Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom (10)

Meanwhile, Guanyin Bodhisattva had prepared the meal.

The four members of the Tang Sanzang ate to their hearts' content.

Bajie said, "This Old Granny's cooking is excellent! I, Old Pig, have never had such delicious Buddhist vegetarian meal on this journey!"

Wukong laughed, "With skills like that, it's no wonder the old man is afraid of his wife!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, don't be rude!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's alright! It's alright! Elder Sun teasing this old man!"

Wukong said, "Old man, I wonder where your son is hiding outside the city. I'd like to go and get him."

Ao Tu sighed, "I don't know where that rebellious son is hiding either, but Elder Sun need not worry, he will surely return."

Wukong asked, "Why is that?"

Ao Tu said, "Because I reported him to the authorities, he suffered a loss and will definitely come back to settle accounts with us two old people."

Upon hearing this, Wukong's eyes darted around, and he laughed, "If that's the case, then I have an idea."

Bajie asked, "Brother, do you have any good ideas?"

Wukong chuckled and patted Bajie's belly, saying, "Bajie, you'll have to do the work! When it gets dark, you transform into an old woman, and I'll transform into an old man. We'll wait for the rabbit to run into the tree stump!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie thought for a moment and readily agreed.

If it were Demon, he certainly wouldn't dare to transform, but those Thieves were all Mortal, and he could handle them on his own even without Wukong, so he didn't refuse.

As night fell, Wukong Bajie transformed and went to sleep in the main house.

Ao Tu then went to live in a small hut with Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "You old man, why aren't you sleeping? What are you looking out for?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Look what's going on! I'll take you there later, and we'll go see it together."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "You're not tired even though you haven't rested for a day, but I am."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu blew out the lamp, stretched out his hand to shield his eyes from the stars and moon, and said, "Go to sleep first, I'll wake you up later."

Guanyin Bodhisattva agreed and went to sleep.

At midnight, Minghe led his band of thieves into the city and arrived at his home.

Hearing the commotion, Wukong shook Bajie awake and said, "They're here! They're here!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie sprang to his feet, drew his Rake, and exclaimed, "Here it comes! Let's get started!"

Wukong said, "Wait a moment, don't make a move here, lest you hurt the two elders."

Upon hearing this, Bajie put away his Rake.

The Patriarch Styx led the band of thieves into the courtyard.

"Big Brother," said Ground-Digging Tiger, "The clouds are thick today, there's not a glimmer of moonlight, we can't see anything! Why don't we light some torches?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "No! We just committed a crime during the day, and there will definitely be heavy guards at night. We can't light torches! This is my home, I know it very well. Follow me!"

The thieves agreed and followed the Patriarch Styx to the inner room. They pried open the door and found two people sleeping on the bed.

The bandits took out two sacks, covered the two men with them, hoisted them onto their shoulders, and said, "Your Great King, it's done!"

Patriarch Styx said, "Let's go!"

The bandits then headed out of the city.

Bajie Wukong were trapped in the sack, laughing as they used a powerful downward pull, instantly pinning the two thieves carrying them to the ground.

"What a waste! You can't even lift two old people?" the Ground-Digging Tiger cursed.

The two thieves said, "Your Great King's parents must have eaten something to grow so heavy!"

"Get out of the way, I'll carry it!" said the man Ground-Digging Tiger.

The two thieves then stepped aside.

Ground-Digging Tiger picked up a burlap sack, effortlessly slung it over his shoulder, and couldn't help but say, "What's so heavy about this? It's not even as heavy as a thousand taels of silver. If it were a thousand taels of silver, you wouldn't say you couldn't carry it!"

The thieves laughed and said, "If it were a thousand taels of silver, I would treat it like my own parents!"

The One-Eyed Dragon next to him also picked one up.

The bandits reached the city wall, took the grappling hooks, and climbed up the wall.

Going up was easy, but coming down, Wukong and Bajie used a powerful downward throw together, and the Ground-Digging Tiger and the One-Eyed Dragon cried out and fell down from above.

If it weren't for the Patriarch Styx catching the two men below, they would have fallen to their deaths.

The bandits carried Wukong Bajie to an open space in the wilderness, lit torches, and took down the sack.

Wukong feigned ignorance and asked, "Who is it? Who kidnapped me here?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "You two old fools, open your eyes and see! I'm the one who robbed you! Tell me, why did you report this to the authorities?"

Wukong laughed and said, "My son, I'm doing this so that you will reform your ways! What's so good about being Bandits? Fighting and killing all day long, making friends with a bunch of scoundrels. If you ever fall on hard times, how many of them will be willing to help you?"

Bajie said, "When a monk dies, at least the disciple knows to dig a hole, build a grave, and offer sacrifices! But if you're Bandits, no one cares if you die out there!"

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch Styx began to say "noisy," and was about to expose the two's transformation when he remembered Ao Tu's words earlier, and changed his words:

"What do you know? I've roamed the martial world since childhood, received divine skills from a master, and mastered unparalleled abilities! Who dares to come after me, and who is stronger than me? Even if the King of Men sends an army to kill me, I'm not afraid! How could I possibly be in trouble? I have a word to tell you!"

Wukong laughed and asked, "What words?"

Patriarch Styx said:

"Living deep in the mountains amidst chaotic rocks, they are most skilled at murder and arson."

The soldiers couldn't subdue me, and there were endless official documents.

Bajie said, "Brother, this guy has quite the nerve!"

Wukong sneered at Hua Yunlong, saying, "My son, where do you think you live in 'deep mountains and rocky hills'? If your parents hadn't spoiled you so much, how could you have become so arrogant and conceited? Today, Old Sun, will show you what real skills are!"

The Patriarch Styx said coldly:

"I knew you were using Disguise and Transformation Technique! When have those two old geezers ever dared to speak to me like that! Who are you?"

Wukong laughed and said, "My son, what's wrong with your memory? You don't recognize me after just one day?" After saying that, Wukong transformed back into his Original Form.

Upon seeing this, Bajie also transformed back into his Original Form.

The Patriarch Styx said, "So it's you! Instead of going to trade horses, how dare you meddle in my affairs?"

Wukong laughed, "My son, I am not some horse trader, but the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong Eastern Land, Sun Wukong, who protects the Reverend Monk from the Great Tang Dynasty on his Journey to the West Buddhist scriptures! Your parents asked me to persuade you to abandon evil and do good! You were Bandits outside, and your parents have prayed to every god and Buddha, do you know that? Just now you gave me a poem, and now I have a poem to give you! Listen to this:"

The sea turtle once bullied the frog in the well, Golden-Winged Great Peng spread its wings and soared to the ends of the earth.

There are always stronger hands among the strong; don't boast in front of others.

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch Styx became angry and said:

"Well, you monk, how dare you insult me! Since you're so siding with those two old hags, why don't you take them into your home and support them yourself!"

Wukong retorted angrily, "You beast! I think you're asking for a beating!"

The Patriarch Styx said, "Fight! I am the ancestor of fighting!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong drew his Golden Cudgel.

Bajie raised his Rake.

The Patriarch Styx and the bandits all drew their Steel Saber.

Wukong struck out with his staff, breaking the Steel Saber in the hand of the Patriarch Styx in two.

The thieves were so frightened that they all retreated.

Wukong was about to step forward.

Patriarch Styx said, "Wait!"

Wukong laughed and said, "What's wrong, my son? Are you scared?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "Who's afraid? It's just that I don't have a suitable weapon. Do you dare to fight me without a weapon?"

Wukong asked, "What is there to be afraid of?"

Having said that, he put away his Golden Cudgel.