Chapter 39: Wuzhuang Temple Retains Friends
However, Ao Tu learned from that woman’s mouth that this place was White Tiger Ridge.
He began to ponder in his heart.
He asked the woman, “What is your name, who else is in your family, and why are you going up the mountain alone?”
The woman said, “In response to Dragon God Sir, this little woman is named Qiao Er. My parents are both at home and already advanced in age. We wanted to find a son-in-law, but these years demons have been causing trouble in the mountains, nearby families have all left, and we can’t find a son-in-law.
My parents are advanced in age and can’t travel far, so this little woman serves them alone, planting some light crops in the fields, plus going up the mountain every day to gather wild vegetables and mushrooms to get by.”
Ao Tu said, “May I go to your home to have a look?”
Qiao Er said, “If Dragon God Sir wishes to go, it is a great fortune, only…”
Ao Tu said, “Only what?”
Qiao Er said, “Only your follower has too fierce an appearance. My parents are advanced in age and may not withstand the fright.”
Hearing this, Ao Tu blew a breath and cast a Transformation Spell, turning Tiger Vanguard into a finely dressed hunter, while hiding his own dragon horn and golden scales, and said, “Let’s go.”
Qiao Er complied, leading Ao Tu and Tiger Vanguard back home.
From afar, they saw a thatched hut, and Qiao Er said that was her home.
As she spoke, a gust of demonic wind blew from the horizon, black mist billowing, flipping over the thatched hut, and rolling out two people from inside. One old man, one old woman, both around sixty or seventy years old, caught in the wind, faces full of terror, shouting save life.
“Dad! Mom!”
Qiao Er panicked and hurried to chase, but how could she catch up? She fell instead, cutting a big gash on her fair wrist.
Seeing this, Qiao Er ignored the pain and hurried back to kneel before Ao Tu, pleading, “Dragon God Sir, please save my parents. As long as you can rescue them, this little woman is willing to be your ox and horse for life.”
Ao Tu helped Qiao Er up and said, “No need to be my ox and horse, just accompany me in acting a play for a few days.”
Qiao Er was puzzled: “Act a play?”
Ao Tu took Qiao Er’s wrist, blew a breath, and the large bloody gash disappeared, her wrist restored perfectly as before.
Ao Tu said, “Wait here, I’ll chase that demon and rescue your parents. After that, you must cooperate with me in acting: I’ll propose marriage to you, and you must agree.”
Hearing this, Qiao Er’s face immediately flushed red, she lowered her head without speaking, then stole a glance at Ao Tu, seeing he was handsome, her heart filled with even more shyness and joy.
Ao Tu said, “Don’t worry, it’s just acting, it won’t ruin your chastity.”
Qiao Er agreed, thanking him repeatedly, even hoping in her heart for treating a play as reality.
Ao Tu rode a cloud and chased after that demon.
That demon flew to a cave called White Bone Cave, rolled Qiao Er’s parents into the cave, dazed the two, and was about to eat them.
Ao Tu followed behind, summoned the Dragon-Binding Rope, and in moments bound that demon, revealing its true form: a White Bone Spirit, bones white as jade, clearly having cultivated for a very long time.
That demon saw itself bound by the Dragon-Binding Rope in the blink of an eye, unable to mobilize its magic power, body unable to move a step, knowing it had encountered an expert, and hurriedly said:
“This servant does not know how she offended High Immortal, please High Immortal forgive me!”
Ao Tu said, “What is your name, what kind of monster are you?”
That demon said, “This servant is called White Bone Lady, bones of women who died unjustly in these mountains turned into spirit. I had no intent to offend High Immortal, please High Immortal spare this servant’s life.”
Ao Tu said, “I’m no High Immortal, but like you, a monster, with the title Spirit Mountain Great King. I usually like eating monks the most. Soon some monks from the Eastern Land will pass by here. If you’re willing to capture them for me, I’ll spare you.”
White Bone Lady hurriedly said, “Willing, willing, this servant is willing to attach myself to Great King, to be your vanguard and rearguard.”
