Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 171 Maitreya Buddha Goes to Invite the Monkey
Seeing the hesitation on Tathagata’s face.
Maitreya hurriedly continued, "Your disciple has had a brief encounter with that monkey, and this message is also passed by your disciple. If your disciple goes to extend the invitation, it will show greater sincerity."
Tathagata nodded, finding some reason in his words.
"Then, Maitreya, you go," Tathagata said.
It was just as well; such thankless tasks had always been assigned to Guanyin, and that was hardly fair.
"I shall diligently follow the Buddha Ancestor’s command," Maitreya said, beaming with joy, his belly protruding.
After leaving Spirit Mountain, Maitreya rode the clouds, wobbling towards the direction of the Heavenly Court.
His chubby face maintained a celebration smile that simply couldn’t close, thinking these fools were passing up a plum assignment.
Another windfall for him. If only they knew how delicious Sun Wukong’s cooking was, they would probably rush over eagerly.
A person who loves to laugh truly does have good luck; he inexplicably got to attend the Flat Peach Banquet and enjoyed so many delicacies!
More importantly, he had even experienced an Awakening of his Divine Skills. The thought alone made Maitreya uncontrollably excited.
Culinary-induced Awakening was something he had never dared to dream of in his cultivation—it was just too formidable!
The dishes were all prepared by Sun Wukong’s hand, and who knows what heaven-defying method he used to grant that final hot pot such miraculous powers.
This time, he would make sure to find out!
With that thought, Maitreya’s white cloud suddenly sped up towards the Heavenly Court. Before long, he arrived at the South Heavenly Gate, announced his arrival, and since Maitreya’s cultivation was profound, not even the Four Heavenly Kings dared to obstruct him, and they let him pass.
Maitreya did not go to meet Haotian; since Tathagata had already made the arrangements, he decided to take direct action.
Target: straight to the Imperial Kitchen!
"What do you think Chef Wukong is doing, standing there without moving an inch?" Inside the Imperial Kitchen, a few female immortal servants gathered, gossiping about Sun Wukong, who stood in the distance with his eyes closed and deeply focused.
"Chef Wukong must be concocting some exquisitely delicious dish!"
A pretty-looking servant showed her admiration, acting as though she understood everything.
"Are Chef Wukong’s dishes really that delicious?" the other servants whispered curiously.
With pride on her face, the servant lauded by others responded, "Of course they are! The flavors Chef Wukong creates can be found in heaven but not on earth!"
Looking around, the servant lowered her head, gestured the others to come closer, and whispered excitedly, "That day during the Flat Peach Banquet, I happened to be serving dishes and couldn’t resist sneaking a taste."
"That flavor was simply divine," she said, her eyes filled with intense yearning.
She had intended to take only one bite, but she got so carried away that if not for a kind soul who awakened her, she would have committed a grave sin!
And even though she was stopped in time, she had unknowingly devoured several pieces—it was just too delicious!
Luckily, it wasn’t obvious that a whole plate had been eaten, and she didn’t get caught.
"That’s a serious offense; how could you dare to do that!" the other servants exclaimed in unison, then quickly realized what they were saying and clamped their hands over their mouths.
The boasting servant was frightened to the core by their collective exclamation, her face turning ashen.
All of them instinctively looked in Sun Wukong’s direction, only to find that Sun Wukong was also looking at them with keen interest.
It’s over!
The pretty servant’s face instantly turned pale, and she slumped in despair.
Unauthorized tampering with the banquet preparations was a capital offense; she could even face reincarnation as an animal and be unable to turn her fate around!
Yet, she heard no harsh judgment from Sun Wukong.
After sizing up the timid maids, Sun Wukong grinned and said, "If you like the dishes I make, there’s no need to sneak around. Just say the word, and I’ll happily make an extra portion for you. It’s no trouble at all."
Having his culinary skills appreciated was the best reward for Sun Wukong.
Although he had become a disciple of his master, he was well aware that no matter how hard he practiced cooking, he could never have his master’s most magical skill that could endow dishes with the power of awakening divine skills.
But what of it? Even without the power to awaken divine skills, he at least wanted to perfect the flavor of his dishes and strive towards his master’s realm!
Now, he had completely fallen in love with gourmet food, liking not only to taste it himself but even more so the satisfied expressions of others when they ate what he had prepared.
"Is that true?" The maids became excited all at once.
The delicate-looking maid felt an overwhelming sense of relief and was full of gratitude.
"Of course," Sun Wukong said with a beaming smile.
"Thank you, Chef Wukong!!!" The maids were overjoyed, finally having the chance to enjoy the dishes made by Chef Wukong!
"What are you all gathered here for? Shouldn’t you be working?" The Kitchen God came out from the inner room, scolded the gathering maids.
The maids, pouting, dispersed reluctantly.
The Kitchen God quickly walked over to Sun Wukong and chuckled, "Great Immortal, today’s dishes are ready."
"Good," Sun Wukong nodded in response, ready to head back inside to cook, when the door was suddenly flung open. However, there was no light coming through.
The monkey and the god peered closely, only to see an enormous figure blocking the door, fitting it as tightly as a seal.
On closer inspection of the newcomer’s face—it was round and jolly with a smile—the Kitchen God gasped in surprise. Wasn’t this Maitreya Buddha? What brought him here so suddenly?
"Why are you here?" Sun Wukong also recognized the newcomer, expressing his astonishment.
Wasn’t he from Spirit Mountain? What brought him to the Heavenly Court?
Maitreya straightened up, squeezing himself through the door, and brushed off the dust that had rubbed onto his clothes.
"Greetings to the Buddha Ancestor," the Kitchen God said with great respect.
Maitreya nodded but didn’t pay much heed and said to Sun Wukong with a jovial laugh, "I was craving your culinary skills, so I came especially to ask for something to eat."
He showed not the slightest embarrassment in asking for a vegetarian meal, a trick well known within Buddhism.
"Alright, I shall cook for you," Sun Wukong agreed readily.
"Fantastic! It’s been so long since I had something this delicious!" At the dining table of the Imperial Kitchen, Maitreya ate voraciously, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Sun Wukong was somewhat speechless. "What do you mean it’s been so long? It’s only been a few days since the Flat Peach Banquet, right?"
"You don’t understand!" Maitreya shook his head and declared confidently, "A day without such delicacies feels like an eternity!"
Though the Flat Peach Banquet had been just a couple of days ago, his return to Spirit Mountain had been torturous!
With the dishes Sun Wukong had made as a reference, the vegetarian meals made by the others at Spirit Mountain were barely palatable, he wondered how he had survived.
Now he eagerly awaited the arrival of the Dharma feast within Buddhism.
He hadn’t expected a surprise like this today, with Buddhism sending him to find this monkey.
A gleam of cunning flashed in Maitreya’s eyes.
Since that was the case, he would eat his fill before returning.
No, just eating his fill would not do; he needed to take some with him!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t last until the Dharma feast arrived; he’d be starved to death.
After another big bite of braised pork, savoring the lingering taste, he showed a look of contentment on his face. Still, meat was delicious!
Caught up in the moment, Maitreya remembered the task Buddhism had entrusted to him, which was also his own wish. After pondering a moment, he said, "Wukong, do you remember what I told you last time?"
