Deliverance in the Bhikshu Kingdom (IV)

Meanwhile, Ao Tu asked the Deer Spirit how it had seized control of the Bhikshu Kingdom.

The Deer Spirit dared not conceal the truth and said:

"I came from the Three Islands, and came here to face this calamity. I saw that the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was old and senile, lustful and immoral, so I offered him my daughter and told him to depose the Three Palace Consorts and six concubines, causing discord in the Imperial Harem and resentment among the maternal relatives."

The Old King was already weak and frail, and then he was afflicted by demonic energy, making him even more incurable. So I brought him Immortal Medicine from the Three Islands, saying that I would use the hearts of 1,111 children as the medicinal ingredient. The Old King actually agreed and ordered the whole city to capture children and take their hearts. As a result, the people of the country were full of complaints, and the officials were angry but dared not speak out.

Seeing that my plan was complete, just as I was about to take the heart, I instructed my daughter to lure the Old King out, transform him into my likeness, and I into his. Then we killed him in public, took his heart and liver to use as a medicinal ingredient, released the thousand children, and bestowed favors upon the people. As a result, they all supported me as King, and no one verified my identity. Thus, I seized the kingdom and its State Altars."

After listening, Ao Tu paused for a moment and then asked:

"You really released those thousand children?"

The Deer Spirit said, "Of course we'll release him. If we don't, are we really going to use him to cure that Old King's illness?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu couldn't help but laugh, and then asked:

"So you really did put it away, and didn't secretly keep it for yourself?"

The Deer Spirit said, "If I really release them, the whole nation will know. I'll even promote those children to official positions when they grow up! I only want to gain the trust of the people so I can enjoy the kingdom. The Three Islands have endless Immortal Medicine; why would I eat those children? If someone else kills them and gives them to me, I'll eat them. But if I'm forced to kill them, I fear I'll incur karmic retribution, and it would be a loss."

Ao Tu thought this made sense, and then asked, "Did you kill the Old King's offspring?"

The Deer Spirit said, "I killed them, Your Great King, please don't be angry. As the saying goes, 'cut the weeds and eliminate the roots.' I only imprisoned them in my mansion, and I killed them when they died of old age or illness."

Ao Tu nodded; he had expected this and hadn't expected the Deer Spirit to be a great Good Person. He said:

"Although you released those children, you still committed a crime by seizing their territory."

Upon hearing this, the Deer Spirit hurriedly said:

"Your Great King, why do you say such things? We are Demon! That King was immoral and deserved to lose his kingdom. If Your Great King is pleased, I am willing to give Great King the kingdom, and these three palaces of concubines are also for Your Great King to enjoy. If Your Great King finds them too old, then we will select one hundred beautiful young women from the whole country. What does Your Great King think?"

Upon hearing this, the white-faced fox's heart stirred, and it couldn't help but move closer to Ao Tu.

Upon seeing this, the Deer Spirit quickly lowered its neck and covered the fox with its antlers, saying, "Your Great King, this alone will not do; it is my most beloved possession!"

Ao Tu shook his head and said, "Who wants this? I don't want your kingdom either. It's just that I've taken on a disciple, the great-grandson of that Old King, who escaped from the palace during the chaos many years ago. I'll give you this kingdom for another thirteen years. After thirteen years, my disciple will grow up, and you can return the kingdom to him and let him restore the State Altars."

Upon hearing Deer Spirit thought that thirteen years was not a long time, and considering Ao Tu's reputation, he agreed.

Ao Tu was fairly satisfied that the Deer Spirit agreed to return the kingdom, so he tossed him a pill. The fox wanted one too, but Ao Tu ignored it.

Ao Tu thought for a moment and said:

"Now that Tang Sanzang and his disciples have arrived in the Bhikshu Kingdom, if they realize you are Demon, there will surely be a fight. Don't be afraid of Sun Wukong. Have people repair the Prison Cell these days, and then we'll lock them up."

