Xingtie: My silly online friend is actually a raccoon!

Awooo~ Awooo~

A long, drawn-out wolf howl echoed from the distant mountains, reverberating through the air, one howl after another, growing louder as if a pack of wolves were closing in on this direction.

Tang Sanzang suddenly stopped, gripped his nine-ringed staff tightly, and stood listening intently.

He stood in the middle of the mountain road, surrounded by dark forests. The wind rustled the leaves, making it seem as if pairs of glowing red eyes might appear in the dense woods at any moment.

His lips began to move rapidly as he chanted Buddhist mantras in a low voice, his voice urgent and trembling slightly, as if the Bodhisattva would hear his call and protect him from danger if he kept chanting.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Namo—"

It was as if a Bodhisattva had truly appeared before them.

The howling of wolves gradually faded away and disappeared on the other side of the mountain.

After a while, once he was sure the voice would not return, Tang Sanzang slowly stopped chanting the sutra.

He was panting heavily, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and the back of his monk's robe was soaked with sweat.

He raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face, and unintentionally looked up, his gaze passing over the treetops in front of him, where he saw the outline of the mountain.

It was a very peculiar mountain.

The five mountain peaks stand side by side, like a giant hand with its five fingers slightly curved, as if trying to grasp the sky.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden-red halo over the mountain peaks, making them look both magnificent and somewhat imposing.

Five Elements Mountain.

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Tang Sanzang's heart—a mixture of awe, trepidation, and a hint of anticipation.

He recalled Guanyin Bodhisattva's instructions before his departure: "When you reach the foot of the Five Elements Mountain, there is a demon monkey who has been imprisoned there for over five hundred years. Remove the seal from the mountaintop and rescue him; he will then ensure your safe journey to the West to obtain the scriptures."

He took a deep breath, gripped his staff tightly, and took another step.

His steps were more determined than before, as if the mountain had given him the strength to move forward.

What he didn't notice was that a cicada was perched on a branch of an old locust tree not far above his head.

After he left, the cicada gently fluttered its wings and silently followed him.

Meanwhile, in a county town more than 100 miles away.

The largest teahouse in the city, with private rooms on the second floor.

Outside the window, the bustling streets stretched out, while downstairs, the storyteller's melodious voice recounted the "Sparkling Version of Journey to the West."

Inside the private room, there were three or four dishes of snacks on the table: osmanthus cake, mung bean cake, candied plums, and a dish of salted peanuts.

A pot of fine Longjing tea is steaming, its aroma filling the air.

Lu Ze leaned back in his chair by the window, holding a cup of tea in his hand, his gaze fixed on a semi-transparent light screen floating in front of him.

The screen displayed the entire process of Tang Sanzang's encounter with the wolf pack on the mountain road. The picture was clear and stable, and even the angle at which the bead of sweat on his forehead slid down was clearly visible.

Xing sat opposite him, her mouth stuffed with osmanthus cake, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

She mumbled, "It's delicious! It's a pity Xiaosanyue can't have any."

Lu Ze glanced at her.

She said it was a pity, but there was no trace of regret on her face, only a look of smugness, like a cat that had stolen a whole fish.

Pioneers of trash.

Lu Ze silently commented in his mind, then looked away and returned to the screen.

At this point, Tang Sanzang had already traversed that mountain path, and the outline of the Five Elements Mountain gradually became clear in the distance of the scene.