Kidnapping the entire Journey to the West, starting by turning Sun Wukong against his own side.

Chapter 15: From Robber to Matchmaker

"To be a matchmaker?"

Sun Wukong was completely confused. He scratched his furry cheek and moved closer to Chen Fan.

"Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? I, Old Sun, am here to subdue demons, not to play matchmaker! That pig-headed fellow is so ugly, what girl would want him?"

Chen Fan smiled mysteriously and put the map away.

"Great Sage, you don't know this. Although Marshal Tianpeng was mistakenly reincarnated as a pig and became lazy and gluttonous, his lustful nature remains unchanged. Right now, he's in Gao Village at the foot of Fuling Mountain, working as a live-in son-in-law for a wealthy man named Gao Taigong."

"What? That pig-headed guy got married?" Sun Wukong's eyes widened in disbelief.

Ao Lie, standing to the side, also found it absurd that the dignified Marshal Tianpeng would marry into a mortal family.

Chen Fan nodded and continued, "That's right. However, his monstrous nature is gradually being revealed. He eats like a cow, is lazy at work, and occasionally shows his pig face to scare people. The Gao family is now filled with regret and is terrified. They are trying every means to get rid of him."

"So, our opportunity has arrived."

Sun Wukong still didn't understand: "Why not just go to their door, tie them up, and be done with it? Why bother with all that trouble?"

"No." Chen Fan shook his head. "Great Sage, although Zhu Bajie is lustful and lazy, he has the arrogance of Marshal Tianpeng in his bones. If you forcibly kidnap him, he will definitely not submit. What we want is a commander of the Heavenly River Navy who is willing to join us, not a prisoner full of resentment."

"Besides, that old woman Guanyin is definitely watching him too. If we make too much of a fuss, she'll arrive immediately, and that will be another problem."

Chen Fan paused for a moment, then looked confident.

"So, we're going to put on a show. A 'forced separation' followed by a 'hero saves the damsel in distress' drama!"

"We won't be bandits, we'll be matchmakers, but in a reverse way. We want him to feel that it's Gao Village that can't accept him, that this mortal world isn't worthy of him staying, and in the end, he'll willingly come with us!"

Sun Wukong was completely confused, but he knew that he could never go wrong by listening to his brother.

"Alright, alright! I'll do whatever you say! Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it!"

And that's how it was settled.

Chen Fan had Ao Lie stationed at Huaguo Mountain for two reasons: first, to familiarize himself with the environment and control the waters; and second, to guard the mountain and prevent any further attacks from the Heavenly Court or the Buddhist sect.

Chen Xuanzang continued his teaching career, and now several hundred monkeys in his troop can recite the multiplication table, which gives him a great sense of accomplishment.

After arranging everything, Chen Fan and Sun Wukong rode on a cloud and headed straight for Gao Laozhuang on Fuling Mountain.

Gao Laozhuang.

Grandpa Gao sat in his armchair with a worried expression, sighing repeatedly.

Ever since we hired that live-in woman named Atrix three years ago, there hasn't been a single day of peace at home.

At first, the son-in-law was quite capable, able to do the work of ten people. But as time went on, his true nature was revealed. He would eat the equivalent of a whole cow's worth of food and drink a whole vat of water in one meal, and he would pester his third daughter, Cuilan, all day long.

A few days ago, my daughter ran to me crying and said that her son-in-law got drunk and turned into a pig-headed monster with a long snout and big ears!

This terrified Old Man Gao. He invited several groups of sorcerers and monks, but they were all soundly beaten up by the monster and thrown out.

"Master, two Taoist priests have arrived outside. They say they can exorcise demons," a servant rushed in to report.

Upon hearing this, Old Master Gao perked up and quickly said, "Quick! Please come in!"

Before long, Chen Fan and Sun Wukong (who had transformed into a small Taoist boy with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks) were invited into the main hall.

"Two Taoist priests, can you really subdue that monster?" Old Master Gao asked with some doubt.

Chen Fan smiled slightly, displaying an air of superiority: "Rest assured, sir. A mere pig demon is nothing to me. However, we have our own rules for subduing demons."

"What rules?" Old Master Gao asked hurriedly.

"We want you to do this...do this..." Chen Fan leaned close to Gao Taigong's ear and whispered a plan.

After hearing this, Gao Taigong was stunned at first, and then a look of hesitation appeared on his face.

