Deliverance in the Bhikshu Kingdom (11)

Then Wukong let out a loud shout.

The Deer Spirit, who was in the middle of having sex, panicked upon hearing this shout and trembled all over. In fact, if he had mobilized his Troops to surround him at that moment, Wukong would not have dared to make a move.

But because he was naked and had nothing to his name, he was in a panic and dared not resist. He picked up the Fox Spirit and fled straight to Willow Grove Slope.

As Wukong landed, the concubines panicked and scrambled to put on their clothes.

Wukong scoffed, "You recognized the good King, so why have you vanished in a flash of light?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen felt both ashamed and heartbroken. She wrapped a Deer Spirit robe made of deer spirit around her body to conceal her plump figure and said, "Many years ago, when I was abandoned by the Tyrant, I was already a dead person. Only because I indulged in pleasure did I survive until now. Now, having failed my father and been abandoned again, I have no choice but to die!"

He then bumped his head on the corner of the table.

The tables and chairs in that Palace were made of fine wood, as solid as iron; one impact and he was dead.

Wukong was somewhat at a loss when he saw this.

The other concubines were not dead, but they couldn't help but shed tears and weep.

Before long, the Old King sent the Old Chancellor and many other ministers to Prisons. When he brought his men over and saw that the Queen was dead, he cursed her as a vile woman and said that she died well. He then imprisoned all the concubines as well.

The palace Imperial Guards, fearing the talk of ghosts and spirits and knowing the Deer Spirit had left, dared not rebel.

Tang Sanzang followed behind and, seeing the Old King creating a great Prisons, hurriedly tried to dissuade him:

"Your Majesty! Now that you have restored the kingdom and driven away the Demon Evil, I hope you will prioritize national affairs, act with leniency and compassion, and refrain from implicating too many others, as this would be of no benefit to the country!"

The Old King, unimpressed, remarked casually, "What do you know, monk? What use are these disloyal people?"

Upon hearing this, fear gripped the hearts of some ministers and many soldiers who had just pledged allegiance to the Old King, and they lowered their heads, daring not to speak.

The Old King saw Wukong and stepped forward, asking, "Elder Sun, where is the Demon's corpse?"

Wukong said, "That Demon has escaped!"

The Old King exclaimed in alarm, "They've escaped!"

Wukong said, "That Demon escaped with your beautiful queen."

The Old King hurriedly turned around, took Tang Sanzang's arm, and said with tears in his eyes, "Holy Monk! If the Demon is not eliminated, will it not take its revenge on me? Our State Altars is in danger! Our people will suffer!"

The Old King shed tears, the tears streaming down his face, yellowish and foul-smelling. Tang Sanzang felt a little disgusted, but the Old King was unaware of it.

Wukong said, "Why are you crying? I'll just capture that Demon and eliminate the threat. But you must treat my master well and not neglect him in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, the Old King ordered, "Guards, invite the Holy Monk to stay at the Hall of Literary Brilliance."

Upon hearing this, the official invited Tang Sanzang to stay at his lodgings and retrieved the Travel Permit, luggage, horses, and other items that had been confiscated earlier, returning them to Tang Sanzang.

Wukong asked, "Where did that Demon come from? Does it have a place to live?"

The Old King said, "When that Demon came, he offered a woman, who became the beautiful queen. She claimed to be from the Qinghua Manor, Willow Grove Slope, seventy li south of the city."

Wukong said, "That's right, that Demon is indeed fleeing south. Sha Wujing, protect Master; Bajie, come with me to Subduing Demons."

Bajie said, "Brother, you are certainly well treated in Heaven. But I, Old Pig, have suffered with Master on earth for over a year! We only get a cornbread every day, and that's only during festivals! How can Subduing Demons when our stomachs are empty?"

The Old King hurriedly said, "Quickly prepare a banquet to entertain them!"

Before long, a vegetarian feast was laid out.

Bajie ate as much as he wanted.

Wukong ate it too.

Bajie said, "Brother, you've enjoyed so much in Heaven, you probably don't like these earthly things. Here, take these refreshing fruits, and I'll take the pastries you like."

Upon seeing this, the Old King explained, "Elder Zhu has actually misunderstood. When Elder Sun was in Heaven..."

