Journey to the West: Black Six Ears

017. Gao Lao Zhuang Collects Eight Precepts

About three to five days later.

Four people arrived at Gao Village, looking travel-worn.

The leading monk somehow acquired a short-legged horse, which, although slow, could at least lighten Xuanzang's load.

"Master, there is a village ahead."

Wukong, who was walking at the front, pointed to Gao Village.

Xuanzang, on horseback, saw Zhuangzi and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

These monkeys have been really unbearable lately. They controlled Xuanzang's eating, drinking, and resting throughout the journey, almost exhausting him to death.

"Wukong, is my lost travel pass really here?"

Xuanzang asked the monkey.

Ever since the monkey took advantage of the chaos to vandalize the Guanyin Temple, he's been in a really good mood, so he waved his hand and said:

"This is the answer I got from asking Venus. Let me go and check the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness before making a decision."

After saying this, the monkey flipped over and transformed into a little monk in coarse linen clothes, and headed towards Gao Village.

Upon seeing the monkey approaching, the lively people of Gao Laozhuang bowed repeatedly.

"Esteemed benefactor, why is this place so lively?"

The monkey found it strange; there wasn't a Buddhist temple in the area, so why was the monkey so enthusiastic towards the monks?

When the villagers heard the question from Wukong, they simply laughed:

"Elder, you may not know this, but we have a monk son-in-law here."

A monk's son-in-law?

How exactly can these two completely opposite words be combined?

"Monk, son-in-law?"

The monkey scratched his head, unsure for a moment what the person was talking about.

In other places, the matter of marrying a monk would always be kept secret.

But for the people of Gao Lao Zhuang, this event seems to have become something to be proud of.

"Esteemed benefactor, may I ask who this monk son-in-law is?"

Wukong tugged at the villager's sleeve, asking questions with a face full of curiosity.

The villagers weren't surprised by this question, and replied smugly, shaking their heads:

"The monk son-in-law in our village is a monk from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East."

"Hmm? From the Tang Dynasty again?"

Wukong wasn't done yet. The last time at Guanyin Temple, that rich man Li also said that he had met a monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East.

However, according to Master Li, that monk from the Tang Dynasty should already be dead, or at least turned to ashes.

"What is the monk's Dharma name?"

Xuanzang.

"You mean, there's a me in this Gaojiazhuang?"

Xuanzang looked at Wukong, who had returned with a strange expression.

He never imagined that he would be tricked by both the real and fake Xuanzang.

The monk immediately showed a face full of fear:

"Could it be that a demon is causing trouble?"

"The Bodhisattva said that this journey would have eighty-one tribulations. Since this monk can say his master's Dharma name, he must be someone who is related to the journey to the West."

Wukong thought more than Xuanzang.

This Gao Village was clearly a calamity on the journey to the west.

"This Gao Village is a bit strange; we need to be extra careful once we go in."

Sun Wukong didn't feel like he had any rivals along the way, but if this tribulation was related to the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, then he would have to be careful.

Xuanzang shook his head repeatedly; he had absolutely no desire to go in now.

"Wukong, why don't we take a detour?"

"Did you forget your travel permit? Humph! I'd like to see what kind of bastard dares to ambush me here."

Sun Wukong, however, was not intimidated. He even picked up his iron cudgel and was the first to rush into Gao Village.

Xuanzang could only hang his head and follow Wukong.

However, things didn't go as they expected. When the four of them entered Gao Lao Zhuang, they were immediately surrounded by people.

"What? You're already so eager to make your move?"

Sun Wukong let out a cold laugh and was about to pull out the embroidery needle hidden in his ear.

These villagers are just ordinary people; he could kill them all with a single blow.

However, the villager in charge simply grabbed the monkey's hand and said excitedly:

"You must be Sun Wukong, the eldest disciple of Master Xuanzang, right? Just as Master Xuanzang said, you are indeed an extraordinary person."

After being praised like that, Sun Wukong couldn't very well pull out his staff to hit him, so he could only stand there frozen.

As for the remaining two followers, they were being held by the villagers, pouting as they listened to people praising their bravery and extraordinary abilities.

The most confused one was Xuanzang.

