Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

From Xiaotian Village to Wu City, a distance of two to three hundred miles, an ordinary person probably needs two to three days just walking on foot.

However, if you're also bringing along an elderly grandfather, hunched over in his advance, the time required becomes unknowable.

But walking slowly is one thing; there's no rush on my part. If the old man can't cover twenty miles a day, then we'll do ten, and if not ten, then five.

Dragging our feet, whenever the old man gets tired, Jiang Liu rests, and when mealtime arrives, he sets up a stove to start a fire and cook…

So, after a good five or six days on the road, how much farther it is to Wu City remains a mystery.

"Holy Monk…" the old man, leaning on a wooden branch as a walking stick, looked at the dinner Jiang Liu was preparing, the deer meat being grilled, and unconsciously swallowed, saying, "If this deer were used as a ride for this old man, perhaps we could reach Wu City much faster, right?"

"Amitabha, Benefactor, you are not aware that in order to prove the sincerity of my journey to the West, I must take one step at a time.

Otherwise, using my disciple's supernatural powers, soaring through the clouds and commanding the fog, we could reach Western Spirit Mountain in no time—so why would there be any need to travel on foot?" Jiang Liu said, while flipping the deer meat to make sure it cooked evenly.

"I see. Holy Monk, your journey indeed accumulates immense merit. Thus, this old man dares not delay your travels any longer. From now on, I will try to quicken my pace," the old man replied with newfound respect after hearing Jiang Liu's answer.

"No need!" Jiang Liu hurriedly shook his head upon hearing the old man's words.

Then he seemed to realize his response was a bit too eager, his tone once again becoming much more relaxed: "Benefactor, do not trouble yourself. You are advanced in age and frail, making long journeys inconvenient. Should any harm come to you on the way, my merit would turn into sin."

"Master, at your current pace, a mere journey of eighty-one thousand miles, it will take no less than six to seven years to reach the Western Heaven to see Tathagata," Sun Wukong, who was eagerly eyeing the roast meat, couldn't help but interject.

As he spoke, he sniffed a few times, feeling impatient for the smell of the roasting meat and reached out for it: "Master, is the meat ready yet? I, Old Sun, have been hungry for a long time."

"Don't be in such a monkey hurry, it still needs a while…" Jiang Liu said, annoyed as he slapped Sun Wukong's hand away, murmuring under his breath, "Six to seven years? Wouldn't that be the end of it?"

Having his hand slapped away didn't anger Sun Wukong. Hearing his master's quiet murmur, he smiled and said, "If you are in a hurry, Master, I, Old Sun, could carry you for a stretch. A disciple is here to share the load; should not count as…"

"Say no more, Wukong. I have already made up my mind to walk every step of the way to Spirit Mountain!" Jiang Liu said with a serious expression.

Yet in his heart, he sighed secretly. Six to seven years to reach Spirit Mountain? Wouldn't that be disaster? Didn't it take more than a decade in the original story? Does that mean I have to find ways to delay as much as possible or take detours?

Soon after the roast was finished, a pot of vegetable and meat soup was also ready. Jiang Liu served the old man a bowl of soup and a piece of roast meat, and everyone enjoyed their meal to the fullest.

Especially Sun Wukong, who, although he had eaten many meals prepared by Jiang Liu before, seemed to never tire of them.

After having their fill, Sun Wukong thought it was time to set off, but Jiang Liu waved his hand and said, "Monkey, it's getting late, and it's not good to exert oneself right after a full meal. We'll camp out on the road tonight."

Sun Wukong paused, glancing towards the horizon where the sun still hung in the west; it would be at least another Chinese Hour before darkness fell.

Moreover, at his master's pace, how could it be considered strenuous exercise? It was more like an after-dinner walk, wasn't it?

But who is he to argue with his master? Even though he had his internal complaints, seeing Jiang Liu already seated in meditation, cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, Sun Wukong said nothing more and obediently went to find a place to clean the bowls and pot.

Time slipped by, moment by moment; the old man lay on the ground resting, with nothing to do.

Sun Wukong also lay on the grass nearby, with a small twig in his mouth, legs crossed, looking at the swallows returning to their nests in the sky, and couldn't help but think of Flower Fruit Mountain. He wondered how all those little ones were doing?

Next to him, as the sky grew darker, Jiang Liu's True Yuan completed eighty-one Complete Cycles within his body, and his cultivation session came to an end. He slowly opened his eyes, noticing both the person and the monkey lounging about aimlessly.

He pondered to himself, in this ancient world, there really were no entertainment activities once evening fell in the wilderness. Should he find some fun for them?

How about teaching them the way of chess, letting the two of them play chess to pass the time?

However, considering the monkey's temperament, settling down to play chess? He just didn't have the patience for it.

Or how about the three of them playing Fight the Landlord? And maybe play Mahjong during the Journey to the West with all four disciples?

"No, no, my time is much too precious to waste on that," Jiang Liu immediately shook his head as the idea of playing Fight the Landlord and Mahjong had barely arisen, casting aside that "evil" thought.

Suddenly, while Jiang Liu was daydreaming, Sun Wukong—who was next to him, utterly bored and unable to sleep—brightened up, sitting up abruptly.

Facing the inquiring gazes of Jiang Liu and the old man beside him, Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Master, there is Demon Qi. It seems we again have a Demon Creature seeking death."

No sooner had Sun Wukong's voice fallen than shortly after, a demon walking upright leapt out from the grass nearby. It was a Frog Demon, standing over a meter tall when upright.

"Can walk upright, is it a Demon Soldier?" Seeing the Frog Demon that had sprung out, Jiang Liu's eyes lit up.

A Demon Soldier, that meant a demon of level 20 and above. This was Experience Points delivered to their doorstep.

"Good demon creature, you dare to seek death here..." Sun Wukong was getting bored and seemed ready to make the first move.

"Wukong, step back, let your master handle this!" Jiang Liu raised the Green Lotus Staff in his hand, shouting out loud at the same time.

The Frog Demon that had leapt out, seeing the menacing look of the man and the monkey, was startled and fell seated on the ground, crying out hurriedly, "Holy Monk, wait, I... I have been entrusted by someone to find you."

What?

This statement from the Frog Demon made Jiang Liu pause, and he withdrew the Green Lotus Staff he was about to smash down.

Sun Wukong also changed his punch to a grab, catching the Frog Demon and subduing it, without delivering a fatal blow.

"You've been entrusted by someone to find me? Entrusted by whom?" Looking curiously at the Frog Demon, Jiang Liu asked. On their way to the Western Heaven, why would a demon go out of its way to find him, and entrusted by someone, no less?

"What... what kind of people are these..." Captured by Sun Wukong's iron-clad monkey paw, the Frog Demon felt its liver and gallbladder tremble. If it hadn't cried out just in time, would it now have been obliterated?

Such danger! Such terror!

"Didn't you hear my master asking you? Speak quickly!" While the Frog Demon harbored fear and silent curses, Sun Wukong revealed a fierce expression, growling in a low voice.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Seeing Sun Wukong's fierce look, the Frog Demon was utterly alarmed, no longer daring to let its thoughts wander, and quickly started speaking.

"It was a White Dragon from Serpent Coiling Mountain Eagle Sorrow Gully who sent me to find the Holy Monk."