Chapter 19: Winds Rise At Dusk
Yet Wukong rode the cloud to the Eastern Ocean Sea.
He cast a water-closing spell and went straight into the Eastern Ocean seabed.
The patrolling Yaksas saw him and recognized him as Sun Wukong, so they hurried back to the Crystal Palace to report.
East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang heard this and led his dragon sons, dragon grandsons, shrimp soldiers, and crab troops out together to welcome him.
They received him into the palace and sat down, then Wukong said: “No need for formalities. Old Sun has a favor to ask.”
Ao Guang said: “Great Sage, just give your orders. Little Dragon will certainly handle it.”
Wukong said: “I am escorting Master Tang Sanzang to Western Heaven to worship Buddha and obtain sutras, but unexpectedly he was captured by demons. Among them is a demon dragon who is extremely powerful. I think he is a monster from your Dragon Clan, so I have come specially to ask my old neighbor for help.”
Ao Guang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and said: “Great Sage, you traveled so quickly. Have you already reached Black Water River?”
Wukong said: “What Black Water River? Old Sun encountered the demon dragon at Yellow Wind Ridge. He has golden scales on his dragon horn and is skilled in using fire, so I have come to ask you to send some rainwater to help, and also dispatch troops to subdue him!”
Ao Guang pondered: “The demon dragon of Yellow Wind Ridge?”
Wukong said: “What, you refuse to lend the rain?”
Ao Guang hurriedly said: “I am willing to lend it, willing to lend it, but though I control rain, I dare not act without authorization. I must have the Jade Emperor’s decree, the three officials to raise their brushes, Taiyi to shift the documents…”
Wukong said: “I don’t need you to ride clouds and spread rain to benefit the common people. Just send some rainwater to that demon’s cave mansion to help Old Sun fight and subdue the demon.”
Ao Guang said: “In that case, Little Dragon will go with the Great Sage right away.”
Ao Guang immediately mustered the Dragon Palace soldiers and generals: sharks as the vanguard, carp as the pioneer, mackerel on sentry duty, gurnard in charge of the army horn; old turtle as prime minister, great softshell turtle as grand general; crab warriors wielding long swords, shrimp soldiers dancing with long spears.
Wukong led the dragon soldiers and soon arrived at Yellow Wind Ridge, where he met Ba Jie.
Ao Guang bowed and said, “Marshal Tian Peng,” then observed the surroundings and said:
“This ridge is dry as dust, which only fuels the fire qi. Now that it is already late, in Little Dragon’s view, we should first spread rain and pour it down for a night, then tomorrow drive away the fire qi before battling!”
Wukong said: “Very good, very good!”
Ao Guang then led the aquatic clan, gathered clouds in the sky, and sprayed down rain.
Inside Yellow Wind Cave, the little demons hurriedly reported:
“Great King, just now it was clear and sunny outside, but suddenly a strange rain started falling!”
Yellow Wind Great Sage said: “What kind of strangeness?”
The little demon said: “Over eight hundred li of mountain ridges, there is only a ten-li thick cloud outside our Yellow Wind Cave. The rain falls only a few li outside the cave; there is not a drop of rainwater anywhere else.”
Ao Tu laughed upon hearing this:
“No need to say it, that monkey must have called for reinforcements! He wants to use water to extinguish my divine fire!”
Yellow Wind Great Sage said: “Elder Brother, what should we do?”
Ao Tu said: “Virtuous Younger Brother, do not worry. My divine fire is not afraid of mortal water! Tomorrow you go out to battle first, and I will secretly support you from behind. If you encounter any of the Four Seas Dragon Kings, please spare one life— that dragon king is related to me.”
Yellow Wind Great Sage said: “Of course, of course!”
The next day, Wukong and Ba Jie went together to the entrance of Yellow Wind Cave. Wukong shouted: “Demon dragon, come out! Return my master quickly and release the Bodhisattva!”
Soon, Yellow Wind Great Sage jumped out the door.
The monkey took one look and thought, this is bad.
Yesterday he had focused only on that demon dragon and forgotten there was also the Yellow Wind Monster skilled in wind!
Yellow Wind Great Sage, holding his steel fork, said:
“Sun Monkey, last time I was kind and did not blow you to death, but now you bring helpers to harm me. Take this wind!”
He spat out a gust of wind: three hundred zhang of yellow sand rose up, seven thousand li of clouds and smoke scattered; heaven and earth were overturned, the earth grew dark, the Dragon King was blown off his cloud, Tian Peng was flipped into the mountain hollow, and those water soldiers and generals were blown off to who knows where.
