Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 467: Jiang Liuer

"Yes, yes, yes!" the little monk nodded eagerly in agreement, "I originally thought it would be a silver or two for a liang of oil, but I didn’t expect the oil to be so cheap. I’ll take more, and when I return, I can improve the lives of my fellow disciples."

"Alright, just wait a moment; I will get it for you right now," He Xi said as he was about to find a container for the little monk.

"Wait a moment," Chen Nuo stopped He Xi.

"What’s the matter, Chen?" He Xi halted in his tracks.

The little monk was puzzled; he wondered if the shopkeeper was preparing to go back on his word.

"Can you carry all that oil?" Chen Nuo looked at the small frame of the little monk, which was clearly not used to lifting heavy things.

He had come from far away, and surely he wouldn’t buy just a few liangs; with such a large quantity, he definitely wouldn’t be able to carry it all.

In his excitement at the price, the little monk had only thought about buying quickly, without considering how he would transport it.

Now, hearing Chen Nuo’s question, he was brought to an abrupt stop; he indeed hadn’t thought about how he would move the oil.

"How about this? Since it’s so late, you won’t be setting off right away. My sister has packed some food for you, so go back and have a full meal with your fellow disciples. Then, after they have rested tomorrow, come back to get the oil, okay?"

After giving it some thought, the little monk realized that what this donor was saying made a lot of sense. He bowed to Chen Nuo with his hands joined in gratitude, "Thank you, donor. I hadn’t thought about these things. You have considered everything so thoroughly. I will go back and tell my fellow disciples right away."

After saying these words, the little monk walked away happily with the flatbread, and He Xi closed the door. "Chen, you think of everything. I hadn’t considered any of that. You truly are formidable."

"You still have a lot to learn in the future," Chen Nuo said with a smile.

After closing the room door, He Xi sat at the table looking at Chen Nuo. "Chen, are you leaving?"

"I won’t leave today," Chen Nuo said.

He Xi, about to cry from sadness, heard Chen Nuo say he wasn’t leaving. Her eyes, already brimming with tears, were filled with astonishment. "Why aren’t you leaving all of a sudden?"

Even from the moment he had encountered the little monk, Chen Nuo had noticed something extraordinary about him.

The little monk radiated a powerful energy. However, it seemed as if this energy was locked up, and it was uncertain when it would be unleashed.

When the little monk mentioned he was from Gold Mountain Monastery, Chen Nuo was even more surprised. Putting everything together from the original story, it clicked: yes, it was him, no doubt about it. This little monk was the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi; he hadn’t expected Buddhism’s Journey to the West plan to have already started.

"I’ve realized I haven’t finished all my business here, and besides, it’s already so late. Wouldn’t you be scared to sleep alone?" Chen Nuo used a different excuse to divert He Xi’s question.

He Xi, oblivious to anything amiss in Chen Nuo’s words, was just happy he would stay another night. She smiled at Chen Nuo. "Actually, I’m not afraid. I’ve been sleeping alone since I was little."

"That’s true," Chen Nuo smiled. "Then I might as well leave now."

Chen Nuo pretended to leave. He Xi hurriedly stopped him, "Wait, Chen, I am scared, truly scared. How about you stay another day?"

"Alright then, I’ll stay one more night," Chen Nuo decided and sat inside the shop.

"In that case, Chen, I’ll go upstairs to sleep," He Xi said, delighted to learn that Chen Nuo would stay.

He had assumed that Chen Nuo would leave today and had wondered if he would be able to sleep tonight. But to his relief, Chen Nuo decided to stay.

"Go ahead," Chen Nuo had other matters to attend to that night, and it would be convenient if He Xi was asleep. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Chen Nuo waited until He Xi was asleep, then stood up, left the shop, and activated swift and invisible travel.

Even in a brightly lit place, hardly anyone would be able to notice him.

The little monk’s whereabouts were easy to track; as soon as he left the door, Chen Nuo found where the little monk and his elder monk were.

In a family’s firewood room, the little monk scooped water for his elder monk, "Elder brother, drink some more water, do you feel any better?"

The elder monk took the ladle offered by the little monk, guzzled a few mouthfuls, then wiped his mouth and lay back down in the straw.

"I am fine now, Jiang Liuer, you should rest a bit more," he said.

Jiang Liuer placed the ladle down carefully and lay down next to his elder monk, "Elder brother, do you think this oil is really that good?"

"I don’t know either," the elder monk replied, "It’s a task given to us by the abbot. Besides, you saw the monk who visited us last time, all of them looked rosy and healthy. They’re monks just like us; they certainly don’t eat meat, right?"

"That’s true," Jiang Liuer closed his eyes, "And the owner of the oil shop seemed so kind, giving us pancakes to eat. Those delicious pancakes, even if we had to buy them, would cost several copper coins each, yet the oil only costs one copper coin per two silver. It’s really cheap."

"Indeed," the elder monk said, "At first, I was thinking about how much oil we could buy with the money we brought, but it turned out to be more than enough. When we go back, let the other brothers try this oil; if it’s good, next time we’ll bring more brothers to buy more."

"It’s a pity," the elder monk remarked.

Perplexed, Jiang Liuer inquired, "What’s wrong, elder brother? What’s the pity?"

"I mean, there’s not much distance between Luoyang and Mount Taihang. It is said that the owner of the Oil Shop isn’t from around here and came from afar. Why can’t he reach our place? If he could, we wouldn’t have to travel all this distance," the elder monk said with a sigh.

Jiang Liuer glanced at the elder monk, "Elder brother, what are you talking about? Everything has its cause and effect. The shop owner’s presence here is also due to the karmic affinity of this place. Merely complaining won’t help. And since the oil is a good thing, if everyone comes here to buy oil, then sooner or later the Oil Shop will open near us. It’s just a matter of time."

"You’re not wrong," the elder monk admitted, "Look at me, I’m almost twice your age, yet my thinking isn’t as clear as yours. The master said you could accomplish great things. Many were skeptical, but the longer I spend with you, the clearer I see that the master was right."

Jiang Liuer, feeling a bit embarrassed by the praise, turned his head away, "Elder brother, you’re exaggerating. The master only mentioned I pay attention during lessons, which is why I can accomplish great things. I’ve never heard him say I could be someone of significance. Talking like this... you’re just teasing me."

"I didn’t expect you to be shy," the elder monk placed his arm behind his head, "Alright, sleep now. Once we get the oil tomorrow, we’ll head back."

Both monks fell silent, and the moonlight shone through the window, illuminating their faces. The face of the little monk was a picture of tranquility.

Chen Nuo looked intently at Jiang Liuer and realized he had not noticed the doings of Buddhism while he had been among mortals. It seemed that Buddhism’s plan had already begun.

He turned and returned to Chaos Residence, where it was still daytime.