Chapter 21: Winds Rise At Dusk
However, Ao Tu saw through Wukong’s transformation but did not point it out, instead saying:
“You little demon don’t know, this Treasure Fan of mine has quite a history.”
Wukong, upon hearing this, quickly asked:
“Second Great King, may I ask what is the origin of this Treasure Fan?”
Ao Tu said: “Can’t say, can’t say.”
Wukong hurriedly poured wine for Ao Tu and said: “Second Great King, please tell this little one, broaden my horizons!”
Ao Tu said: “This is this king’s secret, can’t tell outsiders.”
Wukong massaged Ao Tu’s shoulders and said: “Second Great King, this little one has a tight mouth, I guarantee not to tell anyone, please tell this little one!”
Upon hearing this, Ao Tu pinched Sun Wukong’s ear and said: “You guarantee not to tell others?”
Wukong endured it and said: “This little one guarantees, this little one guarantees!”
Ao Tu said: “Pour me some wine.”
Wukong hurriedly poured wine for Ao Tu.
Ao Tu took a sip of wine and laughed:
“Good, good, seeing you have some filial piety, I’ll tell you! Come closer to my ear!”
Wukong was overjoyed and hurriedly came closer to his ear.
Ao Tu said:
“From here towards the Eastern Continent of Divine Sands, there is a country called Ling Jue Country, in which there is a Silent Sound Peak, at the foot of the peak there is a Blind Barrier Pool, by the pool there is a Mute Stone Cave, in the cave lives a Six-Sense-Blocked True Man, also known as Withered Wood Venerable. This Magic Treasure of mine was stolen from him. Now that you know this, you must never tell anyone, otherwise if he finds out, he will surely come to catch me!”
Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this, memorized the information, fearing Ao Tu would notice something wrong, he respectfully served Ao Tu for a while longer before withdrawing.
Out of the cave, Wukong hurriedly rode his cloud and saw Nezha and Li Tianwang, saying:
“I’ve found out the origin of that demon, you all wait here, I’m going to get someone to subdue him.”
Nezha asked: “What is his origin?”
Wukong said: “No need to say more, if delayed, Master may suffer calamity.”
With that, he did a somersault and headed to the Eastern Continent of Divine Sands.
The Eastern Continent of Divine Sands revered Taoism and suppressed Buddhism, with few temples and many Taoist monasteries.
Wukong descended from the cloud, transformed into a little Taoist priest, found a king of a small country, and asked: “Your Majesty, this little Taoist priest comes from afar, as the ruler of a country, have you ever heard of a country nearby called Ling Jue Country?”
The king said: “No.”
Wukong rode his cloud again, flew into famous mountains and great rivers, called out the Mountain God and Earth God, and asked:
“Mountain God and Earth God, have you ever heard of a mountain peak called Silent Sound Peak?”
The Mountain God and Earth God said: “No.”
Wukong rode his cloud again, arrived at the confluence of rivers, called out the river gods, and asked:
“Have you ever heard of Blind Barrier Pool?”
The river gods said: “No.”
Wukong then gathered the group of monsters in the mountains and asked:
“Have you ever heard of Mute Stone Cave?”
The group of monsters said: “No, no!”
After inquiring for a day without getting any clues, Wukong anxiously jumped up and down but was helpless.
Finally, he found a Taoist monastery and asked an old Daoist priest:
“Old Daoist Priest, have you ever heard of Six-Sense-Blocked True Man, also known as Withered Wood Venerable?”
The old Daoist priest pondered and said: “Six-Sense-Blocked True Man? Withered Wood Venerable? Little Taoist priest, what are you looking for him for?”
Wukong told him the whole story.
The old Daoist priest laughed heartily upon hearing it:
“Little Taoist priest, you were fooled by that demon! There is no Withered Wood Venerable, he was cursing you as spiritually dull, silent without sound, blind to sights, mute to sounds, six senses blocked, like withered wood!”
Wukong suddenly understood, both sad and angry, bowed and said:
“This disciple was too anxious and lost his mind, thank you old Daoist priest for the enlightenment!”
He turned and jumped onto his Somersault Cloud, returning to Yellow Wind Ridge.
Nezha saw this and asked: “Where is the person you invited?”
