Tears Shed on Hidden Mist Mountain (IX)

A few days later, Ao Tu and the Queen had eased their longing for each other.

The two leaned on each other on the couch. It was half dark. The Queen's face was delicate, like a peach with dew on it. Her eyes were slightly tired. She gently placed her hands on Ao Tu's shoulders, looked at Ao Tu a contented expression, and felt weak and powerless all over.

Among the Ao Tu, the Queen possessed a dignified bearing, a graceful figure, and a restrained yet elegant beauty. Her shoulders were broad yet well-proportioned, her waist slender yet not frail, and her hips full and plump, full yet not bloated.

However, despite her beautiful appearance, the Queen was merely outwardly elegant but inwardly useless.

Her beautiful eyes were often filled with tears, and her heart was filled with pity. Her soft bones were listless and powerless, and her spirit was exhausted and on the verge of collapse. All her strength was gone, and her muscles and bones were too weak to support her. She stood tall with her delicate feet curled up, and her tender body trembled as she begged for mercy.

It's a pity that despite having such a good constitution, she couldn't even compare to the Little Fox; she was only about the same as that girl, Jiangzhu.

Thinking of Jiangzhu, Ao Tu gently tugged at the Queen.

The Queen murmured softly, turned away, leaving behind a section of her silver back.

With one arm around her waist and the other on his heart, Ao Tu asked, "Have you thought it through? Do you want to go to Heaven or to the underworld?"

The Queen pondered deeply, but her mind was in turmoil; her heart was sometimes pounding, sometimes flattening, just like the fickle thoughts of a young girl.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Haven't decided yet?"

The Queen bit her lip and said, "Let's go underground."

Ao Tu asked, "How do we get to the underground?"

The Queen said, "A day in Heaven is a year on earth. Although one suffers the pain of longing on earth, one can spend much longer with Your Great King. Although the days in Heaven are short, they come and go in a hurry, which is not as beautiful."

Ao Tu replied, "Very well, it's just a pity I can't let you meet a younger sister. I'll arrange for you to meet after I've finished my business."

The Queen asked, "What sister?"

Ao Tu said, "The Heaven sister is a very kind person."

The Queen said, "Since she is from Heaven, she should be called elder sister."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Whoever lasts longer is the elder sister. Right now, you've lasted slightly longer than her."

Upon hearing this, the Queen felt ashamed, and couldn't help but picture a thin, sickly-looking person in her mind.

A few days later, Ao Tu brought the Queen back to the Blood Sea.

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples also arrived at the Hidden Mist Mountain area.

Wukong skipped ahead to clear the way, and just as he was enjoying himself, he saw a High Mountain, its peaks majestic and its strange clouds drifting by, exuding a certain spiritual aura.

Where there are spirits, there are either demons or immortals.

Wukong jumped onto a cloud and looked around.

Below the mountains, a strange mist could be seen.

It was dark and gloomy, hazy and indistinct.

Like a shadow in the daytime, like drifting dust.

The demon hides deep beneath the trees, concealing its presence and never revealing itself.

The sounds of whips and shouts could be heard from afar.

After listening, Wukong pondered and said:

"What Demon! It's probably hiding in the forest, whipping its troops, shouting commands, and yelling, trying to capture my master! This is another one of my business opportunities!"

Wukong then descended from the clouds.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, how is it?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Don't worry, Master, it's nothing!"

Tang Sanzang asked worriedly, "But Master, I sense some demonic energy in those mountains?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Master has gone through so many hardships, now he can even read demonic energy!"

Tang Sanzang said, "It's not that I can sense demonic energy. Look at that Black Fog in the mountains, it really doesn't look like a good place! Why don't we take a detour?"

Wukong said, "It's alright. There are two Demon, Old Sun, think they're just small Demon. Bajie can easily kill them. Let's go up the mountain!"

Bajie said, "Master, don't listen to him. This Monkey is always boasting! Before, when he met Hua Yunlong, he said he was just a petty thief, and he defeated him with just a couple of moves. Now he's calling him a 'little Demon.' Isn't he ashamed?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong angrily grabbed Bajie's ear and said, "Idiot! Do you even know who Hua Yunlong is?"

