Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom (Twenty)

Meanwhile, the general seemed to be a Wuqu Star Lord descended from the heavens, and spoke sarcastically to the Patriarch Styx.

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch Styx asked the officials beside him:

"Am I, the Five-City Commandant, truly just a lowly gatekeeper as he claims?"

The officials were all afraid and whispered:

"It's not a small position; there are captains and Foreman below them!"

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch Styx was filled with Fire Qi. He pushed the table aside and said:

"That King is utterly incompetent at employing people! When I was on the mountain, I was called Great King, but now that I've come down, how can he expect me to guard his gate? I'm quitting this post and going back to the mountain!"

He threw off his official robes, tore his official hat, turned around, went out of the city gate, smashed the gate, and returned to the Bandit Mountain.

On that Bandit Mountain, ever since the Patriarch Styx left, the Ground-Digging Tiger, One-Eyed Dragon, and their band of thieves have lost their backing and have no choice but to hide and avoid the government troops. During this time, many of them were captured and beheaded, and the rest had no money, so they lived a very miserable life.

Now that the Patriarch Styx has returned, the bandits have all rushed to his side again. People who have gathered by unjust means have no sense of loyalty whatsoever. The bandits did not mention a word about Hua Yunlong's previous acceptance of the Recruitment and Pacification, and instead all revered him as their Great King.

"Big Brother, even after becoming a high-ranking official, you haven't forgotten us. You are truly a man of great loyalty and righteousness!" said Ground-Digging Tiger.

The Patriarch Styx said, "What high-ranking official? The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom originally ordered me to guard his gate. How could I have done that? That's why I abandoned my official robes and came back up the mountain!"

"Good Ground-Digging Tiger! Isn't it better for Your Great King to be king in the mountains than to be a gatekeeper in the city? In my opinion, the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom is a king, and Your Great King is no less than him. You could even become a king yourself!"

The Patriarch Styx said, "Good! Good! Good! From now on, I will also be a king. Go and prepare a banner that reads 'King Qinfa Kingdom,' and hang it up!"

Ground-Digging Tiger rubbed his hands together and said awkwardly, "Your Great King, since you left, the brothers have had no business and have been working very hard. Now, all of us combined can't even scrape together two taels of silver!"

The Patriarch Styx said, "It's alright. You will all come down the mountain with me. I will take you to do some big business!"

The thieves were overjoyed upon hearing this.

The Patriarch Styx led his band of thieves down the Bandit Mountain, robbed a cart of government silver at the city gate, and pushed the cart back along the official road, with no one daring to stop them.

The following day, Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom King established his court, the general reported to the emperor:

"Your Majesty, yesterday, Hua Yunlong, the Five-City Commandant, disliked his low rank and abandoned his official robes to become a bandit in the mountains. He also robbed a cartload of government silver and fled. I beg Your Majesty's permission to lead troops to suppress him."

Another official reported, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! Hua Yunlong has obtained a weapon forged by the Holy Monk, weighing 8,400 jin (approximately 4,500 kg). A single blow to it will kill, and a mere graze will injure. How can we possibly defeat him? I heard that yesterday, when he left the city, he even broke down the city gates!"

The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom.

The old Grand Preceptor said, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, to subdue Hua Yunlong, we must invite the Holy Monk back."

The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom asked, "The Holy Monk has already left the country; how can we invite him back?"

The old Grand Preceptor said, "The Holy Monk and his disciples have been gone from the country for less than a month. We only need to send someone on Fast Horse to follow the Journey Westward route to catch up with them, and we will surely be able to bring them back!"

Upon hearing this, the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom immediately ordered his officials to give chase on Fast Horse.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples begged for alms along the way and slept in the open. Before they even reached the border of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom, they were overtaken by government officials.

The official said, "Holy Monk, Hua Yunlong has rebelled again and gone up the mountain! Now that he has Divine Weapon in his hands, no one can subdue him. His Majesty requests that you Holy Monk return and subdue this traitor!"

Tang Sanzang and his disciples had no choice but to return and continue staying at Ao Tu's house.

Wukong first went to Bandit Mountain to find Hua Yunlong. Upon arriving at the mountain, he saw a large banner bearing the four characters "King of the Qinfa Kingdom." Wukong stood there for a long time before entering the mountain and meeting Hua Yunlong, asking, "Why do you rebel?"

