Primordial World: Big shots are all my friends

Sun Wukong eyed Zhu Bajie suspiciously, "Hmm~ What is this pig head planning to do? Could it be that he also wants to go against Buddhism?"

Tang Sanzang defended, "Bajie, maybe you're overthinking it. Perhaps the Zen Master was merely giving us a gentle reminder."

Zhu Bajie grumbled, "Master, you're just too kind-hearted, totally unaware of the wickedness in this world! When I was in the Heavenly Court, I often dealt with Buddha, and among them, there are bad Buddhas too!"

"Amitabha Buddha~ Buddha meant well by reminding us, how can you suspect ill? Let us move on!"

"Alright, alright, what Master says is right, I, Old Pig, will protect you."

Zhu Bajie moved alongside to carry the luggage, and the group headed down the mountain.

As Tang Sanzang walked further, he felt the surroundings getting eerier. Zhu Bajie's earlier words echoed in his mind, coupled with the news from Tang King that Buddhism knew about the Jinlan Kasaya arriving in Emperor Gouchen's hands. He couldn't help but feel a wave of unease and uncontrollably began to ruminate, "Maybe this Zen Master is sent by the great Buddha to warn me!"

Thoughts flashed through Tang Sanzang's mind, and he didn't notice a small stone on the path, tripping over it.

"Ah~" He exclaimed in panic, flailing his arms and falling forward.

"Master, be careful~" Zhu Bajie quickly stepped forward to steady Tang Sanzang.

Still shaken, Tang Sanzang gasped for air and said, "Bajie, I was lucky to have you."

Zhu Bajie smiled naively, "It's good that Master is alright, this is what I should do. Please, don't stray from Old Pig, this mountain is unsafe; even that stone was suspicious."

Tang Sanzang was deeply moved. He looked at Sun Wukong and then at Zhu Bajie, thinking Zhu Bajie was the disciple he truly desired, always considerate, while Monkey is too wild.

Tang Sanzang took a moment to catch his breath, then while walking asked, "Wukong, you heard what the Zen Master said, what do you think? Could he be sent by Buddhism to threaten me?"

Sun Wukong, with both hands on his Jingu Bang, chuckled strangely and said, "Master, that so-called Wu Chao Zen Master, so afraid and resentful of the Three Realms Bank, must be some deadbeat, no need to mind him."

Tang Sanzang was startled, "Deadbeat?" He immediately asked, "Bajie, what do you think?"

"I think Brother's right."

Tang Sanzang pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly, "Let's set aside the identity of the Zen Master for now, I feel we need to be cautious with the loans. Relying solely on evil demons for repayment is indeed not very reliable. Since leaving Great Tang, I have not seen a single evil demon."

Zhu Bajie's eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity, he thought it imperative to make Tang Sanzang stand out, to better coordinate with the Heavenly River Navy's publicity.

Zhu Bajie laughed heartily and said, "Master, it's simple, we can earn money ourselves!"

Tang Sanzang was confused, "Earn money ourselves? I have always lived in temples, I have never earned money myself."

As Sun Wukong walked nearby with his Jingu Bang, he perked up at the mention of money and curiously asked, "How to earn money? Why not, let's rob all the way to the Western Heaven, raiding every city and country on the route."

Tang Sanzang quickly objected, "That's not possible, not possible, how can a monk engage in looting?"

Zhu Bajie chuckled, "Don't worry Master, Brother Monkey was just joking.

I actually have an idea."

Sun Wukong urged, "Bajie, you have this ability, hurry and tell."

"As Old Pig being the Demon King in Western Continent for so many years, I realized besides some Immortal Gods and demons with Divine Skills, those mortals hardly know what the Three Realms Mall is, and it has not expanded into Western Continent."

"Old Pig here was thinking, we could totally start a proxy purchasing business!"

Tang Sanzang curiously asked, "What do you mean by proxy purchasing?"

"Whenever we enter a country, we can do business with their king. They can choose whatever they want from the Three Realms Mall, and we buy it for them. After purchasing, we sell it to them at a higher price, and that way, we can make a profit."

Tang Sanzang immediately shook his head and said, "No, no, mortal world's coins cannot be used to buy Cultivator World's goods."

"Master, you underestimate those kings too much. Which one of them doesn't have some treasures? And even if they don't have treasures, they still have Merit! We can make a profit."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up, laughing he said, "That's good, that's good, let's make more money, and I can also pay off my debts. Bajie, I didn't expect you to have a knack for making money."

"Hehe~ It's just a bit of cleverness from me, Old Pig, can't compare to Brother's vast Divine Skills.

"Master, I think, we should not only do proxy purchasing but also expand it, so in the future we won't lack money and can keep our Westward Journey prosperous."

Tang Sanzang hesitated and said, "Bajie, I still feel it's not very appropriate, we are sincerely heading to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures, doing business along the way, what would that look like?" shaking his head continuously, "Not suitable, not suitable~"

Zhu Bajie quickly steered the conversation, "Master, did you hear what that Zen Master advised just now?"

Tang Sanzang nodded and said, "The Zen Master said not to take loans, saying that borrowing feels good for a moment, but repaying it is heartbreakingly regretful. He also spoke of family-destroying loans and bankruptcy-inducing banks."

"Master, do you believe that?"

Tang Sanzang shook his head and said, "The Zen Master has a deep misunderstanding of the Three Realms Bank."

Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Master, I think the Zen Master's words do make some sense.

Loans should be taken cautiously, it could be troublesome if we can't pay it back, so we have to find our own way to make money."

"Coveting wealth is not something monks should do!"

"Master, do you really want to beg for alms all the way to the Spiritual Mountain?"

Sun Wukong chuckled from the side, "That's begging! Little Monk, you don't want to continue begging and sponging off others, right? I, Old Sun, can't afford to lose that face."

Tang Sanzang looked troubled, having experienced the freedom to buy and eat whatever he wanted, the thought of begging for leftover food now was unappealing.

"Master, do you want to be exposed to the elements all the way?"

Tang Sanzang shook his head, how much better it would be to stay in inns, why endure the hardship of sleeping in the open?

"Do you want to arrive at Spiritual Mountain and be the laughingstock of the Indians? Letting them think all people from the Great Tang are beggars and losing the dignity of our nation."

Tang Sanzang immediately shook his head, "I am the Brother of the Great Tang, how can I tarnish our nation's dignity?!"

"For a smoother journey in obtaining the scriptures, what should we do?"

Tang Sanzang hesitated, then said, "Make money!"

"To promote the national pride of the Great Tang, what should we do?"

Tang Sanzang's gaze became resolute, nodding he said, "Make money!"

Zhu Bajie said with satisfaction, "Exactly!" Clenching his fist, he added, "To obtain the scriptures, for the sake of the Great Tang, we must make money, a lot of money."