Based on the story she’d heard years ago, Hua Meigui began weaving a play for her husband—a play where he could live as if in a dream without having to struggle with reality.

This version of Jun Changxiao had the least burden, the least responsibility—he lived as himself, lived freely.

The plot definitely couldn’t follow the original Journey to the West, after all, the protagonist Sun Wukong couldn’t defeat the Heavenly Court or Buddha and ended up suppressed under Five Finger Mountain.

As the playwright, Hua Meigui made substantial modifications to the plot, keeping the actor Jun Changxiao in an environment where he could act freely and unrestrained.

For example…

“Namo Amitabha!”

Above Flower-Fruit Mountain, Du Nan with his shiny bald head powerfully cosplayed as Buddha, saying, “You stubborn monkey, won’t you lay down your butcher’s knife?”

This was episode eight of the new Journey to the West directed and written by Hua Meigui, corresponding to the plot after Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Court in the original text.

“Old Buddha!”

Jun Changxiao held a wooden staff, pointing angrily at him. “Don’t interfere in my grievances with the Heavenly Court!”

“…”

Du Nan was silent.

Pulled over temporarily to play Buddha, he had no script or lines and could only improvise.

“Hmph!”

Jun Changxiao spun his staff and said coldly, “Since you want to meddle, don’t blame this old Sun for being impolite!”

With that, he leaped up.

“Whoosh whoosh!” True Spirit Force poured into the wooden staff, gathering powerful energy that broke through the air.

“Stubborn monkey, behave!”

Du Nan struck out with a palm in the void, and the swastika symbol glowed.

According to the Sect Master’s wife’s instructions, he had to lose, so he planned to hold back.

However, the golden palm print was instantly broken by the domineering staff upon contact, and the staff’s remaining explosive force came at him without reduction.

Du Nan’s face changed.

“This is bad!”

“Boom—”

“Thud!”

Du Nan crashed heavily in the distance, a deep red staff mark appearing on his face. Before losing consciousness, he didn’t forget to foam at the mouth and say, “This… isn’t… acting…”

“Alas.”

Hua Meigui shook her head. “Carry him away.”

Several disciples quickly rushed over and carried the unconscious Buddha actor Du Nan to the Medicine Hall.

The hall was now packed with injured people—Jing Zhixiao and others who’d cosplayed as Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, Li Fei and others who’d cosplayed as the Four Heavenly Kings.

They’d all been pulled in by Hua Meigui to be extras.

But during the acting, Jun Changxiao went all out, and they inevitably got beaten up.

“Alas.”

Su Xiaomo covered her swollen face. “Why does the Sect Master still have his strength!”

“If we act a few more scenes, we’ll all be done for!” Li Fei said.

Before long, Ye Xingchen, cosplaying as Erlang Shen, was carried in along with his Fangtian Painted Halberd, his face beaten into a blooming flower, forcing everyone to turn away and say, “Too tragic!”

…

In the new Journey to the West directed by Hua Meigui, rather than saying they were accommodating the mad Jun Changxiao, it was more accurate to say the high-level disciples were getting beaten throughout.

Of course.

It couldn’t be just fighting—there had to be love and hate.

Scene N: Jun Changxiao squatted on a rock outside the Water Curtain Cave, took a bite of a peach, and said, “Miss, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Zhizunbao.”

Hua Meigui, dressed as Zixia Fairy, looked at him with resentful eyes. “How long will you keep evading?”

“What am I evading?”

“Evading your own feelings!”

“I’ll say it again—I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, not Zhizunbao! Hurry up and get lost, don’t bother me anymore!”

Though Hua Meigui knew it was acting, knew her husband had gone mad, tears still disobediently fell.

The play was like this.

Reality was also like this.

“Why is Madam crying?”

“Too immersed in the role!”

The disciples hiding in the distant forest quietly discussed, while also admiring the Sect Master’s wife’s acting skills.

“Great King.”

Old Niu, playing the old monkey, ran over. “You said you’d marry Miss Zixia.”

“When did I say that?”

“Last year!”

“Nonsense! I don’t remember!”

Old Niu handed over a sword. “Great King, you said whoever pulls out the Purple-Green Sword, you’d marry Miss Zixia!”

“Since you have my Purple-Green Sword, how can you say you’re not Zhizunbao!” Hua Meigui said.

Jun Changxiao ignored her, grabbed the sword with one hand, and with a ‘clang’ pulled it from its sheath against the sunlight, saying in shock, “It actually came out?”

