The war of words finally fell silent.
Monkey's party and Marshal Silver stood on opposite sides of the manor gate, hostility in their eyes still too thick to dissolve.
Accompanied by Nisha, Tripitaka entered the manor to bid farewell to Old Master Gale.
Upon seeing Tripitaka, Old Master Gale's first words were: "Are you human or monster?"
As he spoke, Old Master Gale's eyes widened in shock, his hands gripping the armrests trembling uncontrollably.
Nisha quickly explained, "Father, this Master Tripitaka was Golden Cicada, the Buddha's second disciple, in his previous life. Please, show respect."
"Buddha's second disciple?" Old Master Gale glanced fearfully at Tripitaka, swallowed hard, and muttered, "How do you know he is the reincarnation of the Buddha's second disciple?"
"He... he said so himself, and Gavin has confirmed it."
"Gavin himself is a demon—can you trust his word?" Old Master Gale snapped, gritting his teeth. "Besides, even if he truly was Buddha's second disciple, so what? Buddhism teaches monks to renounce family bonds, severing parental ties. That is unfilial! Our family does not worship Buddha. Even if he is, what does it matter to me?"
After speaking, Old Master Gale cast a cautious glance at Tripitaka, his eyes still filled with deep fear.
Seeing this, Nisha could only turn and press her palms together, bowing to Tripitaka. "My father is old... Master Tripitaka, please do not take offense."
"As the saying goes, filial piety comes first among all virtues. Buddhism teaches detachment from the mundane world, so your father's view is understandable." Tripitaka stepped forward, stopping eight feet from Old Master Gale, and bowed respectfully. "I am a man of the Eastern Great Tang, ancestral home in Haizhou, secular surname Chen, given name River Jiang. I was tonsured at Mount Gold Monastery in River Prefecture, Dharma name Tripitaka. If Old Master Gale still doubts me... My mother is surnamed Yin, given name Wenjiao, daughter of Chancellor Yin of the Great Tang. If you meet merchants from the East, you may ask and verify this yourself."
"You truly are human?"
"I am human."
Old Master Gale stared at Tripitaka, scanning him up and down. The fear in his eyes finally lessened, but his brow furrowed even deeper as he asked quietly, "If you are human, why do you travel with those monsters?"
Tripitaka pondered for a moment, then showed a puzzled expression and asked in return, "Why shouldn't I travel with them?"
"Well..." The question left Old Master Gale speechless. After a long hesitation, he muttered, "People and monsters are different. Can monsters and humans really be together? You haven't been bewitched by their magic, have you?"
Tripitaka couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Haven't you lived with Gavin all these years?"
"That's different!" Old Master Gale immediately protested, waving his hand. "He deceived me—if I had known he was a demon, how could I have let him stay here?"
Tripitaka frowned and asked immediately, "Has Gavin done anything evil over these years?"
"Well... no, he hasn't done anything bad. In fact, not only has he avoided wrongdoing, but he's managed the household top to bottom, keeping everything in perfect order. If not for this incident..."
At this, Old Master Gale stroked his long beard and fell silent.
Nisha's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Tripitaka took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said slowly, "Old Master Gale, have you ever heard of the Sixfold Wheel of Reincarnation? In this world, every living being—human, demon, even domestic fowl and wild beasts—when their allotted lifespan ends, their souls must return to the Netherworld and be reborn..."
...
About an hour later, Old Master Gale, accompanied by Nisha, personally escorted Tripitaka out of the manor.
The three stepped through the main gate, but instead of taking their leave, they walked steadily toward Marshal Silver.
Everyone present—Monkey, Marshal Silver, Prince Adrian, Louis Quickpaw, and Barry Bear—watched in confusion.
Stopping before Marshal Silver, the three halted. Tripitaka pressed his palms together and bowed to Marshal Silver. "I have just told Old Master Gale everything—every cause and effect."
"You told him everything?" Marshal Silver looked at Tripitaka in surprise, then turned to Old Master Gale.
Under Marshal Silver's gaze, Old Master Gale was so startled he staggered back a step. Nisha rushed forward to steady him, preventing a fall.
Old Master Gale glanced at Tripitaka, took a deep breath, and said with a flicker in his eyes, "Just now, Master Tripitaka told me—were you really the Grand Marshal of Heaven in your past life?"
Marshal Silver nodded silently.
Seeing Marshal Silver nod, Old Master Gale sighed helplessly and shook his head. "Fate truly plays tricks on us. No wonder—I've always wondered how a demon could treat my family so well. So, it was a bond with Lana from your past life. Back then, when we tried to betroth Lana to you, you refused again and again... Reincarnation decides our destinies, it's not your fault. Being a demon isn't your fault either. But I truly cannot give my only daughter to a pig demon. From now on, please do not come here again."
