He rolled his eyes and said, "Bodhisattva, what do you want me to do?"
"Help me kill someone."
The Bodhisattva smiled faintly.
Sun Wukong: "..."
It was his first time seeing someone request a killing with such a dignified and compassionate demeanor.
"Who?"
Sun Wukong asked with great interest.
If the Bodhisattva Guanyin, known for universal salvation, harbors a desire to kill, then that person must truly deserve death.
"The Six-Eared Macaque."
Sun Wukong was momentarily astonished.
He said irritably, "That waste of space? Just get the Black Bear Dog to make a move, and he'd be taken down easily. Why do you need me for this job?"
Bodhisattva Guanyin smiled faintly and said, "I am worried that killing him will lead to complications, so it must be done by someone else."
Sun Wukong was dumbfounded.
Truly, he had thought all bodhisattvas were good people; he never expected one could be so scheming.
What happened to universal salvation and compassion for the world?
How can you set someone up like that?
You're afraid of trouble? As if I'm not afraid of trouble?
"You have an undying body; at worst you'll be suppressed for a few more millennia, no big deal."
The Bodhisattva consoled Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong lay there listlessly, wanting to say, thank you so much, Bodhisattva Guanyin, you really have my best interests at heart.
"I want to know the real reason."
The Bodhisattva fell silent for a moment, then said, "You have a reason to kill him, but I don't. Once I make a move, it will reveal too much."
"Got it, but I have come to the South Sea today, and those with ulterior motives have probably already taken notice. Even if Old Sun kills the Six-Eared Macaque, it's likely you won't be able to avoid involvement, Bodhisattva."
As he spoke, Sun Wukong chuckled slyly, he stared at the Bodhisattva, and asked, "Besides, why should Old Sun help you? What's in it for me?"
Bodhisattva Guanyin smiled faintly and said, "If you kill the Six-Eared Macaque, I will arrange for the Lady Dragon of Wealth to marry you."
The Lady Dragon of Wealth's eyes widened on the side.
She was incredulous.
The Bodhisattva was actually using her as a bargaining chip.
Sun Wukong's eyes flickered; he looked over the Lady Dragon of Wealth and chuckled, "Bodhisattva, Old Sun has long since stopped engaging in those affairs; your proposal is somewhat coerced."
The Lady Dragon of Wealth sighed in relief.
But then Sun Wukong added, "However, since you've put it this way, I guess I have to agree; I'll take the Lady Dragon of Wealth. The Six-Eared Macaque will die within three days."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Bodhisattva Guanyin brought her hands together in prayer.
"Auntie Seven."
Red Boy stared at the Lady Dragon of Wealth in shock, calling out.
The Lady Dragon of Wealth's cheeks flushed with red.
She was at a loss for words, showing some resistance.
Sun Wukong glanced at her and said, "Silly girl, don't you know anything? The Bodhisattva is protecting you. It's safe to be with Old Sun. You have no idea of the Bodhisattva's painstaking efforts."
Bodhisattva Guanyin sighed softly and did not speak.
"I'm off; I'll come to take the Lady Dragon of Wealth away in three days."
Sun Wukong left the Purple Bamboo Forest.
Within three days, he would slay the Six-Eared Macaque.
As for the reason, did Sun Wukong ever need a reason to act?
On Mount Ling, Victorious Fighting Buddha presided over the dharma assembly.
An odd assortment of demons, gods, and immortals sat below.
After Tathagata Buddha's state of quiescence, Mount Ling had not been this bustling in ages.
Dressed in a kasaya and reciting scriptures, Victory Fighting Buddha, the Six-Eared Macaque, bore an air of being high above all, in control of everything.
Once his troops grew stronger, he could re-establish the Heavenly Court.
With the support of his master, he was not afraid of the opposition from those mighty deities.
The master's divine skills were so vast that not many gods and immortals could be his match.
As thoughts whirled in his mind, a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Sandalwood Merit Buddha and others sat below the Six-Eared Macaque, their forms majestic and bathed in Buddha's Light.
After the Buddha Ji entered Nirvana, the gods, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas returned to their abodes, and with the reputation of the Six-Eared Macaque, he naturally could not gather them.
Now, Sandalwood Merit Buddha and his disciples were already the strongest presence here, aside from the Six-Eared Macaque.
A golden, gleaming staff descended from the sky, shattering half of Mount Ling.
The gods, immortals, and demons all changed color, knowing who had arrived.
"Six-Ears, do you choose suicide, or do you want Old Sun to make a move?"
Sun Wukong appeared amidst the fearful stares of everyone, with the Jingu Bang shrinking and weighing it in his hand a few times, his expression somewhat mocking as he stared at the Six-Eared Macaque.
The Six-Eared Macaque's face turned ugly as he stared back at Sun Wukong and coldly said, "Haven't our grudges been settled already? Why do you still want to kill me?"
"Your existence is a disgrace to Old Sun's face, how could Old Sun allow you to live?"
"Sun Wukong, this is Mount Ling, you can't run wild here."
A Demon King stood up, scolding Sun Wukong.
He was greatly dissatisfied with the reputation of Sun Wukong.
The Demon King felt that if he had been born at that time, the title of Great Saint of the Demon Clan would have belonged to him.
In fact, the Demon King's strength was indeed not weak.
Even Victorious Fighting Buddha would find it hard to subdue him without injury.
Sun Wukong turned around, his gaze falling on the Demon King.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly as he asked, "Are you teaching Old Sun how to handle things?"
Without waiting for the Demon King to reply, he swung his staff at him.
"Sun Wukong, you dare?"
Victorious Fighting Buddha rebuked, filled with strong dissatisfaction.
He unleashed a ray of Buddha's Light to intercept Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong had a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, yet the Jingu Bang continued to smash down towards the Demon King.
"Pu."
The Demon King, along with the Buddha's Light, were both smashed to pieces.
The Six-Eared Macaque's color changed.
Sun Wukong's strength was even greater than he had imagined.
Despite thousands of years of imprisonment, his power had not regressed at all, but had instead returned to its peak state.
Sun Wukong scoffed and said, "That's the consequence of talking too much, now it's your turn."
He stepped towards the Six-Eared Macaque, and all the gods, immortals, and demons of Mount Ling no longer dared to stop him.
The mana around the Six-Eared Macaque surged as he knew he had no choice but to fight with all his might.
"Stop, Wukong."
Sandalwood Merit Buddha stepped in front of Sun Wukong, deviating from his usual cowardice.
Sun Wukong's steps halted.
He put away his smile and stared at the old monk before him for a long while without speaking.
Sandalwood Merit Buddha revealed a smile, thinking he had persuaded Sun Wukong.
In Sun Wukong's heart, he still cared for the bond between master and disciple.
The Six-Eared Macaque also breathed a sigh of relief, the old monk was indeed useful at such a critical moment.
After all, during the later stages of the journey to obtain the scriptures, he had fought tooth and nail to protect him.
"Amitabha Buddha, Wukong, the sea of suffering is boundless, yet turning back is the shore, relinquish your obsession, and you shall become a Buddha on the spot."
Sandalwood Merit Buddha continued to plead.
Thud.
A muffled sound.
Suddenly, Sandalwood Merit Buddha knelt down.
A golden, gleaming staff lay upon his shoulder, if not the Ruyi Jingu Bang then what could it be?
"Have you forgotten the words I said to you before? When we meet again, you should call me Great Sage Equaling Heaven or Grandpa Sun. Wukong, is that a name you're worthy to utter?"