Tears shed on Hidden Mist Mountain (16)

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and Ao Tu were arguing, but Ao Tu refused to listen to the Buddhist scriptures.

Tang Sanzang was at a loss for what to do.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Monk, there's a saying that you should speak differently depending on the person you meet. If you encounter a Daoist Daoist and you speak Buddhist scriptures scriptures, no one will listen; if you encounter a Confucian Buddha and you don't lecture on the Thirteen Classics, they won't pay attention to you either. When your Buddhist Sect Shakyamuni was preaching and expounding the scriptures, he also talked about business with merchants, about the afterlife with common people, and about caste with kings and nobles. How can you not know this?"

Tang Sanzang listened and felt that Ao Tu's words made sense. He wanted to clasp his hands and bow, but he was bound and could not move, so he could only say:

"This humble monk has learned much. However, I have been familiar with the Buddhist Sect scriptures since childhood in the temple and have never read Daoism classics before, so..."

Ao Tu said, "I don't care about that. If you want to argue with me, you can only discuss Daoism classics. Although Buddhism and Daoism differ in their attire, their principles of cultivation are the same. If you truly have a point, you can also discuss it in Daoism classics. I'll get you a few Daoist Scriptures; take a look at them, and after you've read them thoroughly, then you can argue with me!"

Tang Sanzang thanked him again and agreed.

Ao Tu, however, did not go to retrieve the scriptures.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Master, weren't we supposed to be going to retrieve the Daoist Scriptures?"

Ao Tu said, "I'm afraid you'll take the scriptures while I'm doing this. It's not too late to take them after we've finished digging the Prison Cave."

Tang Sanzang said, "Daoist Master, this humble monk is absolutely not that kind of person!"

Ao Tu said, "You let your servant steal first, how can I easily believe you?"

Tang Sanzang had no choice but to turn to Wukong, hoping Wukong would apologize, but Wukong remained silent, his eyes closed as if resting.

Tang Sanzang could only sigh.

After about a day, the little Demon finished digging the Prison Cave.

That Black Dog Spirit was very good at digging holes. Its claws scratched the Shitou as easily as cutting tofu. In just one day and night, it led its Little Demon to build a fine Prison Cave.

Ao Tu didn't let the demons rest either, and continued to teach them how to build other Prison Cave, as they would be needed later.

The four members of the Tang Sanzang's group were imprisoned in Prison Cave. Ao Tu brought some Three Pure Ones Treasure Canon and Tao Te Ching and taught Tang Sanzang to read them in the Prison Cave.

When Tang Sanzang read those Daoist Scriptures, many of the words and allusions were obscure and difficult to understand.

Wukong glanced at it twice and casually gave the answer.

Tang Sanzang exclaimed happily, "Wukong, you know this Daoist Scriptures?"

Wukong said, "Old Sun when I was learning my skills on the Immortal Mountain, I was proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, and I was also familiar with Yin and Yang, the Five Phases Elements, and all the myriad methods!"

Tang Sanzang was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Wukong, then you teach your master to read this Daoist Scriptures!"

Wukong exclaimed, "Oh no! Oh no! How can there be a disciple teaching a master? Wouldn't that mess up the seniority?"

Tang Sanzang said, "I teach you Buddhist Dharma, which includes teaching you conduct, Precepts, how to conduct yourself in the world, and the principles of Buddhism. Among these four paths, I am your teacher. Now that I do not Daoist Scriptures, you teach me the Daoist Scriptures, and you should be my teacher."

Wukong listened and shook his head, saying:

"Master, what's the Daoist Scriptures of you, a monk, studying Daoist scriptures? Don't be fooled by that Daoist. Even if you learn the Daoist Scriptures, you still won't be able to argue with him. And even if you could, I bet that old Daoist won't admit it. In the end, it'll all be for nothing. When you get to Spirit Mountain, I'm afraid some people will accuse you of abandoning Buddhism for Daoism!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Nonsense! How do you Taoist won't admit it? And how do you know someone is impeaching me on Spirit Mountain?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Master, you're a monk at home, you don't know anything about outside affairs! That Daoist Daoist bullies the weak and won't listen to Human Way to subdue him before he'll listen to reason with you. There's no other way. As for Spirit Mountain, there are many sects of monks there. Going to war is a minor matter; many fight to the death, and I've personally witnessed countless cases of monks fighting to the death!"

