An Ill-Fated Tumble into Pansi Cave (Part Twenty)

Meanwhile, Bajie explained the whole story of how he pretended to be sick and begged Wukong not to make a fuss.

Seeing the fool's clumsy appearance, Wukong softened a bit, released his grip, and asked:

"Do you really intend to stay and marry into the family? You've already completed seven or eight tenths of your journey Journey to the West, and you're almost at the Spirit Mountain, about to attain Right Fruit. Why cling to worldly desires and stay to become a demon?"

Bajie sincerely said, "Brother! I was once a high-ranking official in the Heavenly Realm, but I was still banished to the Lower Realm and born as a pig. I don't even know if I can Attaining Buddhahood a Buddha on Spirit Mountain. Even if I do, I'll still be a subject of the Buddha. It's better to stay in this mountain, where there's food and drink, and I can be the master of a cave, living a carefree life. If this place were the Water Curtain Cave, would you stay?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong was slightly taken aback, then chuckled and said:

"You idiot, there aren't seven female Demon like that in Old Sun Water Curtain Cave!"

Bajie smiled and said no more.

Wukong thought for a moment and said, "Since you really want to stay, Old Sun, won't say much more. These seven female Demon are not like that Miss Gao; they are all spirits, not ordinary people, and are a good match for you. I just don't know if they truly care for you and want you to be their cave master?"

Upon hearing this, Bajie became distressed and said:

"Speaking of this matter, I also have my doubts. Those seven Female Monster originally said that if I gave them the Rake, they would take me as their husband. Later, they said that they had a Elder Brother and that we had to wait for their families to arrive before we could make the marriage. Now, a month has passed, and there is still no news. When I went to inquire, they just gave me vague excuses and no definite answer."

After listening, Wukong thought for a moment and said, "This matter is indeed strange. You fool, why didn't you discuss it with me earlier?"

Bajie chuckled sheepishly, "Brother! I'm just afraid of your Golden Cudgel!"

Wukong laughed and scolded, "When did I ever really hit you? Fine! Fine! Let me think of an idea."

Bajie was delighted to hear this and waited for Wukong to come up with a plan.

Wukong sat cross-legged on the couch, thought for a while, and then had an idea. He said to Bajie:

"As the saying goes, when it comes to matchmaking, you have to ask around among the neighbors beforehand to see who the person is. We should also ask around!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie thought it made sense and asked, "Whom should we ask for information here?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Old Sun, call that local earth god out and ask him about the background of those female Demon!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie was overjoyed and exclaimed, "That makes sense! That makes sense!"

Wukong immediately chanted a spell and summoned the Lord of the Land.

At that time, the Lord of the Land god and earth goddess of Pansi Ridge were refining Elixir Pills in the temple.

Previously, the two had been forced to do hard labor by Ao Tu for three months, receiving one Elixir Pills per month. In total, they had obtained six Immortal Elixir over the three months.

They've each eaten one, and after refining them for over two months, they're still not completely refined; four remain uneaten.

At this moment, Wukong came to arrest him, and the Lord of the Land was spinning around in the temple like a millstone.

The Earth Goddess said, "Old man, are you having an epileptic seizure? Why are you spinning around like that?"

The Lord of the Land, "You don't know, there's a Great Sage Equal to Heaven outside arresting me! Quickly hide our Immortal Elixir!"

The Earth Goddess said, "If he detains you, just go! Last time, that holy deity detained us and gave us a tremendous opportunity. This time, this so-called Great Sage Equal to Heaven Equaling Heaven detains you, so it must be for your own good too. Why bother hiding any Elixir Pills? An old woman like you, does he really think he can steal them from you?"

The Lord of the Land exclaimed anxiously, "Oh dear! Old Woman! You don't understand! They are all deities, but they are not all the same. The previous deity was Youde, but this Great Sage Equal to Heaven is different!"

The Earth Goddess asked, "What's wrong with this?"

The Lord of the Land, "He's always been one to 'eat without money for wine and beat the elderly.' You must hide the elixir well. When you see him later, don't mention that sacred matter. If he asks, just say you don't know. Otherwise, you'll get a beating, and the Elixir Pills might not be safe either."

Upon hearing this, the Earth Goddess quickly hid the Immortal Elixir inside the clay sculptures of the two people. After exchanging a few words with the Lord of the Land, she left.

Once outside, the two knelt tremblingly on the ground, and the Lord of the Land:

"The local deity of Pansi Ridge pays respects to the Great Sage. Please forgive my failure to greet you properly."

Wukong said, "I have something to ask you, so please remember this."

The Lord of the Land asked, "What business does the Great Sage have with you?"

Wukong said, "What are the origins of these seven female Demon in the ridge, and why did they take in sons-in-law? You are the local earth deity, you must know their background. Tell me quickly!"

The Lord of the Land, after listening, said to Wukong, half-truthfully:

"Great Sage, those seven Female Monster have been here for many years. Behind that ridge lies a Zhuogou Spring, a Creation land bestowed by heaven. Originally, seven Heavenly Realm maidens used it as a bathing pool. Later, those seven Female Monster occupied this place, and perhaps fearing that others would seize this Creation, they recruited men to guard their home."

Wukong nodded upon hearing this.

Bajie exclaimed with delight, "So there's such a Creation! Why didn't my sister trust me and tell me about it?"

Wukong then asked, "What are the reputations of those female Demon? Do they usually do evil deeds and bring disaster upon themselves?"

The Lord of the Land, "His reputation is neither good nor bad. Even though he is Demon and has eaten a few people, he hasn't done anything particularly evil. He's stayed on this mountain all year round and hasn't come down to cause any trouble."

Wukong sneered, "Old Sun saw long ago that those female Demon eat people, so why pretend to be kind!"

Bajie said, "Even ordinary people cut off a few ounces of flesh to make themselves look fuller when they go on blind dates. It's not a big mistake."

Wukong then asked about the Demon's Elder Brother.

Both the Lord of the Land and Earth Goddess said they didn't know.

Wukong then said, "Alright, you can go back now."

The Lord of the Land and Earth Goddess kowtowed and went back to the temple.

Wukong and Bajie said, "Judging from what this Lord of the Land said, these female Demon seem genuinely interested in finding husbands, but we don't know why they're delaying."

Bajie said, "Perhaps there really are some difficulties. We might as well wait a few more days."

Wukong nodded.

So they waited another ten or twenty days. Every time Bajie went to ask, the Eldest Sister Spider Demon would still delay, until Bajie's illness was almost too much to pretend to be.

Bajie knew that if he continued to pretend, he might not be able to fool Tang Sanzang, so he consulted with Wukong again.

Wukong said, "This matter is truly strange. I wonder why those female Demon are delaying like this. Could it be that they covet your treasure? Here, I'll teach you a few things to say. Go and ask them, and see if they are sincere."

Bajie hurriedly said, "Brother, teach me quickly."

Wukong said, "First, find an excuse to get the Rake back. Say you'll take Rake after their Elder Brother returns. If they refuse, they're definitely after your treasure. Second, we don't know if their senior brother is real or not. The Lord of the Land Elder Brother and earth goddess both say they don't know him. Maybe he's lying. Ask them for their address, and I'll go and find out for myself whether it's true or not."

Bajie was overjoyed to hear this and thanked Wukong repeatedly.

Wukong laughed and said, "Since it's your own important matter, there's no need for thanks. Go on your way!"

So Bajie took these two words to heart and went to find the Eldest Sister Spider Demon again.