Praying for Rain in Fengxian County (IX)

Meanwhile, the Taoist Baoshan captured Heavenly King Li and his companions.

When the Water Virtue Star Lord saw this, he panicked and blamed Alu.

They were already guilty of crimes, and now they've captured Heavenly King Li —isn't that tantamount to open rebellion?

When the Jade Emperor learned of this, he was furious and they died.

Taoist Baoshan looked at the Water Virtue Star Lord and asked, "Who is this person?"

Alu said, "Uncle-Master, this is the Water Virtue Star Lord of Heavenly Court. He was demoted to the Lower Realm and made the local Water Lords because he accepted bribes from me."

Upon hearing this, Taoist Baoshan bowed and said:

"So you are Lower Realm the Mercury Star. This humble Daoist, Baoshan, greets you."

Having just witnessed the Daoist's prowess and hearing Alu address him as "Uncle-Master," the Water Virtue Star Lord knew that he was a fellow disciple of Taixi and dared not offend him, so he respectfully returned the greeting.

Taoist Baoshan, "This place is not safe to stay any longer. Alu, you must come with me quickly. Sun Wukong, you must continue your Journey to the West. Star Lords, I take my leave now. I hope we will meet again someday."

After saying that, he tried to pull Alu away.

Upon seeing this, the Water Virtue Star Lord hurriedly stopped his formalities and grabbed the Taoist Baoshan:

"Wait! Wait! Wait! If you leave, what will become of me? The Jade Emperor will be enraged and send down Heavenly Soldiers to put me on the Immortal Execution Platform. There will be no chance of seeing you again."

Taoist Baoshan, "Why should the Star Lords be afraid of the Immortal Execution Platform? Let's go our separate ways!"

The Water Virtue Star Lord exclaimed angrily, "What a fine Daoist! Why do you call yourself Baoshan? You committed a grave crime and left, leaving me to take the blame!"

Taoist Baoshan, "If that doesn't work, then Star Lords, you should abandon your divine position, go back and pack your Belongings, take plenty of gold and silver, and come with us!"

The Water Virtue Star Lord couldn't help but shed tears, saying, "How pitiful! How pitiful! I am the chief deity of the Water Department, in charge of all the waters under heaven, yet I have encountered you two fellow disciples who have betrayed me, bringing me to this state!"

Taoist Baoshan, "If you hadn't been greedy, how could you have ended up in this situation? To say such things now is truly shameless!"

Seeing the two arguing, Tang Sanzang quickly intervened and advised:

"My two Immortal Household, please refrain from arguing and discuss how to resolve this matter!"

Wukong said, "Yes! Arguing about who's right and who's wrong won't settle things!"

Taoist Baoshan, "That's easy, let's go!"

The Water Virtue Star Lord said, "Alas! What can be done? Alas! It is fate! I shall go back and pack my Belongings!"

Seeing that they were really about to leave, Tang Sanzang quickly said:

"No! No! If you leave, won't the people here suffer?"

The Water Virtue Star Lord waved his hand and said, "I can't even take care of myself, how can I care about the common people? Let them fend for themselves!"

Tang Sanzang, anxious, looked at Wukong and said, "Wukong, look at this..."

Wukong thought for a moment, then pulled at the Water Virtue Star Lord and said, "Water Virtue Star Lord, you haven't thought this through enough!"

Water Virtue Star Lord asked, "Where is it not done properly?"

Wukong said, "Think about it, one of them is your uncle and the other is your nephew. They went home together. If you go with them, wouldn't that be living under their roof?"

Water Virtue Star Lord pondered, "That's true..."

At this moment, Alu Taoist Baoshan, "Uncle-Master, I really can't abandon the people here. You should go first!"

Taoist Baoshan, "If you're not leaving, then I don't need to leave either. I don't care about such trivial matters!"

Tang Sanzang exclaimed happily, "Master, you have a solution?"

Taoist Baoshan, "Of course."

Alu asked, "Uncle-Master, what's your idea?"

Bao Shan Daoist said, "It's just a matter of taking one when one comes, taking two when two come; I have cultivated a body of divine powers and magic, vast and boundless, I will surely capture all those water, fire, thunder, battle, heavenly soldiers and generals, true lords and god kings in the cave!"

