Now, Wukong begged for mercy and pleaded with all his might, so Ao Tu could hardly be utterly unfeeling.
Ao Tu thought for a moment and said, "How about this? I won't ask you to build me a cave abode. You and your master can stay in this Wooden House, meditating and reciting sutras, confined for one year. Then I'll let you head west."
Wukong said, "Meditating and reciting sutras? What sort of condition is that?"
Ao Tu said, "Only that can dispel the hatred in my heart."
Wukong said, "Why is that?"
Ao Tu said, "Guanyin Bodhisattva received the Buddha's decree to send you to fetch the scriptures, and I refuse to let her succeed. A year's delay will give me a year's delight. Delay for a twelve-year cycle, and I'd even acknowledge you as my own brother."
Wukong thought it over. A cycle was twelve years, and they certainly could not delay that long, but one year was tolerable-better than being struck by lightning and burned by fire. So he readily agreed.
Ao Tu pulled the monkey aside and warned him, "Monkey, if you go back on your word again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Wukong laughed. "Don't worry, don't worry."
Hearing this, Ao Tu withdrew the formation, and everything outside returned to normal.
Green mountains and verdant trees came into view, with birds chirping and singing. Autumn was approaching, and the weather was not particularly hot; both the bustle and the stillness were most pleasant.
They were in a small wooden house in the mountains.
Wukong said, "A fine place, a fine place! Why did the sky suddenly turn dark earlier?"
Ao Tu said, "There's no harm in telling you. I've laid a great formation outside the mountain. Even with your Seventy-Two Transformations, you cannot