Encountering a Monster at Zhenhai Temple (VII)

Meanwhile, Wukong said he would help the temple catch the Demon.

The old Lama was delighted to hear this and instructed the monks in the temple to take good care of Tang Sanzang. Wukong and Bajie then went out to capture the demon.

The two first searched around outside the temple.

Wukong asked, "Bajie, did you find anything?"

Bajie said, "We didn't find anything, but we saw a lot of rice growing on the ground. It seems that the Western World is so blessed that food can grow out of thin air!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong stepped forward to examine it and scolded, "Fool! This is clearly the temple's food! That Demon must have kidnapped people and it fell down here. Let's go and look for it!"

Bajie agreed, huffing and puffing, and followed Wukong in search of the trail.

Wukong was nimble and darted in and out of the forest, Bajie Lumbersome, was tripped up by the Grass and Wood and could not walk fast.

Wukong laughed, "Bajie, hurry up, hurry up!"

Bajie said, "Brother, this is Desolate Mountain wilderness, where are we supposed to look for anyone? Even if we did find them, they'd probably have been eaten by Yaoguai by now. I think we should just go back!"

Wukong said, "This journey Journey to the West isn't all about speed. If we don't get rid of the Demon, they'll continue to harm good people. Even Master wouldn't allow us to go back. Hurry up, keep up!"

Bajie had no choice but to follow.

The two followed the trail and searched for a while in the forest. They heard someone calling for help, the voice very weak, so they rushed over and found two monks tied to a tree.

Wukong blew a breath of immortal Immortal Breath and untied the Rope the two monks.

The two monks had been tied up all night and detained for most of the day. They hadn't eaten or drunk anything, and were completely exhausted. Their bodies were numb and aching, and they couldn't even stand up. They collapsed to the ground.

This is what a human being looks like. Someone like that Rat Spirit, bound for five days and five nights and still full of energy, is hardly human.

Wukong laughed, "Bajie, quick, carry those two back!"

Bajie asked, "What did your grandfather ask me to recite?"

Wukong brandished his staff and shouted, "Idiot, what did you say? Are you going to recite it or not!"

Bajie, fearing the staff was too heavy, hurriedly said, "Carry me! Carry me! Who taught you to be so virtuous, giving you this easy job of carrying people, making me do the work while you get all the credit?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Good brother, let's each take one, and we'll both be credited for carrying them back."

Bajie said, "That's still a good thing to say." After saying that, he picked one up and carried it on his back.

Wukong also carried one on his back.

The two walked back a few steps, Bajie casually remarked, "It's strange, isn't it? This Demon captured people, but didn't eat them. He just tied them up here. Could it be that he wants to dry them and save them for winter?"

Wukong asked, "This forest is so dark, how can we dry our clothes?"

Bajie said, "That's strange. If it can't be dried in the sun, why is it tied up here?"

Wukong also felt something was amiss. After thinking it over carefully, he looked in the direction they had returned from and suddenly exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no! We've fallen into a trap!"

Bajie asked, "What plan?"

Before Wukong could say anything, he threw the monk off his back onto Bajie and flew away on a cloud.

On the other side.

The Rat Spirit, having seen Wukong and Bajie leave, sneaked back into the temple.

Tang Sanzang was only protected by Sha Wujing.

The Rat Spirit was overjoyed, thinking to himself that his brother's plan was indeed brilliant, having lured Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie away without lifting a finger.

The remaining Sha Monk was of little ability, so the Rat Spirit simply conjured a gust of Yin Wind and left.

A chill was in the air, and the gauze curtains fluttered wildly; the gloom was palpable, and the Buddhist Lamp flickered. The temple's doors and windows were all shattered by the wind.

Upon seeing this, Sha Wujing covered his eyes, thinking to himself, "What a strong wind!" He said, "Master, the wind is picking up! I'll go and block the doors and windows!"

Tang Sanzang covered his face with his sleeve and responded.

Sha Wujing stepped forward, closed the door, and locked it with a latch.

Taking advantage of the moment, the Rat Spirit snatched Tang Sanzang out through the window.

