As they continued their journey, chatting along the way, the trip didn't feel too dull. However, the sweltering heat made traveling quite exhausting.
After walking for some time, Zhu Bajie began to lag behind. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting, and complained, "The heavens really aren't on our side these days. It's scorching hot today! If we keep going , I'll turn into a roast suckling pig. Monkey Bro, let's rest for a while!"
"Why are you asking me? You need to get Master's approval for that."
Sun Wukong glanced at Tang Sanzang, who also understood that forcing them to continue in such weather would be difficult. Today's heat was indeed quite intense.
They had expected the weather to become hot only after passing through the forest, but to their surprise, the sweltering conditions had arrived earlier than anticipated.
"Alright, let's take a break up ahead. There's a river where we can fetch some water."
They walked a little further and reached the riverside. Zhu Bajie immediately scooped up some water with his hands and found it pleasantly cool. Laughing, he said, "Monkey Bro, wouldn't it be great if we could take a bath here? A refreshing dip before hitting the road again!"
"You fool! Don't jump in just yet—fetch the water first, then you can bathe!"
"Got it, Monkey Bro!"
Tang Sanzang looked up at the sky. The weather seemed unpredictable. It had been scorching earlier, but now it felt stuffy and oppressive. He wondered if it would rain soon.
In summer, when the air became too humid and stifling, rain was often not far behind.
His main concern now was—if it rained, where would they take shelter?
"Sometimes being too hasty isn't a good thing. I initially wanted us to travel faster so we could reach the Western Heaven (Paradise) sooner. But now I see we shouldn't have rushed. We've ended up in the middle of nowhere, with no villages or inns nearby. If it rains, we won't even have a place to hide."
"Master, you don't need to worry about that. I'll go ahead and find a shelter for us. Even if there are no villages, the mountains are full of caves. We can always take shelter in one."
"He's right, Master. You don't have to worry. Monkey Bro will take care of it."
After quenching their thirst, Zhu Bajie couldn't wait any longer. He leaped into the river and sighed in delight, "Ahh, this water is so refreshing! You all should jump in too! A bath will make our journey much more comfortable."
"Really? Is the water that nice?"
"Of course! Master, come on, don't be shy! A cool bath will make you feel much better."
Though Tang Sanzang was usually reserved, he couldn't resist the temptation of cooling off in the oppressive heat. Soon, the four of them removed their clothes and jumped into the river.
It truly was a great choice—bathing in the river on such a hot day was incredibly refreshing. As they scrubbed themselves clean, they chatted.
Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, I know you're eager to improve your strength, but I hope you won't rush things. Some things just can't be hurried. It's like our journey to the West—I wanted to reach our destination quickly, but after so many years, we're still not there."
"Master, my situation is different from yours. You haven't reached the Western Heaven yet because the journey is long, and we can only travel on foot. But for me, I've hit a bottleneck in my cultivation. For a cultivator, if they can't find a way to break through, no amount of effort will help."
"Really, Wukong? I don't know much about cultivation, but I still think you shouldn't be too impatient. Rushing things rarely leads to success. Don't you agree?"
"Well… that's true. Sometimes, haste does make waste."
Certain things take time. Trying to force rapid progress often leads to failure—or worse, setbacks.
As they enjoyed their bath, Zhu Bajie suddenly felt something grab his ankle. He furrowed his brows and called out, "Monkey Bro! Monkey Bro!"
"What is it? Why do you look so nervous?"
"Something just grabbed my ankle! Monkey Bro, do you think there's something down there?"
"Don't scare me like that!"
"What could possibly be down there?"
Before Zhu Bajie could finish speaking, he was suddenly yanked underwater. Bubbles rose to the surface.
Tang Sanzang was shocked and shouted, "Wukong! Something's pulled Bajie under—quick, save him!"
Though he wasn't sure what had taken Zhu Bajie, Sun Wukong immediately dove into the water.
Beneath the surface, he saw a woman with a translucent body—clearly a water spirit of some kind.
He couldn't tell exactly what creature she was, but in this world, countless beings could cultivate into demons. The source of thɪs content is novｅlfire.net
At the moment, the female demon was holding onto Zhu Bajie, dragging him deeper into the water.
Wukong shouted, "Who are you, demon? How dare you attack my companion?"
The woman smirked. "Hmm? You're too skinny—I don't like eating ones like you. But this plump one looks delicious. I think I'll eat him!"
Zhu Bajie was dumbfounded. So, she dragged him down just because he looked plump and tasty?