Upon hearing this, the Deer Spirit was immediately frightened and said:

"Your Great King, how can I possibly defeat the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in the Havoc in Heaven? Even the Jade Emperor's dispatch of 100,000 Heavenly Soldiers couldn't subdue him. How can I possibly Prison Cell them?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? Sun Wukong a monk now and won't hurt people easily. With the support of your civil and military officials and the response of the people, you can simply issue an order to punish them for usurping the throne, imprison them, throw them in the death row, and then find an envoy to go to the Tang Kingdom to request an imperial decree for their execution."

The Deer Spirit said, "If that's the case, I can do it. But I'm afraid that Monkey will get impatient and fight me to the death."

Ao Tu said, "I currently reside at the Qinghua Manor on Willow Grove Slope south of the city. If that Monkey gets impatient, you can escape there, and I'll guarantee your safety."

The Deer Spirit thanked him repeatedly.

Ao Tu then left and wandered around the city, asking the people about the Deer Spirit was licentious in the palace, it was actually quite well-regarded by the people.

Firstly, he did not build palaces. Secondly, he enjoyed the pleasures of women and did not select many young women for the imperial concubine selection. Thirdly, he lived a long life and his rule was stable. Fourthly, because he was Demon, he had no favorite ministers or close advisors, and the Imperial Court. Therefore, he enjoyed decades of peace and stability, and the country prospered.

During this time, Ao Tu saw the spirit of the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom wandering in the alleyway.

The Old King was truly miserable; he couldn't even go to the City God.

Ao Tu thought that although the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was incompetent and immoral, he had suffered punishment for being a wandering ghost for decades. So he summoned the Yin Spirits to Youlai Youqu and take the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom away.

When the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom saw the underworld, he was unwilling to leave and fled immediately.

Youlai Youqu took out a large chain that could bind evil spirits, threw it at the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom, knocked him to the ground, and carried him down to the ground.

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom hurriedly said, "Grandpa Impermanence! Grandpa Underworld! Don't lock me up! Let me stay a little longer! Elder Tang from the Eastern Land has promised to restore my State Altars!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu gestured for Youlai Youqu to stop, spoke a few words with Youlai Youqu, and then Youlai Youqu about the matter from the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom.

At first, the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was evasive and didn't tell the truth.

Youlai Youqu its fangs and said, "If you don't tell the truth, I'll take you down with me. The Lord Yama is demanding your return!"

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom asked in fear, "What will Lord Yama, do with me?"

Youlai Youqu said, "What do you think we'll do with you?"

The king of Bhikkhu said, "I have heard that even a king can become a god after death due to his merits. However, the underworld lacks clerks and judges, so why should I go down to take up a post? If so, please ask the underworld officials to help spread the word that I haven't had enough of ruling the country yet. After the country is restored, I will serve for another ten years before going down."

Youlai Youqu laughed and said, "You Old King, you're always thinking good things. Let me tell you, I'm not going to make you some kind of clerk or prefect, but rather send you to the Stone-Pressing Hell, where you'll be repeatedly crushed into a pulp by giant iron mountains!"

Upon hearing this, the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, and cried out, "Why is this? Why is this?"

Youlai Youqu said, "Don't you know? Those who harm children deserve to suffer this hell!"

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom hurriedly said, "Grandpa Underworld, you're wrong, you're wrong! Those children aren't dead, I've released them all."

Youlai Youqu said, "Why don't you tell the truth? Did you release those children? Besides, I didn't say you killed them. This is the sin of harming children. If you really killed them, I'll send you to the Infinite Avici Hell!"

Upon hearing this, the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was so frightened that he dared not hide anything any longer. He hurriedly told the whole story of why he had concealed the matter and how he had tricked Tang Sanzang and his disciples into avenging him.

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu thought to himself, "Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!"

Originally, he had no intention of helping the Deer Spirit; he only planned to set up the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation at the Qinghua Manor to forcibly stop it.

Now it seems that this makes sense, doesn't it?

So they allowed Youlai Youqu to release the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom.

This Old King is still somewhat useful; perhaps Wukong will even ask him to resurrect the Old King later!