Slaying Demons at Lion Camel Ridge (Part Twelve)

It is said that Bajie wanted to sell the horse, but Tang Sanzang refused.

Bajie said, "Master, there are three Demon in that ridge. I pawned three items to hire someone to Subduing Demons. Now I've only pawned two items and subdued two Demon, but there's still one left. What should I do?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Then why don't you take the Purple Gold Alms Bowl and pawn it?"

Bajie said, "Okay." He reached for the Alms Bowl.

Sha Wujing held on tightly, saying anxiously, "Second Senior Brother, Master still needs this Alms Bowl! If we sell Alms Bowl too, how will Master beg for alms?"

Bajie said, "Why can't we do that? If we don't sell our Alms Bowl, how will we hire someone to avenge our Elder Brother? Why don't we sell your Precious Staff instead!"

Sha Wujing said, "That Precious Staff is my own; I cannot sell it."

Bajie said, "Let's sell that Alms Bowl."

Sha Wujing said, "Even the Alms Bowl cannot be sold."

As the two were arguing, Ao Tu stopped them, saying:

"Monks, stop arguing. You're Belongings your belongings here to rid the mountain of Demon, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's eyes welled up with tears. He said, "Indeed. To tell you the truth, I am a monk from the Great Tang Eastern Land, on my way to the Journey to the West Paradise to retrieve the scriptures. I have three disciples with me. When we passed through this place, a divine being informed us that a group of Demon lived on the mountain and preyed on travelers. Therefore, we dared not proceed. My eldest disciple went to Subduing Demons the Demon, but unfortunately, he was killed by them. I had no choice but to have my second disciple Belongings our belongings to hire someone to exorcise the demons."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "What a coincidence! I know the details of the Demon on this mountain."

Bajie said, "Nonsense! How could a Peddler like you know anything about Demon?"

Ao Tu said, "If I didn't know the details of those three Demon, how could I dare to conduct business in these desolate mountains and treacherous terrain?"

Bajie listened and thought it made some sense, so he asked:

"Since that's the case, then tell me, what's the background of those three Demon?"

Ao Tu said, "The first Demon Heads is a Green-Haired Lion Demon, the Mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva in the Western World; the second Demon Heads is an Yellow-Tusked Old Elephant has cultivated for many years, the Mount of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the Western World; Three Demons is a Golden-Winged Great Peng, who is related to the Tathagata Buddha in the Western World."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang and his companions were all greatly shocked.

Sha Wujing said, "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! You must be talking nonsense! Those three Demon Heads are clearly man-eating Demon, how dare you say they are the Bodhisattva's Mount or relatives of the Buddha?"

Ao Tu said, "If it weren't Bodhisattva's Mount and a relative of Buddha, how could it dare to eat so many people? Regardless of whether it's true or not, our Employer has many men with knives and spears, best at exorcising demons. Since you Belongings to get rid of these three Demon on the mountain, there's no need to argue. I'll only accept this Kasaya Buddhist Staff; you can keep the alms Alms Bowl for your alms-begging. You don't need any money. I'll have our Employer get rid of these three Demon on the mountain, and that'll be the deal. It'll save us both trouble, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Bajie said, "Your Employer really can exorcise demons? The Demon on this mountain are not to be trifled with. My Elder Brother was accidentally eaten by Demon. If you are killed by Demon, it has nothing to do with us monks."

Ao Tu said, "It's not your fault. If you can't get rid of those three Demon, I'll still pay you for the Kasaya Buddhist Staff at the original price."

Bajie said, "I'm afraid that by then your Employer will all become that Demon's food. How will you get paid then?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu rummaged through his robes and found a receipt. He covered the name on it and showed it to Bajie, saying:

"Look, I still have receipts for debts owed to me. If the Employer gets eaten by Demon, I'll give you these receipts as collateral so you can go and collect your money."

Upon hearing this, Bajie glanced at the note and saw the words "Owes a thousand taels of silver, daily interest at 10%, compounded daily." He couldn't help but click his tongue in disbelief, thinking to himself, "This Peddler is really greedy! At this rate, won't the debt double in just a few days?"

I don't know who signed it; they must have been someone not very Wisdom. I tried to see the name, but the Peddler covered it with his hand, so I couldn't see who it was.

Ao Tu put away the receipt and said, "Well, if it's acceptable, then sign it."

Bajie asked, "Master, what do you think?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Peddler, my eldest disciple Supernatural Ability powerful, but even he is no match for the Demon. Are you truly confident you can vanquish it? Don't let your Employer lose his life for money!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Old monk, don't worry. Since I've agreed, I'm confident. It's all written in black and white here. If we can't eliminate the demon, it's all on us. I'm just afraid that you might consider that the Demon is the Bodhisattva's Mount and a relative of Buddha, and then prevent me from eliminating it. If that happens, this Kasaya Buddhist Staff will not be returned."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang remained silent for a moment, said nothing, and signed the voucher.

Bajie signed it, and Sha Wujing signed it too.

Ao Tu smiled and opened the carrying pole, saying, "Put the Kasaya Buddhist Staff inside."

Upon hearing this, Bajie said, "This carrying pole is too small. It can fit the Kasaya, but it can't fit the Buddhist Staff."

Ao Tu said, "My cargo pole can hold everything under the heavens and the Four Seas; let others collect all their treasures. You just need to do your job of loading."

Bajie said, "You Peddler, you're young, but you talk big. See if you can fit this in!"

As he spoke, he placed the Buddhist Staff into the carrying pole. The Buddhist Staff was taller than a person, but it fit inside in a short while.

Bajie "Eh!" and put the Kasaya inside as well, and soon it was all packed in.

Bajie exclaimed happily, "Your carrying pole is great! It has no limit and can hold anything. Where did you buy it? I want to buy one too. It would be so much more convenient to have one like this on the Journey to the West!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "This is an ancestral carrying pole; you can't buy it anywhere else."

Bajie said, "It's a family heirloom. Well then, take us to your Employer. We don't know where he Employer or what his name is."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "If you ask me what my Employer's name is, you all actually know him."

Bajie said, "Don't talk nonsense. The three of us are monks who have traveled a long way and are new to this place. How would we know your Employer?"

Ao Tu pointed into the distance and said, "Look, the Employer is here. Do you recognize him?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing looked in the direction Ao Tu was pointing, but saw no one. Turning back, they found that Ao Tu had transformed back into his Original Form, and the carrying pole was none other than the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity.

Bajie exclaimed happily, "Dragon Brother, so it was you playing around with us here!"

Upon recognizing Ao Tu, Sha Wujing quickly used his Precious Staff to protect Tang Sanzang, saying, "Demon Dragon, so it was you who transformed into my master's Kasaya!"

Ao Tu said, "How is that deceiving me? I'll help you get rid of the Demon! It's all clearly written here in black and white, Tang Sanzang, do you recognize it?"

Tang Sanzang said, "If we can eliminate the Demon, I will never go back on my word."

Sha Wujing cried out urgently, "Master!"

Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing shook their heads, and Tang Sanzang said "Wujing," stopping Sha Wujing from continuing.

Ao Tu said, "In that case, let me gather the Troops!"

After saying this, Ao Tu removed the Merit Flag and gave a shout. Countless Demon came out, scaring Tang Sanzang and his disciples into retreating repeatedly.

Ao Tu said, "You all listen to my command. Each of you take your men and ambush them on the south and north ridges, the east slope, and the west road. Do not let a single Demon escape. Do you understand?"

All the demons agreed in unison.