“Great King!”

Old Niu said, “A king’s word is his bond!”

“…”

Jun Changxiao threw the sword on the ground, cursing as he returned to the Water Curtain Cave.

Seeing this, Old Niu quickly transmitted his voice. “Madam, how should we act the next scene?”

“Prepare the wedding.”

Hua Meigui wiped away tears. “I’m going to marry him.”

“…”

Old Niu’s mouth twitched.

Madam’s acting is quite professional.

That day, a group of little monkeys began decorating the Water Curtain Cave, preparing for the next scene: ‘The Great Sage Takes a Wife.’

“Xiaomo.”

Hua Meigui said, “Husband often says your acting is very strong.”

“Uh…”

Su Xiaomo scratched her head. “It’s alright.”

“Therefore.” Hua Meigui said, “The next scene will have you playing the Bull Demon King who crashes the wedding.”

“Ah?”

Su Xiaomo was dumbfounded.

“Here’s the script.” Hua Meigui said.

“…”

Su Xiaomo took the small booklet and flipped it open, finally understanding that not only would she play the Bull Demon King crashing the wedding, but during the battle with Zhizunbao, she would accidentally kill Zixia Fairy.

“This is a villain role—very testing of acting skills!”

“Any problems?”

“Pa.”

Su Xiaomo closed the script, her expression serious. “No problem!”

When it came to piloting mechas, Jing Zhixiao dared claim first place among disciples. When it came to acting, he, Su Gou Sheng, also dared claim first place among disciples.

But…

Stealing the protagonist’s wife and accidentally killing her—felt like he’d get beaten up!

“It won’t happen.”

Su Xiaomo consoled herself inwardly. “The Sect Master is such a steel-straight man, he definitely doesn’t understand romantic feelings between men and women!”

…

That evening.

The Great Sage Takes a Wife scene was performed.

Inside the Water Curtain Cave, everything had been decorated in red and green.

High-level members and disciples cosplaying as various demons gathered together, quietly waiting for the bride and groom to appear.

Su Xiaomo, playing the Bull Demon King, hid in the shadows.

He’d acted in many scenes, but this time he was a bit nervous—his palms were sweating.

“The auspicious hour has arrived!”

“Invite the groom!”

Jun Changxiao, wearing bright red wedding robes, was pulled in by the monkeys, his face showing extreme reluctance—clearly very resistant to marriage.

“Invite the bride!”

When the officiant’s voice fell, everyone instinctively turned to look.

In their vision, Hua Meigui wore a phoenix crown and霞帔 (ceremonial cape), approaching with absolute beauty.

Normally not fond of dressing up, she was already devastatingly beautiful, but now with full makeup, she was truly indescribably gorgeous.

The guests attending the celebration sincerely marveled at the Sect Master’s wife’s peerless appearance.

“Tch.”

Jun Changxiao snorted coldly.

“Bow to heaven and earth!” Officiant Elder Wei called out loudly.

“Wait!”

Just then, Su Xiaomo with a nose ring appeared, angrily shouting, “This king objects to this marriage!”

The makeup was truly impressive—he really looked like the Bull Demon King!

“Not right!”

Jun Changxiao said warily, “Why did you change appearance?”

Earlier, Old Niu had played the Bull Demon King and even sworn brotherhood with him. Although today’s Su Xiaomo looked similar, there was an obvious difference between the two.

“Enough talk!”

The Bull Demon King said, “Zixia Fairy is mine!”

Jun Changxiao sat on a table, casually grabbing an apple. “Then take her.”

“…”

This line completely confused Su Xiaomo, who then looked pleadingly at the Sect Master’s wife, meaning: the plot’s wrong, how do I act!

“Bang!”

At this moment, Hua Meigui threw her phoenix crown on the ground and looked at Jun Changxiao with hateful eyes. “Zhizunbao, you’re too heartless!”

“Please!”

Jun Changxiao said angrily, “I’ve said ten thousand times—I’m not Zhizunbao!”

Hua Meigui bit her red lips, tears flowing uncontrollably.

In that moment, her expression, her eyes, even her most subtle body movements were performed to perfection.

The disciples thought Madam’s acting was extraordinary, but only Elder Wei and Su Xiaomo knew clearly—she wasn’t acting, but truly expressing her emotions. Because whether in the play or outside it, Jun Changxiao’s behavior remained terrible.

“Fine!”

Hua Meigui said hatefully, “I’m leaving!”

With that, she turned to go.

