Chapter 99

"Really, you two are just too outrageous... ≦" Tang Sen, with his hands on his hips, was angrily criticizing Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie: "How can you teach other people's children such nonsense? Don't you know that every child is the apple of their parents' eyes? Filling their heads with inappropriate things is like signing their parents' death warrants!"

"Well, that's..." Sun Wukong mumbled: "It's not like they are real children, just some fruits."

Zhu Bajie also said: "It's fine. These kids are still young; they'll only remember it for a few days. They don't even know what 'Aotian Wudi Lu' means. They'll forget it all in a few days."

"Stop making excuses here." Tang Sen grabbed Sun Wukong with one hand and Zhu Bajie with the other, and said seriously: "Come, let's go back to the Five Acre Temple and sincerely apologize to the owners. We can't just leave without their forgiveness."

"Hey, why are you being so unreasonable? That's too cowardly," Zhu Bajie shouted.

"This isn't cowardly; it's being civilized. Those who do bad things and run away are the real cowards because they don't even have the courage to apologize." Tang Sen said solemnly: "Come, let's go back to the Five Acre Temple."

Just as Tang Sen finished speaking, he felt a gentle breeze blowing from Wanshou Mountain. This wind was strange; though it covered everything and penetrated everywhere, it wasn't rushed or fierce. It was as gentle as the air of spring or autumn, enveloping everything with a natural rhythm.

A faint female voice came from the wind: "Very well, you are a reasonable man. It seems the theft of my ginseng fruits has nothing to do with you, so I won't make things difficult for you. But those other villains, I won't let any of them off."

"Huh? Is someone talking in the wind?" Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie looked around.

The gentle breeze gradually subsided, and before them stood a Taoist nun. She had a clear and sharp face, not particularly beautiful, but with an excellent demeanor. She wore a patched robe, a belt, and held a feather duster, exuding a divine and ethereal aura, clearly a transcendent immortal.

Seeing the aura of the newcomer, Tang Sen knew something was about to happen, but he still had to greet her. He bowed and said: "Greetings, Immortal Lady. I am Tang Sen, from the Eastern Tang Dynasty, on a journey to the Western Heavens to broaden my horizons. I didn't know you were blocking the path. What can I do for you?"

The nun returned the bow and replied calmly: "I am Zhenyuanzi, residing in the Five Acre Temple on Wanshou Mountain. I am here to seek justice for the children."

Hearing this, Tang Sen knew Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie had caused trouble by teaching the children to recite 'Aotian Wudi Lu.' It was their fault, and he had to apologize first. He said awkwardly: "Ah, about your children, I am very sorry. I have already scolded them and asked them to come and apologize in person. Since we've met here, let's resolve it here."

He turned to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie: "Hey, what are you two standing there for? Go and apologize to the parents."

Sun Wukong, being a rebellious person, wouldn't easily apologize, but seeing Tang Sen's stern gaze, she felt a jolt in her heart. Why did that gaze seem so familiar? It was as if it had traveled through several hundred years, and those familiar eyes were looking at her, making her feel uneasy. She didn't know why, but she immediately submitted to Tang Sen's gaze and walked up to Zhenyuanzi: "I'm sorry for teaching your children inappropriate things. It was my fault."

Zhu Bajie also stepped forward and apologized in the same manner.

Zhenyuanzi's anger didn't subside. She coldly snorted: "Teaching such heinous things to children, you think an apology will make it all right? Is there any justice in the world? The situation has reached a point of no return. There is no way to reconcile. Tang Sir, please step aside. This is not your fault. I only want to deal with Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie."

Tang Sen wiped his sweat: "Ah, Immortal Lady, although teaching children to recite 'Aotian Wudi Lu' is indeed outrageous, it's not irreparable. The children are young and don't understand the meaning of 'Aotian Wudi Lu.' They just memorize it by rote. If we don't mention it for a few years, they will forget it completely. It shouldn't cause them too much harm."

