Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 104 Battle Against Red Boy (Part 8)
However, the fairy in red had been wronged.

The other six sisters discussed reporting to the Queen Mother of the West to avenge their eldest sister.

The fairy in red, however, took the initiative to stop them from reporting, saying, "I was also at fault."

Upon hearing this, the fairies realized that something was amiss.

The fairy in green said, "Elder sister, he bullied you, what did you do wrong?"

The fairy in red said, "He changed his appearance. I saw that he was a wandering immortal and thought he was someone who came to curry favor with the powerful, so I looked down on him. Later, when I saw his true form, I realized..."

"Only then did you realize what?"

"The fairy in purple asked."

The fairy in red lowered her head and remained silent.

The fairy in green said, "Since you were wrong, eldest sister, why are you still feeling aggrieved? Your eyes are even red."

The fairy in red said aggrievedly, "He sees me as a greedy person, and he won't even let me feel aggrieved?"

Upon hearing this, the fairy in green scoffed and said:
"Let's go, let's go, sisters, time to get to work."

The fairy in purple said, "Ah, is it my eldest sister?"

The fairy in green said, "Never mind her, she's just had the 'joy fruit'!"

The fairy in purple asked, "What is the Joy Fruit?"

The fairy in green pointed at her and said, "Why do you ask so many questions? Go get back to work!"

Ao Tu descended from the sky and returned to the Blackwater River.

This trip lasted about two months, and the Blackwater River God's Palace was taken back by the Blackwater River God, who was also Mingniang's father.

Ao Tu arrived at the Divine Palace and kicked open the gate.

Upon seeing this, the River God of the Blackwater River hurriedly ordered, "Quickly, quickly, resist the demons!"

The soldiers from the Water Palace rushed out.

Ao Tu made a hand seal and chanted, "Freeze!"

All the shrimp soldiers and fish generals were frozen in place.

The river god of the Blackwater River was terrified upon seeing this and pushed the water away to escape.

Upon hearing the sound, Mingniang came out and, seeing that it was Ao Tu, quickly and obediently knelt down to the side.

Ao Tu ignored Ming Niang and looked at the old river god. After the old river god had fled for dozens of miles, Ao Tu made a hand seal and recited the God-Binding Incantation, and soon brought him back.

The river god of the Blackwater River was terrified and hurriedly knelt down, pleading, "Immortal, spare my life! Immortal, spare my life!"

Ao Tu looked at the father and daughter and said:

"I have no intention of harming you. As long as you cooperate honestly, the Divine Palace will be returned to you in less than a year or two, and you will also receive great compensation for your assistance to the pilgrims. Just don't be ungrateful, understand?"

The River God of the Blackwater River said tremblingly, "I understand."

Mingniang knelt down and said, "This lowly servant does not desire any great merit. I only ask to serve by the King's side. That would be enough for my life."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's not that you don't want great merit, it's that you want more. I don't lack servants, you may leave!"

Upon hearing this, Mingniang looked at him with resentment in her eyes and had no choice but to leave.

Ao Tu sat on the river god's throne, summoned the river god of the Blackwater River, and asked:
"Old River God, I see that there are houses on both sides of your river, so why is there no one crossing the river?"

The River God of the Blackwater River said, “Your Majesty, although the Blackwater River is a small river, it is still sixty miles wide. The people living on both banks are all poor and powerless to build large boats, and small boats are too difficult to cross, so there is no one to ferry them.”

Ao Tu asked, "Has anyone built a bridge?"

The River God of the Blackwater River said, "Your Majesty is joking. How can a bridge be built across a river that stretches for sixty miles?"

Ao Tu said, "Building a bridge to allow people on both banks to travel and exchange goods is a great achievement. Go and tell the people on the riverbank in their dreams that a divine monk will pass by soon and a bridge will be built over the Blackwater River."

The Blackwater River God hesitated, "This... Your Majesty, could you perhaps send someone else to deliver the dream?"

Ao Tu said, "If you don't go, I'll tear off your back armor."

The River God of the Blackwater River nodded vigorously and hurriedly replied, "Yes, this old man will go and send a message in your dream right away."

On the other side, Drill Mountain.

Red Boy selected a treasure trove for Ao Tu in the mountains, located in the very center of the Six Hundred Li Drill Mountain, with a front and back span of three hundred li. It was a steep, towering peak, which Ao Tu named Broken Arm Peak. He built a cave dwelling in the mountain, named Blood Sea Cave.

Red Boy asked, "Your Majesty, why is this mountain named Broken Arm Mountain?"

Ao Tu said, "Anyone who enters this mountain without permission will have one arm cut off first, hence the name Broken Arm Mountain."

Red Boy said, "That Blood Sea Cave must be where those who dared to trespass into the Great King's cave dwelling are. Let them experience the meaning of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood!"

Ao Tu said, "No, Blood Sea Cave is a name I made up on the spot, it doesn't have any meaning."

Red Boy was speechless for a moment.

For the next period of time, Ao Tu lived in the Blood Sea Cave. Since he only had Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Demon as his two subordinates, life was somewhat inconvenient.

Fortunately, Ao Tu still had Red Boy to do his bidding.

Ao Tu treated Hong Hai'er like a filial son, ordering him to do everything.

"Red Boy, go hunting for me."

"Red Boy, go and light the fire for me."

"Red Boy, go and fix the door for me."

"Red Boy, come and massage my legs."

"Red Boy, it's getting cold. Go and make me two quilts."

"Red Boy, stop hunting deer. Let's catch some birds to make soup for me today..."

Red Boy naturally didn't want to be bossed around like this forever.

One day, Red Boy said, "Your Majesty, how about I give you half of the little demons in my cave to serve you?"

