Monk Tang and Sun Wukong complemented each other so well that Jinzha and the others were left helpless.
Jinzha said, "Since you two are determined to cross the Flowing Sand River, you better hurry and find a way. Beneath this river lies a great demon with heavenly Mana that penetrates the earth, having slain countless gods, demons, immortals, and Buddhas."
"If we linger too long and anger him, our lives could very well be forfeit."
Sun Wukong said, "Old Sun is here to subdue demons and vanquish evil spirits. If there truly is a demon here, I must conquer it, carry out the will of Heaven, and eliminate this scourge for the people."
Unable to restrain himself, Monk Tang clapped. "Excellent, excellent! Truly worthy of being The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong! This level of awareness is indeed superior to others."
Sun Wukong laughed. "Well said, well said! We two brothers shall carry out the will of Heaven and eliminate this scourge for the people. In a moment, I will enter this Flowing Sand River and draw out that monster. You all must lend a hand."
This time, Monk Tang and Sun Wokong had not formed a master-disciple relationship; instead, they addressed each other as brothers.
After all, Sun Wukong had already demonstrated he could escape the Five Finger Mountain by his own abilities, his power reaching heaven and piercing earth. If he refused to submit to Buddhism's discipline, Buddhism would be powerless against him unless they resorted to forceful suppression. To become his master, one would need to be an individual strong enough to overpower him, forcing his submission whether he willed it or not.
Furthermore, Monk Tang believed Sha Chen might have taken a liking to Sun Wukong, possibly holding him in high regard. As Sha Chen's Disciple, Monk Tang certainly couldn't overstep his bounds by taking Sun Wukong as his own disciple.
Thus, both men tacitly agreed to address each other as brothers: Sun Wukong acknowledged Monk Tang as his elder brother, and Monk Tang called Sun Wukong his younger brother.
The others watched, speechless but powerless, and could only let them be. As long as they ultimately succeeded in the Journey to the West and completed the task set by Buddhism, the formal status of master and disciple was irrelevant.
What Buddhism actually desired was to completely subdue Monk Tang and Sun Wukong, turning these two formidable individuals into their powerful assets. All other formalities truly didn't matter.
Jinzha and his companions grew somewhat nervous. However, Sun Wukong had already leaped into the air and begun shouting, demanding the river demon show itself.
But there was no response. This worried Jinzha and the others even more, as they felt Sha Chen's silence was the most terrifying prospect. They believed that once he responded, their doom would be imminent.
Sun Wukong, however, was beyond persuasion. He plunged headfirst into the Flowing Sand River, seemingly eager to confront Sha Chen.
「At the Flowing Sand River Cave.」
Sun Wukong stood proudly, Golden Cudgel in hand. Through his Fiery Golden Eyes, he could barely make out an area with a radius of ten zhang within the cave where Sha Chen resided.
This was his first sight of Sha Chen's true appearance: a titan of a man. He had a vigorous and towering build, his muscles like great dragons coiled upon his frame, and his face was noble and imposing.
Despite his unkempt appearance, Sha Chen's continuous Cultivation had made him look exceedingly resolute. He lacked the delicate handsomeness of a young scholar or the crude roughness of a starving bandit, yet he possessed the dignified face of a marshal and the physique of a general.
His flowing hair and full beard had previously been groomed in rotation by the White Bone Demon, Lady Di Yong, the Spider Spirit, the Jade Rabbit Spirit, and others. So, despite his long hair and full beard, he appeared neither unkempt nor coarse in the slightest.
In fact, Sha Chen exuded an overwhelming majesty.
Through the cave's main entrance, he too had spotted Sun Wukong, a faint smile playing on his lips.
At the doorway, Sun Wukong called out, "Are you Sha Chen, master of the Flowing Sand River?"
Sha Chen replied, "I am."
Sun Wukong asked, "Do you dare open the cave doors and let Old Sun in for a face-to-face talk?"
Sha Chen chuckled. "Why wouldn't I dare?"
Then, he actually opened the cave gates, allowing Sun Wukong to swagger in, before closing them again.
On the banks of the Flowing Sand River, Jinzha and the others were utterly baffled.
They hadn't expected Sun Wukong to go straight to the cave entrance after entering the river, nor that Sha Chen would actually agree and let him in. This was beyond their wildest expectations because, according to convention and their own assumptions, Sha Chen was extremely wary and cautious regarding visitors.
Even Tathagata Buddha and numerous other deities and Buddhas had come to the Flowing Sand River. They had tried every means of persuasion, but none could convince Sha Chen to open his cave gates. Some were even rebuffed outright, unable to elicit so much as a single word in response from Sha Chen.
Yet now, Sun Wukong had merely said he wanted to enter, and Sha Chen had actually opened the cave gate, allowing him free passage.
The few hunters and farmers—actually figures from Supreme Buddhism in disguise—exchanged glances, momentarily unsure how to proceed. Among them, a stout man's eyes flickered with thought.
The other figures from Supreme Buddhism also looked at the stout man, seemingly waiting for his decision. This stout man was none other than Buddhism's representative, Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was also worried about Sun Wukong and Monk Tang. Therefore, after their detailed discussion in Daxiong Hall that day, she had decided to personally escort the two on their Journey to the West. Although this was not ideal, and protecting Monk Tang on his Journey to the West would take decades of her incredibly busy schedule, Guanyin Bodhisattva felt she had to personally ensure the great Journey to the West tribulation unfolded smoothly.
However, she hadn't anticipated that Sun Wukong would rashly charge into the Flowing Sand River, much less dare to challenge Sha Chen. Moreover, Sha Chen had opened the cave doors, allowing Sun Wukong to walk right in.
Guanyin Bodhisattva hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickered, and then she vanished. In the next instant, she had already arrived at the Flowing Sand River Cave.
As Sun Wukong swaggered into the cave, Guanyin Bodhisattva transformed into a beam of light. She then turned into three life-saving hairs, attached them to the back of Sun Wukong's head, and followed him inside.
Sha Chen had already witnessed all of this. A composed smile touched his lips as he waited for both to step fully inside before shutting the cave door.
He then personally prepared fine wine and exquisite dishes, laying them out on a large table. With a wave of his hand, he produced three sets of bowls and chopsticks.
Sha Chen said, "The renowned Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, graces my humble abode! Forgive my poor welcome. Please, take a seat. Try this wine; it's your favorite, Peaches of Immortality wine."
Sun Wukong, never one for ceremony, picked up a bowl and downed three large ones in quick succession.
Sha Chen then gestured to another seat. "The illustrious The Goddess of Mercy surely wouldn't stoop to such furtive actions. Please, do take a seat."
"I have prepared some simple wine, along with pastries and other delicacies. If the Bodhisattva prefers not to eat meat, there are also vegetarian dishes. Please, make yourself comfortable."
However, after a moment, The Goddess of Mercy still hadn't revealed herself. Sun Wukong, meanwhile, reached to the back of his head and plucked out three hairs, as stiff and sharp as needles.
Sun Wukong grinned. "Bodhisattva, that clumsy transformation of yours? Even Old Sun saw through it, let alone Sha Chen!"
