When Tang Sanzang saw that Ao Tu did not intend to eat him, he stepped forward to plead with him, asking Ao Tu to release them.
Ao Tu said, "Tang Sanzang, I can release you, but first I have a question. If you can answer it, I will let you all go."
Tang Sanzang hurriedly replied, "Please ask, Great King. This humble monk will tell you everything he knows and hold nothing back."
Ao Tu said, "Back at the inn, I was getting along peacefully with you and your three disciples. Why did you harm me without cause?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Well..."
Ao Tu said, "What? Is there something you cannot say?"
Sha Wujing said, "Monster, what is there we cannot say? You plotted to harm us first. That was why my eldest brother invited the Bodhisattva here!"
Ao Tu said, "Oh, I plotted to harm you first? Who said that? When did you ever see me plotting?"
Sha Wujing said, "Tathagata Buddha said so! Though we did not see it, these were the Buddha's own words. How could they be wrong?"
Ao Tu smiled and said, "The Buddha's words, the Buddha's words. Tang Sanzang, tell me, were these words of the Buddha right or wrong?"
Tang Sanzang had experienced many things along the way. With all he had been through, a trace of doubt had indeed crept into his heart, but facing a monster now, he still chose to believe the Buddha. So, fingering his prayer beads, he said:
"The Buddha's words cannot possibly be wrong."
Ao Tu said, "Truly cannot possibly be wrong?"
Growing firmer, Tang Sanzang said, "They cannot possibly be wrong."
Ao Tu laughed, then said after a moment:
"Tang Sanzang, in that case, let me ask you this. You said earlier that I plotted to