Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 66: Acting and Zhao’an
"Uh... why not use mana to speed up the growth? You’d get a lot of monkey fur in an instant, and you could just buy whatever you want!" Marshal Tian Peng asked in confusion. It seemed like such an obvious solution that it made no sense why it hadn’t been considered.
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong’s face immediately darkened: "Do you think I haven’t tried?!"
"I did try once before, but the Crystal Ball simply doesn’t accept monkey fur that I’ve hastened with mana, only naturally grown fur!"
"After seeing it, Master laughed and said something really strange, like ’Are you trying to exploit a bug with me?’"
Wukong didn’t understand what a bug was, but he remembered that day vividly!
He simply couldn’t recall which furs were produced by mana, and he had to spend an entire day in front of the Crystal Ball to sort out the unusable monkey fur.
It was excruciating!
Since then, he had never done it again, and perhaps because he was born from stone, his monkey fur did not grow very quickly.
With this consumption and regrowth cycle, he ended up as he was now.
So that was it, Marshal Tian Peng breathed a sigh of relief. If there were no limits, it would be too heaven-defying.
"However..." Sun Wukong pondered aloud, "Regarding this ’Awakening’ through eating, Old Sun has gained a bit of insight."
Hearing that there might be a trick, Marshal Tian Peng eagerly said, "Mr. Monkey, you’re joking! You’ve been eating for nearly ten years, you’re practically a senior to me. If there’s any trick, you must tell your brother here!"
Sun Wukong, flattered by this bootlicking, readily replied, "According to my many years of experience, if you start eating right on the hour, the chance of Awakening is very high!"
"Is that how it works?" Marshal Tian Peng murmured to himself, no wonder he had not Awakened a third Divine Skill for so long; it turned out the issue was here.
"Then you also have to sincerely chant Master’s Chaos Residence in your heart for good luck," Wukong added.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Tian Peng exclaimed, smacking his thigh in his excitement, his face contorting in pain, and it took him a moment to recover.
How could he have forgotten this crucial step? He must chant it, no, not just during meals, from now on he would do it morning, noon, and night!
The sincere mind can turn metal to gold!
Thinking of the unknown Magical Treasure he had just obtained, Tian Peng was even more eager to give it a try.
Sun Wukong and Tian Peng were busy discussing how to eat their way to Divine Skills when suddenly, a little monkey burst in.
"Great King, there’s a white-bearded old man outside who says he has urgent matters to discuss with you!"
Someone else?
Sun Wukong’s first thought was that the Heavenly Court had sent another person to hassle him, and angrily said, "The one who has come, did he announce his name!"
The little monkey thought for a moment and said, "The old man also mentioned his name was something Jin..."
"It’s Gold Star Taibai!" Tian Peng blurted out.
"Gold Star Taibai?"
Sun Wukong’s brow furrowed, feeling that the last three words seemed particularly powerful, so he asked, "Do you know his strength? How strong is he compared to you?"
Feeling confident, Tian Peng declared, "Mr. Monkey, it’s not about whether he’s strong or not. He’s a civil official from the Heavenly Court, surely he didn’t come here to fight."
"Then why would the Heavenly Court send him over?"
"Because of me!" Tian Peng pointed to himself proudly and bragged, "I am a Marshal, after all. Captured by you, Mr. Monkey, they’re surely here to negotiate my release!"
"I see!" Sun Wukong stroked his chin in understanding, what Tian Peng said seemed to make some sense.
"Then let’s bring him in," Sun Wukong was about to wave an order but was quickly stopped by Tian Peng.
"Hold on, Mr. Monkey! I’m supposed to be your captive. If Gold Star Taibai sees us chummy and laughing, and if he reports it back to the Jade Emperor, wouldn’t I be done for?" Tian Peng frantically explained.
"So what do you suggest we do?"
With a sly turn of his eyes, Tian Peng proposed, "Mr. Monkey, how about we..."
Outside Shuilian Cave, Gold Star Taibai paced back and forth, his ruddy and lustrous face now showing a touch of anxiety.
"Little monkey, when can your king let this old Daoist enter?" Gold Star Taibai asked the monkey guarding beside him.
It’s been quite some time already!
The monkey rolled his eyes and said, "Old man, what’s the hurry? Haven’t I already gone to report?"
After a while, the little monkey who went to report leisurely walked out and said, "Our king has agreed. You can go in!"
Having received permission, Gold Star Taibai quickly strode towards the inside.
Where Shuilian Cave once opened onto empty space and earth, Sun Wukong had used his mana to form a small bridge, negating the need for jumping in specially.
Upon entering the center of Shuilian Cave, Gold Star Taibai was about to bow in respect.
"Halt! Marshal Tian Peng, I’m asking you, will you surrender or not!" Sun Wukong was seen holding the As-You-Will Kitchen Knife, gesturing fiercely at Tian Peng, looking menacing!
And opposite Sun Wukong, Tian Peng, who had been released, was once again tied up with ropes.
At this moment, Tian Peng’s eyes, bruised and swollen, held a resolve to face death without fear, his fists clenched tightly as he glared at Sun Wukong with rage.
"Pah! Delusional fool, I am Marshal Tian Peng of the Heavenly Court, staunchly loyal to the Heavenly Court. You will not shake my resolve in the slightest!"
"I, Tian Peng, would not regret dying in battle for the Heavenly Court!"
Tian Peng roared, his voice passionate enough to touch the hearts of those who heard him.
"Come on then, kill me!" After the roar, Tian Peng closed his eyes, tilted back his head, ready to meet his end with dignity.
"You invite punishment upon yourself by refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
With a shout, Sun Wukong raised the As-You-Will Kitchen Knife high, ready to bring it down!
Gold Star Taibai, scared out of his wits by this scene, rushed towards Sun Wukong while shouting, "Great Immortal, Great Immortal! Spare a life under the knife... Ow..."
In his hurry, and with the hem of his official robe being too long, he took a nasty fall, utterly undignified.
Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow, exchanging a covert glance with Tian Peng. He must have fainted, he thought.
Approaching Gold Star Taibai in a swagger, he said with a hostile face, "And who might you be, old man?"
Gold Star Taibai got up, smoothed out his robes, and said with an extremely amicable smile, "I am the humble Gold Star Taibai, a minor official under the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court. Marshal Tian Peng is one of our officials, could the Great Immortal consider showing leniency?"
"Oh? So you’re here to bail him out?"
"Not exactly, the humble one is here to invite the Great Immortal to join the Heavenly Court as an Immortal Official!" Gold Star Taibai shook his head as he said.
Tian Peng: ???
So he wasn’t here to bail anyone out, then why the act!
When Sun Wukong remembered what Tian Peng had just said, he nearly burst into laughter, a sense of amusement stirring in his heart, "Then do tell, what kind of Immortal Official position do you plan to offer old Sun?"
Uh...
Gold Star Taibai hesitated for a moment. That part hadn’t been discussed yet.
With his hands clasped and a pleasant demeanor, he said, "If the Great Immortal would just follow this old fellow to the Heavenly Court, regarding the official position, we will strive to fulfill the Great Immortal’s desires." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
That didn’t sound too bad. Sun Wukong pondered for a bit and nodded his head.
"Then old Sun shall give it a try."
Equipped with various divine skills, he was confident that even if he returned to the Heavenly Court, he could still come back safely.
After untying Tian Peng and instructing his monkey disciples, Sun Wukong ascended to the court. As for Tian Peng, not wanting to lose face, he went straight back to his residence on the pretext of recuperating.
