I just became the Pirate King, and you're telling me I also time-traveled at the same time.

Chapter 1004 Losing One's True Self

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva murmured a Buddhist chant but did not reply. Manjushri Bodhisattva nodded gently: "Excellent... Wukong, Benefactor Chu, after this matter is settled, you may continue your journey westward. Samantabhadra and I will personally escort Xuanzang out of the mountains."

Sun Wukong sheathed his golden cudgel: "That's great! Brother, let's keep an eye on those three and make sure they don't slack off!"

And so, the palace bustled with activity. The three once-mighty demon kings now fawned over them like servants, moving boxes, carrying treasures, and washing away bloodstains, all the while muttering, "We know our mistake," and "We'll never dare to do it again." Sun Wukong and Chu Yang stood by, offering pointers one after the other.

"Hey, don't hide the beads in that box, pour them all out!"

"Don't be lazy, elephant trunk! Those bones have to be stacked neatly, one by one!"

"Flap your wings faster, Great Roc, spread the smell of blood!"

The lotus thrones of the Bodhisattvas hung outside the hall, their light silently shining down, yet unable to warm the ashen faces of the three demon kings. Tang Sanzang sat on the clean stone steps, his hands clasped together, occasionally glancing up and chanting scriptures, but the resolve he had before was gone.

Night deepened, and the stalactites on Lion Camel Ridge still dripped water, the droplets striking the cleansed ground with a crisp sound. Sun Wukong leaned against a pillar and yawned, "Brother, tired? Want these three to give you a shoulder massage?"

Chu Yang shook his head with a smile: "Let them finish counting the treasures first. Brother Monkey, do you think Manjushri Bodhisattva's golden pill was worth it? What we've knocked down this time is much more than just one pill."

Sun Wukong laughed loudly, "Worth it! Absolutely worth it! Next time there are monsters, I, Old Sun, will be the first to invite the Bodhisattva!"

The Golden-Winged Roc dragged the last box of treasures over and knelt down: "Benefactor Chu...it's all here...may I...may I rest now?"

Chu Yang waved his hand: "Pour Master a cup of tea first. The Bodhisattvas are watching, don't be lazy."

The Golden-Winged Roc hurriedly flew over to serve tea, while the Green-Haired Lion Monster and the Yellow-Toothed Elephant Monster were busy fanning and wiping the ground. A mountain breeze blew by, and the smell of blood faded somewhat, replaced by a faint sandalwood fragrance wafting from the lotus platforms of the Bodhisattvas, mixed with the low panting and pleas for mercy of the three demon kings.

Sun Wukong suddenly grabbed Chu Yang: "Brother, look at the three of them, don't they look just like when I, Old Sun, was imprisoned under the Five Fingers Mountain? Haha, what goes around comes around!"

Chu Yang replied in a low voice, "Brother Monkey, we weren't suppressed this time. The Bodhisattvas personally promised to escort Master out of the mountain, and we've got the treasure too. We'll have the three of them carry Master out of the mountain later, and then we can walk slowly."

Upon hearing this, the three demon kings answered in unison, "Yes...we'll carry you...we can carry you steadily..."

Manjushri Bodhisattva sighed softly and said nothing more. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva turned his head and looked at the dark night sky in the distance. The luminous pearl of Lion Camel Ridge shimmered, reflecting the busy figures inside the hall and the gold and silver jewels scattered on the ground. Sun Wukong and Chu Yang stood side by side at the hall's entrance, occasionally exchanging a smile, their voices low but filled with indescribable joy.

"Brother Monkey, shall we continue our journey westward tomorrow?"

"Let's go! With the Bodhisattvas watching behind us, anyone who dares to cause trouble again, I, Old Sun, will invite them back for another lesson!"

The night wind howled, stirring up the last specks of dust on the ground. The screams and roars of Lion Camel Ridge vanished completely, leaving only the low breathing of the three former demon kings and the occasional chanting of Buddhist hymns from the bodhisattvas. Chu Yang touched the sword at his waist, feeling the surging spiritual energy within him, and the smile on his lips deepened.

They continued giving instructions, word by word, while the three demon kings busied themselves until the sky began to lighten. Sun Wukong stretched and said, "Brothers, it's dawn! Let these three carry Master; we should be on our way!"

Chu Yang nodded: "Let's go. Bodhisattvas, escort us all the way, and don't say you have something to do and need to return to the mountain halfway."

Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva simultaneously joined their palms together and said, "Excellent..."

The three demon kings knelt in a row, carrying Tang Sanzang on their backs, and walked heavily out of the mountain. Sun Wukong and Chu Yang followed behind, their golden cudgels and the sword of slaying karma gleaming coldly in the morning light. The mountain path of Lion Camel Ridge was rugged, the bloodstains had been washed away, and the bones were piled up like towers, leaving only a faint sandalwood scent when the wind blew by.

"Monkey King, wouldn't you call this a resounding victory?"

"Fine! Brother, let's do the same thing again when the next monster comes!"

