Chapter 117: Encountering The Black Water River On The Road
However, Ao Tu unleashed a barrage of intimidating words, frightening the Imperial Envoy until his face drained of color. The Imperial Envoy repeatedly knelt and kowtowed, indicating he would certainly report to the King.
Ao Tu nodded, then prepared to leave.
Seeing that Ao Tu was about to leave, the Imperial Envoy hurriedly asked, “Dragon God, when will the great bridge be built?”
Ao Tu said, “It must wait for the Holy Monk from the Great Tang to arrive before it can be built.”
The Imperial Envoy said, “This… Dragon God, why must we wait for the monk from the Great Tang to arrive before building it?”
Ao Tu said, “This is a Heavenly Rule. You mortals should not ask too many questions.”
The Imperial Envoy dared not ask further and only said, “Dragon God, do you know when the monk from the Great Tang will arrive in our country?”
Ao Tu said, “There are still several months, at most no more than Half a Year.”
Hearing this, the Imperial Envoy breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Then this official will wait here for the monk from the Great Tang. Once they arrive, we can prepare to build the bridge.”
This was indeed the Imperial Envoy’s way of being an official.
If he returned directly to the Capital City at this time, the King would see that he had accomplished nothing and would surely be displeased. Not only would he have no merit, but he would also face punishment.
It was better to wait here for Half a Year. Once the monk from the Great Tang arrived and the great bridge began construction, he could still claim the merit that fell into his lap.
Ao Tu ignored the Imperial Envoy and returned directly to the River.
The Imperial Envoy stayed In the City near the Black Water River.
Not long after, news of the Dragon King’s appearance spread throughout the surroundings. Merchants flocked in, bribing officials and buying land on the Riverbank of the Black Water River at high prices, hoping to profit from it.
The ignorant Common People did not know the intricacies involved.
They only knew to work at sunrise and rest at sunset, unaware of the impact the bridge’s construction would have on them.
The Common People only saw merchants buying land at prices three or four times higher than market value, and they were immediately tempted. Many Common People chose to sell their land.
The merchants accepted all comers. The land bought at high prices now would yield profits many times over once the bridge was completed Half a Year later.
Unfortunately, for all their scheming, the merchants were no match for the royal family.
With a single decree, the King took all the land around the Black Water River as royal land. However, to avoid disrupting farming, the Common People were still allowed to cultivate it.
Ao Tu paid no attention to these matters and simply cultivated in the River every day, enjoying the service of Ming Niang and the White Bone Spirit.
In his leisure time, he taught some spells to the Tiger Vanguard, the White Bone Spirit, the Two Little Tigers, and the Two Little Wolves.
The things Ao Tu knew were still quite precious in the Outer World.
The Tiger Vanguard and the others made progress every day.
Ming Niang was very envious and begged Ao Tu to teach her as well.
Ao Tu said, “The spells I teach are Demonic Arts. Once learned, you will have Demonic Aura. If you learn my spells, you will not be able to ascend to the Heavenly Court. Have you thought it through?”
Hearing this, Ming Niang hesitated and no longer mentioned learning spells.
The White Bone Spirit naturally knew Ao Tu was scaring Ming Niang.
She had learned many spells, including some for Qi Refining and body refining, as well as transformation spells, all orthodox Daoist spells that pointed straight to the Great Dao. Where was there any Demonic Aura?
Not only was there no Demonic Aura, but after cultivating these spells, the Demonic Aura in her body had faded to the point of being almost undetectable. Her bones became increasingly lustrous, like immortal jade, far surpassing before.
The White Bone Spirit felt that even her aptitude had changed because of it.
The preciousness of these spells in the Outer World went without saying.
She felt that even if she ascended to the Heavenly Court and became an official of a few ranks, she might not be able to learn spells of this level.
However, though the White Bone Spirit knew this, she did not reveal it to Ming Niang.
This was the Great King’s test of the other. If she could not pass, it meant her fortune was insufficient, and she could not blame others.
The White Bone Spirit only regretted meeting the Great King too late.
If she had met the Great King earlier and offered herself directly under him, she would surely be even more…
Another few months passed.
