Chapter 7: Exorcism In Gao Lao Village
However, after Ao Tu arrived in the Gao Lao Village area, the system’s side quest was also updated accordingly.
The rewards for other progress levels remained unchanged, but only the progress that Ao Tu had achieved at the Guanyin Monastery Area—three days, seven days, and half a month—these three progress levels’ rewards had changed.
From this, it seems that as long as Ao Tu has not achieved the later progress levels, the rewards will remain there and will not change.
Currently, Ao Tu’s obstruct progress is twelve days, which inherited the previous progress from the Guanyin Monastery.
In the Guanyin Monastery Area, Ao Tu obstructed Tang Sanzang and his disciples for twenty-seven days. Since it was less than thirty days, he only received the reward for fifteen days, and the extra twelve days were automatically transferred to this side quest.
At this time, Tang Sanzang and his disciples had not yet arrived in the Gao Lao Village area, so the system progress was only at twelve days and did not continue counting down.
This time, Ao Tu had already figured out a way to obstruct Tang Sanzang and his disciples. This time, he was determined to get the reward for obstructing one month.
He flew down from the clouds, cast a transformation spell, and turned himself into the appearance of Tang Sanzang. He then took two dragon scales, one turning into the brocade monk’s robe, the other into the nine-ringed monk’s staff.
Ao Tu was seen wearing the kassaya, holding the monk’s spade, with a face like the divine moon and eyes like bright stars. The monk’s spade clanged with its nine rings, and the kassaya shone with pearls illuminating heaven and earth. Truly a Buddha’s child descended to the world, a holy monk in the mortal realm.
This was because Ao Tu had once been the bell ringer in the Western Heaven world, stained with Buddha’s aura and able to chant sutras, so his transformation into a monk was the most lifelike, indistinguishable from the real thing.
Chanting sutras along the way, Ao Tu walked into Gao Lao Village, not entering other households, but heading straight to Gao Tai Gong’s home.
Upon arriving at the place, he knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened, and a young man came out.
That young man had his head wrapped in cloth, wearing a blue robe; he was a manservant in Gao Tai Gong’s household, named Gao Cai.
As soon as Gao Cai opened the door and saw Ao Tu’s appearance, he couldn’t help but feel three parts respect and asked, “Elder, who are you?”
Ao Tu said, “This poor monk comes from the Eastern Land Great Tang. By the decree of Emperor Taizong, I am a monk heading to the Western Heaven to pay respects to the Buddha and seek sutras. Passing by your esteemed village, I saw demonic aura enveloping your home, so there must be a reason. Thus, I have come specifically to dispel the disaster and resolve the difficulties for your family.”
Gao Cai listened and was immediately overjoyed, saying:
“Yes, yes, yes, the elder is right. Indeed, you are the holy monk from Great Tang. Holy monk, please wait a moment. I will go inform my master right away!”
That Gao Cai hurriedly went inside to report to Gao Tai Gong.
Upon hearing this, Gao Tai Gong quickly changed his clothes and came out with Gao Cai to welcome him.
Gao Tai Gong wore a black felt hat on his head, a clean brocade robe on his body, and a pair of wool felt boots on his feet, with an ink sash around his waist.
After coming out and seeing Ao Tu’s appearance, Gao Tai Gong thought to himself that he was indeed the holy monk from Great Tang, and hurriedly said “Holy monk” while bowing to Ao Tu.
Ao Tu returned the courtesy.
Gao Tai Gong invited Ao Tu into the inner hall to take a seat.
Once seated, Gao Tai Gong asked, “I just heard that the holy monk comes from the Eastern Land?”
Ao Tu said, “Indeed. This poor monk is carrying out King Tang’s order to go to the Western Heaven to pay respects to the Buddha and seek sutras.”
Gao Tai Gong said, “Since the holy monk has come from afar, you must surely have magic power. I beg the holy monk to take pity and eliminate that monster for my family.”
Ao Tu said, “This is not difficult. Tell me the origins of that monster, what abilities he has, what magic he usually uses, and what time he comes to cause trouble each day, so I can capture him for you.”
Gao Tai Gong said:
“That monster was originally the son-in-law we hired for our family. He worked for us for three years and saved up quite a bit of family property. If it were just that, it would be fine.
But he can change his face. At first he was a black fat man, later he turned into a pig’s appearance, extremely gluttonous. Fortunately, he only eats vegetarian food; if he ate meat, my family property would be eaten clean in half a year!
That’s not all. Now he can also summon wind. Every day clouds and mist come and go, with flying sand and rolling stones. He has imprisoned my daughter in the back residence, and father and daughter haven’t seen each other for half a year. Only then did we realize he is a monster. Please, holy monk, eliminate him.”
Ao Tu said, “He is also your son-in-law and has worked for your family for a full three years without harming you. Are you really willing to have him eliminated? How about I capture him, make him call off the marriage, and release your daughter? Would that work?”
Gao Tai Gong said, “Hey, holy monk elder, who wants a monster as a son-in-law? Please, holy monk elder, help me eliminate him to eliminate future troubles!”
Ao Tu shook his head in his heart and said, “Very well, when does he come?”
Gao Tai Gong said, “He comes at nightfall and leaves at dawn. I will first prepare a vegetarian feast for the holy monk. If you need any weapons or manpower, holy monk, just tell me, and I will prepare them early.”
Ao Tu said, “No need for weapons. You prepare ten young men and some lighting, and I will put them to use.”
Gao Tai Gong said, “Simple, simple. I will definitely prepare everything for the holy monk.”
Soon, the vegetarian feast was ready. Gao Tai Gong also spent money to hire ten strong men from the village, who carried torches and lanterns; everything was fully prepared.
At nightfall, soon enough, a gust of wind came, with rolling stones and flying sand.
Ao Tu waited in the room for a while. When the wind gradually died down, knowing that Zhu Bajie had already entered the back residence, he called everyone out.
He ordered those ten men to line up in two rows outside the residence, light the fires, illuminating the entire courtyard brightly, making everyone’s faces clearly visible.
Ao Tu said, “In a moment, whatever I say, you repeat it, and shout it together three times.”
Everyone nodded.
Ao Tu said, “Wu Neng, come out and meet Master.”
Everyone shouted in unison upon hearing this, “Wu Neng, come out and meet Master!”
Inside the residence, Zhu Bajie was about to climb onto the bed when he suddenly heard the shouting outside and was startled, saying, “Who is this? How does he know the dharma name that Guanyin Bodhisattva gave me, old pig? Could it be that pilgrim has arrived?”
Thus, Zhu Bajie immediately came out of the residence to check.
Outside the courtyard, after Ao Tu had everyone shout, they stood in place waiting.
Soon, a monster came out. His appearance was indeed ugly: black face, short hair, long mouth, big ears, wearing a blue straight robe tied with a floral towel.
