After Ao Tu fanned Ananda to death with the Five-Fire Fan, he knew that whoever the Buddhists sent next would be beyond his ability to handle. He therefore called on the Yellow Wind Monster to flee, each going his own way.
Upon hearing this, Great Sage Yellow Wind said:
"Brother, in that case, why not come with me and seek refuge with my sworn sister?"
Ao Tu asked, "Who is this sworn sister of yours, worthy brother?"
Great Sage Yellow Wind said:
"She is an old acquaintance I became sworn siblings with while cultivating on Spirit Mountain. She now lives in the Bottomless Cave on Xiankong Mountain in the Western Ox Continent, and is known as Half-Body Guanyin, or Earth-Surge Madam. Her beauty makes fish sink and wild geese fall, puts the moon to hiding and flowers to shame. Since you are unmarried too, brother, your talent and her beauty would make a match ordained by Heaven. Why not let me serve as matchmaker and bring about this happy union?"
Only then did Ao Tu realize that Great Sage Yellow Wind's sworn sister was the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit.
Ao Tu shook his head. "I still have private matters to settle. Go and seek refuge first, worthy brother. If we meet again someday, it will not be too late to discuss this!"
Great Sage Yellow Wind cupped his hands, dismissed the demons in the cave, and left through the rear entrance of the Yellow Wind Cave.
Only Tiger Vanguard remained in the cave.
Ao Tu asked, "Why aren't you leaving?"
Tiger Vanguard replied, "The lesser demons have all gone. If I leave too, you will have no one to command, Second King. Wouldn't you have to do everything yourself? I would rather stay and serve you."
Ao Tu smiled. "You really are a capable fellow. Very well, stay by my side. From now on, call me king."
Overjoyed, Tiger Vanguard knelt. "My respects, my king."
Ao Tu helped him up and asked, "Do you have any family? Have you settled them somewhere safe?"
Tiger Vanguard said, "I have two young sons. I was planning to hide them in the southern mountains."
Ao Tu said, "There's no need. Bring them here, and I'll arrange a place for them."
Tiger Vanguard said joyfully, "Thank you, my king."
Before long, Tiger Vanguard brought the two tiger cubs over.
Ao Tu returned to his dragon form, cast a spell to alter their size, and tucked Tiger Vanguard and the two cubs between his scales. Then he used an escape spell to leave the Yellow Wind Cave.
Meanwhile, after Ananda's death, Sun Wukong rode his Somersault Cloud back to Spirit Mountain. He appeared before Tathagata and said:
"Buddha, your disciple went with Venerable Ananda to Yellow Wind Ridge to subdue the demons. I went down first to challenge them and draw the demon out, while Venerable Ananda struck afterward to subdue him. Unexpectedly, his magical power proved insufficient. The demon gave him a few strokes of his fan, and he turned to red ash. I humbly beseech my Buddha to show mercy and send another mighty expert to rescue my master."
Tathagata sat upright on the Nine-Grade Treasure Lotus Throne, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow, and said:
"Ananda's understanding of Buddhist teachings was lacking. He has fallen into the cycle of reincarnation; this calamity was his due. Kasyapa, go to the Southern Sea and summon Venerable Guanyin."
Kasyapa departed on his orders and soon returned with Guanyin.
Tathagata said, "Venerable Guanyin, that demon dragon is vicious, and Ananda could not subdue him. Go and bring him under control, and rescue the Pilgrim."
Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva accepted the decree, bowed, and withdrew.
Wukong and the Bodhisattva rode an auspicious cloud together toward Yellow Wind Ridge.
When they reached Yellow Wind Ridge and smashed open the cave entrance, not a single demon was anywhere to be seen.
They questioned the local earth god, who said, "Long before the Great Sage arrived, the demons in this cave had already dispersed. Their two leaders fled separately, and their whereabouts are unknown."
With no other recourse, Wukong went to the Rear Garden and rescued his master, his junior brother, Lingji Bodhisattva, and the Water Virtue Star Lord. Then he set fire to the demons' cave.
Of the four rescued captives, only Bajie was unharmed. Lingji Bodhisattva and the Water Virtue Star Lord had suffered grave injuries, while Tang Sanzang, imprisoned for over a month, was so terribly haggard that he could barely walk.
