Chapter 61: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
It is said that Ao Tu used the Dragon Pearl to capture the souls of the ministers and usurped the throne of the King of Bao Xiang Kingdom.
The civil and military officials in the court obeyed his every command, but officials outside the court and members of the royal family were not affected.
Ao Tu paid no mind to this and simply held banquets daily, entertaining Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
Bajie ate heartily, feasting for several days in a row.
Sha Wujing said, “Second Senior Brother, didn’t you say you were going to rescue the princess?”
Bajie, holding a roasted fruit, replied, “Your Majesty is not in a hurry, why are you? I, Old Zhu, have been traveling and sleeping outdoors for so many days, it’s time to eat more for a few days and regain my strength.”
Ao Tu said, “Elder Zhu speaks wisely. After I entertain you for a few more days, firstly, to thank the elders for helping me restore the kingdom; secondly, to allow Elder Zhu to recuperate. I will also order artisans to forge two sets of excellent armor as assistance for the two elders.”
Bajie was very pleased to hear this and bowed to express his gratitude.
Tang Sanzang actually wanted to continue his westward journey earlier, but faced with the king’s order, he could not refuse and could only express his thanks.
With the identity of the King of Bao Xiang Kingdom, Ao Tu found it very easy to delay time.
Every day, he would either host banquets for Tang Sanzang and his disciples, invite them to admire the imperial gardens, or engage in preaching the Dharma with Tang Sanzang.
In the blink of an eye, another half a month had passed.
Tang Sanzang became anxious and went to find Ao Tu, asking when they would depart to rescue the princess. The sooner the princess was rescued, the sooner his disciples and he could continue their journey.
Ao Tu said, “Don’t be anxious, the armor has already been forged.”
Tang Sanzang joyfully said, “That’s good. I’ll go call my two disciples now. Let them depart as soon as possible, defeat that monster, and rescue the princess.”
Just then, with a soft chime of a bell, Tang Sanzang fell to the ground.
“Oh no, Master’s head wind sickness has recurred!”
“Quick, summon the imperial physician!”
Tang Sanzang lay on the bed, looking weak, holding his forehead.
For some reason, his headache was becoming more severe.
Bajie and Sha Wujing attended to him.
Thus, another half a month passed, and Tang Sanzang’s condition completely recovered.
This time, Ao Tu no longer delayed, saying, “The armor is complete, and I have prepared two cups of vegetarian wine to help the two elders achieve victory!”
Guards presented two sets of excellent armor, and palace maids brought out two cups of vegetarian wine.
Bajie drank the vegetarian wine, put on the armor, and ascended to the clouds.
Sha Wujing also followed Bajie, firstly to support Bajie, and secondly, if Bajie could not defeat the enemy, he could offer assistance.
The two of them, riding the clouds, arrived at the Yellow Robe Monster’s precious pagoda shortly.
They descended from the clouds and reached the entrance.
They saw a white jade stone tablet placed horizontally above the door, inscribed with six large characters:
“Bowl Mountain, Moon-Washing Cave.”
Bajie raised his pitchfork and stepped forward, shouting loudly, “Open the door! Open the door!”
A little demon guarding the cave opened the door. Upon seeing their appearance, they cried out in alarm, “What kind of monsters are you, to dare attack our home!”
This was because the two of them were wearing armor and had changed out of their monk robes. Their faces were fierce, truly indistinguishable from demon kings.
Bajie angrily retorted, “I am Marshal Tian Peng, who has descended to the mortal realm to protect the Great Tang’s Monk Sanzang on his journey to the Western Heaven. You ignorant little demon, how dare you mistake me, Old Zhu, for a monster? Taste my pitchfork!”
Bajie wielded his pitchfork and struck the gate of Moon-Washing Cave with all his might, creating a large hole in the stone door.
The little demon, frightened, quickly retreated inside to report:
“Great King! Bad news! Two monsters have arrived outside, one with a long snout and big ears, the other with a gloomy face, claiming to be monks on a scripture-seeking journey, and they’ve broken down the main gate!”
Kui Mu Lang heard this and remembered what Ao Tu had instructed him earlier. He thought to himself:
“Could these be the two people Senior mentioned?”
He shouted, “Bring my armor!”
The little demon brought the armor. Kui Mu Lang put on his armor, gripped his saber, and walked out the door.
Bajie and Sha Wujing waited at the entrance.
Kui Mu Lang emerged from the door and saw two demons, their appearances ferocious.
