Chapter 69: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
Yet Wukong did one somersault onto Wudang Mountain, arriving at Taihe Palace.
The True Warrior Emperor was speaking with Nezha.
Nezha saw Wukong and couldn’t help laughing:
“Emperor, see, I told you so. That monkey has indeed come.”
Wukong descended from the sky and said:
“Third Prince, what are you gossiping about Old Sun again?”
Nezha said: “I told the Emperor you would be back soon, and see, wasn’t I right?”
Wukong sighed: “Don’t mention it! This time I encountered another demon, truly formidable.”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “What demon is it? With the Great Sage’s martial prowess, could you not deal with it?”
Wukong said: “Emperor, you have long resided here and do not know the ferocity of Western Ox Continent!”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “How so?”
Wukong said: “It is truly danger at every step, disaster at every turn! Back then when the Bodhisattva ferried me into the monastic order, she said to protect the pilgrim on the journey to Western Heaven for sutras. Old Sun thought, going to Western Heaven, how hard could it be?
Who would have thought this Westward Journey road would have a demon at every step. Those using schemes, those attacking the heart, those with brute force, those using magic treasures, those with supernatural powers, those using formations… truly difficult! Difficult! Difficult!
Now we have encountered a Yellow Robe Monster who uses some unknown formation, truly formidable. He has captured Ba Jie and Sha Seng. Old Sun had no other choice but to come here.”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “Great Sage, do not be hasty. I will summon the Turtle and Snake Generals to go with you to defeat the enemy.”
Wukong said: “No need to trouble the Emperor. That demon’s formation is formidable, but his own abilities are mediocre. Old Sun thinks, just have the Third Prince go with me. Old Sun will lure the demon out to deploy the formation; the Third Prince hides in the shadows, and when the demon uses the formation, use the Heaven and Earth Ring to smash him, and it will be done.”
Nezha heard this, glanced at Wukong, and couldn’t help saying:
“I knew you’d call on me again. Might as well have me join the journey for sutras.”
Wukong said: “Great! That would be wonderful! I’ll speak to the Bodhisattva and recommend the Third Prince join the journey for sutras.”
Nezha adjusted his hair bun and said: “Forget it, I don’t want to be a monk.”
Wukong winked and said: “Come on, come on. Bear with it and come with Old Sun for this trip.”
The two then bid farewell to the Emperor and turned to ride clouds away.
Soon, they arrived at Bao Xiang Kingdom.
Wukong said: “Third Prince, you hide here first. Old Sun will go down to challenge the demon to battle.”
Nezha said: “Alright, you go!”
Wukong went down to challenge to battle, while Nezha concealed his form in the sky.
Wukong said: “Monster, come out quickly and face death!”
In the golden hall, Kui Mu Lang was pleading guilty before Ao Tu.
Because he had previously been negligent and let Sun Wukong escape.
At this moment, hearing Sun Wukong challenging to battle outside, Kui Mu Lang immediately said joyfully:
“Senior, that monkey has come again. This time this little god will surely capture him alive and present him to your service!”
Ao Tu heard this and said: “That monkey has returned, he must have some reliance, likely has brought helpers to subdue you. You must not be careless.”
Kui Mu Lang said: “Senior, rest assured!”
Kui Mu Lang adjusted his armor and walked out of the palace gate, shouting:
“Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, last time you escaped, why have you come to die again?”
Wukong said: “My boy, this time it’s different!”
Kui Mu Lang said: “Enough talk, behold the formation!”
Kui Mu Lang released the formation diagram, starlight descended, and in an instant enveloped Wukong.
Nezha watched from afar, only to see thirty-six beams of starlight suddenly drawn down from the sky, sealing the Zhou Tian number on the field, trapping Wukong inside.
Wukong was illuminated by the thirty-six beams of starlight, his body completely immobile.
Nezha thought in alarm: “What formation is this, that it can draw on the power of Zhou Tian Stars?”
