Vanquishing demons at Lion Camel Ridge (15)

The Three Demons then revealed their origins and backgrounds.

Sha Wujing exclaimed in surprise, "Master, they are truly disciples of the Buddha Bodhisattva!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang closed his eyes, lowered his head, and silently recited a passage of Scripture.

Golden-Winged Great Peng cried out, "Tang Sanzang, quickly tell someone to release me!"

The Green Lion and White Elephant said, "Tang Sanzang, please release us for the sake of the Bodhisattva."

Tang Sanzang said, "This humble monk cannot let you go."

Golden-Winged Great Peng shouted angrily, "Tang Sanzang, do you really dare to hire someone to kill me?!"

The Green Lion and White Elephant said, "Tang Sanzang, even if you don't give us face, you should at least give face to the Buddha Bodhisattva."

Tang Sanzang sighed, "This humble monk is a Buddhist monk, and I certainly dare not disregard the Bodhisattva and Buddha."

The Three Demons were overjoyed upon hearing this.

Tang Sanzang said, "That's why I just recited Scripture to help the three of you pass on; that's how I've done my duty to the Buddha Bodhisattva."

The Three Demons were both furious and terrified upon hearing this.

Golden-Winged Great Peng spread its wings to fly away, Ao Tu threw out the Dragon-Binding Lock, binding the Golden-Winged Great Peng 'Golden-Winged Great Peng wings, causing it to fall to the ground with a thud.

Upon seeing this, the Green Lion and White Elephant were so frightened that they knelt down again and begged for mercy:

"Master Tang, we three brothers have no grudge against you and your master. We only had a quarrel and a misunderstanding. Why should you take our lives? We've heard that you are a virtuous person who has cultivated for Ten Lifetimes. Why not have some compassion and forgive us? We will never dare to be violent again!"

Tang Sanzang said, "You three Demon have been entrenched here, devouring people and causing countless deaths. You even poisoned my eldest disciple, Sun Wukong. How can I forgive you?"

The Three Demons were all taken aback upon hearing this.

The White Elephant said, "Master Tang, we didn't kill your eldest disciple, Sun Wukong!"

The Green Lion said, "It's your eldest disciple, Sun Wukong, who has caused us so much trouble!"

Tang Sanzang was also taken aback upon hearing this, and turned to look at Bajie.

Bajie said, "Demon, I saw you eat my Elder Brother with my own eyes, how dare you deny it?"

Upon hearing this, the Green Lion said with a bitter face:

"It's true that I ate your Elder Brother, but he tore my intestines and grabbed my liver inside my stomach, and tied a rope to my heart, causing me unbearable pain and suffering. I had to call him Wukong and Sun Grandpa, and even offered to carry you and your disciples across the mountain in a sedan chair before he would come out of my stomach. He's only just left now. What, haven't you met him yet?"

Bajie asked, "Are you telling the truth?"

Green Lion said, "I would never dare to lie in the slightest!"

Hearing the Green Lion's words, Tang Sanzang, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel uneasy and suspicious. If Wukong wasn't dead, why hadn't he shown himself?

Seeing this from the clouds, Wukong knew he could no longer hide. Otherwise, if his master had truly killed the Bodhisattva's Mount and the Buddha's maternal uncle, they would face another hardship upon reaching Spirit Mountain.

Wukong quickly jumped off the cloud and called out, "Master!"

Seeing this, Tang Sanzang angrily said, "You Monkey, you're utterly pathetic! Since you're not dead, why haven't you come back?"

Wukong laughed and said, "I only dared not come down because I saw many strangers gathered around Master and I didn't know why."

Overjoyed, the Green Lion cried, "Sun Grandpa, you've finally come! If you hadn't come, our lives would have been in danger!"

Wukong sneered, "Killing you wouldn't be a loss! I ask you, you promised to escort my master across the mountain, so why are you mustering troops now?"

The Green Lion stammered, not daring to tell the truth, and only repeatedly said:

"Sun Grandpa, I'll never do it again! Sun Grandpa, I'll never do it again!"

Only after hearing this did Wukong let them go.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, what do you think we should do with these three Demon?"

