Chapter 11

On this day, the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly. Under an ancient tree in the Fangcun Mountain, the disciples of Master Subhuti were sitting together, discussing scriptures and talking about ancient and modern matters. Around them, flowers bloomed in competition, and cranes sang in unison, presenting a truly celestial scene.

After a moment of laughter and conversation, one of the senior disciples said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, what kind of karmic connection did you cultivate to receive such favor from Master? Have you mastered all the immortal techniques and magical powers that Master has taught you over these years?"

Sun Wukong smiled and replied, "To be honest with all my senior brothers, it's partly due to Master's teachings and partly due to my diligent practice day and night. I have long integrated these doctrines."

Hearing Sun Wukong's words, another senior disciple said, "If that's the case, why don't you take advantage of this gathering to demonstrate a few of your extraordinary skills for us to appreciate?"

Sun Wukong, feeling invigorated, boasted, "Senior brothers, please give me a task. What should I transform into?"

"It's been twenty years already!" Seeing this scene, Yang Zhen suddenly realized that he and Sun Wukong had been in Fangcun Mountain for twenty years, and it was finally time to leave. The plot of the Journey to the West might have started from this day. The next plot would be the Great Uproar in Heaven, and Sun Wukong's five-hundred-year imprisonment would begin.

Having been Sun Wukong's fellow disciple for twenty years, they often practiced together. Perhaps at the beginning, Yang Zhen approached Sun Wukong with a purpose. But after twenty years, Yang Zhen had long regarded Sun Wukong as his own brother. Just thinking about Sun Wukong spending five hundred years under the Five-Finger Mountain made Yang Zhen feel suffocated.

Although Yang Zhen wanted to change this plot, he was only a Second-Rank Celestial Immortal, and he felt somewhat powerless. Even if he practiced diligently every day, he could not quickly improve his cultivation, as magical power required gradual accumulation to enhance.

While Yang Zhen was lost in thought, a senior disciple laughed and said, "Wukong, why don't you turn into a tree?"

Sun Wukong, hearing this, made the hand signs, recited the incantation, and transformed into an ancient tree. Indeed, it was: lush and smoky, standing tall and graceful all year round, with no trace of a mischievous monkey, but rather branches that had endured frost and snow.

Everyone clapped and laughed, exclaiming, "Good monkey, good monkey, truly extraordinary!"

Sun Wukong, being of a restless nature, seeing everyone's joy, wanted to show off more skills. On the open ground, Sun Wukong transformed into an elephant, then a tiger, and then a lion, displaying all seventy-two transformations. The seventy-two transformations of the Earthly Fiends were the highest realm of yin-yang and the five elements, including: penetration, driving spirits, carrying mountains, restraining water, borrowing wind, spreading mist, praying for clear weather, praying for rain, sitting in fire, entering water, concealing the sun, controlling the wind, cooking stones, spitting flames, swallowing knives, pot heaven, divine travel, walking on water, staff transformation, splitting the body, invisibility, reattaching the head, immobilizing the body, slaying demons, summoning immortals, chasing souls, capturing souls, summoning clouds, fetching the moon, moving objects, transplanting dreams, dismemberment, parasitic staff, cutting off the flow, averting disasters, dispelling calamities, finger transformation, corpse transformation, shifting scenery, summoning, cloud tracing, gathering beasts, taming birds, qi prohibition, great strength, penetrating stones, emitting light, concealing clothing, guiding, consuming, opening and closing, leaping over rocks, sprouting heads, climbing, drinking water, lying in snow, basking in the sun, juggling, water talismans, medicine, knowing the time, recognizing the land, fasting, and incantations.

The seventy-two transformations of the Earthly Fiends were considered the most advanced magical powers in the three realms. Sun Wukong, being of a lively nature, his performance was truly earth-shattering, and it even startled Master Subhuti.

"Who is making such a commotion here?" Master Subhuti asked.

Seeing Master Subhuti, everyone hurriedly tidied their clothes and bowed to the ground. Sun Wukong also returned to his original form, kneeling among the disciples, and said, "Master, we were discussing the Dao here, and there were no outsiders causing a commotion."

Master Subhuti, hearing this, became angry and said, "You all are shouting and yelling, not at all like cultivators! When a cultivator opens his mouth, his spirit and qi scatter; when he moves his tongue, trouble arises. Why are you making such a racket here?"

The disciples replied, "We dare not hide anything from Master. Just now, Sun Wukong was demonstrating his transformation skills. Whatever we asked him to transform into, he could do it. The disciples all praised and cheered, hence the loud noise that disturbed Master. We beg for your forgiveness."

Seeing Master Subhuti's anger, the disciples all blamed Sun Wukong and bowed their heads in apology, not daring to look at Master Subhuti.

"Disperse!" Master Subhuti waved his hand at everyone, then said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, come here! I ask you, what kind of skills were you showing off, and what were you transforming into? Did you learn these skills just to show off in front of others?"

Seeing Master Subhuti truly angry, Sun Wukong immediately kowtowed and said, "Disciple knows his fault, please forgive me, Master."

Master Subhuti turned away and said calmly, "I do not blame you, but you should leave."

Hearing these words, Sun Wukong's eyes welled up with tears, and he cried, "Where should I go, Master?"

"Where you came from, that's where you should go," Master Subhuti said.

...

After returning to his room, Yang Zhen couldn't help but sigh. Today, Sun Wukong would be sent away by Master Subhuti. After Sun Wukong left, Master Subhuti would likely dismiss all the disciples. From the past twenty years, Yang Zhen had realized that Master Subhuti cared little for the other disciples, focusing solely on teaching Sun Wukong and ignoring the rest.

According to the senior disciple, he had been in Fangcun Mountain for 160 years, yet his cultivation was still below the level of a terrestrial immortal. This showed that Master Subhuti did not take them seriously. As for why Master Subhuti taught him, Yang Zhen had thought about it. Perhaps it was because Master Subhuti saw his potential and the fact that he came to study with Sun Wukong, so he taught him alongside Sun Wukong.

Since they were all accompanying the 'Prince' Sun Wukong in his studies, once the 'Prince' left, they, the supporting characters, would no longer be necessary.

It was laughable that those who saw Master Subhuti only scold Sun Wukong felt pleased, hum! Ignorance is bliss.

Looking around the room, Yang Zhen felt a bit reluctant. After living here for twenty years, he had developed some affection. Suddenly having to leave, he felt a faint sadness. After packing his clothes and books, Yang Zhen decided to go see Master Subhuti and bid farewell.

Rather than wait for Master Subhuti to dismiss him, it would be better to take the initiative and propose leaving first. At least this way, Master Subhuti would leave a good impression on him.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

"Who is it?"

"Junior Brother Wuzhi, Master is calling you."

"I know, I'll be right there."

Hearing the footsteps fade away, Yang Zhen's heart skipped a beat. What could Master Subhuti want with him?

Could he be planning to deal with him secretly?

No, if Master Subhuti had decided not to let him live, why would he have spent the past few years teaching him?

Considering several possibilities, Yang Zhen finally concluded that Master Subhuti was most likely going to send him away. After all, with Sun Wukong gone, there was no need for Master Subhuti to waste time on these insignificant people.

Taking a deep breath, Yang Zhen thought to himself, "If that's the case, I'll take the initiative when I see Master Subhuti."