Hearing this, Ao Tu withdrew the Dragon-Binding Rope.
After White Bone Lady came out of the Dragon-Binding Rope, her magic power recovered, and she transformed into her original appearance, which was extremely beautiful.
Ice skin hides jade bones, collar reveals creamy chest.
Green sleeves enfold slender fingers, Xiang skirt trails red steps.
Powder cheeks condense morning dew, moth brows furrow smoke green.
Golden Lotus hides jade feet, seductive in spring colors.
Ao Tu said, “You skeleton spirit, why transform into beauty before me, sell what flirtation?”
White Bone Lady said aggrievedly, “Great King, this is this servant’s original appearance, how dare I flaunt before Great King? If Great King dislikes it, this servant can become uglier.”
Ao Tu said, “It was I who misunderstood you, no blame. I want to take these two people away. In the future, obey my commands and act, no creating trouble at will.”
White Bone Lady knelt and obeyed orders.
Ao Tu then took Qiao Er’s parents out and rode cloud back.
Qiao Er was waiting eagerly on the spot, and seeing Ao Tu return, her face immediately showed joy.
Ao Tu set her parents down, blew a breath of dragon qi, and the two immediately woke up, looking at them in bewilderment.
Seeing Qiao Er, they hurriedly asked, “Daughter, weren’t we captured by a monster? How are we here? Who are this young master and this strong man?”
Ao Tu said, “You two elders get up first, no need to panic. I am called Dragon Tu, a young master from Bao Xiang Kingdom not far from here. This strong man is my follower.
Because my family fell on hard times, to avoid enemies, I came here and luckily met Qiao Er girl, who gave me food. Just now I saw that demon roll you two elders away, so I brought my follower, chased to the demon cave, and rescued you.”
The two elders, hearing this, were deeply grateful and hurriedly invited Ao Tu and the other to return home to thank them.
But upon arriving home, the thatched hut had been flipped by demonic wind, the home in ruins.
The two elders couldn’t help but shed tears. They two were advanced in age and powerless, Qiao Er a weak woman, when could they repair this ruined house? In the future, not even a place to shield from wind and rain.
Ao Tu said, “Old man, no need to worry, watch me repair this house!”
Ao Tu and Tiger Vanguard went up the mountain to fell wood, raised the collapsed pillars of the thatched hut, joined new wood where broken, Qiao Er and her parents gathered the scattered thatch. In less than an hour, the thatched hut was restored as before.
The two elders marveled at Ao Tu’s strength, thanked him profusely, and hurriedly invited Ao Tu into the hut, had Qiao Er cook good rice, and brought out family savings to thank him.
Ao Tu refused, saying only that he wanted to stay here for some days.
The two elders gladly agreed. With no bed at home, they gave their own bed to Ao Tu and his follower to rest.
Ao Tu rested one night. The next day, he and Tiger Vanguard built another wooden house beside the elders’ thatched hut. In the following days, they hunted in the mountains, caught meat, and shared meals with Qiao Er’s family.
In a few days, Qiao Er’s family life improved under Ao Tu’s help.
Qiao Er’s parents, seeing this, planned to betroth Qiao Er to Ao Tu.
Qiao Er was naturally willing in her heart, but didn’t dare decide on her own, so she found an opportunity to ask Ao Tu.
Ao Tu said, “Not yet time. When the moment comes, I will propose marriage to your family myself, and you must cooperate well.”
Hearing this, Qiao Er hurriedly agreed.
Her powder face held spring, heart full of anticipation.
After a few more days like this, Ao Tu had arranged things here almost done. He estimated Tang Sanzang and his disciples were nearly at Wuzhuang Temple, so using the excuse of going in the city to inquire family news, he left with Tiger Vanguard.
He rode cloud to Wuzhuang Temple, looked from the air, Tang Sanzang and his disciples still had a few days to arrive. Ao Tu descended the cloud and transformed into a Taoist priest appearance.