Bajie cried out, "It hurts! It hurts!"

As they were talking, the mountain mist suddenly dissipated.

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, look, the fog has dissipated!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong put down Bajie and looked towards the mountains. Sure enough, the demonic fog had dissipated, revealing a beautiful mountain. From afar, it appeared lush and green; upon closer inspection, it was mottled with color. Foxes and gibbons roamed in groups, while monkeys and apes played in teams.

Wukong used his Golden Eyes to look around, searching carefully, but he couldn't find any trace of demonic energy. He couldn't help but wonder, "Where did that demonic energy go?"

Just as he was pondering this, a Daoist emerged from the mountains, waving a strange banner. What was so strange about the banner? It was decorated with eight or nine clay figurines of children playing, sculpted into black dogs, leopards, and the like, all remarkably lifelike, as if they were real.

The Daoist Daoist chanted as he walked:

"Burning incense to pay homage to the Taiqing Heaven, cultivating inner energy and focusing the mind to cultivate the Jade Field."

Free yourself from the suffering of Life and Death in the Reincarnation, and attain immortality to become a true immortal.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Venerable Daoist priest, this humble monk greets you!"

Upon hearing the sound, Ao Tu looked up and saw Tang Sanzang and his companions. He exclaimed, "What bad luck! What bad luck!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong stepped forward and shouted, "How rude of Daoist! My master bowed to you, how dare you say 'bad luck'?"

Ao Tu said, "Meeting a bald donkey right in front of me is a curse that will shorten my Taoist!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie and Sha Wujing couldn't help but show anger on their faces and wanted to step forward to argue.

Tang Sanzang stopped the two and put his palms together, saying:

"Old Daoist priest, we are both Beyond the World and strangers to each other. Please do not speak ill of me!"

Ao Tu said, "Very well, I won't harm you. But ask me where you came from and where you are going?"

Tang Sanzang said, "This humble monk comes from the Great Tang Eastern Land. I am here on the orders of the King Tang to travel to the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and True Scriptures!"

Ao Tu asked, "You're from the Tang Dynasty, going to Spirit Mountain to worship Buddha?"

Tang Sanzang said, "That's right."

Ao Tu asked, "How come you're still alive? Did some Demon eat you on the way?"

Wukong retorted angrily, "How dare you speak like that, you old Daoist?"

Tang Sanzang said, "It was only because of the protection and support of my three disciples that I was able to overcome countless difficulties and arrive here."

Ao Tu said, "No wonder! I was wondering how you, a mere mortal monk, were still alive! Don't go any further; the further you go, the harder it gets, and you won't make it! I have a few Daoist Scriptures here. Organize them, change the covers, and say they're Buddhist scriptures. Take them back!"

Tang Sanzang looked up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Daoist Master. However, with Buddha above, this disciple dares not deceive you!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Buddha always turns a blind eye; he can't tell the difference between truth and falsehood."

Tang Sanzang shook his head and said, "This humble monk would dare not deceive Your Majesty. Even if the road ahead is fraught with difficulties, I will definitely go to the Western Heaven!"

Ao Tu shook his head and said, "It's hard to reason with a damned ghost! No wonder they say encountering a bald monk shortens your lifespan! Bad luck! Bad luck!"

After saying this, Ao Tu turned and walked back.

Seeing this, Wukong and his two companions were very annoyed and were about to chase after them to argue.

Tang Sanzang stopped the three of them.

Ao Tu walked a few steps and disappeared into the mountains.

Wukong asked, "Master, why has this monk, Jiandao, lowered his name?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, we monks don't need to care about empty fame. Besides, the Daoist priest was just being kind; we should be grateful."

Ao Tu watched from afar, thinking to himself that the four disciples had indeed grown up; even with his provocative words, they had not become angry.

Ao Tu thought for a moment and then hung a couplet in front of his Cave Abode.