Chapter 35: Four Saints Test The Heart Of Zen
Now speaking of the four saints coming to capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
Ba Jie and Sha Wujing were weak in strength, and after fighting more than a dozen rounds with Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas, they were each subdued by the two bodhisattvas using magic.
Only Wukong fought fiercely with Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Sun Wukong’s martial arts were unmatched in the Three Realms, and without using magic treasures or supernatural powers, even a great magic power holder like Guanyin Bodhisattva would find it hard to win.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was able to slightly suppress Sun Wukong at first, but once Sun Wukong became familiar with her moves, signs of defeat began to appear.
Guanyin Bodhisattva also did not dare to strike with full force, fearing damage to the divine weapon in her hand and ruin to her family assets, thus she retreated step by step.
No, how would I ruin his family assets?
That evil beast!
Guanyin Bodhisattva reacted, her phoenix eyes narrowing, and her moves began to fully display her skills.
One Mysterious Gold Iron Rod Spear, wielded as follows:
Leaning and sweeping like shooting the moon at the edge of the sky, the clanging sound carrying on the sea wind.
Forming a golden thread piercing flower phoenix, like silver stars descending from the full sky.
Ao Tu watched from afar, seeing her body twist and maneuver, fighting Sun Wukong on equal terms in a short time, and was surprised in his heart that this bodhisattva actually had some martial arts skills.
That woman walked to Ao Tu’s side at some point and said:
“How is it, good son-in-law, is my daughter a good match for you?”
Ao Tu said: “Mother-in-law, I am an honest man, I do not talk about matching or not. For a couple to live long-term, they must support each other.”
That woman laughed: “Good, good, still a son-in-law who likes to live long days!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva fought Sun Wukong for more than twenty rounds, gradually weakening in strength and insufficient in stamina, falling into a disadvantage.
Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas saw this and came to assist, the three joining forces to fight Sun Wukong.
That Sun Wukong was indeed worthy of being the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, growing stronger against the strong, using three heads and six arms, wielding the iron rod so densely that no wind could pass through, still fearless even against the three bodhisattvas teaming up.
That woman said: “Son-in-law, that Sun Wukong is formidable, quickly make a move to help my daughters!”
Ao Tu said: “Very well, I will go assist.”
Sun Wukong heard this and knew Ao Tu was powerful, so he hurriedly withdrew with a somersault cloud and left.
Ao Tu then captured Tang Sanzang, Ba Jie, Sha Wujing, and the White Horse together and took them back, not mentioned further.
After Sun Wukong escaped, he transformed into a magpie, following Ao Tu’s trail, flying to the mansion in the mountains, landing on the flying eaves and upturned corners, quietly listening to the movements inside the house.
Inside the house, that woman said:
“Good son-in-law, now that Tang Sanzang has been captured, quickly prepare to marry my little daughter! Listen, the magpies outside are calling!”
Ao Tu said: “Mother-in-law, we still cannot marry.”
That woman said: “Why, has not Tang Sanzang already been captured?”
Ao Tu said: “Although Tang Sanzang has been captured, Sun Wukong has escaped. We want to eat his master, how could he let it rest? I fear he will invite reinforcements and come to our door, then the wedding will turn into a funeral, and that would not be good.”
That woman said: “Then according to you?”
Ao Tu said: “We must still capture Sun Wukong to safely eat this Tang Sanzang’s flesh!”
Sun Wukong outside the house heard this and thought to himself that this demon dragon did not know from where he found this family of female demons, blocking their master and disciples from going west.
Moreover, these few female demons were all very powerful, enveloped in auspicious light, their origins unseeable, and unknown from which divine mountain they came down. He alone could not fight them.
Fortunately, the master was temporarily not in danger, so Sun Wukong mounted a cloud and went to the South Sea.
In no time, he saw Mount Luojia, lowered his cloud head, and went straight to Potalaka Cliff, where the twenty-four lords of heaven and the Mountain Guardian Great God greeted him with salute: “Great Sage, where do you come from?”
Wukong said: “I have matters to see the Bodhisattva.”
The gods said: “The Bodhisattva has gone out and is not at home.”
Wukong said: “When will she return?”
The gods said: “We do not know.”
Wukong had no choice but to leave the South Sea, somersaulted up to the South Heaven Gate.
