Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom (XVIII)

After seeking help for a long time, Wukong obtained precious materials and forged Divine Weapon, but the Patriarch Styx thought it was too light.

Wukong retorted angrily, "You scoundrel! I kindly brought you this treasure, and you're complaining about everything! Your father is over seventy years old and a schoolteacher, too weak to even kill a chicken. Your mother does all the cooking and heating on a daily basis. Using this thing as a walking stick, how could he possibly take a single step?"

Patriarch Styx said:

"What do you know, monk? Weigh this stick in your hand; it's not even half your weight! You have good stuff to offer me, but instead you give me this piece of junk. Is that what you truly care about?"

Wukong was furious when he heard this. He wanted to scold the scoundrel for being ungrateful, but the words wouldn't come out. He could only take his stick and go back.

Zong Yun returned to Ao Tu's home.

When Tang Sanzang saw Wukong return, he hurriedly asked, "Wukong, how did it go? Did you manage to persuade the Old Benefactor's son to come back?"

Wukong said, "No, that thief complained that the weapon was too light and asked for another one!"

Ao Tu, leaning on his cane, came over and, upon hearing this, angrily cursed:

"That unfilial son! He got a treasure for nothing and still wasn't satisfied, he wanted to exchange it for something else. What sins have I committed to give birth to such a wicked child!"

Wukong said, "Old man! If the weapon isn't to your liking, what's wrong with getting another one? Why are you cursing him for no reason?"

Ao Tu, upon hearing this, continued to ramble on and on, cursing his unfilial son and his wretched child, which greatly annoyed Wukong.

Guanyin Bodhisattva approached with a smile, carrying a bowl of food. She set the food down, took Ao Tu's hand, and intertwined their fingers. She said with a smile, "Alright, old man, let's not talk about this anymore. The elders have been worrying about our affairs for a long time. Let them have their Buddhist vegetarian meal first!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu stopped talking.

Bajie asked, "Brother, what should we do now?"

Wukong said, "Since he thinks it's too light, we can make a heavier one. But we don't know where to put this staff, and it can't transform, so it's inconvenient to carry it on the Journey to the West to the West. Why not give it to the old man as a walking stick?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu laughed and said, "This old man has a walking stick now. It's said to be the Wooden Staff that Kuafu used to chase the sun. I was fortunate enough to obtain it, and I've found it very convenient to use over the years. I don't need this Iron Club anymore."

Wukong laughed and said, "You old man, you're quite the joker!"

Bajie and the others also beamed with joy.

He laughed.

Bajie came up with an idea and said, "Brother! He complains that the staff is too light. Why don't we melt it down, add some precious materials, and mold a rake head, just like my Nine-Toothed Rake? Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Great idea! Let's do it this way!"

So Wukong took the staff back and had the gods melt it down, adding various precious materials. The Artisans hammered and refined it for another 108 days until it was finally completed.

It was a Nine-Toothed Rake, exactly the same as Bajie's Supreme Treasure Qinjin Rake, inlaid with various treasures, shimmering with Jewel Light, and weighing 7,200 catties.

Wukong took the treasure and rushed to the Bandit Mountain, handing it to Hua Yunlong and asking, "What do you think of this treasure?"

The Patriarch Styx examined the weapons; they were acceptable, at least somewhat valuable, and the cat's-eye stone inlaid on the handle was a treasure. However, he still refused to accept them. He picked up the Rake, shook it, and said:

"It's not handy! It's not handy! I don't know how to use a rake! This thing is fine for my dad to rake the field and plant vegetables, but it's really not Ruyi for fighting with others! Please bring me another one!"

Wukong was furious upon hearing this, but for some reason, he couldn't utter the words and had to suppress his anger, saying:

"Tell me what weapons you can use, lest Old Sun, make a wasted trip!"

The Patriarch Styx laughed and said, "Any weapon will do except for the Rake."

