Journey to the West: Black Six Ears

Invited by the host, Sun Qiong stepped forward.

As he moved, the leaves on the cypress tree fluttered down.

Only when you get closer can you see that there is a bird's nest in the tree.

On the left is a deer carrying flowers, on the right is a mountain monkey offering fruit, and in the middle sits an old monk.

"Old Zen Master."

Sun Qiong bowed.

The Zen master smiled slightly, paused for a moment, then jumped down from the tree and stood in front of Sun Qiong.

"Young friend, there's no need for such formalities."

The old Zen master had a kind face and looked no different from any other monk, but his eyes were like two black holes, seemingly capable of sucking Sun Qiong in.

Startled by those eyes, Sun Qiong couldn't help but take two steps back.

"Young friend, you are indeed extraordinary."

The old Zen master chuckled, quite intrigued.

Sun Qiong, steeling himself, asked the old Zen master:

Why did the old Zen master stop me?

Zen Master Wuchao extended one finger, pointed to the western sky, and said:

"This old monk has a reason for stopping you, young friend. There is someone waiting for you outside for seven days."

Is someone waiting for me?

Sun Qiong looked completely bewildered.

Who can he meet in this world?

I've never had a true friend since I can remember, so how could anyone wait seven days?

"Could it be?"

With a quick thought, Sun Qiong suddenly realized that the person waiting for him might be someone from the Buddha or Bodhisattva.

Only those two people could possibly appear at this time.

He's been too deeply involved with Journey to the West lately, so he's easily noticed.

However, since the Six-Eared Macaque was an indispensable tribulation for Sun Wukong on his journey to the West, it's unlikely that this person came to kill him.

"Is this a warning to me?"

Sun Qiong sneered.

"My young friend is very clever."

Zen Master Wuchao was quite satisfied with Sun Qiong.

He naturally saw through Sun Qiong's true form at a glance, just as he had seen through Sun Wukong's origins at a glance but only played him for a fool.

"That person couldn't find me for seven days, which must be thanks to the Zen Master. Thank you, old Zen Master."

Sun Qiong bowed to Zen Master Wuchao.

If it weren't for the old Zen master covering for him for seven days, Sun Qiong would probably have been interrupted during his practice.

Although it won't cause any demonic possession, it will definitely have an impact on Sun Qiong.

"This is a small matter. If you're not busy right now, young friend, why don't you let's chat?"

The old Zen master spoke with a smile.

Sun Qiong naturally agreed.

With a single gesture, the old Zen master conjured a wooden stool behind the two men.

After the monkey sat down, the old Zen master asked:

"Now that you know who's outside, young friend, have you decided what to do next?"

"Someone is blocking my way, I don't want to run into them."

Sun Qiong's plan was to escape using the Five Elements Escape Technique.

Zen Master Wuchao was not surprised at all by his answer, but he simply laughed it off:

"Young friend, there's nothing wrong with wanting to run away, but that person is related to Guanyin Bodhisattva. If you run away this time, the Bodhisattva might come in person next time. For Wukong, getting rid of inner demons is very important."

Sun Qiong's heart skipped a beat.

He might be able to escape from those blocking the door, but in front of Guanyin Bodhisattva, his methods were completely useless.

Not to mention that if that person were to apply a single tight band, he could be captured on the spot.

"This road is blocked. Please, venerable Zen master, teach me."

Sun Qiong let out a long sigh.

He was well aware of this, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Therefore, Sun Qiong's plan was to cause a complete disruption before the Bodhisattva arrived, at least to make the pilgrimage team collapse beyond repair.

This is a last-ditch effort.

Zen Master Wuchao looked at Sun Qiong, his expression unchanged:

"I know a little about you, young friend. What you've done along the way, though strange, makes some sense."

Sun Qiong was not surprised.

The person in front of me is a big shot who can see the entire course of Journey to the West. He can easily capture a mere Six-Eared Macaque like him.

Even such a powerful figure couldn't have imagined that Sun Qiong possessed an extremely unique system.

"Young friend, you intend to stop this journey to the West, but you are also worried about the person behind the journey."

In the old Zen master's eyes, the Six-Eared Macaque's actions were rather childish.

Sun Qiong's current actions are insufficient to prevent the Journey to the West from continuing.

"Young friend, you need to broaden your horizons."

As Zen Master Wuchao spoke, he raised his finger and pointed towards the western sky.

