Chapter 20

After dinner, Xuanzang carried a clean change of clothes and other things and walked along the lake to find a suitable place to take a bath. It was his first time taking a bath in the wild. He either thought that the lake water was too muddy or that it was too spacious. His clothes were easily stained with mud, so he couldn't find the one he liked.

With great difficulty, he finally found a clear place with grass and trees. Only then did he settle down. He put his change of clothes on the grass and squatted down to test the temperature of the water. Although it wasn't piercing to the bone, it was still cold.

Hesitantly, he withdrew his hand. The spring night was still cold, and the warmth of the day had been exhausted. The moist wind from the lake was waiting for an opportunity to sneak into his clothes and dispel his thoughts little by little.

After playing with the water for a while, Xuanzang still carried the things back the way he came. It was too cold, and he didn't have the courage to immerse his whole body in it.

Ba Jie and Wujing were already resting. Only Wukong was still waiting for him.

Xuanzang saw his eldest disciple sitting by the lake from afar. He casually picked up a stone from the side and used it to play with the water. After using up the stone, he habitually touched the headband on his head. Then he casually put his hands on his curled up knees and sat there motionless.

He was like an eternal stone statue, as if he had been standing there since the beginning of time.

The moonlight delineated his perfect side profile, sprinkling coldness and loneliness on his body. One was ice and the other was fire, but they could perfectly blend together.

He was looking at the misty lake, and the emotions in his eyes couldn't be seen clearly. Xuanzang had the thought of going over and hugging him.

However, he had only taken a few steps when he saw the White Dragon Horse slowly trotting towards Wukong from the other side of the darkness. It gradually transformed into a human form a few feet away.

"Eldest Brother."

Wukong only gave a faint "Mm."

Xuanzang moved his body, hiding himself in the bushes beside him.

The White Dragon sat beside him and looked at him. It wanted to say something but stopped.

Wukong said, "Speak."

"Senior Brother …" The White Dragon looked in the same direction as him. "Are you going to accompany the Holy Monk in his quest to become a Buddha?"

Wukong retorted, "Otherwise?"

The White Dragon said, "I don't think you will."

Wukong said, "That's what you think."

The White Dragon said, "Once you succeed in obtaining the scriptures with the Holy Monk, you'll have to obey Buddha forever and become his puppet. I know you're not that kind of person."

He lowered his head. "When you came to the West Sea, I hid behind you and watched you. When you wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Court, I was also watching you.

I've watched you ascend to the heavens and dive into the earth. You're omnipotent, and everyone's expression changes when they talk about you. You're indeed someone I admire. "

"But I've been following you all this time. I've seen you serving the Holy Monk and acting so subservient. I don't feel good about it.

My hero, why have you fallen to this point? How could you submit so easily? "

"Senior Brother, no, Great Sage, this isn't like you."

Wukong subconsciously held the tight band above his head and put down his arm.

He also knew that he was too abnormal.

He was indeed submitting, but it wasn't to the Tathagata.

"I've always been me." He finally said, "Also, it's my duty to protect Master."

The White Dragon froze for a moment. "That's not what I meant. I respect the Holy Monk. After all, it was his existence that saved me from the death penalty … But, he's still a man of Buddha." He paused. "Great Sage, in fact, the death penalty I received … wasn't just because of disobedience."

Wukong finally turned to look at him. "Because of … the Heavenly Axiom?"

"The Heavenly Axiom?"

The White Dragon was slightly startled. "I'm not sure about this, but I heard my father discussing a secret with a few other uncles."

"At that time, you were suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain by Buddha. I heard them celebrating wildly and mentioning your name several times, so I paid attention to it."

The White Dragon recalled. "They seemed to have dealings with Buddha. They said that Buddha had already planned a route for you to protect the Golden Cicada to the West. Even if he doesn't take your life, the Golden Cicada can trip you up and make you bleed." He paused. "Although I believe in the Holy Monk, but … it's hard to guarantee that this isn't a trap."

Wukong frowned.

How could the Dragon King of the Four Seas know that he was going to the West 500 years ago?

"It has nothing to do with him." Wukong whispered. "The West is already a trap. He doesn't know anything."

He inadvertently touched the tight band again. "I know. Go to sleep. We still have to hurry tomorrow morning. It's been hard on you."

Every time Xuanzang saw him do this, he felt very sad. It was all because of him.

The White Dragon looked at the tight band on his head and thought for a while. He said, "I understand."

He stood up and turned back. "Senior Brother, if you want to do anything, you must tell me. I can do anything."

After that, without waiting for Wukong's response, he gradually disappeared into the darkness.

If he wanted to return to the place where he rested, he had to bypass Wukong. Xuanzang hugged his clothes and didn't know whether to advance or retreat. The moist night wind made him cold all over. After standing for a long time, his legs were a little stiff.

It seemed that every time he heard them discussing things behind his back.