Wukong quickly interrupted, "I'm tired of eating Immortal Fruit in Heaven, I don't like these! I don't like them!"

Bajie said, "You may not like it, but I don't mind! I'll eat it all!"

After Bajie had eaten his fill of vegetarian food, he and Wukong took to the clouds and headed south.

Seeing this ability to fly through the clouds, the officials felt even more that the Old King had divine assistance. They dared not rebel, yet they were also afraid that the Old King would hold them accountable later, leaving them conflicted.

Seeing that Wukong Bajie had left, the Old King turned around and looked at the officials, already planning to get rid of them to avenge his long-standing grudge.

Meanwhile, the Deer Spirit fled all the way to Willow Grove Slope, where it burrowed into the Qinghua Manor's Cave Heaven and cried out, "Your Great King, save me!"

Ao Tu said, "What's the rush? Change your clothes and stay in the manor."

Upon hearing this, the Deer Spirit repeatedly bowed in gratitude.

The Fox Spirit gave Ao Tu a flirtatious look.

Upon seeing this, the Deer Spirit hurriedly said, "Beauty, come to me quickly," and took the Fox Spirit away.

Ao Tu didn't care and summoned the Scorpion Demon, asking her to go and greet Wukong.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, Wukong and Bajie arrived on a Willow Grove Slope, but they couldn't find Qinghua Manor.

Wukong then summoned the local earth deity and asked for the location of the Qinghua Manor.

The Earthly Way, "Great Sage, I know about the Qinghua Manor, but there are Demon in it."

Wukong said, "I know there are Demon. If there were Demon, I wouldn't be looking for them!"

Bajie said, "You don't know, do you? My Elder Brother is a master at Subduing Demons demons and monsters. Those two Demon weren't even a match for his Golden Cudgel!"

The Earthly Way, "Two Demon? There are two hundred thousand Demon inside!"

Upon hearing Bajie, Pigsy trembled with fear, dropping his rake to the ground. He cried out, "Two hundred thousand Demon! Brother! Run! We'll be in big trouble if we don't leave!"

Having said that, he picked up the Rake and was about to leave.

Wukong grabbed him and said, "Don't rush! Don't rush!"

Bajie said, "There's no rush! It was supposed to be some Qinghua Manor, but it turns out to be five Lion Camel Ridge! Two hundred thousand Demon, how can you and I possibly defeat them?"

Wukong said, "Fool, don't you think about it? How many people in the world can gather two hundred thousand Demon? We've run into an acquaintance again! Go inside and don't argue. Just say you want him to settle the matter. This time, it's finally our turn to be in the right!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie understood.

Wukong then asked the local earth god how to get to that village.

The landowner explained the method.

Following the instructions, Wukong went to the base of a poplar tree at the nine-forked end of the south bank, turned left three times, turned right three times, and then struck the tree with both hands, shouting "Open the door!" three times. With a loud shout, the celestial Cave Heaven appeared.

The mist and haze are bright, the sun and moon steal a glimpse of light. White clouds often emerge from the cave, and green moss spreads wildly in the courtyard. Strange flowers along the path vie for beauty, and jade-like Yao Grass compete in fragrance across the steps. Bees carry red stamens to the cave, and butterflies play among the orchids by the stone screen.

The two went inside and saw a memorial archway with the four characters "Qinghua Immortal Abode" inscribed on it.

Below stood two rows of Demon, their armor impeccable, their aura fierce and menacing.

A female general sat on a sliding stool, dressed in a bright red robe and cloak, her armor gleaming. Seeing Wukong Bajie approach, she rose, Steel Fork in hand, and called out:

"Sun Wukong, do you still recognize your Granny?"

Wukong laughed, "Isn't this the Scorpion Demon from the Western Liang Women's Kingdom? Where is your master?"

Upon hearing the word "master," the Scorpion Demon smiled. If Wukong had asked, "Where is your Great King?" the word "Great King" would have sounded distant to others, which she would have disliked and would have tried to make things difficult for. But now that Wukong said "your master," the word "master" conveyed a sense of intimacy, and thus she was pleased.

The Scorpion Demon laughed, "The Great King knew you two were coming and ordered me to welcome you in!"

Wukong said, "Please! Please!"

The two then went inside.