Tears Shed on Hidden Mist Mountain (XIII)

When the Black Dog Spirit saw Wukong, he immediately begged for help.

Because he was originally a Demon Soldier under Ao Tu, and had participated in the great battles in Pansi Ridge and Lion Camel City, he recognized Wukong. He had also personally witnessed Wukong colluding with the Demon Dragon to harm the monks, so upon seeing Wukong, he immediately begged for help.

Wukong, however, did not recognize him.

The Black Dog Spirit then revealed its origins, saying:

"Great Sage, please do justice for us! We have been cultivating in the mountains, Sun Essence Worship and praying for the Moonlight Essence's essence, strictly adhering to the rules of Great King Ao Tu. We have never gone down the mountain to harm anyone. That Daoist, we don't know where he came from, seized our Cave Abode, stole our Immortal Elixir, captured us, hung us on a banner, and treated us like servants. He beats and scolds us constantly, he is extremely cruel. We have tried to escape several times, but he has caught us and forced us to do hard labor!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong immediately felt a surge of anger. He already harbored resentment towards the Daoist Daoist, and now, hearing the Black Dog Spirit's pitiful lament, he became even more enraged, scratching his ears and baring his teeth.

Seeing this, the woodcutter became somewhat frightened, so he took his Divine Whip to embolden the monster and shouted, "Demon, are you trying to rebel?"

The Black Dog Spirit shuddered at the sight of the whip.

The Little Spotted Leopard Spirit beside it was terrified, shrinking its neck and drooping its ears, saying, "Don't hit it, don't hit it," and kept pouring rice into the millstone.

Seeing this, Wukong retorted angrily, "You two cowardly Demon, you dare to say you've participated in great battles! Old Sun, have traveled all the way Journey to the West and have never seen a dignified Demon get bullied!"

The Black Dog Spirit said, "Great Sage, it's not that I'm afraid, it's just that the whip is very powerful. That Virtuous Daoist used magic on me, and it hurts terribly when it hits me!"

Wukong stepped forward with a cold laugh and said, "Virtuous Daoist, it seems you are lacking in virtue in your life, hence this name."

The woodcutter sensed something was wrong and stepped back, saying, "Monk Demon, what are you trying to do?"

Without saying much, Wukong pointed and used a Immobilization Spell to freeze the woodcutter in place, uttering the word "freeze."

Wukong snatched the Divine Whip, examined it, and snapped it in two with a forceful blow. It turned out to be a Willow Branch that had been transformed.

Upon seeing this Black Dog Spirit and the Little Leopard Spirit knelt on the ground, expressing their gratitude profusely, saying, "Thank you so much Great Sage, for saving us! Thank you so much Great Sage, for saving us!"

Wukong said, "No need for thanks, please rise."

The Black Dog Spirit and the Little Leopard Spirit dared not rise, and said, "Great Sage, we have another request. That Daoist has seized our Cave Abode, leaving us nowhere to live, and he has also taken several of our brothers to serve us in the cave. We beg the Great Sage to do us justice!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong readily agreed, saying, "Don't worry, I, Old Sun, will definitely stand up for you!"

The two demons were overjoyed upon hearing this.

Wukong then led the two demons out of the woodcutter's house to find Tang Sanzang and his companions.

On the way, Wukong pondered how to tell Tang Sanzang what had happened, and then he began to regret his actions.

He was somewhat dissatisfied with the Virtuous Daoist, and seeing that the two Demon were subordinates of an old friend, he listened to only one side of the story. Now, looking back, he still doesn't know how much of what the two Demon said was true and how much was false.

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his two companions hid in the Mountain Hollow for half a day without hearing any noise outside.

Tang Sanzang said, "Strange! Strange! Wukong said there were Demon Soldier lying in ambush ahead, and told us to hide here while he went to Subduing Demons. He's been gone for half a day now, but we haven't heard a single sound of fighting."

Sha Wujing said, "Perhaps the Demon here are poor and cannot afford weapons, so they fight bare-handed, which is why there is no sound."