After speaking, Old Master Gale cast a wary glance at Marshal Silver, then quickly lowered his head and shuffled a little closer to Tripitaka.
After a long hesitation, Marshal Silver nodded again, dropped to his knees, and bowed deeply. "Forgive me for the trouble I've caused, sir. Gavin will heed your words and never set foot in Gale Manor again."
Seeing this, Old Master Gale was quite surprised and quickly looked to Tripitaka.
After a while, Old Master Gale finally let out a sigh of relief.
Perhaps only now did he truly believe that, even as a pig demon, Gavin was still the same diligent, honest man he had always known, never abusing his strength to bully others.
Swallowing hard, Old Master Gale waved his hand and said quietly, "Don't kneel, and don't call me 'sir.' Just now, Master Tripitaka said you're over six hundred years old—your kneeling, I truly cannot bear. Please... go on."
Marshal Silver bowed again, then silently rose to his feet.
Nisha quietly glanced at Tripitaka.
Just as Marshal Silver was about to leave, Tripitaka suddenly spoke: "Old Master Gale, there is something I wish to say, though I'm unsure if it's appropriate."
Marshal Silver stopped in his tracks.
Old Master Gale nodded to Tripitaka. "Please speak, Master Tripitaka."
[Irrelevant web prompt skipped.]
Monkey and the others watched Tripitaka silently.
Tripitaka cleared his throat and said softly, "If we set aside the fact that Gavin is a pig demon, he would be a rare and excellent son-in-law. Old Master Gale, do you agree?"
"Well..." Old Master Gale shook his head helplessly. "Of course I know that. But my family could never accept a demon son-in-law. Even if I did, what would our relatives say? What would the villagers say? Master Tripitaka, whether you say it or not, does it make any difference?"
"What if Gavin could become human?"
At these words, both Monkey and Marshal Silver were taken aback.
Old Master Gale was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Master, please don't make fun of an old man. A demon is a demon, a human is a human. How could a demon possibly become human?"
"Do you remember what I said about the Sixfold Wheel of Reincarnation? If Gavin is reborn, wouldn't he become human?"
"But... even if he could be reborn, by the time he grows up, Lana would already be old. How would that work...?"
"Tell him I'll give as many Peaches of Immortality as he wants! With the peaches, aging won't be a problem." Monkey's voice echoed in Tripitaka's mind.
"Please wait a moment, Old Master Gale." With that, Tripitaka turned to his baggage. Under everyone's gaze, he retrieved a Peach of Immortality and walked step by step toward Old Master Gale.
Prince Adrian was dumbfounded. He lunged forward to snatch the peach, but Monkey grabbed him and sealed his voice with a spell, leaving him unable to shout.
Cradling the peach in both hands, Tripitaka approached Old Master Gale and asked softly, "Old Master Gale, have you ever heard of the Peaches of Immortality from Heaven's Peach Orchard?"
"Pea... Peach of Immortality..." Staring at the enormous fruit, Old Master Gale was so shocked his jaw dropped.
Even as a mortal, who wouldn't know how precious the Peach of Immortality is?
Marshal Silver and Nisha were just as astonished as the others present.
"Just one Peach of Immortality can extend life by three hundred years." Tripitaka handed the peach to Old Master Gale and said gently, "I heard you are advanced in age. This peach was obtained through Gavin's arduous efforts, meant as a wedding gift to honor you."
Marshal Silver looked at Tripitaka in surprise, unable to refute him for the moment. Nisha was also filled with astonishment.
Old Master Gale's eyes nearly popped out of his head. When he looked at Marshal Silver, there was no fear anymore—only gratitude and a touch of regret.
Staring at the peach, he reached out with a trembling hand, but then suddenly pulled back and shook his head. "I can't accept this peach! The marriage isn't settled, so the peach can't be accepted!"
"The marriage can still happen." Tripitaka handed the peach to Nisha, smiling. "Gavin's love for Lana is beyond words. I have a plan: Old Master Gale, please accept this peach for now. We'll send another for Lana. With these, neither of you need fear aging. Gavin will travel west with us to accomplish something, and when it's done, he'll regain a human body. Then, the lovers can be united, and you will have a son-in-law who is an immortal."
Tripitaka pressed his palms together and bowed to Old Master Gale.
"This... this..."
Faced with this gesture, Old Master Gale hesitated.
Nisha watched her father with a hopeful smile.
At this moment, Marshal Silver was utterly shocked.
If he were just an ordinary monk, it would be one thing. But this was clearly a high-ranking Buddhist monk, and he could lie with a straight face?
Before Marshal Silver could figure out how Tripitaka could lie so calmly, Old Master Gale, brow furrowed, whispered, "If that's truly possible, it would be wonderful."
Hearing this, Tripitaka turned to Marshal Silver and asked softly, "Old Master Gale thinks this plan will work. Marshal, what do you think?"