Wukong saw this and did not dare advance, instead turning with a somersault cloud and retreating.
Yellow Wind Great Sage laughed heartily and ordered Tiger Vanguard to bind the old dragon and tie up the pig spirit, then withdrew his troops back to the cave.
Ao Tu and the group of little demons held a celebratory banquet for him, and for a time the group of monsters danced wildly, having a great time.
After the celebratory banquet, Ao Tu went down and ordered someone to untie the ropes on Ao Guang, saying: “Great Uncle, you have suffered.”
Ao Guang said: “You, who are you?”
Ao Tu said: “Does Uncle not recognize me?”
Ao Guang said: “You look somewhat familiar, but I dare not acknowledge you.”
Ao Tu said: “My father is the Dragon King of Jing River.”
Ao Guang said in shock: “You really are the son of the Dragon King of Jing River! Beloved nephew, you, how have you caused such a heaven-defying disaster! That Sun Wukong is not to be trifled with. Hurry and release his master, and come with me to apologize to him!”
Ao Tu stood with hands behind his back and said: “Uncle, do not say more about this matter. I have my own way of handling it. Uncle, stay here at ease for a few days first, and when the time comes, I will let you go.”
Ao Guang wanted to persuade more.
Ao Tu raised his eyes and said coldly: “Do not make it difficult for your nephew!”
Ao Guang opened his mouth but dared not say more.
Ao Tu resumed his smiling face, personally escorted Ao Guang to stay in the cave, and said: “Uncle, did you bring any pills from the Dragon Palace? Lend me a few.”
Ao Guang sighed and took out a few bottles of pills, saying:
“Two bottles of Water Origin Pills, one bottle of Water Spirit Pills. I left in a hurry and only brought these.”
Water Origin Pills are treasure pills for cultivation, Water Spirit Pills are for healing injuries.
Ao Tu smilingly took them and said: “Uncle’s generous gift, I dare not disdain it as too few. Uncle, if you have any requests here, just tell the little demons outside. Your nephew takes his leave.”
Ao Tu left Ao Guang and turned to find Ba Jie.
At that time, Ba Jie was tied to the wind-fixing pillar in the back garden, bound together with Tang Sanzang and Ling Ji.
When Ao Tu arrived, Ba Jie was pursing his mouth and cursing loudly. Because his mouth was so big, the little demons’ rag could not block it.
Ao Tu saw this and said: “Come here, cut off his long snout and make it into a snouting-mouth dish for me to eat!”
Tiger Vanguard received the order, drew his knife, and was about to cut.
This frightened Ba Jie into begging for mercy: “Great King, do not cut, do not cut. This monk’s mouth is smelly and not tasty!”
Ao Tu said: “Monks eat vegetarian, so the meat is the most delicious.”
Ba Jie said: “To tell the truth to Great King, I am a lecherous monk. I even have a father-in-law and wife at home!”
Ao Tu laughed heartily and said:
“Good disciple, how come you do not even recognize your master?”
Ba Jie was stunned for a moment, looked at Ao Tu’s demeanor, and realized, saying:
“You demon dragon, earlier you transformed into Tang Sanzang to deceive me, making me suffer greatly, and now you come to cut off my mouth to eat!”
Ao Tu stepped forward and said:
“Though I deceived you, did I not also give you benefits? Behave yourself, or I will really cut off your mouth and eat it!”
Ba Jie heard this and did not dare make a fuss anymore.
Ao Tu smiled, saw he was pitiful, took out two pills, and fed them to him.
Tiger Vanguard watched from the side, constantly swallowing saliva.
These pills were easy for Ao Tu to obtain, but for ordinary monsters, they were extremely rare treasure pills.
Ao Tu saw Tiger Vanguard’s expression and gave him the remaining half bottle of Water Origin Pills, saying: “I see you are capable of handling things, so the rest is rewarded to you.”
Tiger Vanguard was overjoyed and hurriedly knelt to say: “Thank you, Second Great King, for the reward!”
On the other side, although Sun Wukong had escaped, Ba Jie and the Dragon King had both been captured, leaving him alone to flee, and he could not help but feel grief from his heart.
He thought of how he had been persuaded by the Bodhisattva to protect Tang Sanzang on the journey to Western Heaven for sutras, yet this westward journey road was so difficult.
A mere Yellow Wind Ridge had two such ferocious demons, and who knew how many more calamities lay ahead.
After sighing, Sun Wukong was at a loss for any plan and had no choice but to ride the cloud up to South Heaven Gate, preparing to ask the Jade Emperor to send troops.
