Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 35, The Four Sages Test the Mind of Zen (Part Two)
Meanwhile, the Four Sages came to capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

After fighting against Manjushri and Samantabhadra for more than ten rounds, Pigsy and Sandy were subdued by the two Bodhisattvas using their respective magic.

Only Wukong and Guanyin Bodhisattva fought fiercely.

Sun Wukong's martial arts skills are unmatched in the Three Realms. If he doesn't use magical treasures and supernatural powers, even someone with great magical power like Guanyin Bodhisattva would find it difficult to defeat him.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was able to suppress Sun Wukong at first, but once Sun Wukong became familiar with her methods, she began to show signs of defeat.

Guanyin Bodhisattva dared not use her full strength, fearing that she would lose her divine weapon and ruin her fortune, so she retreated step by step.

No, what wealth of his did I ruin?
That beast!

Guanyin Bodhisattva realized what was happening, her phoenix eyes narrowed, and she began to unleash her full power in her moves.

A spear made of black gold iron rod, let it be wielded:

It sweeps across the sky like a shot at the moon, its resounding sound carried by the sea breeze.

It is made into a phoenix embroidered with gold thread, like a sky full of silver stars.

Ao Tu watched from a distance and saw her move nimbly and quickly fight Sun Wukong to a standstill. He was surprised that this Bodhisattva actually had some martial arts skills.

The woman had somehow appeared beside Ao Tu and said:

"Well, my dear son-in-law, is my daughter good enough for you?"

Ao Tu said, "Mother-in-law, I am an honest man. I don't care about whether we are a good match or not. If a couple wants to live a long life together, they can only support each other."

The woman laughed and said, "Good, good, he's a son-in-law who likes a long and happy life!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva fought with Sun Wukong for more than twenty rounds, but gradually her strength waned and she fell into a disadvantageous position.

Seeing this, the Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra rushed to help, and the three of them fought against Sun Wukong together.

Sun Wukong truly lived up to his title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven, growing stronger with each challenge. He unleashed his three heads and six arms, wielding his iron cudgel with impenetrable skill, remaining fearless even when facing the combined might of three Bodhisattvas.

The woman said, "Son-in-law, that Sun Wukong is powerful! Please help my daughters!"

Ao Tu said, "Very well, I'll go and lend a hand."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong knew how formidable Ao Tu was, and quickly somersaulted away.

Ao Tu then captured Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the white horse, which we won't go into detail about.

After Sun Wukong escaped, he transformed into a magpie and followed Ao Tu's trail to a mountain house. He landed on the upturned eaves and listened quietly to the sounds inside.

Inside the house, the woman said:
"Good son-in-law, now that Tang Sanzang has been captured, quickly prepare to marry my daughter! Listen, the magpies outside are chirping!"

Ao Tu said, "Mother-in-law, we still cannot get married."

The woman said, "Why? Hasn't Tang Sanzang already been captured?"

Ao Tu said, "Although we have captured Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong has escaped. We want to eat his master, how can he let this go? I'm afraid he will call for reinforcements and come to our door. In that case, the joyous occasion will turn into a tragedy, and that would be terrible."

The woman said, "Then what do you think?"

Ao Tu said, "We still need to capture Sun Wukong before we can eat Tang Sanzang's flesh in peace!"

Hearing this from outside, Sun Wukong thought to himself, "I wonder where this demon dragon found this female demon and is now preventing us from going west."

Unfortunately, these female demons were all very powerful, shrouded in auspicious light, their origins unknown, and it was unclear which sacred mountain they came from. He alone could not defeat them.

Fortunately, his master was not in immediate danger, so Sun Wukong rode a cloud and went to the South Sea.

Before long, they saw Mount Luojia, lowered their heads from the clouds, and went straight to the top of Mount Putuo. There, they saw the twenty-four heavenly beings and the mountain guardian deities, who greeted them and asked, "Great Sage, where have you come from?"

Wukong said, "I have something to discuss with the Bodhisattva."

The gods said, "The Bodhisattva has gone out and is not at home."

Wukong asked, "When will you return?"

The gods said, "We do not know." Wukong had no choice but to leave the South Sea, somersault, and leap onto the South Heavenly Gate.

