Journey to the West 04

It was also from that day onward that Fang Zhiyi specifically added cultural lessons for them. To be a proper monster, how could one not know how to read?

"Wait, Your Majesty, I can understand Chinese class, but what are Math, English, Morality and Law, and Art?" a little monster asked.

Fang Zhiyi silently crossed out all subjects except for Math.

But even this was beyond the scope for these monsters. Every now and then, one would get confused to the point of mental distress. However, A'Cui showed great talent. She always displayed immense curiosity about things she had never encountered before.

She even found better ways than Fang Zhiyi to demonstrate what she learned to the other monsters. She used stones as counting beads to teach them to calculate "how many people were caught today, enough for how many monsters to eat."

Hearing this, the little monsters all looked tense. The wolf demon secretly asked his king, "Didn't we pick up a living King of Hell by accident?"

Actually, it wasn't A'Cui's fault. In her mind, ingrained since childhood, monsters were supposed to eat people.

During this period, Fang Zhiyi also conducted a series of ideological indoctrination sessions specifically for A'Cui.

"Since the villagers treated you and your grandmother poorly, why did you stand up to help them?" Fang Zhiyi asked.

A'Cui blinked: "I heard a great monk who once came to the village say that doing more good deeds leads to a better next life."

Fang Zhiyi gave her a disdainful look: "Have you seen the next life? Or have you died before?"

A'Cui shook her head.

"Then how do you know there is a next life? That's just to comfort yourself!"

"But... doing good deeds brings good karma."

Fang Zhiyi hardened his heart: "How do you know doing good deeds definitely brings good karma?"

A'Cui still blinked: "But I met you, Ah Xiong, and my other little monster friends. You've all been very kind to me and my grandmother."

Fang Zhiyi was immediately speechless. Looking at the girl before him, he felt a sense of frustration he couldn't quite explain.

"There's a saying: 'Let go of the savior complex, respect others' fate.' Understand? If you interfere with their fate, you have to bear the karma."

A'Cui nodded: "I understand." But that was all—just understanding.

Fang Zhiyi instantly knew he had a tough battle ahead. To change a person, you must change their thinking and teach them knowledge. After all, knowledge can change destiny!

Little Hei remained lazy as ever, usually not communicating much with Fang Zhiyi.

A'Cui gradually grew accustomed to life here. She also liked these monsters very much and gave each of them a name.

A'Qi, Big Huang, Big Hui, Little Bai... A'Cui's vocabulary wasn't extensive, but for monsters who had never had names before, it was more than enough.

She even taught them how to clear land and grow crops. Fang Zhiyi strongly approved of this decision. He was utterly sick of eating wild fruits every day. So, while they started farming, he also provided careful guidance, though he often faced skepticism from his underlings.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. A'Cui had grown taller and noticeably plumper, looking much more spirited overall, perhaps because she had stepped onto the threshold of cultivation.

Fang Zhiyi also began to be on guard. Once the monk Tang and his disciples passed by, everything would be fine.

So when A'Cui stood before him asking to go down the mountain, Fang Zhiyi frowned: "Down the mountain? Where are you going?" He instinctively thought A'Cui wanted to return to the village.

Unexpectedly, A'Cui smiled: "I want to take Grandma down the mountain to the city to buy some things for the New Year."

Fang Zhiyi was taken aback. Right, the New Year was coming.

It seemed like a long time since he had celebrated the New Year.

Seeing the pleading look in A'Cui's eyes, Fang Zhiyi calculated the timing. Turning his head, he saw the pleading looks of all his underlings. He clicked his tongue: "What kind of sorry lot are you? Go on, go!" He specifically arranged for a few fast-footed ones to escort A'Cui and her grandmother.

"Isn't this too risky?" Little Hei suddenly asked.

Fang Zhiyi laughed: "The time hasn't come yet, it's fine. The little girl rarely makes a request, we can't just unreasonably refuse, can we?" Over the past year, he had observed all of A'Cui's actions. This girl was truly different. She was full of vitality, remained kind-hearted, and would consider others' feelings even when wronged herself. Not to mention the original owner, even he had grown somewhat fond of this child.

"But... didn't you say this world is very dangerous?"

Fang Zhiyi bared his teeth, trying to look fierce: "Are you kidding? Me, avoid their sharpness?"

He had confidence in the education he had given A'Cui over the past year. Although A'Cui was still kind, she was no longer weak. Fang Zhiyi was convinced that, given time, A'Cui could definitely become a powerful figure in her own right! When that time came, he would skewer all those scumbags from that village and roast them!

A'Cui, along with her grandmother and several little monsters, set off down the mountain. With the help of the diligent little monsters, the grandmother hardly exerted any effort. Upon reaching the outskirts of Hongta City, the little monsters helped the old lady down from the simple sedan chair. The leader, Ah Hei, took out a handful of gold, silver, and jewels and handed them to A'Cui.

"Girl, take this. We usually have no use for these things. Buy whatever you like, and get plenty. We'll wait for you outside the city." They knew there were Taoist priests and monks in the city, and perhaps even powerful beings they couldn't afford to provoke. Not entering the city was an unspoken rule.

A'Cui smiled and nodded, wrapping the gold and silver in a cloth bundle. She then supported her grandmother as they entered the city.

Grandma was still muttering about having A'Cui make a set of clothes for King Fang Zhiyi!

As the New Year approached, the streets were filled with vendors.

While engrossed in selecting items, she heard a familiar call.

"A'Cui?"

A'Cui looked up, glancing around, and saw a plainly dressed girl with some freckles on her face.

"Xiaohua?" A'Cui said hesitantly.

"It really is you!" Chen Xiaohua's eyes were full of disbelief. Her gaze fixed on A'Cui's clothes—they were made of silk. Then it shifted to the hairpin clumsily stuck in her hair, a flash of jealousy passing through her eyes.

A'Cui was also happy. It wasn't that she hadn't thought about returning to the village, but Fang Zhiyi had always disagreed. Moreover, based on his analysis, A'Cui had developed some aversion towards the villagers. Thinking about it now, perhaps Fang Zhiyi was right. Maybe they had intended for her to go to her death back then?

But looking at her childhood playmate before her, A'Cui's smile at this moment came from the heart.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came with my parents to buy some cloth in the city... You're doing quite well, I see, looking at your clothes." Xiaohua reached out and touched the fabric, her tone somewhat sour.

A'Cui quickly said, "It's alright, I've made so many friends there."

"Friends? A'Cui, you haven't forgotten, have you? They're monsters!" The sourness in Xiaohua's tone kept spilling out. After the New Year, she was to be sold off by her parents. Seeing A'Cui, who everyone said lived a miserable life, now looking so splendid, she felt a tremendous sense of disparity.