Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 671 - 670: Chen Nuo Impersonates Tian Peng
"So what do you propose we do?" Sun Wukong was so angry that he stopped caring about everything.
"Wait a sec, Mr. Monkey," Tian Peng said, giving Sun Wukong a gentle push, signaling weakness, "Our main issue now is dealing with Buddhism, so it’s certain that we need to think of an extraordinary method, one in a million. Otherwise, let’s discuss it some more."
Sun Wukong snorted and did not respond to Tian Peng.
Patiently, Tian Peng continued to speak to Sun Wukong, "Mr. Monkey, don’t be mad, I really can’t come up with anything without your help. My brain just can’t think of any good methods. Please, Mr. Monkey, I am asking you."
Sun Wukong’s expression slowly softened, and he coughed, "Cough, just as I was saying, without me to come up with ideas for you, you’re lost. So what should we do now?"
Chen Nuo had paid no attention to the brief interlude between the two brothers, although the plot had already gone awry, the overall sequence would still need to be followed. After Tang Xuanzang left Chang’an, he was supposed to look for his first disciple.
Chen Nuo glanced at Sun Wukong, wondering who the first disciple would be, now that he had already taken Sun Wukong into his fold.
"What else can we do? We would have to find someone at random to take on your appearance, and their mana would have to be powerful enough that even those bald monks couldn’t tell the difference. Where are we going to find someone that formidable?" Sun Wukong and Tian Peng had already discussed it another round.
As soon as the topic of finding someone at random came up, something suddenly occurred to Chen Nuo.
There was indeed someone who was exactly like Sun Wukong, with the same name, the same appearance, and even followed in Sun Wukong’s footsteps, becoming his disciple under Patriarch Bodhi and also becoming Sun Wukong.
The Six-Eared Macaque!
Chen Nuo had actually forgotten about him. If that was the case, then the first disciple Tang Xuanzang took must have been the Six-Eared Macaque. Chen Nuo wondered if Tang Xuanzang had indeed taken the Six-Eared Macaque as a disciple or not.
The place where Tian Peng was located was near Flowing Sand River; could it be that in just a few years, Tang Xuanzang had already come out from there and then went looking for a third disciple? That seemed outrageously fast.
It was unlikely. Chen Nuo dismissed his previous thought, considering it would not line up; Tang Xuanzang must have just began taking on disciples and would at most have only one. His coming here must be because Buddhism hadn’t located Tian Peng’s whereabouts, thus guiding him to come to Flowing Sand River first.
If that was the case, they couldn’t let Tian Peng meet with Buddhism.
Whether or not they could recognize him was beside the point; Tian Peng now had cultivation, imperceptible to mortals, but Buddhism would definitely recognize him at a glance.
If Tian Peng really were to protect Tang Xuanzang, Buddhism would surely have suspicions about his identity.
"About how long before Tang Xuanzang will reach your place?" Chen Nuo asked.
"When I received the letter, it said he had already set off. Since Tang Xuanzang can’t ride horses and has been walking the whole way, it’s over a month slower than the courier stations," Tian Peng estimated, "I reckon about three months. Three months in our Chaos Residence is no more than the time it takes to eat a meal."
"Hmm, you better not go. Buddhism will definitely suspect your identity upon seeing you," Chen Nuo said.
"Ah?" Tian Peng was taken aback, "If I don’t go, how can I explain myself, Shopkeeper? Such a dereliction is a grave sin in the mortal realm, akin to contempt for imperial authority—it’s punishable by beheading."
"You don’t need to go; I’ll go," Chen Nuo said.
"Ah?" Both Tian Peng and Sun Wukong were stunned.
For a moment, neither of them understood what Chen Nuo meant by his words.
"No, not you, shopkeeper, how will you manage to go?" Chen Nuo’s words were straightforward, and Tian Peng simply could not grasp the meaning of what Chen Nuo was saying.
