I just became the Pirate King, and you're telling me I also time-traveled at the same time.

Chapter 1045: A Touching Moment

He was still holding a bowl of hot tea in his hand. Seeing this, he slowly took a sip, then turned his head to Sun Wukong and said, "See that?"

Sun Wukong grinned: "I see it, the fish has taken the bait."

Su Wanwan chuckled as she listened, "You two are practically fishing for a whole audience of people."

"It's not like that," Chu Yang corrected seriously, "it's like fishing."

In the morning, the second step came.

This time, it was Su Wanwan who made the move.

Of course, this wasn't a "honey trap" she willingly fell for; rather, it was a plan Chu Yang devised with her last night—a "half-true, half-false" scheme that would leave the rest to her imagination.

She doesn't need to do anything deliberately.

All you need to do is show a little bit of a "feeling wronged but not saying anything" attitude at the right time.

For someone who is prone to overthinking, this is even easier than putting on a show.

So, as noon approached, she deliberately stood alone under the plum tree in the backyard and sighed softly.

Not far away, there were indeed two young women who looked like Taoist nuns drying vegetables. I quietly perked up my ears.

Su Wanwan muttered to herself "unintentionally," "All he does is fool around with Monkey King..."

Upon hearing this, the two women immediately exchanged a glance.

coming.

They were ordered to pick on this girl's past, and now that she had shown some displeasure herself, they had no reason not to accept it.

One of the older men immediately stepped forward, his face full of concern: "Young lady, are you feeling unwell?"

Su Wanwan was startled at first, as if she hadn't expected anyone to hear her, then forced a smile: "It's nothing."

"Look at your face, young lady, you don't look like you're alright at all," the woman sighed. "Women always face many inconveniences when they're out in the world. Especially traveling with such a group of men, it's hard for me to even think about it."

If these words had been spoken yesterday, they would probably have stung Su Wanwan's heart.

But now she knew perfectly well what was going on, and she almost laughed at the words "it's hard for you".

She held back, keeping her head down and revealing a hesitant expression.

Seeing this, another woman immediately chimed in, "Has that Benefactor Chu disregarded your feelings again?"

Su Wanwan's heart skipped a beat.

Oh, so that's the key point after all.

She gave a half-serious, half-joking hum: "When has he ever considered what other people think?"

This sentence, though not particularly strong, is enough to spark the imagination.

The two women immediately felt they had found the right approach.

Before they could say anything more, Su Wanwan seemed to suddenly realize she had spoken out of turn, immediately stopped talking, turned around and left, leaving behind only a back view that looked particularly "wronged".

The two women stood there, exchanged a glance, and both saw the same meaning in each other's eyes—

There is a play.

What they didn't know was that the moment Su Wanwan turned the corner of the corridor, the "grievance" on her face vanished instantly.

She hurried back to the west wing, and couldn't help but laugh as soon as she entered. She said to Chu Yang, "They actually believed it! They even came to ask me if you had disregarded my feelings again."

Chu Yang was peeling peanuts by the window when he heard this and clicked his tongue: "Look at what kind of person you've become out there."

Sun Wukong stood by, arms crossed, watching the spectacle: "I think their questions aren't wrong."

Su Wanwan immediately turned her head: "Brother Monkey!"

Chu Yang, however, didn't seem to care. Instead, he seemed thoughtful: "That's fine too. Since they're watching you and me, it'll be easier for them to divert their attention."

"And then?" Su Wanwan asked.

"Then it's Monkey King's turn."

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "?"

"Right." Chu Yang flicked a shelled peanut toward him. "This afternoon, find an opportunity to get to know those young Taoist priests in the backyard. Don't be too fierce, but don't be too cunning either. Just use your best trick—"

Sun Wukong blinked: "Which one?"

"Bragging, patting each other on the shoulder, calling each other brothers, and then casually taking them to play a couple of rounds of Pai Gow."

Su Wanwan: "..."

Tang Sanzang: "..."

Even Sun Wukong himself was surprised: "When did I become good at this?"

Chu Yang looked at him: "You're not good at it?"

Sun Wukong reflected on his experiences dealing with various demon kings, local deities, mountain gods, woodcutters, hunters, and all sorts of shady characters over the years, and finally had to admit: "It seems I'm actually quite good at it."

Then, in the afternoon, another unbelievable scene appeared at Xuanyun Temple.

The three young Taoist priests, who were supposed to "monitor the Dharma protectors and seize the opportunity to sow discord," were somehow taken by Sun Wukong to the back of the woodshed.

At first, they just talked.

Sun Wukong first praised their good legs and feet, saying they looked like they were quick and efficient workers. He then praised one of them for his sharp eyes, saying he would be suitable to learn some gambling skills. Then, he pulled out a few copper coins from somewhere, threw them on the ground, and began to teach them "how to play without losing money."

