Chapter 70: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
It is said that Lao Jun stated that there was no one in his palace to descend to the mortal realm.
Wukong laughed and said, “I know, I know. I’m not here to help you investigate demons. The King of Bao Xiang Kingdom died unjustly, and the princess is truly pitiful and alone. I specifically request that you, Old Official, bestow a pill to revive the King.”
Lao Jun said, “My attendant is not with me, and I do not have any pills on my person. You should go and rescue your Master first. If the King’s soul has not yet entered the cycle of reincarnation, then you can seek me out at Dou Shuai Palace, and I will give you a soul-returning pill.”
Wukong said, “It’s a deal then. Thank you! Thank you!”
Meanwhile, the divine official inspected the Nine Luminaries Star Officials, the Twelve Branches of Time, the five Dippers of the East, West, South, North, and Center, the constellations of the Milky Way, and all the sacred beings in Heaven. None dared to leave their positions. He then checked the area outside Dou Niu Palace, where the Twenty-Eight Mansions were supposed to be, but found only twenty-seven, with Kui Star missing.
The divine official reported, “Your Majesty, Kui Mu Lang has descended to the mortal realm.”
The Jade Emperor asked, “How long has he been missing from Heaven?”
The divine official replied, “He missed his morning attendance. He is supposed to report for duty once every three days, and thirteen days have already passed.”
The Jade Emperor said, “Thirteen days in Heaven is thirteen years in the mortal realm.” He immediately ordered his department to bring Kui Mu Lang back to the Upper Realm.
The remaining twenty-seven Star Constellations received the decree and, along with Wukong and Nezha the Third Prince, left the Heavenly Gate and arrived in the territory of Bao Xiang Kingdom.
This journey back and forth, and the time spent inspecting the stars, took half a month.
Upon arriving in Bao Xiang Kingdom, among the twenty-seven Star Constellations were the seven constellations of the Western White Tiger: Kui Mu Lang, Lou Jin Gou, Wei Tu Zhi, Mao Ri Ji, Bi Yue Wu, Zi Huo Hou, and Can Shui Yuan.
Now that Kui Mu Lang has descended to the mortal realm, there are six of them remaining.
These six men, who were usually on very good terms with Kui Mu Lang, pleaded with Wukong at this moment:
“Great Sage, please cease this conflict. Allow us six to go down and persuade Kui Mu Lang to return to his position, so that he may release your Master and junior brothers.”
Wukong said, “Alright, you may go.”
The six then descended on their clouds and walked towards the palace hall.
Upon seeing them, Kui Mu Lang said to Ao Tu:
“Senior, Heaven has indeed been alerted, and my six colleagues have descended. What should we do?”
Ao Tu replied, “No matter. Let them in. I will capture them. If you can persuade them to surrender, that would be best. If not, tie them up with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing.”
Kui Mu Lang said, “These six people have always been good friends with me. I beg you, Senior, to be merciful. I will surely persuade them with kind words.”
Ao Tu said, “Very well.”
The six Star Constellations entered the Imperial Palace without any obstruction and walked into the main hall.
Ao Tu was at the head, seated on the throne, with White Bone Spirit by his side, and Kui Mu Lang was seated below.
The Star Constellations asked, “Kui Mu Lang, why are you blocking the Great Sage’s path here? And who is this person?”
Kui Mu Lang replied, “This Senior is called the Spirit Mountain Great King. He bestowed a formation upon me to block that Monkey. My virtuous younger brothers, why don’t you join me here and jointly manage this great formation? The benefits are boundless.”
Upon hearing this, the six Star Constellations looked at Kui Mu Lang and said, “What kind of monster is this Spirit Mountain Great King? Kui Mu Lang, how have you been bewitched by him?”
Kui Mu Lang said, “My virtuous younger brothers, how can you not know of the Senior’s supernatural powers? It is not that I have been bewitched, but rather, the Senior’s kindness has been so great that I cannot but repay him.”
The six Star Constellations did not believe him at all and looked at Ao Tu and said:
“Audacious demon, how dare you try to bewitch us Star Constellations of the Heavenly Palace? Behold!”
The six Star Constellations each cast their spells and attacked Ao Tu.
Ao Tu stood firm, and with a flash of five-colored divine light, he swept them all away.
