Chapter 94: Exorcise Demons In Wuji Kingdom
However, Wukong and Taishang Laojun confronted each other in front of the immortals at Jade Pond.
When Taishang Laojun said, “Boy Servant, bring my lion beast here.”
Wukong’s heart skipped a beat, thinking darkly that things were bad.
Only to see the boy servant under Taishang Laojun walk to the back of Jade Pond Hall, leading out the nine-headed lion tied at the rear.
Taishang Laojun said, “Great Sage, how about it? Do you still want to go find the Jade Emperor to reason?”
It was that Wukong had calculated a thousand times and ten thousand times, but solely forgot that Taishang Laojun had ridden his lion beast out.
Wukong scratching his cheek said, “This… I wonder if Heavenly Venerable has any other mounts? Perhaps it is the offspring or descendants of this lion making trouble…”
Taishang Laojun snorted coldly, too lazy to reply.
Wukong smiling obsequiously said, “Heavenly Venerable, Old Sun was wrong.”
Taishang Laojun turned away.
Wukong hurriedly followed, picked up a cup of immortal brew, and offered it respectfully, saying:
“Heavenly Venerable, Old Sun toasts you!”
Taishang Laojun glanced at Wukong.
Wukong said:
“Heavenly Venerable, Old Sun was also mistaken. Earlier Old Sun had the Third Prince invite you out, but you did not go, so Old Sun in a moment of impatience did the wrong thing. In the end, that monster went down to the mortal realm to do evil, and Old Sun was also thinking of your reputation.”
Hearing this, Taishang Laojun thought about it and found it indeed so, no longer angry, just raised his hand and struck Wukong twice, saying:
“You monkey head, without distinguishing right from wrong, just blamed the crime on my head! Such recklessness truly deserves a beating!”
Wukong obediently took the two strikes without dodging, pulled Taishang Laojun and said:
“Heavenly Venerable, don’t blame me! Heavenly Venerable, don’t blame me! It is really that in the heavenly realm few people use lions as mounts, and among those with great supernatural powers only you alone, so Old Sun found the wrong one. If Heavenly Venerable is not appeased, strike another ten thousand times, Old Sun will endure it all, as long as Heavenly Venerable vents his anger.”
Hearing this, Taishang Laojun said with a wry smile:
“You monkey head! Your head is hard as iron, if struck ten thousand times it would instead injure my hand! Fine! Fine! Spare you this time!”
Seeing this, the gods all burst into laughter.
Wukong smiling said, “Heavenly Venerable, since you have vented your anger, please help Old Sun, investigate what origin that monster has.”
Unable to help it, Taishang Laojun said:
“You monkey head! Just now you blamed me for letting the monster go down to the mortal realm, now you want me to help you investigate the monster?”
Wukong said, “Heavenly Venerable, that monster is doing evil below, the common people do not know his origin, among the Daoist Sect immortals who ride lions you have the greatest fame, so do they not all say it is your lion beast doing evil?”
Taishang Laojun thought about it and said, “That is true. What does that lion look like?”
Wukong said, “It is a green-maned lion spirit, and castrated.”
Taishang Laojun said, “How do you know it is a lion of my Daoist Sect?”
Wukong said, “That monster transformed into the appearance of a full Daoist, when he first arrived in Wuji Kingdom he claimed to have attained the Dao on Zhongnan Mountain, able to summon wind and rain, turn stone into gold, hence known to be a Daoist Sect lion. It must have some backing, and dare not falsely claim another sect.”
Taishang Laojun nodded, “So that’s how it is, then why not go to Zhongnan Mountain to check.”
Wukong said, “To tell the truth to Heavenly Venerable, Old Sun previously went to Zhongnan Mountain and saw the mount of the True Immortal of Fude, which had a green ox, white deer, immortal crane, no lion.”
Taishang Laojun said, “Wait for me to use the treasure mirror to check that monster’s origin.”
Saying this, Taishang Laojun took out a treasure mirror from his bosom.
Wukong happily said, “What supernatural power does this mirror have?”