Those young Taoist priests were initially concerned about the mission, but mortals are mortals after all.

Young men, in particular, find it hard to resist the idea of ​​"having someone lead the way."

Besides, it was Sun Wukong who was leading them around.

If he really wanted to coax someone, he could easily charm them with just a few words.

Not long after, bursts of suppressed laughter came from behind the woodshed.

"Let me tell you, if you bet on the left this time, you're guaranteed to win."

"Really?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"You've only known us for half a day!"

"Doesn't that further prove that there's no history of lying to you?"

"...That makes sense."

"Come on, let's try again. I'll cover for you if you lose."

As Chu Yang passed by under the corridor, he glanced over there and was quite satisfied.

Su Wanwan whispered, "Brother Monkey is even better at leading people astray than I thought."

"Of course," Chu Yang said. "A guy like Brother Monkey may seem like a troublemaker most of the time, but if he really gets arm in arm with someone, ninety-nine percent of young men wouldn't be able to handle it."

"Are you praising him or insulting him?"

"I'll count them all."

Before sunset, the third step quietly began.

This time, it's a real attempt to "sow discord".

However, instead of sowing discord between the master and disciple, they were trying to sow discord among the "actor Taoists" in the Taoist temple.

It was Chu Yang who made the move.

He first approached the young Taoist boy who had bought him roast chicken the night before, and casually asked, "Did the abbot tell you to return the money you earned last night?"

Upon hearing this, the young Taoist priest's expression immediately became somewhat unnatural: "N-nothing..."

"That's good." Chu Yang patted his shoulder. "I was just worried that someone might be jealous and make things difficult for you."

The young Taoist priest was taken aback: "Who's jealous?"

"I can't say that," Chu Yang said in a low voice, feigning mystery. "But you should be careful. This morning when I went to the well, I overheard some people gossiping, saying that you took advantage of someone last night, and that you were dishonest."

The young Taoist priest's face instantly turned red: "Who said that?!"

"Don't be in a hurry." Chu Yang had an expression that said, "I was just trying to be helpful. I was just listening casually. What if I misunderstood?"

He finished speaking and left, leaving the young Taoist boy standing there, gritting his teeth.

A little while later, Chu Yang went to the kitchen and chatted with the old woman who was tending the fire for a few minutes.

Towards the end of the conversation, he casually mentioned, "Last night I wanted to ask the person who bought the chicken to bring some food to the kitchen as well, but some people thought it was too much trouble, saying that those who work in the back don't deserve such good food. Thinking about it, they're right, the rules in the temple are strict, so I didn't say anything more."

The old woman, who had been smiling, immediately changed her expression upon hearing these words.

"Who said that?"

Chu Yang looked bewildered: "Huh? You can't say, can you?"

"Speak freely, benefactor. I want to hear who looks down on the kitchen staff!"

Chu Yang waved his hand: "Forget it, forget it. If we really say it, it might hurt the harmony in your temple."

The less he said, the angrier his wife became.

In the end, Chu Yang only casually left a sentence: "It's also unfair to you. You work so hard cooking and boiling water, and in the end, some people think you don't deserve to eat well. Alas, mortals are just used to dividing people into different classes."

As soon as these words were spoken, the old woman who tended the fire's face fell completely.

Su Wanwan listened to the whole thing from behind the side gate, and was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a long time.

"You..." she whispered, "It's a sin to use your mouth against mortals."

Chu Yang shrugged: "They didn't say who it was."

"But that's even harsher than saying who it is."

"Isn't that perfect?" Chu Yang smiled innocently. "They weren't on the same page to begin with. My job is just to make them realize that."

Sure enough, after nightfall, the atmosphere in Xuanyun Temple began to become subtle.

First, the young Taoist boy and the young Taoist sweeping the courtyard had a brief argument.

Later, the old woman who tended the fire had a few words with the servant who delivered the food, complaining that he hadn't thought to bring some back to the stove when he went out to buy chicken last night.

Later, even the young Taoist priests behind the woodshed who had become familiar with Sun Wukong began to murmur to themselves—

Why do those leaders always act so high and mighty, trying to control them in everything, yet they don't necessarily take them seriously in private?

Chu Yang, on the other hand, continued to advance steadily.

The next morning, he simply unleashed his ultimate move.

Early in the morning, he stood in the yard, stretching, and casually remarked, "The roast chicken last night was good, but there wasn't enough. If I can still buy some today, I'd like four more."

These words were overheard by two young Taoist priests who were passing by.

One of them had just become acquainted with Sun Wukong yesterday, and his eyes immediately lit up.

The other, still feigning composure, coughed lightly and said, "Esteemed benefactor, yesterday was already an exception; it's probably inconvenient today..."

"Double the price," Chu Yang said arrogantly.

The young Taoist priest: "..."

"Bring back two more jars of herbal tea. It's hot, and Monkey is getting hungry."