The villagers hurriedly pulled him down from the horse:

"Master Xuanzang, you said the other day that you were going to pick up your disciple. I thought it would take some time, but I didn't expect you to be home so soon."

Come back home?

Xuanzang was slightly taken aback, but he assumed it was just a local dialect and didn't pay much attention to it.

He simply clasped his hands together and addressed the villagers before him:

"Benefactor, this humble monk is passing through this blessed land and wishes to stay the night."

"You're too kind, Master. If you need lodging at Old Master Gao's house, feel free to stay there."

The villagers, all smiles, pushed the four people deeper into Gao Laozhuang.

Xuanzang, who was being carried along by the group, spoke up:

"Esteemed benefactors, I have no relation to that Old Master Gao, how can I stay here so casually?"

"Elder, you jest. You're already an officially recognized son-in-law who has moved into the family; how can you be considered to have no relatives or connections?"

The villagers' words terrified Xuanzang so much that his whole body went limp.

How did a monk become someone's son-in-law?

Moreover, according to these people, his identity was even certified by the government.

For Xuanzang, the terrifying thing was not only being eaten by monsters, but also being wanted by the government.

Xuanzang didn't understand what was going on before the group scattered.

"The monk is back?"

A young man in a blue jacket walked up to the four of them and bowed to Xuanzang.

Two attendants helped Xuanzang up, while Wukong grinned and asked the boy, "Is this Xuanzang's home?"

Gao Cai laughed heartily and led everyone into his home.

Old Master Gao greeted them from inside: "The elder is back?"

"Grandpa Gao, what exactly happened with this son-in-law?"

Upon seeing the person in question, Xuanzang rushed to Gao Taigong, grabbed the old man's arms, and held them tightly.

Startled, Old Man Gao looked Xuanzang up and down before letting out a long sigh of relief:

"Elder, your eagerness is just as genuine as it seems." Gao Taigong laughed and took out a wrapped piece of paper from his pocket, handing it to Xuanzang. "Elder, this is your travel permit."

"Ah! It really is here."

Xuanzang took it and quickly examined it. The seal and text on it clearly identified him as "Chen Xuanzang of the Great Tang Dynasty".

Not only that, but Grandpa Gao also handed over a large red paper.

The words "marriage certificate" were written on it, along with the official seal.

"Amitabha."

Upon seeing this, Xuanzang's legs went weak and his body went numb; he was about to collapse to the ground.

The marriage certificate was actually genuine.

"What should we do? Sun Wukong, shall we run away?"

Xuanzang grabbed Sun Wukong's arm, his face full of sorrow.

He's a proper monk, how could he marry someone?

Not to mention that the wedding took place in this country called Ü-Tsang.

But with the marriage certificate here, there's no way to renege on the agreement; the only option is to run away.

However, Sun Wukong didn't care about this and just laughed and talked nonsense:

"If Master insists on getting married here, then we'll have no choice but to disband."

Without the golden headband to restrain him, Sun Wukong was not entirely determined to go to the Western Paradise.

However, he had some doubts in his heart.

The evil monk's intentions are easy to understand: using Xuanzang's travel documents to arrange a marriage. Ultimately, the consequences will fall on the old monk.

"Elder Sun is joking. This marriage is just a charade." Old Master Gao waved his hand. "It's just a scheme we agreed upon with Elder Xuanzang to deal with that pig demon. In the end, Elder Sun will be the one to clean up the mess."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But then he asked:

"So, what is the government's assessment?"

"This is just to lure out that monster, to make the act more convincing, and it's also what you requested, Elder."

Gao Taigong's words left Xuanzang speechless.

He clearly didn't do it, but they forced the blame onto him.

Most importantly, the things that the evil monk did in Gao Village were all good deeds that earned him the favor of the people.

After a long pause, Xuanzang finally couldn't help but say:

"Where is that monster? I'll have my disciple get rid of it as soon as possible. Please let me go."

Grandpa Gao was overjoyed and pointed at Sun Wukong, saying:

"Elder Sun, this matter has troubled you. The pig demon is located at Yunzhan Cave on Fulin Mountain, not far away."

"No need! I, Old Pig, am here!"

At that very moment, a furious roar suddenly came from above.

Everyone looked up in alarm, only to see... a pig flying into the sky.