Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 521: The Complacent Tian Peng

Tian Peng was gnawing on roast chicken. Hearing Xiong Daoren’s question, he didn’t even lift his head, "Me? What help could I possibly offer? Besides, if I helped, wouldn’t I destroy the original state of this place? What if the Jade Emperor concocts some reason to convict me again? I finally look somewhat human; I’m not about to muddy those waters."

"That won’t do, Tian Peng. You’d be doing a good deed. If you don’t act now, all the people here will perish!" Xiong Daoren said.

Tian Peng stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth, "I don’t care. Let them perish; that’s even better. Then I can go back to the shopkeeper. Sure, I might look a bit better in my mortal body, but it’s not practical at all. I want to gain some real abilities for myself."

"Oh come on, you can’t think like that. Think about it, by doing good deeds and praying for blessings, if you manage to become immortal later on, it would sound impressive," Xiong Daoren tried to persuade.

The Great Roc and Roc Demon King also said, "Exactly, look at you now; we raised you so big. You should go out and make your own way. The strategies the shopkeeper thought of, they weren’t meant for you to loaf around and mooch off others."

Tian Peng didn’t care about this at all. He was focused on eating his fill, polishing off a whole roast chicken, then picking up his cup of wine and taking a sip, letting out a sigh of satisfaction.

"This is so good, I’m craving the dishes the shopkeeper makes. When will someone bring me some? I’m dying for it."

"You wish to eat the dishes made by the shopkeeper? Keep dreaming," Xiong Daoren snorted.

Confused, Tian Peng said, "What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with me wanting to eat? You all are really stingy. I used to treat you often to meals, and now that I’m down on my luck and want a meal, you all refuse."

"It’s not that we refuse; haven’t we been taking care of you all these years?" Xiong Daoren said, "Who has time to deal with magic artifacts and magical treasures? Now that you are human, if you want to make something of yourself, you have to do it as a human, do great things. That’s how you make a name for yourself over a thousand miles!"

"And then what?" Tian Peng said, puzzled, "To be elevated by the Jade Emperor to immortality, then find a reason to demote me back to the mortal world? I’d rather enjoy eating and drinking at my leisure than go through so much trouble."

"Tian Peng, the idea of you taking action to boost your reputation was suggested by the shopkeeper," Xiong Daoren said.

"I don’t believe it. I bet you’re framing me. I’m going to sleep now!"

Tian Peng got up, ready to go back and sleep in his thatched hut, "Alright, remember what I said. Bring me a couple of dishes made by the shopkeeper next time. If that’s not possible, something made by Mr. Monkey will do."

Xiong Daoren and the other Two Demons exchanged glances, all displaying helplessness in their eyes.

Chen Nuo hadn’t said a word, and only a few days had passed at the Mountain of Mind and Heart.

But Chen Nuo wasn’t in a hurry; the Three Demons, however, were growing anxious. They couldn’t just keep revolving around Tian Peng; they also thought about finding a long-term trade to pursue.

Tian Peng had already grown so big, and in the village, he was akin to a tyrant.

Now it wasn’t just his brute strength but also the presence of the Three Demons. If they left now, there was a good chance Tian Peng would be schemed against by the County Magistrate and die miserably in his house.

But Tian Peng was inherently indolent, and his mind wasn’t set on much else than waiting for Chen Nuo to call him back to the Chaos Residence to resume his role as a helper.

Without a word from Chen Nuo, the Three Demons didn’t dare to take Tian Peng back, for fear of doing something wrong and angering Chen Nuo.

Continuing in this manner and constantly procrastinating, the Three Demons themselves yearned to leave and seek their own fortunes, but they dared not carelessly abandon Tian Peng.

"So, Tian Peng, you’re really just going to loaf around and wait for death?"

Xiong Daoren had made up his mind. If Tian Peng couldn’t pick himself up, he would really have to leave, even if it meant going alone, letting the other Two Demons do as they pleased.

"Ah yes, what’s the matter?" Tian Peng hummed casually.

"Fine, if you’re really going to continue being so aimless, then I’ll stop concerning myself with you. Just live however you want, because I refuse to watch over you any longer. I’m leaving," Xiong Daoren said.

"You’re leaving?" Tian Peng turned around and glanced at Xiong Daoren, "Where are you going?"

"Don’t worry about where I’m going; I just don’t plan to waste my time here any longer. I’m off," Xiong Daoren said.

No sooner had he mentioned leaving than both Tian Peng, the Great Roc, and the Roc Demon King looked at him, realizing he was truly angry. They hurriedly asked, "Where will you go?"

"I don’t know, and seeing him like a pool of mud, I refuse to watch over him any longer. Whatever happens to him after this, even if the County Magistrate beats him to death, I won’t care!"

"Ah? You..." The Great Roc and Roc Demon King looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

In fact, over these days, they had also hesitated for a long time, mainly because the days in the mortal world were so slow.

Moreover, they were gradually realizing that dawdling wasn’t a solution, and that they should seek out their own lives.

"Well then, Tian Peng, you take care of yourself. If Xiong Daoren is leaving and you truly can’t pull yourself together, we are all going to leave," the Great Roc said.

Tian Peng was still fuming. He waved his hand, "Whatever, go wherever you want. You were all so eager to tag along with me before, but now that I’m down on my luck, everyone wants to leave."

"Fine, you all go. When I rise again, I won’t remember having you guys as brothers!"

"Look at yourself right now; what do you have, aside from the layers of fat we’ve fed you?" Xiong Daoren yelled at him.

Tian Peng looked at the rolls of fat on his body and the doorframe that barely reached his ears. The door was truly too low; he always had to stoop to go through it.

Even the inside of the house wasn’t much taller and, what’s worse, the windows were drafty. Not that he’d mind drafty windows, but the house was both dark and small, really only fit for sleeping. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The Three Demons always spoke to them from outside, and for no other reason than that the house was simply too small.

Tian Peng always wished in his heart that one day, Chen Nuo would let him return.

For years, he had truly missed the days at the Chaos Residence, how carefree they were with plenty to eat and drink.

He had really looked down upon the Three Demons at first, thinking they had no real talents and just followed around behind him.

But now, how things had changed. Time had passed, and he had become a mere mortal, not even equal to the Three Demons. Not just unequal, he owed his survival to their help.

"Fine, if that’s what you all think, then just go. I don’t care about that. I don’t need you; I can live well on my own!" Tian Peng declared.

"Tian Peng, if that’s really what you think, then we truly have no other choice," the Great Roc sighed, "Take care of yourself."

"Do I need you to tell me that?" Tian Peng retorted sarcastically, "I can live very well on my own. It was you who insisted on coming over, under the pretext of helping me, but in reality, you came to laugh at me, right? Seeing me like this now, in such a wretched state, does it make you happy?"