Now Wukong rode his cloud to the Eastern Ocean.
He cast a water-repelling spell and went straight down to the ocean floor.
The Sea Patrol Yaksha spotted him, recognized Sun Wukong, and hurried back to the Crystal Palace to report his arrival.
Upon hearing the news, Dragon King Ao Guang of the East Sea led his dragon sons and grandsons, shrimp soldiers, and crab troops out to welcome him.
They escorted him into the palace and seated him. Wukong said, "No need for ceremony. Old Sun has a favor to ask."
Ao Guang said, "Whatever you need, Great Sage, just say the word. This humble dragon will see it done."
Wukong said, "I'm escorting my master, Tang Sanzang, to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures, but demons have carried him off. One of them is a demon dragon of formidable power. I suspect he's a monster from your dragon clan, so I've come to ask my old neighbor for help."
Ao Guang looked rather surprised. "You've traveled so quickly, Great Sage! Have you already reached the Black Water River?"
Wukong said, "What Black Water River? Old Sun encountered this demon dragon on Yellow Wind Ridge. He has dragon horns and golden scales and is skilled with fire. That's why I've come to ask you to send some rain to help me, then dispatch troops to subdue him!"
Ao Guang pondered this. "A demon dragon on Yellow Wind Ridge?"
Wukong said, "What, you won't lend me any rain?"
Ao Guang hastily replied, "Of course I will, of course! But although I govern the rain, I dare not act on my own authority. There must be a decree from the Jade Emperor, the Three Officials must put brush to paper, and Taiyi must issue a dispatch..."
Wukong said, "I'm not asking you to summon clouds and rain to bring salvation to the common people. Just pour some rain over that demon's cave and help Old Sun defeat him. That's all."
Ao Guang said, "In that case, this humble dragon will go with you at once, Great Sage."
Ao Guang immediately mustered the soldiers and generals of the Dragon Palace: sharks formed the advance force, carp served as the vanguard, mackerel stood watch, and whitefish sounded the military signals; an old turtle served as chancellor, and a great softshell turtle as general; crab warriors brandished long swords, and shrimp soldiers flourished long spears.
Wukong led the dragon troops to Yellow Wind Ridge, arriving shortly afterward to meet Bajie.
Ao Guang bowed and greeted him as "Marshal Tianpeng," then surveyed their surroundings and said:
"The air is dry on this ridge, and everything is parched, which only feeds the fire. It's already getting late. In this humble dragon's opinion, we should first send down rain and let it fall all night. Once the fiery air has dispersed tomorrow, we can fight!"
Wukong said, "Excellent, excellent!"
Ao Guang then led his aquatic host into the sky, gathered clouds, and sprayed down rain.
Inside Yellow Wind Cave, a lesser demon hurried in to report:
"Your Majesty, it was clear and sunny outside just now, but suddenly this strange rain started falling!"
Great Sage Yellow Wind said, "What's strange about it?"
The lesser demon said, "Across eight hundred miles of mountains, there are thick clouds only over a ten-mile stretch outside our Yellow Wind Cave. The rain falls only within a few miles of the entrance. Everywhere else hasn't had a single drop."
Ao Tu laughed when he heard this.
"No need to ask! That monkey must have brought reinforcements. He means to use water to put out my divine fire!"
Great Sage Yellow Wind said, "Elder Brother, what should we do?"
Ao Tu said, "Don't worry, little brother. My divine fire has nothing to fear from ordinary water! Go out and fight tomorrow, and I'll cover you from the shadows. If you encounter any of the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, please spare his life. Those dragon kings are kin to me."
Great Sage Yellow Wind said, "Of course, of course!"
The next day, Wukong and Bajie walked together to the entrance of Yellow Wind Cave. Wukong shouted, "Come out, demon dragon! Return my master at once and release the Bodhisattva!"
Before long, Great Sage Yellow Wind leaped out through the entrance.
At the sight of him, the monkey thought, This is bad.
Yesterday, he had been so preoccupied with the demon dragon that he had forgotten the Yellow Wind Monster and his mastery of wind!
Great Sage Yellow Wind held his Steel Fork and said:
"Monkey Sun, last time I was kind enough not to blow you to death, yet you've brought helpers to harm me instead. Taste my wind!"
He blew out a mouthful of wind. Yellow sand rose three hundred zhang high, and clouds and mist scattered across seven thousand miles; heaven and earth were turned upside down, and darkness swallowed the land. The Dragon King was blown off his cloud, Tianpeng was hurled into a mountain hollow, and who knew where all those aquatic soldiers and generals had been swept away.