"Will this... will this work? What if I anger him..."

"Don't worry," Chen Fan said confidently. "If you want to get rid of him completely, do as I say. Otherwise, even a miracle won't save you!"

Grandpa Gao gritted his teeth; for his precious daughter, he was going all out!

"Alright! We'll listen to the Taoist priest!"

That evening, Pigsy returned from outside, humming a little tune.

He helped plow a few acres of land today, and in return, he earned some money for drinks. He's having a great time.

Upon entering, I saw Mr. Gao and his mother-in-law sitting in the main hall with dark faces.

"Father, Mother, what's wrong? Who upset you?" Pigsy asked with a grin.

"Hmph! We don't deserve to be called 'father' and 'mother' by you!" Old Master Gao slammed his hand on the table.

"Pigsy! I'm asking you, what exactly are you?!"

Pigsy's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "This is bad. Could it be that I was discovered a few days ago when I was drunk and revealed my true form?"

His eyes darted around, and he immediately knelt down: "Father, I'm a human being! What else could I be?"

"Still dare to argue!" Old Master Gao roared. "My daughter saw it all! You pig-headed monster! How dare you trick my Gao family into a marriage! Guards!"

At Gao Taigong's command, two Taoist priests rushed out from behind the screen; they were Chen Fan and Sun Wukong.

"Hey! You pig demon, show your true form at once!" Sun Wukong shouted, pointing at Zhu Bajie.

Seeing this, Pigsy knew he couldn't hide it any longer.

He gritted his teeth and transformed himself, revealing his true form—a burly man with a black face, long snout, large ears, and a pig's head, now wielding a nine-toothed rake.

"Hehe, since you've seen through me, then I, Old Pig, won't pretend anymore!" Pigsy said fiercely, carrying his rake. "That's right, I am a monster! What can you do to me?"

"How about it? Today I'm going to rid you of this monster!"

Sun Wukong had been itching for a fight for a long time, so he shouted and swung his golden cudgel to smash it down.

Pigsy raised his nine-toothed rake to block.

"when!"

A loud bang, and sparks flew everywhere.

Pigsy was so shocked that he staggered back seven or eight steps, his arms went numb, and he was terrified.

That monkey is incredibly strong!

"Who are you? State your name! I, Old Pig Rake, don't kill nameless ghosts!"

"This is your Grandpa Sun!"

Sun Wukong wasn't about to waste words with him. He swung his staff like a windmill and chased after Zhu Bajie, beating him relentlessly.

The two fought from the main hall to the courtyard, and then from the courtyard to outside the village.

Although Zhu Bajie was once Marshal Tianpeng, he neglected his cultivation after being demoted to the mortal realm, and his strength was far inferior to before. He was no match for Sun Wukong.

After fighting for less than twenty rounds, Pigsy couldn't take it anymore. Sun Wukong hit him on the back with his staff, making him howl in pain. He rolled over like a lazy donkey and turned into a gust of wind, trying to run away.

"Where do you think you're going!" Sun Wukong somersaulted and chased after him.

Just then, Chen Fan's voice drifted over: "Great Sage, don't pursue a cornered enemy. Let him go."

Although Sun Wukong was puzzled, he stopped, picked up his staff, and flew back to Gao Village.

Pigsy fled back to his lair, Yunzhan Cave on Fuling Mountain, in a sorry state.

He plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, feeling both angry and aggrieved.

"That damned monkey, where did it come from? It ruined my good time!"

"And that old man Gao, he's a real scoundrel! I, Old Pig, have worked like a slave for your family, I've done my share of good deeds, haven't I? And he turns on you like that!"

"So what if I, Old Pig, eat a lot and am a little ugly? Cuilan didn't even mind..."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the more he felt he couldn't stay in this world anymore.

Just as he was wallowing in self-pity, a gentle voice rang out at the cave entrance.

"Tianpeng, you were originally a marshal of the Heavenly Court, why do you willingly degenerate in the mortal realm?"

Pigsy looked up and saw a Taoist priest standing at the cave entrance. It was Chen Fan, who had been with the monkey earlier.

"It's you!" Pigsy immediately grabbed his rake, looking at him warily. "You dare to chase after me? What do you want!"

"I'm not here to fight," Chen Fan said slowly as he walked into the cave. "I'm here to show you the way."

"The right path?" Pigsy sneered. "What right path? Like that monkey, fighting and killing?"

