After persuading Tripitaka to rest, Monkey King quietly approached the old farmer.
"Old man, got any meat?"
Though Tripitaka was content with the vegetarian meal, Monkey King certainly wasn't. After enduring five hundred years of molten copper and iron, he was in no mood to settle for plain greens.
"I figured you'd come asking!" The old farmer wore a knowing look.
"???"
Monkey King was puzzled. This old man was just an ordinary mortal—how could he have guessed his intentions?
"From the moment I saw you, I knew you were no real monk. What kind of monk doesn't shave his head? Is that pale-skinned monk forcing you into this?"
The old farmer spoke with absolute certainty.
Monkey King looked at him, bemused. This old man's imagination was quite something!
"Don't deny it. I could see it at dinner. That fair-skinned monk is a real piece of work—only cares about himself and ignores you completely. They call him a virtuous monk. Hah!" The old farmer's voice was filled with disdain for Tripitaka.
You're the expert, sir. You've got it all figured out!
Monkey King forced a smile, feeling awkward. As a Taiyi Golden Immortal, he didn't need food. He simply wanted to enjoy something tasty for a change. Besides, Tripitaka knew he was the Demon King; whether he ate or not didn't matter.
But somehow, in the old farmer's mind, things had taken on an entirely different twist.
"Look at you, young man, so handsome yet treated so poorly. I'll kill a chicken to give you a decent meal!" The old farmer patted Monkey King on the shoulder and turned away before Monkey King could respond.
Monkey King stood frozen for a moment.
Pitiful? This mortal thought he was pitiful!
What a joke!
But he held his temper. After all, the old man was indeed preparing a chicken for him.
As the old farmer was cooking the chicken, a sudden banging on the door, followed by rowdy shouting, disrupted the peace outside.
They'd arrived!
Monkey King's eyes narrowed, and he quickly rose to his feet.
Tripitaka, who had been sleeping, was startled awake and rushed to Monkey King's side, trembling with fear.
"Wukong, what's happening? Is something wrong?"
"Don't worry, Master. It's just a gang of bandits here to raid the place. With me here, they won't be leaving in one piece!" Monkey King replied with a smirk.
A group of mere mortals wouldn't even require him to exert himself.
"Do not harm them!" Tripitaka implored with a compassionate expression.
"Rest assured, Master. Not a hair on them will be harmed," Monkey King promised.
As they spoke, seven or eight bandits charged toward them, brandishing knives. They were smart enough to tell that, judging by Tripitaka and Monkey King's attire, these two were wealthier targets than the old couple cowering in the corner.
As the bandits drew near, Monkey King yawned.
"Freeze!"
Instantly, the bandits stopped in their tracks, their fierce expressions frozen, but their eyes wide with terror.
"All done!" Monkey King dusted off his hands. "Master, they're all yours!"
"Huh?" Tripitaka looked bewildered. "Wukong, I'm no official. What am I supposed to do with them?"
"Master, aren't you a high monk? Guiding people to virtue brings great merit," Monkey King reasoned.
After all, he wasn't about to handle the situation himself. The nearest town was far away. Though he could easily throw the bandits in prison, he was curious to see if Tripitaka could earn him Karma Points by attempting to reform them.
"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have altered the course of the Journey to the West. Karma Points +800!"
"???"
Just like that? Monkey King was taken aback.
Upon hearing Monkey King's suggestion, Tripitaka's eyes lit up. Simply capturing them was a waste—if he could redeem them, the merit would be his to claim.
However, faced with the menacing expressions of the bandits, he felt a bit apprehensive. "Wukong, they won't hurt me, will they?"
"Don't worry, Master. I've immobilized them. Without my permission, they won't be able to move a muscle!" Monkey King assured him, still preoccupied with understanding the source of the Karma Points.
Reassured by Monkey King's words, Tripitaka turned to the eight unfortunate bandits and began lecturing them.
"Dear benefactors, know that to lay down the butcher's knife is to become a Tathagata on the spot. Violence is never the answer…"
Monkey King noticed the old farmer and his wife still appeared fearful and hurried to reassure them.
"Old man, everything's fine now. Carry on as you were."
"G-great Immortal, please accept my humble gratitude!" The old farmer and his wife moved to kneel before him.
Had Monkey King not stayed at their home, they would surely have fallen victim to the bandits.
With a wave of his hand, Monkey King stopped them from kneeling. "No need for that, old man. Go about your business—I'm still waiting for that chicken!"
Though they didn't kneel, the couple's admiration for Monkey King only grew. After profuse thanks, they returned to preparing his meal, determined not to let an immortal go hungry.
Monkey King chuckled and turned his focus inward.
"Hey, system, get over here!"
"What would the host like to know?"
"Explain those 800 Karma Points."
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