"Master!"

In Shuilian Cave, Lady Rakshasa tearfully embraced the old Taoist.

After the old Taoist returned, all the demons of Huaguo Mountain were greatly surprised and delighted.

Lady Rakshasa lingered with him reminiscing about old times, and even Ao Luan and others came running to meet him.

Overjoyed, the old Taoist talked about some affairs of the Underworld, which made everyone sigh with emotion.

It wasn't until their excitement had subsided that Sun Wukong finally spoke up: "What is Houtu doing on Huaguo Mountain?"

"Looking for you, Great King."

The old Taoist replied, "She hopes you go and teach Ksitigarbha a lesson."

"Teach a lesson?"

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "What happened?"

"The Bodhisattva spoke ill of Her Highness at the Lingshan conference, and she got angry,"

explained the old Taoist.

Sun Wukong frowned slightly: "Why didn't Her Highness go there herself?"

"Seems she's afraid of the Buddha."

The old Taoist said: "I heard Her Highness say that the Western Buddha is a reticent sort, talks a lot and loves reciting scriptures. Every time he meets Her Highness, he nags non-stop, giving Her Highness nightmares filled with Buddhist scriptures."

Sun Wukong immediately felt a mix of laughter and tears.

He settled Houtu in Shuilian Cave, and it wasn't until the next day's noon that Houtu woke up groggily.

"I'm hungry."

This was the first thing she said upon waking up.

Sun Wukong had already prepared a lavish feast for her.

He summoned the four elder monkeys to bring the food up, placing each dish before Houtu.

Houtu devoured the meal ravenously, then picked up a pastry, took a few bites, but felt something was missing from the dining atmosphere.

"Transform."

With a casual flick of her finger, the pastry morphed into a bald-headed effigy.

Houtu put the pastry into her mouth and began to savor it with gusto.

The old Taoist watched, his body tremoring uncontrollably.

"Great, Great King, just help Her Highness this once,"

he whispered into Sun Wukong's ear.

Sun Wukong nodded. Even while eating, Houtu didn't forget her vengeful spirit; it seemed better to avoid provoking her wrath in the future.

Sun Wukong thought of a way to help her vent her anger.

"Bring over Qing Yuanzi."

He instructed the four elder monkeys to fetch Qing Yuanzi and bring him to Shuilian Cave.

After the elders set off, it took only an incense stick's time before they brought Qing Yuanzi back up.

"Are you Qing Yuanzi?"

Houtu curiously observed Qing Yuanzi.

"Yes."

Qing Yuanzi glanced at Sun Wukong and nervously held up his signboard for writing.

He had heard that someone had shown Sun Wukong his novel last time, and now he wished he could turn and flee.

But before Sun Wukong could speak, Houtu, all smiles, said, "I've heard about you."

She greatly enjoyed Qing Yuanzi's stories and heaped praise upon him.

The old Taoist whispered to Sun Wukong, "Her Highness uses Qing Yuanzi's stories as bedtime tales to inspire interesting dreams."

Sun Wukong nodded.

He was starting to understand; Houtu's preferences and aversions were all related to her sleep.

Qing Yuanzi felt a bit elated from the praise.

Sun Wukong's face turned serious, interrupting them.

"Qing Yuanzi."

He called Qing Yuanzi by name.

"Here."

Qing Yuanzi immediately straightened up, holding his signboard up high, somewhat fearful that Sun Wukong would bring up old grievances.

"I have an order for you."

But Sun Wukong didn't dredge up the past.

Qing Yuanzi was startled for a moment, then hastily wrote on his board: "Great Saint, please tell."

"How much do you know about Ksitigarbha?"

Asked Sun Wukong.

Qing Yuanzi swiftly wrote on his board: "I am fully aware of Ksitigarbha's ten lifetimes."

"Ten lifetimes?"

Sun Wukong was a bit surprised: "Then could you write the Bodhisattva's experiences into a story?"

"Of course."

Qing Yuanzi replied immediately.

Houtu couldn't help but glance at Sun Wukong, guessing what he was up to.

Sun Wukong understood Qing Yuanzi's characteristics, but just to be sure, he asked, "What kind of thing did the Bodhisattva transform from?"

"Transform?"

Qing Yuanzi looked puzzled and wrote on the board: "The Bodhisattva achieved enlightenment in human form and is not a transformation of a demon."

Sun Wukong was stunned and did a quick calculation, and to his surprise, Qing Yuanzi had actually provided the correct answer.

This was not the Qing Yuanzi he knew.

He immediately asked Qing Yuanzi to write a brief account of Ksitigarbha's past two lifetimes.

Sun Wukong and Houtu read through the accounts of the two lifetimes and it was unexpectedly accurate.

There was only one strange point.

"Why was the Bodhisattva female in both lifetimes?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"For ten lifetimes, the Bodhisattva was female."

Qing Yuanzi quickly wrote on the board: "My master once said that Ksitigarbha had a female body with a male aspect, and after doing good deeds for ten lifetimes, she was able to attain the Buddha Body in this life."

Ksitigarbha was a woman for ten lifetimes?

Sun Wukong was a bit dumbfounded.

He rubbed his temples, realizing he had almost misunderstood Qing Yuanzi.

"Qing Yuanzi."

Sun Wukong had a thought and couldn't help saying: "Besides Ksitigarbha, write more stories about the Immortals and Buddhas of Lingshan in the future."

Qing Yuanzi was startled: "Why so?"

"I don't want to waste talent."

Sun Wukong said.

Such good talent; it was truly wasteful not to utilize it before.

Qing Yuanzi immediately felt happy.

He had never written about those Immortals and Buddhas before.

"Write well."

Sun Wukong said to Qing Yuanzi: "If it's well written, I'll have Ao Luan sell your stories to the Four Great Continents."

"Yes."

Qing Yuanzi was somewhat flattered as he withdrew.

"My Lady."

The old Daoist whispered to Houtu: "The Great King can be quite mischievous at times."

Houtu kept nodding.

When Sun Wukong turned his head, he saw Houtu looking at him with an 'I get you' expression.

"?"

He was puzzled by her look.

But after having her fill, Houtu fell asleep again.

Sun Wukong watched as she was carried away by the servants, then asked the old Daoist: "What bad things did the Bodhisattva say about my Lady to make her want revenge?"

"It was nothing much."

The old Daoist answered: "The Buddha lectured a black bear that fell asleep during a Dharma assembly, saying it's just like my Lady, loving to sleep all day."

Sun Wukong frowned slightly: "That's what the Buddha said, what does it have to do with Ksitigarbha?"

"The Bodhisattva couldn't help adding a comment."

The old Daoist said: "He said the Buddha insulted the black bear."

"..."

Sun Wukong thought, with Ksitigarbha acting such death wishes, it's no wonder Houtu held a grudge.

Two days later, Sun Wukong found that Houtu had stayed in Huaguo Mountain and refused to leave.

"Don't you need to go back, my Lady?"

He couldn't help but ask.

"No need."

Houtu stuffed pastries into her mouth and said: "It's good eating and sleeping here, I'm not planning on going back."

Sun Wukong suddenly felt like he had been saddled with an unwanted burden.

"Do not worry, Great King."

The old Daoist quietly explained: "My Lady really likes Huaguo Mountain, but she's always looking for novelty; after a few months, she'll naturally grow bored and leave."

Sun Wukong looked at Houtu doubtfully.

Could this gluttonous and lazy individual really get tired of it?

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.