After listening to the Tang Sanzang, Tang Sanzang pondered for a long time and still felt that what the Daoist priest said made sense, and was not as Wukong said. So he picked up the Daoist Daoist Scriptures and continued to read them.

Seeing this, Wukong, knowing his master's temperament, stopped trying to persuade him. He said that Bajie also Daoist Scriptures left his body to seek help from the Demon Dragon Primordial Spirit.

Bajie, who was pretending to be asleep by the railing, couldn't help but curse the Bimawen when he heard what Wukong said. He was locked up in the Prison Cave and they wouldn't even let him rest.

Sure enough, when Tang Sanzang heard that Bajie also Daoist Scriptures the scriptures, he quickly brought the scriptures over to ask for his guidance.

Unable to Bajie, Pigsy had no choice but to explain to Tang Sanzang.

Meanwhile, Ao Tu True Body within the Blood Sea, knew that Wukong was coming. He instructed Minghe to receive him well, and then he himself slipped away to go to Pingding Mountain to find the Little Fox.

At Pingding Mountain, a girl is gathering the morning glow on the mountaintop.

There were many spirit foxes all around, cultivating with the help of the morning glow. Some of them had already transformed into human form like the girl, while others were not yet fully transformed, with a pair of fox ears and several fox tails. Still others had not yet transformed and were still in the form of foxes, lying lazily in the grass and on tree trunks, absorbing the morning glow and mist.

Ao Tu arrived and immediately spotted Xiao Jiu.

The Little Fox has already shed its nine tails and is now indistinguishable from Human Race; however, its bloodline remains unknown.

Ao Tu looked around at the fox clan, pointed to the sky, and sent down Three Thousand Emperor's Flowing Essence, which flew to all parts of the world. The foxes were overjoyed and ran after it.

When Xiao Jiu saw this, she stood up and wanted to chase after him, but her legs were too short, so she turned around and bumped into Ao Tu's arms.

"Ah!"

Xiao Jiu cried out in panic and quickly backed away.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's me."

Xiao Jiu heard a familiar voice, looked up, and exclaimed happily:

"So it's the Great King who's back!"

Ao Tu patted Xiao Jiu's head. The Little Fox had also removed its pair of fox ears. Its hair was smooth, and its ears were small, delicate, clean, and without any earrings or other ornaments.

Xiao Jiu excitedly pounced on Ao Tu and asked, "Is Your Great King finished with your business?"

Ao Tu shook his head and said, "I came to see you."

Upon hearing this, the Little Fox said with a hint of Earthly Way, "Didn't Your Great King say before that everything would be over once I had condensed the Heavenly Fox Bloodline?"

Ao Tu held her as they sat atop the mountain, praising her:

"I never expected you to have completed the bloodline condensation and physical transformation so quickly."

Xiao Jiu couldn't help but smile when she heard the praise.

Ao Tu looked down at her and saw that her eyes were bright and lively, her eyebrows were long and delicate, she wore a light red shirt over a white dress, her skin was as white as snow with a faint blush, and her figure was exquisite and charming.

Unfortunately, they are too small. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox has a long lifespan and grows slowly, much like the Dragon Race.

Ao Tu lowered his head and kissed it, saying, "Let me see if there are any impurities in the bloodline's refinement."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jiu blushed and snuggled against Ao Tu's chest, pleading like a kitten, "Your Great King, let's go to the Cave Abode and see!"

Ao Tu gently stroked Xiao Jiu's cheek with his finger and chuckled, "You're a hundred years old, yet you act like a child. Don't worry, everyone here has been drawn away by the Emperor's Flowing Essence. Even if there are people here, they won't see you or me."

Xiao Jiu, blushing, could only agree.

Ao Tu made her turn around, lifted the hem of her skirt behind her waist to reveal a section of her fair and slender waist, as delicate as a willow branch, along with the part of her tail that had taken shape below her waist. Ao Tu reached out and examined it carefully.

Ao Tu had no other thoughts but was concerned about the bloodline. He examined it carefully for a long time and saw that it was pure white without a trace of color. He then carefully felt it and confirmed that Xiao Jiu had completely transformed into Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.