Bajie said, "Even if you're empty-handed, there's still a shout of battle. How come there's no sound?"

Tang Sanzang asked, "Bajie, what do you think is going on?"

Bajie said, "In my Old Pig, that's not some Demon Soldier lying in ambush, nor is there any demonic aura. It's just the steam from a steamer where people are steaming rice and grinding flour. That Monkey saw it and was afraid we would compete with him for it, so he wanted to eat his fill first. That's why he made up a lie to lure us here so he could go and eat by himself."

Sha Wujing retorted, "Second Senior Brother, how can you say that about Elder Brother? Didn't we hear the whipping and shouting? What do you mean by that?"

Tang Sanzang nodded.

Bajie said, "You've all been fooled by that Monkey. That wasn't the sound of whipping or shouting."

Tang Sanzang asked, "What was that sound?"

Bajie said, "That's because they steamed too many buns and rice, and didn't have enough firewood. That's the sound of people shouting as they chop wood! Master, let's hurry, or those Monkey will eat us all!"

Even Sha Wujing, upon hearing this, still didn't believe it and tried to stop him:

"Master, we can't go! Elder Brother is not one to be greedy for food! There must be Demon ahead!"

Bajie asked, "There's Demon ahead. Did you see it with your own eyes or hear it?"

Sha Wujing said, "I'll listen to my Elder Brother!"

Just then, Wukong arrived with two Demon.

Upon seeing this, Sha Wujing exclaimed joyfully, "Master, look! Elder Brother has captured the Demon!"

Bajie exclaimed in surprise, "There really are Demon!"

He then drew his Rake and stepped forward, intending to kill the Demon and achieve merit.

Wukong said, "Bajie, don't fight?"

Bajie asked, "Why can't we fight Demon?"

Wukong said, "These are Demon under Ao Tu!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie immediately stopped.

Wukong led the two Demon to Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, what's going on?"

Wukong then explained the whole story.

Both Demon knelt on the ground and begged.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang pulled Wukong aside and asked, "Wukong, did you recognize them before?"

Wukong said, "I don't recognize them. That Demon Dragon has hundreds of thousands of subordinates; how could I possibly remember them all?"

Tang Sanzang then said, "Since we don't recognize you, know your background, or can easily distinguish the real from the fake, we must not act rashly!"

Wukong said, "Master, don't worry. It's not too late to make a move after Old Sun gone and found out the details."

Tang Sanzang nodded and said, "That's excellent."

Wukong then instructed Bajie to keep an eye on the two Demon while he went to find out the truth.

Bajie agreed, gripping his Rake, not daring to let go.

Wukong returned to Hidden Mist Mountain, arrived at the entrance of the Cave Abode, and called out:

"Daoist! Come out! Come out!"

Upon hearing the sound, Ao Tu came out and said, "You monk, instead of going to Journey to the West, why have you come back again?"

Wukong asked, "Old Sun, ask you, did you rob someone's Cave Abode and steal their Immortal Elixir of immortality?"

Ao Tu said, "No!"

Wukong said, "Then how come Old Sun, encountered two Demon who accused you of stealing my Cave Abode and Immortal Elixir, and of treating them like servants?"

Ao Tu said, "That's Demon, not a human. What's wrong with stealing it?"

Wukong was furious upon hearing this and said, "You damned Daoist! Old Sun ask you again, those two Demon said they never came down the mountain to harm people, yet you relied on your Supernatural Ability to rob Cave Abode and treat them like servants. Is that true?"

Ao Tu said, "Yes. It is precisely because they never come down the mountain to harm people that I have taken them as my servants. If they were Demon that harm people, I would have made sure they died without a burial place long ago!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong could not contain himself and immediately gritted his teeth, shouting:

"What a bullying Daoist! You seized someone's Cave Abode and you think you're in the right? Quickly return the Cave Abode and release the remaining Little Demon, and that'll be fine! Otherwise, Old Sun, will show you what I'm capable of!"

Ao Tu sneered, "A lowly Western Heaven sect dares to spout such arrogant words? Do they even know the Supernatural Ability of my Daoism?"