217: Just for a bite to eat

Zen Master Wuchao was not a simple character.

After they subdued Pigsy in Ü-Tsang, the group had encountered him, heard his prophecy about the "water monster" they would soon meet—which was Sha Wujing—and even heard him prophesy about the legendary strongest demons in the Lion Camel Kingdom... It could be said that while his combat strength remained unknown, his prophetic abilities and understanding of the Buddha Dharma were truly extraordinary.

Coupled with the fact that he was the one who taught the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, Tang Sanzang had always held him in high regard.

Moreover, when Sun Wukong had been furious after hearing his verse and tried to poke his nest in the tree with the Golden Cudgel, the nest was surrounded by "ten thousand lotus flowers and layers of auspicious mist." Sun Wukong, with all his power to overturn rivers and seas, could not touch even a single hair of the nest, which showed how profound his magical powers were.

The three of them were eating happily by the Liusha River. When Zen Master Wuchao said that subduing Sha Wujing would be difficult, Tang Ku already felt suspicious.

Zen Master Wuchao was not related to them, so why did he help them again and again?

Furthermore, did he really know so many things just based on his prophetic ability? Or did he know some inside information from the very beginning?

And Sha Wujing returning to the Liusha River was not a simple matter, so why did he know how to subdue him?

No one knew that he and Pigsy had come to the Liusha River, except for a few close Disciples and Nezha. Why was he able to find them so accurately?

"There are too many mysteries surrounding this Zen Master Wuchao. I must be more careful!" Tang Ku thought to himself.

"Heh heh, I know what Sanzang is thinking... Hmm, can't you trust this Old Monk?" Zen Master Wuchao chuckled.

"Since the Zen Master has asked, I won't be coy!" Tang Ku replied generously. "I am surrounded by enemies on all sides now, so I dare not trust people easily!"

Zen Master Wuchao laughed: "Hmm, that makes sense... But rest assured, although I am a member of the Buddhist school, I do not belong to it. My Dao belongs to another school. You know the Many Hearts Sutra by heart; haven't you noticed any difference between me and them after all these years? Since you created the Dao of Vast Salvation, you should be able to understand what I mean."

Tang Ku was stunned, then immediately recalled the content of the Many Hearts Sutra and had an epiphany. He smiled calmly: "I see... Just like me, your Dao and the Dao of the Buddhist school are not the same path! It's just that you realized it earlier, and in fact, you've been walking a different path from the very beginning!"

The Many Hearts Sutra was not long, but its philosophy was completely different from what is currently called Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhism saves people to become Buddhas, Hinayana Buddhism respects only one Buddha, while the Many Hearts Sutra, although not explicitly stated, implies the Great Dao of becoming a Buddha. In other words, with the Many Hearts Sutra as a benchmark, everyone can uphold themselves and Cultivate to become a Buddha!

These are three completely different paths. It can be said that in the realm of Buddha Dharma, Zen Master Wuchao has gone further than the Tathagata Buddha!

Thinking deeper, Zen Master Wuchao and the Tathagata were not on the same side at all.

Tang Ku no longer hesitated and humbly asked Zen Master Wuchao how to subdue Sha Wujing.

Zen Master Wuchao, gnawing on a rabbit, chuckled: "Actually, this is simple. As long as I... slap..."

Zen Master Wuchao slapped away Pigsy's hand as it reached for the roasted lamb, and laughed: "Marshal Tianpeng, don't be impatient. If you want to get your Junior Brother Sha back, it all depends on this lamb!"

Pigsy had already finished his roasted rabbit. In fact, he had been eyeing the roasted lamb for a long time but hadn't found an opportunity to make a move. Seeing that the two seemed distracted just now, he reached out to pull a leg of the lamb to eat, but unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed by Zen Master Wuchao.

Old Pig rubbed his hands and said sheepishly: "If you won't let me eat, then don't. Why make up these excuses... Hmph, we were the ones who caught this rock goat anyway!"

"Don't say 'we'!" Tang Ku said. "This thing was brought by your Master, and you didn't even want to help clean it just now!"

Pigsy couldn't help but laugh sheepishly: "Didn't I do some work too? Heh heh, well... Zen Master, why don't you tell us why we still have to keep this roasted lamb? If we don't eat it, it's going to burn soon..."

Tang Ku pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "I think I understand what you mean... Hmm, it is indeed extremely simple..."

Zen Master Wuchao also laughed and said: "Simple is simple, but we still need to make some other preparations..."

Pigsy was confused listening from the side and couldn't help but pout: "What kind of riddle are you two playing? Old Pig is an honest man, why don't you just say it straight..."

Zen Master Wuchao didn't answer. He suddenly aimed his wine gourd at the roasted lamb and slapped it. A large amount of wine sprayed onto the lamb. In an instant, flames soared into the sky, and a pungent, fragrant aroma immediately filled the air.

Pigsy was shocked, and then he smelled the aroma of the roasted meat. To be honest, if the previous roasted lamb was a nine out of ten, then the lamb sprayed with wine could be given a twenty out of ten.

"How can this aroma be so rich?" Pigsy exclaimed, "It makes me, Old Pig, want to just hug it and gnaw on it."

"Shh, keep quiet, keep quiet..."

Tang Ku hurriedly made a shushing gesture, then pulled Pigsy toward the small woods nearby.

Zen Master Wuchao also jumped up. He was faster than both of them, flying and crouching behind a large rock, waiting quietly.

Pigsy didn't understand and took a long time to react. He couldn't help but pout: "That's it? Just by using this, you can lure him out? This is too ridiculous. Junior Brother Sha is not as gluttonous as me..."

"Heh heh, it's not a matter of being gluttonous or not..."

Tang Ku, hiding behind the bushes, said softly, "When your Junior Brother Sha was clear-headed, he ate quite a few people, right? That was to obtain flesh and blood to heal the wounds of having his heart pierced by a hundred swords. But now that he has lost his sanity, he has almost never killed anyone... Don't doubt this point; there isn't a trace of bloodlust around here, which is far different from when we first arrived... And having not eaten cooked food for so long, the hunger in his stomach must be unbearable. Such a rich aroma, besides attracting him, can also mask our aura, making him ignore our existence..."

Pigsy was full of disbelief: "Although the Old Monk has some magical power, I don't think a mouthful of wine can have such an effect. Let's think of another way. It's better to leave this roasted lamb for me, Old Pig, to enjoy!"

"Your Master is also an Old Monk. Are you cursing me along with him?" Tang Ku slapped the back of Pigsy's head and scolded, "I think you're just gluttonous... After the matter is finished, there will be time for you to eat meat!"

Pigsy pouted aggrievedly and stayed silent. Over there, Zen Master Wuchao said softly: "You two stop talking, or you'll scare him away!"

In an instant, the entire beach became silent. Immediately after, a huge whirlpool suddenly appeared on the Liusha River, and a large man with red hair and a red beard, about three meters tall, walked slowly up from the water, sniffing continuously with his nose...

"Holy crap... He really came?"

Pigsy watched this scene in shock, with a million grass mud horses running through his heart.