Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 56, Reward Settlement

However, Ao Tu cleverly fabricated his identity and background, which Tang Sanzang found unbelievable. Tang Sanzang immediately expressed his willingness to help Ao Tu restore his kingdom.

When Qiao'er's parents learned that their son-in-law was the "Prince of Baoxiang Kingdom," they were overjoyed and couldn't sleep all night. They packed their belongings and prepared to go together.

Qiao'er knew that her husband would be leaving tomorrow.

She nestled close to Ao Tu's chest and held him tightly all night.

The night passed.

As dawn broke, the group packed their belongings and prepared to set off.

Qiao'er's parents followed.

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu asked, "Where are you all going?"

Qiao'er's parents said, "Son-in-law, we'll go to Baoxiang Kingdom with you!"

Ao Tu asked, "Who are you, and what country are you going to, Baoxiang Kingdom?"

Qiao'er's parents said angrily, "Son-in-law, we are your father-in-law and mother-in-law, how can you talk like that?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "How could I, a prince of the Kingdom of Baoxiang, have fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law like you?"

Qiao'er's parents exclaimed in surprise, "Our daughter is your lawfully wedded wife, how can you just abandon her like that?"

Ao Tu said, "My marriage to your daughter is merely a temporary measure. I have not discussed it with my father and mother, nor have any ministers witnessed it, nor have I paid respects at the ancestral temple. How can it be considered a proper marriage? You lowly people have already received a hundred days of my favor, which is a great blessing. How dare you push your luck any further?"

After speaking, Ao Tu's eyes narrowed, and he glared at Qiao'er's parents, startling the two elderly people so much that they fell to the ground, speechless.

Seeing this, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but say:
“Benefactor, you were humble and respectful before, why are you acting like a completely different person now! As the ancients said, ‘A wife who has shared hardship should not be easily abandoned.’ How can you act in this way?”

Ao Tu said, "All living beings are impermanent; how can we judge them based on a single moment's view? We have only known each other for a few months; how can you know my true nature?"

"This..." Tang Sanzang was speechless.

He felt that Ao Tu was a person of profound Buddhist knowledge and not a bad person, but the things Ao Tu did were incomprehensible to him.

Ao Tu coldly addressed Qiao'er's parents: "How can a phoenix be paired with a mortal bird? How can a true dragon coexist with snakes and insects? You lowly commoners, how dare you tarnish the bloodline of my royal family? After I leave, if you dare to take a single step near Baoxiang Kingdom and cause my reputation to be disgraced, I will eliminate you completely. Don't blame me for not warning you!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao'er's parents turned pale with fright and dared not utter a single word.

Qiao'er knelt down with tears in her eyes, her frail body bowing in farewell:
"I will never leave this place for the rest of my life."

Ao Tu ignored them and left with Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

His strength was only enough to protect himself; taking her along would only lead to tragedy. It would be better to sever ties and let her stay here until he attained enlightenment and returned.

On the way, Pigsy couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, you're too rigid. That young lady is so pitiful. She listens to you completely and is also very beautiful. If you're afraid of disgracing your family, why don't you just keep her hidden away and not let anyone else know?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu grabbed Bajie's ear and said:
"You idiot, you're lecturing me now! Do you do this kind of work all the time?"

Bajie covered his ears and said, "Hey, Your Highness, why is your grip so strong, just like my senior brother's? I, Old Pig, am a virtuous monk who has taken vows, and I would never do such a thing."

The group traveled for three days, and on the fourth day they crossed White Tiger Ridge.

[Rewards are being calculated; a total of 134 days of interception.]

[Received a Three-Tier Golden Elixir as a reward.]

[Received a Six-Turn Golden Elixir as a reward.]

[Reward: Demon Court - Lesser Heavenly Cycle Formation]

[Received reward: Wizard Weapon - Peach Wood Staff.]

[Received the reward divine ability: Rainbow Transformation Technique.]

[The extra 46 days will automatically be transferred to the next side quest; the next side quest is: Encountering the Demon in the Black Pine Forest.] Ao Tu felt a faint smile as he experienced the Rainbow Transformation Technique, which he had now fully mastered. Now he lacked nothing and could unleash his full power. Even if the Buddha himself arrived, he could escape at any time.

