Primordial World: Big shots are all my friends

The White Dragon Horse snorted outside, hot air spewing from his nostrils as he turned his head towards Zhu Bajie with anger in his horse eyes, "It was you who started the rumors."

Zhu Bajie quickly clarified, "Misunderstanding, all just misunderstandings, I really didn't spread those, I swear to the Heavenly Court, if it was me, may I be struck by thunderbolts and meet a terrible end."

From within the carriage came a lowered voice, "Your Majesty, I've taken in another disciple, he is the reincarnation of Marshal Tianpeng from the Heavenly Court."

"Marshal Tianpeng? The one who brazenly flirted with Guanyin Bodhisattva?"

"Exactly! The Bodhisattva even gave him a Dharma name called Zhu Wuneng!"

"Haha~ Zhu Wuneng? Looks like the Bodhisattva isn't too pleased with his abilities!"

Though the two inside the carriage lowered their voices intentionally, who else but Tang Sanzang would be nearby, and thus, their conversation was clearly audible.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie's smile instantly froze. I truly didn't flirt with Guanyin, and my abilities are strong, he thought as he raised his whip, and with a snap—"Giddy up!"—The White Dragon Horse suddenly dashed forward.

"Ah!" A startled exclamation came from inside the carriage followed by a series of banging noises, as Tang Sanzang swayed back and forth, his figure shaking within.

"Stop!"

"Slower, slower~"

...

Cries of alarm continued to come from within the carriage.

After a long while, the carriage finally slowed down, and Tang Sanzang staggered out, squatting beside the road and immediately vomited.

Zhu Bajie hurried over, squatting beside him and patting his back with concern, "Master, are you alright?"

"Wah~" Tang Sanzang continued to vomit.

"Ow~ Master, are you sick? What should we do?" Zhu Bajie uttered worriedly, concern written on his face.

Tang Sanzang waved his hand feebly, "Too fast, Bajie, you drove the carriage too fast, let me rest awhile."

In a moment, Tang Sanzang sat beside a rock; still somewhat pale, he complained, "Bajie, why did you drive so quickly?"

"Master, it's Old Pig's first time driving a carriage, I'm not accustomed to it yet. Rest assured, Master, in the future Old Pig will definitely learn to drive properly."

Zhu Bajie was very sincere in admitting his mistake; Tang Sanzang couldn't really say more. Although the disciple was a bit foolish, he still respected his master, unlike that monkey head.

Tang Sanzang rubbed his waist, expressing pain, "My waist!"

Zhu Bajie immediately turned around, went to the carriage, opened the luggage chest, and took out an exquisite glazed bottle. He jogged to Tang Sanzang's side, smiling apologetically, "Master, this is a drink I brought. Have a sip to relieve your fatigue, let me open it for you." His finger flicked, and snap—the cap flew off.

Tang Sanzang took the glazed bottle and coughed incessantly after a gulp, incredulously exclaiming, "Bajie, is this alcohol?"

"Yes! Chilled Volcano Wine, a perfect blend of ice and fire, tastes exquisite."

"Monks cannot drink alcohol," Tang Sanzang sternly said.

Zhu Bajie laughed heartily, "Master, there you are mistaken.

Back when Old Pig was in the Heavenly Court, Emperor Jade had invited Buddha to a banquet, and there Buddha enjoyed the Jade Liquid and the Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow heartily too, did he not?"

"To wander freely between Heaven and Earth, content in heart, why must one be so constrained?"

Sun Wukong tumbled off the carriage, pulling out a bottle of drink from the luggage and downed it, "Bajie, your wine is a bit lacking."

Zhu Bajie looked at Sun Wukong with surprise. That was a sentence from "Zhuangzi"; how did this monkey know it? Instantly, his face lit up with a smile as he said: "Brother Monkey speaks truly, this is exactly what Old Pig meant, just not said as well as Brother Monkey did."

Sun Wukong jumped on top of the carriage, brimming with pride, thinking that his hard work copying the scriptures was not in vain after all.

