Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 19, The Wind Rises at Dusk (Part 6)
Meanwhile, Wukong rode the clouds to the Eastern Ocean.

Using a closed-water method, it directly enters the seabed of the Eastern Ocean.

The patrolling yaksha recognized Sun Wukong and hurriedly returned to the Crystal Palace to report.

Upon hearing this, Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, led his dragon sons, grandsons, shrimp soldiers, and crab soldiers out to greet him.

After being led to a seat in the palace, Wukong said, "No need for formalities, I, Old Sun, have a favor to ask."

Ao Guang said, "Great Sage, please give me your orders, and I will do as you say."

Wukong said, “I was protecting my master Tang Sanzang on his journey to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and obtain Buddhist scriptures, but he was captured by demons. Among them was a very powerful dragon, which I think is a monster from your dragon clan. I have come to ask my old neighbor for help.”

Ao Guang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and said, "Great Sage, you've arrived at the Blackwater River so quickly?"

Wukong said, "What Blackwater River? I, Old Sun, encountered this demonic dragon at Yellow Wind Ridge. It has golden scales and is skilled in using fire. That's why I've come to ask you to send some rain to save it and then send troops to subdue it!"

Ao Guang pondered: "The demonic dragon of Huangfeng Ridge?"

Wukong said, "What, you won't lend me the rain?"

Ao Guang hurriedly said, "I'm willing to lend it, but although I am in charge of rain, I dare not act on my own; I need the Jade Emperor's decree, and the Three Officials to write it down, and Taiyi to issue the document..."

Wukong said, "I don't need you to make clouds and rain to save the people. Just send some rain into the demon's cave to help me fight and subdue the demon."

Ao Guang said, "In that case, I, the little dragon, will go with the Great Sage."

Ao Guang then appointed the Dragon Palace soldiers: sharks as the vanguard, carp as the vanguard, mackerel as the sentry, and bream as the bugler; the old turtle as the prime minister, and the giant turtle as the general; crab warriors wielding long swords, and shrimp soldiers wielding long spears.

Wukong led the dragon soldiers and soon arrived at Huangfeng Ridge, where he met Bajie.

Ao Guang bowed, addressed him as "Marshal Tianpeng," surveyed his surroundings, and said:

"This mountain is dry and arid, which only fuels the fire element. It's getting late, so in my opinion, we should first bring rain and let it rain all night. We can then fight again tomorrow after the fire element has dissipated!"

Wukong said, "Excellent, excellent!"

Ao Guang then led the aquatic creatures to gather clouds in the sky and spray down rain.

Inside the Yellow Wind Cave, the little demon hurriedly reported:

"Your Majesty, just a moment ago the weather was fine and sunny outside, but suddenly a strange rain started!"

The Great Sage Yellow Wind asked, "What's so strange about it?"

The little demon said, "Across the eight hundred miles of mountains, there are only ten miles of thick clouds outside our Yellow Wind Cave. The rain only falls a few miles outside the cave, and there is not a drop of rain anywhere else."

Ao Tu laughed upon hearing this:

"Needless to say, that monkey must have called for reinforcements! He wants to use water to extinguish my divine fire!"

The Great Sage Huang Feng asked, "Brother, what should we do?"

Ao Tu said, "Brother, do not worry. My divine fire is not afraid of mortal water! Tomorrow you go into battle, and I will secretly support you. If you encounter the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, please spare their lives, for I am related to one of them."

The Great Sage Huang Feng said, "Of course, of course!"

The next day, Wukong and Bajie arrived at the entrance of the Yellow Wind Cave. Wukong shouted, "Demon dragon, come out! Quickly return my master and release the Bodhisattva!"

Before long, the Great Sage Yellow Wind jumped out of the door.

The monkey immediately realized something was wrong.

Yesterday he was so focused on the demonic dragon that he forgot about the Yellow Wind Monster who was good at manipulating the wind!
The Great Sage Huang Feng, holding a steel fork, said:
"Sun Wukong, I was kind enough not to blow you to death last time, but you instead sent your helpers to harm me! Watch the wind!"

With a single breath, three hundred feet of yellow sand rose, and seven thousand miles of smoke and clouds dispersed; heaven and earth were turned upside down, the earth became dark and gloomy, the Dragon King was blown off the clouds, Tianpeng was overturned in the mountain valley, and those sailors and generals were blown away to who knows where.