"I still want to eat candied plums," Sun Wukong added, having somehow managed to hang upside down from the wall.

"Okay, I'll buy some more plums."

I want salt-fried peanuts.

"purchase."

"I still want to—"

That's enough. If you still want to run, then run away yourself.

Sun Wukong chuckled and jumped off the wall.

The two young Taoist priests stood there, their expressions quite subtle.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted.

I made a trip yesterday, and the money I earned was enough for several days' expenses. If I go again today…

What's more, while out, you can also grab a bowl of noodles in town and buy some of your favorite snacks.

Who says that if they work for someone else, they have to work hard and painstakingly?

Once people's hearts waver, the game falls apart.

Before noon, two young Taoist priests actually came up to me and asked, "If you still wish to buy something, perhaps... we could go for you?"

Su Wanwan witnessed this scene and almost wanted to applaud.

Chu Yang merely glanced at them, feigning hesitation, and asked, "Is this convenient for you?"

"Convenient, convenient," one of them immediately said. "Anyway, there's nothing important happening in the temple this afternoon."

Chu Yang seemed touched by their enthusiasm and nodded with great satisfaction: "Then we won't be polite."

Having said that, he slapped another silver ingot over.

This time, even the women in the kitchen who had been holding back couldn't sit still any longer.

Why should it be just you guys again?

Are we not better at purchasing than you?

So that afternoon, the entire "actors" of Xuanyun Temple started to compete openly and secretly over the question of "who is more suitable to go to town to buy roast chicken".

Master Xu initially tried to suppress it.

But the more he pressed down, the more chaotic things became below.

He soon discovered that the words he had intended to use to sow discord among the pilgrimage group were hardly taken to heart by the people below.

What they are most concerned about right now is:

Will Benefactor Chu still contribute money today?

Will Protector Sun teach us any new ways to play this afternoon?

Did that Miss Su actually have a falling out with Benefactor Chu?

And if we buy another chicken tonight, could you please bring an extra one for the kitchen?

As for the original plot points such as "the holy monk's hardship," "the discord between master and disciple," and "the burden of others," they seemed to be gradually diluted by the aroma of chicken and the smell of money filling the courtyard.

Master Xu could no longer sit still.

That evening, he came to find Chu Yang in person, hoping to steer the conversation toward the main topic.

At that moment, Chu Yang was sitting on the veranda, with Sun Wukong on either side, unpacking a bag of braised pig ears that they had just bought—of course, Tang Sanzang had sent them vegetarian braised bamboo shoots separately.

Master Xu took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Benefactor Chu."

"Master Xu." Chu Yang looked up, very enthusiastically, "You've come at the perfect time. Would you like to try some? I just bought it in town; it's very crisp."

Master Xu's lips twitched: "This humble Taoist does not eat meat."

"Oh, right." Chu Yang slapped his forehead. "I forgot. Well, have some tea then."

As he spoke, he actually poured someone a cup of tea.

After sitting down, Abbot Xu carefully chose his words and said, "From what I've observed these past two days, you and Protector Sun... seem to have quite a bit of leisure time."

"Of course," Chu Yang said. "Traveling is hard enough as it is; if we don't find some fun, life is meaningless."

"But the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures is ultimately a major undertaking."

"They didn't say it wasn't a big deal."

"Since this is a major matter, we should be cautious and restrained, lest..." Abbot Xu paused, revealing a perfectly measured look of worry, "lest the Holy Monk worry about you."

If this were to follow the original script, it would have been considered quite accurate.

However, after listening, Chu Yang was stunned for a moment, and then looked at him with great emotion.

"Master Xu".

A sense of unease suddenly arose in Master Xu's heart.

Sure enough, the next moment, Chu Yang said earnestly, "You're absolutely right."

Master Xu: "..."

"I've been reflecting on this for the past two days," Chu Yang sighed. "Master has had a long and arduous journey, and you've been constantly thinking about roast chicken, fine wine, and peanuts. That's really inappropriate. How about this—"

He suddenly sat up straighter, his expression becoming solemn.

"No chicken tonight."

Just as Master Xu had a fleeting thought of "at least things have turned around a bit," he heard Chu Yang continue—

"Let's switch to roast goose."

Master Xu: "..."

Sun Wukong suddenly spat out all the tea in his mouth.

Even Su Wanwan, who was eavesdropping behind a pillar, almost burst out laughing.

Chu Yang continued earnestly, "Eating too much chicken is too heaty, but goose is better; it's fatty but not greasy. I was also thinking of buying some osmanthus cake for Master, some candied hawthorn for Su Wanwan, and some braised tofu for Brother Monkey. What do you think?"

For the first time, a noticeable crack appeared on Master Xu's amiable face.

He reluctantly replied, "This humble Taoist...did not mean that." (End of Chapter)