Three thousand strands of hair flew, as did her tears.

This was a slow-motion shot. In the frame were only Hua Meigui and Jun Changxiao, no extras.

“Hahaha!”

Su Xiaomo cupped her fists. “Thank you, brother, for your generosity!”

The play wasn’t over yet. Despite the risk of getting beaten, she had to continue acting.

However, Su Gou Sheng was still quite tactful—rather than seeming to crash the wedding, she acted more like a bodyguard following behind Hua Meigui.

“Stop!”

Just as they were about to step out of the Water Curtain Cave, Jun Changxiao’s voice rang out.

Hua Meigui stopped, her heart leaping with joy.

Husband, are you going to ask me to stay?

“Take off the ceremonial cape—I rented that at great expense from the Aolai Kingdom!”

“Thud!”

Elder Wei fell straight to the ground.

The Sect Master had gone mad, but his stingy personality remained!

The problem was, shouldn’t he care about his own wife at this moment? Why care about the damn ceremonial cape!

“Beyond saving!”

Elder Wei thought to himself, “Completely beyond saving!”

Hua Meigui stood at the cave entrance, not speaking for a long time, tears falling one by one to the ground.

“…”

The high-level members and disciples felt aggrieved and wronged for Madam.

“Jun Changxiao!”

Suddenly, Hua Meigui turned around, tore off the ceremonial cape, tears scattering as she said, “In your heart, am I not even worth as much as a rented prop!”

“…”

Su Xiaomo thought to herself, “Madam even called him by the wrong name.”

She didn’t call him wrong.

At this moment, Hua Meigui wasn’t treating herself as Zixia Fairy or Jun Changxiao as Zhizunbao—this emotional outburst wasn’t acting!

“I’ve been hoping you had me in your heart, even though you’ve gone mad, but…” Hua Meigui smiled, a smile that evoked pity. “I was wrong. I was overthinking.”

“Crunch.”

Jun Changxiao sat at the table, chewing the apple.

Very sweet.

But the more he chewed, the more bitter it became, the more his heart ached.

In fact, the moment Hua Meigui turned to leave, Jun Changxiao’s mind became even more chaotic.

He couldn’t explain why.

“I’m tired.”

Hua Meigui folded the ceremonial cape and gently placed it on the table. “I’m withdrawing.”

The last three words were spoken without choking up, sounding utterly calm, as if she’d completely put down the burden in her heart and truly achieved carefree lightness.

“Pa!”

Jun Changxiao lowered his head and crushed the apple in his hand.

In the frame, Hua Meigui’s back gradually receded, gradually blurred, as if about to disappear at any moment.

“…”

Everyone was at a loss.

They couldn’t determine whether this was still acting or not, because… the director hadn’t called cut!

“Su Xiaomo!”

Just then, Jun Changxiao raised his head and shouted, “Close the door for this seat!”

Su Xiaomo froze for 0.几 seconds, then immediately rushed to the entrance with large strides and closed the two stone doors, successfully blocking Madam who was about to disappear.

Jun Changxiao jumped down, bent to pick up the phoenix crown from the ground, hooked over the ceremonial cape, stopped in front of Hua Meigui, first brushed off the dust, then gently placed it on her and draped it over her, reached out to wipe away the tears on her face, and said in a gentle low voice, “The play isn’t over. You’re not allowed to withdraw.”

“You…”

Hua Meigui said in shock, “You’re not mad?”

“Swoosh!”

Jun Changxiao directly lifted her up, walking with large strides toward the main hall. “In the script you wrote, Zhizunbao and Zixia Fairy must have a perfect ending.”

“Children!”

“Play the music!”

Everyone snapped back to reality and quickly beat gongs and drums.

Just like that, Zhizunbao and Zixia Fairy held their wedding ceremony amid joy and celebration.

When the entire play came to a perfect conclusion, the words ‘The End’ gradually appeared on the screen, rising from bottom to top along with various credits.

Title: New Journey to the West – The Great Sage Takes a Wife

Director: Hua Meigui

Writer: Hua Meigui

Starring: Jun Changxiao (Zhizunbao), Hua Meigui (Zixia Fairy)

Cast: Wei Qingfeng (Officiant), Su Xiaomo (Bull Demon King)…

Cameos: Jing Zhixiao (Maidservant), Mao Xiaodao (Maidservant)…

Post-production: Farewell to the Martial World

Opening/Ending Theme: Farewell to the Martial World

Producer: Readers

Executive Producer: Doraemon Q Dream