India Captures the Jade Rabbit (Twenty-Two)

Now, Guanyin Bodhisattva saw that Ao Tu had attained Great Dao and told him not to address her as his Ao Tu and disciple anymore.

Ao Tu smiled and pulled her into a pavilion to the side. It was where the banquet at the Styx Minghe had been set up. The banquet had been dismantled, but the pavilion was left behind because it would have been too much trouble to dismantle it.

Ao Tu took out a moon-white silk robe, embroidered with silver-white Mingyue and Auspicious Clouds, and pale blue Yao Grass Jade Flowers, and said with a smile, "This was a gift from the Taiyin Star Lord at the banquet earlier. Although it is beautiful, it makes me look less imposing. Since it is cold here, I am giving it to my Teacher."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Disciple, stop calling me Teacher."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Then why are you still calling me 'disciple'?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva, looking flustered, hurriedly explained, "I was just addressing her, I didn't mean 'disciple'..."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I just like this nickname."

As he spoke, he put the robe on Guanyin Bodhisattva, the brocade wrapped around her shoulders, taut across her chest, and tied around her waist. Ao Tu's hand also followed, gliding over the soft, fleshy abdomen hidden beneath Guanyin's robe.

Guanyin Bodhisattva silently performed the ritual.

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit cried out from outside, "Brother, she's secretly casting a spell! I can't see her! I can't see her!"

Before he could finish speaking, his voice trailed off.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I dressed my Teacher because I was afraid Teacher would be cold. It's just a filial act, so why should I be shy about it?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Ao Tu, met his gaze, and said thank you.

Ao Tu tied the ribbon back and forth twice, still feeling dissatisfied, and said, "Teacher, you are dignified and graceful; this outer robe is a bit tight. You should wear it draped over your shoulders."

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded in agreement.

Ao Tu then draped the robe over Guanyin Bodhisattva's shoulders, pulled Guanyin Bodhisattva to sit down beside him, borrowed Jade-Cleansing Bottle, went outside the pavilion, and poured the Three-Lights Divine Water onto the withered Begonia tree.

The Begonia then materialized.

She was an ugly woman with an old, sallow complexion, withered legs, and yellow skin. She wore a skirt made of withered leaves and grass and bowed in a rough voice, saying, "I thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Ao Tu laughed as he picked her up and fed her a Golden Elixir. The ugly woman instantly transformed back into Hong'er's original form, only her eyes were red and she looked very aggrieved.

Ao Tu kissed her and laughed, "Why are you changing your appearance in front of me? Do you think I don't recognize you? What, because I was busy with important matters and neglected you a little, you feel wronged and resentful towards me?"

Upon hearing this, Hong'er held back the tears that were about to fall from her eyes, and Earthly Way feigned strength, "I'm not wronged."

Ao Tu carried her into the pavilion and laughed, "Aren't you really wronged?"

Hong'er covered her fair body with her arms. Just now, she had transformed into an ugly woman, and her grass skirt was also a transformation. In fact, she was completely naked and had nothing on her body. Now, seeing Guanyin Bodhisattva, she inevitably felt ashamed. She also saw the robe that Ao Tu had just given to Guanyin Bodhisattva. Looking back at herself, she had nothing on her body, and felt even more aggrieved. So she wrote a poem about Begonia to express her feelings.

say:

"The steps of the fragrant herbs lead to the door of the ivy-covered gate; it is also suitable for the corner of the wall and for pots."

Flowers, because they love purity, find it hard to find a mate; people, because they grieve for autumn, are easily heartbroken.

The jade candle drips dry, tears falling in the wind; the crystal curtain tears through the moonlight.

I long to express my feelings to Chang'e, but the empty corridor is shrouded in darkness.

Ao Tu protected her privacy, smiling as he said, "You're clearly upset and resentful of my neglect, so why won't you say it outright?"

After speaking, Ao Tu told Guanyin Bodhisattva about how Hong'er stole the Lower Realm and helped him Attainment of the Dao Guanyin Bodhisattva.

When Hong'er heard that Ao Tu still remembered her contributions, she felt much better.

What she feared most was that Ao Tu would forget her.