The Patriarch Styx asked, "Monk, if I offered you the job of a gatekeeper, would you rebel?"

Wukong said, "You've raised this banner and proclaimed yourself king; how can anyone let you have it?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "As the saying goes, emperors take turns ruling, and this year it's my turn. I possess Tongtian abilities and countless methods; what's wrong with sitting on this Throne?"

Wukong was speechless and could only sigh, saying:

"Have you considered that while you have the means, your parents don't? What will they do if you raise this banner of rebellion? Won't they be implicated?"

The Patriarch Styx asked, "Have you thought about this?"

Wukong was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "What did you say?"

Even the Patriarch Styx didn't understand the meaning of those words; he had only been taught to say them by Ao Tu, so he simply replied casually:

"I told you to send your monk back to deliver a message to that King: I, Hua Yunlong, am not some gatekeeper! He is the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom, but I will be the King of the Qinfa Kingdom!"

Wukong then returned to the Kingdom of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom and told the King of Extinction what Hua Yunlong had said.

Upon hearing this, the officials were all furious.

Wukong complained again, "If I had known this would happen, why did I only appoint him as a gatekeeper captain?"

The King the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom said, "When bestowing official titles, one proceeds from the lowest to the highest. Hua Yunlong has no merit whatsoever, so how can he be appointed to a high position?"

The general said, "Your Majesty, why say so much! Hua Yunlong's rebellious intentions have been revealed. I will lead the troops to annihilate him!"

The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom then agreed.

The general immediately led a force of two thousand men, with strong horses, brave soldiers, powerful bows and crossbows, and iron spears and silver lances, to the Bandit Mountain to quell the rebellion.

Seeing this, Wukong was worried and followed behind.

Troops arrived at the Bandit Mountain, the general said:

"Hua Yunlong is highly skilled in martial arts. If we force an attack on the mountain, we will suffer heavy losses and be difficult to capture! Order all places to prepare dry grass, firewood, and oil, set the mountain on fire, and shoot the bandits down with bows and arrows!"

Upon hearing this, the officers and soldiers immediately followed the order and set the mountain on fire.

Before long, fires rose up in all directions.

The bandits on the mountain were terrified when they saw this.

Patriarch Styx said, "Don't be afraid!"

I walked down the mountain, opened my mouth, and blew out a breath.

Yin Wind swept through and extinguished the fire in an instant.

The soldiers' horses, startled by the Yin Wind, scattered in all directions in panic.

When Wukong saw this, he knew that if left unchecked, the horses would surely trample. So he blew his whistle. He had once served Bimawen and knew some of the Laws. With this whistle, the horses would all bow their heads in peace.

Taking advantage of this opening, the Patriarch Styx leaped down the mountain, grabbed the general, and took him up the mountain to tie him up.

With no leader, the officers and soldiers had no choice but to retreat and report to the King.

When the King the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom heard that Hua Yunlong possessed both martial arts skills and the ability to manipulate wind, he was filled with fear and hurriedly summoned his ministers to discuss a solution.

What could the ministers do? Some suggested taking Hua Yunlong's parents hostage.

The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom hesitated, fearing he might anger Hua Yunlong. Hua Yunlong was currently only a king on the mountain; if he were provoked and attacked the imperial palace, who could withstand him?

After much discussion, no solution could be found.

Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom the King of France and Wukong Dao:

"Holy Monk, you once said you possessed Supernatural Ability powers to subdue Hua Yunlong, do you now have any way to save me?"

Wukong had no choice but to say: He couldn't defeat Hua Yunlong in a fight.

"Your Majesty, please don't be anxious. Let me, Old Sun, go to Heaven and plead for you!"

The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom was delighted upon hearing this and readily agreed.

After leaving the Golden Hall, Wukong went back to tell Tang Sanzang and the others what had happened.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang sighed repeatedly.

Upon learning this, Ao Tu whispered in Wukong's ear:

"I told you that unfilial son would never be satisfied, and now it's proven true! What should we do? What should we do?"

Wukong said irritably, "Alright, old man! I'll go to Heaven and ask someone to subdue your son and teach him to be good!"

At that time, in the Heavenly Realm.

The Jade Emperor hastily issued an edict summoning all the immortals to the Lingxiao Hall.