The official had just been about to reply when he suddenly let out a shriek, "Ah, the monkey can talk!"

    Tang Sanzang responded unhurriedly, "Poor monk comes from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land. It''s not too much to have a talking monkey, right?"

    The official gave a bitter smile and said, "This... this must be some sort of monster, right?"

    Tang Sanzang replied, "That''s not important, don''t fuss over such trivial details. By the way, where''s your proclamation?"

    The other party wasn''t foolish. Although the high monk looked like an idiot, the creature following him was clearly out of the ordinary; he must possess some abilities.

    So he quickly took out the proclamation and handed it over, "Here is the proclamation."

    Sun Wukong took it, gave it a look, and saw that it read:

    In India, in the county of Fengxian within the prefecture, Prefect Shangguan issues this proclamation for the hiring of a master to conduct a great ritual. Due to the broad expanse of our land and the prosperity of our soldiers and civilians, years of drought have led to successive years of famine. People''s fields lay fallow, and military farmland is barren, with rivers running shallow and ditches dried up. Wells are without water, and springs have no flow. Wealthy households barely survive, while the poor cannot make a living. A bushel of grain sells for the price of a hundred gold pieces, a bundle of firewood for five taels. Girls of ten can be exchanged for three liters of rice, boys of five taken away by whomever will. In the city, people fear the law, pawning clothes and belongings to survive; in the countryside, people rob and devour others just to live. Therefore, this proclamation is issued, looking to the ten directions for a virtuous sage to pray for rain to save the people. A generous reward is promised, a thousand gold pieces in gratitude, and this is no empty promise. Those who wish to respond to the proclamation, please do so.@@@@

    After reading the proclamation, Sun Wukong looked at Tang Sanzang and asked, "Master, should we bother with this?"

    Tang Sanzang lazily said, "We''re not short of money right now, no motivation, just hurry on our way. If we''re slow, the female demons will have escaped."

    Sun Wukong cleared his throat and said, "Master, actually, we are quite short on money, we don''t really have any."

    Tang Sanzang dismissed it, "How short on money can we be?"

    Sha Wujing said, "Master, occasionally we enter the city to stay in inns and eat meals, all of which require money, and we... we don''t have a single coin."

    Still unconcerned, Tang Sanzang replied, "No problem, we''ll have money by performing with the monkey. I''ve lost most of my interest in dining and drinking... Let''s just hurry on the road. Getting the scriptures is what''s important. That''s truly a good deed for the benefit of all people. Let''s go, let''s go..."

    The disciples'' foreheads were lined with black marks, thinking, "It''s not the scriptures that are important, it''s the semen you want to deliver, right? Talking about benefitting people... pah!"

    Sun Wukong and the Six-Eared Macaque were the most frustrated. Their thought was that if they could make some money and solve their travel and daily needs, they wouldn''t have to keep being watched by the baldy and be made to perform like dancing monkeys.

    The two exchanged a glance...

    Recalling the scene in the Chechi Kingdom where Tang Sanzang looked back from a high place and spat, Sun Wukong was also speechless.

    However, Sun Wukong said, "Master, don''t worry. Praying for rain is not difficult. I, Old Sun, can overturn rivers, stir the sea, swap the constellations, kick the wells, exhale mist, spray clouds, carry mountains, chase the moon, summon rain, and call the wind..."

    Smack!

    Tang Sanzang slapped the monkey on the head, "Stop bragging. If you''re really that amazing, fight with your master first."

    Sun Wukong quickly got to the point, "Master, in short, it''s simple."

    With that, Tang Sanzang felt relieved, lay back in the cart, and contentedly said, "You know, after we finish this job, could we buy ourselves a brothel?"

    The crowd: "@#￥..."

    Someone had already gone to inform the prefect.

    From distance, someone shouted, "Milord, great news!"

    At that moment, the prefect, who was bathing and burning incense in his mansion, praying silently, trembled with joy when he heard the good news and asked, "What joy?"

    The person replied, "The spotted plague has been uncovered by several monks. They claimed to be from the Great Tang, on their way to visit the Great Thunder Monastery in India to worship and seek scriptures. They say they can pray for rain and are on their way here."

    Upon hearing this, the prefect immediately became overjoyed, hurriedly tidied his clothes, and strode out to welcome them.

    Not far away, he saw a carriage galloping towards him. The white horse pulling the cart was vigorous and swift. Beside the carriage, a three-meter-tall pig and a four-meter-tall man were running, and sitting in the carriage was a monk with a gleaming head, a handsome face that looked somewhat foolish, accompanied by a small monk and a monkey.

    Following behind the carriage was an attendant who had gone out to post the notice, and by now, he was exhausted to the point of spitting white foam...

    Seeing these individuals, none of whom looked serious, the prefect was not angry at all. Rather, his eyes shone brightly, and he murmured to himself, "Extraordinary signs in a person''s life mean they must possess remarkable abilities!"

    Having said that, the prefect wasted no time and knelt down on the street, bowed towards the approaching carriage and said, "This humble official is the prefect of Fengxian, of the Shangguan family. After ritual cleansing, I humbly request the master to pray for rain to save the people. I hope the venerable monks will show great compassion, use your miraculous abilities, and send down a slight rain."

    The carriage came to a sudden stop in front of the prefect...

    Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Master, this prefect really is putting it all on the line, eh? He hasn''t even seen what we can do, and he''s already down on his knees. Looks like he''s a good official who really cares about his people!"