Wukong then returned, melted down the Rake, and forged it for half a year according to the design of Sha Wujing's Precious Staff, creating a Demon-Subduing Staff that weighed 8,400 catties and was extremely powerful!

He then gave this item to the Patriarch Styx.

According to the Cult Leader's explanation, a staff weighing ten thousand catties is too light, and a Demon-Subduing Staff staff either. He should make Wukong run back and forth at least four or five times before accepting the treasure.

Unfortunately, the Monkey was too impatient and got very annoyed after only three trips.

When Ao Tu saw this, he thought that if he didn't take the Monkey in, it would become unruly, so he instructed Minghe to take it in.

Minghe then accepted the Demon-Subduing Staff.

Upon seeing this, Wukong calmed down considerably and said, "Hua Yunlong, now that you have the weapon, it's time to return the valuables and come back with Old Sun!"

Patriarch Styx said, "No rush! No rush!"

Wukong retorted angrily, "What, are you going to back out?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "It's not that I'm going back on my word, but now that I have the weapon, I have no clothes to match. As the saying goes, 'Returning home in Brocade Garment,' how can I go home wearing the clothes of a thief? I won't trouble you two, so please, monk, go and find some more!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong cursed, "You greedy scoundrel! You complain that the Iron Staff is too light, and the Rake is too heavy. You finally got the Precious Staff, and now you want some kind of armor and clothes? Are you even human?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "If not, I'll still be a thief on the mountain and I'll never go back."

Wukong had no choice but to return and report to the King, demanding the Treasure Garment back.

The King the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom said, "Holy Monk! I do not lack a few Treasure Garment, but that thief demanded weapons yesterday and armor today. I fear that even after taking the Treasure Garment, he will still not be satisfied and will demand even more!"

Wukong could only vouch for him, saying, "Your Majesty, once that thief obtains the Treasure Garment, he will surely reform."

Seeing that Wukong had said this, the King the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom could not say anything more, so he bestowed upon him Golden Threads Treasure Garment, White-Jade Armor, Python-Skin Boots, and Luminous-Pearl Crown, asking Wukong to send them over.

The Patriarch Styx was overjoyed to receive the Treasure Garment.

Wukong said, "Now that we have our weapons and armor, may we descend the mountain together?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "There is one more matter I would like to trouble you with."

Wukong was furious and said, "You scoundrel, what else do you want!"

The Patriarch Styx said, "Monk, why are you angry for no reason? I won't ask for any treasures this time! It's just that if I go back with you, those documents and notices will still be there. If people see them, won't that cause trouble? You tell the King to cross out those records and tear up the documents, and then I'll go down the mountain."

Upon hearing this, Wukong opened his mouth but couldn't speak. Looking at Hua Yunlong with a very complicated expression, he had no choice but to return and tell the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom about the matter.

After hearing this, the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

Among those officials, most of the civil officials agreed to close the case, prioritizing the stability of the country. Most of the military generals, however, said that the case could not be closed. Hua Yunlong was pushing his luck, and even if the case was closed, he probably wouldn't come down the mountain. We should Troops.

Among the ministers, there was an old Grand Preceptor who submitted a memorial:

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, although Hua Yunlong is somewhat greedy, he is not truly wicked. He also possesses some martial arts skills. Why doesn't Your Majesty issue an edict of Recruitment and Pacification, granting him an official position if he is willing to return the stolen silver? This would be a way to keep him in check. Wouldn't that be a display of Your Majesty's virtue?"

Upon hearing this, the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom was pondering.

Wukong jumped forward, grabbed the old Grand Preceptor, and called out, "Li Chang Geng, is that you?"

The old Grand Preceptor was already old, and when Wukong grabbed him, he was so startled that he cried out and fell to the ground. He then suffered a stroke and his whole body convulsed uncontrollably.

Wukong scratched his head and quickly channeled a breath of Immortal Breath into the old Grand Preceptor, which helped him recover.