Chapter 330

"If I cook meat dishes for them, it'll be a win if they don't kick me out."

Maitreya scratched his head; he also knew Sun Wukong's words made sense.

He didn't care about rules, but that didn't mean that group didn't care — it was quite troublesome; yet to just let him accept it, Maitreya was still somewhat unwilling.

Suddenly, inspiration struck him, as if he thought of something, and he hurriedly opened his mouth to say: "Wukong, this you don't know."

"This Buddhist Dharma Feast isn't just us Buddhas; the Three Realms' immortals were also invited, and they don't all eat vegetarian. If all your dishes are vegetarian, how will they eat?"

Maitreya's words were well-founded.

"Hiss—"

Sun Wukong sucked in a cold breath, heart shocked: "This matter I really didn't know."

He was too rash!

"Then I'll wait a bit and study it more."

Sun Wukong frowned in deep thought, his mind already starting to consider what dishes to make.

"Must make more meat dishes, that's right."

Maitreya admonished repeatedly once more.

Perhaps because he hadn't touched it for so many years; anyway, in his view, meat is the soul!

Sun Wukong rolled his eyes, didn't reply; even if he makes meat dishes, it's for those immortals who don't avoid meat or vegetarian, where does it get to Maitreya watching and wanting to hook shoulders and put arms around backs — Maitreya and Sun Wukong, several silver-headed Prajna all went dumb.

When did Maitreya Buddha get so close with a monkey, truly strange.

"Wukong ah."

Maitreya's fat face suddenly smiled somewhat slyly.

Sun Wukong felt a chill, subconsciously jumped back: "What do you want to do?"

Maitreya rubbed his hands together with one hand, hehe'd: "Today can you give this Almsgiving Monk a Small Stove in advance?"

Seeing Sun Wukong didn't immediately respond, Maitreya, a dignified quasi-Mahayana power, also put on a pitiable act, hurriedly adding: "Since last parting, it's nearly craving this Almsgiving Monk to death."

"You don't know how unpalatable the food on Ling Mountain is."

"Alright alright."

Sun Wukong casually waved his hand: "In a bit, go to the kitchen first and I'll make it for you."

"Deal."

Maitreya's expression brightened with joy: "Then this Almsgiving Monk will first take you to see our Ling Mountain's Hall of Abstinence."

Finished speaking, he turned his head to look at the several silver-headed Prajna.

"You all follow too."

The several silver-headed Prajna made eye contact with each other, all seeing puzzlement in each other's eyes; Maitreya Buddha didn't say he was welcoming the Head Chef for their Buddhist Dharma Feast? Where is the person? One silver-headed Prajna couldn't help but vocalize: "Buddha Ancestor, aren't we waiting for the Head Chef? Could it be we're not waiting anymore?"

"Isn't this him?"

Maitreya stretched out a hand pointing at Sun Wukong beside him.

Ah this... for a moment, the several people were all somewhat dumbfounded.

Previously Maitreya Buddha spoke so much praise about this Head Chef's profound cooking skill, didn't expect it actually referred to a monkey!

This is too absurd?!

Although they very much trust, after all it was Buddha Ancestor's own words, they didn't dare refute, could only silently follow behind.

"Maitreya, why did you wait for me behind Ling Mountain instead of in front?"

Sun Wukong flew following Maitreya while asking doubtfully.

"The front is for welcoming those attending the banquet."

"While you, Wukong, are the one our Ling Mountain invited to help, so it's not too convenient."

Maitreya explained.

The Buddhist Dharma Feast is called a banquet, but in substance it's a grand assembly of Buddhist Dharma discussion; at least before it was always like this.

In the Three Realms, those who cultivate Buddhist Dharma or yearn for Buddhist Dharma all have qualification to attend; usually these people come many days early to discuss Buddhist Dharma.

And those who come on the banquet day are the invited Three Realms immortals; since they're just here to support the scene and eat, they don't arrive early.

