Bajie strode through the dense woods of Pingding Mountain with the Nine-Toothed Rake in hand.
For all his rough ways, he had a careful streak. Having accepted Brother Monkey's assignment, he concealed his presence along the way, watching all six directions and listening on all sides as he advanced cautiously.
Whether his luck was good or bad was hard to say, but when he reached a mountain hollow, he happened to run straight into the Silver Horn King and his mountain patrol.
The two parties met face-to-face on the narrow mountain path, blocking each other's way.
Bajie did not panic. Instead, delight stirred in his heart. I was just worrying about finding someone to ask for directions, and here they've delivered themselves to my doorstep.
Rather than retreat, he planted the Nine-Toothed Rake on the ground, thrust out his great belly, and seized the initiative with a bellow:
"Hey! Who goes there?!"
The lesser demon at the front had been ordered to patrol the mountain and search for someone, and his nerves were already taut. Startled by the sudden shout from this long-snouted, big-eared pig head, he instinctively blurted out:
"We're here to patrol-"
Smack!
Before he could finish, the Silver Horn King swung a backhanded slap into the back of his head.
"Idiot! You answer just because he asks?!"
After berating the lesser demon, the Silver Horn King stepped forward with a precious saber in hand, his gaze flashing like lightning as he called out:
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed on my Pingding Mountain?"
Bajie flapped his enormous ears, folded his arms, and spread his long snout in a grin, looking utterly deserving of a beating.
"Guess who your lord is?"
The lesser monsters behind the king began whispering among themselves.
Some recognized him, while others did