"The Buddha has more than one disciple, and the journey to the West does not necessarily require all four of them."

Upon hearing this, Sun Qiong suddenly understood.

"Old Zen Master, my strength is insufficient; I'm afraid I cannot sway those above."

He didn't have the strength to face the Buddha and Bodhisattvas directly. Even the monkey, who was already a Taiyi Golden Immortal, was suppressed by the Buddha for five hundred years.

Dealing with this manifestation of his inner demons would probably only take a slap.

Unlike Sun Wukong, Buddha showed no mercy to this inner demon.

"Strength is important, that's true, but what do you think of that Pigsy?"

Sun Qiong was taken aback by Zen Master Wuchao's question.

Zhu Ganglie's strength is not just average; anyone with even a little skill could easily overpower him.

"Completely different from Sun Wukong."

Sun Qiong spoke the truth.

The old Zen master did not respond to Sun Qiong's answer, but continued to ask:

"What about Jin Chanzi, the second disciple of Buddha?"

"He's completely defenseless; anyone could kill him if he has no one to protect him."

Sun Qiong thought for a moment and then answered.

Zen Master Wuchao sat quietly on a wooden stool, his hands clasped together in prayer.

"And what about Manjushri and Samantabhadra?"

"My strength is insufficient; only my magic weapons are still usable."

Although Sun Qiong had never met the two Bodhisattvas, the fact that the Green Lion and White Elephant could descend to the mortal realm for hundreds of years as mounts, occupying Lion Camel Ridge and devouring people, was largely due to their contributions.

Zen Master Wuchao smiled gently:

"Do you understand?"

"If you understand."

Sun Qiong nodded.

Old Zen Master: ......

"What I mean is, these people are clearly not very strong, so why were they able to join this Journey to the West, and why were they able to secure a place in the Western Paradise?"

"Is it because they are all part of Buddha's and Bodhisattva's plan?"

After a moment's thought, Sun Qiong revealed her answer.

This answer did not elicit a nod from the old Zen master; he simply smiled calmly.

"Jin Chanzi, the two Bodhisattvas are backed by the Buddha, and Zhu Ganglie is backed by the Jade Emperor. Although the monkey doesn't have a powerful background, he was also chosen by the Buddha. They have vested interests and are all interconnected."

In other words, these people all have connections.

Only he, this inner demon, is a lone wolf.

There are countless ways to deal with lone wolves like this.

After the old Zen master's reminder, Sun Qiong realized even more clearly that she had embarked on a dead end.

Unless the system one day grants him unparalleled abilities, he will not be able to escape this fate.

Otherwise, the Bodhisattva Vice President has countless ways to crush him.

"Old Zen Master, how can I break this deadlock?"

Sun Qiong calmed herself down and asked the question.

Zen Master Wuchao looked at the Six-Eared Macaque before him and sighed inwardly.

Even inner demons are something that arises naturally from nature.

"Young friend, you now have three paths to choose from."

"It's simple, but this journey to the West is difficult. I hope Buddha will not break his promise."

Sun Qi immediately shook his head.

He knew very well that this was no way out.

This option will only be killed by a monkey in front of Buddha in the future.

"The second path is also to undergo this tribulation on the westward journey. It is simply to persist in what you are doing now, wait for that tribulation to come, and fight the stone monkey to the death. When the false is taken for the true, the true becomes false."

Sun Qiong pondered.

This roughly means that as long as the monkey can be defeated, even the inner demon can take his place on the journey to the West.

At that time, the one who will attain enlightenment will be Sun Qiong.

This option is truly difficult, as it involves facing the monkey as an adversary while also protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

"Old Zen Master, what's the last one?"

Sun Qiong stared intently at the old Zen master, awaiting his final choice.

Faced with the expectant Sun Qiong, Zen Master Wuchao simply offered a Zen riddle:

"Young friend, what do I look like to you?"

Sun Qiong was taken aback, staring at Zen Master Wuchao for a long while before finally speaking: "Like a Buddha."

The old Zen master smiled, but then suddenly asked, "Look at me again, what do I look like?"

Upon closer inspection, Sun Qiong's expression turned somewhat strange, and she opened her mouth, saying, "He looks like a Taoist priest."

The old Zen master said nothing more, only nodded.

Sun Qiong's heart skipped a beat, as if she had suddenly realized something. After bowing and thanking him, a new question arose:

Why did the old Zen master save me?