White Dragon Horse, continue westward!
Jiang Liu sat on the back of the White Dragon Horse and glanced back; as they moved further and further away, Wanshou Mountain seed to grow smaller and smaller.
For Jiang Liu, this trip to Wanshou Mountain, while not entirely satisfactory, had still brought significant gains.
Firstly, the two-month stay was the longest Jiang Liu had ever paused during his Journey to the West. Overall, it was quite good!
Of course, the most significant gain was the transformation of his aptitude by the Ginseng Fruit. Originally, the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound had granted him only 4 experience points, but due to the transformation by the Ginseng Fruit, it had increased to 6 points, significantly boosting his future growth rate.
Over two months, his level had also risen to 33, which was naturally no small achievent.
Moreover, aside from that, Jiang Liu's storage space held three more Ginseng Fruits.
Having consud one before, and saved one, during the Ginseng Fruit eting, nine Ginseng Fruits were divided among himself, the three disciples of Master Zhenyuan, his three disciples, and the White Dragon Horse, all having consud one each, leaving two, which Jiang Liu had collected.
"Staying at Wuzhuang Temple for long-term cultivation was never possible; managing a two-month stay to elevate my level to 33 and experiencing the enhancent effects of the Ginseng Fruit, this debacle at Wuzhuang Temple could be considered the greatest gain of my journey so far, right?"
After a glance toward Wanshou Mountain, Jiang Liu quietly murmured to himself, feeling quite satisfied with this trip to Wuzhuang Temple.
Also, between himself and Master Zhenyuan, they had ford a brotherly bond recognized by the Heavenly Dao.
In Jiang Liu's view, although this identity had no significant use presently, it might prove imnsely beneficial eventually.
Furthermore, if one day he were to fall out with all the deities and Buddhas in heaven, having Master Zhenyuan on his side would be a trendous gain.
Regardless of how Jiang Liu was scheming in his heart, Sun Wukong beside him seed bored to death.
Having stayed in Wuzhuang Temple for two months, casually drinking, eating at, and playing Mahjong and Fight the Landlord, Sun Wukong found life exceedingly comfortable; now, embarking on the Journey to the West once more, he felt sowhat bored.
If even Sun Wukong felt this way, the state of mind of Zhu Bajie nearby could be easily imagined, looking even less spirited.
Of course, compared to the two of them, Sha Wujing was evidently in a much better mood, occasionally even humming a tune while walking.
In Sha Wujing's view, having eaten a Ginseng Fruit was a massive win.
Moreover, after two sluggish months, they finally embarked on the Journey to the West again, naturally making Sha Wujing feel happy.
...
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Leaving aside the departure of Jiang Liu and others on their westward journey, back at Wuzhuang Temple, as they left, those disciples who had stayed at Yuxu Palace also returned.
Although two months had passed at Wuzhuang Temple, one day in heaven equates to a year on earth, so the disciples had not been at Yuxu Palace for long.
To Wuzhuang Temple, Jiang Liu's presence seed to be just a minor ripple; as they departed, the temple returned to its previous tranquility.
Only ti would tell whether this ripple would slowly fade or, as ti progressed, turn into a raging storm.
After instructing his disciples to diligently cultivate, Master Zhenyuan, feeling sothing deep within, retired to the Quiet Room for cultivation, a period spanning forty-nine days.
Unbeknownst to Master Zhenyuan, following his retreat, Qingfeng and Mingyue, two Taoist boys, carved more than a hundred small wooden blocks and ticulously carved them.
Their carving skills were much better than Jiang Liu's; the patterns on the Mahjong tiles were exquisitely detailed, and with the addition of cinnabar and other pignts, they quickly produced a beautiful set of Mahjong tiles.
"Eh? Qingfeng, Mingyue? What are you two doing?" Coincidentally, several disciples of Wuzhuang Temple passing by saw the Mahjong tiles Qingfeng and Mingyue were making and asked curiously.
"Oh, Senior Brother, we are making sothing called Mahjong. Would you like to try?" Hearing this inquiry from their senior brother, Qingfeng and Mingyue exchanged glances, imdiately wearing a mysterious smile and inviting him to join.
"A trifle? You two fellows, do you know the saying, 'frivolity leads to the loss of ambition'?" Hearing that Mahjong was rely a petty amusent, this senior brother frowned deeply and started to lecture sternly.
"Yes, yes, Senior Brother, we dare not neglect our cultivation!" Hearing the senior brother's words, Qingfeng and Mingyue, the two Taoist boys, could not say much else, only bowing their heads in an obedient, apologetic manner.
Whether they would listen in the future or not, at least acknowledging one's mistake is a good habit!
