Chapter 412: Master, Quickly Offer the Toast

Stepping into the courtyard, I immediately saw four figures of distinct temperament already waiting inside, namely Tang Seng, Zhu Bajie, Sha Seng, and the white‑robed youth transformed from the White Dragon Horse.

Tang Seng wore a plain kasaya, brandished a nine‑ring tin staff, wore a Pilu hat, and faint Buddha light circulated about him.

Clearly he is no longer the mortal pilgrim monk of old, but the Zhan Tan Gong De Buddha who has attained the Fruit Position.

Zhu Bajie has long shed his fat‑headed, big‑eared pig demon appearance, regaining the heroic bearing of the former Marshal Tian Peng, with a robust and upright stature.

At this moment he is staring at the fragrant dishes on the stone table, his throat rolling, swallowing saliva.

Sha Seng still has a calm and sincere demeanor, looking like an honest man.

The youth transformed from the White Dragon Horse is clad in a simple white robe, a jade belt at his waist, and has clear, bright features.

On the stone table are already several delicate vegetarian dishes and a few plates of celestial cuisine that make one's mouth water.

Seeing Yu Lin enter with Sun Wukong, Tang Seng smiled first, his voice gentle: "Yu patron, long time no see, still so handsome and graceful, with extraordinary bearing."

Zhu Bajie immediately stepped forward, nodding repeatedly in agreement, habitually about to boast but then changed his words on the spot:

"Yes, indeed! My brother Yu, your appearance and bearing are truly exceptional, not like my old pig… uh, not like my Tian Peng days!"

After speaking, he subconsciously touched his nose, which is no longer a pig's snout.

Not being a pig is great!

"Second senior brother, say something the big guys don't know." Sha Seng first said this to Zhu Bajie, then turned to Yu Lin, respectfully bowing:

"Yu Immortal, His Majesty the Jade Emperor just the other day specifically instructed me."

"If I see you, please tell you to go to His Majesty another day; he said there is newly acquired fine wine to share with you."

After the words fell, the White Dragon also immediately spoke: "Yu brother, my father the West Sea Dragon King has been mentioning that the Dragon Palace recently obtained some Four Seas Rare Treasures, and wishes to invite you to the palace for a chat and a hearty drink."

"I wonder what Yu brother thinks of this?"

Facing the successive invitations, Yu Lin simply nodded casually and smiled, "It's not that it's impossible; when I have time I'll go bother you."

"Alright, alright, no need to stand. Though I am a guest today, a guest follows the host; no need for such formalities, everyone sit and talk."

Although he said he was the guest, his manner of hospitality made it seem that Tang Seng and his companions were the actual guests.

However, no one cared, or rather, Sun Wukong and Tang Seng were exchanging glances, as if a good drama was about to begin.

Once everyone gathered around the stone table and sat down, Yu Lin just lifted his chopsticks, not yet able to pick up food, when Sun Wukong beside him suddenly slapped the stone table, a crisp "pa" sound, making a regretful face:

"Ah! Master!"

This shout made everyone look at him.

Sun Wukong pointed at the wine cup before Tang Seng and said:

"Why did you forget? Quickly offer the toast!"

"Yu Lin brother has come from afar; for our first cup of wine, you, Master, must toast first! Do not lose propriety!"

Tang Seng, upon hearing this, showed no awkwardness of being corrected by a disciple; instead he displayed an enlightened expression, nodding repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, yes! What Wukong says is spot on! I, the teacher, was negligent and almost lost the art of hospitality."

Having said that, he immediately lifted the white jade wine vessel on the table, poured Yu Lin's cup to the brim, then raised his own tea cup with both hands, solemnly saying to Yu Lin:

"Yu patron, this poor monk offers tea in place of wine today, grateful for your many past 'care', please!"

"Dharma Master need not do so." Yu Lin could only raise his cup and clink it with his.

Just as he set the cup down, not yet having taken a bite, he heard Sun Wukong turn his head toward Zhu Bajie, who was secretly reaching with chopsticks for a crystal pork shank, and shouted:

"Ah! Bajie! You also messed up a big matter!"

Zhu Bajie's chopsticks trembled, and the translucent shank almost fell back onto the plate.

He looked up bewildered: "Huh?"

"What's wrong with me, senior brother? Do you intend to eat this shank?"

Sun Wukong, with a solemn face, pointed at the steamed celestial fish in the center of the table and scolded:

"Look at this fish! Which direction is the fish head facing?!"

Zhu Bajie followed his finger and saw that the plump fish head was pointing toward Sha Seng.

He slapped his forehead hard: "Ah! Look at my memory! Truly a pig's brain!"

"This banquet etiquette requires the fish head orientation to be correct!"

After speaking, he immediately extended a large hand, lifted the fish, adjusted its direction so the delicious head faced Yu Lin, then nodded satisfactorily:

"Now it's right! Yu brother, you treat, you go first!"

Yu Lin watched their continuous, slightly flamboyant rituals, his mouth twitching, about to say 'Really, no need for such fuss, everyone can be casual', but before he could speak—

The usually silent, straightforward Sha Seng beside him suddenly spoke slowly:

"Senior brother."

Sun Wukong turned his head to him: "What's up, Sha junior disciple?"

Sha Seng pointed to Sun Wukong's seat, then to the main seat, with a straightforward face:

"You are sitting in the main seat."

"…" Sun Wukong lowered his head, looked at the position of his stone stool, then at Yu Lin's guest seat, immediately showing a regretful and embarrassed smile, repeatedly patting the back of his head:

"Ah, ah! Look at my monkey haste! Busy talking, didn't even check the seat! Truly rude, so rude!"

Without further ado, he stepped forward to pull Yu Lin up: "Come, come, Yu Lin brother, let's swap! You sit here, this is the main seat! Please, please!"

Yu Lin: "………………".

He finally could no longer bear it, placed his chopsticks on the table, surveyed the four exaggerated members of the pilgrimage team before him, sighed helplessly, and bluntly said:

"Stop, enough."

"I say, you all… especially the Great Sage." His gaze landed on Sun Wukong's face:

"You keep toasting, adjusting the fish head, swapping seats… what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Did you all take the wrong path on the pilgrimage back then, huh?"

If you have something to say, just say it straight; between us, do we really need to beat around the bush?

Seeing his rather surprised look, Sun Wukong then patted his arm: "Yu Lin, don't be angry, don't be angry."

"This isn't our fault; we're just doing what someone said to do, aren't we?"

"Come on, come on, let's not talk about that anymore, let's eat, let's eat!"