An ill-fated fall into Pansi Cave (30)

Meanwhile, the Many-Eyed Monster was lost in thought, but dared not voice it. He bowed his head, said "Yes," and turned to leave to take Sun Wukong away.

Before long, Wukong arrived with the Many-Eyed Monster.

Ao Tu could hear the Monkey shouting from afar, "Demon Dragon! Old Sun, want to reason with you! I want to reason with you!"

Ao Tu laughed loudly, "You impudent monkey! Stop your tantrum! You think you're a monk who doesn't follow the Precepts, that you've stolen my treasure like a thief, and instead of bowing your head in humility, you dare to make a scene here?"

Hearing the sound, Wukong pushed open the door, jumped in, and said:

"Demon Dragon, stop your sophistry! Do you think Old Sun, can't see it? Those seven female Demon are all your concubines! You tricked Bajie into giving you his treasures, luring Old Sun, to steal them, didn't you?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu didn't argue, but laughed and said, "So what if it is? If you and your master weren't greedy, would you have fallen into my hands?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong jumped up and down, saying, "You were the one who cheated me out of the treasure first! If anyone is to be punished, it should be you! It should be you!"

Ao Tu replied, "Great Sage, you accuse me of plotting to steal the treasure, and I won't deny it. But I have a question for you."

Wukong said, "Ask away."

Ao Tu said, "If you Monkey from Flower-Fruit Mountain steal someone's fruit, and the fruit seller gets angry and steals your Golden Cudgel, refusing to return it no matter what, who do you think is right and who is wrong?"

Wukong said, "Is that even a question? It's obviously the fruit seller's fault!"

Ao Tu asked, "Why?"

Wukong said, "My servants stole his fruit, but I just returned it to him, or even gave him another one as compensation. But he stole Old Sun Golden Cudgel! He's just after the treasure and wants to extort Old Sun Golden Cudgel!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Since that's the case, then it's easier to talk. It's true that the female Demon under my command devised a scheme to steal the treasure, but you've already retrieved the Rake, so why did you still steal three of my treasures?"

Upon hearing Wukong, Wukong's monkey face turned red with embarrassment, and he scratched his cheeks, unable to utter a word.

Ao Tu said, "You just said, 'If he steals fruit, we can just return another one.' So consider the Jewel as a gift from me to Bajie. But what about your crimes of stealing the whip and sword with Sha Wujing?"

Wukong said helplessly, "It was Old Sun, who broke the precept against greed. Just tell me how you can let us Journey Westward."

Ao Tu said, "You and I have a long-standing friendship. If we disregard sectarianism, we can be considered close friends. I won't make things difficult for you. Tang Sanzang's inability to teach his disciples is due to his own lack of understanding of Buddhist Dharma. I once listened to sutras on Spirit Mountain and have some knowledge of Buddhist Dharma. I will pass on two scrolls of Scripture to him. If he learns them, I will let you and your disciples Journey Westward."

Upon hearing this, Wukong thought about it carefully. He knew that Ao Tu's Buddhist Dharma were profound, and even Guanyin Bodhisattva was willing to assist him. Therefore, after considering it, he felt that this matter would be beneficial to Tang Sanzang and agreed.

Ao Tu then ordered the release of Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

Wukong told Tang Sanzang and the others what had happened. After listening, Tang Sanzang silently recited "Spirit Mountain King Buddha" and agreed to listen to the sutra.

After learning about Bajie, Pigsy secretly ran over when no one was around and asked Ao Tu with an embarrassed look, "Master, is this treasure really for me?"

Ao Tu said, "Here you go, here you go."

Bajie was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Dragon Brother! Now we have another Belongings heirloom!"

Ao Tu laughed, "You idiot! You haven't even left the house yet, and you've already changed your address from Master to Dragon Brother?"

Bajie laughed and said, "Master and I have the title of master and disciple, and also the affection of an elder brother. Therefore, I call you master first as a sign of respect, and elder brother later as a sign of our deep friendship."

Ao Tu laughed, "You fool, you're always so good at talking. Go on! Don't let those Kirtimukha Gongcao see you and they'll hold it against you."