So it's like this, Sun Wukong realized with a nod; indeed, he's not someone suitable to swagger in through the front.

"Then how many people can this banquet have in total?"

Sun Wukong turned his thought and asked again.

Maitreya pondered a moment: "Counting everyone, probably several tens of thousands."

Due to the Buddhist Sect flourishing more and more, the number of people coming each time is obviously increasing; reckon this time will be even more.

"Ah?"

Sun Wukong's mouth gaped wide.

"Several tens of thousands? You're not joking with me!

This many people, how do you expect me to cook?!"

Even if it works him to death, letting him start several days early, cooking day and night without rest, he still might not make that much!

Yet Maitreya was disdainful, reassuring Sun Wukong: "~Not that exaggerated; the vast majority of these are lower cultivation, or even uncultivated, won't be in the Main Hall."

"

"Wukong, you only need to help cook for the Main Hall; the rest, our Ling Mountain will arrange ourselves."

The reason their banquet has so many people is because the quantity of believers coming to learn Buddhist Dharma is large; these people don't participate in the Dharma Feast.

Sun Wukong let out a relieved breath; this works; otherwise he'd probably have to summon all his clones to cook together.

"World-Honored One, Maitreya Buddha has already received that monkey."

Looking at the solemn and dignified Master before him, Mahakasyapa respectfully performed a Buddhist Salutation.

The Tathagata slowly opened his eyes, gazing at Mahakasyapa.

"Did that monkey come on his own?"

"Reporting to Master, disciple did not see anyone else."

Didn't he come? Or is he hiding? The Tathagata murmured softly in his heart, tapping his Buddha head: "Good."

"Where is that monkey now?"

"He has already been taken by Maitreya Buddha to the Hall of Abstinence."

Mahakasyapa replied truthfully, yet his heart harbored some doubt.

Why would our Buddhist sect banquet invite a monkey to be head chef? This is also somewhat too childish.

As he pondered, the Tathagata's voice sounded again.

"Kasyapa, where is your junior brother Jin Chanzi?"

"Junior brother?"

Mahakasyapa stared blankly, then shook his head and said: "Disciple also does not know; Ling Mountain is so lively these days, my junior brother is likely discussing the Dharma with others."

This junior brother of mine always has some whimsical ideas, never having a moment of idleness.

Sometimes my junior brother's reasoning leaves me in awe, while at other times it makes me feel it is absurd and unreasonable.

In terms of cultivation talent, my junior brother is not inferior to me; in terms of depth of Buddhist study, I feel ashamed before him—my junior brother is indeed a genius in studying Buddhism.

But if one must say he is a genius, I personally feel he is more like a demon-obsessed madman.

The Tathagata remained silent for several breaths, then waved his hand: "Kasyapa, you may withdraw first."

"Yes."

Mahakasyapa again performed the Buddhist salutation.

The reason he returned was to report to his master; this was something the master had instructed in advance. Now that the task is completed, it would be better to return early.

Mahakasyapa thought to himself, he still has today's Buddhist teachings that he has not studied in depth!

After sending Mahakasyapa away, the Tathagata fell into distress; what appeared in his eyes was not only wisdom and Buddha light, but also indecision.

The most important aspect of the Journey to the West Great Calamity is the Great Calamity Mastermind, the Spiritually Enlightened Stone Monkey Sun Wukong, while the second most important is the Scripture Seekers.

The Journey to the West selection requires choosing five individuals, corresponding respectively to the quantities of the Five Elements; among these, the two most important positions are both from the Buddhist Sect, while the remaining three are respectively chosen by the Daoist Sect, the Heavenly Court, and the Dragon Clan—this is the result of negotiations.

But, that was before.

Now, the most important position, Sun Wukong, has secretly shifted allegiance to a force no longer belonging to the Buddhist Sect, but to that mysterious person who has never shown his face!

He has painstakingly thought of wanting to suppress Sun Wukong, precisely to turn everything back around.