Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 707 - 706: Harbouring Evil Intentions, Frightening the Monk
Xuanzang found it somewhat strange, but he didn’t say anything and followed the monk.
The monk led them to a side room, which was clearly demarcated for important guests based on its exceptionally fine furnishings.
Xuanzang felt that staying in such a room was not appropriate for someone just seeking lodging and was about to decline, but Six-Eared Macaque thanked the monk before he could.
"Then we thank you, Master. The places where my master usually stays are even more luxurious than this. However, we can’t be choosy when traveling. Thank you, young master," said Six-Eared Macaque.
After the monk had left, Xuanzang, looking at Six-Eared Macaque, asked, "Wukong, why did you speak to the young monk like that? I’m not particular about where I stay. Any room would do; it didn’t have to be this one."
With a smile, Six-Eared Macaque explained to Xuanzang, "Master, haven’t you noticed that before we took out the kasaya, the monks here hardly paid us any respect? It was only after we showed the kasaya that they treated us a bit better. They were originally going to have us stay in the firewood shed!"
"I don’t think staying in such a room is that great, nor do I think staying in a firewood shed is that bad. We’re just seeking a place to stay for the night, so why should it have to be a fine room?" Xuanzang said. "The journey to the Western Heaven for scriptures is inherently difficult. If I can’t endure even the slightest hardship, why should I bother going to the Western Heaven at all?"
After hearing Xuanzang’s words, Six-Eared Macaque was silent for a long while. Then he spoke, "Master, your disciple only disliked how they treated you with such an attitude."
"Wukong, that’s their concern. We can’t demand how others treat us. The attitude they show toward us merely reflects our current state and status. If we return from the Western Heaven with the scriptures and have made achievements, then this would not be an issue at all," Xuanzang said.
Six-Eared Macaque nodded, "Master, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have boasted."
"As long as you realize," Xuanzang was not inclined to dwell on such minor issues. Seeing that he truly understood his error, he nodded with satisfaction, "Remember to take the kasaya back tomorrow before we set off, so we won’t stay in this place any longer."
Six-Eared Macaque was also not very fond of the environment there and quickly agreed, "Alright, Master, your disciple understands."
That night, Xuanzang and Six-Eared Macaque stayed in the side room. It was very spacious and furnished with all kinds of amenities, but Xuanzang paid them no mind—he just needed a bed.
During the night, Xuanzang tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He felt uneasy, though he couldn’t pinpoint the source of this disquiet.
"Master, what’s wrong?" Six-Eared Macaque noticed Xuanzang’s unease and got up from his bed to ask.
"Wukong, for some reason, I can’t find peace tossing and turning. I feel unsettled. Perhaps, you should inform Jinchi Elder later and take back the brocade kasaya."
Six-Eared Macaque thought it was something serious that made Xuanzang restless, but it turned out to be because of this.
With resignation, he said, "Master, you’re being a bit stingy, aren’t you? It was that old monk who was rude to us first. I just wanted to show them the brocade kasaya to open their eyes. I have the ability of Tongtian; do you really fear that the monk will take the kasaya and not return it to me?"
"It’s not that I’m stingy; it’s just that such an item is a treasure given to me by Bodhisattva Guanyin. Having it in someone else’s possession naturally makes me feel uneasy. So it’s better to take the kasaya back. That way we can also feel at ease," Xuanzang said. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Six-Eared Macaque found Xuanzang’s cautious nature somewhat troublesome. In his heart, he thought, it’s just a kasaya. But since Xuanzang had explained it so clearly, he couldn’t very well refuse to fetch it.
Seeing his disciple agree, Xuanzang felt somewhat relieved, then waited for him to retrieve the kasaya before he could fully relax.
Six-Eared Macaque got up, left the room, and headed for Jinchi Elder’s dwelling. He intended to knock on the door but heard a conversation inside.
"This kasaya is so exquisite, yet it’s not mine. After enjoying it for just one night, I must return it tomorrow, which truly saddens me," said the voice of Jinchi Elder.
The tall and thin monk replied by daylight, "Elder, why not do this? You could keep them here for a few more days, and wouldn’t that allow you to behold the kasaya for a few more days?"
After these words were spoken, there was a long silence on the other end, and then the elder said, "Even if I keep them for two more days, I can only gaze upon it for two more days. How wonderful it would be if this kasaya could become mine one day."
The tall and thin monk chuckled twice, his voice laced with duplicity, "Heh heh, if they could stay here forever, wouldn’t the kasaya belong solely to you, then?"
"Ah?" Jinchi Elder clearly understood his meaning but still feigned ignorance, "What exactly do you mean?"
"Heh heh, it’s precisely what the elder is thinking," the tall and thin monk answered.
Jinchi Elder’s voice did not emerge for a long time, and Six-Eared Macaque wasn’t in a hurry; he waited for the elderly monk to respond.
If he were a good man, then it was Six-Eared Macaque’s own misjudgment. If he were not, then he couldn’t blame Six-Eared Macaque for being discourteous.
After a long while, Jinchi Elder’s voice came again, "Then, how should we proceed?"
Six-Eared Macaque’s heart sank. It seemed that Jinchi Elder had made his choice. Since it was so, Six-Eared Macaque couldn’t be blamed for the actions he was about to take.
He waited there for some time until he had heard all the monk’s schemes, after which Six-Eared Macaque finally left.
That old monk was indeed up to no good.
No wonder Six-Eared Macaque had felt from the first glance that he was not a good person... He had wondered whether it was just his own suspicion, but now, it seemed he had thought too highly of human nature.
The two monks intended to take advantage of the night to kill them both and then keep the kasaya here. Six-Eared Macaque couldn’t possibly let them have their way.
But to act in accordance with his master’s wishes, they definitely couldn’t be killed. It might be better to scare them first; if he could scare them off, that would save him the trouble of taking action himself.
Six-Eared Macaque returned to their accommodation, planning to share everything he had heard with Xuanzang. To his surprise, when he got back, Xuanzang was already asleep. Presumably, knowing Six-Eared Macaque had gone to find the kasaya had allowed him to relax and fall asleep.
It was just as well that Xuanzang was asleep; whatever needed to be done could be carried out without concern for him.
Thus, Six-Eared Macaque transformed into Gui Li and hung above the door.
The tall and thin monk concealed the knife in his hand behind his back and groped his way inside. He had scarcely taken a few steps when suddenly something seemed to be suspended above the door. He slowly approached, straining his eyes to make out what it was.
He had only moved forward a few steps when he saw clearly what was there and recoiled in terror, tumbling down the steps.
The monk who had fallen did not dare to linger for even a moment and scrambled back on all fours.
Six-Eared Macaque reverted to his original form, thinking to himself that that should do it, he had been quite thoroughly frightened, and surely he wouldn’t dare to come back now.
But, just to be safe, Six-Eared Macaque did not return right away but observed for a while.