Seeing this, Wukong dared not go forward and turned around to retreat in a somersault.

The Great Sage Huang Feng laughed heartily, ordered Tiger Vanguard to bind the old dragon and the pig demon, and then returned to his cave in triumph.

Ao Tu and a group of lesser demons held a celebratory banquet for him, and for a time the demons danced wildly, having a great time.

After the celebration banquet, Ao Tu went downstairs and ordered someone to untie the ropes binding Ao Guang, saying, "Uncle, you have suffered."

Ao Guang asked, "You, who are you?" Ao Tu replied, "Uncle, don't you recognize me?"

Ao Guang said, "They look somewhat alike, but I dare not recognize them."

Ao Tu said, "My father is the Dragon King of the Jing River."

Ao Guang exclaimed in shock, "You really are the son of the Jing River Dragon King! My dear nephew, how could you have committed such a terrible crime! That Sun Wukong is not someone to be trifled with. Quickly release his master and come with me to apologize to him!"

Ao Tu said with his hands behind his back, "Uncle, please don't say anything more about this matter. I will handle it myself. Uncle, please stay here for a few days and I will let you go when the time is right."

Ao Guang wanted to persuade him again.

Ao Tu raised his eyes and said coldly, "Don't make things difficult for your nephew!"

Ao Guang opened his mouth, but dared not say anything more.

Ao Tu smiled again and personally invited Ao Guang to stay in the cave. He then said, "Uncle, do you have any pills from the Dragon Palace? Could you lend me a few?"

Ao Guang sighed and took out several bottles of pills, saying:

"Two bottles of Water Essence Pills and one bottle of Water Spirit Pills. I only brought these with me in my haste to leave."

The Water Essence Pill is a precious elixir used for cultivation, while the Water Spirit Pill is for healing injuries.

Ao Tu smiled and accepted the gift, saying, "Uncle's generous gift is too little. Uncle, if you have any instructions, please tell the little demons outside. I'll take my leave now."

Ao Tu left Ao Guang's place and went to find Bajie.

At this moment, Pigsy was tied to the wind-fixing stake in the back garden, in the same place as Tang Sanzang and Lingji.

When Ao Tu came over, Bajie was cursing loudly with his mouth bulging out. Because his mouth was so big, the little demons couldn't stop him even by trying to plug it with a rag.

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu said, "Come on, cut off his long beak and make me some 'buckling snouts' to eat!"

Tiger Vanguard received the order and drew his sword to make a cut.

Startled, Pigsy quickly begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, please don't cut it! My mouth stinks, it doesn't taste good!"

Ao Tu said, "Monks eat vegetarian food, so meat tastes the best."

Pigsy said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I am a frivolous monk, and I have a father-in-law and a wife at home!"

Ao Tu laughed heartily and said:

"My dear disciple, how come you don't even recognize your master?"

Bajie was stunned for a moment, then, seeing Ao Tu's expression, he realized what was happening and said:
"You wicked dragon! You tricked me by transforming into Tang Sanzang before, causing me so much suffering. Now you're trying to cut off my mouth and eat me!"

Ao Tu stepped forward and said:

"Even though I lied to you, didn't I still give you benefits? Stay put, or I'll really cut off your mouth and eat it!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy dared not shout anymore.

Ao Tu smiled, seeing how pitiful he was, and took out two pills for him to eat.

Tiger Vanguard watched from the side, constantly swallowing his saliva.

This pill is readily available to Ao Tu, but it is an extremely rare and precious pill for ordinary demons.

Seeing Tiger Vanguard's expression, Ao Tu gave him the remaining half bottle of Water Essence Pills, saying, "Since you're capable, I'll give you the rest."

Tiger Vanguard was overjoyed and immediately knelt down, saying, "Thank you for the reward, Second King!"

On the other side, although Sun Wukong escaped, Bajie and the Dragon King were captured, leaving only him to escape, which filled him with sorrow.

He thought he would follow the Bodhisattva's advice to do good and protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, but he never expected that the journey would be so difficult.

In such a small place as Huangfeng Ridge, there are already two such ferocious demons; who knows how many more calamities await them.

After sighing, Sun Wukong had no other choice but to ride a cloud to the South Heavenly Gate to ask the Jade Emperor to send troops.

(End of this chapter)