Now, the Four Sages came to capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
Bajie and Sha Wujing were weak in strength. After fighting Manjushri and Samantabhadra for a dozen or so rounds, they were subdued by the spells of the two Bodhisattvas.
Only Wukong and Guanyin Bodhisattva were locked in a fierce battle.
Sun Wukong's martial prowess had few rivals in the Three Realms. Without using magic treasures or supernatural abilities, even someone with Guanyin Bodhisattva's immense magical power would struggle to defeat him.
At first, Guanyin Bodhisattva could keep Sun Wukong slightly suppressed, but once he grew familiar with her moves, signs of defeat began to show.
Guanyin Bodhisattva did not dare strike with all her strength, either, afraid of damaging the divine weapon in her hands and squandering his family wealth. Thus, she retreated step by step.
Wait, what family wealth of his am I squandering?
That vile beast!
Coming to her senses, Guanyin Bodhisattva narrowed her Phoenix Eyes, and her moves began to reveal the full extent of her skill.
She whirled the Dark Gold Iron Staff Spear:
Its sweeping thrusts seemed to shoot the moon at heaven's edge; its ringing clangs carried like wind across the sea.
It traced a golden-threaded phoenix weaving through flowers, like silver stars descending from the heavens.
Ao Tu watched from afar. Seeing her twist and leap, fighting Sun Wukong to a standstill for a time, he was surprised that this Bodhisattva possessed some martial skill after all.
At some point, the woman had walked over to Ao Tu's side and said:
"Well, my dear son-in-law, is this daughter of mine worthy of you?"
"Mother-in-law, I'm an honest man," Ao Tu said. "I don't talk about who's worthy of whom. If a couple wants to stay together for the long haul, they have to support each other."
"Good, good!" the woman said with a smile. "A son-in-law who wants a long life together, too!"
After fighting Sun Wukong for more than twenty rounds, Guanyin Bodhisattva gradually lost strength and stamina, falling to a disadvantage.
Seeing this, Manjushri and Samantabhadra hurried to help, and the three joined forces against Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong truly deserved the title Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The stronger his foes, the stronger he became. He manifested three heads and six arms, whirling his iron staff so tightly that not even wind could pass through. Even against three Bodhisattvas together, he remained fearless.
"Son-in-law, that Sun Wukong is formidable," the woman said. "Hurry and help my daughters!"
"Very well," Ao Tu said. "I'll lend them a hand."
Hearing this, Sun Wukong, who knew how formidable Ao Tu was, hurriedly pulled away and escaped with a somersault.
Ao Tu then captured Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Monk, along with the white horse, and took them back; no more need be said of that.
After escaping, Sun Wukong transformed into a magpie and followed Ao Tu's trail to the mansion in the mountains. He perched on an upturned corner of its flying eaves and quietly listened to what was happening inside.
Inside, the woman said:
"My dear son-in-law, now that Tang Sanzang has been captured, hurry and prepare to marry my daughter! Listen, even the magpie outside is calling!"
"Mother-in-law, we still can't marry," Ao Tu said.
"Why not?" the woman asked. "Haven't we already caught Tang Sanzang?"
"Although we've caught Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong escaped," Ao Tu said. "We intend to eat his master. How could he possibly let the matter rest? I fear he'll bring reinforcements and attack us here. If a wedding turns into a funeral, that would be no good."
"Then what do you suggest?" the woman asked.
"We must capture Sun Wukong as well," Ao Tu said. "Only then can we eat Tang Sanzang's flesh in peace!"
Listening outside, Sun Wukong thought that this demon dragon had found a household of female demons somewhere and was once again obstructing their journey west.
To make matters worse, these female demons were all formidable. Auspicious light shrouded them, concealing their origins, and he had no idea which sacred mountain they had descended from. Alone, he was no match for them.
Fortunately, his master was in no immediate danger. Sun Wukong rose on a cloud and headed for the Southern Sea.
Before long, he sighted Mount Luojia, lowered his cloud, and went straight to Mount Putuo Cliff. The Twenty-Four Heavenly Deities and the Mountain-Guarding Deity greeted him with bows. "What brings you here, Great Sage?"
"I have business with the Bodhisattva," Wukong said.
"The Bodhisattva has gone out," the deities said. "She isn't home."
"When will she return?" Wukong asked.
"We do not know," the deities replied.
With no other choice, Wukong left the Southern Sea, turned a somersault, and leaped up to the South Heaven Gate.
