214: The true ability of Sha Seng

"Eight hundred Liusha River, three thousand weak waters deep!"

Tang Ku sat by the bank, gazing at the stone tablet, and couldn't help but smile wryly. He looked back to see Pigsy staring at him with a mournful expression, applying an egg to his face, having gotten it from who knows where.

"Alright, alright, don't look at me like those complaining women. When we go back, I, your Master, will treat you to something delicious... Hmm, I've learned many dishes from another world that you haven't tasted yet, have you? Haha, like stir-fries and clay pot stews, and also lamb skewers, lamb fat pancakes, and so on and so forth..."

Hearing Tang Ku say this, Pigsy's mouth began to water. He remembered the hotpot Tang Ku had invented not long ago, which was ten thousand times more delicious than the traditional warm pots of the Great Tang. He figured the stir-fries and other dishes Tang Ku mentioned would definitely be just as good!

"Oh, Master, how would I dare complain about you? It's just... it's just that we can't blindly go into the water like this. We need to make a plan!"

Pigsy quickly swallowed his saliva and said hesitantly.

"Hmm, it was a bit too blind. We went into the water without understanding his strength!"

Tang Ku frowned slightly, "By the way, did you know your Junior Brother Sha had this kind of strength before?"

"Hmm... When we subdued him before, we did exchange blows. At that time, his strength was actually quite strong. Hmm, let me put it this way!"

Pigsy counted on his fingers, "Junior Brother Sha is quite inferior to me and Senior Brother Monkey in terms of flexibility and adaptability. But if we're talking purely about combat power, his strength is not weak. At the very least, in a one-on-one fight, I'm his equal, but in the water... I'm not as good as him!"

"Hmm, but after you were conferred, your strength should have increased significantly compared to before. Plus, with the Buddha Power I infused into you, you should be able to suppress him now, but in fact, he still suppressed you... Do you have any idea about this?"

Tang Ku asked with a frown.

Pigsy tilted his head, thought for a moment, then said, "I can pretty much guess..."

Tang Ku saw his hesitation and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Speak your mind, just say it..."

Pigsy pouted, "How come I feel your previous personality was better? At least you wouldn't scold me like this..."

Tang Ku kicked him in the backside and said, "Are you never going to finish? If you talk any more nonsense, I'll cancel your meals for half a year when we get back!"

"No, don't! Alright, alright, I won't ramble anymore... Hmm, you know about us few. In the very beginning, we were all guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva to become your Disciples. So, when it comes to choosing Disciples, the people in the Buddhist Realm actually have a good idea. Each of us has our own strengths... Senior Brother Monkey once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, so his strength itself is the strongest, and his personality is fearless, a person who is keen on making progress; I, Old Pig, have decent strength, but my personality is a bit... Hehe, you know, sometimes I like to retreat..."

At this point, Pigsy blushed slightly out of embarrassment.

Tang Ku, however, smiled and said, "Your Senior Brother says you're a homebody, but actually, it's because you're soft-hearted and afraid your wife will suffer. Of course, you only talk the talk; you've never actually divided the luggage and disbanded the group."

Pigsy hadn't expected Tang Ku to say that and was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, "I didn't expect that the one who understands me the most is actually you... Alas, hmm, let's not talk about that. You also know my abilities. This Six-Six Arcane Art, the Thirty-Six Transformations, is also an ancient technique for avoiding disaster, no less than the Eight Nine Arcane Art. And I once served as the Grand Marshal of the Heavenly River Navy, so, actually, logically speaking, my ability is in naval combat and the overall planning of battles..."

Tang Ku was suddenly startled, then slapped his forehead, "That's right, you were the head of the Heavenly River Navy! Leading troops in battle should actually be your specialty! Overall planning of battles... Hmm, that Great Master should actually be you!"

"I, Old Pig, thought so too... Later, after pondering it, I finally understood... Originally, the Disciples chosen for you, the Scripture Seeker, were actually only me and Junior Brother Sha. And Senior Brother Monkey... he was actually an accident!"

Tang Ku was slightly startled, then nodded, "I understand. Before Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, the matter of obtaining scriptures had actually already been decided. Later, after Tathagata Buddha subdued Wukong, he discovered that Wukong's combat power was stronger than both of you, which is why he was designated as my Great Disciple..."

"Hmm, that's roughly it... When I got drunk and flirted with Chang'e, actually... Haha, I am indeed lustful, but I wasn't so desperate. And I often drank that immortal wine; normally, even three jars wouldn't get me drunk, but that day, I only drank one jar..."

Pigsy said in a deep voice, "As for Junior Brother Sha... Haha, actually, his mistake was even before mine. But that Lapis Lazuli Lamp was a supreme treasure that my Buddha Tathagata once had with the Jade Emperor, capable of examining good and evil in the human world and determining merits and demerits. Such a treasure is not as simple as an ordinary lamp. Generally speaking, how could it be placed so close at a banquet? And Junior Brother Sha was the Jade Emperor's direct bodyguard; even if he were drunk, he wouldn't be able to touch this item. How did he break the Lapis Lazuli Lamp so easily? Later, I thought and thought, and it seems that both of us were destined from the beginning, and as for Senior Brother Monkey... I met Zen Master Wuchao not long ago, and he said that the Great Master is beyond the Three Realms and not within the Five Elements, a variable outside of destiny!"

"That phrase again... a variable outside of destiny..." Tang Ku pondered slightly, then said, "And then, what are your thoughts on your Junior Brother Sha's current strength?"

"I do... Hmm, the Great Master is the backbone among us, meticulous and careful, and his magic power is immense. And I am proficient in naval combat and have some skill in warfare. But Junior Brother Sha... Don't you think his power actually somewhat overlaps with mine?"

Pigsy laughed, "Haha."

Tang Ku slapped his forehead again, "I get it... No unique features... Like an invisible man, he works hard, but he doesn't have any advantages. His only advantage is in naval combat, but that's almost the same as yours..."

"So... I guess Junior Brother Sha's true strength, his advantageous area, isn't naval combat, because naval combat is already covered by me. His true strongest point, I feel, should be a kind of... hmm, a kind of ability to get stronger when facing stronger opponents, an ability to adapt to the environment!"

Pigsy laughed, "This ability is like an instinct, not a cultivated ability. And only this kind of ability can actually play a huge role in the journey to obtain scriptures. No matter what the environment, he can adapt... Hmm, he himself was overshadowed by the Great Master's brilliance. With the Great Master around, his ability actually couldn't be fully utilized. Many times, rescuing you was handled entirely by the Great Master, and he didn't have the opportunity to show his ability. Of course, he might not even know he has this ability, but think about it, doesn't this ability have a unique advantage in terms of rescue!"

Tang Ku clapped his hands, "Exactly, that's the point... Hmm, well, well, it seems our plan still has to be based on this!"