Taishang Laojun said, “This mirror can illuminate the netherworld thoroughly, soul ferrying reveals truth, wait for me to use the treasure mirror to see!”
With that, Taishang Laojun shone the treasure mirror down to the mortal realm, landing on the top of the precious pagoda in Wuji Kingdom, directly illuminating the green-maned lion spirit.
Through the treasure mirror, Taishang Laojun saw the origin of that green lion spirit, his expression unchanged, and asked Wukong:
“Great Sage, what did you say that monster transformed into? Claiming to come from where?”
Wukong said, “That monster transformed into the appearance of a full Daoist, claiming to have attained the Dao on Zhongnan Mountain, what’s wrong? Has Heavenly Venerable seen that monster’s origin.”
Taishang Laojun smiled and said:
“Could not see it, but I guess it is a lion beast from some immortal mountain of my Daoist Sect that escaped down to the mortal realm to do evil. Perhaps not a mount, but an enlightened spirit beast who knows.
Great Sage, I heard Kunlun Mountain is the ancestor of immortal veins, the most sacred place, with many enlightened spirit beasts. Why not go there to check, if none, then come back.”
Wukong said, “Then Old Sun will take leave first!”
Wukong with Nezha and Ao Tu left Jade Pond Immortal Realm and arrived at Kunlun Mountain.
Only to see: smoke and colors scattering, sun and moon shaking light. Thousands of old cypresses, ten thousand tall bamboos. Often hearing crane cries, every seeing phoenix flights. Immortal ancestor’s blessed land, far surpassing Ling Xiao.
Wukong said, “Long heard Kunlun is the ancestor of ten thousand mountains, seeing it today, truly lives up to the reputation!”
Nezha said, “This is just Qilin Cliff.”
Wukong speechless for a moment, together with Ao Tu followed Nezha up the mountain, saw that Jade Void Palace, truly an immortal mountain realm, scenery even better than before by ten thousand times.
But arriving here, even Wukong dared not gaze casually, obediently following behind Nezha.
Nezha led Wukong and Ao Tu to the front of Jade Void Palace, together bowed down, but did not bow fully.
A figure walked out of the palace, Nezha seeing him, hurriedly said, “Senior Brother White Crane.”
The White Crane Boy Servant said, “Grand Master says, have you go elsewhere to search.”
Nezha said, “Yes.”
The three left Kunlun, returned to heaven, told Taishang Laojun about the Jade Void Palace matter.
After hearing, Taishang Laojun said, “Since it is not from Kunlun, then not many remain, just today the immortals are gathering, Great Sage why not ask them one by one.”
Wukong said, “Heavenly Venerable is right. But Old Sun fears for my one matter disturbing today’s immortal grand assembly.”
Taishang Laojun said, “No harm, wait for me to report to the Queen Mother, Great Sage just ask the immortals freely.”
Taishang Laojun had extremely good relations with the Queen Mother, he told her of the matter, the Queen Mother agreed.
Wukong thus asked the attending immortals one by one.
Among the immortals, none used lions as mounts, but inevitably some raised lion beasts.
Barefoot Immortal raised a pair of lions on his immortal mountain.
Wukong followed Barefoot Immortal to check, found the lions raised by Barefoot Immortal had not gone missing.
Tian Zun of the Nine Heavens also raised a few lions, Wukong followed him to the Thunder Department to see, found they were a few blue jade lions for releasing thunder, also not missing.
Three Holy Maidens also raised lions, Wukong followed to check, found they were a few small lions playing with embroidered balls.
Old Mother Li Shan said there were also lions raised in the mountains, Wukong followed to see, found they were stone lions.
Going back and forth who knows how many trips, the sky was almost dark, still no result.
Wukong returned to Jade Pond, saw Ao Tu and Nezha with arms around shoulders, squeezed together, fiddling with Jade Pond flowers and plants, Wukong angrily said:
“Good you two, I toil running about investigating, you two fiddle with flowers and plants here.”
Nezha grinning said, “Who let your cloud be fast, our two clouds slow.”
Ao Tu said, “How did the investigation go?”