King Virupaksha saw Wukong and said: “Great Sage, you have come again!”
Wukong said: “Difficult, difficult, encountered powerful demons again, trouble to report, please have the Jade Emperor send soldiers to subdue demons.”
Thus he reported to the Jade Emperor and led Wukong to the Lingxiao Hall.
Wukong gave a grand salute and said:
“Old Official, troubling you! Troubling you! Old Sun is protecting Tang Sanzang to the Western Heaven for sutras, now encountered four female demons, do not know their origins. My master and two junior brothers have fallen into enemy hands. That female demon is marrying the demon dragon Ao Tu who escaped last time, wanting to eat my master. I truly cannot bind these demons, thus specially come to report, begging the Heavenly Venerable to show mercy and send soldiers down to the mortal realm to subdue demons.”
The Jade Emperor heard the report and immediately sent Li Tianwang and Nezha the Third Prince to lead heavenly soldiers down to the mortal realm, following Wukong to subdue demons.
Soon they arrived at that mountain, seeing palaces and courtyards among the cliffs, not like a monster’s cave mansion, but rather like an immortal family’s dwelling.
Li Tianwang felt it somewhat strange and asked Wukong if they had come to the wrong place.
Wukong said: “No mistake. Heavenly King, you do not know, the more such a dwelling, the more ferocious the demons inside!”
Li Tianwang puzzled said: “Why is that?”
Wukong said: “If it were ordinary mountain monsters who became spirits, Old Sun could beat them dead with a few staff strikes. Only such demons are hard to deal with, with many tricks, needing you all to make a move.”
Li Tianwang nodded, then ordered Nezha to be the vanguard and go call for battle.
Nezha flew to the mountains and shouted: “Wicked demons, come out quickly to meet your death!”
Inside, Ao Tu heard and said to that woman:
“Mother-in-law, that monkey really brought people to attack, wait for me to go out and meet the battle!”
That woman said: “Son-in-law, be careful, my daughters are still waiting for you to marry!”
Ao Tu flew out and saw a boy servant, with refined bones and features both masculine and feminine, holding the Demon Slaying Sword and Heaven and Earth Ring, draped in the Hun Tian Ling, standing on Wind Fire Wheels. There is a saying that though small in body his voice is loud and magnificent, it is precisely the ferocious Nezha, protector of the three heavens.
Ao Tu said: “Little child, This King is recently getting married and just needs a boy servant to press the bed for good luck. Come with me, I will give you red envelopes and wedding cakes to eat!”
Nezha shouted: “Demon dragon! Do not put on airs, do you not recognize me? I am Nezha the Third Prince under the Pagoda-bearing Heavenly King. Last time at Yellow Wind Ridge you escaped, today I will surely capture you!”
Ao Tu said: “Little Nezha, big words without shame, take claw!”
Ao Tu’s Dragon Claw struck out, drawing five streaks of golden light in the air.
Nezha held the sword in one hand and the Heaven and Earth Ring in the other, fighting a great battle with Ao Tu.
Ao Tu did not use magic treasures either, after twenty rounds, pretended to be no match, and was kicked on the shoulder by Nezha’s bare foot, flying backward.
Ao Tu clutching his shoulder said: “Little Nezha, do not be rampant, wait for me to call someone to subdue you!”
Nezha said: “Demon dragon, do not flee!”
Ao Tu turned and transformed into a streak of golden light, escaping back to the manor.
Shouting: “Mother-in-law, bad, this wedding cannot be held!”
That woman was with her three daughters, seeing Ao Tu wounded and fleeing back, asked: “Dear son-in-law, how can the wedding not be held?”
Ao Tu said:
“Mother-in-law does not know, that monkey invited the Great God of the Three Altars Nezha. That Nezha is very powerful, with seven or eight magic treasures and weapons protecting his body. I am not his opponent, did not even have time to use my magic treasures and was wounded. I think we should each flee for our lives!”
That woman hearing this said: “Do not panic, my three daughters all have magic power and can help you capture that Nezha the Third Prince.”
Zhen Zhen, Ai Ai, Lian Lian hearing this, looked at each other and said: “This…”
That woman said: “Daughters, if you are unwilling to help, this wedding cannot be held.”
Ao Tu said: “That Nezha is extremely powerful, I think we should not force it, let us each flee!”
