Tears Fell on Hidden Mist Mountain (VII)

Meanwhile, Ao Tu used Witchcraft to make grain grow in the mountains.

The Hunter' eyes lit up with amazement. They thought to themselves, "This is truly Immortal! If we could learn this Spellcraft, why would we need to go into the mountains to make a living? We could just lie at home, make a hand gesture, and chant a spell, and crops would grow!"

Ao Tu said, "Each of you cut a load and carry it back!"

The Hunter were overjoyed and thanked them, then each cut their own grain and tied it up with Rope.

There was still a lot of unharvested crops left in the field. Seeing this, the Hunter said to Ao Tu, "Virtuous Daoist Master, we'll harvest these for you too, and store them in your Cave Abode!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "No need! No need! This humble Daoist no longer needs to eat grains. As the saying goes, 'Contemplate the Purple Palace and gaze upon the Jade Capital, inhale and exhale the clouds and mist to nourish the spirit.' This is the method of my Daoism!"

The hunters were filled with envy upon hearing this.

Someone asked, "Virtuous Daoist Master, since you don't eat grains, what do you do with the leftover food?"

Ao Tu said, "Then I don't need it!"

Everyone exclaimed in surprise, "No, thank you!"

Ao Tu smiled and nodded.

Looking at the large, plump grains of rice, everyone felt a pang of heartache. This kind of rice, even if sold, would be top-quality white rice that only Wealthy Household could afford! What difference was there between it and piles of silver? Could they just throw it away like that?

Ao Tu had anticipated everyone's reaction and laughed:

"You need not be distressed. Just bury all this grain back in the field, and the next day I will perform a ritual to make even more grain grow."

Upon hearing this, everyone thought, "Even if more grain grows tomorrow, we still won't be able to use it all. It will just be wasted anyway!"

One person couldn't help but ask, "Virtuous Daoist Master, can you accommodate more people to listen to your teachings? I'd like to invite a few more neighbors; they are all from good families who have admired Daoism since childhood!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "The Taoist Technique does not discriminate based on the number of people; as long as one has the aptitude and affinity for the Dao, one can listen to its teachings."

Upon hearing this, the crowd returned home with joy, gathered their neighbors and friends, and went into the mountains to listen to the teachings.

Within a few days, the reputation of the Youde spread far and wide, and people from all around came to listen to his teachings.

The Little Demons of Hidden Mist Mountain toiled tirelessly every day, first tidying up the area; second, cultivating more land; and third, setting up a millstone, some grinding rice and others grinding flour. They worked extremely hard without pay, being treated as laborers.

With so many people, some are born with unforeseen ailments, such as lameness or blindness. Ao Tu then bestows Talisman Water upon them, teaching them how to cure these conditions.

For those with common injuries or illnesses, Ao Tu would not prescribe Talisman Water, for fear of ruining the Physician's livelihood.

However, the Physician also came to listen to the teachings and even figured out a few Dharma Method for treating illnesses, making him one of the more insightful people among them.

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples left the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom and were heading towards Hidden Mist Mountain.

Wukong was cheerful all the way, sometimes walking ahead with his staff, picking flowers and cutting grass, sometimes jumping on a cloud, shading his eyes with his hand and looking around.

Sha Wujing laughed and said, "Second Senior Brother, Elder Brother has been in a very good mood these past few days. I've never seen him smile like this before!"

Bajie said, "Yes, he's found his maternal grandfather!"

Hearing this, Wukong turned around and cursed him as an idiot, but didn't bother to hit Bajie with his staff.

It's true that his will is strong; if it were any other time, he would have given me a good beating before he would have stopped.

After walking for a while, Tang Sanzang was a little tired, so he dismounted and rested under the shade of a tree by the roadside, saying to Wukong:

"Wukong, I'm a little hungry. Could you please get me some Buddhist vegetarian meal?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong agreed and went to ask Bajie for the Alms Bowl.