Unable to discern the formation’s origin, Nezha revealed his form, took up the Heaven and Earth Ring, and hurled it at Kui Mu Lang.
The Heaven and Earth Ring broke through the air, instantly smashing onto Kui Mu Lang’s forehead, yet passed right through him. Kui Mu Lang’s body turned into a patch of starlight and dissipated on the spot.
Nezha’s expression changed, he hurriedly recalled the Heaven and Earth Ring to leave, but saw a large swath of starlight shining down, instantly drawing him into the formation.
Wukong said: “Third Prince, how did you get in too?”
Nezha glared at him angrily: “Monkey, what kind of things have you provoked?”
Wukong said: “Can you entirely blame Old Sun? Let’s first think how to get out.”
Nezha looked around, seeing thirty-six stars encircling them, beams of starlight striking at the two.
Wukong, while enduring the starlight, said:
“This formation is truly strange. Cannot escape up, down, left, or right. This starlight cannot be dodged or blocked, can only endure it.”
Nezha said: “Just now from outside, I saw this formation is deployed using the power of Zhou Tian Stars, with thirty-six star constellation powers. The ones before us are illusions. As long as the stars overhead remain, you cannot escape this formation.”
Wukong said: “Then what to do?”
Nezha said: “You and I wait a bit longer. When the demon relaxes his guard, I will catch him off guard and use the Hun Tian Ling to cover one star constellation in the exact south direction. At that moment, the formation will have a gap. Before he can repair the gap, quickly use Somersault Cloud to take me out.”
Wukong said: “Good!”
The two then endured in the formation for a while longer.
This formation should originally be controlled by thirty-six star generals together to exert maximum power. Now manipulated by Kui Mu Lang alone, it was quite taxing.
Nezha judged the time was right, pulled out the Hun Tian Ling, and covered one star constellation in the exact south direction. The great formation indeed showed a gap.
Kui Mu Lang saw it and hurriedly shifted stars to repair the gap.
Unfortunately, it was too late. Wukong grabbed Nezha and did one somersault out.
Kui Mu Lang shouted: “Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, if you have the skill, come back and fight me!”
Wukong naturally did not fall for his taunt and directly fled with Nezha.
On the way, Nezha said: “This demon deploys the formation using Zhou Tian Stars, no ordinary mortal realm demon. You and I should quickly report to Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, ask him to investigate Zhou Tian Xing Dou, see if any star constellation divine generals have descended to the mortal realm.”
Wukong said: “Quite right.”
The two arrived at South Heaven Gate, where Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Guan all saluted: “Great Sage, Third Prince, forgive our poor welcome!”
Wukong explained the reason and at the entrance to Lingxiao Hall, requested to see the Jade Emperor.
The four great celestial masters reported to the Emperor, then the decree came to summon them in.
The Jade Emperor saw Wukong and laughed: “Wukong, why have you come again?”
Wukong bowed deeply upward:
“Your Majesty, Old Sun is protecting Tang Sanzang to Western Heaven for sutras. That road to Western Heaven is truly difficult. Now arriving at Bao Xiang Kingdom in Western Ox Continent, again encountered a demon skilled in formations, who has captured my two junior brothers.
I sought the Third Prince’s help, but still could not break the demon’s great formation. Fortunately, the Third Prince discerned that the demon deploys the formation using Zhou Tian Xing Dou. Thus suspected to be a vicious star from heaven descended to the mortal realm. Please, Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, issue a decree to investigate. If truly a star constellation descended, please Your Majesty send troops to capture the demon.”
The Jade Emperor heard this and issued a decree:
“As presented by Wukong, proceed to investigate the heavenly stars. Divine Kings of each constellation, see if any have descended to the mortal realm with mortal thoughts. Report back immediately for action, to be heard.”
The divine official went to investigate. Wukong saw Taishang Lao Jun on the hall and stepped forward: “Old Official, long time no see.”
Taishang Lao Jun said: “Monkey, what do you want from me? No one from my palace has descended to the mortal realm.”
