"I suspect that the Brocade Cassock was never truly lost!" Guanyin ventured, though not fully confident.
"Oh? And why do you say that? Even the sages could not detect it," the Tathagata inquired with a glint of curiosity.
Guanyin elaborated, "The karmic signs are too clear, almost as if nothing happened at all. There's only one way that could be possible: the Brocade Cassock is still with Tripitaka. If that were the case, the karmic signs would remain unchanged."
"Perhaps Tripitaka has concealed it by some unknown means, keeping us completely unaware," she added.
The Tathagata considered her words. There was some logic to it, though they still lacked definitive evidence. And even if Tripitaka's character seemed changed, he was still progressing along the pilgrimage path. For that reason alone, it was difficult to take action against him just yet.
"So, what do you propose?" the Tathagata asked.
"I've instructed the Five Directional Revelation Spirits to keep a close watch on him. If Tripitaka truly is hiding something, we'll find out soon enough. Then, we can bring him under our full control," Guanyin stated confidently.
"Very well," the Tathagata nodded in agreement.
"One more thing—I would like confirmation. Is the Tripitaka we're dealing with truly the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada?"
"A minor effort," the Tathagata said, closing his eyes. His divine consciousness extended to locate Tripitaka, who was resting, and he opened his all-seeing eye to examine Tripitaka's true spirit.
Soon, he had his answer. "There is no anomaly. He is indeed the Golden Cicada."
"Then...was I mistaken?" Guanyin wondered, momentarily doubting her own theory.
"No need for doubt. Tripitaka's suspicious behavior could stem from an unseen influence affecting his personality. That would account for his peculiar actions," the Tathagata mused.
In fact, he was quite close to the truth. Tripitaka's altered behavior was indeed due to Monkey King's subtle influence. Plus, the constraints imposed by the Buddhist sect had contributed to Tripitaka's shift in attitude.
"Even if your conclusion is partially flawed, keeping a close eye on Tripitaka may still yield results," the Tathagata reasoned. "Since we need to replace the two challenges he's bypassed, why not introduce more ordeals ahead? We have ample opportunity for further observation along the journey. Meanwhile, Guanyin, plan additional challenges as necessary."
"By your will, Tathagata," Guanyin replied, taking her leave.
...
Meanwhile, at Gao Village:
It had taken Monkey King quite a bit of trouble to locate the place. The truth was...he'd gotten lost!
He had assumed Gao Village was nearby and had flown westward in a straight line. But after considerable travel, he found no sign of the village. Realizing he might have taken a wrong turn, he'd consulted the system, spending a thousand karma points for guidance.
It turned out Gao Village was indeed westward, but not directly west. Flying a straight line had only taken him farther away.
Hopefully, Tripitaka wouldn't make the same mistake later on and accidentally leave Pigsy behind!
After orienting himself, Monkey King finally approached Gao Village in search of his target.
Finding Pigsy wasn't difficult—he stood out. Among a group of laborers working in the fields, one in particular was toiling away with a rake, working tirelessly and single-mindedly, leaving the others far behind.
Curious, Monkey King activated his Fiery Golden Eyes and quickly identified Pigsy. Confirming his presence meant the wedding hadn't yet occurred; there was still time to intervene. But what of Gao Cuilan, the young woman he'd come to rescue?
With a quick incantation, Monkey King turned invisible and hovered above Gao Village, scanning for a young beauty. Meanwhile, down below, Pigsy paused his work, looking up at the sky with suspicion. For a moment, he felt as though someone were watching him.
After scanning his surroundings and seeing nothing unusual, he returned to work, though with lingering doubts. As the former Marshal of the Celestial River, Pigsy wasn't one to brush off a gut feeling. The lack of any obvious intruder only led him to conclude that a being of equal or greater strength might be nearby.
Could this be a visit from the Buddhist sect?
As Pigsy pondered, Monkey King's search led him to a strikingly beautiful young woman. She was around sixteen, with a charm that would put legendary beauties to shame—delicate, graceful, radiant, and the kind of beauty that could move mountains.
This, he figured, must be Gao Cuilan.
No wonder Pigsy had forgotten all about Chang'e—this girl's beauty was enough to capture anyone's heart. Though he'd never met Chang'e, Monkey King found himself rather captivated by this lovely young lady.
Absolutely not. Such a beautiful soul couldn't be left to suffer under Pigsy's clutches. She had to be rescued—by him!
And so, Monkey King made up his mind. It was time to stir things up—and in a big way.
The village was bustling with festive decorations, suggesting Old Gao had planned the wedding for that very evening. If he didn't act quickly, it might be too late.
At his current pace, Tripitaka would likely arrive in about three days—long after the wedding would have concluded.
"System, I'm ready to make a scene. Got any recommendations?" he inquired.
When in doubt, consult the system.
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