Ao Tu said, "No! No! Red Boy, how can those little demons serve you as devotedly as you?" Red Boy then said, "Great King, how about I summon the mountain gods and local deities to serve you?"

Ao Tu reached out and struck Red Boy on the head, saying, "Red Boy, how have I taught you? How dare you bully others with your supernatural powers?"

Red Boy covered his head and said, "Your Majesty, you've never said this before!"

Ao Tu said, "Although I haven't said it directly, I've been teaching you by example. You see, I never order those little demons around at will. Isn't that a way of teaching you?"

Red Boy was furious, his anger blazing. He secretly vowed, "Once I learn Sun Wukong's magical powers, I will definitely avenge this humiliation!"

Ao Tu was in charge of ordering around Red Boy, providing him with food and drink as he pleased, and this went on for about half a year.

Tiger Vanguard reports: "Your Majesty, Tang Sanzang and his disciples have arrived from the main road!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu patted Red Boy, who was massaging his legs beside him, and said:

"Red Boy, Tang Sanzang and his disciples are here. You can't stay here any longer. Quickly devise a plan to gain their trust and extract their martial arts techniques."

Red Boy was overjoyed upon hearing this.

After half a year, he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel and his suffering was over!
Red Boy said, "Your Majesty, I'm going!"

Ao Tu said, "Wait!"

Red Boy stood still and asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Ao Tu said, "Red Boy, you better not betray me, or don't blame me for being ruthless."

Red Boy hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Red Boy is utterly loyal to you, how could I possibly betray you?"

Ao Tu asked, "Have you had any complaints about serving me during this time?"

Red Boy said, "Your Majesty, I admire you the most, and serving you brings me only joy. How could I have any complaints?"

Ao Tu nodded and said, "Good! Good! Go! After you succeed, I, the Great King, will reward you handsomely and bestow upon you divine skills and wondrous techniques!"

Upon hearing this, Red Boy thought to himself:
They want you to acquire the divine skill, then bestow it upon you, and expect you to be grateful.
That old demon has really got a good plan. He's utterly wicked! Aside from the three evil demons of Lion Camel Ridge, this old demon is the worst!
Red Boy cursed Ao Tu in his heart, but on the surface he pretended to be grateful and said:
"Your Majesty, rest assured, Red Boy will surely obtain the divine skill and present it to Your Majesty."

Ao Tu nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Red Boy bowed and took his leave. After leaving the Blood Sea Cave, he felt incredibly refreshed outside.

Containing his joy, Red Boy transformed into a red cloud and flew in the air, gazing at Tang Sanzang and his disciples in the distance.

They saw Tang Sanzang and his disciples walking on the main road outside the mountain, heading towards Drill Mountain.

Red Boy learned from Ao Tu that Sun Wukong was extremely powerful, so he dared not get close for fear of being discovered by Sun Wukong. He only glanced at them from afar to confirm the whereabouts of Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Then he descended from the clouds and landed in the forest in front of Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

Red Boy took off his battle skirt, dressed as a child, and hung himself naked from a tree.

At that time, Tang Sanzang and his disciples approached Drill Mountain.

It was now the transition from autumn to early winter.

But the surrounding scenery is as follows:

Frost withers the red leaves, making the forests thin; rain ripens the yellow millet, filling every place with abundance.

The sun warms the plum blossoms on the ridge at dawn, and the wind shakes the bamboo on the mountain, making a cold sound.

When Tang Sanzang arrived at the foot of the six-hundred-mile-long Drill Mountain, he saw another continuous mountain range, stretching endlessly, its length unknown; the mountain peaks stood tall, reaching into the sky, their height unknown.

Tang Sanzang said, “Disciple, we have traveled on flat roads for half a year. Even in desolate places, there are three or four households; even in steep places, it is only five or six miles of mountain road.”

Today you see this mountain range, but you don't know how many hundreds of miles it stretches. It's a deep, treacherous forest, utterly devoid of human habitation. I sense something ominous about it; we must be careful and cautious.”

Pigsy said, "Master, in my opinion, why don't we take a detour?"

Wukong said, "Fool, this place is hundreds of miles wide. How long would it take to get there by taking a detour? Master, don't be afraid. I'll protect you. Just keep walking."

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong is right. Bajie, don't panic. I'm just telling you to be careful. Let's go."

The four of them, master and disciples, entered the deep mountains.

Wukong led the way, clearing away the thorns and bushes.

Pigsy carried the luggage.

Sha Wujing led the horse.

The four walked carefully when they suddenly heard someone shouting, "Help! Help!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, someone is calling for help."

Wukong said, "Master, there are no people in this desolate wilderness. It must be a monster!"

Tang Sanzang said, "I know it's probably another monster, but I'm afraid someone might be in trouble. It would be better to go and see."

Pigsy said, "Master, you are too compassionate. If it were me, Old Pig, I wouldn't care whether he was a human or a monster; I would just walk my own path."

Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie, monks are supposed to be compassionate. How can we stand by and watch someone die? Wukong, stay by my side and don't stray. Let's go and see."

Wukong said, "Okay, Master, this way."

The four of them followed the sound.

When they arrived at the place, they saw a child, about six or seven years old, who was quite cute, hanging naked from a tree.

Wukong recognized the child at a glance as a demon. Just as he was about to say he would protect his master, the child spoke up:

"Uncle Sun! Uncle Sun! Please come and save me!"

Wukong was taken aback and asked, "Whose child are you? Who are you calling uncle?"

Red Boy said, "Uncle Sun, my name is Red Boy, and I live on Mount Cuiyun. My father is your sworn brother. Don't you remember when you seven great sages became sworn brothers?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong was about to step forward.

Tang Sanzang was startled and quickly grabbed Wukong, saying:

"Wukong, don't go! This is a monster!"

(End of this chapter)