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

Chapter 1038 Where did I do something inappropriate?

The noise on the third floor continued into the night.

Sun Wukong pestered the innkeeper for two more plates of meat, the white donkey brayed twice in the backyard, and Tang Sanzang went to copy scriptures under the lamp after finishing his meal. Chu Yang sat by the window, holding a teacup between his fingers, and occasionally glanced up to see the warm yellow light shining through the innermost window on the second floor.

The lamplight cast a quiet shadow on the window paper, occasionally flickering as if she were moving around inside.

He watched for a while, and suddenly felt a calm settle down somewhere in his heart.

The next morning, when Su Wanwan came downstairs, she had already changed into the begonia jade hairpin in her hair.

She probably tried on the hair in front of the mirror for a long time, and finally just tied half of her hair up, leaving the rest hanging softly behind her shoulders. The hairpin was not ostentatious, but it made her look even more elegant. When she walked down the stairs, even the shopkeeper stared at her for a couple of seconds.

Sun Wukong sat at the table, almost dropping the steamed bun in his hand: "Well, well, your crying actually worked."

"Shut up." Su Wanwan's face flushed, and she scolded him first, then unconsciously looked at Chu Yang, "...Is it good-looking?"

She asked the question very casually, as if it were just a casual remark, but her eyes were definitely fixed on him.

Chu Yang looked up at her for a while, but didn't speak immediately.

Su Wanwan felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Just as she was about to pretend to be indifferent and look away, she heard him say, "Hmm."

"What does 'hmm' mean?"

"It just means it looks good." Chu Yang said calmly. "Otherwise, should I buy it and display it?"

Sun Wukong, standing nearby, slammed his fist on the table and laughed loudly, "Brother, will praising someone cost you a piece of flesh?"

Su Wanwan was still waiting for the second half of his sentence, but when he said it so seriously, her heart warmed slightly again. She lowered her head to pick up her chopsticks, and her hairpin swayed gently in the morning light.

They didn't rush to leave the city that day.

Tang Sanzang said that since they had such a comfortable place to stay, they should rest for another half day and leave in the afternoon. So Sun Wukong went to the backyard to tease the donkey, the white dragon horse grazed in the stable, and Chu Yang sat downstairs slowly drinking tea. Su Wanwan originally wanted to sit for a while as well, but after only a short while, the proprietress came over with a box of freshly steamed pastries and placed it in front of her with a smile.

"Girl, try this. It's osmanthus cake that I just made this morning."

Su Wanwan was taken aback: "For me?"

"Indeed." The shopkeeper's wife smiled kindly. "Yesterday, I saw Young Master Chu accompanying the young lady for half a street, buying clothes and hairpins. I thought to myself, the young lady must be very popular. We don't have anything else of good quality here, but our pastries are decent."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire table fell silent.

Sun Wukong, who had been teasing the donkey from behind, had ears sharper than anyone else's. He immediately poked his head out from the courtyard gate, laughing so hard he almost fell over: "Hahahaha! Shopkeeper's wife, you're absolutely right!"

Su Wanwan's face flushed red, even her ears turned bright red, and she almost dropped the osmanthus cake in her hand: "N-no, it's not..."

Chu Yang remained calm, even reaching out to push the plate of pastries closer to her: "Eat yours."

Seeing this reaction, the shopkeeper's smile deepened. She wisely said no more and turned to leave. But as soon as she left, Su Wanwan couldn't sit still any longer. She stared intently at the plate of osmanthus cakes, as if she wanted to bury her face in them.

"Why are you blushing?" Chu Yang said slowly. "They didn't say anything wrong."

"Where did I not say something wrong!" She immediately looked up.

"Didn't I go shopping with you yesterday?"

"That was your own promise to reward me."

"Didn't I buy these clothes?"

"You bought it, but..."

"I didn't choose the hairpin?"

"You picked it too, but—"

"So, what did she say wrong?"

Su Wanwan opened her mouth, but was blocked from speaking. In the end, she could only angrily lower her head and take a bite of the osmanthus cake, as if she were biting him.

Sun Wukong laughed so hard his shoulders shook, and Tang Sanzang could only lower his head and chant a Buddhist prayer, pretending not to hear.

After leaving Linchuan Prefecture, something seemed off in the group.

The first person to notice was Su Wanwan.

At first, she thought she was just overthinking it. After all, people can't be tense all the time. They had just caused such a big commotion in Yueze, so it was normal for them to rest for a couple of days in the city, buy some things, and replenish their medicinal herbs. But after they actually left the city and continued westward for seven or eight days, she finally realized that this group of people were not "taking a break along the way" at all; they were genuinely not in a hurry at all.

It's not the kind of "not in a hurry" mentality where people say they're not in a rush, but are actually still on their way.

Instead, it was a genuine trip—to enjoy the scenery and sights.

The first day was fine.

