Journey to the West: Great Saint Equal to Heaven
Chapter 51 - 51 51 The Old Monk

51: Chapter 51: The Old Monk 51: Chapter 51: The Old Monk A dark ray surfaced, stirring up towering waves upon the sea.

Several fishing boats swayed amidst the waves, on the verge of being swallowed whole.

The fishermen onboard trembled in dread as they prayed, pleading for the Dragon King to protect them, and for the Divine Monkey’s protection as well.

There was a legend among the fishermen of the East Sea that on an Immortal Island above the sea, there resided a Divine Monkey who once extinguished demons of the sea and rescued fishermen.

Since then, the sea’s Divine Monkey had become their faith.

It was only after the Journey to the West, that they learned this Divine Monkey was indeed the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong.

Thousands of years had passed, Huaguo Mountain had fallen into ruin, and even the monkeys were few, but the number of fishermen who believed in the Great Sage continued to grow.

Sun Wukong was originally en route to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea when he witnessed this scene.

He merely tilted his head slightly, with no intention to intervene.

It wasn’t as if he had asked them to worship him.

Furthermore, he was a demon by nature.

If a demon didn’t harm people, it was already considered good, so why would it save anyone?

Just at that moment, eight tentacles shot up into the sky like spear thrusts aimed at him.

Sun Wukong’s brows furrowed; this demon truly did not know whether to live or die.

He had no intention of meddling, but the demon had made a move against him.

Sun Wukong ceased flying and didn’t even use his Jingu Bang, allowing the eight tentacles to pierce into his body.

Cling clang clang…

The tentacles collided with Sun Wukong’s body, emitting a sound of metal striking against metal.

The eight tentacles were instantly bloodied, while Sun Wukong remained immovable.

He thought the demon would leave now, for after its attempt to strike, it should have realized his might.

Any creature with a bit of sense would certainly not linger.

As it turned out, Sun Wukong was mistaken.

After the failed attempt, the demon burst out of the water surface; it was a mountain-sized octopus.

It stared at Sun Wukong with a gaze filled with savage light, not seeming to possess any spiritual wisdom.

“Eh, not a demon, but merely affected by some sort of aura, causing it to undergo transformation,” Sun Wukong mused, immediately discerning the octopus’s true nature.

The creature was not a demon, merely affected by a certain essence causing it to exhibit changes, different from a normal octopus.

Being unwilling to tangle with it, he casually slapped it away.

The mountain-sized octopus disintegrated, torn into thousands of pieces.

The fishermen, who had thought their demise was imminent at the sight of the giant octopus, could not believe that the creature was obliterated in an instant.

They looked up to see the deity-like Sun Wukong.

“It’s the Great Sage Equalling Heaven.”

“Just like the statue, it really is the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, the Great Sage has saved us.”

“Thank you, Great Sage.”

…

The excited fishermen shouted, recognizing Sun Wukong’s identity.

Sun Wukong was somewhat surprised.

He currently appeared in human form, a gallant young man in his twenties indistinguishable from the typical human, unless he used Dao Magic or revealed his true form of the Intelligent Stone Monkey.

How could these mortals recognize him?

Since these fishermen were aware of his identity, he did not mind saving them.

“Which village’s fishermen are you, I’ll take you back.”

Sun Wukong asked.

“We are fishermen from Left Village,” said a man in his fifties.

Left Village, Sun Wukong silently calculated, then cast a mana wave, conjuring a gust of wind that swept the men away amidst their exclamations of surprise.

He quietly employed the Invisibility Technique, following behind the fishermen.

Left Village, a group of men descended from the sky, instantaneously running amok amidst the village.

After they identified those people, the villagers came rushing over, asking what had happened.

The old fisherman recounted the events.

Upon learning that the Great Sage Equalling Heaven had saved them, everyone on site cheered.

“That old monk was right after all, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven is truly watching over us.

Let’s go, let’s quickly offer our thanks in the Great Sage Temple.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll bring some eggs.”

“And I have some dried salted fish.”

…

The whole village busied themselves, all wanting to present offerings to thank the Great Sage Equalling Heaven for his protection.

Fishermen often encountered various dangers at sea, and every year many would perish.

No one could guarantee a safe return from every journey out to sea,

but if there were Immortals or Heavenly Deities to watch over them, there was no need to worry.

Offering some sacrifices was really nothing in comparison.

Sun Wukong followed the villagers to the Great Sage Temple.

He could feel the immense Power of Incense and Fire flooding towards him, absorbing this power was very beneficial for his enlightenment.

Is this why those gods and Bodhisattvas need to be worshiped?

He hadn’t expected the Power of Incense and Fire to be so beneficial.

Sun Wukong transformed into another appearance and entered the Great Sage Temple.

As expected, he saw his own Divine Statue, and next to it, there was another human-shaped Divine Statue.

That appearance was exactly like his own when he transformed into human form.

No wonder those fishermen recognized him.

“Amitabha Buddha.”

A Buddhist chant resounded in Sun Wukong’s ears.

He spun around sharply, and a gaunt monk appeared in front of him.

With a smile on his lips and eyes full of wisdom staring at Sun Wukong, he gave him the feeling of being thoroughly seen through.

“So you didn’t die after all.”

Sun Wukong stared at the old monk and said.

The old monk smiled, then retorted, “Does the Great Saint really wish for this humble monk’s death that much?”

Sun Wukong kept his eyes on him and said lightly, “When I heard you were dead, Old Sun was actually a bit sad, but now seeing you alive, Old Sun wants to kill you with his own hands.”

The old monk chuckled sorrowfully, brought his hands together in prayer, and said, “Great Saint, this little monk had no choice but to deceive the Great Saint in order to extricate himself.

Please forgive me.”

“Let’s talk outside.”

Seeing the villagers pouring into the Great Sage Temple, Sun Wukong said.

With a wave of his hand, both the old monk and he disappeared.

When they reappeared, they were above the East Sea.

Sun Wukong immediately drew out Jingu Bang and smashed it towards him.

The old monk stood still with his hands together in prayer, not showing the slightest intention to dodge.

Just as Jingu Bang was about to land on his head, it stopped in its tracks.

Sun Wukong kicked the old monk in the behind and grumbled, “Are you so certain that Old Sun wouldn’t dare kill you?”

The old monk gave a slight smile and said, “The Great Saint distinguishes clearly between gratitude and resentment.

I released the Great Saint, naturally owing the Great Saint a favor; why would the Great Saint kill this little monk then?”

Sun Wukong curled his lip; this old monk was just good at flattering him,

but he wasn’t buying it now.

“Ksitigarbha, what is going on with you exactly?

Why did you take the opportunity to free yourself, and why did you spread Old Sun’s likeness, as well as help me gather the Incense and Devotion Power?”

Sun Wukong peered at the old monk as he spoke.

This old monk was none other than Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the one rumored to have fallen.

Sun Wukong had thought he was truly dead, yet today he had seen him in the Great Sage Temple.

If there wasn’t some plot behind this, he would swear on Amitabha Buddha that he wouldn’t believe it.