Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 544 - 538: Master and Disciple’s Alienation [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Chapter 544: Chapter 538: Master and Disciple’s Alienation [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

"Master, please, let me out! That Old Tathagata has gone too far with his bullying. I want to smash his head to pieces!"

Sun Wukong was suppressed under Five Finger Mountain. Although Ancestor Subhuti had stabilized the situation for him, and Sha Chen had previously given him some space to move, he was ultimately unable to leave. He still wanted to be completely free from the suppression of Five Finger Mountain. More importantly, he harbored hatred toward Buddhism, and the resentment in his heart toward Tathagata had not diminished.

Ancestor Subhuti’s expression was complex.

Originally, according to the script, after Sun Wukong was suppressed for five hundred years, his wildness was expected to be gradually tamed. At the very least, he would hold Buddhism in awe and fear Tathagata even more. After the five-hundred-year term, Sun Wukong would obediently embark on the Journey to the West, and he would be extremely courteous to any Buddhists he encountered. If Tathagata gave a command, he wouldn’t dare to delay. Even Guanyin was supposed to be able to control Sun Wukong’s destiny, making him obey without question, not daring to offend.

But now, Guanyin was no longer able to suppress Sun Wukong. He had no reverence for Buddhism, nor did he show any courtesy to Tathagata. Although Sun Wukong was still no match for Tathagata, he was not afraid. These five hundred years had not been without gain; his strength had grown, surpassing any previous time. Sun Wukong’s ambition had also grown larger. Naturally, he considered himself superior to others and wanted to avenge his grievances.

Especially now that he had seen his master, he even wanted Ancestor Subhuti to help him seek revenge.

Sun Wukong kept pleading, but how could Ancestor Subhuti possibly let him out? In another ten or twenty years, the great calamity of the Journey to the West would fully commence, and Sun Wukong was the primary candidate. At such a critical moment, Ancestor Subhuti naturally wouldn’t release him and ruin five hundred years of planning.

But Sun Wukong trusted him immensely, especially since the previous two appearances had already instilled a deep reverence for him in Sun Wukong. If he were of no help to Sun Wukong now, his prestige in Sun Wukong’s eyes would diminish.

Ancestor Subhuti also had a headache. This was why he had decided to appear three times. If he appeared only once and didn’t let Sun Wukong out, then his appearance would be meaningless. But now that he had appeared three times, if he still didn’t release Sun Wukong, it might easily cause Sun Wukong to become dissatisfied.

Sun Wukong said, "Master, let me go! Your Divine Power is boundless, your Mana limitless. Release me, and let’s march to Lingjiu Mountain together!"

Ancestor Subhuti said, "What did I tell you in the beginning? I told you to cultivate diligently and not cause trouble, yet you caused a colossal disaster by daring to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace! Moreover, you still show no repentance, secretly cultivating, quietly continuing your misdeeds, and now you even want to go to the West and commit violence?"

He scolded in hopes of intimidating Sun Wukong into realizing his mistake.

But Sun Wukong was stunned and said in astonishment, "Master, it was the Heavenly Court that wronged me first, not I who failed the Heavenly Court."

Ancestor Subhuti said, "How has the Heavenly Court wronged you? Do you still want to argue? How did I teach you?"

Sun Wukong replied, "Master, the Heavenly Court has been too oppressive. They first made me the Stable Minister, humiliating me. Later, they had me guard the Peach Garden and even called me The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but in reality, it was just a minor post like the Stable Minister, with no respect shown to me. It was truly too oppressive."

Explaining his side, he looked aggrieved. "I was indignant but swallowed my anger. However, when they held the Peach Banquet and didn’t invite me, I couldn’t stand it, so I ate their peaches, which led to this current disaster."

Ancestor Subhuti snorted, "Isn’t it just your own gluttony? With your weak cultivation back then, such arrangements were only proper. What do you have to be dissatisfied about?"

