216: Strange monk

With a series of clangs and clatters, Tang Ku was sparked all over his body, and the new monk's robe he had just made turned into a tattered mess again.

Of course, these Flying Swords couldn't harm him, but they could obscure his vision. At this moment, Sha Wujing's figure was sent flying by his punch, but it veered off course, directly smashing downstream into the Liusha River, stirring up huge waves before disappearing without a trace.

And those Flying Swords, the moment Sha Wujing disappeared, also transformed into a stream of light and vanished from sight.

Tang Ku and Pigsy stared at the water, feeling utterly speechless.

This situation was remarkably similar to the first journey to the West.

Back then, it was also Pigsy luring the monster, Sun Wukong ambushing, and then the plan failed, Sha Monk refused to show his face again. Later, it was Guanyin who sent Huian to subdue him.

Now, the situation is Pigsy luring the monster, Tang Sanzang ambushing, and then the plan fails... "If he doesn't show up again, who can subdue him?"

Tang Ku's mouth twitched as he looked at Pigsy, who also looked at Tang Ku with a resentful expression, complaining, "Master, you should have waited for me to lure him closer to the shore before making your move. Now it's over, he definitely won't come out again..."

See, how familiar those words were, just like when he complained about the monkey back then.

Tang Ku pouted and said, "You still have the nerve to talk! You didn't tell me he had new skills. If I had been prepared earlier, this situation wouldn't have happened!"

"I... I didn't have time either. His movements aren't slow. Chasing me underwater is like child's play..." Pigsy couldn't help but complain.

"Get lost! If you complain again, you can go back. This month's food allowance will be halved..."

Tang Ku cursed, "You can't even do this little bit of work properly, and you still have the nerve to complain to your Master..."

"Don't, Master, let's talk this over..."

Pigsy blinked his eyes, looking wronged.

Tang Ku ignored him, staring blankly at the surging Liusha River, wondering how to get Sha Wujing out of the water again.

"Master..."

"Hmm?"

Tang Ku looked up at him, frowning, "Spit it out if you have something to say..."

Pigsy flinched from the scolding, "I'm hungry!"

Tang Ku was amused and said, "Damn it, your Master is hungry too... Bear with it! Say one more word and I'll eat a whole roasted pig!"

Pigsy shivered, then squatted on a large rock and started drawing circles.

Seeing him like this, Tang Ku couldn't help but smile wryly. In fact, he had expended a lot of mental energy throughout the day. Although his body didn't need energy replenishment, he really should rest.

"Alright, alright, your Master will take you into the forest to hunt. After we eat, we can rest, and we'll figure it out tomorrow morning."

Tang Ku patted his sleeves and walked first towards the forest nearby.

Upon hearing Tang Ku's words, Pigsy was overjoyed, jumping up and carrying his rake, following behind him, cheerfully saying, "Old Pig knows what's good to eat in this forest. You rest, I'll go."

"Forget it, with your clumsy body, all the animals would be scared away. You try to pick up some dry firewood and get some wild fruits or something. I'll go hunting, and we'll meet back here later..."

Tang Ku instructed, and Pigsy had already scampered off into the depths of the forest, humming a little tune.

With their strength, hunting was too easy. In less than fifteen minutes, Tang Ku had caught a rock goat and three rabbits. Pigsy came running over with a large pile of berries and some green tangerines.

Making a fire was also simple. Pigsy's rake struck a rock, and a shower of sparks landed on the gathered dry grass, instantly igniting a flame. Then came adding firewood, preparing the game, and finally roasting it over the fire. Before long, a rock goat and three wild rabbits were sizzling with oil. Tang Ku selected several sweeter nuts, squeezed out their juice, and smeared it on the rock goat, immediately releasing a fragrant aroma.

Pigsy watched, his mouth practically watering. He wiped the corner of his mouth and said, "Master, how did you come up with this method? Why is it so... *slurp*... so fragrant!"

"Heh heh, there's still a lot you haven't eaten!"

Tang Ku laughed, "Don't forget, your Master here has made a trip around another world, and many good things haven't been revealed yet!"

The Master and disciple waited for the yellow goat to roast. The rabbits were basically done. Tang Ku's fire control skills were excellent; the skin was crispy, and the inside was tender. The Master and disciple first took two roasted rabbits, one each, and were about to start eating when they heard someone singing from deep within the forest, gradually approaching.

"Searching for spring all day, yet no spring found, straw sandals worn out over mountain clouds. Returning, by chance, I sniff a plum blossom, spring is already in full bloom on the branch..."

Tang Ku and Pigsy were both startled. Tang Ku hadn't spoken yet, but Pigsy shivered, exclaiming, "How did he get here?"

Tang Ku frowned slightly, and before he could ask, a bald monk in coarse cloth appeared in their line of sight.

Suddenly, he instantly remembered someone and couldn't help but laugh, "Zen Master, your song is a bit off. It's midsummer now; there's no sign of spring, nor any plum blossoms!"

"If there is spring in the heart, then everywhere is spring. If there are plum blossoms in the eyes, then everywhere are plum blossoms!"

The monk clasped his hands together and smiled, "Tang Sanzang, it's been a long time!"

Pigsy's face lit up with joy, saying, "Zen Master Wuchao, how did you come here?"

"I came following the scent. What, are you being so petty as not to invite me to sit down and chat? Heh heh, you have good meat, but I have good wine here!"

Zen Master Wuchao patted his back, and only then did Tang Ku notice that he was carrying a large gourd on his back.

Tang Ku laughed, "That would truly be a pleasure..."

He knew that although Zen Master Wuchao's magical power was ordinary, he was definitely not a simple character, and his arrival must have a reason. So he eagerly invited him to sit down and handed him the roasted rabbit in his hand.

Zen Master Wuchao happily took the rabbit, took a bite of the rabbit meat, and laughed, "The taste is exquisite, human delicacy is nothing more than this... Come, come, try my wine. We renunciants don't have so many rules; let's just drink directly from the bottle!"

Tang Ku laughed, "Renunciants aren't supposed to drink wine or eat meat. You're breaking your vows, aren't you!"

"You, who have been vegetarian since birth, have broken your vows, so what can't I break..."

Zen Master Wuchao pulled open the stopper of the wine gourd. Pigsy immediately couldn't help but swallow. The rich aroma of the wine directly assailed his nose. He didn't care about anything else, took the wine gourd, and took a gulp, smacking his lips repeatedly as he drank, "Good wine, good wine, it goes perfectly with this rabbit meat..."

Tang Ku smiled, tore off a rabbit leg, and chewed on it, saying, "Zen Master, your visit is for Sha Wujing in the Liusha River, isn't it!"

"Heh heh, you're right, as expected of Tang Sanzang, your mind is very sharp!" Zen Master Wuchao chewed on the rabbit meat, saying indistinctly, "It won't be easy for you two to catch him..."