Bajie handed over the Alms Bowl and said, "Brother! We've been eating wild vegetable porridge every day for the past few days, and my stomach is constantly churning with bitterness. Do you think you could find a Wealthy Household and get some more oily food?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie! We monks are lucky to have anything to eat when we're traveling. How dare you be picky?"

Bajie complained, "We can't just eat wild vegetable porridge! I'm too weak to carry this load, I have no oil in my Old Pig!"

Wukong laughed and said, "Bajie, don't worry, let Old Sun go and look for them!"

After saying this, Wukong rode up on a cloud and went forward. After traveling one or two hundred miles, he saw a large mountain with many houses around it and a lot of Cooking Smoke from their chimneys, but he did not see any wealthy households.

Wukong thought to himself that he probably wouldn't be able to get any good food this time. If he went too far to beg, he was afraid that there would be Demon and that Bajie and Sha Wujing wouldn't be able to protect him. So he descended from the cloud, transformed into a little monk, and went to a house to knock on the door.

The family opened the door. Wukong looked around the courtyard and, seeing it wasn't a wealthy family, bowed and said, "Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor, my master is hungry and asked me to come and beg for some Buddhist vegetarian meal. Do you have any leftovers? I beg you to give me a little."

Upon hearing this, the family took the Alms Bowl and said, "Little monk, wait here, I'll fill it for you."

Wukong thanked him and waited outside.

Before long, the man came out with a Alms Bowl full of fine rice, topped with a layer of daylily buds mixed with Incense Oil and spiced tofu.

Upon seeing this, Wukong exclaimed with delight, "You've gone to great lengths, Benefactor! You've gone to great lengths, Benefactor!"

The man smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all. This is what my family usually eats. Seeing that you, a young monk, are already begging for alms for your master, which shows your filial piety, I gave you a little more."

Wukong thanked them again, thinking to himself that this family was actually quite wealthy; their house and courtyard looked ordinary, but their food was excellent. So he took the Buddhist vegetarian meal back with him, and the four of them shared it before happily setting off on their Journey to the West.

Meanwhile, Ao Tu True Body returned to the Western Liang Women’s Kingdom.

This is a country of women. It is the height of summer, and many women, with bare arms, are playing in the water to escape the heat, picking lotus pods and water chestnuts. There are no men in the country, so no one is bothered by this.

Ao Tu walked straight into the Palace. The new king had already ascended the throne. Ao Tu had seen him a few times when he returned before, but they weren't really familiar. Only the old Grand Preceptor was someone he knew from back then. Ao Tu glanced at him a few more times, but didn't disturb him.

After reaching the Palace, there is a secluded courtyard with a waterside pavilion, vermilion doors and painted railings, surrounded by Flowers and Trees.

Ao Tu pushed open the door and went inside. There were some Maids and servants in the courtyard, but they couldn't see Ao Tu.

Suddenly, a white shadow flew out of the water, several feet long. It was a White Chi, circling around Ao Tu, and exclaimed joyfully, "Older Brother! You're back!"

Ao Tu reached out and touched her head. The dragon had no horns, so it felt smooth and comfortable to the touch, just like jade.

Ao Tu had previously left her in the Western Liang Women’s Kingdom, partly to take care of the Queen, and partly to allow her to perform rituals of rain and clouds in the Western Liang Women's Kingdom to accumulate Merit for her spiritual practice.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "You've refined the transverse bone in your mouth?"

The White Chi nodded, then shrank to a few feet in length and flew into Ao Tu's arms, nuzzling him affectionately. It then snuggled into Ao Tu's arms, but cried out "Ouch!" as it was burned and pulled back.

A ball of Li Fire emerged from Ao Tu's arms, and a little red bird chirped and sang in the flame.

White Chi said aggrievedly, "Older Brother left me here because he has someone else in his arms!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu couldn't help but reach out and slap her, laughing, "Don't be like that girl Jiangzhu!"

Then he extended his wrist.

The Little White Chi whimpered and obediently wrapped itself around Ao Tu's wrist.

Ao Tu then went inside.

They hadn't gone far when the Queen heard the commotion and came out to greet them.