He was still thinking about whether to stand for a while and then leave, pretending that he had just returned and didn't know anything. Wukong had already looked in his direction. Through the branches and leaves of the bushes, they happened to meet eyes.

He was discovered.

Xuanzang could only slowly walk over. Behind him, he saw that he was touching the tight band again. He leaned over and pulled his hand to stop him. "You know I'm here."

Wukong grabbed Xuanzang's hand, and Xuanzang was pulled onto Wukong's back. Xuanzang's hand was pulled to Wukong's chest, and Wukong played with it. Xuanzang opened Xuanzang's white, slender fingers one by one, and examined them. The nails were round and full, but they were full of holes.

Xuanzang was a little embarrassed. "It's nothing. I just bit them …"

His other arm was also placed on Wukong's shoulder, and his hand was hanging down. Wukong pulled him down and held them together to examine them. None of his fingernails survived, and they were all bitten so badly that it was unbearable to look at. "Raise them in the future, don't always bite them."

Xuanzang softly said, "Okay."

His hands were cold and wet, so Wukong wrapped both of them up and covered them with his hands.

He was still looking at the lake. He seemed to ask casually, "Do you remember your previous life?"

"I didn't even know that I had a previous life. It was all you who told me."

Xuanzang was lying on his body softly, absorbing his body heat. Hearing such strange words, he was a little angry but more disappointed. "Are you doubting me?"

"You know I'm here. You just said it for me to hear."

Xuanzang wanted to pull his hand back, but he couldn't move. He was even angrier. "Actually, what the king said was true. You're keeping me and waiting to eat me in the end."

"I'm not." Wukong was helpless. He felt that he had said something wrong, but in the end, he could only force out a sentence. "Don't listen to them."

Xuanzang was still stubbornly pulling his hand back. His vision blurred. When he came back to his senses, his whole body was wrapped in his arms. "Don't be angry."

Xuanzang pursed his beautiful lips and didn't say anything. He lowered his eyes and picked at his nails.

In fact, he wasn't that angry. After all, monks were calm and kind. However, he wanted to be angry when Wukong said that.

He was speechless for a moment.

Wukong saw that his body was dry and he was wearing old clothes. He asked, "Master, didn't you want to take a bath?

Why did you come back? "

Xuanzang didn't want to pay attention to him. After a while, he whispered, "The water is too cold. I don't want to take a bath."

Wukong smiled slightly. "Let me take you to a place."

Xuanzang: "?"

Wukong carried him horizontally and flew into the depths of the mountains on a cloud.

When he was begging for alms, he accidentally found a place in the mountains with fog. He went to take a look and found that it was a good place. Coincidentally, Xuanzang needed it now.

It turned out that there was a natural hot spring in the mountains. There were several large and small pools connected together, enough for many people to play around.

Xuanzang ran to the hot spring in surprise. "This is good."

He squatted down and used his hand to test the temperature of the water. Then, he stood up decisively and took off his clothes. He turned his head and asked Wukong, "Wukong, do you want to take a bath together?"

Wukong: "… No." It was too dangerous. He couldn't even stay.

Xuanzang asked, "Why?" It was much more interesting for two people to soak in the hot spring. They could also help each other.

Wukong said stiffly, "I don't need it."

Xuanzang suddenly understood. "Is it because your hair is wet and can't be blown dry?"

Wukong couldn't take it anymore. "Why are you so talkative?

Go down. "

Xuanzang curled his lips. His face changed faster than flipping through a book. He became so fierce. He had no choice but to take off his clothes and shoes. His bare ankles were small and cute. He also took off most of his top, revealing his delicate white shoulders and beautiful back. It was so beautiful that it didn't seem like a scene from the mortal world.

Wukong's mouth was inexplicably dry. He was about to look away when he saw that he suddenly stopped moving. He asked, "What's wrong?"

Xuanzang grabbed his clothes. "… I didn't take my clothes." He didn't take his bathing utensils either. He had left them by the lake when he was talking.

Wukong: "…" He hesitated. "Stay here and don't move. I'll be back soon."

Xuanzang agreed. "Come back quickly."

He had already taken off his clothes and carefully stepped into the hot spring.

It was a little hot, but it was just right.

He leaned against a rock and closed his eyes to enjoy himself. Suddenly, he heard a commotion. In an instant, he was in front of him.

Xuanzang opened his eyes and was shocked to see seven women in front of him. They were wearing gauze clothes of different colors. Each of them had outstanding appearances. They were pushing and playing with each other, but all of them were staring at him.

One of the women laughed. "I can smell a living person from afar. Sisters, I'm right."

The others laughed. "Sister, your nose is so sharp. It's our fault."

The seven silhouettes were dazzling as they dragged him away playfully.

Xuanzang wanted to cry but no tears came out.

This was deep in the mountains and it was the middle of the night. How could there be women in and out? They were clearly monsters!

What he thought of really came true!

During the day, he was still thinking about why he hadn't met a female monster. Now, it was here!