Tang Sanzang looked at the wine bottle in his hands, shaking his head repeatedly as he said, "Amitabha Buddha~ Buddha might drink wine because the Buddha has seen through it all, so how could a poor monk like me partake?"

Zhu Bajie persuaded him from the side, saying: "Master, how can you see through it if you haven't experienced it? Only by going in, then coming out, can one truly see through it.

Even the Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva has said, 'If I don't enter Hell, who will?'"

Thoughts flashed through Tang Sanzang's mind. It seemed like what Bajie said made sense too. Besides, he had already drunk this wine twice before, so once more wouldn't make a difference, and indeed, after having a sip of the wine, it really did make him feel better.

Tang Sanzang licked his lips, placed the wine bottle on a nearby stone, brought his palms together, facing the West, and bowed three times with respect, saying: "Without entering Hell, how can the Spiritual Mountain be witnessed? Today this disciple breaks the precepts, only to see clearly the Spiritual Mountain within my heart. Buddha, please do not blame me."

Zhu Bajie ingratiatingly said from the side, "Without entering Hell, how can the Spiritual Mountain be witnessed? For Master to have such an awakening, it seems that achieving Buddhahood is not far off!"

Tang Sanzang stood up, holding the wine bottle, and asked, "Bajie, do we have any snacks to accompany the wine?"

"Yes, yes, when Old Pig left, I brought some peanuts. If Master doesn't despise them, they can be used to accompany the wine."

Thus, the master and two disciples sat around a large stone, drinking wine and eating peanuts, leisurely and contentedly.

After a short while, Tang Sanzang let out a belch from the wine, and exhaled a long breath, saying in relief, "I do indeed feel a lot better, and warmer too."

He looked towards a large mountain in front of them and asked, "Bajie, what is that mountain over there?"

Zhu Bajie glanced and said, "That? That mountain is called Futu Mountain. There is a Zen Master Wu Chao who is cultivating there. Old Pig has also met him."

"A Zen Master? Is he also a cultivator of Buddhism?"

"Yes, yes!"

"In that case, this poor monk shall go ahead to pay him a visit."

Ding ding ding~ The sound of another video call rang out, and Tang Sanzang immediately took out his Three Realms Mall. Eh~ Why is it still Emperor Li Shimin?

He opened the chat interface, and the image of Emperor Li Shimin appeared again in the video, still soaking in the hot springs, with steam all around and palace maids massaging him.

Tang Sanzang hurriedly said with respect: "Your Majesty, I have seen you!"

Emperor Li Shimin cheerfully said: "Imperial Brother, no need for such formalities, please rise."

Tang Sanzang stood up.

Emperor Li Shimin instantly switched to a concerned expression, apprehensively saying, "Imperial Brother, you haven't been hurt, have you?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, I am very well!"

"That's good, that's good. So, it's just the Jinlan Kasaya, isn't it? If it's gone, then it's gone. When Imperial Brother returns from obtaining the scriptures, I shall bestow upon you an even better one."

Tang Sanzang said in astonishment: "Your Majesty, how do you know I lost my Jinlan Kasaya?"

"It's already widespread news! Buddhism sent a Dharma Decree to the Heavenly Court, saying that Emperor Gouchen of the Heavenly Court forcibly took the Buddhist Magic Treasure Jinlan Kasaya, demanding the Heavenly Court to severely punish Emperor Gouchen and return the Jinlan Kasaya.

Worried for Imperial Brother's safety, I have sent this video message to inquire. It's a relief that Imperial Brother is unharmed. As for the Jinlan Kasaya, it's mere material possession; losing it is just that!" Emperor Li Shimin lay in the hot springs, his face bearing a feigned concern.

Emperor Gouchen? Why does this name feel so familiar?

Tang Sanzang had yet to recall, when suddenly a monkey's head stretched out from the side, speaking fiercely: "What did you say? Buddhism dares to question Emperor Gouchen?! They have quite the gall!"