Encountering a Monster at Zhenhai Temple (VI)

Meanwhile, the two monks caught the Rat Spirit who had stolen rice.

The Rat Spirit turned back and begged for mercy. But when the two monks saw the Rat Spirit's beautiful face, they were stunned and remained in a daze for a long time before they came back to their senses.

The senior brother said, "You've come to steal rice!"

The Rat Spirit placed her hand on the older monk's hand and pleaded in a soft, coquettish voice:

"I am from another family. My family has no food, and my in-laws beat and scold me. I have no other choice but to come to Buddha to beg for some grain to survive. Master, please forgive me this time!"

The senior brother touched the Rat Spirit's delicate hand, his heart melting. He completely forgot about Buddhist scriptures Precepts, and said happily, "Female Benefactor, don't worry, I'll get you the rice right away!"

The junior apprentice also eagerly stepped forward, saying, "I'll also get some rice for the Benefactor!"

The two men pulled out two bags from somewhere and began filling them with grain from the temple's Rice Jar without paying for it.

The Rat Spirit reached out and took the rough hands of the two monks, saying in a sweet voice, "Masters, that's enough! That's enough!"

The two monks, stroking the Rat Spirit's little hand reluctantly, Earthly Way, "Female Benefactor, is that enough? Please fill it up a little more! Buddha said, 'Have a compassionate heart!'"

The Rat Spirit couldn't help but laugh, and said gently, "That's enough! Taking these back will surely stop my in-laws from beating and scolding me! Both of you masters are good people! I mustn't be greedy and cause my benefactors to be punished for me!"

The two monks were completely bewildered by what they heard. The elder monk said, "Female Benefactor, punishment is nothing for you!" The younger monk said, "If your in-laws continue to beat you, come here!"

The Rat Spirit smiled and took their hands, saying:

"My two masters have been so kind to me, I don't know how to repay them?"

Upon hearing the word "repayment," the two monks' eyes lit up. They exchanged a glance, wanting to say that no repayment was needed, but the words wouldn't come out. Their palms sweated, and they stammered, "Repayment... repayment..."

The Rat Spirit laughed and said, "Yes! My parents have always taught me to be grateful and repay kindness. My two masters have been kind to me, how can I not repay them? But it's not convenient here. Why don't my two masters come with me and repay them outside?"

As the Rat Spirit spoke, she didn't care whether the two monks agreed or not, and swayed her slender waist as she walked outside.

She was afraid that if they fought inside the temple, they might make a scene and the Monkey would see them, so she led the two of them outside the temple.

The two monks were completely captivated. Gazing at the slender figure ahead, their minds were filled with thoughts Vision "repaying" her. Without a second thought, they each shouldered a bag of grain and followed closely behind, afraid of falling behind even a step.

Upon reaching the outside of the temple, the Rat Spirit stopped in its tracks.

Two monks approached, looked around, and, somewhat ashamed to speak, still asked, "Female Benefactor, are you going to repay your kindness here?"

The Rat Spirit revealed a ruthless look and laughed, "That's right!"

Having said that, he grabbed the two monks by the back of their necks, pulled at their flesh, and lifted them up by force, then rode away on a whirlwind. In a short while, he arrived at a dense forest in the distance, where he tossed the two monks into the woods and tossed them around.

Ao Tu saw the Rat Spirit, Zong Feng, from afar, came over to investigate, and said, "They caught the person so quickly."

The Rat Spirit took off her outer garment, revealing two snow-white arms, making it easier to attack, and said, "Now we just need Sun Wukong to come and save us."

Ao Tu nodded and said, "You did it neatly, didn't Sun Wukong see it?"

The Rat Spirit said, "Brother, don't worry. I only catch those who can't resist temptation. They came with me willingly, and no one was disturbed."

Ao Tu laughed, "I didn't expect you, you little slut, to have some principles."

The Rat Spirit laughed and said, "Of course. But I've never met anyone who can resist my temptation, so I've always eaten anyone I see, never letting anyone go." As she spoke, she grabbed the old monk's bald head, opened her mouth to gnaw, and soon she had cracked open the skull, with red and white stuff gushing out.

The two monks, who had fainted from the pain in their necks after being grabbed by the Rat Spirit, were now awakened by the pain and kept begging for mercy.

Ao Tu hurriedly reached out and pulled the Rat Spirit back, but the monk had already succumbed to the pain and died.

Ao Tu was furious and slapped the Rat Spirit demon, saying, "I taught you to catch two people, who taught you to kill them?"

