37: Chapter 38 Lies

Pigsy was fast asleep in the grass, sleeping so soundly that the world could have ended without him knowing. He slept for a good hour or so, and the sun was gradually shifting to the west.

Monkey King, hiding nearby, had long since grown impatient. Watching Pigsy sleep so sweetly, his anger began to rise.

He immediately transformed into a woodpecker, flew to Pigsy's side, and pecked hard at his ear several times.

"Ouch! You're killing old Pigsy!"

Startled awake by the sharp pain, Pigsy jumped up from the ground, clutching his ear and looking around with a face full of rage.

"Which death-wishing creature dares to peck your Pig Grandpa!"

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and scanned his surroundings, only to see a woodpecker flying away from in front of him.

The area was still empty; there wasn't even a shadow of a minor demon, so he started cursing.

"Damned bird, daring to disturb my sleep, what bad luck!"

After cursing, Pigsy rubbed his eyes and looked up at the sky, realizing he had been asleep for a long time. He thought to himself.

"Oh no, I've slept for so long. If I go back, Senior Brother will definitely ask me about the results of the patrol.

I haven't found out anything at all; he's definitely going to beat me!"

He paced in circles, anxious, then his eyes rolled, and a plan immediately came to mind.

"I'll just make up a lie to fool Master and Senior Brother. I'll say everything is peaceful in the mountains and there are no demons.

I'll just make up an address for a cave to get by. Anyway, Senior Brother didn't follow me, so he has no way of knowing if it's true or false."

Having made up his mind, Pigsy immediately straightened his coarse cloth clothes and brushed the grass clippings off his body.

He shouldered his Nine-toothed Rake and pretended to be panting and exhausted.

He walked quickly toward the foot of the mountain, deliberately putting on an expression of having worked hard on patrol.

Not long after, Pigsy returned to the place where Tang Seng and the others were resting.

As soon as he saw Tang Seng, he immediately put down his Nine-toothed Rake, stepped forward, bowed, and said loudly.

"Master, Master, old Pigsy has returned from patrol. I'm exhausted!"

Seeing this, Tang Seng quickly stood up, stepped forward, and asked with concern.

"Pigsy, thank you for your hard work. How was the patrol? Are there any traces of demons in the mountain? Where is Lotus Cave?"

Pigsy pretended to be panting, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said solemnly.

"Master, rest assured, rest assured. Thanks to your blessing, I investigated the whole way during my patrol.

There are no demons in these mountains at all. That woodcutter was just spouting nonsense to scare us!"

Monkey King stood to the side, arms crossed, watching him with a mocking smile.

He didn't speak, wanting to see what kind of lies this fool could come up with.

Pigsy continued to lie.

"As I walked forward, I only saw a stone mountain with a stone cave on it. The entrance had an iron-leaf door studded with nails, so rusty it couldn't even be opened.

It was quiet inside, not a single person in sight, let alone any demons or minor demons.

We can just proceed with peace of mind; it is absolutely safe!"

He spoke vividly and with certainty, as if he had really investigated clearly.

But his eyes were shifty, and he dared not look directly into Monkey King's eyes.

Hearing this, Tang Seng was overjoyed and quickly said.

"That's great, that's great. It's good there are no demons. It seems we were overthinking it. After a short rest, we will set off across the mountain."

"Master, wait!" Monkey King suddenly spoke up, stepped forward, stared sharply at Pigsy, and asked coldly.

"Fool, are you done? Let me ask you: what is the name of that stone cave?

How many iron nails are on the door? How many trees are at the cave entrance? Tell me one by one!"

This series of questions completely baffled Pigsy. He hadn't gone on patrol at all; it was all made up on the spot.

How could he know these details? He immediately stammered, unable to say a word for a long time.

"Se-, Senior Brother, I, I was busy patrolling and didn't notice these details..."

Pigsy answered stutteringly, his eyes darting around, completely lacking confidence.

"Didn't notice?" Monkey King laughed loudly, then his face darkened, and he scolded sternly.

"You fool, how dare you tell lies here to deceive people!

You didn't go on patrol at all; instead, you were hiding in the grass of the forest, fast asleep.

After being pecked awake by a bird, you made up these lies to fool Master. Do you really think I don't know?!"

Hearing this, Pigsy's legs went weak with fear. He fell to his knees on the ground, trembling all over, no longer daring to hide anything, and kowtowed repeatedly to beg for mercy.

"Senior Brother, spare me! Master, spare me! I was wrong! I shouldn't have been lazy and slept, I shouldn't have lied to deceive you. I won't dare to do it again. Please spare me this one time!"

Seeing this, Tang Seng was both angry and helpless, and sighed deeply.

"Pigsy, how could you be so reckless!

Patrolling and scouting the road is a major matter concerning the lives of us Master and disciples. You actually dared to be lazy and lie, nearly ruining our important business. You have truly disappointed your Master!"

"Master, I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong!"

Pigsy kowtowed like a pounding pestle, admitting his mistake incessantly, tears almost welling up from his anxiety.

"I was confused for a moment and only cared about being lazy. I won't dare to do it again. I beg Master and Senior Brother to forgive me!"

Monkey King snorted coldly. Watching Pigsy begging bitterly, he ultimately didn't beat him, but said in a deep voice.

"You fool, your true nature is hard to change. Being lazy and lying is a common occurrence for you.

If I forgive you easily this time, you will definitely do it again.

I will give you one more chance. Go into the mountain again immediately and make sure to patrol carefully.

Find out the location of Lotus Cave properly. You are not allowed to be lazy again, and you are not allowed to lie again!"

"If you make any mistakes this time, when you return, I will definitely not spare you. I will beat you with twenty sticks, drive you back to your hometown, and never let you follow Master to retrieve the scriptures again!"

Monkey King's tone was stern, every word ringing with conviction, leaving Pigsy no room to make excuses.

Pigsy nodded repeatedly in fear, not daring to have any objections.

He quickly climbed up from the ground, picked up his Nine-toothed Rake, and said with a mournful face.

"I'll go! I'll go right now! Senior Brother, rest assured, this time I will definitely patrol carefully, never be lazy, never lie, and will definitely find out the news and return!"

He knew clearly in his heart that Monkey King was truly angry this time.

If he dared to be lazy or lie again, the consequences would be unimaginable. He had no choice but to honestly obey orders and walk deep into Pingding Mountain again.

Ao Lie stood to the side, watching coldly the whole time. He understood what was happening but still said nothing.

He just secretly withdrew the Shadow Power he had previously sent out and re-condensed a wisp of it.

He followed Pigsy again, keeping a close eye on his movements, while also guarding against any minor demons that might suddenly appear in the mountain to prevent Pigsy from falling into sudden danger.

Watching Pigsy really enter the mountain this time, Monkey King's expression softened slightly, and he turned to Tang Seng and said.

"Master, rest assured. Now that this fool has been exposed by me, he definitely won't dare to be lazy again.

He will certainly be able to find out the real information. We can just wait here with peace of mind."

Tang Seng nodded. Though he was still worried, he could only wait quietly for Pigsy to return.

The Master and disciples sat quietly to the side, and the atmosphere in the mountains grew increasingly heavy.