Chapter 99: Great Battle With Red Boy
However, Ao Tu scared Red Boy, saying that someone like himself was only considered the lowest rank in the Heavenly Court.
This statement was actually true. Someone like Sun Wukong, who had the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, was only made the lowest rank Marshal of the Heavenly Horses when he first entered the Heavenly Court.
Ao Tu’s cultivation was not as good as Sun Wukong’s; he was only a Golden Immortal. It was estimated that if placed in the Heavenly Court, he could only be a strongman.
Red Boy was young and had never been to the Heavenly Court, nor had he seen Heavenly Soldiers or Heavenly Generals. Upon hearing Ao Tu say this, he felt some fear in his heart.
Red Boy thought to himself: If even the lowest ranking divine official in the Heavenly Court has such magic power, then am I not really just at the level of a Heavenly Soldier, as the other said?
Red Boy said somewhat fearfully:
“You’re talking nonsense. My father Bull Demon King once rose up with a group of monsters and was called Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven. When I usually spar with my father, I have never easily lost. My uncles and paternal relatives all fear my Samadhi True Fire. How dare you say I’m only a bit stronger than a Heavenly Soldier?”
Ao Tu laughed: “That’s because they see you’re young and let you win!”
Upon hearing this, Red Boy thought of how his father often instructed him to be careful outside and not stir up trouble, and he couldn’t help but believe it a bit.
Ao Tu said again: “Have you ever heard of my reputation in the past?”
Red Boy said: “No, I haven’t.”
Ao Tu said: “I’m just a nameless nobody without even a title, yet I can easily defeat you. This shows your cultivation is shallow.
Those three disciples of Tang Sanzang are all Heavenly Generals who descended to the mortal world, with vast supernatural powers. Yet you want to eat Tang Sanzang’s flesh. Aren’t you seeking your own death?”
Hearing this, Red Boy became even more afraid and said: “Then what should I do? I won’t eat Tang Sanzang’s flesh anymore. How about letting them pass?”
Ao Tu said: “That won’t do either.”
Red Boy said: “Why not?”
Ao Tu said: “I heard when I came that you have been committing all sorts of evil in these mountains, with a long list of crimes. Is that true?”
Red Boy said annoyedly: “I was young and ignorant before, relying on some supernatural powers to bully the local Mountain God and Earth God, making them stoke fire and guard the gate for me, extorting them to catch mountain deer and wild deer for me to eat.”
Ao Tu signaled Tiger Vanguard to let Red Boy down and said:
“This act is truly full of evil. When Tang Sanzang and his disciples come and learn of your wicked deeds, they certainly won’t spare you. Now you only have two paths to take.”
Red Boy rubbed his buttocks and asked: “Which two paths?”
Ao Tu said: “The first path is to bind your own hands, kowtow to beg forgiveness, and voluntarily become a little novice monk for Tang Sanzang to save your life.”
Red Boy said: “What can I do? If I become a novice monk, won’t my family line end? Is there another way?”
Ao Tu said: “There is a second path.”
Red Boy said: “Please give me guidance, Senior.”
Ao Tu said: “Flee the mountain overnight and escape home; that can buy you some temporary respite.”
Red Boy said: “Why only temporary?”
Ao Tu said: “Tang Sanzang and his disciples are heading west and will eventually pass by your home. At that time, you’ll have nowhere to go.”
After hearing this, Red Boy lowered his head and said: “Father ordered me to guard this Six Hundred Li Drill Mountain and often instructed me not to stir up trouble. Now if I bring disaster home, isn’t that a great sin? Senior, please, is there another way?”
Ao Tu pretended to ponder: “This…”
Red Boy hurriedly came close to Ao Tu, looking pitiful, pulled Ao Tu’s hand and begged:
“Please, Senior, for the sake of my youth, save me.”
Ao Tu said: “I do have a perfect solution that saves you and captures Tang Sanzang—killing three birds with one stone.”
Red Boy was overjoyed and hurriedly said: “Please teach me, Senior.”
Ao Tu stood with hands behind his back and said nothing.
Seeing this, Red Boy hurriedly said: “Senior, whatever you command, I will certainly obey.”
Ao Tu said: “It’s not really a command. I see that although your skills are average, your fire-handling is somewhat useful. If I make you my errand boy, would you be willing?”
Red Boy naturally didn’t want to be someone’s errand boy.
But in the current situation, he had no choice but to agree first and bowed: “Meet Great King.”
Ao Tu laughed: “Get up.”
Red Boy said respectfully: “Please enter the cave, Great King.”
Ao Tu entered the cave and sat in the seat of honor.
Red Boy served at his side.
Ao Tu said: “Come closer to my ear.”
Red Boy hurriedly came closer.
Ao Tu whispered to him: “Red Boy, you don’t know this, but you actually have a connection with Tang Sanzang and his disciples!”
Red Boy said in surprise: “I have a connection with them?”
Ao Tu said: “Yes. Although they are a group of monks, Tang Sanzang’s eldest disciple Sun Wukong is the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven who caused the Great Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. He and your father once became sworn brothers through eight bows. You weren’t born yet, so you didn’t know.”
Red Boy said: “There’s such a thing? What is Sun Wukong’s ability like?”
Ao Tu said: “Extremely strong.”
Red Boy said: “I suppose even at his strongest, he’s not stronger than my father.”
Ao Tu said: “No. Back when they became sworn brothers, Sun Wukong was ranked last because he was the smallest in stature. But in terms of ability, he was stronger than your father.”
Red Boy didn’t believe it: “How do you know he’s stronger than my father?”
