Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 708 - 707: To the Heavenly Court, Borrowing Something
After confirming that everything had finally quieted down, the Six-Eared Macaque prepared to jump down from the roof beam, when the sound of footsteps arose outside again.
Listening, the Six-Eared Macaque found that the sound didn’t seem to be heading this way but rather moving outward. What exactly was going on?
He rose to investigate the source of the noise, wanting to see what was happening.
Upon arrival, he discovered many monks hurriedly carrying things outside, moving quickly yet carefully to avoid making noise.
The Six-Eared Macaque transformed into a human shape resembling their attire and pretended to be a monk who had just woken up, unaware of the situation, asking, "Fellow brothers, I’ve just woken up. Why is everyone moving things outside?"
"Oh, we’re not allowed to talk about it according to Brother Guangzhi. Just help move the stuff over there and don’t worry about it. It’s none of your concern, so you might as well go back to sleep," the monk did not engage further with him and left, carrying his load.
Who would move things in the middle of the night?
Their behavior was definitely suspicious and likely not for any good cause.
After watching for a while, the Six-Eared Macaque moved away, heading to the door of Elder Jinchi. Such unusual behavior must mean they were up to no good.
A tall, thin monk’s voice was speaking, "Elder, don’t fret over those three Zen rooms. Even if they’re ruined, they can be repaired, and if they’re gone, we can rebuild them. We have plenty of incense money, so building a few Zen rooms is feasible. But remember, if that monk gets away with the kasaya, no amount of money will be able to replace it."
Elder Jinchi remained silent, only sighing, "I don’t know if I’m just nervous or what. For a mere kasaya, the lives of two people are at stake. I just can’t shake this unease."
"But, Elder, look at this kasaya." The tall, thin monk said, "After all this, it will be yours."
The Six-Eared Macaque was fuming with anger. He had thought these monks would have been too frightened by him to come back, but unexpectedly, they came up with such a method for a mere kasaya.
Fine, since they want to burn, let them burn a bit more then.
After some thought, the Six-Eared Macaque made his way to the Heavenly Realm.
Bodhisattva Guanyin once told him that anyone from the Heavenly Realm could seek their help in times of trouble. The Six-Eared Macaque certainly wouldn’t pass up the convenience and struggle on his own.
He ascended to the Heavenly Court, communicated with the guards at the gate, and then went to seek out the Vast Eye Heavenly King.
The Vast Eye Heavenly King possessed a magic artifact called the Fire-Avoiding Cloak. Whoever used this cloak would be unharmed by fire, whether they were a person or an object within its protection.
After receiving the message from his subordinates, the Vast Eye Heavenly King came over and immediately recognized a familiar face from afar.
He greeted with a smile, "Chef Wukong, it’s been a while. You closed your milk tea shop, and you haven’t taken up a position in the Heavenly Court in so long, I’ve rarely seen you."
The Six-Eared Macaque’s expression became somewhat awkward. He cleared his throat and explained, "I’m not that Sun Wukong who cooks; I am Sun Wukong, also known as Sun the Traveler, who is protecting the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, Xuanzang on his Journey to the West for Scriptures."
Upon hearing this, the Vast Eye Heavenly King paused, then quickly understood; he was not very familiar with this Sun Wukong and didn’t know why he was seeking him out.
But having received orders from above, he knew Sun Wukong must have come for a reason and shouldn’t be treated poorly.
"Ah, so it’s this Sun Wukong. What brings you here to find me?"
The Six-Eared Macaque was always sensitive, and even if the changes in the Vast Eye Heavenly King’s expression were subtle, he still noticed that slight shift.
However, since he himself also had a favor to ask of someone, even if their attitude was slightly poor, he could not afford to get angry.
"Ah, it’s not anything too troublesome. It’s like this, I came to ask if I could borrow your Fire-Avoiding Cloak."
Vast Eye Heavenly King was taken aback, not having expected that Sun Wukong would come to ask to borrow something from him, and that this something was none other than the Fire-Avoiding Cloak.
The Fire-Avoiding Cloak was a mid-tier Spiritual Treasure, and for him, it was not a particularly precious Magic Artifact. He had exchanged it with Shopkeeper Chen of Chaos Residence a while back because he did not want to waste hundreds of years of cultivation to consume Dharma. He already had this Magic Artifact in exchange.
He had dined at Shopkeeper Chen’s place and had also gained a Divine Skill, which happened to share the same attribute as that Magic Artifact.
He could now directly obtain what he needed with Spiritual Power, so there was no need for the Magic Artifact at all.
"What’s the matter? Is it inconvenient to lend out this Magic Artifact?" Six-Eared Macaque saw the troubled look on Vast Eye Heavenly King’s face and thought he was reluctant to lend but too embarrassed to say so.
"It’s not that I am unwilling to lend it, but the thing is, some time ago when I went to Chaos Residence to eat, I used this item as a pledge with the Shopkeeper, and since then, the Magic Artifact has not been mine." Vast Eye Heavenly King explained.
Six-Eared Macaque paused. How coincidental that it had just been lent out, and to none other than Shopkeeper Chen of Chaos Residence.
If he were to go to Chaos Residence, he would probably encounter another Sun Wukong, which the Six-Eared Macaque did not like at all. He was reluctant to meet that Sun Wukong, so it seemed the matter of borrowing the Magic Artifact would have to be dropped.
"So that’s how it is," said Six-Eared Macaque with considerable disappointment. Since the Magic Artifact was no longer in the hands of Vast Eye Heavenly King, there was indeed nothing he could do. This trip was a waste, and he would have to think of another solution on his own.
Vast Eye Heavenly King still had in his mind what was said by the higher-ups—that if anything happened to Xuanzang and his disciples during their Journey to the West, he must do everything within his power to help. If he did not lend his assistance, would the Jade Emperor find some reason to take his anger out on him someday?
"How about this, this problem isn’t unsolvable," said Vast Eye Heavenly King.
Six-Eared Macaque was quite surprised and quickly asked, "That’s great, you can think of a solution for me?"
"Yes, I can go to Chaos Residence and borrow the Magic Artifact again," Vast Eye Heavenly King said.
It turned out it was still a matter of borrowing. Six-Eared Macaque thought for a moment, as long as he was not the one doing the borrowing, it would be fine if he didn’t run into the people there.
So he nodded, gave a cupped fist salute to Vast Eye Heavenly King, and said, "Then I really must trouble you."
Vast Eye Heavenly King waved his hand, "Hey, it’s not troublesome. Sun Wukong, you wait here for a moment, I’ll be right back."
Fearing that the fire back at his place would flare up in his absence, Six-Eared Macaque decided to return first to keep an eye on Xuanzang, and wait for Vast Eye Heavenly King to have borrowed the Magic Artifact before coming back over.
Vast Eye Heavenly King set off for Chaos Residence, and upon arrival, he first made small talk with his good friend Sun Wukong for a while.
Laughing, Sun Wukong said, "What a rare visitor! Usually, Vast Eye Heavenly King, you always order takeout. What brings you to Chaos Residence today?"
"If not necessary, I actually wouldn’t come. Ordering takeout directly from home saves the trip, and isn’t that more delightful?" Vast Eye Heavenly King said with a sigh before speaking to Sun Wukong.
"I’m here this time not for Dharma consuming but to request something from Shopkeeper Chen. Is Shopkeeper Chen in store?"
"What are you talking about, my master runs the store, and naturally he is always there. What business do you have with him?" Sun Wukong asked.
"Last time I came here to eat, didn’t I give a Magic Artifact to Shopkeeper Chen as payment for the meal," Vast Eye Heavenly King said with a chuckle.
