Chapter 104: Great Battle With Red Boy
Yet the Red Clad Fairy had suffered grievance.
The other six sisters discussed reporting to the Queen Mother to avenge their eldest sister.
The Red Clad Fairy took the initiative to obstruct them, not allowing everyone to report, saying, “I am also at fault.”
The fairies, upon hearing this, sensed something was off.
The Green Clad Fairy said, “Eldest sister, he bullied you. What fault do you have?”
The Red Clad Fairy said, “He changed his appearance. I saw him as a scattered immortal and thought he was someone seeking to attach to power, so I looked down on him. Only later, when I saw his true form, did I realize…”
“Realize what?”
The Purple-clothed Fairy asked.
The Red Clad Fairy lowered her head and said nothing.
The Green Clad Fairy said, “Since you, eldest sister, were at fault, why are you aggrieved? Your eyes are red.”
The Red Clad Fairy aggrievedly said, “He saw me as a greedy person. Am I not allowed to feel aggrieved?”
The Green Clad Fairy, upon hearing this, tsked and said:
“Let’s go, let’s go, sisters. Time to work.”
The Purple-clothed Fairy said, “Ah, but what about eldest sister?”
The Green Clad Fairy said, “Ignore her. She has eaten the ‘joy fruit’!”
The Purple-clothed Fairy said, “What is joy fruit?”
The Green Clad Fairy pointed at her and said, “Why do you ask about everything? Go work!”
Ao Tu descended from Heaven and returned to the Black Water River.
This trip had taken about two months, and the Black Water River God Mansion had been reoccupied by the Black Water River God, that is, Ming Niang’s father.
Ao Tu arrived at the god mansion and kicked open the gate with one foot.
The Black Water River God, seeing this, hurriedly ordered, “Quick, quick, resist the demon!”
Soldiers from the water mansion rushed out.
Ao Tu formed a hand seal and chanted, “Freeze!”
All the shrimp soldiers and crab generals were frozen in place.
The Black Water River God was greatly startled and pushed the water outward to flee.
Ming Niang heard the noise and came out. Seeing it was Ao Tu, she hurriedly knelt obediently to the side.
Ao Tu ignored Ming Niang and watched the old river god. After he fled dozens of miles, Ao Tu formed a hand seal and chanted the Spirit Binding Incantation, instantly binding him and bringing him back.
The Black Water River God was scared pale and hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, “High Immortal, spare my life! High Immortal, spare my life!”
Ao Tu looked at the father and daughter and said:
“This King has no intention of harming you. As long as you cooperate obediently, in less than a year or half a year, the god mansion will naturally be returned, and there will be great merit in assisting the pilgrims as compensation. Just don’t be ungrateful. Understand?”
The Black Water River God tremblingly said, “This old one understands.”
Ming Niang knelt and said, “This lowly maid doesn’t want any great merit. I only seek to serve at Great King’s side. That would be enough for this life.”
Ao Tu laughed, “You don’t want great merit? You want more. I don’t lack people to serve me. Go down!”
Ming Niang, upon hearing this, had eyes full of resentment but could only withdraw.
Ao Tu sat on the river god throne and summoned the Black Water River God, asking:
“Old river god, This King sees that there are people on both banks of your river. Why are there no ferries in the river?”
The Black Water River God said, “Great King, though the Black Water River is a small river, it is sixty miles wide. The people on both banks are smallfolk unable to build large ships, and small boats cannot cross, so there is no ferrying.”
Ao Tu said, “Is there anyone building a bridge?”
The Black Water River God said, “Great King jests. How could a bridge be built across a sixty-mile river?”
Ao Tu said, “Build a bridge to allow passage between the banks, exchange goods, that would be great merit. Thus, go dream to the common people on the shore, say that soon a divine monk will pass by and build a great bridge over the Black Water River.”
The Black Water River God said forlornly, “This… Great King, could someone else go dream to them?”
Ao Tu said, “If you don’t go, I’ll flip your carapace.”
The Black Water River God nodded like pounding garlic and hurriedly said, “Yes, this old one will go dream now.”
On the other side, Drill Mountain.
Red Boy selected a treasure land in the mountain for Ao Tu, located in the center of the six hundred mile Drill Mountain, three hundred miles front and back, a slanting towering peak. Ao Tu named it Broken Arm Peak, and built a cave mansion in the mountain, named Blood Sea Cave.
Red Boy asked, “Great King, why name this mountain Broken Arm Mountain?”
Ao Tu said, “Anyone who dares enter this mountain shall first lose an arm, hence Broken Arm Mountain.”
Red Boy said, “Then Blood Sea Cave must mean that those who dare enter Great King’s cave mansion shall experience a mountain of corpses and sea of blood!”
Ao Tu said, “No, Blood Sea Cave was named casually by me. It has no meaning.”
Red Boy was speechless for a moment.
In the following time, Ao Tu resided in Blood Sea Cave. With only Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Spirit as his two subordinates, life was somewhat inconvenient.
Fortunately, Ao Tu still had Red Boy to command.
Ao Tu treated Red Boy like a filial son, calling him to do everything.
“Red Boy, go hunt for This King.”
“Red Boy, go stoke fire for This King.”
“Red Boy, go fix the door for This King.”
“Red Boy, come massage This King’s legs.”
“Red Boy, it’s cold. Go fetch two quilts for This King.”
“Red Boy, don’t hunt deer today. Catch some flying fowl for This King to make soup…”
Red Boy naturally did not want to be commanded like this forever.
One day, Red Boy said, “Great King, how about I assign half the little demons in the cave to serve you?”
Ao Tu said, “No! No! Red Boy, how could those little demons serve as attentively as you?”
Red Boy said again, “Great King, how about I bind the mountain god and earth god on the mountain to serve you?”
