Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"This second toast is naturally to the Bodhisattva!"

Following the full ritual of toasting, Jiang Liu first toasted Sha Wujing and then raised his glass, saying, "Throughout this Journey to the West, the Bodhisattva has taken good care of me. Moreover, Gaoyang has also been under the Bodhisattva's care, you have put in a lot of effort."

"Amitabha, everything is for the sake of the people of the world!" Looking rather grand, Guanyin put down her chopsticks upon hearing this, swallowed the food in her mouth, and spoke.

Although she spouted grand words, the image of Guanyin voraciously eating and drinking might lead others to believe that her persona had collapsed.

In the midst of talking, Guanyin also picked up the juice Jiang Liu had personally poured for her and drank it all in one go.

"This third toast is to you, Xiaobai!" Immediately, Jiang Liu's gaze fell on the White Dragon Horse.

In his past life, the culture of drinking at banquets had been taken to the extreme. Although Jiang Liu wasn't much of a drinker, as an apprentice chef in a hotel, he had seen his fair share.

When toasting, either everyone at the table is toasted together, drinking just one glass, or... Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

if you toast someone individually, then everyone at the table must be toasted individually as well, otherwise, it would seem like you are showing favoritism, wouldn't it?

"Master, me!?" The White Dragon Horse, transformed into human form, was startled by Jiang Liu's words, put down his chopsticks, and looked somewhat flattered.

Guanyin was a guest of honor with an esteemed status, and even if Sha Wujing was not favored by his master, he was still his disciple.

But what about himself? He was just a mount, right? And yet, the master was toasting him earnestly too?

"Exactly, you have carried me all this way, tirelessly and without complaint, of course, I ought to toast you!" Jiang Liu nodded and said.

This was indeed true; because Xiaobai was extremely steady, even on the journey to the West, Jiang Liu could practice the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound without worrying about falling off the horse. Overall, since acquiring the White Dragon Horse, it had been a great help to him.

"Thank you, Master!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the White Dragon Horse appeared grateful, feeling that all the hardships endured along the way were worthwhile.

At least, the master understood and remembered it all.

"Hehehe, Master, what about me, I, Old Sun?"

As Jiang Liu finally tuned his gaze towards him, Sun Wukong raised his glass of juice, looking expectantly at Jiang Liu, waiting for him to speak highly of him.

"Wukong, between you and me, no need for many words, everything is understood with this cup!"

However, although the others had spoken ceremoniously, when faced with Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu said nothing and simply tilted his head back, downing the juice in his glass.

"Everything is understood with this cup?" Sun Wukong felt somewhat disappointed.

He had thought his master would have praised him with sweet words, but he said nothing at all.

But in this way, Sun Wukong felt perhaps his relationship with his master was indeed the best?

Toasting to him without saying anything seemed to imply a closer relationship between the two.

Like how he didn't have many friends, with Nezha being one, but whenever they met, they couldn't help but brawl and banter.

...

"Master, do you have some dissatisfaction with the eldest disciple!? If you have any grievances, just speak up; why keep it to yourself?

The eldest disciple caused Havoc in Heaven back in the day, was defiant, and despised the laws; it's understandable if you have some dissatisfaction," just then, Sha Wujing suddenly spoke, seemingly attempting to create discord, which made Jiang Liu furrow his brows slightly.

However, suddenly a thought struck Jiang Liu; this didn't sound like something Sha Wujing would usually say—could it be? Just one cup of millet wine and the 'tipsy talk' special effect of the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Pot was already taking effect?

'Tipsy talk,' not 'drunken babble,' meaning, just having drunk suffices to trigger it, without needing several more?

Right, if he were truly drunk, there wouldn't need to be a special effect from the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Pot, he would be babbling nonsensically on his own.

"Third brother! Be cautious in your speech!" The White Dragon Horse, being more familiar with Sha Wujing, was startled by these words and hastily spoke in a low voice.

Guanyin, having picked up her chopsticks again, frowned slightly upon hearing this and glanced at Sha Wujing, however, chose not to speak.

Even though she had personally brought all the members of the Journey to the West Team together, they were now indeed a team! She decided to wait and see.

"Monk Sha, I rarely scold you on normal occasions, more often the fool, so do you wish to experience the 'methods' of your eldest brother now!?" Hearing Sha Wujing's words, clearly insulting him, Sun Wukong naturally felt displeased, stared at Sha Wujing and coldly spoke, his expression unhappy.

"Master, look, Big Brother is about to take action again!"