When Guangmu Tianwang saw Wukong, he said, "Great Sage, you've come again!"

Wukong said, "It's difficult, it's difficult. We've encountered a powerful demon again. Please inform the Jade Emperor and ask him to send troops to subdue the demon."

So he informed the Jade Emperor, who then led Wukong to the Lingxiao Palace.

Wukong bowed deeply and said:

"Old man, you've worked so hard! I, Old Sun, am protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures. Today, we've encountered four female demons, whose origins I don't even know. My master and two junior brothers have fallen into their hands. One of the female demons has married the dragon Ao Tu who escaped last time and wants to eat my master. I am truly unable to subdue this demon, so I have come here to petition the Heavenly Venerable for mercy and to send troops down to the mortal realm to subdue this demon."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor immediately dispatched Li Tianwang and Nezha, the Third Prince, to lead heavenly troops down to the mortal realm to assist Wukong in subduing the demons.

Before long, they arrived at the mountain and saw that the palaces and courtyards nestled among the cliffs did not resemble a monster's cave, but rather a fairy's abode.

Li Tianwang felt something was strange and asked Wukong if he had come to the wrong place.

Wukong said, "We didn't come to the wrong place. Heavenly King, you don't know, the more dangerous the dwelling, the more ferocious the demons inside!"

Li Tianwang asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

Wukong said, "If it were an ordinary mountain demon, I, Old Sun, could kill it with a few blows of my staff. Only demons like this are difficult to deal with, as they have many tricks up their sleeves. I need your help."

Li Tianwang nodded and then ordered Nezha to be the vanguard and go to challenge them.

Nezha flew to the mountains and shouted, "You wicked demon, come out and die!"

Upon hearing the sound, Ao Tu inside spoke to the woman:

"Mother-in-law, that monkey really has brought his men to attack. Let me go out and meet them!"

The woman said, "Son-in-law, be careful! My daughter is waiting for your marriage!"

Ao Tu flew out and saw a child with delicate features, a boy with a girl's appearance, holding a demon-slaying sword and a Qiankun ring, wearing a Hun Tian Ling (a type of sash), and riding on Wind and Fire Wheels. It was said that he was small in stature but had a loud voice and was magnificent. This was none other than Nezha, the evil guardian of the three heavens.

Ao Tu said, "Little one, I'm getting married soon, and I need a boy to press down on the bed for good luck. Come with me, and I'll give you a red envelope and wedding cakes!"

Nezha shouted, "Demon dragon! Stop pretending! Don't you recognize me? I am Nezha, the third prince of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King! You escaped at Yellow Wind Ridge last time, and today I will capture you!"

Ao Tu said, "Little Nezha, you're so arrogant! Take this!"

Ao Tu's dragon claw shot out, leaving five golden streaks in the air.

Nezha, wielding a sword in one hand and the Universe Ring in the other, battled Ao Tu.

Ao Tu didn't use any magic weapons. After fighting for twenty rounds, he pretended to be defeated and was kicked on the shoulder by Nezha with his bare feet, sending him flying backward.

Ao Tu clutched his shoulder and said, "Little Nezha, don't be so arrogant! I'll call my men to subdue you!"

Nezha shouted, "Dragon demon, don't run away!"

Ao Tu turned around, transformed into a golden light, and fled back to the manor.

He shouted, "Mother-in-law, something terrible has happened! The wedding is off!"

The woman was with her three daughters when she saw Ao Tu return wounded. She asked, "My dear son-in-law, why can't we get married?"

Ao Tu said:
"My mother-in-law doesn't know, but that monkey invited Nezha, the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas, to come. That Nezha is incredibly powerful, with seven or eight magical weapons protecting him. I'm no match for him; I didn't even have time to use my magical weapons before I was injured. I think we should all run for our lives!"

Upon hearing this, the woman said, "Don't worry, my three daughters all have magical powers and can help you capture that Nezha, the Third Prince."

Zhenzhen, Aiai, and Lianlian looked at each other and said, "This..."

The woman said, "Daughters, if you are not willing to help, this marriage cannot take place."

Ao Tu said, "That Nezha is extremely powerful. I think we shouldn't be reckless. Let's all escape!"

(End of this chapter)