At this point, Guanyin's ongoing matters had little to do with Monkey King. If he knew, he'd probably just applaud—such imagination!
After leaving Black Wind Ridge, they had a momentary reprieve from immediate threats. The next ordeal on their path was in Gao Village, where they would recruit Pigsy (Zhu Bajie), also known as the Monk Pig. This step would require a cautious approach, given how swiftly the Buddhist forces had responded lately.
Pigsy was once a remarkable figure in Heaven—a marshal in command of the Celestial Rivers eighty-thousand-strong water army. But after he drunkenly made advances on Chang'e, the Jade Emperor had banished him to the mortal realm, where he'd reincarnated into the form of a pig and eventually settled as a demon king in the Cloud Path Cave of Mount Fuling.
Soon after he established himself as a demon king, Guanyin came looking for him with a proposal: if he agreed to protect Tripitaka on his journey to the West, she would petition Heaven on his behalf, not only restoring his human form but also reinstating him as the Marshal of the Celestial River. Eagerly, Pigsy accepted her terms—who wouldn't prefer to be human rather than a pig? Besides, as the former commander of the Celestial River's forces, the thought of returning to power was alluring.
So, Pigsy waited and waited in his cave, expecting the arrival of the monk he was destined to accompany. But instead of Tripitaka, what caught his attention was the lively sound of trumpets and drums echoing from nearby. Bored and curious, he ventured out to investigate and learned that Old Man Gao from Gao Village was holding a marriage ceremony for his daughter!
Old Gao had three daughters, each one more beautiful than the last, with his youngest, Gao Cuilan, renowned for her beauty throughout the village. When Pigsy heard about her, he immediately disguised himself as a suitable candidate, eager for a glimpse of Gao Cuilan.
With no sons of his own, Old Gao intended to take on a son-in-law to care for him in his old age. Pigsy's hard work and diligence quickly won Old Gao's favor, save for one quirk—his appetite. Naturally, being in a pig's body, Pigsy ate far more than anyone else, which Old Gao tolerated despite the extra expenses.
Everything was going smoothly until, on their wedding day, Pigsy drank too much and inadvertently revealed his true form. Old Gao was horrified; he'd never imagined taking in a demon as a son-in-law, which immediately led to conflict between them.
As for Pigsy's situation now, Monkey King wasn't certain, especially since the Journey to the West had been unfolding more quickly than in the original story. However, one thing puzzled him: Pigsy had been exiled for pursuing Chang'e, so how could a mere mortal woman have captivated him so? It didn't quite make sense.
Could it be that Gao Cuilan was somehow even more beautiful than Chang'e herself?
If so, that would be quite the prize for Pigsy, even with his current appearance. But could a former celestial like him truly be worthy of a beauty like that?
Clearly, this ordeal required his intervention.
Operation Code Name: Beauty Rescuer!
With his mind set, Monkey King decided he would personally investigate. Of course, he would have to do some recon first. What if Pigsy's altered appearance had also affected his tastes, and he now found swine-like features attractive? Rescuing someone under those circumstances would be rather embarrassing.
Furthermore, since the journey's timeline was progressing faster than in the original, he had no idea where the events in Gao Village currently stood.
Better to go and assess the situation immediately! And with no surveillance on him for now, he could prepare in advance.
"Master, I'll go ahead and scout the way forward!"
"Wukong, be careful, and don't forget to bring back some food!" Tripitaka shot him a knowing look.
Suppressing a sigh, Monkey King nodded before ascending into the sky.
...
In the Western Heavens, at the Great Thunderclap Monastery:
Bodhisattva Guanyin recounted the events at Avalokiteshvara Monastery to the Tathagata and shared her suspicions.
"You suspect that Tripitaka himself may be the variable?" asked the Tathagata, his expression pensive.
"Yes, Tathagata." Guanyin elaborated, "The ordeals we've arranged were all designed to test Tripitaka. But at Avalokiteshvara Monastery, he bypassed both challenges altogether, forcing us to rearrange everything."
"Anything else?"
The Tathagata continued probing, for mere conjecture was not enough to cast doubt on Tripitaka.
"There is, Tathagata," Guanyin replied. "All these disruptions began from the moment Tripitaka first died."
"The Five Directional Revelation Spirits reported that, as Tripitaka passed by Five-Phased Mountain, he didn't even pause. He showed no intention of rescuing Monkey King. Had Monkey King did not force the local spirits into action, our journey might have started without him."
"Yet to thwart the journey by risking his life twice would be extreme," Tathagata observed. This self-sacrifice seemed excessive and was the primary flaw in suspecting Tripitaka of harboring any secret motives.
"That's precisely why I find it more suspicious, Tathagata," Guanyin affirmed.
"Continue," Tathagata prompted, curiosity piqued.
"Tathagata, I suspect that Tripitaka was not originally the variable. At first, the disruption lingered around him, and it wasn't until the ordeal at Five-Phased Mountain that a plan began to unfold. After his repeated 'deaths,' we naturally assumed the disruption lay elsewhere. If the variable was indeed able to replace Tripitaka, he could easily operate unnoticed, assuming Tripitaka's place seamlessly," Guanyin explained.
"Evidence?"
"The clearest indication," Guanyin pointed out, "is Tripitaka's marked change in behavior since donning the Golden Headband. He's shown an aversion to the pilgrimage, disregards Buddhist precepts, and treats violations as casually as drinking water."
"It's a convincing hypothesis," Tathagata acknowledged, deep in thought as he assessed the likelihood of Tripitaka himself being the source of all disruptions.
"And what about the disappearance of the Brocade Cassock?" Tathagata inquired.
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