Chapter 67: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
However, the Yellow Robe Monster released smoke and fled, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Wukong burst into the cave, where all the little demons had already escaped. Walking further in, he saw a woman around thirty years old, with elegant features, wearing pearl hairpins and her hair in a bun.
The woman was somewhat afraid upon seeing Wukong.
Wukong asked: “That woman, are you the third princess of Bao Xiang Kingdom?”
Hearing this, the woman tremblingly said: “I am the third daughter of the king of Bao Xiang Kingdom, named Bai Hua Xiu.”
Wukong said: “You’re the one we’re looking for.”
Bai Hua Xiu said: “Who are you, and what do you want with me?”
Wukong shouted: “Ba Jie, Ba Jie!”
Ba Jie was rummaging for treasure on Kui Mu Lang’s stone bed when he heard Wukong calling him and hurriedly responded: “Senior Brother, what do you want me for?”
Wukong said: “We’ve found the princess. You talk to her about the matter.”
Ba Jie said: “There really is a princess!”
Bai Hua Xiu became even more afraid upon seeing Ba Jie’s appearance.
Fortunately, having lived with the monster for these years, she had developed some resilience and did not lose her composure.
Ba Jie, however, knew etiquette and stepped forward to bow:
“Princess, don’t be afraid. I, old pig, am a disciple of Tang Sanzang the monk from the Eastern Land Great Tang. My Buddhist name is Wu Neng. This is my senior brother.
Earlier, we encountered a demon who schemed to sow discord among us brothers and falsely claimed to be the prince of Bao Xiang Kingdom.
My master believed it to be true and helped him reclaim the kingdom, but now we have been harmed by him instead. He was transformed into a tiger and imprisoned in the Bao Xiang Kingdom palace.
The entire court of civil and military officials have been bewitched by that demon, so we brothers cannot rescue our master. Thus, we specially came to find you to have you testify and expose that demon’s transformation, so we can rescue our master.”
Hearing this, Bai Hua Xiu could not help but shed tears:
“To think it’s like this. Pitiful me, separated from home for thirteen years, and now the family estate has been seized by another! I wonder how my father the king is now?”
Hearing this, Ba Jie felt somewhat embarrassed and looked up at the cave ceiling.
Wukong patted Ba Jie and asked: “Idiot, where is her father the king?”
Ba Jie thought to himself that the old king had been pierced with nine holes by his rake and was long dead beyond death.
This was truly his karmic obstacle, mistakenly killing a good person as a monster.
If he told her directly, she would likely harbor resentment in her heart.
But if he did not say it and told a lie instead, it could cover it up for a while, but once they reached the imperial palace, it would still be exposed, adding another “sin of deception,” which would be two karmic obstacles.
Either way it was a karmic obstacle. Ba Jie pondered and compared in his mind; one karmic obstacle was better than two, so he decided to tell the truth.
Ba Jie said:
“Princess! This is my fault, old pig. I wrongly believed that monster’s words. That monster used demon arts to transform your father the king into a tiger. I believed it to be true and used my iron rake in the grand hall to beat your father the king to death.”
Hearing this, Bai Hua Xiu was even more grief-stricken and could not help but cry.
Wukong could not bear to see people cry and said:
“You woman, why are you crying? Your father is dead, and though my junior brother was wrong, he was deceived by him. In the end, it was that demon who caused it. Now he has taken your family’s kingdom; you should seek revenge against him all the more!”
Only then did Bai Hua Xiu stop her tears and say:
“Two masters, forgive my loss of composure. It is not that I blame you two masters; it is just that I have been away from home for many years, and now suddenly hearing this bad news of eternal separation between heaven and earth, it is truly hard to bear.
Though I am a woman, I also know that among the hundred virtues, filial piety comes first. Pitiful are my parents who gave birth to me, yet I could not fulfill a single day of filial duty before them; it is truly a great sin.”
Wukong said: “Don’t worry. Once we reclaim your family’s kingdom, it will count as you making amends with merit. If we catch your father the king before he enters reincarnation, old Sun will make a trip to the Underworld next and rescue him.”
