The woman smiled and said:
"Good, an excellent idea! Daughters, put on your bridal veils. Let Heavenly Marriage choose your husbands!"
The three Bodhisattvas could only put on their veils and try to catch Ao Tu.
Ao Tu had been turning their own scheme against them all along, making sport of these immortals. How could he possibly let them catch him so easily?
Ao Tu dodged with Earth-Traveling Golden Light. None of the three Bodhisattvas could catch him, and they grew breathless from the chase. Yet they dared not reveal their supernatural abilities for fear he would spot a flaw in their disguise. They were utterly helpless.
The woman stood to one side, smiling as she said:
"My dear son-in-law, you have so many supernatural abilities that none of them can catch you. Why not go easy on them?"
Ao Tu stopped. "It isn't that I won't go easy on them. But if I let any one of these young ladies catch me, I fear the other two will accuse me of favoritism."
Just then, the woman gave Lianlian a push, sending her forward to catch Ao Tu.
Caught him! Guanyin Bodhisattva clenched her pearly teeth, seething inwardly.
The woman smiled. "No chosen day is better than the day at hand. Come, you two newlyweds, bow and be married!"
With that, the Little Maid from earlier came out carrying two lacquered wooden trays, with a wedding outfit on each.
The woman said, "My dear son-in-law, put on this groom's hat and see whether it fits."
Ao Tu picked up the hat, knowing it was most likely a circlet. Once he put it on, he would be done for.
He held the hat and pretended he was about to put it on.
The woman watched Ao Tu without blinking. She neither urged him on nor stopped him; there was no telling what she was thinking.
Ao Tu pretended to put it on, but after holding it for a while, he set it down again and smiled.
"There's no hurry to wear it. If we're to marry, we must first prepare a banquet worthy of the occasion."
The woman said, "Son-in-law, this household has considerable wealth. Whatever sort of banquet you want, just say the word. Whether rare flowers and exotic fruits or immortal delicacies, we can have everything ready within a day."
Ao Tu said, "Our Buddhist order has rare flowers and exotic fruits in abundance. I've grown thoroughly tired of immortal delicacies. There's only one thing I've ever truly fancied."
The woman asked, "What is it?"
Ao Tu said, "Tang Sanzang's flesh! He is the reincarnation of Golden Cicada, the second disciple of Tathagata Buddha, a good man who cultivated virtue over ten lifetimes. One bite of his flesh can greatly advance one's cultivation. Tang Sanzang will pass this way in a few days. Mother-in-law, please capture him and make him into our wedding feast. Only then can we marry."
The woman said, "If Tang Sanzang is Golden Cicada reincarnated, shouldn't he belong to the same order as you? Why would you want to eat him?"
Ao Tu said, "Mother-in-law, how muddleheaded you are!"
The woman was puzzled. "How am I muddleheaded?"
Ao Tu said, "Among us Buddhists, fellow disciples slaughtering one another is commonplace. Even Buddha knows and tacitly permits it. Don't you know that, mother-in-law?"
The woman laughed again.
She found this little fellow immensely amusing. Whose disciple was he? He really was entertaining.
Hearing Ao Tu slander the Buddhist order like this, Guanyin Bodhisattva grew furious.
The Little Maid beside them said, "We needn't discuss Tang Sanzang's flesh just yet. Young master, please try on the clothes first and see whether they fit. If they don't, we can change them."
At that, Ao Tu raised his fist and smashed it into the Little Maid's head.
A large lump rose on the Little Maid's head. She sat on the ground, clutching it.
Ao Tu said, "You little maid, what do you know of my supernatural abilities? If the clothes are too small, I'll shrink. If they're too large, I'll grow. Who gave you leave to interrupt?"
Seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva knew she could do nothing with Ao Tu. Furious, she gave a formal bow and excused herself.
The woman said, "My youngest daughter is impatient. She stormed off because the marriage couldn't proceed. Son-in-law, why not set aside Tang Sanzang's flesh for now and coax her back?"
Ao Tu rose and cupped his hands.
"My condition is not negotiable. Once married, a woman must follow her husband. A spoiled daughter like that could hardly move a man's heart, however beautiful she might be. Mother-in-law, I suggest you teach her properly. Otherwise, this marriage cannot happen. We may have met by fate, but we are not destined to be together. I bid you farewell."
