Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 673 - 672: Start Following Tang Monk
"Oh, no trouble," said Chen Nuo, waving his hand. "I’ve come all this way; wouldn’t it be unreasonable just to leave like this?"
"Besides, escorting the master isn’t something I volunteered for; it was His Majesty who sent me. If I were to leave now, wouldn’t that seem a bit unjustifiable? What if I received punishment from above? I really couldn’t bear that."
"The Great General is overstating it," said Six-Eared Macaque. "The reason you were asked to escort is that my master’s journey to the northwest on his own is arduous. Now that he has me as his disciple, naturally, I will take good care of him. His Majesty must be worried about my master running into trouble on the road, which is why you were asked to escort. But now that I’m here, I will make sure that no misfortune befalls my master." With this, Six-Eared Macaque refused to let Chen Nuo follow them.
Chen Nuo appeared troubled. "This is quite difficult."
"There is nothing difficult about it. Besides, military affairs are urgent. If our travel were to impede military matters, then my master would be truly troubled," said the Six-Eared Macaque, glancing toward Tang Xuanzang.
Originally, Tang Xuanzang thought that since the Great General had arrived, it would be fine to let him accompany them. But now, considering what his disciple had said, he found reason in his words.
"Indeed, Great General," agreed Tang Xuanzang, "Wukong’s points are valid. If our presence were to affect military affairs, then this poor monk would indeed be at fault."
"The military affairs were well taken care of before I left," said Chen Nuo. "Although I am here to complete His Majesty’s decree, I certainly wouldn’t neglect my thousands of soldiers. However, since both of you insist so, then I won’t insist on escorting you either."
Seeing Chen Nuo relent, Six-Eared Macaque relaxed and bowed to Chen Nuo, "Then we have truly troubled you, General, for making you come all this way for nothing; it is our fault."
It had to be said that Six-Eared Macaque was indeed polite. It was no wonder Tang Xuanzang was praised as a kind-hearted disciple.
If it were his own disciple, Sun Wukong, even without needing to be so utterly courteous, just managing not to quarrel with strangers would already be an achievement.
However, everyone has their own character, and Chen Nuo understood; what Six-Eared Macaque was displaying now was merely a facade, just as he himself was doing.
"Nevertheless, since our paths are the same, I will accompany the master to the northwest. Once we reach there, we can part ways," Chen Nuo said.
Six-Eared Macaque paused, his words just now meant to send the Great General on his way. It seemed that what he had said was clear enough, yet the General still hadn’t grasped his meaning.
"Great General, there’s no need," said Six-Eared Macaque hastily. "You have matters to attend to in the military; there’s no need to follow us. Our journey is just on foot, and it’s a slow one; we probably won’t reach the northwest for another four months."
"Is that so." Chen Nuo smiled benignly, "Well, that’s no issue. Actually, there aren’t that many things to handle in the military camp. You’ll see when you get to the northwest. Accompanying you to the northwest is also fulfilling His Majesty’s command, isn’t it? Just leaving like this would really trouble my conscience."
"But..." Six-Eared Macaque was still trying to refuse.
"Wukong, don’t keep putting the Great General in a difficult position," Tang Xuanzang spoke up. "What the Great General says is true; since we are all traveling the same way, we might as well walk together for a while, and we can discuss it further once we reach the northwest."
"Master," sighed Six-Eared Macaque, wanting to persuade Tang Xuanzang.
The fact that the Great General had come from afar was already weighing heavily on his conscience, and the thought of sending him back the same way made Tang Xuanzang feel even more guilty. Considering it was just a part of the journey, it seemed reasonable to let him accompany them and thus fulfill the task His Majesty had entrusted to the Great General.
"Alright, Wukong, that’s settled. I’ve eaten already, so let’s set out right away," Tang Xuanzang said.
The Six-Eared Macaque glared at Chen Nuo with anger; this Great General really had no sense of propriety. Despite repeated rejections, he insisted on following.
It was unclear whether he genuinely wanted to complete the mission or was simply curious and wanted to come along. In any case, he would find some excuse to ditch him along the way.
Chen Nuo rode his horse leisurely behind Tang Xuanzang’s white horse, smiling faintly as he looked ahead, as if he knew nothing. However, he had overheard everything the Six-Eared Macaque had been thinking just now.
The Six-Eared Macaque has a façade of gentleness and amiability, but underneath, his savagery is not completely concealed. It seems that even after his visit to Patriarch Bodhi for a layer of gold plating, it can’t hide the fact that he was originally a wild beast.
Chen Nuo wasn’t insistent on following Tang Xuanzang; it seemed nothing would happen on this journey. The only turning point was at Serpent Coiling Mountain and Eagle Sorrow Stream, where Little White Dragon swallows Tang Monk’s white horse and then is reminded by Guanyin to transform into the White Dragon Horse.
Following Tang Xuanzang was fine, but since the Six-Eared Macaque had already planned to shake him off, he might as well let him succeed and take this opportunity to meet the Little White Dragon.
Chen Nuo pretended to be oblivious, riding ahead on his horse, waiting for the Six-Eared Macaque to make a move.
However, the Six-Eared Macaque was cautious, knowing that it was just the beginning of their journey. If he acted now, it might alert Tang Xuanzang.
He didn’t strike at Chen Nuo right away, but was biding his time, waiting for the right moment to act.
When evening came, Chen Nuo intended to find a small town and stay in an inn, but Tang Xuanzang rejected the idea.
"As a monk seeking scriptures in Western Heaven, I will surely pass through many places, and not every place has an inn. If I were to stay in an inn each time, I truly couldn’t afford it," he said.
"Master, since I said I’d come to escort you, then the money should come from me. You don’t have to be polite with me. Later on, if you feel like sleeping under the open sky, that’s fine too," Chen Nuo said, staying in character as Tian Peng.
Tang Xuanzang gently shook his head, declining Chen Nuo’s proposal, "Great General, there’s no need to go to such expense. When traveling, it’s better to be frugal. Unless necessary, we shouldn’t spend money carelessly."
"Indeed, Great General," the Six-Eared Macaque seized the opportunity to speak up, "my master is such a person. Moreover, there are many people who can’t even afford a meal, how could they spend money on an inn? My master’s heart is with the world; he is committed to great justice. But if the Great General is not used to staying in a commoner’s firewood shed, you might as well go to an inn by yourself."
However, the more the Six-Eared Macaque said this, the less Chen Nuo could leave them there while he himself stayed in an inn. If he really did that, what reason would he have to continue with them the next day?
Claiming to be their escort and then leaving the master he was supposed to protect in a peasant’s firewood shed while he slept comfortably in an inn didn’t seem right at all. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Chen Nuo waved his hand dismissively, "Well, I was just suggesting. If the master isn’t picky about his lodgings, why would I be?"
"As a person of high status, you shouldn’t have to endure discomfort," the Six-Eared Macaque said sarcastically.
Chen Nuo waved his hand, "What high status? Although I’m a Great General, I’m also a Military General, a common man. If the master can endure hardship and I can’t, what would that make me? Rest assured, if the master decides to stay in a firewood shed, then I’ll stay with him. Even if the master wishes to sleep in his clothes right now, I’m willing to join him," he said.
