After Ao Tu arrived in the Gao Village area, the system's side quest updated as well.
The rewards for the other milestones remained unchanged. Only the rewards for the three milestones Ao Tu had reached at Guanyin Monastery-three days, seven days, and half a month-had changed.
From the looks of it, rewards for later milestones would remain listed without changing as long as Ao Tu had yet to reach them.
Ao Tu's current delay progress stood at twelve days, carried over from his progress at Guanyin Monastery.
In the Guanyin Monastery area, Ao Tu had delayed Tang Sanzang and his disciples for twenty-seven days. Since that fell short of thirty days, he had only received the fifteen-day reward, while the remaining twelve days had automatically carried over to this side quest.
Tang Sanzang and his disciples had yet to reach the Gao Village area, so the system's progress remained at twelve days and had not begun counting further.
Ao Tu had already decided how to delay Tang Sanzang and his disciples this time. He was determined to claim the reward for delaying them a full month.
He descended from the clouds and used a transformation spell to take on Tang Sanzang's appearance. Then he took two dragon scales, turning one into the Brocade Kasaya and the other into the Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff.
Clad in the kasaya and holding the monk's staff, Ao Tu cut a magnificent figure, his features noble and imposing. His teeth shone like silver masonry, his lips were red, and his mouth was square. The staff's nine rings chimed and clashed; the kasaya's bright pearls illuminated heaven and earth. He truly looked like a son of the Buddha descended to the mortal world, a holy monk walking among men.
Because Ao Tu had once tended the bells in the Western Heaven, he carried a trace of Buddhist aura and knew how to recite the scriptures. Thus, his transformation into a monk was especially convincing, the false indistinguishable from the true.
Reciting scriptures as he went, Ao Tu walked into Gao Village. He passed every other house and headed straight for Elder Gao's home.
Upon reaching it, he knocked on the door. Before long, it opened, and a young man stepped out.
The young man wore a cotton cloth wrapped around his head and a blue padded jacket. He was a servant in Elder Gao's household, named Gao Cai.
As soon as Gao Cai opened the door and saw Ao Tu's appearance, he could not help feeling a measure of respect. "Venerable monk, who might you be?" he asked.
Ao Tu said, "This humble monk has come from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land. By decree of Emperor Taizong, I am journeying to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. While passing through your esteemed village, I noticed demonic energy shrouding your household. There must be a reason for it, so I have come especially to dispel your calamity and relieve your troubles."
Delighted at these words, Gao Cai said:
"Yes, yes, you are right, venerable monk! You truly are a holy monk from the Great Tang. Please wait a moment, holy monk. I shall inform my master at once!"
Gao Cai hurried inside and reported this to Elder Gao.
Upon hearing the news, Elder Gao hastily changed his clothes and came out with Gao Cai to welcome him.
Elder Gao wore a black silk headcloth, an ivory brocade robe, calfskin boots the color of unpolished rice, and a dark green sash around his waist.
When he came out and saw Ao Tu's appearance, Elder Gao thought, He truly is a holy monk from the Great Tang. "Holy monk," he hastily greeted him, bowing with his hands clasped.
Ao Tu returned the bow.
Elder Gao invited Ao Tu into the inner hall to take a seat.
Once they were seated, Elder Gao asked, "I heard just now that you have come from the Eastern Land, holy monk?"
"Indeed," Ao Tu said. "By command of King Tang, this humble monk is journeying to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures."
Elder Gao said, "Since you have come from so far away, holy monk, you must surely possess magical powers. I beg you to take pity on us and rid my household of this monster."
Ao Tu said, "That will not be difficult. Tell me the monster's origins and the whole story. What abilities does he possess? What spells does he usually employ? When does he come each day to cause trouble, from which direction, and when does he leave? Then I can capture him for you."
Elder Gao said:
"As for this monster's origins, he has actually done our household some kindness.