Chu Yang and Sun Wukong walked side by side on the mountain path, with Tang Sanzang following behind. The three former demon kings had been escorted back to the mountain by Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas. The stench of blood from Lion Camel Ridge had finally dissipated with the mountain breeze, leaving only the faint scent of earth and wildflowers. They didn't use their somersault cloud, deliberately choosing a gentle official road to allow Tang Sanzang a breather. After walking for most of the day, the terrain gradually leveled out, and a town with blue tiles and white walls appeared in the distance, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, mingled with the aroma of stir-fried dishes and the laughter of children.

"Brother Monkey, look at that town, with flags waving everywhere. It's probably a small county town. Let's not travel tonight, let's go in and rest." Chu Yang wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the Sword of Slaying Karma at his waist swayed gently, its scabbard gleaming with seven colors in the sunlight.

Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, twitched his nose: "Hmm, smells of alcohol! Brother, you have a good nose, what's the name of this town again? Anyway, let's find the biggest inn first, I, Old Sun, need a hot meal!"

Riding on the white dragon horse, Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together and murmured "Amitabha": "Wukong, Benefactor Chu, the journey to the West is arduous. How can we linger? There are still many tribulations ahead. We should hurry on our way."

Chu Yang turned back and smiled, but didn't reply, only quickening his pace. The stone tablet at the town entrance bore the three large characters "Qingfeng Town." The two gatekeepers, noticing their unusual attire, didn't question them further, assuming they were just passing pilgrims. Inside the town, the streets were lined with wooden buildings and taverns, vendors hawking steaming buns and candied hawthorns, and several women washing clothes by the well, their laughter echoing. In the town center, a three-story inn stood out, its entrance adorned with a large red lantern reading "Fulai Inn," and a waiter was wiping the threshold.

Sun Wukong strode forward and lightly tapped the ground with his staff: "Innkeeper! Do you have any superior rooms? The three best ones, with hot water, wine, and food!"

The waiter looked up and saw a monkey with a hairy face and a thunderous mouth. He shuddered in fright, but seeing a monk and a young gentleman behind him, he quickly put on a smile and said, "Sirs, we have them! I'll arrange it right away. Rooms number one, two, and three are all top-class rooms, and they all have hot springs! Are you from the west? Things have just calmed down at Lion Camel Ridge, and the whole town is talking about how a deity or bodhisattva stepped in to quell the demonic disturbance."

Chu Yang tossed a silver ingot, which clattered onto the counter: "Stop talking nonsense, boil some water first. We're going to have a good soak before we serve the best wine and dishes. The meat has to be fresh, and the wine has to be aged, don't skimp on anything."

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly nodded and bowed, leading them upstairs. The rooms were indeed spacious, with carved beds and gauze curtains. Outside the windows was the town's busiest street, where lights could be seen gradually coming on. Each room had a separate hot spring bath at the back, built of bluestone, with bamboo baskets of herbs and towels placed beside it. The waiters carried large buckets of hot water and poured them in one by one, and steam instantly filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of mugwort and roses.

Sun Wukong was the first to take off his tiger-skin skirt and jump into the pool with a splash, water spraying everywhere: "Awesome! Brother, come quick! This water is just the right temperature; I haven't soaked like this in five hundred years!"

Chu Yang smiled and unfastened his outer robe, revealing clean black clothes underneath, before slowly stepping into the pool. The water temperature was just right to envelop his entire body, instantly relaxing his tired muscles. He leaned against a rock by the pool and let out a long sigh: "Brother Monkey, this is the life a human should live. That hellhole, Lion Camel Ridge, the stench of blood still lingers in my nose. Master, you should soak in it too. There's so much dust on the road; a soak will make you feel so refreshed."

Tang Sanzang stood by the pool, his face as red as a boiled shrimp, his hands tightly covering his monk's robe: "Benefactor Chu, this is...this is a place for bathing, how...how can you be so naked? I am a monk, how can I bathe with you? Amitabha, forgive me, forgive me."

Sun Wukong splashed around in the water, laughing loudly: "Master, your cassock is almost stinking! The Bodhisattvas just left, what are you pretending to be so dignified for? Quickly take off the bubbles, and I, Old Sun, will conjure up a clean cloth for you to wrap yourself in!"

Chu Yang poked his head out of the pool, water droplets dripping from his hair. He squinted at Tang Sanzang and said, "Master, what's wrong with you? It's just a bath, nothing shameful. On the journey to the West, you've been exposed to wind and sun, your body is so dirty it could breed lice. No matter how diligently you chant scriptures, if your body isn't clean, how can Buddha feel comfortable smelling you? Come on, the water's hot. After you soak, we'll have a good meal, and we can continue our journey tomorrow."

Tang Sanzang hesitated for a long time before Sun Wukong pulled him into the small pond next door, and the waiter quickly added more hot water. Tang Sanzang only took off his outer robe, revealing his inner monk's robe, and sat by the pond, only dipping his feet in, muttering, "Wukong, don't be silly... This humble monk's heart is in Buddhism, and his body cannot be tainted by worldly dust..."

