Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 392 - Sun Wukong feigns unconsciousness, Tathagata wants someone
"Ask away, my old Sun has allowed you to ask," Sun Wukong laughed. "And everyone present, if you have any questions, don’t be stingy with your curiosity. Don’t go back later and complain that my old Sun did something wrong or was lacking."
"No, no, there’s nothing to ask," the Immortal Official waved his hand dismissively.
"Ask!" Sun Wukong roared angrily.
Trembling, the Immortal Official looked at his companions. They all gazed back with sympathy, but not a single one stood up for him. Gritting his teeth, he finally asked, "Wukong, Chef Wukong, why does this dish have such a name?"
The question hit the nail on the head, as everyone was most curious about the name of the dish.
"You actually dared to ask," Sun Wukong chuckled again.
Wasn’t it you who asked me to ask? The Immortal Official complained inwardly but shrunk back a bit in person, "If you don’t want to say, it’s okay, I was just asking casually."
Sun Wukong looked at everyone and slowly spoke, "Since I let you ask, of course, I’ll answer you. I’m just a cook, why do you make it out as if I’m some kind of fierce and malevolent spirit."
"Haha, Chef Wukong really knows how to joke," the Immortal Official laughed dryly.
"This Buddha Jumps Over the Wall," Sun Wukong began, "is something my master spent a long time perfecting. You all know that, right? My master always wanted to create a dish that was earth-shatteringly good, one that would leave a lasting impression on you all."
"Actually, Shopkeeper Chen doesn’t even need to make this dish to prove his stunning culinary skills," another Immortal Official picked up the thread.
"My old Sun knows that," Sun Wukong said, visibly pleased that someone was praising his master, and his attitude toward that Immortal Official improved slightly.
"My master’s skills are renowned, but as the saying goes, learning is endless, and my master is always striving for improvement, naturally unwilling to stagnate."
"You speak the truth. Although I have not met Shopkeeper Chen, from what Chef Wukong says, I can tell that Shopkeeper Chen must be an incredible character," the Immortal Official quickly flattered, sensing that he had struck the right note with Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong smirked and shot him a look, "Alright, enough with the flattery, let my old Sun finish talking."
"This isn’t flattery; it’s the truth I’m speaking."
"After my master completed this dish, he told me the name of it, which is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. You all don’t know how spectacular this dish is just by hearing its name, but after I tasted it, I immediately understood why it’s called that. Not only me but even the Buddha would jump over the wall to have a taste," Sun Wukong explained.
If it were anyone but Sun Wukong speaking, some might think he was boasting. But all the Immortal Officials present had tasted Chef Wukong’s cooking.
They knew Sun Wukong was not bragging. The dish was so delicious that it indeed deserved such a name.
"So that’s how it is," they reacted with a dawning realization.
"So this dish wasn’t named for those rule-breaking monks but was rather an exaggerated metaphor. But who would’ve thought that such a name could actually lure these Buddhist monks," the officials pondered.
"What, you think by sounding remorseful you can let this matter go? I don’t care how your master cooks, but if it wasn’t for your little tricks..." the Buddhist disciple said through gritted teeth, "If it wasn’t for the tricks you played, we would not have been deceived. You monkey, take your life!"
The Buddhist disciple, fueled by an unknown strength, broke free from the Immortal Official’s restraint, pulled out Buddha Beads, and lunged straight for Sun Wukong’s face.
This sudden attack took everyone by surprise, and even Sun Wukong hadn’t expected the Buddhist disciple to have such strength to break free from the Immortal Official’s spell.
The Buddha Beads transformed into a beam of light, enveloping Sun Wukong completely.
The Immortal Officials were still in shock, merely focused on seizing the Buddhist disciple and forgetting to block the power of the Buddha Beads; thus, Sun Wukong was hit by the spell.
In the ensuing chaos, not a single Immortal Official noticed Sun Wukong’s condition until they came to their senses, by which time Sun Wukong had already fainted.
Seeing Sun Wukong faint, the Buddhist disciple gradually stopped struggling until he was controlled by the Immortal Officials.
This incident directly alarmed the Jade Emperor and the Buddha Ancestor.
Over there, conversations had already begun, and the Buddha Ancestor deduced the origins and developments of this event with just one divination.
However, he did not wish to hold Sun Wukong accountable for the incident; instead, he wanted to take this opportunity to bring Sun Wukong away with him.
"That won’t do, Buddha Ancestor," said the Jade Emperor, "this matter has not yet been clarified, and Sun Wukong is after all from our side of the Heavenly Court. It wouldn’t be right for you to just take him away."
Seeing Tathagata insist on taking Sun Wukong without explanation, the Jade Emperor immediately intervened.
If it had been any other Immortal Official involved in this incident, it might have been let slide, but it was none other than Sun Wukong.
If Sun Wukong were to be taken away on the spot, how could he later explain to Chen Nuo? After all, it was he who had personally requested Sun Wukong to come to the Imperial Kitchen. Even if Sun Wukong had indeed made a mistake, he could not simply be disposed of casually.
"The matter has indeed not been clarified," said the Tathagata, "which is why I came to take Sun Wukong back with me, to question him when he wakes up."
"That’s not suitable," countered the Jade Emperor, "Sun Wukong may outwardly belong to our Heavenly Court, but he is a disciple of Chaos Residence. If you take him away now, what would we say if his teacher comes asking for him later?"
"His teacher?" The very thought of this made the Tathagata somewhat angry, wondering whence this inconvenient teacher had appeared, thwarting all his plans. Now he was expected to consider the teacher’s feelings too? That was simply out of the question.
"Yes, his teacher," the Jade Emperor knew of Tathagata’s grievances against Chen Nuo.
If it had been an ordinary day, he wouldn’t have obstructed Tathagata for this reason, but unfortunately, it wasn’t an ordinary day; he had been deeply impressed by Chen Nuo’s cooking skills.
"That’s perfect then, you call his teacher here to claim him," the Tathagata waved his hand, ready to take Sun Wukong away.
The Jade Emperor also immediately resisted with a spell.
"Haotian, are you opposing me?" Tathagata looked at the Jade Emperor.
Though they both belonged to the Immortal Realm, they were not in the same department; they could not be considered equals. Typically, the Jade Emperor treated him with great respect, and he had not expected to be repeatedly defied over a Sun Wukong.
"It is not that I wish to oppose you," the Jade Emperor signaled Taibai with his eyes and took Sun Wukong away.
As soon as Sun Wukong had left, the Jade Emperor breathed a sigh of relief.
"The fact is that Sun Wukong is not under my jurisdiction. He should return the same way he came to the Heavenly Court. If you have any grievances, settle them with his teacher later on."
"You make it sound so easy. He made eight of our Buddhist disciples break their precepts. You tell me to settle accounts later, which is clearly to shield him," said the Tathagata.
At this point, Tathagata could not persist further, but now that he couldn’t take Sun Wukong with him, it would likely be even harder in the future. It seemed his plan for the Journey to the West would have to change.
The Jade Emperor held his ground firmly, always fending off with the reason of settling accounts with Chen Nuo later on.
Tathagata, understanding the Jade Emperor’s stance, said no more and with a wave of his hand dispersed his avatar and left the Heavenly Court.
