Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 545 Acquaintances Recognize Each Other All the More

Chapter 545: Chapter 545 Acquaintances Recognize Each Other All the More

"I’m begging you, Master, when exactly are you leaving?" the innkeeper asked, evidently truly exasperated.

"I had only intended to rest my legs before setting out, but the inn is frequented by many travelers, and I chanced upon a Donor who also takes great delight in reciting scriptures and worshipping Buddha. After conversing with him, I realized that even in this bustling inn, as long as one is devoted to Buddha, one can impart the teachings of Buddhism," said the monk.

The innkeeper’s face turned ashen, and he seemed numb, which was somewhat exaggerated considering it had only been a day.

Influenced by being banished to the mortal world by the Jade Emperor, Tian Peng had quite an aversion to bald-headed friars, and it was only because this monk appeared somewhat kinder that he treated him a bit better.

Now, looking at the innkeeper’s despairing demeanor, Tian Peng sighed and, ignoring the monk’s persuasion, asked, "Do you have any specialty dishes here at your inn?"

"Our specialty is lamb soup with flatbread. Customers who come and go all rave about our soup and flatbread," the innkeeper replied. "Would you like to order a serving, sir?"

Tian Peng weighed his Silver Taels and asked cautiously, "How much for one serving?"

"Not expensive. We’re not some grand restaurant, and our patrons are travelers simply looking for a decent meal, so naturally, our prices are fair," said the innkeeper, holding up five fingers. "Only this much."

"Five Wen?"

Tian Peng thought that sounded quite cheap and was about to order a serving when the innkeeper shook his head and said, "You must have mistaken our place for a charitable organization, sir. It’s fifty Wen."

Fifty Wen was reasonable enough for this place, but Tian Peng considered and found it rather expensive for himself.

After pondering for a moment, since all he wanted was a warm meal, he asked, "What about the regular soup noodles?"

The innkeeper’s expression changed slightly, but it was still an order, after all. There were customers even more miserly who stayed without taking any meal.

"Ten Wen."

"Alright then, a bowl of the regular soup noodles for me," Tian Peng decided.

"Okay," the innkeeper responded in a listless tone and turned to leave.

Tian Peng glanced at the monk sitting opposite him and thought that he could spare the ten Wen. He called out to halt the innkeeper, "Hold on a moment."

The innkeeper turned back, his eyes filled with hope, "What is it, sir? Would you like to order something else?"

"Make it two bowls of soup noodles."

"Oh." This time, the innkeeper left without turning back.

Tian Peng paid no mind to the innkeeper’s attitude and turned to the monk, saying, "I’m inviting you to eat, a vegetarian soup noodle, which you can have."

The monk brought his hands together in prayer, "I dare not accept, Donor. I have dry provisions with me, and I’m merely sitting here drinking tea. There’s no need for you to invite me."

"If we can exchange a few words, then we’re friends. It’s just inviting a friend for a meal, and I can most certainly afford it," Tian Peng said, patting his chest.

"Donor, you refrained from ordering the meat noodles earlier, and now, you’re willing to order a meal for a monk you’ve only met once. I truly cannot accept such kindness. Please retract your offer, Donor. I have provisions, and there’s no need for you to dip into your wallet on my behalf," the monk urged hurriedly.

"You’re a strange one, aren’t you? It’s already ordered, how can we take it back now?" Tian Peng replied.

As the two of them were bickering, an upright official from the Kaifeng Prefecture also came downstairs. At first, he saw the monk’s gleaming head and thought he was talking to a big round platter.

It was only when he descended the stairs that he recognized the figure as a monk, and feeling remorseful for not recognizing the Monk immediately, a sense of guilt rose in his heart.

"Oh, your honor, have you also come down to eat?" Tian Peng’s seat faced the staircase. Whenever someone came down, Tian Peng was the first to notice.

"Yes, after freshening up and resting for a bit, I was feeling peckish, so I’ve come to eat something."