The Rat Spirit felt wronged and said, "If you catch people and don't eat them, isn't it a waste of time? What kind of logic is that?"

Ao Tu said, "You used to eat people, and that was your fate, so I let it go. But now that you're under my command, you must obey my orders. How dare you disobey me in the slightest?"

Upon hearing this, the Rat Spirit dared not disobey Ao Tu's order and stepped forward, saying:

"I will listen to my brother. They are just a few Mortal. Why should my brother be angry?" As she spoke, she reached out and placed her hand on Ao Tu's chest to calm him down. Her posture was gentle, and she had completely forgotten that Ao Tu had slapped her just now.

Ao Tu ignored her flirtatious antics and went straight forward, using his Creation Technique to bring the recently deceased monk back to life.

The monk couldn't see Ao Tu either, only the Rat Spirit, and was terrified.

The Rat Spirit said, "Brother, I'll listen to you. I won't harm them, I'll just take their eggs, and then I'll take them back to fry and refine them, okay?"

Ao Tu cursed, "You little slut, you're utterly inhuman! Other spirits refine yang energy, but none are this ruthless! If you take their testicles, won't they be crippled?"

The Rat Spirit said, "I've already been very merciful since following my brother! In the past, I ate them alive! These Mortal are everywhere, they're not Tang Sanzang, why bother? Besides, they are monks, they don't marry or have children, so I don't think it would matter if we picked them."

Ao Tu said, "That won't do either. Some monks return to secular life, and even if they don't, they shouldn't be easily maimed. Just tie them up here and let them suffer a bit; that will be considered their transgression against the precepts."

The Rat Spirit had no choice but to reluctantly agree, so he tied the two monks to the tree and then returned to the Bottomless Cave with Ao Tu.

Upon entering the cave, the Rat Spirit couldn't help but exclaim:

"Ever since I came to serve my brother, I've become more chaste than any fairy in Heaven. After all that work, I've released two living people for nothing, and my brother won't even give me some Yang Essence to nourish my body?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu glanced indifferently at the little harlot, pointed his finger, and used his Supernatural Ability Rat Spirit fall to the ground, trembling like a leaf, tears streaming down her face, drooling, and hurriedly begging for mercy.

Ao Tu punished her, but considering that she would be capturing Tang Sanzang the next day, he didn't go too far and withdrew his magic.

Until the next day.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples stayed at Zhenhai Temple for one night. When they woke up, they heard the monks gathered outside. They were not chanting scriptures or ringing the bell. They were talking about something, and there were faint sounds of crying.

For some reason, Tang Sanzang sent Wukong out to inquire.

Wukong slipped into the crowd and asked the monks, only to learn that the two monks who had offered alms the day before were missing and hadn't returned all night; they were most likely dead.

The monks in the temple were somewhat fearful and worried, while those who were close to the two monks were heartbroken and shed tears.

Wukong then went back and told Tang Sanzang what had happened.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said with concern, "Wukong, could it be that the Demon we encountered yesterday has followed us and caused trouble for the monks in the temple?"

Bajie exclaimed in surprise, "Master, you're so dim-witted! We shouldn't be trying to avoid this, why are you taking it on yourself?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie! The Abbot kindly took us in, how could I bear to bring them disaster!"

Wukong laughed, "Master, don't worry! This is my business! Whether it's the Demon we encountered yesterday or some other Demon causing trouble, Old Sun, will capture it and quell the disturbance!"

Tang Sanzang exclaimed happily, "Disciple, it's wonderful that you have this intention!"

Bajie, hands clasped in his pockets, said, "Now you're not in a hurry to Journey to the West anymore! That Monkey always has a business deal, but I've never seen him succeed more than a few times."

Upon hearing this, Wukong stepped forward and struck him, saying, "You idiot, what did you say?"

Bajie begged for mercy, "Don't hit me! Don't hit me! I won't say anything more, okay?"

Wukong said, "I can't make a deal because you all lack loyalty! Those Demon always come in groups, but you never put in any effort for me. This time, Bajie, you'll come with me to catch the demons!"

Bajie that Wukong would hit him, Bajie had no choice but to agree, "Go! Go!"

The four of them then went to see the abbot.

The old Lama asked, "What's going on, elders?"

Bajie blurted out, "My senior brother's maternal grandfather is missing, and we need to go out and look for him!"

Wukong retorted angrily, "Clod, whose grandfather is missing!"

Bajie said, "If you weren't your grandfather, why would you be working so hard?"