Tang Sanzang was unable to speak, but Sha Wujing was quick and efficient. After locking the door, he turned around and saw Tang Sanzang flying out the window.

Sha Wujing was greatly alarmed, cried out "Master!" drew his Precious Staff, and gave chase.

The Rat Spirit, unafraid of him, took a double-edged sword and, with swift movements, began to fight with Sha Wujing.

Although this Rat Spirit was usually dissolute, she was also a queen among women, and very powerful. She fought with Sha Wujing in the Heaven, and a cold wind rose up, plunging Yin Wind world into darkness, with only the sound of clanging. In terms of agility, Sha Wujing's Precious Staff was not as fast as the Rat Spirit's sword; in terms of strength, Sha Wujing was not as powerful as the Rat Spirit; and in terms of Supernatural Ability, Sha Wujing had none.

So after fighting for forty or fifty rounds, the Rat Spirit kicked Sha Wujing in the chest, knocking him down from the cloud. She then took Tang Sanzang away and went straight back to the Bottomless Cave, where she arranged for her Little Demon to cut red flowers and set them up in the bridal chamber.

When Wukong returned to the temple, his master was nowhere to be found; only Sha Wujing remained.

Sha Wujing cried out, "Elder Brother, it's terrible! Master has been captured by Demon!"

Wukong had already suspected it was Lure the Tiger Away from the Mountain Stratagem, so he abandoned the monks and rushed back, only to find himself too late. Enraged, he couldn't help but question Sha Wujing:

"What are you good for? Weren't you supposed to protect Master?"

Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother, that Demon is incredibly powerful. First, she conjured a gust of demonic Supernatural Ability, intending to take Master away in the chaos. I saw through her plan and fought her for over a hundred rounds in the Heaven, but I was no match for her and was knocked down to the ground. Master was also captured by her!"

Wukong asked, "Do you know where they were taken?"

Sha Wujing said, "I didn't see it."

Upon hearing this, Wukong became anxious and irritable. He flew around in the Heaven but could not find the Demon. He secretly resented Sha Wujing for being incompetent, but seeing that he had indeed put in the effort, he could not scold him too much. He could only suppress his anger and wait for Bajie to return so that the three of them could go to find their master together.

Bajie, carrying two monks on his back, was unaware that his master had been lost. He cursed the Bimawen all the way back to the temple.

Wukong Sha Wujing were already waiting outside the temple.

Upon seeing the two men, Bajie abandoned the two monks and cursed, "Bimawen boy! What kind of trick did you fall for? You wanted to leave your two grandfathers to me so you could come back and claim credit! Have you even become a human being?!"

When Wukong saw him insulting him, he was furious. He wasn't just angry at Bajie, but he just took the opportunity to start hitting him randomly. Sha Wujing took a few punches for no reason, which hurt even more than the kicks from the Rat Spirit.

Bajie quickly dodged, saying, "This Monkey wants to kill us so he can go home!"

Sha Wujing said, "Second Senior Brother, stop talking! Master has been captured by Demon!"

Bajie was terrified and quickly begged for mercy, saying some nice things, and said that the three of them would go to find their master together.

Wukong then stopped.

Sha Wujing said, "But we don't know where to look for it?"

Wukong said, "That Demon plotted in the Black Pine Forest the other day; it must be not far from her Demon Cave. Let's go there to find her."

Bajie and Sha Wujing readily agreed, and the three of them rode on the clouds all the way to the Black Pine Forest. They searched around but could not find it.

Wukong was extremely anxious, for this Demon was different from the ones before. In the past, although the Demon Dragon had blocked their path, it had never truly harmed his master. Now, however, he knew nothing of this wild Demon's true nature, and if they arrived too late, his master might truly fall victim to its clutches.

Wukong then used his Supernatural Ability to create Three Heads and Six Arms monster and wreaked havoc in the forest, causing the Mountain Gods and Earth Gods to appear.

Bajie said, "Brother Pigsy got angry and beat those two old men out!"

The Mountain Gods and Earth Gods were so frightened that they knelt on the ground.

Wukong shouted, "You two damned Mountain Gods and Earth Gods, how did you collude with Demon to capture my master? Quickly confess the truth!"