Now, Heavenly King Li led his troops to Wuji Kingdom.
Heavenly King Li could have taken the Demon Daoist away directly without disturbing the mortals, but instead, he deliberately led his troops in revealing their divine forms above the palace and asked the King of Wuji Kingdom where the Demon Daoist was, though he already knew.
Why was that?
Simply because immortals believed in "acting openly and leaving their names behind." They would never do things in secret.
After asking where the Demon Daoist was, Heavenly King Li took his heavenly soldiers to the top of the Buddhist pagoda, untied the Green-Haired Lion Demon, and escorted him back to the Heavenly Court to report.
In the Heavenly Court, within the treasured Lingxiao Hall.
Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor issued a decree ordering Green Lion taken to the Demon-Slaying Platform and beheaded at the hour of the Rabbit, and invited all the gods to watch.
The gods were all delighted.
Wukong said, "Your Majesty, allow me to make a trip to the mortal realm first."
Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor asked, "Wukong, what business do you have below?"
Wukong said, "One day in heaven is a year below. If the beheading is at the hour of the Rabbit, I fear my master will grow anxious waiting down there, so I want to tell him first."
Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor smiled. "Your devotion to your master is commendable, Wukong. Go on, go on."
Wukong left Lingxiao Hall and, with a somersault, reached the mortal realm. He met Tang Sanzang and the King of Wuji Kingdom and told them in detail what had happened in the Heavenly Realm.
The King of Wuji Kingdom sighed deeply upon hearing it. He had never imagined that a case no one would originally hear would now stir so many