Guanyin Bodhisattva praised Hong'er repeatedly and took off her own robe to cover her body.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "No need, just teach her to wear mine."

Ao Tu took off his outer robe, smiled, and looked down at Hong'er in his arms, saying, "If you don't like it, I won't let you wear it."

Hong'er blushed and said, "I don't mind."

Ao Tu then dressed her and asked her whether she wanted to go to the Heavenly Realm or the Blood Sea.

Hong'er couldn't think of a solution for the time being.

She stole the Queen Mother's celestial banner, Jade Emperor issued a decree for her arrest. Is she still able to return to the Heavenly Realm?

Ao Tu laughed and said it was alright, suggesting they go to the old place first and let her think it over slowly.

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, "Where is this old place?"

Ao Tu said, "You'll know once you come over, Teacher."

A short while later, the four arrived at Pansi Ridge.

That old place was originally the Zhuogou Spring on Pansi Ridge.

Hong'er was only wearing an outer robe at the time, Ao Tu helped her take off.

Seeing this Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit happily walked up to Ao Tu and said, "I will help my brother remove his clothes."

Ao Tu said, "It's alright to be free, just don't bite me."

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit, disappointed at being exposed, agreed to help Ao Tu undress.

Ao Tu was about to leave when he saw that his Teacher beside him had only taken off her outer robe, her jade-like fingers resting on her undergarment, and she was still somewhat hesitant.

Ao Tu said, "I'll help you solve it, Teacher."

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and hummed in agreement.

Ao Tu reached out and helped her untie her undergarments. The sash snapped up with a "plop" and then sagged slightly backward.

Ao Tu said, "Teacher's clothes should be bigger."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I usually transform myself, but I haven't changed at all when I came to see you today. This is because when we were husband and wife in our Reincarnation, I knew you had a particular fondness for these things."

Ao Tu supported her slender waist as they entered the hot spring, asking, "Which Reincarnation?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I took you in as my disciple and taught you swordsmanship on Mount Hua, but you didn't concentrate on studying the sword and insisted that I..."

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit listened to their conversation. Seeing Guanyin speaking with her usual compassionate, holy, and unapproachable demeanor, he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "So cold..."

Guanyin Bodhisattva possessed the Mind Reading, and before the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit utter a curse, she had already stopped her thoughts.

The three of them were soaking in the hot spring.

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit also took off its clothes, intending to soak in the water.

Ao Tu said, "Don't come down; stay outside and serve."

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit complained, "Why should I serve outside! I want to bathe with my brother too!"

Ao Tu ignored him.

Hong'er mistakenly thought that Ao Tu was preventing the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit from coming down out of consideration for her, so she hugged Ao Tu and said, "Let me help my sister down."

Ao Tu looked at the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit and, seeing how pitiful she was all alone on the shore, and with Hong'er pleading for her, he relented.

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Sister Hong'er."

He then plunged headfirst into the spring.

It sank to the bottom with a gurgling sound.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was telling the story of Reincarnation to Ao Tu's left.

Hong'er listened curiously from within Ao Tu's arms.

In the story, the master and apprentice did not have a good ending.

Because of their master-disciple relationship, they became obsessed with lust, neglected their swordsmanship, and ended up disgraced and perished.

Hong'er said dejectedly, "How did it end like this?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "At that time, my Teacher was extremely compassionate and sacrificed himself to help me get rid of my lustful desires, which is why the outcome was mostly bad."

Hong'er understood, then suddenly remembered something, looked around, and asked in confusion, "Where's my sister?"

Ao Tu sneered, "Trying to bite me in the water!"

Having said that, he opened his hand, and a precious chain fell into his palm.

This is a treasure personally crafted by Ao Tu. Because the Rat Spirit heart was incorrigible, he used this item to restrain her lust and guide her back to the righteous path.

With a gentle tug, the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit was pulled up.

Her little mouth was puffed out, probably from swallowing a lot of soup while diving in the hot spring. Her fair body thrashed about, pleading, "Brother, I won't do it again, please forgive me!"

Seeing Hong'er beside him, Ao Tu didn't bother arguing with her and let her go. Then, holding Hong'er in his arms, he talked to Hong'er about matters of the Heavenly Realm while soaking in the hot spring.