"From ancient times to this day, our village has never suffered trouble from demons. But this unfortunate old man had no sons, only three daughters. The eldest is called Xiang Lan, the second Yu Lan, and the youngest Cui Lan.
"The two elder girls were married long ago to families in this village. For the youngest, I intended to take in a son-in-law, hoping he would live with us, support me in my old age, uphold the household, and tend to its work and duties.
"Unexpectedly, three years ago, a fellow came along whose looks were not bad at all. He said his family came from Fuling Mountain and his surname was Zhu. He had neither parents nor brothers and was willing to marry into our household.
"Seeing that he had no roots or ties elsewhere, I took him in. At first, he was diligent indeed. He plowed and harrowed without oxen or equipment, and harvested the grain without blades or tools. Up early and working late, he labored day and night. He really was quite good.
"There was just one thing: his face could change.
"When he first arrived, he was a stout, dark fellow. Later, he turned into a dolt with a long snout and huge ears, with a row of bristles down the back of his head. His body was coarse and frightening, and his head and face looked just like a pig's.
"His appetite was enormous, too. He needed three to five pecks of rice at a single meal, and even his morning snack required a hundred or so baked flatbreads. Fortunately, he only ate vegetarian food. If he had eaten meat as well, he would have devoured all my property and fields in less than half a year!
"And that was not all. Now he can summon winds, coming in clouds and leaving in mist, sending stones rolling and sand flying. He frightens everyone in my household, young and old, along with all our neighbors, until none of us can live in peace. He has locked my youngest daughter, Cui Lan, in the rear house. I have not seen her for half a year, and I do not even know whether she is alive or dead. Only then did I realize he was a monster. Please rid us of him, holy monk."
Ao Tu said, "He is still your son-in-law. He has worked and performed duties for your household for three whole years without harming you. Can you really bear to have him killed? Why don't I capture him and have him write a document dissolving the marriage and return your daughter? Would that not do?"
Elder Gao said, "Oh, venerable holy monk, who would want a monster for a son-in-law? Since taking him in, how much of my good name has he ruined, and how many relatives has he driven away? If you can capture him, why bother dissolving the marriage? Please help me tear out this trouble by the roots!"
Ao Tu inwardly shook his head. "Very well. When does he come?"
Elder Gao said, "He comes after nightfall and leaves at dawn. I shall prepare a vegetarian feast for you first, holy monk. If you need any weapons or men, just tell me so I can make the arrangements early."
Ao Tu said, "No weapons are needed. Find ten young men and prepare lights. I have a use for them."
Elder Gao said, "Easy enough, easy enough. I shall have everything ready for you, holy monk."
Before long, the vegetarian feast was served. Elder Gao also paid ten strong men from the village to come with torches and lanterns, making all the necessary preparations.
Not long after nightfall, a gust of wind indeed swept in, sending stones rolling and sand flying.
Ao Tu waited in his room for a while. When the wind gradually died away, he knew Zhu Bajie had entered the rear house, so he called everyone out.
He ordered the ten men to form two lines outside the house and light their torches and lanterns, illuminating the entire courtyard so brightly that every face was clearly visible.
Ao Tu said, "Whatever I say in a moment, repeat it after me. Shout it together three times."
Everyone nodded.
Ao Tu said, "Wuneng, come out and pay your respects to your master."
At his words, everyone shouted together, "Wuneng, come out and pay your respects to your master!"
Inside the house, Zhu Bajie was just about to climb into bed when he suddenly heard the shouting outside. Startled, he exclaimed, "Who is that? How do they know the Dharma name Guanyin Bodhisattva gave me, Old Pig? Could it be that the Pilgrim has
"arrived?"
Zhu Bajie immediately came out of the house to investigate.
Outside in the courtyard, Ao Tu had everyone remain where they were after they finished shouting, and waited.
Before long, a monster emerged, and he was ugly indeed: a black face covered in short bristles, a long snout, and huge ears. He wore a woven-cloth robe that was neither quite green nor quite blue, with a patterned cloth tied around his waist.
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