"Of course not," Chen Fan said. "I'm asking you, do you want to return to the Heavenly Court and be Marshal Tianpeng again?"

Pigsy was startled, and almost dropped the rake in his hand.

"What...what did you say?"

"I said," Chen Fan said, enunciating each word clearly, "I can help you. Not only can I free you from this pig's body, but I can also let you regain command of the Heavenly River Navy, making you a force to be reckoned with."

"Why should I?" Pigsy asked incredulously. "Who are you? How can you have such great abilities?"

"Who I am isn't important," Chen Fan said. "What's important is that my brother is the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. He can even escape from the Five Elements Mountain. Do you think we have that kind of ability?"

Pigsy immediately fell silent.

He had certainly heard of the name of the Monkey King. He was a ruthless man who dared to challenge the Jade Emperor.

Chen Fan continued, "Look at yourself now, being looked down upon by an old mortal, being chased and beaten by some monkey that came out of nowhere. Where has your marshal's prestige gone?"

"If you join us, we'll be brothers. We can reserve the position of Grand Admiral of the Flower Fruit Mountain Navy for you, putting you on equal footing with Ao Lie of the Western Sea."

"If you don't want to come, then forget it. You can continue to be your pig demon in this cave, waiting for the day when heavenly soldiers or some passing deity will take you away, turn you back into your original form, and never be able to rise again."

Pigsy's mind was in complete turmoil.

On one side is a faint hope, and on the other side is a humiliating reality.

He wasn't Ao Lie; he didn't have so many national and personal grudges. All he wanted was to live his own peaceful life.

But now, even making a living is becoming unbearable.

Perhaps, following this group is truly a way out?

As he hesitated, suddenly, the entire Cloud Stack Cave shone with golden light!

An aura of solemnity and compassion descended from the sky.

"Amitabha."

A figure appeared at the cave entrance, standing on a lotus platform and holding a jade bottle; it was none other than Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Her appearance instantly froze the atmosphere inside the cave.

Sun Wukong's figure also appeared beside Chen Fan, holding the golden cudgel, grinning and staring at Guanyin.

Guanyin didn't even glance at Sun Wukong and Chen Fan; her gaze was fixed directly on Zhu Bajie.

"Tianpeng, your sins are grave, your lustful desires remain unchanged, and now you have been bewitched by a demon. Do you know your mistakes?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

When Pigsy saw Guanyin, his legs went weak.

This is a big shot in Buddhism!

"Bodhisattva...I..."

"No need for further words," Guanyin interrupted him. "You have a karmic connection with Buddha, and I will now show you a path to survival. Escort the pilgrims from the East to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. After the mission is accomplished, not only will your sins be absolved, but you will also attain enlightenment and obtain the golden body of a Bodhisattva or Arhat. Isn't that better than being some demon king or marshal?"

Pigsy's eyes lit up when he heard this.

Achieve enlightenment! Become a Bodhisattva!

This sounds much more prestigious than being a marshal!

Chen Fan thought to himself, "Oh no."

This woman came too fast! And she directly used the promise of Buddhahood to tempt me!

This hit Zhu Bajie's weakness of being greedy for pleasure and averse to work!

"Fool! Don't believe her!" Sun Wukong shouted anxiously, "That woman is up to no good!"

Guanyin glanced coldly at Sun Wukong, then took something out of her jade bottle.

It was a monk's robe inlaid with gold thread, shimmering with Buddhist light.

"Tianpeng, once you put on this robe, you are a member of my Buddhist sect, protected by Buddha. Anyone who dares to harm you is an enemy of my Buddhist sect!"

Pigsy looked at the monk's robe, then at Chen Fan and Sun Wukong.

On one side was the uncertain future of the rebellion, and on the other was the golden road promised by the Buddhist leader himself.

He hardly hesitated.

With a "thump," Pigsy knelt down in front of Guanyin.

"This disciple is willing! This disciple is willing to follow the Bodhisattva in cultivation and protect the pilgrims on their journey to the West!"

A triumphant smile finally appeared on Guanyin's face. She glanced at Chen Fan, whose face was grim, and said calmly:

"Chen Fan, you've lost."

With that, she waved her sleeve, and a beam of Buddhist light swept up Pigsy, instantly disappearing into the sky.

Sun Wukong was left standing there, furious and enraged.

"I'm so angry! I'm so angry! This woman dared to snatch someone right in front of me, Old Sun!"