They walked along the official road for half a day, passing through a maple forest. Behind the forest was a small town, and beside the town was a mountain. The mountain wasn't high, but its slopes were covered with wild pear blossoms, blooming like snow. Sun Wukong darted up and picked a handful, stuffing them into Tang Sanzang's arms, saying, "Master, you've traveled too plainly; what would it look like if you didn't carry some flowers?" Tang Sanzang was both amused and exasperated, and was about to scold him when Chu Yang casually chimed in, "Brother Monkey is right. Master, take them; they'll bring a touch of spring."

Tang Sanzang stood there, holding a bouquet of white flowers, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Su Wanwan stood to the side, almost bursting out laughing.

At that time, she didn't realize there was a problem. She just felt that after a long journey of hardship and sleeping in the open, it was good to make a fuss occasionally.

The next day, they were supposed to continue their journey, but around noon, they suddenly came upon a lake.

The lake isn't particularly large, but it's beautifully situated. Reeds sway gently along the shore, the water and sky blend seamlessly in the distance, and a few small boats drift lazily across the lake. Fishermen's homes dot the lakeside area, with their small courtyards and wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys. In the afternoon sun, the water's surface is shimmered with golden light.

Sun Wukong squatted on the shore, watched for a long time, then suddenly turned to Chu Yang and said, "I want to eat fish."

Chu Yang glanced at the sky and nodded, "Then let's eat."

Tang Sanzang was taken aback: "Benefactor Chu, if we don't hurry on our way today, we'll probably miss our lodging ahead again."

"If we miss it, we miss it." Chu Yang casually tossed his bundle on the ground, his tone as lazy as if he were commenting on the nice weather. "Master, look at this place. It would be a waste to leave without having some fish."

Sun Wukong immediately clapped his hands: "I love what you said!"

Then one of them went to the lake to buy fish from the fishermen, and the other went to the village entrance next door to beg for firewood. They turned what should have been an afternoon of traveling into a proper lakeside grilled fish feast.

The white dragon horse was tethered under a tree and grazing.

The white donkey was stealing gourd leaves from someone else's house.

Tang Sanzang sat on a rock, chanting "Amitabha" while his eyelids twitched from the aroma of grilled fish.

Su Wanwan sat by the lake, hugging her knees, watching Sun Wukong flip the fish and Chu Yang sprinkle salt. The sun slowly sank, its golden light covering half the lake, and her heart softened.

At that time, she still felt that things were alright, that everything was still normal.

On the third day, they passed through a bamboo forest.

Deep within the bamboo forest, there is a stream, beside which lies a waterfall. At the foot of the waterfall is a smooth, large rock, from which one can see the entire valley. Chu Yang looked up for a while and said, "This place has a nice view. Brother Monkey, let's make a bet: whoever climbs up first gets to eat first tonight."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong completely forgot about the pilgrimage and leaped up to the treetop: "I'm going to eat first!"

Chu Yang chuckled and jumped up as well.

Then the two chased each other on the bamboo tips, stomping on the bamboo leaves and making a rustling sound, startling the sparrows into flying everywhere.

Tang Sanzang looked up and called out "Wukong" and "Benefactor Chu" twice, but to no avail. He could only stand there and sigh.

Su Wanwan stood by the stream, watching the two figures flash past one after the other at the end of the bamboo forest, and suddenly began to feel that something was wrong.

On the fourth day, she finally couldn't help but ask.

They had just come from a small county town. There was an old pagoda in the town, and a vendor selling candied hawthorns at the foot of the pagoda. Sun Wukong bought ten skewers in one go, and the White Dragon Horse almost got half a skewer too. Chu Yang, on the other hand, pulled out a pot of rice wine from somewhere and sat under an old willow tree outside the town, drinking and chatting idly with Sun Wukong.

Su Wanwan looked at them and frowned: "Are we only going this far today?"

Chu Yang looked up: "What's wrong with a little?"

"Weren't they going to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures?"

"yes."

"Then why aren't you in a hurry at all?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yang slowly took a sip of wine: "What's the rush? Does the Western Paradise have legs to run away with?"

Su Wanwan was taken aback by his words: "But, but this is, after all, a major undertaking—the journey to the West."

"Even Master isn't worried, why are you?"

She turned her head and saw that Tang Sanzang was actually sitting under the shade of a tree, carefully peeling a large pear that he had bought in the county town for the white donkey.

Su Wanwan: "..."

That day, she felt a sense of absurdity for the first time.

After that, the sense of absurdity grew stronger day by day.

When they crossed mountains, if they encountered beautiful scenery along the way, Chu Yang would say it was still early and they should go up to the top of the mountain to watch the sunset. When they crossed rivers, if they met boatwomen singing ditties by the riverbank, Sun Wukong would lie on the bow of the boat and listen for half an hour, and if he was happy, he would applaud and cheer for them. When they passed an ancient temple, there was a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree behind the temple. Under the tree, someone was playing a chess game. Chu Yang actually sat down and played a game with them. Halfway through the game, he thought the other person's moves were terrible, so he simply dragged Sun Wukong over to take his place.

The most outrageous incident was when they went to a place called Qingping Mountain.

