Chapter 52 Ginseng Fruit [Please Favorite]
On the side, Zhu Ganglie hummed, "Being in chaos is just as well... After all, we are guests, and guests should comply with their hosts. If they offer us something, we eat; if not, we let it be, without expecting anything in return. But they ate their fill and still scorned us behind our backs, do they think we don't have tempers? Whatever the eldest brother did this time, I support him!"
Sha Wujing thought about it and sighed, "True, the ginseng fruit was indeed a fine thing, we could have let it go if they only gave it to master and not us. It's clear that master left one for us, yet those two took it for themselves. Those two Taoist boys really bullied us too much..."
The two of them waited left and right, but saw no movement outside. Just then, a gust of wind blew in, and with a swirl, transformed into a monkey holding a gold cudgel in one hand and a dan plate with a ginseng fruit on it in the other!
Upon seeing Sun Wukong, both were startled, and Zhu Ganglie pointed to the ginseng fruit in astonishment, "Eldest brother, you spent half a day and brought back just this one? I thought you would bring back a basketful like the time you picked the peaches."
Sun Wukong waved his hand, "What are you thinking about? I was dishonorable back then, that was the mischief of a drunken spree.
How could I behave so carelessly nowadays?
Those two kids can be nasty with their words, that's one thing, but they also cursed my monkey descendants. I cannot indulge them in this.
However, since we are after all staying under their roof, who have shown us kindness, acting thoughtlessly would only demean us.
Originally, master said he'd share a ginseng fruit with us, but they ended up eating it instead. How is that fair?
Not to mention what the ginseng fruit was initially meant for master for, but surely it wasn't their place to decide to give it to him. Even if there were a debt of gratitude, it would be someone else's, not theirs.
Besides, I'm not taking more than our share, master said to give us one, so we will only eat one. That's only fair!"
Zhu Ganglie seemed a bit disdainful, "Hey, hey... fairness... fairness can't fill your belly. Such a small fruit isn't even enough to lodge in the crevice of my teeth... and yet to be shared by three."
Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, I think the eldest brother is right.
Although Qingfeng and Mingyue have bad manners, they did host us after all. Providing us with food, drink, and lodging, that's also kindness.
But for them to insult us like that, we bore it and didn't make it hard for them. That can be considered repaying their kindness.
As for the fruit, that was Zhenyuan Great Immortal from Wuzhuang Temple repaying a favor to our master. The master split one for us, so it belongs to us, they shouldn't have eaten it. Now we are just taking back what is rightfully ours, which is not excessive."
Although they knew that this Tang Sanzang was not the other Tang Sanzang, they were also unclear which Tang Sanzang Zhenyuan Great Immortal was referring to. And subconsciously believing, anyone who could possess treasures like the ginseng fruit must have an extraordinary origin, certainly wouldn't make a mistake in the prediction.
Therefore, everyone believed that the fruit was meant for Tang Sanzang, not for Tang Seng.
Naturally, they ate it as if it were their due.
Zhu Ganglie grunted, "I know... but, it's not enough to eat. Look how small it is, I can't even see it if I stand further away."
While speaking, Zhu Ganglie moved closer, and just as he was within reach, he opened his mouth wide to take a bite.
But just before he could bite, he felt a sharp pain in his ear as Sun Wukong grabbed it firmly, causing him to cry out, "Eldest brother, eldest brother, go easy, my ear is coming off!"
Sun Wukong snorted, "You fool, do you think I don't know how many worms you have in your belly? Hoping to hog it all for yourself?"
Casually tossing Zhu Ganglie to one side, Sun Wukong said, "We will divide it into three equal parts, one for each person, no one should be greedy."
After speaking, Sun Wukong split the fruit into three pieces, and each of them ate their share.
The ginseng fruit truly proved itself to be a divine spiritual medicine among the heavenly and earthly elixirs, for even just one-third of it could be felt infusing one's body with bountiful spiritual energy, nourishing every meridian and the soul throughout.
For a moment, the three of them felt entirely comfortable and content, exclaiming in relief.
However, Zhu Ganglie still felt somewhat discontented and called out, "Too little, I... I couldn't even taste what flavor it was. Eldest brother, maybe..."
Sun Wukong glared at him and said, "Fool, you'd better dismiss those thoughts. Sha, go and cook something. Master must be hungry by now."
Sha Wujing nodded, grabbed the White Deer spirit and started to gut and skin it...
Although Zhu Ganglie was somewhat reluctant, he had no choice but to help Sha Wujing cook.
Before long, a complete deer feast was ready...
The disciples settled down to eat...
It must be said that Sha Wujing's cooking skills were quite impressive. Moreover, the White Deer spirit was not an ordinary little demon but had lived for many years. Its flesh, refined by the essence of the sun and moon, was exceptionally fine. Combined with Sha Wujing's culinary talents, it resulted in a fragrance that wafted for miles!
Then Qingfeng and Mingyue came over, cursing as they followed the scent.
"You rowdy monks, how dare you eat meat in a Taoist temple?!"
Qingfeng started berating as soon as he entered the door.
Tang Sanzang scratched his head and asked Sun Wukong, "Wukong, is it also forbidden to eat meat in a Taoist temple?"
In Tang Sanzang's time, when demon gods were common, many rules were not understood by Tang Sanzang...
Sun Wukong said, "Not all Taoist temples forbid meat; some Taoist priests can eat it. It's just that I'm not sure if this Wuzhuang Temple prohibits meat..."
Zhu Ganglie shouted, "Right, you didn't say we couldn't eat meat when we were cooking!"
Sha Wujing said, "Exactly, ignorance is no crime. You didn't need to start cursing right away, did you?"
Tang Sanzang said, "If meat is forbidden, then we'll just go outside to eat. Wukong, let's take the table outside and eat. We can come back after we've finished."
So Sun Wukong and the others got moving, and just like that, they carried the table outside.
Qingfeng wanted to curse again, but Mingyue held him back, "Cursing a bit is fine, but more would be a waste of our saliva."
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Qingfeng snorted, "Right... let's go."
After speaking, the two turned and left.
As evening approached, according to the routine of Wuzhuang Temple, the two had to inspect everything in the temple.
When they checked the Ginseng Fruit Tree, they were shocked.
No matter how many times they counted, there was one fruit missing from the tree!
Qingfeng frowned and said, "How is this possible? When the garden was open, the congregation ate two, Tang Sanzang ate one at noon, and we ate one. Theoretically, there should be twenty-six left on the tree, so why are there only twenty-five?"
Mingyue, too, was sweating profusely as he carefully checked the formation and restrictions around the Ginseng Fruit Tree, only to find that all formations were functioning well.
But indeed, there was one Ginseng Fruit genuinely missing!
The two didn't believe in evil and checked several times, but one was still missing.
PS: My dear readers, you have been disputing the original work with me; I have read it three times before writing. There are minor changes, but most settings and sequences are correct.