pool, one sees celestial maidens and powerful warriors shuttling back and forth, carrying delicacies and rare wines, a dazzling array of offerings.

The banquet tables were arranged in layers, the aroma permeated the air, and the fine wines and liquors shimmered and gleamed.

Auspicious clouds swirled and adorned the pavilion with colorful mist, while phoenixes soared in pairs and blue luan birds sang in harmony.

Those two colorful phoenixes were raised by the Queen Mother since the primordial era, and they are the only pair that survives in the Three Realms.

On the table were jade basins adorned with a thousand flowers, and a hundred kinds of celestial cakes laid out; whatever one desired was provided.

The celestial wines are arranged in rows, stretching all the way to the end of the sea of ​​clouds.

In the distance, amidst the clouds, rare treasures arrive carried by auspicious clouds, their origins unseen and their quantity countless.

Even Ye Feng had to admit that only the Heavenly Court could present such an extremely luxurious scene.

He chose a pavilion to sit in, closed his eyes, and waited quietly.

This wait lasted for two days.

With only one day left before the Peach Banquet began, he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky.

A celestial being dressed in a brown robe, holding a palm-leaf fan, with thinning hair and bare feet, slowly walked in from the main gate.

It was none other than the Barefoot Immortal.

All the powerful warriors and celestial officials bowed to him upon seeing him, calling him "Great Immortal".

Ye Feng chuckled inwardly. Others might not know, but he knew perfectly well—this person was not the Barefoot Immortal at all, but rather the monkey in disguise.

Of course, he did not see through its transformation technique.

The Seventy-Two Transformations of the Earthly Fiends is the most mysterious incarnation technique in the world. Unless one cultivates the Golden Crow Divine Eye to perfection, it is extremely difficult to see through its true nature.

That was a complete transformation from the very origin of the primordial spirit.

He just happened to know what happened next—the monkey met the Barefoot Immortal on his journey, tricked him into going to the Tongming Palace, and took the opportunity to steal his form and change his appearance.

Sure enough, the "Barefoot Immortal" stood before the Jade Pool, staring blankly at the delicacies and fine wines, his throat bobbing slightly.

Seeing that no one was around, he found a dark corner, and with a sway of his body, revealed his true form—Sun Wukong with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth.

He then plucked a handful of hairs, chewed them, exhaled a puff of mist, and uttered a low shout: "Transform!"

In an instant, the hairs transformed into countless tiny sleep bugs, which burrowed into the nostrils and mouths of the celestial officials, warriors, and goddesses present.

In an instant, weariness washed over me like a tide.

Everyone yawned repeatedly, their legs went weak, and they all collapsed, soon falling into a deep sleep.

The monkey smiled smugly, leaped up, and headed straight for the large vat filled with the celestial wine.

Just as he was about to reach out, he suddenly felt a light pat on his back, which startled him so much that he thought the immortals who were attending the banquet had arrived early!

In the blink of an eye, the golden cudgel was already in his hand, almost ready to be swept out horizontally—

However, upon seeing who it was, his pupils contracted, and the iron rod he was swinging in mid-air abruptly stopped, his face filled with astonishment:

"Senior brother? What are you doing here?"

Ye Feng stood with his hands behind his back, a smile playing on his lips: "What, you can come, but I can't?"

The monkey put away his golden cudgel, his expression somber, jumped onto the nearby railing, sat down, and muttered under his breath, "That's not what I meant."

Ye Feng's gaze sharpened slightly, and he asked, "Since you've decided to disrupt the banquet, why didn't you come looking for me?"

The monkey lowered its head, its voice low and menacing: "It's different... Last time I killed the Martial Virtue Star Lord, which implicated you. Now that you are the Heavenly Emperor, holding a high position and great power, how can I drag you down with me again?"

"You should leave quickly. The Heavenly Court is going too far. They're treating me like a monkey, giving me the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but I have no power or influence. Even a few fairies dare to mock and ridicule me. Being the 'Great Sage' is utterly tasteless. It's much more comfortable on Flower Fruit Mountain."

"Once I've ruined this Peach Banquet, I'll go back to the mortal realm and become a demon. You can be your great emperor in heaven, and I'll live a carefree life in the mortal world. We'll each go our separate ways, and everyone will be happy."

Ye Feng sensed the disappointment and loneliness in his tone and suddenly called out, "Monkey."

"Um?"

Wukong looked up and saw a shoe sole rapidly enlarging in front of him—

boom!

Ye Feng stepped on his head, causing his body to tilt violently and he tumbled over the railing, sparks flying before his eyes.

Why did you hit me!

"Who told you not to wear a hat!"

The monkey was stunned by the sudden kick.

But upon hearing this, the anger in my heart subsided considerably.

He shook his head, got up, scratched his face, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Senior brother, I..."

Ye Feng stared at him coldly: "Have you figured it out?"

The monkey pursed its lips and remained silent.

Ye Feng scoffed, "You think you're the only one who feels wronged? You were given the title of Great Sage Equaling Heaven, and you're resentful. But do you think I, as the Great Emperor, am living a life of glory and ease?"

The monkey blinked, then hesitated, "Senior brother... could it be that you didn't receive an invitation to the Peach Banquet either?"

Ye Feng coughed twice: "I received the invitation, but that's not the point."

He said seriously, "You must understand that in the Heavenly Court, if you don't have the ability to truly control the situation, no matter how famous you are, you will only be trampled underfoot."

Since they look down on you, let them see for themselves whether you truly deserve the title of "Great Sage Equal to Heaven"!

As he spoke, he patted the monkey's shoulder heavily, his tone deep and serious: "Remember, it doesn't matter what others think of you, the key is whether you believe it yourself."

The monkey shuddered, as if struck by lightning, and suddenly felt completely luminous.

"Senior brother, I understand."

A hint of relief appeared on Ye Feng's face: "It's good that you understand."