Chapter 56: Rewards Settlement
However, Ao Tu fabricated his identity and background with clever words, and Tang Sanzang did not doubt him at all, immediately expressing his willingness to help Ao Tu restore his kingdom.
Qiao Er’s parents learned that their son-in-law was the “Bao Xiang Kingdom Prince” and were all overjoyed, so excited they could not sleep that night, packing their belongings and preparing to go together.
Qiao Er, however, knew that her husband was leaving tomorrow.
She clung to Ao Tu’s chest and held him tightly all night.
The night passed.
At dawn, everyone packed their luggage and prepared to set off.
Qiao Er’s parents followed along.
Ao Tu saw them and asked: “What are you doing?”
Qiao Er’s parents said: “Son-in-law, we are going with you to Bao Xiang Kingdom!”
Ao Tu said: “What are you people, going to what Bao Xiang Kingdom?”
Qiao Er’s parents said angrily: “Son-in-law, we are your father-in-law and mother-in-law, how can you speak like that?”
Ao Tu laughed: “I am the dignified Bao Xiang Kingdom Prince, how could I have father-in-law and mother-in-law like you?”
Qiao Er’s parents said in shock: “Our daughter is your properly wedded wife, how can you casually abandon her?”
Ao Tu said: “My match with your daughter was merely an expedient measure. First, I did not consult with my father king and mother queen; second, there were no ministers as witnesses; third, there was no ancestral temple worship. What proper wedding is that? You lowly commoners have already received a hundred days of this prince’s grace, which is the greatest fortune. How dare you push your luck?”
With that, Ao Tu’s eyes narrowed, glaring at Qiao Er’s parents, scaring the two elders to fall to the ground, not daring to speak.
Tang Sanzang saw this and could not help saying:
“Benefactor, you were humble and respectful before, why are you now like a different person! The ancients said: ‘One cannot lightly abandon a wife of hardship.’ How can you act like this?”
Ao Tu said: “All beings have impermanent forms, how can one judge based on a momentary view? You and I have known each other for only a few months, how do you know my true nature?”
“This…” Tang Sanzang was at a loss for words.
He felt that Ao Tu had profound Buddhist Dharma and was not a bad person, but Ao Tu’s actions left him unable to understand.
Ao Tu said coldly to Qiao Er’s parents: “How can a phoenix pair with ordinary birds, how can a true dragon dwell with snakes and insects? You lowly commoners, how dare you tarnish my royal bloodline? After I leave, if you dare approach Bao Xiang Kingdom even one step, causing my reputation to be sullied, I will eradicate you root and stem, do not blame me for not warning you!”
Qiao Er’s parents turned pale with fright upon hearing this and did not dare say a word.
Qiao Er knelt down in tears, her slender body bowing in farewell:
“This concubine will never leave this place half a step in her lifetime.”
Ao Tu ignored her and left with Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
His strength was only enough for self-preservation; taking her along would only create tragedy, better to sever ties and let her stay here, returning after he achieved the Dao.
On the road, Ba Jie could not help saying: “Your Highness, you are too rigid. That young lady is so pitiful, utterly devoted to you, and pretty too. If you fear it would tarnish the family name, just keep her hidden in a golden house, not let others know, right?”
Hearing this, Ao Tu grabbed Ba Jie’s ear and said:
“You idiot, now you’re lecturing me! Do you often do this kind of thing?”
Ba Jie clutched his ear: “Ouch, Your Highness, your grip is just like my senior brother’s! I, old pig, am a good monk who keeps the precepts, I would never do such a thing.”
The group traveled for three days, and on the fourth day passed White Tiger Ridge.
【Settlement Reward in progress, total obstruction of one hundred thirty-four days.】
【Obtained Settlement Reward: Three-Revolving Golden Elixir.】
【Obtained Settlement Reward: Six-Revolving Golden Elixir.】
【Obtained Settlement Reward: Demon Court Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation.】
【Obtained Settlement Reward: Witch Weapon Peach Wood Staff.】
【Obtained Settlement Reward: Supernatural Power Rainbow Transformation Technique.】
【Excess days of forty-six days automatically carry over to the next side quest; next side quest: Black Pine Forest Demon Encounter.】
Ao Tu felt the fully integrated Rainbow Transformation Technique and smiled faintly in his heart. Now he lacked nothing and could act freely; even if it came to Tathagata Buddha himself, he could escape at any time.
