Chapter 148: Zhu Bajie's Opportunity

"Zhu Bajie, how did you get here? You..."

Sun Wukong was astonished by Zhu Bajie's arrival, never expecting that Zhu Bajie would also be a person of destiny, and that this pig-head was actually able to cross the Gate of Immortals.

Seeing the pig-head, Sun Wukong found it completely incredible.

"Ah! Brother Monkey? Is it really you? Wuwu... Brother Monkey, do you know? Your old Zhu has searched for you so bitterly along the way."

The moment the pig-head saw Sun Wukong, he burst into a loud "wa," moved to tears by his own plight.

He immediately grabbed the monkey's thigh, vigorously wiping his snot on it, trying his best to look as miserable and aggrieved as possible.

With a loud bang, Sun Wukong kicked the pig-head away, looking utterly disgusted. "Stop whining and tell me quickly, how did you find this place?"

How could this stupid pig possibly manage to find his Master's manor? It was simply too unexpected.

"Master, it seems everything has been predicted by you. This pig-head has really come."

"Brother Monkey, wuwu... You don't know yet, do you? Master has already turned into a beast, our poor Master is so pitiful!"

Zhu Bajie began to recount his grievances with a flood of tears and snot. "To rescue Master along the way, Junior Brother Sha and I have suffered quite a lot. Your old Zhu first went to your Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, Brother Monkey, but who would have known you weren't there... making me run this trip for nothing."

"Later on, old Zhu tracked all the way down to the foot of Fangcun Mountain at Lingtai, and found the Patriarch... The Patriarch didn't want to get involved at first, but old Zhu was desperate. After crying and kneeling through a round of kowtows, the Patriarch finally brought me here."

"And finally, I don't know what happened, but old Zhu just wandered blindly all the way here... By the way, Brother Monkey, what kind of place is this?"

With his mind in a daze, Zhu Bajie truly had no idea where he was.

"Hmph, you really are a pig! This is my Master's celestial abode. Pig-head, haven't you noticed that this place is quite different from anywhere else?"

This pig was truly as stupid as they come. Sun Wukong's gaze toward Zhu Bajie was filled entirely with disdain.

"Ah! I never imagined this place could be far more beautiful than the Celestial Palace, especially..."

Especially the little fairy maiden from the mortal realm he had just encountered a moment ago. Zhu Bajie's piggish saliva was already threatening to flow again.

"Wukong, handle this however you see fit. Whether you want to return to the Journey to the West, or continue living this parasite-like, carefree life in my manor, make your own decision."

Having said that, Chu Xiaoyu had no intention of getting involved in the matter. He instructed Ah Shan to fetch a fishing rod and went off in a dashing manner.

After a series of renovations, the manor had expanded significantly in area. Pavilions and kiosks were naturally abundant, along with small bridges, flowing streams, and rockeries.

Chu Xiaoyu had even specially had workers build an artificial lake stocked with fish fry, so that in his leisure time and when bored, he could go fishing to pass the time.

Arriving at the artificial lake, Ah Shan personally baited the hook and asked Chu Xiaoyu, "Sir, do you really intend to stay out of Eldest Senior Brother's affair? I can tell that Eldest Senior Brother is very conflicted about this."

"Indeed. It would be strange if the monkey wasn't conflicted. This matter... isn't really anything major; Wukong will resolve it himself. Perhaps... there is just one thing: he can't let go of his pride and status."

This monkey had always been very arrogant and proud, especially since he had been driven away by that bald donkey of a monk.

Now, things were fine—the monk had fallen under a demonic spell and turned into a beast. If Sun Wukong were to be sent rushing back in a dejected manner just to rescue this monk, the monkey would naturally feel very unhappy and reluctant.

More importantly, the monk had denied their master-disciple relationship, which would strip the monkey of even more dignity and face.

Now that the monk was in trouble, people came begging tearfully for the monkey to return. What kind of situation was this?

*Here when you need me, gone when you don't.*

The world's best things couldn't all be reaped by you alone. What are you daydreaming about?

"Oh, Sir, a fish is biting! Hurry up and pull in the rod..."

The float kept sinking, and the little girl Ah Shan was more anxious than anyone, repeatedly urging Chu Xiaoyu.

Chu Xiaoyu wasn't in a hurry at all. He leisurely reeled in the fishing rod, and a palm-sized tilapia was pulled ashore.

Ah Shan happily ran over to unhook the fish, saying, "This fish is so plump! Heehee, I heard Sister Daji loves eating fish, I'll go take it to her right now."

Taking the fish, the little girl Ah Shan skipped away happily.

Cats love eating fish, and foxes love eating fish, so there was nothing wrong with that at all.

Chu Xiaoyu continued fishing...

In the main hall, Zhu Bajie was devouring dishes he had never tasted before like a starving ghost.

The sight of the pig-head stuffing his face was truly unwatchable.

Good heavens!

What kind of heavenly mortal delicacies were these? Why had he never eaten them before?

No wonder the monkey was unwilling to leave this earthly paradise.

All kinds of delicacies, various fruits and pastries, and that soda he had always craved... now he could finally eat his fill.

With his mouth greasy from eating, Zhu Bajie seemed to have cast the task of inviting the monkey back to the Journey to the West to rescue the monk completely out of his mind.

Rescue the master?

Rescue my foot!

Of all things in heaven and earth, eating, drinking, and sleeping mattered most.

Stuffing his pig's belly with food was the most urgent priority.

"You pig-head... you really are a pig! Finish eating and get lost right now."

Zhu Bajie's unrefined eating manner, resembling a reincarnated starving ghost, made Sun Wukong unwilling to even spare him a glance.

With his mouth stuffed full of food, the pig-head mumbled vaguely, "That won't do, Brother Monkey. If you don't go back, then old Zhu won't go back either. Hehe... Whenever you go back, old Zhu will go back."

"Don't even think about it, get lost! You are not welcome here. Besides, this is my Master's celestial abode, not a place for a pig-head like you to act wild."

Sun Wukong spoke with a fierce expression, but Zhu Bajie wasn't scared at all; instead, he pushed his luck. "I don't care about all that. Anyway, Master has already turned into a beast. If I can't rescue Master, old Zhu can't go back either."

Still going to fetch some damn scriptures from the Western Heaven? They might as well just break up the team right here.

"Pig-head, you really don't plan to go back?" Sun Wukong asked, narrowing his eyes halfway.

"If Brother Monkey doesn't go back, old Zhu won't go back either. Anyway, old Zhu doesn't have much skill; I can't beat the monsters anyway, and it won't matter if old Zhu is missing."

Zhu Bajie continued to sweep through the delicacies on the table.

Sun Wukong suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of irritation. He glared fiercely at Zhu Bajie and chose to storm off.

Sun Wukong headed straight to the back courtyard to find Chu Xiaoyu.

Feeling deeply depressed and conflicted, the monkey desperately hoped to receive guidance from the Immortal Master Chu Xiaoyu.