Bajie said, "How could they dare to remember?"

Even so, Bajie still left.

After Bajie left, a young Daoist came to report that Nezha did not need food.

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu went over to investigate.

Nezha lived in the side hall, which was just to the left of Ao Tu's palace, around the corner.

Inside, they found Nezha sitting cross-legged on the couch, sulking.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Why are you acting like a child, refusing to eat because you're angry?"

Nezha snorted and said, "I'm too lazy to eat this mortal food." He then stretched out his hand and said, "Give me back my treasure."

Ao Tu did not return it, saying, "I'll borrow it for a while, and return it to you after we've fought the enemy."

Nezha said, "You have more treasures than I do, why would you lend me yours?"

Ao Tu, sitting next to Nezha, replied, "This time is different. I have gathered a group of demons and am preparing to set up a grand formation. The outcome is uncertain. With your treasures, we have a better chance of winning."

Nezha said, "If that's the case, why didn't you invite me?"

Ao Tu said, "Victory or defeat is uncertain, and I am not confident either."

Upon hearing this, Nezha stood up, his line of sight level with Ao Tu's. Actually, he was a bit shorter, but including his hair bun, he was barely the same height as Ao Tu.

Nezha crossed his arms Earthly Way arrogantly, "If you're sure you'll win, I won't even help you!"

Ao Tu laughed upon hearing this and said, "In that case, we respectfully invite the Third Lotus Prince to enter the formation. However, we still need to make some preparations, lest others gossip and accuse you of associating with Demon."

Nezha, utterly unafraid, retorted, "So what if I join forces with Demon? What can they do to me?"

Ao Tu coaxed him, "Alright, I know you're capable. But it's still good to prepare some things, so that His Majesty won't be in a difficult position!" As he spoke, Ao Tu stretched out his finger and gently touched Nezha's forehead, leaving a Black Lotus mark.

Nezha asked, "What is this?"

Ao Tu said, "With this mark, it means I used the Black Lotus to defile your Divine Soul and forced you to serve me."

Nezha looked at himself in the bronze mirror and laughed, "It's quite beautiful! As expected, you Demon Dragon are indeed the most treacherous!"

Ao Tu smiled faintly, then took out another Jade Lotus Root Golden Elixir and gave it to Nezha.

Nezha asked, "Why are you giving me this?"

Ao Tu said, "Didn't you say you couldn't get used to mortal food? I'll just have to Alchemy for you."

Nezha laughed, "Silly Demon Dragon! I was just teasing you! I just can't eat without wine, but I'll accept this pill!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu feigned anger and said, "Fine! Bring me the wine! I'll get you drunk, and the pill will still be mine!"

The two then drank ten jugs of Immortal Wine. Ao Tu drank eight jugs, Nezha drank two jugs. Then Nezha fell asleep with his feet in the air, completely drunk.

Ao Tu left with a smile.

The next day, Ao Tu met with the Thunder Department's Heavenly Lords again and brought up the matter of the great formation once more. To Ao Tu's surprise, the six Heavenly Lords —Qin, Zhao, Dong, Yuan, Yao, and Zhang—all immediately agreed to enter the formation. It should be noted that the six Heavenly Lords had not expressed their opinions when they were in the Nine Heavens Palace Responding to the Origin.

The arrival of the six Heavenly Lords put Ao Tu in a very good mood. Seeing the Little Spider Demon diligently cultivating, he even praised her a couple of times, making the Little Spider Demon very happy, feeling that her efforts had been seen by the Great King.

In the days that followed, Ao Tu began to teach Tang Sanzang the Scripture.

The Scripture taught by Ao Tu were not false; they were the orthodox Great Dao to Attaining Buddhahood. It was just that Tang Sanzang lacked the cultivation to perceive them.

Clearly, it would take Tang Sanzang some time to learn the Scripture taught by Ao Tu.

If he could continue teaching like this, Ao Tu would be happy to teach for sixty years.

However, the Buddhist Sect would obviously not agree to this.

Ao Tu was also waiting for the Buddhist Sect sect to launch an attack.