Qingping Mountain has hot springs.

There is also a ready-made hot spring inn at the foot of the mountain.

The innkeeper grinned broadly as soon as he saw them enter: "You guests have come at the perfect time. The spring in the back mountain is at its best today. A soak here will make you feel completely refreshed, and even old injuries will heal quickly."

Su Wanwan had only glanced at him once, but to her surprise, Chu Yang immediately said, "Then stay for one night."

"Stay for one night?" She almost thought she misheard. "Why stay for one night?"

Chu Yang looked puzzled: "Soaking in a hot spring?"

"Aren't we in a hurry to get somewhere?"

"Who says you can't have a hot spring trip?"

Sun Wukong, already laughing heartily, said, "Let's go see where the spring is!"

Tang Sanzang also tried to symbolically advise, "Wukong, benefactor Chu, do not indulge in pleasure and forget the important matter."

Chu Yang replied smoothly, "Don't worry, Master, I'll have more energy to travel after soaking in the water."

Then this group of people actually soaked in the hot springs at Qingping Mountain for the entire night.

Tang Sanzang was placed in the most secluded small hot spring, supposedly for its calming and tranquilizing properties, making it the most suitable place for chanting scriptures.

Sun Wukong and Chu Yang were soaking in the water and having a water fight, almost overturning half of the pool.

The white dragon horse eats the most expensive feed in the backyard.

Even the white donkey was scrubbed until it was shiny and smooth, and it walked with a swagger the next day.

Su Wanwan soaked in the small, private pool, surrounded by steam. Her old injuries had indeed soothed considerably, but as she leaned against the edge, listening to the commotion from Chu Yang and Sun Wukong next door, she began to seriously doubt for the first time—

Is this really a pilgrimage team?

Or perhaps she actually infiltrated some kind of leisurely business travel group that specializes in traveling around?

The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong.

Especially Tang Sanzang, who really didn't match the stories she had heard before.

Logically speaking, shouldn't the journey to the West involve prostrating oneself at every step, being devout every three steps, not daring to slacken day and night, and constantly thinking about the Western Paradise and the scriptures? Although Tang Sanzang was indeed kind-hearted, devoted to Buddhism, and often recited and copied scriptures, he always showed a somewhat helpless indulgence towards Chu Yang and Sun Wukong's behavior of "casually looking at the scenery," "casually staying an extra night," and "casually having a good meal."

It's not that he's not in a hurry at all.

Sometimes, when he sees it getting late, he'll say, "If we delay any longer, we might miss our trip."

But every time this happened, Chu Yang could always easily shut him down.

"Master, look at this mountain path, isn't it easy to fall and stumble while walking at night?"

"Master, this place has a heavy yin energy, and it's easy to encounter things at night. Why not wait until after noon tomorrow?"

"Master, the pastries in this town are quite famous. Let's buy two packs to eat on the road and ask about the road ahead."

"Master, we've been traveling for so many days, isn't it a good idea to take a break?"

Tang Sanzang usually couldn't win an argument with him.

Sun Wukong chimed in from the side, "I think what you said makes sense, brother."

Su Wanwan stood to the side, her brows twitching as she listened.

At first, she would try to agree with Tang Sanzang.

"Yes, let's set off sooner rather than later."

"This place is nice, but we don't need to linger too long."

"I heard there are still barren mountains ahead, it's safer to get through them sooner rather than later."

But for every ten sentences she says, Chu Yang can only give her nine and a half perfunctory replies.

"Okay, I got it. We'll be leaving in a bit."

"Okay, okay, we'll leave after we finish this meal."

"Don't worry, it won't be delayed."

"What's the rush? It's still daylight."

So she watched helplessly as their "leaving in a bit" turned into an hour, "leaving after this meal" turned into another meal, "it won't delay" turned into staying another night, and "it's still light out" turned into roasting chestnuts by the river even when it was dark.

Over time, Su Wanwan became completely unwell.

She started asking three times a day, "Are we going or not today?"

Chu Yang was initially willing to return.

"Walk."

"When?"

"Wait until Brother Monkey finishes catching that fish."

"..."

She asked again the second time.

"Walk."

"When?"

"Wait until Master finishes copying that scripture."

"..."

The third time, she frowned and caught up with him: "Did you never intend to travel at all?"

Chu Yang was whittling a bamboo branch under a tree. Hearing this, he didn't even look up: "Why didn't you plan to? Your feet have been moving the whole time, haven't they?"

"Is that what you call a journey?" Su Wanwan's voice rose slightly in anger. "You've been looking around all the time, going wherever it's lively, resting wherever it's comfortable. Forget about seeking knowledge, you look more like you're just out for a spring outing!"

Chu Yang finally looked up at her.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on his profile. He remained nonchalant: "What's wrong with a spring outing? If you don't go out in spring, you'll die of heat in summer."

"Chu Yang!"

"Yes, I'm here."

"Can't you be serious for once!"

"What did I do that was inappropriate?"

"You—" (End of Chapter)