Tang Sanzang and his disciples, after traveling through foreign lands and enduring much Hardship, arrived within the borders of the Huoluo Kingdom.
Upon reaching this country’s border, it was initially no different from other countries.
Crossing the Wilderness, they camped in the open; passing Villages, they sought lodging and begged for food.
When encountering tragic events, they recited Sutras and performed rites to send off the deceased, which counted as doing good deeds.
When encountering people in peril, they provided aid and saved lives, which earned a bit of Merit.
This day, the master and three disciples entered a Town.
Tang Sanzang saw several wealthy households in the Town and said:
“Disciples, look at those red brick and tile walls—they must belong to wealthy families. Let us go in, beg for a Vegetarian Meal, and ask for some scraps of cloth to mend our Clothes. How about it?”
Ba Jie laughed and said, “Good! Good! This old pig’s Clothes have been worn through by brushing past trees and rocks these days, always exposing flesh outside. Isn’t that improper?”
Wukong laughed and said, “Idiot, who told you to have such a large build? When brushing past thorny bushes, Old Sun clears the path and passes right through; Master rides his horse and can pass too. But you can’t get through and rub your Clothes against them.”
Ba Jie snorted discontentedly and said, “If I weren’t carrying the load, I could pass too!”
Tang Sanzang smiled and said, “Alright, your master will go knock on the door. All of you tidy up your appearances and don’t frighten the household.”
With that, Tang Sanzang went to knock on the door and called to open a household.
A servant in that household saw Tang Sanzang and asked:
“Monk, where are you from? What have you come for?”
Tang Sanzang said, “This poor monk comes from the Eastern Land Great Tang, a monk going to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek Sutras. Passing by your esteemed residence, I wish to beg for a Vegetarian Meal and some unwanted scraps of cloth to mend our Clothes.”
The servant, hearing this, said joyfully, “You are from the Great Tang?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Indeed.”
The servant hurriedly went inside to report the good news:
“Lord, the monk from the Great Tang has come—to our house!”
The lord of the mansion, hearing this, hurriedly came out to check. After confirming, he respectfully and courteously provided a Vegetarian Meal and reported to the Government Officials.
It turned out that the King of the Huoluo Kingdom had already posted notices throughout the country.
Once the monk from the Great Tang was discovered, he must not be neglected; he was to be quickly sent to the Capital City. Common People who found him would be rewarded with silver, and Officials with merit. Thus, Tang Sanzang had become a hot commodity.
This was still because Tang Sanzang and his disciples had just entered the Town, where few people were literate.
If they entered a City, they would likely be discovered as soon as they stepped through the gates.
Not long after, Officials from the government arrived.
Tang Sanzang, seeing this, said in alarm, “Sir, this poor monk has just arrived in your land and has not violated any laws. Could someone have transformed into my likeness to commit unlawful acts?”
The Official laughed upon hearing this and said, “Holy Monk, you worry too much. This official has come for a good matter. Please allow me to explain slowly.”
With that, the Official explained the matter of the Dragon King building the bridge to Tang Sanzang in detail.
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang said to Wukong behind the Official’s back:
“Wukong, this Dragon King insists on my presence before he will build the bridge. I’m afraid he is a Monster in disguise, intending to harm me!”
Wukong said, “Master, do not fear. In any case, we cannot avoid it. Let us go and see the truth first.”
Tang Sanzang nodded.
The master and disciples were then escorted by the Officials to the Capital City.
The King received Tang Sanzang and his disciples with great hospitality, held a grand Banquet, entertained them in the Imperial Palace for three days, stamped the Travel Pass with the Royal Seal, and then dispatched people to escort Tang Sanzang and his disciples to the Black Water River.
For the Huoluo Kingdom, this bridge was indeed extremely important. If not for the King’s advanced age and frailty, unable to withstand the journey, he would have gone along.
Tang Sanzang and his disciples were escorted all the way by Officials and their retinue to the Black Water River.
Along the way, they stayed in official posthouses, ate official provisions, with carriages and horses accompanying, and soon arrived in the area of the Black Water River.
