“Do you want to go to the Western Heaven?”
Li Miaoci faintly heard an unfamiliar voice.
You’re the one who wants to go to the Western Heaven!
She cursed inwardly.
“Young one, remember my words: the only way home is to go to the Western Heaven.”
The ethereal voice slowly faded from her mind.
A whinny sounded in her ears, startling Li Miaoci awake.
Before her eyes was a handsome monk in monastic robes, a white horse, and a golden-haired… wait!
The Handsome Monkey King!
She rubbed her eyes, but the scene before her didn’t disappear—instead, it grew clearer.
“Miaoci, did you hear what I said? Later, I’ll go capture the demon. You stay here and guard our master properly.”
Li Miaoci was stunned for a moment before suddenly jumping up and rushing toward the monk who had spoken.
She grabbed his sleeve, then reached out to stroke the fur on his hand before tentatively calling out, “Eldest Senior Brother?”
“Did you sleep yourself silly?” Sun Wukong pulled his sleeve free from her grasp and tapped her head.
Li Miaoci clutched her head in pain and walked over to the monk. “Master?”
“Amitabha.”
She shook her head, then approached the majestic white horse beside them. Poking its neck, she asked, “Little White Dragon?”
The white horse whinnied impatiently, turning its head away and ignoring her.
Heavens!
Li Miaoci screamed inwardly. I’ve transmigrated?
But when others transmigrate, they become pampered princesses or villainous noble daughters. How did I end up in Journey to the West?!
Journey to the Western Heaven—she was familiar with that.
Growing up, she had watched Journey to the West countless times during summer and winter breaks.
This white horse before her, with its noble bearing and glossy coat, was clearly no ordinary creature.
This Eldest Senior Brother truly lived up to the title of Handsome Monkey King—so dashing and spirited, with an immortal’s grace.
And this Tang Sanzang… wow! He really is a monk.
So…
Who am I? Who have I transmigrated into?
Li Miaoci touched her face and ears. She didn’t seem to be the fat-headed, big-eared Zhu Bajie.
No beard, so she wasn’t Sha Wujing either.
Great! At least she still looked human.
“Eldest Senior Brother, I’m a bit muddled from sleep. Where are we now? What demon are you going to capture? And who am I? Why am I traveling with you all to retrieve the scriptures from the Western Heaven?”
Li Miaoci opened her mouth, firing off questions one after another.
The monk scratched his head, annoyed by her incessant chatter. So noisy!
“This is Gao Village. We’ve accepted Old Master Gao’s request to capture the demon imprisoning his daughter!”
“Gao Village?” Li Miaoci rested her chin on her hand and grinned foolishly. Heh, she knew this place well—it was where Zhu Bajie carried his bride on his back.
“As for you, you were originally a blade of grass growing by the Jade Pool in the Celestial Court. A Celestial Attendant threw you down to the mortal realm, but unexpectedly, you worked diligently, cultivated into human form, and brought blessings to the people. Thus, Guanyin Bodhisattva enlightened you to follow the Scripture Seeker to the Western Heaven to seek the scriptures. Once you succeed, you may attain enlightenment.”
Li Miaoci nodded eagerly.
Oh my, she was like Lin Daiyu descending to the mortal realm.
Wait.
She suddenly recalled the unfamiliar voice in her mind during her slumber.
To return home, you must go to the Western Heaven.
Wow!
Perfect! With the Great Sage Equalling Heaven here, the journey to the Western Heaven would be like a publicly funded vacation for her, right?
All she had to do was tag along, enjoy herself, and once she’d had her fill, she could go home.
Awesome!
“Eldest Senior Brother, I’m familiar with the demon you’re going to capture. How about we don’t wait until nightfall? I’ll take you straight to its lair, okay?” Li Miaoci fawned.
Mainly, she couldn’t wait to go out and see the world.
The monk glanced at her, “Oh? Tell me, what kind of demon is it?”
Li Miaoci spoke with a serious expression, “He was originally the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy in heaven, banished to the mortal realm, and mistakenly reincarnated into a pig’s body. Now he lives in Fuling Mountain, at Cloudy Cave.”
“A pig demon?” The monk was half-convinced, half-doubtful.
But how did he hear from Squire Gao that when the demon revealed its true form, it was an exceptionally handsome, dignified, and elegant gentleman?
So annoying!
The monk scratched his head. He vaguely remembered that he had already walked this path of the Journey to the Western Heaven once before.
Unfortunately, when he woke up, he was trapped under the Five-Finger Mountain again.
Moreover, he looked up at the old monk sitting under the corridor, deep in meditation. He remembered that the monk from before wasn’t as annoying as this one.
Last time he journeyed west, there also wasn’t this talkative and silly young girl.
Ah! His head was about to split open from the pain!
The sky suddenly darkened.
The air grew dim, a gust of wind rose, and a black mist swept in, carrying flying sand and rolling stones.
“Not good! Masters, the demon is here again!”
Squire Gao stumbled over in a panic.
The monk grabbed his hand firmly, “Don’t be afraid. Old Sun is here to handle everything.”
“Miaoci, stay here and guard our master.”
After saying this, he followed Squire Gao and hurried toward the backyard.
Li Miaoci glanced at Tang Sanzang, then looked at the churning dark clouds and black mist in the sky.
“Master, this demon is powerful. I want to go help our senior brother.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Go ahead, but be careful.”
Li Miaoci, her face beaming with joy, skipped and bounced as she chased after them to the backyard.
When she entered, Squire Gao had already led Gao Cuilan to hide in a side courtyard.
“Young master, the demon is here. You should hide too,” Squire Gao advised her.
She didn’t listen. Instead, she ran even faster upstairs.
In the boudoir, the monk had already transformed into Gao Cuilan’s appearance and was sitting on the bed.
Li Miaoci ran to the bed curtain, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the monk, filled with endless admiration.
Wow! He really looks exactly like Miss Gao!
“Didn’t I tell you to watch over our master?”
“Senior brother, don’t worry. If anything happens to our master, you can chop me up and feed me to the cows,” she vowed, raising her hand.
The monk gritted his teeth. How did he end up with such a traveling companion?
Li Miaoci pulled the bed curtain over herself, hiding completely.
“Darling, darling, why haven’t you lit the lamp tonight?”
A clear, gentle voice came from outside the window, floating through the air.
Li Miaoci was stunned. Wait, Zhu Ganglie’s voice is this pleasant?