Wukong said, "Master, these three old demons have committed numerous evils and truly deserve to die. However, out of respect for Buddha Bodhisattva, if they genuinely wish to help us cross the mountain, then let them be handed over to Buddha Bodhisattva for punishment!"

Sha Wujing said, "Master, what my Elder Brother said makes sense!"

Tang Sanzang thought for a moment and sighed, "Very well." He then looked at Ao Tu with a somewhat ashamed expression.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's clear I have the ability to foresee the future. Now, because you are concerned about him being the Bodhisattva's Mount and a relative of the Buddha, you indeed dare not eliminate him."

Tang Sanzang clasped his hands and said, "This disciple is ashamed."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's only human nature, so it's fine. But the agreed price is non-refundable."

Tang Sanzang replied, "Of course."

Upon hearing this, Wukong curiously stepped forward and asked Ao Tu:

"How much did my master pay you to come and take action?"

Ao Tu said, "He didn't pay any money; he just gave me two items as payment."

Wukong asked, "What is that?"

Ao Tu took out a document and said, "It's written clearly in black and white. Take a look for yourself!"

Wukong took the document, read it, and exclaimed in surprise:

"Master, you've given him the Brocade Kasaya and the Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff!"

Tang Sanzang replied, "Yes."

Wukong thought to himself, "Oh no! How can we go now that we've lost our Kasaya Buddhist Staff?" He couldn't help but look at Bajie and Sha Wujing, complaining, "Why didn't you two stop me?"

Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother, I tried to stop him, but Second Senior Brother insisted on selling it, and I couldn't stop him!"

Bajie whispered, "Brother, I thought you'd be dead and we'd never get the True Scriptures, so I divided the belongings and we parted ways. I sold our Belongings so I could avenge you!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong cursed him as an idiot, but had no choice but to turn around and look at Ao Tu, only to see Ao Tu grinning at him.

Wukong realized he had been tricked again and could only say:

"Dragon Brother, now that I'm still alive, this document is invalid, and you should return my Kasaya Buddhist Staff to me?"

Ao Tu said, "What, Monkey? It's all written clearly in black and white here. You want to go back on your word? If you break the agreement, don't blame me for reporting you to the authorities and having you and your master imprisoned for ten years!"

Wukong knew he was in the wrong, and having no other choice, he could only say:

"I dare not break the contract! I dare not break the contract! Here's the deal: whatever the price in gold and silver, I, Old Sun, will buy it back."

Ao Tu laughed, "This is more like it." He took out the Brocade Kasaya and showed it to everyone, saying:

"This Kasaya, a single strand draped by a dragon, saves it from the calamity of being devoured by Golden-Winged Great Peng; a single thread draped by a crane, grants it the wondrous power of transcending the mortal realm. Exquisitely adorned with scattered, shimmering flowers, its bright colors radiate a dazzling, precious glow. Wearing it, one is enveloped in a Colored Clouds. Primordial light shines through the Heavenly Gate, and precious aura arises before the Five Sacred Mountains. Layer upon layer of passionflowers are inlaid, and dazzling pearls hang like Stars. If we were to value it, it would truly be a priceless treasure; to speak of gold or silver would be vulgar. It must be exchanged for other treasures."

Bajie said, "You didn't say that when I sold it! You said it was a tattered Kasaya, mottled with insects and snakes, and you were asking for five qian of silver!"

Ao Tu said, "Now is the time for me to sell, so naturally it's different from before."

Wukong asked, "What treasure do you want to trade for it?"

Ao Tu said, "Not much, just three treasures. Bring your own Golden Cudgel, your junior brother's Rake, and your Precious Staff, and I'll exchange them with you."

Wukong said, "Dragon Brother, you're putting us in a difficult position. Just tell me how you'll let us, master and disciple, pass through!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "The Main Road is right there, and no one is stopping us, so why can't we go?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, the Kasaya Buddhist Staff have already been pawned, there's no reason to ask for them back. I have an old Kasaya to keep warm, and I can still reach the Western Heaven. Let's Journey Westward!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong and Tang Sanzang shook their heads and said:

"Master, that's not how it's said. The old Kasaya can indeed keep you warm, but I'm afraid it can only take you to the Western Heaven, not into Western Heaven."