Ao Tu reached out and smacked Red Boy on the head, saying, “Red Boy, how have I taught you daily? How can you use supernatural power to bully others at will?”
Red Boy clutched his head and said, “Great King, you never said that daily!”
Ao Tu said, “Though I haven’t said it directly daily, I have taught by word and example. Look, I never casually command those little demons. Isn’t that teaching you?”
Red Boy was furious. He secretly swore in his heart, “Once I learn Sun Wukong’s supernatural power cultivation method, I will surely avenge this!”
On Ao Tu’s side, commanding Red Boy, he had food when he wanted to eat and drink when he wanted. About half a year passed.
Tiger Vanguard reported, “Great King, Tang Sanzang and his disciples are coming from the main road!”
Ao Tu, upon hearing this, patted Red Boy who was massaging his legs beside him and said:
“Red Boy, Tang Sanzang and his disciples have arrived. Don’t stay here anymore. Go quickly devise a plan to gain their trust and obtain the cultivation method.”
Red Boy was overjoyed upon hearing this.
Half a year had passed, and he finally saw the clouds part to reveal the moon, bitterness turning to sweetness!
Red Boy said, “Great King, I’m off!”
Ao Tu said, “Wait!”
Red Boy stood still and said, “Great King, what is it?”
Ao Tu said, “Red Boy, do not rebel against me, or don’t blame me for ruthless methods.”
Red Boy hurriedly said, “Great King, Red Boy is loyal to Great King. How could I rebel?”
Ao Tu said, “During this time serving me, do you have any resentment in your heart?”
Red Boy said, “Great King, I admire Great King the most. Serving Great King brings only joy. Where is the resentment?”
Ao Tu nodded and said, “Good! Good! Go! After success, This Great King will heavily reward you and grant you divine power and wondrous methods!”
Red Boy thought to himself upon hearing this:
Have me obtain the divine power, then grant it to me, and make me grateful?
This old demon has a clever plan. Utterly vile! Apart from those three wicked demons at Lion Camel Ridge, this old demon is the worst!
Red Boy cursed Ao Tu in his heart but pretended gratitude on the surface and said:
“Great King, rest assured. Red Boy will surely obtain the divine power and offer it to Great King.”
Ao Tu nodded and said, “Go.”
Red Boy cupped hands and bid farewell, exited Blood Sea Cave, and felt the outside air refreshingly free.
Suppressing his inner joy, Red Boy turned into a red cloud, flew in the air, and gazed afar at Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
He saw Tang Sanzang and his disciples on the main road outside the mountain, heading toward Drill Mountain.
Red Boy had learned from Ao Tu that Sun Wukong’s abilities were extremely strong, so he didn’t dare approach closely, fearing discovery by Sun Wukong. He only glanced from afar to confirm Tang Sanzang and his disciples’ tracks. Then he descended the cloud and landed in the woods ahead of Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
Red Boy removed his battle skirt, took on the appearance of a child, bound himself hogtied, and hung naked from a tree.
At that time, Tang Sanzang and his disciples approached Drill Mountain.
It was now the end of autumn, beginning of winter.
The surrounding scenery was:
Frost withered the red-leaved woods, slim and sparse; rain-ripened yellow millet filled the fields.
Sun warmed the ridge plums blooming in dawn colors; wind shook the mountain bamboo with chilly sounds.
Tang Sanzang arrived at the six hundred mile Drill Mountain and saw another stretch of endless mountains, continuously extending, unknown how far; peaks stood amid mountains, everywhere touching the sky, unknown how high.
Tang Sanzang said, “Disciples, we have traveled half a year on flat roads. Even in desolate places, there were three or four households; even in steep places, no more than five or six miles of mountain path.
Today you see this mountain range, unknown how many hundreds of miles front and back. Deep mountains and evil woods, no human traces. I fear there is something ominous in the mountains. We must be careful and vigilant.”
Ba Jie said, “Master, in old pig’s view, how about we detour?”
Wukong said, “Idiot, this is unknown hundreds of miles wide. How long to detour? Master, don’t fear. I’ll protect you. Just walk.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Wukong is right. Ba Jie, don’t panic. Master just asks you to be careful. Let’s go.”
The master and three disciples entered the deep mountains.
Wukong cleared the path ahead, parting the thorny trees and shrubs.
Ba Jie shouldered the luggage.
Sha Seng led the horses.
The four walked carefully when suddenly they heard someone ahead shouting, “Save life! Save life!”
Tang Sanzang said, “Wukong, someone is calling for help.”
Wukong said, “Master, in these barren mountains and wild ridges, where are there people? It must be a monster!”
Tang Sanzang said, “Master knows it’s likely a monster again, but what if someone is truly in peril? Better to go see.”
Ba Jie said, “Master, you are too compassionate. If it were old pig, human or monster, I’d just walk my road.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Ba Jie, monks embrace compassion. How can we see death and not save? Wukong, stay by Master’s side, don’t go far. Let’s go see.”
Wukong said, “Good, Master, this way.”
The master and three disciples followed the sound.
Arriving at the place, they saw a child, about six or seven years old, quite cute, naked and tied hogtied hanging from a tree.
Wukong saw at a glance it was a monster and was about to say to protect Master when the child spoke:
“Uncle Sun! Uncle Sun! Come save me quick!”
Wukong was stunned and said, “Whose child are you? Who are you calling uncle?”
Red Boy said, “Uncle Sun, I’m Red Boy. My home is Green Cloud Mountain. My father is your sworn brother. Back then you seven great sages swore brotherhood. Don’t you remember?”
Wukong, upon hearing, was about to step forward.
Tang Sanzang was startled and hurriedly pulled Wukong, saying:
“Wukong, don’t go. This is a monster!”
