219: Are there any requirements for the Dharma of Predestined Relationship?

Tang Ku, Pigsy, and Zen Master Wuchao gathered around to look at the snoring Sha Wujing.

Indeed, he had just collapsed to the ground and was already snoring, his heavy breath blowing the dust and gravel on the bank into a frenzy, his red beard fluttering about, which looked quite comical.

Pigsy used the tip of his rake to gently touch Sha Wujing's body, stammering, "He won't be unable to stand up again, will he?"

Tang Ku was so annoyed that he slapped the back of his head, feigning anger, "Your Junior Brother Sha isn't dead yet..."

Pigsy grinned sheepishly and stepped aside.

Tang Ku said no more, instead placing his right hand directly on the back of Sha Wujing's head and channeling pure Buddha Power into him.

It was no different from Old Pig's situation back then; there was a blockage where his neck connected to his brain, and as long as it was cleared, he would recover quickly.

Moreover, times had changed; back then, there was Mahākāśyapa causing trouble, but today, he could treat Sha Wujing without reservation.

As he spoke, he prepared to channel a large amount of Buddha Dharma and energy into Sha Wujing's body, but Zen Master Wuchao hurriedly stopped him, "Slow down, slow down... Sanzang, your technique is too crude. If you're not careful, aren't you afraid he'll end up an idiot?"

Tang Ku paused, then smiled, "It's fine. I used the same technique to save Bajie before; it should... it should be no problem!"

"Don't 'should' me. Saving him was just dumb luck. Besides, you don't understand medicine. If something goes wrong, the loss will outweigh the gain!"

Zen Master Wuchao laughed.

Pigsy couldn't help but interject, "Master, so you weren't even sure when you saved me? You were just relying on luck? What if Old Pig had become an idiot back then?"

"Hehe, I was just treating a dead horse as if it were alive. You were in such a state back then, how much more idiotic could you have become?"

Tang Ku laughed awkwardly.

"Fine, fine. At least I, Old Pig, have thick skin and flesh and can withstand the tossing. I think Junior Brother Sha's constitution should be fine!"

Pigsy said gloomily, "Then, Zen Master Wuchao, do you have a safer way to save him?"

"Exactly. Why else would I say anything?"

Zen Master Wuchao smiled and tilted his gourd, carefully pouring out a red Medicinal Pill the size of a peanut. He smiled and said, "I have studied pharmacology for thousands of years and refined this Qin Huang Qi-Smoothing Pill, which contains many herbs from the Immortal Realm. Feed it to him, then use the Many Hearts Sutra I taught you to trigger its medicinal power and channel it into his Sea of Consciousness. He will wake up soon!"

Pigsy looked at him skeptically, "You only refined one pill in thousands of years... Are you trying to trick us? Hmm, that's it, you're just here to use my Junior Brother Sha as a test subject, aren't you!"

Tang Ku simply took the Medicinal Pill and smiled, "Did you foresee this day, which is why you refined this Medicinal Pill?"

"Hehe, this is the only such Medicinal Pill in the heavens and on earth. This is his predestined affinity, and yours as well. You have cultivated for many years; can you not see through this?" Zen Master Wuchao was indeed a Master of Zen Buddhism; his words were filled with Zen insights.

Tang Ku was taken aback, then folded his hands together, no longer harboring doubts, "I have been enlightened... Hmm, Bajie, come over and help pry his mouth open!"

Pigsy agreed and ran over to pry his mouth open. In truth, it didn't take much effort; he was sleeping like a dead pig, and a simple squeeze of his jaw caused his mouth to hang wide open, exhaling breath that blew dust everywhere.

Tang Ku flicked his finger, shooting the Medicinal Pill directly into his mouth. The pill seemed to have eyes, instantly rolling down into his throat. Pigsy closed his mouth, and Tang Ku immediately stepped forward, placing his hands on his temples. He began to chant the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, slowly channeling a trace of Buddha Power into his Sea of Consciousness.

If the scene within Pigsy's mind had been a vast, white fog where objects were indistinguishable, then Sha Wujing's Sea of Consciousness was a sea of endless, surging waves, with all consciousness submerged beneath the water.

While Tang Ku chanted the Many Hearts Sutra, Pigsy looked at Zen Master Wuchao with a suspicious gaze. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Old Zen Master, I didn't understand the riddle you two were speaking in earlier. I want to ask you, why do you have such a predestined affinity with us? Before I set out to fetch the scriptures, I happened to meet you. On the journey to fetch the scriptures, I could also meet you. Now, with the catastrophe in the Three Realms, I went to Flower-Fruit Mountain to retrieve that pan tao tree, and I could meet you on the road back to Chang'an. Especially today, you actually followed the fragrance to find us... And every time, you provide us with immense benefits... Hehe, my Master has said that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. You helping us so much... it's not as simple as just making friends, is it!"

Zen Master Wuchao gulped down some wine, then laughed, "Marshal Tianpeng, you don't trust me... Then why do you accept my help every time? Aren't you afraid that I might want something in return?"

Pigsy said disdainfully, "That's easy to say. Only a fool doesn't take advantage of a good deal. Besides, I haven't promised you anything, so what is there to fear!"

"That makes sense. What you say makes perfect sense!" Zen Master Wuchao clapped his hands and laughed. "Then why ask? Just wait and see!"

"I'm not afraid, but I'm afraid you'll scheme against my Master!" Pigsy hugged his rake and curled his lip. "Don't forget, with Monkey Brother gone, I am the eldest Disciple. I must protect my Master!"

"Hmm, that also makes sense!" Zen Master Wuchao rubbed his chin. "How about this: when your Junior Brother Sha wakes up, ask your Master and see what he has to say!"

Pigsy curled his lip. "Are you feeling guilty, afraid to tell me, so you're using my Master to pressure me?"

"You are truly suspicious. Who would have thought that being reincarnated as a pig could result in so many schemes?" Zen Master Wuchao looked at Pigsy with surprise.

"If I, Old Pig, didn't have any schemes, I would have been schemed to death by those fellows in the heavens long ago... Hmph... I can't tell you that..." Pigsy chuckled. "You just wait. Regardless, I'll advise Master not to agree to any of your requests."

Zen Master Wuchao just smiled and said nothing more.

"Mm... Hmph..."

Sha Wujing suddenly gasped, then ended up with a mouthful of dirt.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft... Where... where am I? Why did I fall asleep here?"

"Monk Sha!"

"Junior Brother Sha!"

Pigsy and Tang Ku shouted happily.

Sha Wujing sat up unsteadily, then raised his massive head, looking around in bewilderment with a dazed expression.

"...Hmm, Master? Second... Second Senior Brother? Where are we? Wait... wait, I just had a dream. I dreamt that we succeeded in our quest to fetch the scriptures, and Master and Eldest Senior Brother became Buddhas, and I became an Arhat... the kind with a golden body. Then... then Eldest Senior Brother suddenly went crazy and..."

Sha Wujing's words were somewhat incoherent, but he suddenly realized something. Looking at Tang Ku's expression of wanting to speak but hesitating, he couldn't help but say with a mournful face, "These... these are all true, aren't they? We... we aren't meeting in the underworld, right... Wuwuwu, Master... you are so pitiful. You just achieved enlightenment and then died. This Disciple is unfilial!"