Sun Wukong argued, "Master, this is truly unfair to me! The Heavenly Court disrespected me and even wanted to capture my monkey children and grandchildren. I only thought of resisting. The more trouble it caused, the less they showed any sign of repentance. Otherwise, why would I be in this situation?"

Ancestor Subhuti became angry and said, "It’s clear that you were the one who did wrong, and yet you want the Heavenly Court to repent? You truly are an irredeemable rascal! You infuriate me, you macaque!"

Then, holding the horsetail whisk, he struck Sun Wukong thrice. These three strikes were forceful, causing Sun Wukong’s skin to split and flesh to tear, yet he dared not resist.

But Sun Wukong’s heart grew even more resentful.

Ancestor Subhuti wished to make Sun Wukong experience pain, then fear, and ultimately obey his commands, acknowledging his wrongs.

But Sun Wukong believed that Ancestor Subhuti was siding with others, not considering his disciple’s perspective at all, and simply didn’t care about him.

He still feared Ancestor Subhuti. Since the beginning of his cultivation, his master had been an insurmountable mountain in his heart. He did fear Ancestor Subhuti. Previously, it had been reverence—not just fear, but also respect. But now, Ancestor Subhuti wasn’t standing by him, wasn’t considering things from his perspective, and even spoke for others, hitting him on their behalf. This made resentment stir within Sun Wukong.

If Ancestor Subhuti wanted to make amends, it would be easy: he just needed to speak from Sun Wukong’s perspective and then release him. Then, Sun Wukong’s reverence for him would have increased, perhaps even surpassing what it was before. But that was impossible.

Ancestor Subhuti wouldn’t release Sun Wukong; he had come here hoping Sun Wukong would serve his sentence properly and reform. Yet Ancestor Subhuti also knew that speaking up now, to persuade Sun Wukong to endure, was somewhat unfair and could greatly diminish his own standing in Sun Wukong’s heart.

However, Ancestor Subhuti still had to speak, because he had no other choice. The Journey to the West calamity was approaching. In these final twenty or thirty years, Sun Wukong absolutely had to soften, learn fear, and participate in the great trial. Otherwise, all their efforts would be for naught.

After hitting Sun Wukong, Ancestor Subhuti comforted him, "Does it hurt, you rebellious disciple? When will you stop causing me such worry?"

Sun Wukong said, "I am not hurt, but my heart is cold. Master, you actually speak for the Heavenly Court and plead for Buddhism. I..."

SLAP! SLAP!

Ancestor Subhuti hit Sun Wukong twice more and rebuked, "Am I pleading for them? No! It’s because you truly made a mistake, and I, as your master, am disciplining you!"

Sun Wukong became even more resentful. But he dared not speak out.

Ancestor Subhuti said, "You caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace and still think you are right? Tathagata suppressed you, and that was acting on Heaven’s behalf. Five hundred years have passed, haven’t you reflected at all?"

Sun Wukong was a proud and arrogant macaque by nature; he focused on the matter at hand, not the person involved. He couldn’t bear Ancestor Subhuti speaking to him this way. Indeed, the more his master spoke like that, the colder Sun Wukong’s heart grew.

Ancestor Subhuti continued, "During these five hundred years, you should have reflected on where you went wrong and sought to improve."

Sun Wukong said, "Master, I know I was wrong. Please let me out."

Ancestor Subhuti said, "Tell me, where did you go wrong?"

Sun Wukong replied, "I... I was wrong about everything. Please release me, Master."

Ancestor Subhuti frowned. Sun Wukong is just trying to placate me, he thought. He could see that Sun Wukong hadn’t sincerely admitted his mistakes; he just wanted to leave Five Finger Mountain.

He asked again, "If you get out, what do you plan to do?"

Sun Wukong said through gritted teeth, "I will first learn from you, Master, then seek revenge! I’ll shatter the Heavenly Palace and smash Lingjiu Mountain with my staff!"