Chu Yang stretched in his pool, the steam blurring his vision. His voice came through the steam: "Master, you say your heart is in Buddhism, but what about your body? Buddhism emphasizes the emptiness of the four elements, but you even think taking a hot bath is a sin? The bodhisattvas' mounts have been eating people in Lion Camel Ridge for hundreds of years, why don't you see them feel sorry for them? Now that we're taking a break, you're already getting anxious."

Tang Sanzang stirred his feet in the water, saying nothing, but his blush deepened. Sun Wukong somersaulted in the water, splashing up a large spray: "Brother, you're right! Back in my Flower Fruit Mountain days, I soaked in waterfalls and washed my monkey hair every day, and no deity ever accused me of lewdness! Master, go ahead and soak; your skin will be so smooth afterwards, even chanting scriptures will be more energetic!"

Half an hour later, the three finished their bath and changed into the clean clothes provided by the innkeeper. Tang Sanzang's monk's robe was spotless, Sun Wukong wore a new tiger-skin skirt, and Chu Yang wore a loose black robe, his sword jingling at his waist. They went down to the lobby on the first floor, where the waiter had already set out a feast: a whole roasted lamb, steamed fish, several jars of aged Shaoxing wine, steaming hot buns, stir-fries, and fruit platters. The aroma filled the air.

Sun Wukong plopped down, grabbed a lamb leg and started gnawing on it: "Delicious! Brother, try this wine! It's sweet with a hint of spice, and it's really good!" He poured three large bowls and gulped them down.

Chu Yang picked up a piece of fish, savored it carefully, and nodded, saying, "Brother Monkey, the food in this town is quite good. Master, you should have some too. Your body can't take eating only vegetarian food on the road. Here, have a drink to warm yourself up."

Tang Sanzang sat at the table, with only a bowl of white rice and a few dishes of vegetables in front of him. He clasped his hands together, his brow furrowed. "Wukong, Benefactor Chu, how can a monk eat meat and drink alcohol? This is licentious indulgence, violating the precepts of Buddhism! We are on our journey to the West to obtain the Mahayana scriptures; how can we indulge in such pleasures along the way? Amitabha, quickly remove the meat and wine!"

Sun Wukong, gnawing on a lamb leg with grease dripping from his mouth, mumbled, "Master, you're here again! The Bodhisattvas just helped us deal with those three beasts, shouldn't we celebrate? What's wrong with having some meat? I, Old Sun, eat big chunks of meat and drink big bowls of wine every day on Flower Fruit Mountain, and Buddha never blames me!"

Chu Yang put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine bowl, and took a sip. The aroma of the wine melted on his tongue. He looked at Tang Sanzang, his voice calm and unhurried: "Master, you say this is lewd pleasure? Then let me ask you, why not? We escaped death from Lion Camel Ridge, our injuries have just healed, and our spiritual power hasn't fully recovered. Taking a bath, having a full meal, and drinking some wine—is that lewd pleasure? Doesn't Buddhism emphasize compassion? How can we go on our journey to the West if we don't even take care of our own bodies? The Bodhisattvas live in magnificent temples on Mount Wutai and Mount Emei, eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures every day, yet their mounts in the mortal realm devour people until their bones pile up like mountains. Why don't you call that lewd pleasure?"

Tang Sanzang opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but was silenced by Chu Yang's words. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said in a trembling voice, "Benefactor Chu, the Buddhist precepts are strict. 'Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart…' But as pilgrims on the journey to the West, we should set an example. How can we… how can we indulge in the desires of the palate?"

Chu Yang smiled, picked up a piece of roasted mutton, and placed it directly into Tang Sanzang's bowl: "Master, please try it. This meat is fresh, roasted to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, not greasy at all. What do you mean by indulging in gluttony? We're not partying day and night, living a life of debauchery; we're just taking a night's rest. Those three demon kings of Lion Camel Ridge eat human flesh and drink human blood every day—that's real debauchery! But what about the Bodhisattvas? Manjushri Bodhisattva gave me the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva gave me two magic treasures. They live on lotus thrones, wear gold and silver, yet you never see them being frugal. Why do you nag us just for taking a bath and eating some meat?"

Tang Sanzang stared at the meat in the bowl, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air, unable to pick it up for a long time. His face flushed red, and he chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Benefactor Chu, you...you are being unreasonable. This humble monk has traveled westward, enduring countless hardships, all for the sake of obtaining the true scriptures. How can I forget my roots for a moment of comfort? Wine and meat are the foremost of the five desires; indulgence in them breeds inner demons..."

Sun Wukong slammed his bowl down, spilling wine all over the table: "Master, you've developed this inner demon far too easily! When my brother was taking a bath, you called it a sin, and now that we're eating meat, you're talking about the five desires! I ask you, back when you were the Imperial Brother in Chang'an, what did you eat? Weren't you eating delicacies from land and sea? How come you've forgotten all those days as soon as you became a monk? The Bodhisattvas' mounts have been eating people for hundreds of years, chanting scriptures happily on the mountain, why don't you go up and question them?"

Tang Sanzang was speechless, his chopsticks finally falling as he gently poked at the vegetables in his bowl: "Wukong...this humble monk...this humble monk is just worried...worried that you will lose your true selves..." (End of Chapter)