Wukong dejectedly said, “Nothing, searched over half the heavenly realm, still could not find.”
Ao Tu said, “In that case, only one last method remains.”
Wukong said, “What method?”
Ao Tu said, “Report up to the Jade Emperor, let His Majesty the Jade Emperor decide!”
Wukong said, “What use would that be, Old Sun personally investigated and could not find, let the Jade Emperor send divine officials to investigate, probably just going through the motions.”
Ao Tu said, “Not so! Not so! Not asking the Jade Emperor to investigate, but asking the Jade Emperor to issue a decree, capture that demonic Taoist to the demon slaying platform for execution. At that time, the one behind the demonic Taoist will surely appear to plead.”
Wukong’s eyes lit up, said, “This method is good! But what if that person does not appear?”
Ao Tu said, “If does not appear then no method, but even if that person does not appear, executing the demonic Taoist still serves him right.”
Wukong said, “Good, Old Sun will now report to the Jade Emperor!”
Ao Tu said, “Don’t hurry, wait a bit more, wait until the Jade Pond immortal assembly disperses, ask the immortals together to testify for you.”
Wukong said, “Good.”
The three thus squeezed together, arms around shoulders, fiddling with the immortal flowers and spirit grasses in Jade Pond.
True Lord of Pure Origin saw, curiously walked over, glanced, seeing these few so bored, tsked once, and left.
Nezha was originally playing very happily with Ao Tu and Wukong.
At this time hearing True Lord of Pure Origin’s tsk, Nezha instantly changed face, said, “Tsk, you two really boring, I’m going to drink.”
Soon, less than one hour passed, nearing the end of the assembly.
The Queen Mother ordered her fairy maidens to send immortal fruit pastries to each.
The immortals took leave.
Lao Jun again pulled Taishang Laojun saying:
“Heavenly Venerable walk slowly, I have a bottle of newly refined ‘Reincarnation Jade Liquid’ as a gift.”
Taishang Laojun received the gift, handed it to the little boy servant beside him for safekeeping.
Wukong said, “Assembly over, Old Sun gone.”
Ao Tu said, “You go, I won’t accompany.”
Nezha said, “Monk, why not go?”
Ao Tu said, “I have little courage, fear finally checking out some great figure, who takes anger out on me.”
Nezha laughed, “You monk, really timid! Rest assured, later if some great figure takes anger out on you, come to my palace, I will protect you!”
Ao Tu said, “That’s a deal then.”
After hearing Ao Tu’s idea, Wukong sought audience with the Jade Emperor, together with Nezha told the whole story and reason.
Barefoot Immortal, Taishang Laojun, Tian Zun of the Nine Heavens, Three Holy Maidens and others were all invited by Wukong to testify.
The Jade Emperor seeing this naturally paid attention, immediately ordered Heavenly King Li to lead troops down to the mortal realm, capture the demonic Taoist up to heaven.
Heavenly King Li led three thousand heavenly soldiers, divine clouds pressing down, flew above the palace of the King of Wuji Kingdom, revealed their divine forms.
The King of Wuji Kingdom seeing this, hurriedly led the civil and military ministers of the country to pay respects.
Heavenly King Li said, “Now the Great Sage Equal to Heaven has accused before the Supreme Venerable Natural Miraculous Supreme Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace of Haotian, that in Wuji Kingdom there is a demonic Taoist causing chaos, usurping the throne and occupying the country, specially ordered this king to lead troops to arrest.”
Hearing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom shocked, said to Tang Sanzang beside him:
“The Holy Monk’s disciple truly lives up to his reputation, he went for over half a year, originally thought no news, who would have thought he really brought the petition to the Jade Emperor’s case!”
Tang Sanzang smiled, “Amitabha. Your Majesty, one day in heaven, one year on earth, my disciple has only been up to heaven less than one day.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom even more astonished said, “The Holy Monk’s disciple has great ability! Great ability!”
Heavenly King Li said, “King of Wuji Kingdom, where is that demonic Taoist now?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom hurriedly said, “Replying to the immortal, that demonic Taoist is now on the top of the pagoda!”