However, facing Sun Wukong's demeanor, Sha Wujing was not afraid; instead, he turned to Jiang Liu and complained, "Big Brother is naturally brutal. Even if Second Brother faces a slight inconvenience, he resorts to hitting or scolding. I think you should really discipline him!"

"Although what Sha Wujing is saying might be somewhat inappropriate, there is some truth to it!" Guanyin, who was nearby, silently nodded, feeling that Sun Wukong's temper indeed needed some refining.

It was certainly not right for him, with respect to his younger brothers, to always resort to hitting or scolding.

This thought crossed her mind, and then Guanyin glanced at Sun Wukong's bald head, her eyebrows furrowing even more.

What's going on, the Golden Hoop that Xuanzang demanded last time, why hasn't it been put on him yet?

"Alright, Wujing, stop talking nonsense, you are drunk, go rest for now!" Opting for a strategic retreat, although Jiang Liu knew that Sha Wujing must have been affected by the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Pot, he nevertheless made an excuse saying that Sha Wujing was drunk.

"Master, you are the one talking nonsense!"

As Jiang Liu spoke, Sha Wujing retorted, "As our master, you are supposed to set an example for us disciples on this Journey to the West, but what actually? You drink, eat meat, gamble, and play mahjong. With such behavior, how can you ever reach Western Heaven and obtain the True Scriptures? Saying I am drunk? It's merely a cup of rice wine; even if you give me a whole vat, I won't get drunk!"

"Wujing, Xuanzang is right, you are drunk, go and rest now!" Guanyin, who heard this, couldn't help it and softly reprimanded him.

It was okay for him to confront Sun Wukong; after all, they were brothers of the same generation.

But Xuanzang is his master, their status and respect are distinct, and yet he dares to talk to his own master like that? How could Guanyin tolerate this?

Moreover, gambling and playing mahjong? To her knowledge, wasn't he gambling too? Drinking and eating meat! What is he doing now?

He himself was playing mahjong and was still drinking and eating meat, yet he dared to use this to criticize his own master! How shameless can one be?

"Bodhisattva, you enlightened me and let me join the Journey to the West team, allowing me to return among the Immortals and Buddhas, for which I am very grateful!" Turning around, Sha Wujing's gaze fell on Guanyin as he spoke.

However, before Guanyin could be pleased with his words, Sha Wujing switched topics and said: "By the way, Bodhisattva, last time you transformed into Ai'ai, what exactly happened between you and Second Brother? I am very curious. Could you please tell us about it?"

Awkward silence!

As Sha Wujing spoke, the previously harmonious and lively dinner suddenly turned awkward, and everyone at the table stopped eating, their gaze falling on Sha Wujing.

"It's over, what's gotten into Third Brother today?" Putting down his chopsticks, White Dragon Horse covered his eyes, unable to bear looking.

"Did he just throw out a trump card?" Hearing Sha Wujing's words, and seeing the unhappy expression on Bodhisattva Guanyin's face, Jiang Liu couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

At the same time, Jiang Liu was also surprised inwardly, the special effect of the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Pot was indeed terrifying.

After testing both the Eight Trigrams Hot-Clear Pot and the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Pot, Jiang Liu had gained a general understanding of his newly acquired kitchenware.

If he wanted to befriend someone, he would use the Eight Trigrams Hot-Clear Pot to host a meal, the effect of heartfelt interactions was no joke.

But if he wanted to sever ties with someone, then using the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Pot would be it, the effect of babbling nonsense while drunk was truly frightening.

Just a cup of rice wine was enough to turn someone into an argumentative critic, venting at all friends until none were left, right?

Nevermind what Jiang Liu was thinking, the expression on Bodhisattva Guanyin's face naturally wasn't pleasant.

Sha Wujing's words had brought back unpleasant memories for her.

However, despite her anger, Guanyin also had some doubt in her heart; Sha Wujing's words today were really inappropriate. Was there something fishy going on here?

With these doubts in mind, Bodhisattva Guanyin concentrated and examined Sha Wujing intently.

Well then, it was just a cup of rice wine, so he wasn't drunk, and there were no signs of drugs or poison.

Moreover, there were no signs of manipulation or influence by methods like distorting someone's nature...

"So, these words were not due to someone else but came sincerely from his own heart?"

After checking Sha Wujing's condition with her wise eyes and finding nothing suspicious, Guanyin's heart turned colder.

However, Sha Wujing completely ignored Bodhisattva Guanyin's expression, chuckling, "I heard that Second Brother kissed you once, dare I ask, Bodhisattva, what did it feel like being kissed by a pig?"