189: About Pantao

Tang Ku and Pigsy together planted the pan tao tree sapling in the center of the courtyard, then imbued it with some Spiritual Qi and Buddha Power, and subsequently watered it. As for Nezha, his fiery nature was too strong, and his magic couldn't be used, so he excused himself and went to discuss improvements to the shuttle with Yuan Tiangang.

It was truly miraculous; this pan tao tree sapling, which looked as if it had withered and died, at most as thick as an adult man's arm, immediately began to grow wildly as if injected with stimulants. Especially after Tang Ku and Pigsy simultaneously infused it with Spiritual Qi, the tree seemed to experience a second spring, instantly growing into a large tree that two people could barely embrace. It was lush with branches and leaves, and countless green pan taos already hung from its branches, each as large as a grown man's fist. And judging by their appearance, they seemed to be ripening very quickly.

“These pan taos… how many millennia do they take to ripen?”

Tang Ku frowned slightly.

“I heard Senior Brother Monkey say that this is the best, a ten-thousand-year pan tao sapling, the most top-grade pan tao. However, once this thing reaches the Lower Realm, it's not as miraculous. At most, it can turn Mortals into Physiques that are easy to cultivate, and it can also extend one's lifespan and grant immense strength… Hmm, the cultivation time is also shortened. I heard the macaques on Flower-Fruit Mountain say that this tree blossoms and bears fruit every thirty years, and the fruit doesn't rot. Even the fruits from when Senior Brother Monkey was suppressed under Five Fingers Mountain are still well-preserved on Flower-Fruit Mountain. Over the years, the monkeys have accumulated quite a lot of stock, but I don't have the Great Immortal Zhenyuan's Sleeve Universe technique, so I can't move those fruits here!”

Pigsy explained, “Moreover, by coincidence, these fruits will be fully ripe in two more years!”

“Two years? I wonder if that's enough time!”

Tang Ku murmured.

“My goodness, when did we get such a big tree here? Hmm, what kind of fruit is that on the tree, peaches?”

Wu Zhen, dragging the dazed Ao Lie, appeared in the courtyard. When she suddenly saw the pan tao tree, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

“?”

When Pigsy saw Wu Zhen, his eyes went wide, and drool involuntarily flowed out as he mumbled, “A peerless beauty, a peerless beauty…”

Tang Ku frowned, then slapped him on the back of his head, scolding, “Damn it, control yourself! That's your Junior Sister! Also, did you intentionally ignore the Little White Dragon next to you?”

Pigsy suddenly snapped back to reality and then noticed the Little White Dragon Ao Lie standing nearby, looking foolish and gnawing on his fingers. He couldn't help but be startled, “Master, Junior Brother… ”

“Hmm, he has a bit of a problem in his head…”

Tang Ku pointed to his own head and said, “However, it's already a blessing that he could be saved. A full recovery will take some time!”

Pigsy tilted his head, seemingly very puzzled, but then he suddenly realized a problem: “Master, you said… this girl is my Junior Sister? Master, you've taken on new Disciples again? And a female Disciple at that? My heavens, Master, you've finally come to your senses! If the original pilgrimage team had such a Junior Sister, the journey wouldn't have been so boring, right?”

Old Pig was almost in tears. He darted over to Wu Zhen in a few steps, grabbed her hand, and wouldn't let go, shaking it continuously as he said, “You're Junior Sister, right? I am your Second Senior Brother Wu Neng, you can also call me Pigsy. I was originally Marshal Tianpeng from heaven, who descended to the Lower Realm with the purpose of protecting Master on the journey to the West to obtain scriptures. A pleasure to meet you, a pleasure!”

Pigsy had an ugly appearance, but Wu Zhen seemed to be unbothered… Indeed, in Greek mythology, there were many beast deities. His appearance was actually nothing to Wu Zhen.

“Oh, so you are Second Senior Brother? I've heard so much about you. Master often mentions you, saying you're gluttonous and lazy, practically embodying all forms of cunning, laziness, greed, and slipperiness. And whenever a problem arises, you want to divide the luggage and disband the group…”

Wu Zhen said with an innocent expression.

Pigsy looked back at Tang Ku with a bitter face: “Master, you didn't have to say all those things!”

Tang Ku scratched his bald head: “It's not like I didn't say good things about you…”

“Oh, he did, he did…” Wu Zhen smiled, “Master also said that you are actually kind-hearted and possess powerful magic. You always bravely rush to the forefront in every battle. Although the results are sometimes not as desired, your loyalty is evident!”

“Really?”

Pigsy immediately became happy, “Master… honestly, he's very decent, and Junior Sister, you… you're also very cute!”

He was indeed very happy. Just the fact that she didn't discriminate against his appearance and that she was praising him was enough to make him happy.

“Hmm, this is your Junior Sister. You also have a Junior Brother; I sent him out on official business, and he hasn't returned yet. I'll introduce you to him later!”

Tang Ku lightly coughed, signaling him to release her hand.

Old Pig reluctantly let go of her hand, then turned to pry open Ao Lie's eyelids and examine them repeatedly, only stopping when Ao Lie struggled violently and even cried loudly.

“What did you find, you oaf?”

Tang Ku frowned slightly.

“Hmm, I can't quite make it out clearly… Hmm, could you explain exactly what's wrong with him? Why does it look like his soul has a problem, but I can't pinpoint where the problem is?” Pigsy asked.

Tang Ku frowned slightly, then described in detail what had happened to Ao Lie.

Pigsy frowned in thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh and said, “That's it… Hey, I was wondering what was wrong! We have a ready-made Spirit Pill here!”

Old Pig turned around and climbed up the pan tao tree, plucked two green pan taos, wiped them, and handed them to Ao Lie, saying, “Here, Senior Brother has good food for you!”

Ao Lie smelled that the peach seemed very fragrant and, without caring about cleanliness, took a bite. But he quickly made a bitter face and said, “This doesn't taste good… it's sour… and bitter…”

Pigsy chuckled, “Eat it, eat it. It won't be bitter in a while; it'll turn sweet!”

Like coaxing a child, Pigsy coaxed Ao Lie to eat the pan tao in his hand bite by bite.

Tang Ku watched all of this with a frown, then said, “You mean, pan taos can cure this condition?”

“Heh heh, Master, you should know that all the abilities of the pan tao act on a person's soul. As the saying goes, ‘peaches nourish people, apricots harm people, and plum trees bury dead people’… Even if the pan tao is not ripe, it still has an effect, and it's extremely beneficial to a person's soul, it's just not as obvious. And if one isn't enough, then just eat more until he's cured, isn't that right?”

Pigsy chuckled.

“So that's how it is…”

Tang Ku suddenly understood. Wu Zhen, standing nearby, showed an expression of disbelief and said, “Second Senior Brother is truly knowledgeable! So, does this mean I don't have to follow around and take care of this overgrown child every day?”

Pigsy rubbed his hands and said, “Heh heh, just wait and see, he'll be fine in a moment!”

Tang Ku nodded. Suddenly, footsteps came from the direction of the door, and another handsome bald man walked in, his brow furrowed, as if something was troubling him.

As soon as Shi Jingmo entered the courtyard, he saw Tang Ku and immediately pressed his palms together, saying, “Master, Disciple has investigated, and things are indeed as you predicted!”