The group continued westward for seven or eight days until they came to a pine forest.

Vines climb and vines entwine, pine forests cluster together, trees are dense and numerous, and the mountain path is rugged.

[Enter the mission area]

[Current Side Quest: Encounter with the Demon in the Black Pine Forest]

[Mission Requirements: Block the pilgrims in the Baoxiang Kingdom area. Rewards will be calculated based on the time taken to block them.]

[Task Rewards: 3 days/Fire Date, 7 days/Spell: Binding Spirit Curse, 1/Half a month/Witchcraft: All Things Grow, 1 month/Supernatural Power: Three Heads and Six Arms, 1 season/Nine-Bend Yellow River Grand Formation (formation only), 6 months/Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood, 1 year/Innate Spiritual Treasure: Soul-Scattering Gourd, 3 years/Innate Spiritual Treasure: River Map and Luo Book, 12 years/Chaos Bell, 60 years...]

Current progress: 46 days

It must be said that the rewards for this mission are somewhat different from those of the past.

Ao Tu's gaze was immediately drawn to the seasonal reward, the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.

This formation is very powerful!
It's a pity that only the formation is included; it would have been better if the Hunyuan Golden Bucket had also been distributed.

However, it doesn't matter if you don't have the Hunyuan Golden Bucket. The formation alone is enough to defeat most enemies, and the Hunyuan Golden Bucket will reappear sooner or later.

As for the other rewards...

The supernatural power "Three Heads and Six Arms" is not bad. It is a standard combat supernatural power, and many people know it. It greatly enhances combat power.

However, Ao Tu already possesses the Five-Colored Divine Light, which is clearly a level below the Three Heads and Six Arms.

The spell "Witchcraft: The Growth of All Things" was a spell he had never heard of before. Judging from the name, it was probably an ancient technique used to pray for the growth of crops.

As for the Fire Dates and the Binding Spell, there's not much to say about them; they're just ordinary and add some new abilities to his repertoire.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang saw that the mountain path ahead was rugged and said:
"My apprentice! The mountain path is difficult to traverse; be careful and watch out for wild beasts and evil spirits!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy said, "Master, let me, Old Pig, clear the way for you!"

The fool, roused himself, brandished his rake, raked through the tangled vines and overturned the bushes, clearing a path and leading Tang Sanzang straight into the pine forest.

After walking for half a day, Tang Sanzang said to Ao Tu, "Your Highness, we have been walking for half a day and this humble monk is a little hungry."

Ao Tu said, "Then let's rest here." He then ordered Tiger Vanguard, "Bring some dry rations."

Tiger Vanguard said, "Your Highness, we've run out of rations."

Ao Tu asked, "How come we've used it all up? Didn't we bring a month's worth of rations?"

Tiger Vanguard said, "Your Highness is unaware that Elder Zhu has a huge appetite and has already finished his rations."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but look at Zhu Bajie.

Pigsy said aggrievedly, "Master, I may have eaten a lot, but I also did a lot of work! I even cleared the way just now!"

Tang Sanzang said helplessly, "Bajie, we've run out of rations. Go and beg for some vegetarian food."

Bajie said, "Then please wait here for a moment, Master. I'll be right back."

So Tang Sanzang and Ao Tu sat down in the forest, while Bajie went to beg for alms.

Bajie left the pine forest and traveled west for dozens of miles, but he didn't see a single person. He couldn't help but sigh, "Only when you're in charge of a household do you realize the value of firewood and rice, and only when you raise a child do you understand the kindness of your parents. When my eldest brother was alive, we never lacked vegetarian meals, but where can we find them now?"

Bajie thought to himself, "If I go back now and tell the old monk that I couldn't find any food, he won't believe I've walked so far. I need to wait a while longer before I can give him a proper answer. ... Oh well, oh well, I'll just sleep in this grassy area for now."

Bajie buried his head in the grass and lay down to sleep. He had only said he would sleep for a while and then get up, but as soon as he lay down, he fell fast asleep and no time was left.
(End of this chapter)