Practicing Medicine in Zhu Zi Kingdom (Part Twenty-Eight)

Wukong then agreed to three things for Ao Tu.

Ao Tu wasn't afraid that Wukong would go back on his word, so he directly released all the immortals, the king and Queen of the King of Zhu Zi Kingdom, and others.

The immortals returned to the Heavenly Realm, and the King and Queen of the King of Zhu Zi Kingdom finally returned home for a reunion.

Wukong was going to accompany Ao Tu to the Netherworld Realm, so he first sent his master and junior brothers to the Zhu Zi Kingdom for resettlement.

Tang Sanzang sighed helplessly and could only urge them to hurry.

Wukong readily agreed, laughing, "Old Sun has the ability to exorcise ghosts and communicate with spirits; this is a small matter, I can return in less than half a day."

Bajie said, "Brother, there's no need to rush. We've suffered these past few days; we need to rest for a couple of days to recuperate before we set off. If you finish your business in half a day, don't rush back. Go have a drink and some Incense Offerings with Lord Yama first, then come back." Wukong laughed and scolded, "Go away, you idiot! I'm not a ghost or god; what Incense Offerings do I need? Master, I'm off!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Go."

Wukong turned around and Somersault Cloud to the Netherworld Realm.

Ao Tu and Guanyin Bodhisattva were already waiting outside the Netherworld Realm. When they saw Wukong arrive, they smiled at each other. Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, let's go." Wukong was delighted to hear Ao Tu call him Great Sage and quickly stepped forward. The three of them entered the Netherworld Realm together.

At this moment, Ao Tu still resembled the scholar he had been before.

The little devil, though he didn't recognize Ao Tu, recognized Guanyin Bodhisattva and Wukong, so he hurriedly went to report, saying:

"Lord Yama, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and Guanyin Bodhisattva have arrived with a scholar they don't recognize."

Upon hearing this, King Yama, knew the matter was serious and quickly summoned the other nine Kings of King of Hell to come out and greet him.

The ten people bowed in unison and said, "Great Sage! Bodhisattva! And who is this?"

Wukong exclaimed, "This is the Mahamayuri Bodhisattva!"

Upon hearing this, the ten men quickly bowed again, already guessing that it was about the previous matter. The other nine Kings of King of Hell cursed inwardly. The ten men respectfully invited the three men into the hall.

King Yama said, "The Mahamayuri Bodhisattva once had a Good Souls, full of Merit. We were delighted to see him and recommended him to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, where he became the ' Chief Fierce Ghost King.' Later, we learned that he was the Bodhisattva's grand-disciple. Please Bodhisattva us for our presumptuous act."

The other nine King of Hell echoed, "Indeed! Indeed! Please forgive Bodhisattva!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's alright, it's alright. I've always been lenient with people." Upon hearing this, the King of Hell thought to themselves, "Everyone in the Three Realms knows you're the most wicked, yet you still claim to be lenient with people. You've truly cultivated Buddhist Dharma."

Wukong said, "Old Sun and the two Bodhisattva have come here today for other matters. Have someone bring the register and check how many wronged Vengeful Souls in the past years at Qilin Mountain in the Zhu Zi Kingdom Western Ox Continent, how many remain in the Netherworld, and how many have been reincarnated?"

Upon hearing this, King Yama Hell, immediately summoned his underworld officials and brought the Book of Life and Death to search for the information.

Ao Tu glanced at the book and recognized that it was not the treasure True Body, but only a derivative of the functions of the Numinous Treasures.

Soon, King Yama, found it and said, "Great Sage, please look; the records from the past thousand years are all here."

Guanyin Bodhisattva laughed and said, "No need for a thousand years. It was the sins committed by that wicked beast under my command. Just focus on the harm it has caused in the Lower Realm these past few years." King Yama, hearing this, continued his search, and after a moment selected the victim, saying:

"Reporting to the Bodhisattva, there are forty-two people in total: thirty-four women, all Palace Maids from the Kingdom of the Zhu Zi Kingdom; and eight men, six of whom are Bandits who originally lived in the mountains, and two are passersby."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Please also check how many years they have lived and whether they Reincarnation."