So, what this meant was, Chen Nuo was planning to clash head-on with Buddhism. Thinking of this, Tian Peng hurriedly advised, "That won’t do, shopkeeper, you can’t do this. Although you are powerful, Buddhism has many more followers than us. The disciples are useless, and with only you being formidable, you absolutely must not clash head-on with Buddhism!"
Chen Nuo looked at Tian Peng as if he were an idiot, "Who told you I’m going to clash head-on with Buddhism?"
The hand Tian Peng extended toward Chen Nuo’s shoulder froze in place, and his crying stopped abruptly, "You’re not going to clash head-on with Buddhism?"
"Why would I clash head-on?" Chen Nuo slapped Tian Peng’s hand away, "Although I have never fought with anyone, it doesn’t mean I’m brainless. Only a fool would do something so thankless, and of course, only a fool would come up with such a possibility."
Fool Number One Sun Wukong and Fool Number Two Tian Peng exchanged glances, both coughed lightly and showed embarrassed expressions.
"Then, Master, how do you plan to help Tian Peng cross over?" Sun Wukong asked.
"Tian Peng will stay at Chaos Residence for the time being while I escort Tang Xuanzang instead," Chen Nuo replied.
Only then did Sun Wukong understand what Chen Nuo meant earlier, "Master, you’re going to disguise yourself as Tian Peng to escort Tang Xuanzang?"
Tian Peng’s abilities were not high, and his personality was not the careful and meticulous type, so he was indeed prone to making mistakes. But Chen Nuo was different; his abilities were great, and Buddhism definitely would not be able to discern his cultivation level. If he disguised himself as Tian Peng to escort Tang Xuanzang, there would surely be no errors.
"Exactly," Chen Nuo nodded in confirmation, "I’ll descend to the mortal realm and replace you shortly. You stay with Wukong at Chaos Residence for now. I’ll come back once I’ve taken care of things, and you don’t have to worry about that."
Worry was indeed unnecessary. Chen Nuo was perhaps the most reliable person there was. If one needed to worry while with him, then there really would be nothing left in the world that didn’t warrant worrying.
Tian Peng said to Chen Nuo with a grateful face, "Shopkeeper, thank you. With you here, any issue can be resolved with ease."
"There’s no need for formalities," Chen Nuo waved away Tian Peng’s attempt to grab the hem of his clothes, "But there are still three guests in the shop, go and attend to them, I’ll be leaving momentarily."
"There are more guests?" Tian Peng turned towards the hall, now that he thought about it, he hadn’t yet seen Sha Wujing.
"Yes, there are guests. I’m leaving now. Just let them know later, either you or Wukong tell them that I have something urgent and can’t entertain them. Let them eat and leave afterwards," Chen Nuo said as he got up, ready to leave.
"Oh, alright," Tian Peng nodded in agreement, and then asked, "Who’s in the hall?"
Chen Nuo didn’t respond; he had already gotten up to leave.
Tian Peng scratched his head, then turned to Sun Wukong, "Who’s inside? Why didn’t the shopkeeper say? And where is Sha Wujing, did he go to entertain the guests?"
"It’s Nuwa, Xuan Feng, and Third Holy Mother," Sun Wukong shrugged and replied, "I have to cook now, so you and Sha Wujing can deal with entertaining the guests."
"Oh," Tian Peng nodded again, then suddenly realized what was said and shot up, "What?!"
Sun Wukong nodded solemnly, then patted Tian Peng on the shoulder as if entrusting him with an important task, "I’ll leave it in your hands. I’m off to work now, and don’t call for me if there are any issues. You’ll have to solve it on your own."
"That won’t do, Mr. Monkey, I can’t deal with any of those three by myself," Tian Peng wailed, but Sun Wukong had already gotten up to cook, leaving Tian Peng ignored at the empty table.
Chen Nuo, disguised as Tian Peng, arrived in the mortal realm. He had already absorbed a small portion of Tian Peng’s memories and knew what he should be doing now; he understood what his usual duties were in the military camp, ensuring he wouldn’t blow his cover.