The official from Kaifeng Prefecture had grown accustomed to Tian Peng’s enthusiastic demeanor, remaining neither servile nor overbearing. Such people were rare.

Despite the lack of deference toward himself, he bore no annoyance toward Tian Peng.

"The server just went in, so he should be coming out from the kitchen soon. Please, have some tea and wait for a moment," Tian Peng said.

If it were anyone else, they would have already gone in to fetch the server or stood up to offer their seat, but Tian Peng couldn’t be bothered to do so, nor did he deign to. A warm greeting sufficed.

The official from Kaifeng Prefecture nodded and sat down, casually asking, "What did you order earlier? The server said this place serves the tastiest dishes—what are they?"

"Oh, I didn’t place an order; I just asked for a vegetarian broth noodle," Tian Peng replied.

"Oh? Why just a vegetarian broth noodle?" asked the official from Kaifeng Prefecture. He looked at Tian Peng’s stature, which didn’t seem like one bowl of noodles would suffice.

"The meat broth noodles are too expensive; I don’t think they’re worth it. We’re not on a street or in a small town - this shop surely includes the cost of their labor and ingredients’ transportation. I wouldn’t eat that."

"Being away from home, naturally everything is different from the place one usually stays," the official from Kaifeng Prefecture said with a smile. "It’s okay. I’ll add a portion of meat to the order, consider it my treat."

Tian Peng gave it some thought. Although the Kaifeng Prefecture official was an upright official, his salary surely wouldn’t run out just because of a meal or two. After all, Bianjing was no small place.

With this in mind, Tian Peng didn’t demur and nodded his acceptance. "Then I thank you, sir."

The official from Kaifeng Prefecture glanced at his personal guard, who immediately picked up on the cue and rose to go to the kitchen to find the server.

The server came out of the kitchen cheerfully; seeing so many customers in the hall, he was delighted and greeted them warmly.

"What would our esteemed guests like? Our restaurant has excellent mutton broth noodles and braised and roasted chicken, as well as ten-year-old Hua Diao wine. What would you like to try?"

Upon hearing about the wine, Tian Peng perked up and glared at the server in reproach. "Why didn’t you tell me about the wine before?"

The server glanced at Tian Peng and muttered, "You were so scrimping when ordering a bowl of vegetarian noodles—who knew you had spare money to spend on wine."

Tian Peng, who had exceptional hearing, had overheard the server’s grumble and immediately glared at him with bulging eyes, his voice growing stern, "What did you say? Repeat that?"

Seeing Tian Peng’s reaction, the server didn’t dare to utter another word.

At that moment, the monk at the side said opportunely, "Donor, please calm your anger. Maybe I can recite a scripture that can soothe your mind?"

Upon hearing the monk speak, the official from Kaifeng Prefecture remembered the large round plate—or rather, the monk—that he had overlooked.

"Isn’t this Master Xuanzang? To encounter you here is truly serendipitous," he remarked.

The monk greeted the official from Kaifeng Prefecture with joined palms, "Amitabha, it is serendipitous, but not completely so. Since we’ve met here again, it’s a destined affinity."

"You know each other, then?" Tian Peng asked and immediately realized it was an unnecessary question.

This monk had stayed in Bianjing for a month. Even the streetside vendor told him that everyone from officials to beggars had been taught by him. It wasn’t strange that the official from Kaifeng Prefecture knew the monk.

"I’ve met Master Xuanzang a few times during his scholarly travels in Bianjing City," the official from Kaifeng Prefecture shared. "He has also stayed at the Prefecture for a while and has taught Buddhism to our people, both high and low."

"I see," Tian Peng said with a nod and a smile.

"It seems like you’re planning to continue your travels to other places?" the official from Kaifeng Prefecture inquired.

"Indeed, after spending some time in Bianjing, I have prayed for blessings for all those who are devoted to goodness, and now I am preparing to journey to Chang’an," the monk replied.