"Exactly!" Sun Wukong spread her hands: "Children are only three or four years old. Even if they memorize it, they don't understand what 'papa papa papa' means or what 'wielding a big stick' means. These things are confusing even to some adults. Don't worry, in a few months, they will forget it all. What's this 'irreparable' nonsense? You're making a mountain out of a molehill."

Zhu Bajie chimed in: "Exactly... You're just trying to make a big deal out of it to get more compensation from us."

Zhenyuanzi was furious: "You're spouting nonsense. You ate four of my children, and now you pretend you don't know? That's too much..." She lightly waved her feather duster, and the dust threads bypassed Tang Sen, aiming at Sun Wukong behind him.

The feather duster was clearly a divine treasure. As soon as it was waved, the dust threads began to extend, forming a vast net that enveloped Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong was startled. She didn't expect the nun to be so powerful. The feather duster's attack made even the invincible Sun Wukong feel a bit wary. She didn't dare to block it directly and leaped back, pulling out the Ruyi Jingu Bang from her ear and swinging it at the nun.

The nun remained calm, lightly deflecting the Ruyi Jingu Bang with her feather duster, not even a single hair on her body was harmed.

Sun Wukong was amazed. She swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang again, but the nun still deflected it with ease, effortlessly countering Sun Wukong's attack.

"This nun is no ordinary person," Tang Sen immediately realized. He had seen Sun Wukong fight Erlang Shen, resulting in mutual injuries; she had fought the Nine Star Deities without falling behind; and she had easily defeated Nezha. On their journey, few deities or demons could gain the upper hand against Sun Wukong. The last time, the rat demon on Yellow Wind Ridge had only won by using the Three Flavors of Divine Wind to blind Sun Wukong's eyes.

He didn't expect that an unknown nun in the wilderness could block Sun Wukong's attacks with just a feather duster, and still have room to spare. Clearly, the nun hadn't used her full strength.

After two strikes, Sun Wukong felt the danger. The nun's feather duster seemed light but was incredibly powerful. The Ruyi Jingu Bang, weighing 13,500 catties, was formidable, yet it couldn't even stir the dust threads.

After a few more exchanges, Sun Wukong called out: "Bajie, come and help me, it's not looking good."

Zhu Bajie had already sensed the danger and took out her nine-toothed rake, charging forward.

The nun's feather duster turned, lightly touching Zhu Bajie's rake and pushing her back several steps.

Her feather duster moved gracefully, blocking both Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie simultaneously without any difficulty, clearly not using her full strength.

Even the rebellious Sun Wukong couldn't help but gasp. This nun hadn't used her full strength? She must be at least a Bodhisattva or a True Lord. Why was she unknown?

She shouted: "Tang Sen, come and help."

Tang Sen wanted to help them, but after considering the situation, he realized they were in the wrong. If he helped recklessly, it would only make things worse. He had to stay neutral and mediate, so he didn't join the fight and instead said: "Let's talk things out, don't fight."

The nun waved her feather duster effortlessly, blocking Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie's attacks, and said coldly: "You did this yourselves, and now you want to drag others into it? A true man or woman stands by their actions."

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie said in unison: "We are women."

The nun was furious: "Whether you are men or women, I will not let you off today. Since you are so stubborn, I won't waste more words. Watch this move, the Sleeve of Vastness..."

She suddenly waved her left hand, and the wide sleeve of her Taoist robe expanded, as if swallowing the entire world. Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie felt the sky darken and the earth turn black, with no place to escape. The overwhelming power of the divine skill pressed down on them, and they could only be captured. The sleeve gently covered them, and they were both trapped inside.

Inside the sleeve, Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie tried to break free but found it impossible. They were shocked. Where did this strange nun come from? Her divine power was like an unfathomable ocean, almost beyond comprehension. Even the supreme deities of Daoism, the Three Pure Ones, wouldn't have such power.