Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 760 - 759: Eating Ginseng Fruit Like Apples

"Originally, I am a man from the Central Plains, but by nature, I enjoy wandering the Four Seas. Today, just by chance, I passed by this place and noticed the scenery was quite splendid. I heard that there were only two paths up this mountain, both quite manageable, so I ascended alone. Unexpectedly, even with just two paths, I lost my way. Had I known, I would have brought a guide," Chen Nuo said with a laugh, treating the incident as a humorous story before adding, "But I never expected to find this temple and to meet the temple master. It must be destiny calling for me to meet the temple master."

Chen Nuo’s flattering words made Master Zhenyuan’s eyes almost close in a smile. He called out to Mingyue, "Go, go bring that Ginseng Fruit for the young master to taste."

The Ginseng Fruit was only brought out for particularly important guests, and Mingyue knew this signified Master Zhenyuan’s approval of the young master. He nodded, turned around, and went to fetch the Ginseng Fruit.

Actually, Master Zhenyuan was very curious about the young master before him, wondering what kind of path he would take in the future to fully utilize such immense fate and fortune.

"Young master, what do you do in the Central Plains?" Master Zhenyuan asked.

Chen Nuo waved his hand nonchalantly, "Nothing in particular. My family has some wealth and is set on having me follow the official path, but I am unwilling." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"So, I had a falling out with my family and have been wandering ever since, without a place to settle. Basically, wherever I go, I stay for a while, merely drifting along."

"Looking at you, young master, you seem like someone destined for great things," Master Zhenyuan said. "I wonder if you have ever studied the ways of Dharma and cultivation?"

"Dharma and cultivation?" Chen Nuo tilted his head and smiled. "I’ve never really thought about that before. I don’t have the aspiration to see through the secular world, and this sort of idyllic life probably isn’t for me. I’m not someone who can settle down easily."

Whether it’s cultivating Dharma, seeking Immortality, or pursuing Buddhism, all require self-improvement and a stable disposition; otherwise, one cannot achieve anything great.

But listening to the young master, it seemed he was not one to settle down, so the ways of cultivation were likely not his destiny. Master Zhenyuan was baffled by the enormous spiritual energy that hung behind him.

As they were speaking, Mingyue brought over two Ginseng Fruits, allowing Chen Nuo to get a clear look at what they actually were.

It’s no wonder that in the original story, the Tang Monk was so frightened upon seeing them that he dared not touch them—let alone eat. Even the mere sight of them made him shiver.

The Ginseng Fruit, aside from its size, looked far too much like a real baby, especially the meridians on the fruit. If you looked closely, you could almost see blood flowing through them, yet on closer inspection, there was nothing at all.

However, many people wouldn’t even reach that moment of close inspection. The mere sight was enough to scare them stiff, believing it to be a real baby, too afraid to touch it, let alone put it to their mouth.

Chen Nuo wasn’t frightened by this. He had come for the Ginseng Fruit in the first place and now examined the fruit carefully in his hand.

"Is this really a fruit that grows on trees?" Chen Nuo asked as he inspected it.

"These look so incredibly lifelike—I’m struck by their realism just by catching sight of them. How exactly do they grow? Master, don’t tell me you use some sort of mold to shape them as they grow? They’re just too lifelike. If one does not look closely, one would almost believe they’re real dolls."

Master Zhenyuan observed Chen Nuo’s reaction with both surprise and satisfaction. He had not expected that Chen Nuo’s first reaction to seeing the Ginseng Fruit would be this. In the past, whoever saw the Ginseng Fruit would first react with fear.

He usually had to offer several persuasive words before they would dare to taste it, but this man, aside from the surprise he had anticipated, expressed mostly admiration, praising the Ginseng Fruit for its craftsmanship so exquisite it seemed heaven-sent. He himself was not the least bit afraid of it.

"Young Master, are you not afraid at the sight of this?" Mingyue couldn’t help but ask first. "Usually, the people coming into the temple react with fear upon seeing these human-shaped dolls, yet you seem not to be frightened at all."

Chen Nuo smiled and countered, "Why should I fear it?"

"It’s just..." Mingyue hesitated, feeling no fear himself, but he had been conditioned to believe that all who laid eyes on the Ginseng Fruit should be scared by virtue of having witnessed past visitors and Immortals react with fear, though he couldn’t quite articulate why it would be scary.

"This is a fruit, isn’t it?" Chen Nuo mentioned, holding the Ginseng Fruit, "Despite looking very much like a doll, how to put it, it’s still a fruit. Since it’s a fruit, why should I be afraid of it?"

Mingyue had no answer to give since, since his arrival at the Wu Zhuang Temple, this was the first time he’d met someone who didn’t fear the Ginseng Fruit, so he, too, didn’t really know how to respond.

"Haha," Master Zhenyuan laughed heartily instead. "Young Master, you’re correct. This is indeed just a fruit. Even if it looks like a doll, it’s not a doll; it’s a fruit. Since it’s a fruit, why should one be afraid? You’re right, Young Master. If only the people who came before could understand this simple truth, they wouldn’t feel fear at the sight of the Ginseng Fruit."

Mingyue nodded, thinking to himself that this young master was truly extraordinary. Previously, his master had told him that this young master was but a mortal with high fortune. Despite his high destiny, he was still just a mortal. However, to see a mortal possess such unique insight was indeed remarkable.

Chen Nuo continued to praise the Ginseng Fruit for a while before finally taking a bite.

In the original text, it was said that smelling the Ginseng Fruit could extend one’s life by three hundred and sixty years, and consuming one could grant forty-seven thousand years of life.

But as Chen Nuo tasted it, he just felt it was juicy and thought it might be good for quenching thirst, but aside from that, he couldn’t discern any other effects at the moment.

It wasn’t so strange that Chen Nuo couldn’t perceive its effects, for consuming it was meant to increase longevity, and in this world, Chen Nuo existed independently from all others. Even without the Ginseng Fruit, he could live for an exceedingly long time in this world. To him, apart from being a thirst-quenching fruit, it had no other use.

However, since he had already partaken of this offering, it was certainly proper to voice high praise for it. Straining his ingenuity, Chen Nuo managed to find the words, "This Ginseng Fruit is brimming with Spiritual Power, its juices rich and plentiful. Upon taking a bite, one feels as if their throat has been thoroughly moistened by the fruit."

Mingyue and Qingfeng nodded in agreement, having tasted the fruit themselves and finding the flavor just as the young master described. They then waited for Chen Nuo to continue, but he had nothing more to say.

"Wait, Young Master, is that all?" Mingyue was a bit puzzled. When he had first tasted the Ginseng Fruit, he felt as if his whole body had been soaked in Spiritual Energy, leaving him feeling incredibly refreshed and his mind exceptionally clear.