Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Chapter 10 How about I leave the monastic life and marry you?

High risk, high reward, this statement couldn't be more accurate.

Jiang Liu's eyes were keen, and the young girl Gaoyang's strength was obviously a notch stronger than Senior Brother Xuankong's. Yet even so, she was far from being a match for the Wolf Demon, which attests to the demon's formidable strength.

Moreover, after teaming up and killing the Wolf Demon, the substantial gain of 2800 Experience Points that allowed him to level up three times was proof enough of everything.

The Sandalwood Buddha Beads, being Fine Level Equipment without any level requirement for wearing, were naturally donned by Jiang Liu.

With a 15% enhancement to Buff effects, it was undoubtedly the perfect equipment for a Monk with a support-oriented profession.

What was even more crucial was that it came with a Skill Special Effect, which was precisely what Jiang Liu needed most at the moment.

As for the Level 5 Skill Book "Vajra Mantra," Jiang Liu, who was only Level 4, fell slightly short and therefore tucked it away to study once he reached Level 5.

Another Skill Book, "Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water," was for the Swordsman class and a Body Technique Category Skill that could increase movement speed to a certain extent.

Jiang Liu thought that once Gaoyang woke up, he would see if she could learn it.

Could others learn Skill Books dropped by the gaming system? Jiang Liu was curious and hopeful.

Last, Jiang Liu's gaze fell upon the White Jade Ring. Although it was only a common quality Equipment and merely increased Attack Power by 10, it was better than nothing, right?

However, considering his profession leaned towards support, he probably wouldn't actively engage in combat, so the ring might not be that useful for him.

"Hey, Jiang Liu, what have you done to me?" Gaoyang, who had been unconscious for a short while, was coming around and startled by her disheveled appearance, cried out in alarm.

"Awake? If you can shout that loudly, it seems that you're all right," Jiang Liu said, turning to her.

After a brief slumber, Gaoyang's complexion did look a little better. Perhaps, just like in the game, one's Health Points and mana could recover while resting?

"Hurry up and tell me, what exactly did you do to me?" Frantic and fuming, the young girl stood up, clutching her tattered clothing tightly with one hand while wielding her whip with the other.

"Nothing, I didn't do anything. I just saw you'd passed out, bleeding, so I... bandaged you up a bit."

Seeing the girl raise her whip, Jiang Liu vividly remembered how her single lash could crack stone, and with his flesh and blood body, a single strike would certainly result in a fracture, so he hurriedly explained.

Hearing Jiang Liu's explanation, Gaoyang took a moment to survey her own condition.

Indeed, where she had been injured by the wolf's claws, there were several unsightly knots tied with cloth clearly torn from her own garments.

Gaoyang's face turned at intervals from green to white with labored breathing; she was at a loss as to what to do with Jiang Liu.

Should she thank him? As a young girl whose body had been seen, was she supposed to show gratitude?

Yet if she lashed out in anger? After all, he had tried to save her.

On top of that, the fact that he had not abandoned her and run for his life in the face of the Wolf Demon also moved her somewhat.

"Well, you know... I'm a Monk, and saving you could be considered a violation of my precepts against lustful conduct. The sacrifice I've made is substantial..." Jiang Liu said, seeing that she was conflicted about how to deal with him and feeling it was necessary to speak up on his behalf.

Even though it felt a bit like throwing the first punch as a preemptive defense.

"You..." Gaoyang's face flushed with anger as she stepped forward and grabbed the front of his robes. "You, a Monk who eats meat and takes life, and now you've broken another precept. You'll never be able to be a Monk in this life. You will definitely not pass the Incense Offering Ceremony."

For other novice monks, Gaoyang's words could have been seen as a vicious curse, but for Jiang Liu, they were like the sound of heavenly music.

"Thanks for your good wishes. I, too, hope I fail the Incense Offering Ceremony, then leave the monastic life, open a restaurant, marry a wife, and lead a peaceful life," Jiang Liu admitted honestly. That had been his plan all along.

"You…," Gaoyang stuttered after hearing Jiang Liu's sincere reply, looking at him, momentarily lost for words.

However, after a moment of silence, Gaoyang's smile returned, "Well, if that's really the case, then you'll have to marry me before you can marry anyone else."

"Ah!?," Jiang Liu was taken aback by Gaoyang's bold statement.

"While I was unconscious just now, you stripped off my clothes. Are you considering not taking responsibility?" Gaoyang asked seriously, staring at Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu was momentarily speechless but then came to a realization.

In modern society, bikini-clad girls on the beach would let you look all you wanted and changing boyfriends every other day was nothing unusual.

But this was ancient times, after all, even if the Tang Dynasty was the most liberal era, women still placed great importance on chastity.

What he did would have been completely acceptable in modern times, but in this era…

As realization dawned on him, Jiang Liu scrutinized the girl before him. He had to admit, the teenage girl in the flower of youth was also stunningly beautiful. If he really did marry her, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad?

"So, are you willing to marry me?" Jiang Liu asked after some thought, nodding to himself inwardly.

"I am not!" Gaoyang vehemently shook her head in refusal to Jiang Liu's question.

This response made Jiang Liu roll his eyes, "Hey, aren't you being a bit unreasonable? You don't want to marry me, yet you won't allow me to marry someone else?"

"You silly bald donkey, we've only met twice, and you expect me to agree to marry you? Do you have the approval of our parents or a matchmaker's words? Besides, aren't you still a monk? Are you even eligible to marry?" Gaoyang retorted indignantly.

"Oh…" Jiang Liu said, suddenly understanding, "So, what you mean is, after I leave the monastic life, I can marry you openly and above board?"

"Well, at least I would have to agree to it first…" Gaoyang said, her face flushing with shyness as she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Although Jiang Liu wasn't particularly emotionally intelligent, having never been in a romantic relationship either in his past or present life—otherwise, he wouldn't have been gaming all night leading to his transmigration—

But from Gaoyang's demeanor, Jiang Liu understood that although she hadn't agreed to marry him, at least she didn't object to him.

After all, they were just a boy and a girl with no experience in love, and discussing marriage after meeting only twice was indeed a bit early. At the very least, she was willing to keep in contact and give it a try.

With neither one experienced in romance, the conversation had become somewhat embarrassing, and the atmosphere suddenly felt a bit awkward and charged.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Liu took out two Blood Bottles he had just exploded onto from his robes and handed them over, saying, "I have two bottles of healing medicine here. Drink them quickly; they'll help your recovery."

Gaoyang didn't bother with niceties and took them.

After drinking one, her complexion immediately became rosier, and even her injuries started to heal significantly—a real instantaneous effect.

"What a miraculous potion!" Feeling the effects of the potion, Gaoyang was astonished as she held the Blood Bottle. At the same time, she unwrapped a bandage from her arm.

Sure enough, the formerly gruesome wound had already started to scab over.

"If you had such good potions, why didn't you use them earlier? And why did you have to tear my clothes…"

"Look, do you believe me if I say that I only got these potions just now?"