Seeing this, Wukong dared not advance. He turned and fled on his Somersault Cloud.
Great Sage Yellow Wind roared with laughter, ordered Tiger Vanguard to bind the old dragon and truss up the pig demon, then marched back to the cave in triumph.
Ao Tu and the lesser demons held a victory feast for him. For a time, the demons danced in wild revelry, having the time of their lives.
After the feast, Ao Tu went down and ordered someone to untie Ao Guang. "Eldest Uncle, you've suffered."
Ao Guang said, "You... who are you?"
Ao Tu said, "Don't you recognize me, Uncle?"
Ao Guang said, "You look somewhat familiar, but I dare not assume."
Ao Tu said, "My father was the Jing River Dragon King."
Ao Guang exclaimed in shock, "You really are the Jing River Dragon King's son! My dear nephew, how... how could you bring such a heaven-swallowing calamity upon yourself? That Sun Wukong is not someone to provoke! Release his master at once and come with me to apologize!"
Ao Tu clasped his hands behind his back. "Say no more about this, Uncle. I will handle it myself. Stay here in peace for a few days. When the time is right, I'll let you out."
Ao Guang wanted to keep persuading him.
Ao Tu raised his eyes, his expression cold. "Don't make things difficult for your nephew!"
Ao Guang opened his mouth, but dared say no more.
Ao Tu's smile returned. He personally escorted Ao Guang to his lodgings in the cave, then said, "Uncle, did you bring any pills from the Dragon Palace? Lend me a few."
Ao Guang sighed and took out several bottles of pills.
"Two bottles of Water-Origin Pills and one bottle of Water-Spirit Pills. I left in a hurry, so this is all I brought."
Water-Origin Pills were precious pills used for cultivation, while Water-Spirit Pills healed injuries.
Ao Tu accepted them with a smile. "A gift from my uncle-I wouldn't dare complain that it's too little. If you need anything while you're here, just tell the lesser demons outside. Your nephew will take his leave now."
Ao Tu left Ao Guang and went to find Bajie.
Bajie was bound to a Wind-Calming Stake in the Rear Garden, in the same place as Tang Sanzang and Lingji.
When Ao Tu arrived, Bajie was thrusting out his snout and cursing loudly. His mouth was so large that the lesser demons couldn't stop it even with a rag.
Ao Tu saw him and said, "Someone come here! Cut off that long snout and cook it for me!"
Tiger Vanguard obeyed, drawing his knife and moving in to cut.
Bajie was so frightened that he hastily begged for mercy. "Don't cut it off, Your Majesty! Don't! This monk's mouth stinks-it won't taste good!"
Ao Tu said, "Monks eat vegetarian food. Their meat tastes best."
Bajie said, "To tell you the truth, Your Majesty, I'm a wayward monk. I even have a father-in-law and a wife at home!"
Ao Tu burst out laughing and said:
"My good disciple, don't you even recognize your master?"
Bajie froze for a moment, then caught on as he studied Ao Tu's expression.
"You wretched demon dragon! You turned into Tang Sanzang to trick me before and made me suffer terribly. Now you've come to cut off my mouth and eat it!"
Ao Tu stepped forward and said:
"Even if I tricked you, didn't I give you something good as well? Behave yourself, or I really will cut off your mouth and eat it!"
Hearing this, Bajie dared not shout anymore.
Ao Tu smiled. Taking pity on him, he took out two pills and fed them to him.
Tiger Vanguard watched from beside them, swallowing his saliva again and again.
These pills were within easy reach for Ao Tu, but to ordinary demons they were exceedingly rare, precious
pills.
Seeing Tiger Vanguard's expression, Ao Tu gave him the remaining half-full bottle of Water-Origin Pills. "You seem capable of getting things done. Take the rest as your reward."
Tiger Vanguard was overjoyed and hastily knelt. "Thank you for the reward, Second King!"
Meanwhile, although Sun Wukong had escaped, Bajie and the Dragon King had both been captured. He alone had fled, and sorrow welled up in his heart.
He thought of how he had accepted the Bodhisattva's exhortation to turn toward goodness and protect Tang Sanzang on the Journey to the West, never imagining that the westward road would be so difficult.
Even little Yellow Wind Ridge harbored two demons this ferocious. Who knew how many more tribulations lay ahead?
After sighing, Sun Wukong could think of no way out. He could only ride his cloud up to the South Heaven Gate, intending to ask the Jade Emperor to send troops.
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