Chapter 122: Next Stop, Longevity Mountain

The main hall suddenly erupted into a lively scene. The three daughters swarmed around Xuanzang, openly critiquing his appearance.

"This monk is truly handsome. Big sister, second sister, tell me, is your heart stirred? As for me... hee hee, I am so delighted just looking at him."

"Big sister is moved."

"Second sister is also moved."

"Hee hee, little sister is too... how about we three sisters marry him together? Three women serving one husband—what do you think?"

"I have no objections," the eldest sister agreed.

The second one chimed in, "I have no objections either."

"Ah... Master, this is truly going too far... how could they..."

*Could you at least spare one for me, Old Pig?*

All three at once? Could Master’s seemingly frail frame handle such a thing?

Zhu Bajie was filled with envy, jealousy, and spite. He wished he could peel the skin right off Xuanzang’s face and graft it onto his own. That fair, delicate, "pretty boy" complexion of his master was truly enough to make anyone green with envy.

Xuanzang was blushing deeply, unable to find the words to defend himself. Silence was his best form of self-preservation.

The matron watched from the side, secretly amused.

"Hey, give it a rest. If the monk actually agreed to your request, would even one of you truly marry him? If the monk were willing, then what? Tell me, what would you do then?"

Sun Wukong, who had been watching the farce with cold eyes, could no longer stomach the display of hypocrisy. It was all acting as if it were real.

The matron immediately asked him, "Monkey... no, may I ask this guest, why do you say that?"

Sun Wukong shook his head and gestured toward the monk. "Don't make things difficult for the monk anymore. Can't you see he's been nagged into such shame by you women that he's about to explode on the spot?"

Sun Wukong shook his head again, adding with a look of disdain, "Tell me, are you all just bored with nothing better to do? Do you enjoy toying with people? I’d like to ask, what is the point of this kind of test? Is it not absolute nonsense?"

Sun Wukong had never held any affection for those so-called high and mighty deities in the Heavenly Palace. Having long ago seen through the "true forms" of these four women, he found their so-called "test of sincerity" both deeply contemptible and unbearable to witness.

The matron looked at Sun Wukong, astonished. "Er... may I ask, when did you see through the ruse?"

Their illusions had been cast so perfectly—how could they have been exposed in an instant by a monkey? It was incredible, inconceivable!

The matron’s transformation was none other than Guanyin! As for the three other women, they were the Holy Mother of Mount Li, Samantabhadra, and Manjushri.

"The Buddha says, heavenly secrets must not be leaked. Heh heh, my dear Bodhisattvas, I am truly sorry, but this old Sun cannot say, or I shall suffer heavenly retribution."

*You want to know?*

*Ha!*

*I, Old Sun, simply won't tell you.*

"Well, everyone, our illusion has failed."

The matron shook her head with a smile, instantly reverting to the form of Guanyin. The remaining three women also resumed their true appearances one by one.

The revelation that they were four highly respected Bodhisattvas stunned Xuanzang and the others. Sun Wukong, naturally, was the exception.

Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Seng all knelt down in unison.

"Tang Seng, your mind is firm—as steady as a rock. Faced with the temptations of wealth and beauty, you remained unmoved. This steadfast belief of yours is worth our emulation. You are truly excellent."

Guanyin’s praise for the monk was high.

The Holy Mother of Mount Li echoed the sentiment: "Monk, well done, well done. Your faith, along with your resolve, is as firm as a rock. Ah... it is time for this game of testing sincerity to end."

"Sisters, it is time for us to return."

"We respectfully see the Bodhisattvas off!"

Lotus flowers bloomed one after another upon the ground. The four Bodhisattvas exchanged knowing smiles, then transformed into wisps of white smoke and departed one by one.

Zhu Bajie collapsed to the ground, wiping away a cold sweat. He muttered, "Just now... I truly never imagined that they were... that they were Bodhisattvas in disguise? But why? It felt like a dream, it felt..."

"It felt too unreal, didn't it? Hah, you pig-head, look at how greedy you were just now, wishing you could get your hands on them? Heh heh, you complete fool."

Facing Sun Wukong’s mockery, Zhu Bajie looked despondent. "Tch, don't talk about me, Old Pig. I don't believe that Master or Brother Sha wouldn't be tempted when faced with such stunning beauties and mountains of gold and silver. Master, Brother Sha, say something!"

"Amitabha! Bajie, enough of this nonsense!"

Xuanzang had not been tempted, and neither had Sha Seng; it seemed only Zhu Bajie’s heart had been fluttering.

Suddenly, with a *thump*, Sun Wukong kicked the pig-head. "Pig-head, do you see? Among the four of us, your resolve is the weakest. You are lazy and gluttonous; if you don't change these habits, we will sooner or later be dragged down by you."

Zhu Bajie rubbed his sore backside, muttering indignantly, "Who says I'm lazy and gluttonous? If a man is tired, can't he sit down and rest? If a man is hungry, how can you expect him to work? Hmph, I don't buy into that."

"Pah! I can't be bothered with you. You pig-head always has a mountain of excuses."

Sun Wukong pulled out a bottle of soda and took a swig.

*So... soda?*

*That's good stuff!*

Zhu Bajie’s eyes lit up with greed. "Ahem... Monkey Brother, could you spare me a sip?"

"Heh, look at that, and you say you aren't greedy."

Sun Wukong rolled his eyes, ignoring the pig-head entirely.

Zhu Bajie grew anxious. "Monkey Brother, no... one shouldn't hold such grudges, right? One must be magnanimous, broad-minded, and..."

"Second Senior Brother, please stop; I’m embarrassed for you."

Sha Seng, who was always reticent, suddenly blurted this out. It was a golden piece of advice that instantly turned Zhu Bajie’s face as red as a monkey’s bottom.

Xuanzang suddenly asked Sun Wukong, "Benefactor Sun, your disciple has been troubled by a question: when exactly did you discover they were transformed from the four Bodhisattvas?"

Xuanzang could not fathom the answer.

Sun Wukong scratched his head, his eyes darting around. After a long while, he said, "Heh heh, about that... didn't I say before? The Buddha says heavenly secrets must not be leaked, or I, Old Sun, would face heavenly wrath. As for being struck by lightning, I wouldn't dare speak a word of nonsense."

The power of the Immortal Ancestor was truly immense; one had to offer complete, 360-degree reverence.

Moving on to the next stop—Longevity Mountain...