Within the divine light, there were the Three-Grade Golden Lotus, the Peach Wood Staff, the Three Lights Divine Water, the Five-Fire Divine Flame Fan, and the branches of Wu Tu, five treasures, with the energy of the Five Elements rotating, instantly suppressing the six.
With another shake, the six fell out of the divine light, all unconscious.
Ao Tu said, “Tie them up in the backyard.”
Kui Mu Lang obeyed and tied the men to the pillars in the backyard.
Bajie, seeing this, said to Sha Seng, “This must be the reinforcements that Senior Brother invited.”
Sha Seng asked, “What makes you say that?”
Bajie replied, “Look at the clothes on those people. Are they not the divine robes of the Star Constellations from Heaven?”
Sha Seng looked closely and said, “Yes, these must be the Divine Generals that our Eldest Senior Brother invited from Heaven. We will be able to leave before long.”
Bajie said, “I think it’s still a long way off. Junior Brother Sha, while they aren’t tied tightly now, you should move your body and find a more comfortable position.”
Sha Seng asked, “Why?”
Bajie replied, “There are only so many pillars here. I estimate that it won’t be long before they aren’t enough. At that time, they will have to tie people and us together. You should find a comfortable position now to avoid suffering later.”
Sha Seng said, “That won’t happen. Eldest Senior Brother will save us before long.”
Bajie said, “You, you don’t listen to this Old Pig, and you’ll wait to suffer.”
Bajie nudged his body, rubbed it around, and found a comfortable spot, leaning against the pillar.
On the other side, the six Star Constellations slowly woke up. Seeing themselves tied up, they exclaimed, “What supernatural power is this? It is so powerful!”
Kui Mu Lang said, “It’s all your fault for not listening to my advice and ending up like this. If you had followed me and joined the Senior to manage the great formation together, would this have happened?”
The six Star Constellations all said upon hearing this, “Kui Mu Lang, how can we, the dignified Western Seven Stars, willingly submit to others! What kind of formation has made you so loyal?”
Kui Mu Lang took out the Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation Diagram and said, “Have you seen this formation before?”
When the six Star Constellations saw the Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation Diagram, the words that were about to leave their mouths instantly stopped.
The stellar laws and the supreme Great Dao revealed in the formation diagram instantly captivated them, making them drunk with fascination and unable to extricate themselves. “This… this formation…”
Lou Jin Gou could not help but exclaim, “The three stars in this diagram, they seem to be the stars from my Lou Mansion!”
Wei Tu Zhi said, “There is also one star from my Wei Mansion!”
Mao Ri Ji said, “There are two stars from my Mao Mansion!”
Bi Yue Wu said, “There are two stars from my Bi Mansion!”
Zi Huo Hou said, “There are four stars from my Zi Mansion!”
Can Shui Yuan looked for a long time and said anxiously, “Why are there no stars from my Can Mansion alone?”
Lou Jin Gou, being knowledgeable, said, “This diagram seems to be arranged according to ancient star charts. In ancient times, the stars of Can Mansion were not in the same position as ours.”
Kui Mu Lang smiled and said, “Can Shui Yuan, I have sixteen stars in this diagram. If you agree to manage the great formation with me, I will give you one, so that you can comprehend the Great Dao in the diagram with me. How about it?”
Can Shui Yuan said, “Kui Mu Lang, how dare you do this? Are you not afraid of heavenly punishment?”
Kui Mu Lang said, “Do not be afraid. I have asked the Senior, and the Senior has agreed to bear the blame for us. We are all forced to manage the formation, so even if there is punishment, it will not be severe.”
All the Star Constellations’ eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Can Shui Yuan said, “Even so, we cannot act like this! I, the dignified Western Seven Stars, am asked to manage the formation. You should at least give me five stars!”
Kui Mu Lang smiled and said, “Two, no more!”
Can Shui Yuan said, “Four!”
Kui Mu Lang said, “Just two. If you don’t agree, I will release the other brothers first.”
Lou Jin Gou said, “Release me. I am most skilled at managing formations. I only want the three stars from my Lou Mansion!”
Outside, Wukong, Nezha, and the remaining Star Constellations looked down.
Wukong said, “These six people have been gone for a long time. Why is there still no movement?”
The other Star Constellations also said, “Strange! Strange! There isn’t even the sound of a fight.”