Ao Tu said: “Sun Wukong rebelled against Heaven several times, with vast supernatural powers that the Heavenly Court could hardly subdue. The Jade Emperor personally bestowed upon him the title Great Sage, Equal of Heaven to placate him, the highest official rank. Your father calls himself Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven but only holds a corner and never received an official seal. Who do you say has the stronger ability?”
Hearing this, Red Boy lowered his head in thought.
Ao Tu said: “In a few days, when Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrive, don’t fight them. Just use this connection, recognize Sun Wukong as your uncle, set out vegetarian wine and vegetarian feast, invite the master and disciples to enjoy, and you’ll be safe.”
Red Boy said: “These years, I’ve never seen my father interact with Sun Wukong. Will he acknowledge this kinship?”
Ao Tu said: “No need to worry. Sun Wukong values loyalty the most and will definitely recognize you. Find a way to invite the master and disciples to stay longer, for a year or so, and be extra attentive. Sun Wukong was once a great demon and not of one mind with Tang Sanzang. Once you recognize him as your old uncle and the relationship is close, he might even join you in eating Tang Sanzang’s flesh.”
Red Boy said: “But I grew up pampered by my parents and uncles, proud and arrogant. I don’t know how to be attentive to others.”
Hearing this, Ao Tu glanced at Red Boy who was humbly crouching by his side and thought: This little calf is really pretending.
Ao Tu said: “No need to worry, I’ll teach you. Tang Sanzang has three disciples, a total of four people, plus one horse. Tang Sanzang himself is a good person. Just keep him longer and tell some pitiful stories; it will surely touch his heart.”
Red Boy asked: “What kind of pitiful stories?”
Ao Tu said: “Just say that from childhood, your mother didn’t love you, your father didn’t care for you, and they sent you to this barren mountain alone, with no one to accompany you, orphaned and helpless. Tang Sanzang will surely sympathize and care for you doubly.”
Red Boy said happily: “Good, good!”
Ao Tu said again: “For Tang Sanzang’s eldest disciple Sun Wukong, just flatter him, praise his great abilities, treat him sincerely, and he will reciprocate sincerely.”
Red Boy said: “I will treat him sincerely!”
Ao Tu continued: “For Tang Sanzang’s second disciple Zhu Wu Neng, just provide good wine and good food, entertain him well, and he won’t leave a single step.”
Red Boy said: “That’s easy.”
Ao Tu said: “The remaining one is Sha Wujing, and one is White Dragon Horse.”
Red Boy said: “What about those two?”
Ao Tu said: “No need to worry about them.”
Red Boy said: “Does Senior have any other instructions?”
Ao Tu said: “That’s all.”
Hearing this, Red Boy lowered his head in thought and said to himself:
“This old demon is deceiving me. Sun Wukong and my father are sworn brothers through eight bows. If I reveal my family background, he definitely won’t kill me. This old demon deliberately scared me to make me his errand boy. If there’s a chance, I’ll definitely take revenge!”
At this time, Ao Tu said again:
“Right, there’s one most important point. I heard Sun Wukong recently obtained an ancient cultivation method with infinite power. Trick the incantation out of him. That incantation is extremely profound; you must not cultivate it yourself to avoid going mad. Once you get it, hand it over to me quickly.”
Hearing this, Red Boy rolled his eyes and thought:
“No wonder this old demon is so kind; it’s for this. In terms of closeness, aren’t my never-met Uncle Sun and I closer than him? He’s only lowest rank level. Watch me pretend to agree on the surface. When Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrive, I’ll learn the cultivation method first, then take revenge on this old demon.”
Red Boy said: “Thank you, Great King, for telling me. I will certainly obey!”
Ao Tu patted Red Boy’s head and laughed: “You child, naturally clever, will surely trick the cultivation method out of Sun Wukong’s mouth.”
Red Boy grinned.
Ao Tu said: “This King is a bit hungry. Quickly set up a banquet.”
Red Boy immediately ordered his subordinates to set up a banquet.
In no time, various delicacies were served.
There were mountain deer, wild deer, pheasants, forest rabbits, wood ear fungus, yellow flowers, fragrant mushrooms, mushrooms…
Ao Tu sat in the main seat, telling Red Boy to pick food for him, and Red Boy picked food for him; telling Red Boy to pour wine, and Red Boy stood up to pour wine.
Truly like ordering around his own son.
Even though Red Boy was extremely unwilling in his heart, the current situation was stronger than the person, so he could only endure it all.
After Ao Tu had eaten and drunk his fill, he lay down on Red Boy’s bed and instructed:
“Red Boy, Tang Sanzang and his disciples will arrive in a few months. I can’t stay long in your cave mansion. Go to the nearby mountains and find a good mountain for me to build a cave mansion.”
Red Boy said: “Yes!”
He then ordered little demons to go find a good mountain.
Ao Tu lay on the couch and soon fell soundly asleep.
Seeing Ao Tu asleep without defenses, Red Boy slowly approached bit by bit.
Just as he was about to reach Ao Tu, Ao Tu suddenly opened his eyes and said: “What are you doing?”
Red Boy hurriedly lowered his head and bowed, saying: “Great King, summer is approaching soon. I’m afraid you’ll feel the heat while sleeping, so I came to fan you.”
Ao Tu laughed and said: “You have filial piety. Then fan away.”
Red Boy served at the side fanning, thinking while fanning:
“I, the Holy Infant Great King, have never been like this even to my own birth parents. Now to be bullied by this old demon and fan him—truly a great humiliation! One day, I will repay it a thousandfold!”
At this time, Ao Tu said: “Fanning well. Now give me a shoulder massage.”
Hearing this, Red Boy sat beside him and massaged Ao Tu’s shoulders.
While massaging, Red Boy said: “Great King, what kind of magic treasure is your Black Lotus? Why is it so powerful?”