"You two, really, if you are bored during leisure ti, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting can all be pastis; why concoct these trinkets out of nowhere? What are these small wooden blocks with patterns on them? Are they children's toys?" Shaking his head, the senior brother spoke for their own good, with earnest advice.
"Well, Senior Brother, this trifle was not sothing we ca up with ourselves; it was Tang Monk who taught us, and he and his disciples all play it!" Hearing the senior brother's lecture, Qingfeng, the Taoist boy, began to explain.
"Oh? Tang Monk! They all play it!? He taught you!?" Hearing this, the incessantly nagging senior brother paused slightly in shock.
Tang Monk? Isn't he the sworn brother of our master? Also tasked with securing the Westward Journey scrolls, his disciples' identities are also quite extraordinary. They all play with this trifle? Perhaps, there are many benefits to it that I do not understand?
Could it be like playing chess? Although just simple black and white stones, the strategic moves within could cultivate endless wisdom?
"Qingfeng, since it was Tang Monk and his disciples who taught you, why don't I give it a try as well?"
After giving it so thought and realizing that all of Tang Monk's disciples were involved and had even specifically taught Qingfeng and Mingyue, there might be so deeper aning. The elder brother mused for a mont before speaking.
"Alright, but we need four people to play Mahjong. Let's invite another elder brother over, shall we?" Upon hearing this, both Qingfeng and Mingyue's faces lit up with joy, and they nodded in agreent.
Soon, due to the need for one more player, another elder brother was pulled in to complete the group!
Two Chinese Hours later...
At a small square table, four disciples from Wuzhuang Temple were already deeply engrossed in a fierce ga, with over a dozen other disciples standing around watching with great interest.
Playing Mahjong might seem like a simple little ga, but once you really got into it, there seed to be a strange magic power that was simply irresistible.
It was like eating sunflower seeds during leisure ti. It didn't matter if you didn't start, but once you did, it felt impossible to stop...
"Elder brother, you all have played for so long, are you not tired? How about I take over for a couple of rounds?"
"Mingyue, hasn't it been quite a while since you last cleaned the Ginseng Fruit Garden? You better go tidy up, or else Master might scold you when he cos out of seclusion!"
"Um, elder brothers? I've made a set of Mahjong tiles. Could you co and see if anything is missing?"
"I'll co and check for you!"
"Elder brother, don't rush!"
"Besides playing Mahjong, there's also another ga that's faster paced and equally fun. It's called 'Fight the Landlord', and it only needs three people to play!"
...
Forty-nine days later, Master Zhenyuan walked out of the Quiet Room, feeling extrely refreshed.
This period of seclusion had not improved his Cultivation Level, but Master Zhenyuan felt his understanding of the Heavenly Dao had deepened slightly.
"Though I lack the Foundation of Great Dao and will never break through to the Sage Realm in this lifeti, as my comprehension of the Heavenly Dao deepens, my strength can still improve. If I can't beco a Saint, perhaps becoming the foremost below the Saints would not be too bad?"
Feeling that this period of seclusion had brought significant gains, Master Zhenyuan nodded to himself, his lips curving into a satisfied smile.
After concluding his seclusion, Master Zhenyuan left the Quiet Room and looked around, only to find not a single disciple in the courtyard, which caused his eyebrows to lift slightly.
What's going on? Where have all the other disciples gone?
Just then, Master Zhenyuan heard a noisy clamor coming from a distance, and intrigued, he followed the sounds.
He saw over ten tables set up in the plaza of Wuzhuang Temple, so round, so square. The square tables each seated four people, all engrossed in playing Mahjong.
And the round tables? Each seated three people, all holding playing cards.
These noisy voices were naturally coming from here.
"Chow, hahaha, little brother, didn't you notice? You just got played!"
"Kong, hahaha, winning on a kong, I've won!"
"Call the landlord!"
"Bid for the landlord!"
"Trump Card! I won!"
"Damn, I still had a bomb in hand, lucky I didn't play it!"
"Damn! If I had known, I wouldn't have played the red dragon, oh my, what a perfect Thirteen Orphans hand I had!"
"Alright, alright, my brethren, I have to go cook, I'm not playing anymore!"
"Wait, don't go, let's play a few more rounds first! You're just going to leave after winning? I didn't expect that from you, elder brother!"
...
The shouting, the loud exclamations, the sound of playing cards being slapped on the tables, and the noise of shuffling Mahjong tiles, all mingled together into a chaotic symphony, causing Master Zhenyuan's eyebrows to twitch wildly.
It was lucky that Jiang Liu had already left far, far away by this ti. Otherwise, if Jiang Liu had seen this scene, he might have considered replacing the "Wuzhuang Temple" sign with "Wuzhuang Mahjong Parlor."
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