Hearing this, Bai Hua Xiu repeatedly thanked him, and no more was said.
Wukong then prepared to take Princess Bai Hua Xiu to Bao Xiang Kingdom.
But Ba Jie still stood motionless in place.
Wukong said: “Ba Jie, what are you waiting for?”
Ba Jie said: “Senior Brother, let old pig think. It seems like we’ve forgotten something.”
Wukong laughed: “Are you still thinking about finding that monster’s treasure?”
Ba Jie clapped his hands: “Yes! That monster has occupied this place for many years; there must be treasure hidden in the cave, and we haven’t found it yet!”
Wukong grabbed Ba Jie’s ear and said: “You idiot, instead of thinking about rescuing master, you only know to be greedy for wealth!”
Ba Jie begged for mercy: “Senior Brother, rescuing master won’t make a difference in this moment! It hurts! It hurts! Old pig knows he was wrong; no more treasure hunting, let me go!”
As he was speaking, a cry for help came from deep inside the cave.
“Senior Brother! Second Senior Brother! Save me!”
It was Sha Seng, tied to the soul-fixing post inside the cave.
Sha Seng was a defeated general, now in a wretched state, feeling ashamed in his heart. He originally did not want to make a sound and waited for Wukong and Ba Jie to come and rescue him.
But unexpectedly, hearing the conversation outside, Wukong and Ba Jie had actually forgotten him, so he could not help but cry out for help.
Hearing the voice, Wukong and Ba Jie then remembered Junior Brother Sha and hurriedly went in to rescue him.
They untied the immortal ropes for Sha Seng and released him from the soul-fixing post.
After the three brothers explained the previous events, they took Princess Bai Hua Xiu and set off together for Bao Xiang Kingdom to rescue their master.
On the other side, Kui Mu Lang fled to Bao Xiang Kingdom, landing in the imperial palace, his body swaying and unsteady on his feet.
Ao Tu saw his wretched state and told White Bone Spirit to go welcome him.
Soon, Kui Mu Lang followed White Bone Spirit into the grand hall and bowed:
“Thank you, senior, for the reminder; otherwise, this little god’s life would have ended today!”
Ao Tu asked: “Has that Sun Wukong come?”
Kui Mu Lang said:
“He came. That monkey attacked my cave gate today. I led troops to fight him, originally planning to exchange a few rounds before leaving. First, to not lower my reputation; second, so it would sound better when word spreads.
But unexpectedly, that monkey was truly ferocious. He immediately used the supernatural power of three heads and six arms, killing countless of my cave subordinates, demon soldiers and generals.
I used ‘the saber technique of the Six Strategies,’ but he blocked it, and in moments struck me over twenty times with his staff, nearly shattering my divine body. He even laughed at me.
Seeing this, I hurriedly escaped, not daring to linger a moment, and came here seeking senior’s protection.”
Ao Tu could not help but laugh:
“You are quite an honest person. Don’t fear that monkey; I have a way to deal with him. Your two sons have already been sent by me to my younger brother’s Black Water River. If you later want to take them to live in heaven, you can arrange it yourself.”
Kui Mu Lang smiled bitterly:
“Senior jests. How dare this little god take them to live in heaven. After this incident, I fear my divine position is gone. For my two children to have a place to settle is already fortunate.”
Ao Tu said: “I have heard of your matter. You and that jade maiden of the Incense Hall had feelings, so you agreed to descend to the mortal realm. But her cultivation was shallow, and after reincarnation, she forgot her past lives.
You should not have harassed her. Even with past affections, you should have secretly helped her achieve immortality first, and once she remembered her past, you two could resume your bond.”
Kui Mu Lang said ashamedly: “It was because this little god descended privately and did not dare stay long that I resorted to this lower strategy.”
Ao Tu said: “Very well. Since you have come to seek refuge with me, how could I treat you poorly? Even if you see the Jade Emperor, just say I coerced you to descend as a demon. No matter what heavenly laws or crimes, I will bear them all.