Seeing Wukong, Heavenly King Guangmu said, "Great Sage, you're here again!"
"Trouble, trouble!" Wukong said. "I've run into formidable demons again. Sorry for the trouble, but please announce me and ask the Jade Emperor to send troops to subdue them."
The matter was duly reported to the Jade Emperor, and Wukong was led into Lingxiao Palace.
Wukong offered a deep bow and said:
"Old official, sorry to trouble you! Sorry to trouble you! I, Old Sun, was protecting Tang Sanzang on the Journey to the West to fetch the scriptures when we encountered four female demons of unknown origin. My master and both my junior brothers have fallen into their hands. These female demons have arranged a marriage with Ao Tu, the demon dragon who escaped last time, and they intend to eat my master. I truly cannot subdue these demons, so I have come especially to report this. I humbly beg the Celestial Worthy to show compassion and send troops down to subdue them."
Upon hearing his report, Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor immediately dispatched Heavenly King Li and Third Prince Nezha to lead heavenly troops down to the mortal realm and accompany Wukong in subduing the demons.
Before long, they reached the mountain. The halls and courtyards among the cliffs looked less like a demon's lair than an immortal's dwelling.
Heavenly King Li found this rather strange and asked Wukong whether they had come to the wrong place.
"We haven't," Wukong said. "Heavenly King, you don't understand. The more a dwelling looks like this, the fiercer the demons inside!"
"Why is that?" Heavenly King Li asked in puzzlement.
"If they were ordinary creatures from the mountains that had become demons, I, Old Sun, could kill them with a few blows of my staff," Wukong said. "Only demons like these are hard to deal with. They have all sorts of tricks, so I have to ask you to intervene."
Heavenly King Li nodded and ordered Nezha to act as vanguard and challenge the enemy.
Nezha flew into the mountains and shouted, "Wretched demons, come out and meet your deaths!"
Hearing the shout inside, Ao Tu said to the woman:
"Mother-in-law, that monkey really has brought others to attack us. Let me go out and meet them!"
"Son-in-law, do be careful," the woman said. "My daughter is still waiting to marry you!"
Ao Tu flew outside and saw a boy with delicate, refined features, a male with a feminine face. He held the Demon-Slaying Sword and the Universe Ring, wore the Universe-Splitting Silk, and stood upon the Wind Fire Wheels. As the saying went, his body was small, but his booming voice was mighty and grand. He was none other than Three-Heaven-Guardian Fierce Nezha.
"Little child," Ao Tu said, "this king is getting married soon and needs a boy to bless the bridal bed for good luck. Come with me, and I'll give you a red envelope and wedding cakes!"
"Demon dragon!" Nezha shouted. "Stop putting on an act! Don't you recognize me? I am Nezha, Third Prince of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King! You escaped at Yellow Wind Ridge last time, but today I will capture you!"
"Little Nezha, such shameless boasting!" Ao Tu said. "Take my claws!"
Ao Tu flicked his dragon claws, tracing five golden streaks through the air.
With his sword in one hand and the Universe Ring in the other, Nezha battled Ao Tu.
Ao Tu did not use any magic treasures. After twenty rounds, he feigned defeat, took a barefoot kick from Nezha to his shoulder, and went flying backward.
Clutching his shoulder, Ao Tu said, "Little Nezha, don't get too cocky! Wait until I call someone to subdue you!"
"Demon dragon, don't run!" Nezha said.
Ao Tu turned, transformed into a streak of golden light, and fled back to the manor.
He shouted, "Mother-in-law, disaster! This wedding can't go ahead!"
The woman was with her three daughters. Seeing Ao Tu flee back wounded, she asked, "My dear son-in-law, why can't it go ahead?"
Ao Tu said:
"Mother-in-law, you don't know. That monkey has brought Nezha, the Great Deity of the Three Altars and the Assembly of the Seas. Nezha is terribly powerful, with seven or eight magic treasures and weapons protecting him. I'm no match for him. He wounded me before I even had time to use my magic treasure. I think we should all flee for our lives!"
"Don't panic," the woman said upon hearing this. "All three of my daughters have magical powers. They can help you capture Third Prince Nezha."
Hearing this, Zhenzhen, Aiai, and Lianlian exchanged glances. "Well..."
"Daughters," the woman said, "if you refuse to help, this wedding cannot go ahead."
"That Nezha is exceedingly formidable," Ao Tu said. "I think we'd better not try to play the heroes. Let's all flee for our lives!"
Before you continue