4: Chapter 4 Burning Down the Zen Temple

Viewed from a distance, the temple's pavilions and towers were layered one upon another, situated on the mountainside amidst swirling clouds and mist. The stairs leading up the mountain were lined with pine and cypress trees, giving it an ancient and cultivation-focused atmosphere.

The three made their way up the stairs and encountered a monk dressed in a splendid kasaya, holding a wooden fish and a suona. Surprisingly, he showed no fear at the sight of the Furry Monkey and the dragon-man.

He went straight to questioning the monk in the kasaya on the white horse, prompting Tang Seng to quickly dismount and bow piously.

The temple monk asked, "Where do you come from? Would you like to enter Guanyin Temple for some tea?"

Tang Seng quickly replied, "This Disciple is an imperial envoy from the East, traveling to the Western Leiyin Temple to worship Buddha and seek the scriptures. As it is getting late, I wish to stay the night to recover from the fatigue of travel."

Both were monks, so they naturally had much to discuss. As their conversation deepened, they walked side by side, chatting about Buddhist scriptures and anecdotes, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Tang Seng turned back to call for Ao Lie and Monkey King to lead the horse inside, then continued his conversation with the temple monk without looking back.

Monkey King felt a bit suspicious.

"Junior Brother, look at this place. Although it is built in the wilderness, the incense is endless. It seems Buddhism is flourishing these days! I wonder what it is like inside?"

Ao Lie led the horse, staring at the Guanyin Temple before him, then narrowed his eyes and remained silent.

Tang Seng followed the monk into the temple, and the Old Abbot of the temple, having received news, hurried out to welcome them.

"I apologize for not meeting you sooner! I apologize for not meeting you sooner!"

The elderly, frail-looking Old Abbot patted Tang Seng's hand as if comforting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

Tang Seng, eyes brimming with tears, nodded.

Ao Lie tied the white horse to a pine tree at the temple gate, then followed Monkey King into the temple.

Upon seeing them, the Old Abbot couldn't help but ask, yet there was not a trace of panic in his eyes, as if he were accustomed to strange people and happenings.

Tang Seng performed a salute and explained.

The Old Abbot nodded to show his understanding.

Monkey King was very interested in the things inside the temple, jumping around wildly. While everyone else was conversing, he hopped over to where the temple bell was hung, pulled out his Golden Cudgel, and struck the great bronze bell.

He giggled foolishly as he struck it.

Seeing this, Ao Lie felt a headache coming on. He couldn't help but wonder how this Furry Monkey had managed to cause Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. Was this not complete nonsense?

The group's expressions were all extremely strange. After Tang Seng explained with a darkened face, they went to worship the golden statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

Afterward, the Old Abbot asked a young acolyte to prepare a vegetarian meal.

During the banquet, the Old Abbot showed off his own precious vessels and asked Tang Seng if he had any treasures.

Tang Seng was humble and did not boast, but that monkey-headed Monkey King could not stand it. He ran to the horse by the pine tree at the temple entrance, retrieved the precious light-emitting kasaya, and showed it to the monks.

Ao Lie saw this but did not stop him, simply standing to the side to watch the Furry Monkey show off.

The Old Abbot and the other monks truly became greedy.

Night fell. Outside the temple, cicadas chirped and beasts roared; inside, the sound of wooden fish and chanting was endless.

The Old Abbot looked at the precious light-emitting kasaya he had obtained, liking it more the longer he looked. Unable to make up his mind, he called his confidants to discuss a plan on how to keep the kasaya.

One thick-browed monk suggested killing all three of them.

Others suggested poisoning their food.

Finally, one person suggested using a great fire to burn them to death.

The Old Abbot was delighted to hear this. It was not that he did not want to use the first two methods, but they were too obvious and bold; after all, he felt that the furry-faced monkey and the delicate-looking man with horns on his head were not to be trifled with.

Therefore, after a little thought, he finally made his decision. "Then we will set a fire and burn them to death!"

Monkey King's Physical Body was slightly dozing, but his Primordial Spirit Leaving the Body, practicing Qi and conserving spirit. Upon hearing the monks' conspiracy, he originally wanted to club them to death, but he feared Tang Seng would recite the mantra, so he simply woke Ao Lie.

"Junior Brother! Did you hear that?"

Ao Lie opened his eyes languidly, a dark glint flashing in them.

He secretly manipulated the shadow soldiers—falcons—in the sky to sneak outside the window of the Old Abbot's room, noticing it almost at the same time as Monkey King.

Ao Lie withdrew from the shared vision and spoke softly.

"Senior Brother, since that is the case, we might as well wait patiently and not alert the enemy. If we act and hurt them, it will cause Master to misunderstand. If Master starts chanting, you will have a hard time!"

Monkey King thought this was true and nodded.

"Yes! That is exactly what I am worried about. Then, according to your opinion, Junior Brother, how should we handle this?"

Ao Lie thought for a moment, leaned close to Monkey King's ear, and whispered, "Later we will do this... [gibberish]..."

Monkey King was overjoyed upon hearing this, his fiery eyes revealing a green glint.

"Good, let's do it!"

It was a dark, windy night—the time for murder and mayhem.

The monks rose, some carrying oil, some firewood, and some lighting fires.

In an instant, the guest room where Tang Seng and his party were staying was engulfed in flames. Some young monks with a conscience silently recited scriptures in their hearts.

"Namo Amitabha..."

Monkey King and Ao Lie sat on the clouds, and beside them were all their belongings for the journey to the West.

And, of course, that kasaya.

It turned out that the two of them had just cast an illusionary Divine Ability, causing the monks of the temple to temporarily ignore the kasaya. Then, Ao Lie blew a breath of turbid Qi.

That turbid Qi seemed to contain a knockout drug, and the Old Abbot, who was hiding in the room caressing the kasaya, fainted immediately upon smelling it.

Afterward, Ao Lie manipulated a falcon to snatch the kasaya and put one made of monkey hair back in its place.

Monkey King was a bit worried, nudged Ao Lie's shoulder, and asked, "Junior Brother Ao Lie, will this operation accidentally hurt Master? After all, I am not good at avoiding fire!"

Ao Lie chuckled and said, "Senior Brother, have you forgotten my identity? I am of the Dragon Clan; I am naturally gifted at controlling water. Avoiding fire is a breeze."

He then added, "Besides, this fire is just ordinary fire. Why make a mountain out of a molehill and go borrow some fire-avoidance cover from the Wide-Eyed Heavenly King?"

Monkey King nodded and continued to observe the people and the fire below.

Ao Lie looked at the kasaya and suddenly said to the Furry Monkey beside him, "Senior Brother, why don't you let me keep this kasaya for now? I have great use for it, and I will definitely not lose it."

Monkey King waved his hand and did not answer.

Ao Lie saw this and nodded.

Just as the fire was blazing, a dark shadow rushed into the Abbot's room, snatched the kasaya, and left without even looking at the fire.

It left behind a group of bewildered monks, frozen in place, guessing what that shadow was.

Monkey King was overjoyed and shouted to Ao Lie beside him, "Junior Brother, it is just as you said! There really is a Black Bear Spirit causing trouble here!"

A sharp glint appeared in Ao Lie's eyes.

"Senior Brother, let's go save Master! We can deal with that Black Bear Spirit later."

"I suppose Master is currently hiding in a corner crying, right? Hahahaha."

Upon hearing this, Monkey King also burst into laughter.

"Let that bald donkey play the good guy; today we will dampen his arrogance!"

The two flew down from the clouds laughing, both drawing their weapons, glaring coldly at the group of monks.