Chapter 78: Patriarch Bodhi—Fated Never to Enter the Gates of Immortality

“Master, is this what you were talking about?”
With a thought, Sun Wukong brought out the Universe Pouch.
At long last, the formidable artifact was revealed. The Patriarch Bodhi took it, and with a mere flicker of his mind, he swept Sun Wukong into the pouch.
“Ah… Master, what are you doing?”
“Master, please have mercy!”
“Hmph, you little monkey, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll never stop hiding things from your teacher.”
With a twist of the bag’s clasp, the Patriarch shook the Universe Pouch vigorously up and down.
Inside, Sun Wukong wailed for mercy, “Wu wu… Master, I was wrong! I truly was wrong! Please, Master, spare your disciple!”
In a flash, Sun Wukong was swept into the pouch, leaving Fatty Ox and Princess Iron Fan utterly dumbstruck, petrified with shock.
What was this?
The always stern master had a mischievous side as well?
Their eldest brother was surely in for a rough time.
“Master, save me! I really know my mistake now!”
Sun Wukong pleaded bitterly.
“Enough. I merely wished to see how effective this Universe Pouch is. The result is quite impressive, indeed remarkable.”
With a flick, the Patriarch poured Sun Wukong back out of the bag.
Sun Wukong tumbled to the ground, battered and disheveled.
“Here, take your pouch. Guard it well, and never let it fall into the hands of the unrighteous, or catastrophe will befall the Three Realms and Six Paths.”
The Patriarch returned the pouch to Sun Wukong. “Your Immortal Lord was willing to give you this treasure, a sign of how highly he regards you. Wukong, though you are but a spirit-born monkey, cradled by Heaven and Earth, the heavens have not been unkind to you. Take care in the days ahead, guard your actions, and do not bring trouble upon your Immortal Lord through reckless deeds.”
“Yes, Master, your teachings are most true. My Immortal Lord has always treated me like his own, and cares for me deeply.”
At the mention of Chu Xiaoyu, the “Immortal Lord,” the monkey’s eyes grew red and he fought back tears, struggling not to let them fall.
The old Patriarch sighed, “Your Immortal Lord, to rescue you, his wayward disciple, turned against the Buddha himself, even risking the wrath of the entire Heavenly Court, all to free you from that Five-Fingered Mountain. Such a debt of kindness, Monkey, you must cherish it well. This is a favor so vast you could never repay it in a lifetime.”
Sun Wukong nodded vigorously, “Yes, Master, I think so too. Ever since the Immortal Lord saved me from that mountain, I told him my life belonged to him. But he said he didn’t care for such a worthless life, only that I should treasure my days.”
“Haha! That’s just as it should be—your Immortal Lord truly has style. By the way, did you say that once you pass through that strange immortal gate, you’ll reach the gentleman’s manor?” The Patriarch’s curiosity grew ever stronger.
Sun Wukong nodded, “Yes, that’s right.”

“Good! There’s no time like the present. Hurry and take me there; I want to see what kind of Immortal Gate this is.”
What followed was a scene both absurd and comical.
The always dignified and solemn Patriarch, under the guidance of Sun Wukong, Fatty Ox, and Iron Fan, performed a heavenly evasion art and sped off.
The Immortal Gate!
Resplendent in golden light, dazzling to the extreme.
“Master, this is the strange Immortal Gate. Are you really going to try it?”
Sun Wukong, Fatty Ox, and Iron Fan all looked on with expectant eyes.
The Patriarch studied the brilliant, mysterious gate, feeling a bit bewildered.
After a moment, he said, “Now that we’re all here, I’ll give it a try.”
But as soon as he drew near—before even entering—a tremendous and terrifying force rebounded him away.
“Master…”
Sun Wukong and the others were astonished.
The Patriarch’s magic was so powerful, yet he couldn’t pass through.
He staggered, almost losing his footing. Regaining his composure, he gazed at the uncanny gate and said, “Enough, it seems my fate with your gentleman has not yet arrived. The repelling force is simply too fearsome.”
Tossed away so easily, his dignity as their master was in tatters.
With a wave of his sleeve, he said to Sun Wukong and the others, “Perhaps we may never meet again. Mind yourselves, obey the laws of Heaven, steer clear of trouble. There is always a higher sky, always a greater mountain. I take my leave.”
Having imparted his final words, the Patriarch vanished in a flash.
“Haha… Did you all see that? Master was so flustered—it was hilarious! Haha…”
The monkey was beside himself, rolling on the ground with laughter.
Fatty Ox and Iron Fan exchanged glances.
As expected, their elder brother was a mischievous monkey to the core. No sooner had their master departed than the monkey’s true nature emerged.
He was laughing at his master’s expense?
Shameful!
“Brother, enough, quit fooling around. Didn’t the gentleman say it? That Immortal Gate depends on a special fate. Even Master cannot cross without it.”
Monkey’s antics were too much for Iron Fan.

Sun Wukong quickly straightened up. “All right, let’s go. After a few more days of fun, I have important business to tend to.”
A day in the manor equals a year in the journey to the West.
Five hundred years—that’s five hundred days, about a year and a half. The monk from the Great Tang in the East entrusted Sun Wukong with Chu Xiaoyu’s instructions, and the monkey had never dared forget.
Sun Wukong, Fatty Ox, and Iron Fan passed joyfully through the Immortal Gate and arrived at the manor.
“Immortal Lord, we’re back!”
“Hey! White Dragon Horse, come here—let Old Sun have a ride!”
Flick!
The White Dragon Horse turned its head with pride, ignoring Sun Wukong’s summons.
“Hehe, brother, is that horse looking down on you?”
It was a rare delight to see Sun Wukong rebuffed; Fatty Ox and Iron Fan couldn’t help but laugh.
What? Being mocked?
Impossible!
Sun Wukong’s rebellious spirit flared up at once. “Hmph, just you wait. It’s only a beast—don’t tell me I can’t tame it.”
With a somersault, Sun Wukong darted after the White Dragon Horse.
Flick!
The horse remained wild as ever. In this farm, only Chu Xiaoyu seemed able to handle it with ease; as for the others—not even Sun Wukong—could escape its disdain.
Sun Wukong leapt onto the horse’s back, which, startled, attempted a backflip to throw him off.
But Sun Wukong was no pushover. He gripped the horse’s neck tightly with both hands and refused to let go.
Man and beast locked in a contest of will: racing across the ground, soaring through the air, both fiercely determined.
“Heavens, what are you all doing? Sir is sleeping, and if he’s disturbed, I’ll be the one punished. Settle down at once!”
The sudden arrival of Su Daji drew everyone’s gaze.
Her beauty was beyond compare, and her alluring demeanor was unmatched—truly, she radiated a captivating charm.