The group continued west for seven or eight days and saw a stretch of Pine Forest.
Vines climbed and twisted, pine clusters dense, trees shadowy and dense, mountain path rugged.
【Entered Mission Area】
【Current Side Quest: Black Pine Forest Demon Encounter】
【Mission Requirement: Obstruct the pilgrim in Bao Xiang Kingdom area, settle rewards based on obstruction time.】
【Mission Rewards: 3 days/Fire Jujube, 7 days/Spells Spirit Binding Incantation, half a month/Witchcraft All Things Sprout, one month/Supernatural Power Three Heads Six Arms, one season/Nine Curves Yellow River Great Formation (formation only）, half a year/Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood, one year/Innate Spiritual Treasure Soul Scattering Gourd, three years/Innate Spiritual Treasure River Diagram and Luo Book, twelve years/Chaos Bell, sixty years…】
【Current Progress: forty-six days】
It had to be said that this mission’s rewards were somewhat different from usual.
Ao Tu’s gaze was directly drawn to the one season reward: Nine Curves Yellow River Great Formation.
This formation was very powerful!
Unfortunately only the formation; it would be good if the Primordial Golden Vessel was included.
But without the Primordial Golden Vessel it did not matter; the formation alone was enough to defeat most enemies, and the Primordial Golden Vessel would surely appear later.
As for the other rewards.
Supernatural Power Three Heads Six Arms was decent, a standard combat supernatural power known by many, with significant boost to combat power.
But Ao Tu already had Five-Colored Divine Light; compared to it, Three Heads Six Arms was clearly a tier lower.
Witchcraft All Things Sprout was a spell he had not heard of; from the name, it seemed like an ancient ritual for praying crop growth.
As for Fire Jujube and Spirit Binding Incantation, nothing special, quite ordinary, just adding some means for him.
At this time, Tang Sanzang saw the rugged mountain path ahead and said:
“Disciples! The mountain road is difficult, be careful and guard against wild beasts and evil!”
Ba Jie said upon hearing: “Master, watch old pig clear the path for you!”
That idiot shook himself up, swung the Plum Blossom Pitchfork, raked aside the tangled vines, overturned the bushes, cleared a road, and led Tang Sanzang straight into the Pine Forest.
After walking half a day, Tang Sanzang said to Ao Tu: “Your Highness, after half a day, this poor monk is a bit hungry.”
Ao Tu said: “Then rest here.” He ordered Tiger Vanguard: “Bring some dry rations.”
Tiger Vanguard said: “Your Highness, the dry rations are used up.”
Ao Tu said: “How are they used up? Didn’t we bring a month’s worth?”
Tiger Vanguard said: “Your Highness does not know, that pig-named elder has a huge appetite, the rations are all eaten.”
Tang Sanzang looked involuntarily at Ba Jie upon hearing this.
Ba Jie said aggrieved: “Master, I old pig eat a bit more, but I work more too! I just cleared the path!”
Tang Sanzang said helplessly: “Ba Jie, now the dry rations are used up, go beg for some vegetarian meals.”
Ba Jie said: “Then please Master wait here a moment, old pig will go and return soon.”
So Tang Sanzang, Ao Tu, and the others sat in the forest, while Ba Jie went to beg for food.
Ba Jie left the Pine Forest, went west for dozens of miles, saw no sign of people, and sighed: “One truly knows the price of rice and firewood only when managing a household, knows parents’ grace only when raising children. In the past when senior brother was here, we never lacked vegetarian meals; now where to find them?”
Ba Jie thought to himself: “If I can’t find vegetarian meals and go back like this, telling the old monk there’s nowhere to beg, he surely won’t believe I walked so far. I must wander another hour before returning. …Fine, fine, I’ll sleep in this grassy patch for a bit.”
Ba Jie buried his head in the grass and lay down; originally just to sleep a bit and get up, but once down, he snored away, no thought of the time.