Guanyin Bodhisattva waved her willow branch, sweeping away all four men's injuries and exhaustion.
The four bowed in thanks, but of that no more need be said.
Heavenly King Li, Nezha, and the Water Virtue Star Lord returned to the Heavenly Court to report the completion of their orders, while the Dragon King of the East Sea returned to his Dragon Palace.
Meanwhile, after leaving Yellow Wind Ridge, Ao Tu headed straight into the West Sea.
Dragon King Ao Run of the West Sea still knew nothing of the enormous trouble Ao Tu had caused.
When they met, Ao Run said in surprise, "My dear nephew, I haven't seen you in years, and you've changed so much I can hardly recognize you!"
Ao Tu said, "I recently encountered some fortunate opportunities, which brought about these changes."
Ao Run asked, "Were these opportunities bestowed by the Buddha?"
Ao Tu said, "They had some connection to the Buddha."
Delighted, Ao Run ordered his servants to prepare a banquet.
Ao Tu said, "There's no need to entertain me. Uncle, I have come to your home today to ask a favor."
Ao Run said, "Whatever you need, my dear nephew, speak freely."
Ao Tu said, "I want to take a few weapons from your treasury."
Ao Run said, "Weapons are no trouble, but you serve as Bell Keeper under the Buddha. What do you need weapons for?"
Ao Tu released Tiger Vanguard and the two cubs from between his scales and said:
"They're not for me. They're for them."
Ao Run said, "Who... who are these people?"
Ao Tu said, "Don't worry, uncle. They aren't bad people. Someone wanted to kill this father and his sons, and I took pity on them and rescued them."
Relieved, Ao Run said, "What wonderful news! Since entering Spirit Mountain, not only has your cultivation soared, my dear nephew, but you've even acquired a Buddha's heart!"
Ao Tu shook his head. "I haven't acquired any Buddha's heart. I merely took a venerable's heart."
Feeling that he had misheard, Ao Run asked, "You took a what?"
Ao Tu said, "A venerable's heart. You don't know this, uncle, but I've caused some trouble these past few days. I accidentally killed Ananda, a disciple of Tathagata Buddha. So, when I go to your treasury this time, please tell outsiders that I plundered it. Only then can you avoid being implicated!"
Ao Run cried out in shock, "My dear nephew, what did you say? Whom did you kill?"
Ao Tu said, "There's no need to say more. I'm going."
He turned and made his way to the treasury, knocked the guarding soldiers and officers unconscious, and smashed through the doors.
Inside the treasury, divine radiance streamed in every direction, and treasures filled his sight.
Most were coral, agate, pearls, amber, giant clam shells, spirit shells, fine jade, immortal gold, divine weapons, armor, magical treasures, magical implements, medicinal pills, and the like.
To Ao Tu, these were merely ordinary things. The dragons' true treasures would naturally never be kept here. But to a minor mountain demon like Tiger Vanguard, who had seen little of the world, everything before him was a rare treasure the likes of which he had never seen in his life.
Ao Tu said, "Choose a suit of armor and a weapon for yourself. Don't touch anything else."
Tiger Vanguard hurriedly kowtowed. "Thank you for bestowing these treasures, my king!"
From among the divine weapons and armor, Tiger Vanguard chose a suit of black-gold armor and a long, tiger-headed saber forged from Kun steel and refined gold.
Ao Tu casually picked up a few bottles of medicinal pills to reward his subordinates with later, then took two suitable weapons for the tiger cubs. He blew up a gust of wind to throw the treasury into disarray and left with Tiger Vanguard.
"Wait, my dear nephew!" Ao Run caught up with him.
Ao Tu said, "Uncle, don't involve yourself with me any further, lest disaster follow."
Ao Run glanced around, took a small seal from within his robes, and said:
"My dear nephew, the road ahead is perilous beyond measure, and your uncle has no great treasure to give you. This is a Houtian Spiritual Treasure, the Water-Reversing Seal. Its quality is ordinary, and it only has some power when used underwater. Please be careful in all things."
Ao Tu sighed, accepted the small seal, and said:
"Just treat it as something I stole! Once I leave, a monstrous calamity is sure to follow. Remember, uncle, do not contact me again. Farewell."
Tears fell from Ao Run's eyes. He wanted to say more, but Ao Tu had already left.
Before you continue