Hearing what Sun Wukong said, Tang Sanzang could hardly believe his ears. Had Wukong really decided to betray him? That didn't make sense. He had always treated Wukong well—how could Wukong turn his back on him?
Through all the storms and hardships of their Journey to the west, they'd depended on each other to survive. And now, Wukong was telling him not to participate in the Golden List? How could that be acceptable?
"Wukong, stop joking. Once your master has made up his mind, nothing can change it!"
"You heard that, didn't you? He said it himself. This has nothing to do with . It's not like I didn't try to stop him—he just wouldn't listen."
Truth be told, Sun Wukong was actually a little afraid of Guanyin Bodhisattva. He didn't want to offend her, which was why he said what he did just now.
"You cunning monkey. If you dared disobey , I'd recite the Tightening-Curse Spell and curse you to death."
"Bodhisattva, like I said, there's nothing I can do. How could I possibly control what my master decides to do?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva now realized that saying anything more would be useless. Since Tang Sanzang had made up his mind, no amount of persuasion on her part would change it. Continuing would only make her seem overly talkative.
"Then I'll take my leave. Tang Sanzang, I hope you think this through carefully. Take care."
With that, Guanyin Bodhisattva rode her cloud away. After she left, Sun Wukong spat in the direction she had flown and muttered angrily, "Master, what do you think she is, really? If it weren't for this thing she put on my head, I'd have taught her a lesson with my staff a long ti ago."
"Wukong, there's nothing we can do about that. I understand your frustration, but you must never let it show in front of her. Otherwise, you'll be the one who suffers."
"Got it, Master!"
After saying that, Tang Sanzang closed his eyes and resud ditating. In tis like this, ditating was the best choice. The sky was clear and the air was crisp—perfect weather for deepening his understanding of the Dao.
anwhile, Guanyin Bodhisattva did not imdiately return to the Heavenly Court. She knew that if she failed in the task Buddha had entrusted to her today, it would be unacceptable.
She had to stop Tang Sanzang from ditating and seeking enlightennt. If he were to outperform both her and Buddha himself during the Golden List, where would that leave the dignity of all the Western Heavens?
In other words, Tang Sanzang's ditation had to be interrupted!
So, Guanyin Bodhisattva went straight to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace. When the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Ao Guang, saw her arrive, he personally ca out to greet her.
"Well now, Bodhisattva, what kind of wind has blown you here today?"
"Ao Guang, I'm here today because I have a favor to ask of you."
"Bodhisattva, just tell what it is. No need to talk about favors—if it's within my power, I'll do it!"
"Can you make it rain continuously over the area where Tang Sanzang is staying? If you do that, he won't be able to continue ditating."
"But…"
Ao Guang wasn't sure why Guanyin Bodhisattva would make such a request, so he asked in confusion, "Bodhisattva, what exactly is your reason for this?"
"It's simple. Tang Sanzang's mind isn't focused. He's Buddha's appointed emissary for retrieving the scriptures from the West, but now he wants to participate in the Golden List. He must be stopped!"
"This upcoming livestream is supposedly centered on ditation and enlightennt, and that happens to be Tang Sanzang's specialty. No wonder he wants to take part!"
"Ao Guang, will you help with this?"
"Heh, is that all? Leave it to . I'll make it rain right over his head!"
"Excellent! That's wonderful!"
"But if the Jade Emperor finds out I'm making it rain without permission, I could be beheaded…"
Ao Guang looked troubled, but Guanyin Bodhisattva took out a spiritual elixir from her Jade Purification Bottle and handed it to him. "Here, take this. Consider it part of our exchange. As for the rain—you don't say anything, I don't say anything, and even Heaven won't know. Right?"
"Right—right! I'll do exactly as you say!"
As the saying goes, wealth cos with risk. If there's enough incentive, Ao Guang was willing to take the fall—even if it ant risking execution. The elixir the Bodhisattva gave him could greatly aid his cultivation and help him break through. If he turned it down, he'd be throwing away a rare chance to grow stronger!
While Tang Sanzang was deep in ditation, several thunderclaps suddenly rang out in the sky. Ao Guang had already begun casting his spell to summon rain over the area.
"What's going on? Why did it suddenly start raining?"
Sun Wukong looked up at the downpour, imdiately sensing sothing fishy. "Hmph. This is definitely Guanyin Bodhisattva's doing."
Zhu Bajie asked, "Brother Monkey, how do you know that?"
"Of course I know. If this wasn't her and Buddha's doing, I'm not Sun Wukong."
"Brother Monkey, look—Master still hasn't opened his eyes. What's going on with him?"
Even though it was raining, Tang Sanzang remained completely still, his eyes closed. Zhu Bajie was a little concerned—could sothing have happened? Was Tang Sanzang… dead?
"He's entered a deep ditative state—extrely deep. Not even wind or rain can bring him out of it!"
"Really? He's that impressive?"
"Master's level of concentration is on another level—far beyond anything we can match. So honestly, this rain might not be a bad thing for him."
"How do you know? Are you saying the rain might actually help Master's cultivation?"
Zhu Bajie was surprised. If that were true, then the rain might actually be a blessing.
Whether it was truly a blessing or not, even Sun Wukong couldn't say for sure. He only knew that watching Tang Sanzang continue to ditate undisturbed in the wind and rain was genuinely impressive.
Though Tang Sanzang was just a monk with no real strengths beyond chanting sutras and ditation, in this mont, Sun Wukong sincerely admired him.
He was capable of things they weren't. With such unwavering resolve, it was no wonder the Buddha feared him joining the Golden List!
Perhaps Buddha was afraid he wouldn't be able to asure up.
With that in mind, Sun Wukong declared, "Mm. I support Master. From now on, I'll stand guard here and protect him. You two, patrol the area. If anyone approaches—drive them off imdiately!"
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