Wukong said: “Don’t mention it, old Sun was tricked by that demon, wasted a whole day in vain. Tomorrow we’ll regroup, old Sun will probe this Yellow Wind Cave again.”
They rested for the night without further mention.
The next day, Wukong transformed into a flying insect again and flew into the Yellow Wind Cave.
This was the Great Sage’s third probe of the Yellow Wind Cave, determined to save the sutra-seeking monk.
Entering the cave, Wukong carefully scouted.
He saw Master and the others still tied to the wind-fixing stakes in the back garden, not eaten, and Wukong breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking closely, he saw Master, Ba Jie, Bodhisattva Lingji, and Water Virtue Star Lord all tied to the stakes, only the East Sea Dragon King was missing.
Wukong thought sadly in his heart:
“Poor old neighbor of mine, came to help me subdue the demon, but now eaten by the demon instead. Probably dragon meat extends life, so the big and small demons in the cave divided and ate him first, not even bones left, pitiful! Pitiful!”
At that moment, two little demons passed by talking:
“That old dragon is so picky, wants freshly drawn water, mountain spring water; meat peeled clean, not a bit of skin or hair…”
“Don’t say more, he’s the Second Great King’s relative, serve him carefully!”
Wukong, upon hearing this, had a thought and hurriedly followed them.
Following the two little demons, Wukong arrived at a separate room, entered inside, and it was a fine house.
He saw embroidered decorations, jewels inlaid, five-colored gold-painted tables, thousand-flower jade plates. On the table fine wine and fragrant tea, in the plates exotic delicacies.
Sitting in the middle, wasn’t it the East Sea old Dragon King?
After no one was around, Wukong revealed his true form, went forward and grabbed the old Dragon King, saying:
“Old mud eel, no wonder I couldn’t find you in the back garden, thought you were eaten by that demon, turns out you have ties with the demon and are enjoying yourself here!”
Ao Guang, seeing him, hurriedly said: “Great Sage spare my life, this little dragon is guilty.”
Wukong said:
“Quickly say, what relation is that demon to you, otherwise old Sun will personally test this Iron Rod on you!”
Ao Guang said: “That demon is my nephew, originally named Ao Tu. Because my brother-in-law miscalculated some numbers, violated the Heavenly Rules, was executed by someone; my third brother West Sea Dragon King Ao Run saw he had no place to live, pulled strings, sent him to be the Bell Ringer under the Buddha Ancestor in Western Heaven, don’t know how he escaped Western Heaven and came here to do evil.”
Wukong, upon hearing this, remembered what Guanyin Bodhisattva had told him before, and said:
“So he is Ao Tu! He has already blocked old Sun twice before, now I’ll go to Western Heaven to invite Venerable Ananda, definitely capture this monster!”
After speaking, Wukong turned into a little insect, flew out of the Yellow Wind Cave, and went straight to Western Heaven.
After Wukong left, Ao Guang looked around and said:
“Great Sage, Great Sage, are you still here? This little dragon has important matters!”
Waited a long time, no response.
Only then did he confirm the monkey had really left.
Ao Guang then called a little demon in the cave: “Quickly call your Second Great King over!”
Soon, Ao Tu hurried over and asked:
“Uncle, what do you call me for?”
Ao Guang said: “Dear nephew, that Sun Wukong just sneaked into the cave, found out our relationship, now he’s gone to Western Heaven to find Venerable Ananda, quickly release Tang Sanzang and flee for your life!”
Ao Tu said: “No problem, I had foreseen this day long ago. Thank you uncle for telling me, from now on, I Ao Tu sever all ties with you Four Seas, no more relations.”
Ao Guang knew Ao Tu was doing this to avoid implicating him, and advised:
“Dear nephew, dear nephew, don’t be stubborn!”
Ao Tu said: “No more nonsense, Li Tianwang and the Third Prince are outside, why not smash the cave door and flee?”
Ao Guang sighed upon hearing this, smashed the cave door, and escaped outside.
Ao Tu chased after him and loudly said:
“Old dragon, you disregard family ties and inform on me, don’t go, watch me tear you to pieces!”
Saying that, he flew up with a kick, landing on Ao Guang’s old waist.
Ao Guang spat out a mouthful of blood, thinking: “This kid is ruthless!”
Nezha the Third Prince and Li Tianwang saw this and came to support.
Ao Tu retreated back into the cave.