Seeing this, the woman could only persuade Ao Tu to stay.
There was no helping it. If they wanted to lay a trap for Ao Tu, they naturally could not let him leave.
Wasn't it merely a matter of catching Tang Sanzang? They could pretend to capture him first.
After noon, the Little Maid brought Ao Tu spiritual fruits, immortal wine, and golden elixirs. Afraid of being tricked, he touched none of them. He merely excused himself by saying that the marriage was not yet settled, so he would accept nothing from his mother-in-law's household lest he give others grounds for gossip.
Seeing that Ao Tu would yield to neither coaxing nor pressure, Guanyin Bodhisattva ground her teeth in fury. She longed to reveal her true form and seize him on the spot, but feared he might escape with his many tricks. She could only swallow her anger.
They would have to capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples for him first, then coax him into wearing the circlet.
After that, Ao Tu stayed there.
Every day he admired the flowers and wandered the gardens, never forgetting to make sport of Guanyin. He deliberately ordered her about, making her serve tea and water and accompany him through the gardens to enjoy the scenery.
If she dared refuse, Ao Tu would make as if to leave, and Guanyin Bodhisattva could only give in.
Nearly two months passed like this. It was spring, and Ao Tu was looking out from among the clouds when he saw Tang Sanzang and his disciples approaching along the distant road. He flew down from the clouds, found the woman, and said:
"Mother-in-law, Tang Sanzang and his disciples are here. Hurry and call the three young ladies out to capture them with me."
The woman summoned the three Bodhisattvas.
Ao Tu said, "Tang Sanzang and his disciples have arrived. Let's go capture them now. Zhenzhen, you handle Sha Monk. Aiai, you handle Zhu Bajie. Lianlian, you handle Sun Wukong."
The three looked at him and asked, "What about you?"
Ao Tu replied as though it were only natural, "I'll capture Tang Sanzang!"
The three were speechless.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I've heard that Tang Sanzang's three disciples are all highly skilled fighters, virtuous men enlightened by the greatly compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva of the Southern Sea. A direct attack would be the worst approach. Better to transform ourselves and use a ruse to capture them."
Ao Tu rebuked her. "Lianlian, how could you practice deception? Those who change their forms and use honeyed words and flattering faces are no good people. If you imitate them, how could I marry you?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva ground her teeth in fury, but could only obey Ao Tu and launch a direct attack.
Manjushri and Samantabhadra each produced a longsword. Guanyin Bodhisattva had no weapon, so Ao Tu lent her his Dark Gold Iron Staff Spear and said:
"Use it carefully. Don't squander our family's wealth by damaging this divine weapon of mine."
Guanyin Bodhisattva wanted to stay no longer. She rose on a cloud and charged toward Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
Manjushri and Samantabhadra followed close behind.
Ao Tu followed the three of them.
The master and his three disciples were making their arduous way over mountains and ridges.
Suddenly, an auspicious cloud flew through the sky.
Wukong saw it but thought nothing of it, assuming some deity was passing by.
Without warning, Guanyin Bodhisattva charged out of the cloud.
Wukong shouted, "Danger! Protect Master!"
Guan-and then no more was said-
-yin Bodhisattva fought.
In martial skill, Guanyin Bodhisattva was certainly less proficient than Wukong.
But Guanyin Bodhisattva possessed greater magical power and more spells, and for the moment Wukong was held at bay.
Wukong scrutinized Guanyin Bodhisattva with his Fiery Golden Eyes, but an auspicious radiance obstructed his sight. Unable to discern her true form, he could only fight with all his might.
Nearby, after securing Tang Sanzang's safety, Bajie and Sha Wujing saw Wukong locked in combat with a woman and prepared to help him.
Just then, Manjushri and Samantabhadra descended from the sky, taking on Bajie and Sha Wujing respectively.
Ao Tu came up from behind and watched the three battles.
Manjushri said, "Brother-in-law, why haven't you captured Tang Sanzang yet?"
Ao Tu said, "I conduct myself openly and honorably. How could I take advantage of someone in peril? Hurry and defeat these three so I can capture Tang Sanzang!"
Before you continue