Chapter 141

Hearing what Haotian said, the Food God and Stove God were overjoyed in their hearts and hurriedly said: "Everything is because of Your Majesty's divine wisdom and might!"

Sun Wukong looked at the two gods like this, feeling somewhat surprised, good partner, this flattery is slapped well, an expert indeed!

Thinking back to when he used to flatter his master, Sun Wukong felt somewhat ashamed of himself.

In terms of taking initiative, he is still far behind; when he has the chance in the future, he will also improve this aspect of his cultivation.

Perhaps when the master gets excited again, he will give himself something good.

Zhou Kang, however, did not flatter or fawn, but rather said somewhat ashamedly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this commoner did not contribute much, merely preparing vegetables and doing odd jobs; the dishes were all made by the Great Immortal Wukong."

He did not want to cook, but his culinary skills were too far behind, and what he made was not of the same grade; even if he were to do it, he feared his dishes would ruin the Peach Banquet.

But over these many days, he believed his true wealth was the culinary skills he learned by observing the Great Immortal Wukong.

He had already deeply imprinted the movements and scenes of the Great Immortal Wukong cooking in his mind; although he had not practiced, he knew his culinary skills were now incomparable to before.

Haotian looked at Zhou Kang with some surprise, not expecting that such an ordinary mortal could have such character; it seemed that the previous competition had not crushed him but rather pushed him further forward.

Clearing his throat, Haotian, in high spirits, said: "Given your excellent performance, rewards are due!"

After saying that, he secretly sent a voice transmission to Yaochi, signaling her to come and bestow the rewards.

Yaochi understood, withdrew her thoughts immersed in the delicious food, and became more noble.

Her vermilion lips slightly parted: "Reward Sun Wukong with ten thousand immortal crystals, three nine-thousand-year peaches, and promote him to Third Rank Imperial Kitchen Grand Steward."

This reward is already considerable; immortal crystals are a cultivation resource of the Heavenly Court, but this official promotion is trivial.

The real main point is those three nine-thousand-year peaches.

Even Maitreya Buddha, representing the Buddhist Sect and as a Quasi-Sage Great Adept, only received three; this shows Yaochi's satisfaction with this banquet.

This reward, no one would refuse.

But she happened to encounter Sun Wukong, who had almost vomited from eating peaches.

"Your Ladyship, could this reward be exchanged for something else?" Sun Wukong said with an embarrassed smile.

Although refusing a reward is tasteless, he truly does not need peaches like this.

???

Everyone was stunned speechless; who would have thought… ah no, a monkey refusing peaches?

Still nine-thousand-year-old!!

Is it this monkey's brain that has a problem, or did they mishear? What exactly is going on?

"You really don't want it?" Yaochi could not believe it, and asked again.

Before Maitreya Buddha and after Sun Wukong, today's banquet was held perfectly, yet it also made Yaochi lose some confidence in peaches.

When did peaches become so worthless?

"No." Sun Wukong answered cleanly and decisively.

Yaochi then felt a breath in her chest that she could not exhale, feeling extremely stifled.

Seeing Yaochi's gloomy face, Sun Wukong also felt somewhat guilty, scratched his head, and said embarrassedly: "Your Ladyship, could Old Grandson be given another reward?"

"What do you want?" Yaochi said, feeling gloomy.

Sun Wukong pondered for a moment, seeming somewhat hesitant to speak, and said softly: "Your Ladyship, could you bestow upon Old Grandson something that can naturally grow hair?"

Yaochi, Haotian: "???"

Something that naturally grows hair? What kind of reward is that?

Seeing the two's puzzled expressions, Sun Wukong felt a bit embarrassed, smiled lightly, and revealed his sparsely haired arms.

"Old Grandson's hair is a bit too sparse, grows slowly; everyone says the Heavenly Court is the wealthiest place in the Three Realms, so such things that naturally grow hair should not be lacking, right?"

He felt the hair on his body could no longer support his tuition fees, and he must find a way to solve this.

It is quite rare!

Yaochi nodded, and compared to ordinary monkeys, Sun Wukong's hair is indeed much less; she has seen monkeys with thick fur.

This Sun Wukong is far behind in this regard.

But for the sake of growing hair nicely, is giving up three nine-thousand-year peaches too much of a loss?

Yaochi and Haotian felt somewhat speechless, but they naturally do not understand what monkey hair means to Sun Wukong.

That is tuition and meal expenses, more important than life itself!

Seeing the determination in Sun Wukong's eyes, Haotian and Yaochi also felt somewhat helpless; for the first time, they encountered someone rushing to give good things who did not want them.

How peculiar.

"Is there divine power that can freely control growth?" Yaochi also asked curiously.

Could it be that this monkey does not even know such a simple thing? No way?

"Old Grandson naturally knows, but what I want is that kind of naturally growing, beautiful hair!" Sun Wukong gestured.

Thinking of that time he did something foolish, his body felt as if it were in pain; he does not want to continue pulling out fake monkey hair.

The demands are not few.

Yaochi muttered in her heart, thought for a moment, and said: "This palace's daily-use hair care product, I will give you some later."

Although I do not know if it will help with hair growth.

"Thank you, Your Ladyship!" Sun Wukong said gratefully with a joyful face,

Saved money!

Yaochi nodded, then looked at the remaining two gods, and said: "You two are promoted to Seventh Rank Imperial Kitchen Head Chefs."

For the Food God and Stove God, Yaochi was much more casual; even just a promotion was quite satisfying for them.

Seventh Rank—this is indeed a full rank increase; how much more salary would that be?

The Food God and Stove God excitedly hurried to thank her.

Yaochi, accustomed to this, then turned her gaze to the only mortal, Zhou Kang.

With a bare-handed gesture, a relatively small and exquisite peach appeared in his hand.

"As Sun Wukong's kitchen helper, you have done very well."

"This three-thousand-year peach is your reward; from now on, you will be the chef of the Imperial Kitchen, with an official position of Nine Rank."

For this mortal's effort, Yaochi has observed it; since he has achieved merit and also possesses spiritual talent, she does not mind cultivating him further.

"Hurry up and say these, Sanniang."

Seeing Zhou Kang appear dazed, with no movement at all, the Kitchen God anxiously urged him to speak.

This is a three-thousand-year peach, after all; its medicinal power is sufficient to enable one to ascend to immortality.

One can guess the ladies' intentions at once: they wish to have Zhou Kang remain in heaven as an immortal official.

How wonderful!

But Zhou Kang did not choose what the Kitchen God wanted; he did not accept the Queen Mother's peach.

"Reporting to the Lady, this commoner only wishes to descend to the mortal realm to live as an ordinary commoner; I beg the Lady to withdraw her command."

Refused again?!

Yaochi's expression darkened; Sun Wukong's refusal was understandable, but even a person with no cultivation does not want the peach?

After not seeing her for several days, why have her peaches become so lackluster?

No one wants them, even if offered...

"Are you sure? Although this is merely a three-thousand-year peach, it could also enable you to attain the Dao and become an immortal, gaining several thousand more years of lifespan." Yaochi thought Zhou Kang fundamentally did not understand the peach, and she explained this in a low voice.

Zhou Kang took a deep breath and remained steadfast in his resolve.

"This commoner still has wife and children in the mortal realm, so he does not wish to become an immortal; he only wishes to return to the mortal realm, to live an ordinary life. Though a mortal's life is short, it can also have its own brilliance."

"Alcohol and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart."

On the other side, Maitreya Buddha licked his round belly, his face bearing a contented expression.

His massive body sat upon the cloud platform, swaying unsteadily, as if it might fall at any moment.