You ask what they looked like:
One was:
With a curled lotus mouth and ears like cattail fans, displaying golden eyes.
His sharp fangs were like steel files, and his open mouth resembled a fire basin.
Wearing a golden helmet and scale armor, with a Plum Blossom Pitchfork in hand, displaying a dragon’s form.
His roar made mountain gods tremble, and his imposing movements terrified evil spirits.
One was:
His malevolent aura reached the heavens like a demonic form, his angry, round eyes shone like lamps.
His face was neither black nor green, but blue-indigo, his voice like thunder or drums, like an ancient dragon’s roar.
His sinewy body and iron bones stood firm, supporting the sky, his bloody maw swallowed wind and rolled up waves of brine.
Clad in dark armor, his fierce countenance was evident, and he held a treasure staff, appearing imposing.
Kui Mu Lang came out with his saber. Although he possessed a fierce demeanor, it was not as powerful as that of the two, and thus his aura was somewhat weaker. He asked:
“What kind of monsters are you, to dare to harass me at my doorstep?”
Bajie replied, “You abducted the Third Princess of Bao Xiang Kingdom into your cave, and by force, you have occupied her as your wife for thirteen years. I am acting under the King’s orders, specifically to capture you. Surrender yourself with your hands bound and send the princess out, saving me the trouble of using my pitchfork to break in!”
Kui Mu Lang heard this, looked at Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, and thought to himself, “There is no doubt, these must be the two people Senior mentioned.”
The appearances of these two are easily recognizable. The one with the long nose and big ears, judging by his appearance, is clearly an old pig spirit, and must be that one surnamed Zhu; the one with the gloomy face behind him is that one surnamed Sha.
Senior had instructed that the one surnamed Zhu should be let go, and the one surnamed Sha should be captured.
Kui Mu Lang raised his saber, widened his round eyes, and swung down from above.
Bajie dodged to the side and met the attack with his pitchfork.
Kui Mu Lang blocked with his saber.
One was a divine saber descended from a celestial constellation:
Its rise was like a falling star crushing the moon, its strike could dissipate the immortal body and divine bones.
The other was a pitchfork forged in the Eight Trigrams furnace:
Its raised form emitted fierce flames and radiant light, its strike would cause souls to vanish and divine essence to dissipate!
When the two collided, divine light erupted, and the sound of metal clashing echoed for a hundred li.
Bajie’s strength was immense, his movements broad and powerful, his pitchfork swung creating wind on the ground.
Kui Mu Lang, a celestial being descended, held a divine position and possessed divine strength, making him even more formidable than Bajie.
After their initial exchange, Kui Mu Lang knew that Bajie’s martial arts were inferior to his. Although Bajie had great strength, his moves were clumsy. However, his pitchfork possessed some power, requiring caution.
After fighting for eight or nine rounds, Bajie began to tire. Sha Wujing, seeing this, raised his treasure staff and joined the attack.
The two attacked together, but Kui Mu Lang showed no fear. Within him was an Exquisite Inner Elixir cultivated over many years. With the Inner Elixir in his body, his divine essence was abundant, leaving him with no weaknesses.
The battle raged back and forth. Sha Wujing dropped his treasure staff, and Kui Mu Lang parried the divine weapon. Bajie’s fierce assault was completely deflected by Kui Mu Lang’s techniques. The steel saber struck back with increasing ferocity, and Bajie and Sha Wujing gradually began to falter.
After fifty rounds, Bajie’s hands grew weak and his strength waned. Seeing that he could not defeat Kui Mu Lang, and that if they continued fighting, both of them would surely be captured, he said:
“Sha Wujing, you go forward and fight him. Old Zhu needs to relieve himself.”
Bajie said this and, ignoring Sha Wujing, disappeared into the weeds, brambles, and vines, vanishing in an instant.
Kui Mu Lang saw Bajie leave and, remembering Ao Tu’s instructions, did not pursue him, but instead attacked Sha Wujing.
Sha Wujing was caught off guard and was grabbed by Kui Mu Lang, who dragged him into the cave.
At that time, the progress in Ao Tu’s system was one hundred and twelve days.
When Ao Tu was at White Tiger Ridge, there was an additional forty-six days of progress. Afterwards, on the road from Black Pine Forest to Bao Xiang Kingdom, he delayed for over a month, and in the palace, he delayed for another month. In total, by today, it had been exactly one hundred and twelve days.
There were still two months and eight days remaining until the half-year progress reward.