Water Virtue Star Lord couldn't help but say:

"Daoist, are you capable of accomplishing anything? How can Supernatural Ability defy the heavens? If we follow your Immortal Execution Platform. Our True Spirit will be ground to dust and thrown into the Nine Hells, becoming the Yin Wind that will blow through the valleys for countless millennia!"

Taoist Baoshan, "Then tell me, what's your plan?"

After thinking for a moment, the Water Virtue Star Lord said to Wukong, "Great Sage, I need you to go to the Heavenly Realm and summon that Taixi."

Wukong said, "That Daoist priest has always been at odds with Heavenly King Li. Now that he has injured Heavenly King Li, I'm afraid even if we call him down, it will be difficult to plead his case."

Water Virtue Star Lord said, "That old Daoist is known for his kindness and always shows courtesy to everyone. Even though he's at odds with Heavenly King Li, he can still find a way to maintain a semblance of leniency! Now that his disciple and fellow disciple have caused trouble, it's time to bring him down!"

Wukong listened and thought it made sense, so he mounted his Somersault Cloud and headed towards the Heavenly Realm.

Water Virtue Star Lord called from behind, "Great Sage, hurry up! If we're too late, the Jade Emperor will be furious!"

Wukong agreed and headed straight for the South Heaven Gate.

Upon seeing him, the Heavenly King Guangmu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Great Sage, you've come again. Have you encountered some Demon this time?"

Unable to reveal the truth, Wukong could only vaguely reply, "More or less, more or less!"

Heavenly King Guangmu said, "It's quite a coincidence that the Giant Spirit God, Heavenly King Li, Third Prince Nezha, have just Lower Realm. Did the Great Sage encounter them?"

Wukong blushed and lied, "No! No!"

The Heavenly King Guangmu said, "Great Sage, please go!"

Wukong hurried past the South Heavenly Gate and headed straight for the Flower Realm of Separation from Hatred.

At that time, Ao Tu was cultivating Lotus Flower in the Flower Realm.

Ao Tu absorbed the Buddha's fruit into his Third-Grade Golden Lotus and kept it by his side. Now it has grown to the fourth grade and is about to reach the fifth grade.

During his time in the Flower Realm, the Golden Lotus grew extremely fast, new petals formed, and the fragrance of lotus permeated the air.

"Perhaps it's thanks to Jiangzhu's care."

Ao Tu joked.

Jiangzhu said, "My Benefactor is just saying nice things. How could the growth of this spirit creature be my achievement? If I believed him, who knows how he would laugh at me!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu laughed and pulled her to his side, saying, "What if I said it was Apricot Immortal's doing? Wouldn't you be angry?"

Jiangzhu said, "Why would I get angry over such a trivial matter?"

Ao Tu asked, "Really?"

Jiangzhu said, "Really."

Ao Tu then embraced her, placing his hand over his heart, and said, "If you are flustered and your heart is wavering, then you are lying!"

Jiangzhu was naturally shy and easily embarrassed. Hearing this, she couldn't bear it. Her heart pounded, her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, complaining, "My Benefactor has actually bullied me!"

Ao Tu reached out and rubbed his hand against her cheek to wipe away the blush, then said, "The Monkey is coming. Go pick some pears, I'll go greet him."

Jiangzhu gave a soft "hmm" and went to pick pears.

Ao Tu went outside and happened to meet Wukong, inviting him in.

Wukong said, "True Lord, stop serving tea! Something terrible has happened. Come with me quickly."

Ao Tu said, "Tell me what trouble you have in store, so I can be prepared."

Wukong then briefly recounted his journey through Fengxian County, his encounter with Alu and Taoist Baoshan, his initial attempt to reach out to Spirit Mountain, the failed attempt, and his subsequent capture of Heavenly King Li and others.

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. My junior brother is of an upright character; the Great Sage should have come looking for me sooner. If he had come earlier, I could have made arrangements at Spirit Mountain, and the matter would have been resolved."

Wukong said, "The Great Monk doesn't show favoritism. Even Tathagata you True Lord, go to Spirit Mountain, you can't let personal feelings interfere."

Ao Tu smiled and said nothing more. He simply instructed Jiangzhu to wrap up the pears she had just picked, and then followed Wukong down to the mortal Lower Realm.