Upon hearing this, King Yama, examined the matter carefully and reported the results of his investigation to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva took out a small piece of Merit Golden Light from behind her.

She has always been compassionate and Merit, and her merits are immeasurable. Giving away this small amount of Merit is nothing.

Ao Tu, however, objected, saying, "Bodhisattva, I have already received the benefits; let me take the Merit."

Guanyin Bodhisattva listened and did not refuse. It was only to increase the blessings and longevity of a few dozen people, and the Merit required was immeasurable.

Ao Tu took out some Merit from behind him. For some reason, he hadn't done anything good, but the Merit behind him had been steadily increasing without stopping, and now they had reached a considerable amount.

Ao Tu invests his Merit into the Six Paths of Reincarnation, which fall upon the reincarnations of these people. Although this cannot completely make up for the harm done in the previous life, it can at least be considered a form of repayment.

King Yama, said, "Two of them were the leaders of the six mountain bandits. Because of their grave sins, their resentment lingers, and they are now being suppressed and converted by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."

Ao Tu said, "In that case, we shall take our leave now. We are going to the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."

Upon hearing this, the ten King of Hell immediately rose to see him off.

Ao Tu and his two companions headed towards the Emerald Cloud Palace.

Wukong thought to himself that the trip had gone quite smoothly and he estimated that he would be able to return in less than half a day, or at most two hours. He could use the extra time to ask for a drink. The wine in the Hall of Senluo was too yin and not tasty. If he wanted good wine, he would have to ask for the East Sea Old Dragon's treasured wine.

Just then, an Old Man walked towards us from the road ahead and sat down in the middle of the Main Road.

The Old Man carried Twin Swords on his back and sat on a red lotus; with the Yellow Springs on his left and the Other Shore on his right, he was blocking the only way to the Emerald Cloud Palace.

Seeing this, Ao Tu stopped and patted Wukong beside him, saying:

"Great Sage, I see this man is quite bloodthirsty. He's blocking the road here; he doesn't seem like a good person. Go and eliminate him!"

Wukong had never seen the True Form of the Patriarch Styx before, but he recognized the Twelve-Rank Karmic Fire Red Lotus and the Yuantu and Abi Swords, so he couldn't help but hesitate... Ao Tu asked, "Great Sage, are you afraid?"

As expected of Wukong, when Ao Tu asked Wukong that question, he immediately perked up and said, "Don't be afraid! Watch me clear the way for you!" With that, Wukong leaped up and swung his staff down.

The Patriarch Styx didn't even glance at him; with a flick of his Avici Sword, he was about to suppress Wukong.

At this moment, Dao Body suddenly appeared and said, "Wait."

Wukong and Patriarch Styx were both held down and unable to move.

But then a goddess appeared, incomparably noble, wearing Nine-Phoenix Pearl Crown and Mystic-Yellow Earth-Pattern Ritual Robe, embroidered with mountains, rivers, grains, and dragons; her face was round and loving, dignified and maternal, her image vast and boundless, her power inexhaustible, nurturing and bearing all things, she was the Empress of the Earth, Sovereign Goddess Houtu, who received the mandate of Heaven, followed the law, and glorified virtue, also known as the Empress Houtu.

As the ancients said, "The Earth Bears All Things, and the Heaven Displays Its Signs. Take Materials from the Earth Take Models from Heaven; therefore, we respect the heavens and cherish the earth."

Empress Houtu is the mother of all things. She is as beautiful as the Queen Mother of the West, but has more of a loving and maternal demeanor.

Upon seeing them, the group quickly bowed in greeting.

The Minghe remained motionless, a hint of anger in its eyes. The Twelve-Rank Karmic Fire Red Lotus shimmered with Auspicious Light, yet it still could not move.

Ao Tu also bowed in greeting.

The Empress Houtu raised her hand and pointed, instructing Ao Tu not to bow.

Ao Tu could only offer a slight bow.

Empress Houtu said, "My Yellow Springs and the Other Shore are extremely precious. If you fight here and damage this place, I'm afraid you won't have the money to compensate me. If you insist on fighting, find another place to fight. First, bring your treasures as collateral, and I will return them to you when you leave."