Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 94 Exorcising Demons in Wuji Kingdom (Part 7)
Meanwhile, Wukong and Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun confronted each other in front of the immortals of Yaochi.

When Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun said, "Child, bring my lion beast here."

Wukong's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong.

Then, a servant boy under the command of Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun walked to the back of the Yaochi Palace and led out the nine-headed lion that was tied to the back.

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun asked, "Great Sage, what do you say? Do you still want to go to the Jade Emperor for judgment?"

However, despite all his calculations, Wukong forgot that Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun had ridden out the lion beast.

Wukong scratched his cheek and said, "This... I wonder if the Heavenly Venerable has any other mounts? Perhaps it's the lion's offspring causing trouble..."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun snorted coldly, too lazy to reply.

Wukong said with a forced smile, "Heavenly Venerable, I was wrong."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun turned around.

Wukong hurriedly followed, picked up a cup of celestial wine, and offered it respectfully:
"Heavenly Venerable One, I, Old Sun, offer you a toast!"

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun glanced at Wukong.

Wukong said:
“Heavenly Venerable, I misunderstood. I asked the Third Prince to invite you out, but you refused. I was impatient and that's why I made a mistake. In the end, that demon's descent to the mortal realm was only for your sake.”

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun thought about it and realized it was true. He was no longer angry, but simply slapped Wukong twice and said:

"You little monkey, you blame me without even asking what happened! Your recklessness deserves a beating!"

Wukong obediently took the two blows without dodging, and pulled Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun along, saying:
"Heavenly Venerable, please don't be angry! Heavenly Venerable, please don't be angry! It's just that there are very few people in the Heavenly Realm who ride lions, and you are the only one with great supernatural powers. That's why I came to the wrong place. If Heavenly Venerable is not satisfied, I will take ten thousand more blows as long as Heavenly Venerable is appeased."

Upon hearing this, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (the Heavenly Venerable of Great Compassion) said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry:
"You monkey! Your head is incredibly hard; if I were to hit it ten thousand times, it would only injure my hand! Fine! Fine! I'll spare you this time!"

Upon seeing this, all the gods burst into laughter.

Wukong laughed and said, "Heavenly Venerable, now that you've calmed down, please help me, Old Sun, to investigate the origins of that monster."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun couldn't help but say:

"You little monkey, you were just blaming me for letting demons descend to the mortal realm, and now you want me to help you investigate demons?"

Wukong said, “Heavenly Venerable, that monster is committing evil deeds down there. The people don’t know his origins. Among the Taoist immortals who ride lions, you are the most famous. Don’t they all say that it is your lion that is causing the trouble?”

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun thought for a moment and said, "That's true. What does that lion look like?"

Wukong said, "It's a blue-haired lion demon, and it's been castrated."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun said, "How can you say that he is the lion of my Daoist sect?"

Wukong said, "That monster transformed into a Quanzhen disciple. When he first arrived in Wuji Kingdom, he claimed to have attained enlightenment in Zhongnan Mountain and could summon wind and rain and turn stones into gold. Therefore, we know that he is a Taoist master. He must have some connections behind him, so he would never dare to pretend to be from another sect."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun nodded: "I see. Then why not go to Zhongnan Mountain to investigate?"

Wukong said, "To tell you the truth, Heavenly Venerable, I have been to Zhongnan Mountain before and seen the mounts of the True Immortal of Fortune and Virtue. There were green oxen, white deer, and cranes, but no lions."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun said, "Let me use my magic mirror to investigate the origin of that monster."

As he spoke, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun took out a precious mirror from his bosom.

Wukong asked excitedly, "What magical powers does this mirror possess?"

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun said, "This mirror can illuminate the netherworld, guide souls and reveal the truth. Let me use the precious mirror to see!"

After speaking, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun shone his precious mirror down to the mortal realm, landing on the top of the pagoda in Wuji Kingdom, directly on the green-haired lion demon.

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, through his magic mirror, saw the origin of the green lion demon, his expression unchanged, and asked Wukong:

"Great Sage, what did you say that monster transformed into? And where did it claim to come from?"

Wukong said, "That monster transformed into a Quanzhen immortal, claiming to have attained enlightenment in Zhongnan Mountain. What's wrong? Can the Heavenly Venerable discern the monster's origin?"

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun smiled and said:
"I couldn't tell, but I guess it's a lion beast from one of my Taoist immortal mountains that escaped to the mortal realm and is causing trouble. Perhaps it's not a mount, but a spiritual beast that has attained enlightenment."

"Great Sage, I've heard that Kunlun Mountain is the ancestral home of immortals, a sacred land, teeming with enlightened spirit beasts. Why don't you go there and investigate? If you don't find them, then return."

Wukong said, "Then I'll take my leave now!"

Wukong, Nezha, and Aotu left the Jade Pool Wonderland and arrived at Kunlun Mountain.

There, the clouds and mist scatter their colors, the sun and moon shimmer. Thousands of ancient cypress trees stand tall, and ten thousand bamboo groves stretch out. The cries of cranes are heard from time to time, and phoenixes soar through the air. This blessed land of the immortal ancestors surpasses even the heavens.

Wukong said, "I have long heard that Kunlun is the ancestor of all mountains. Seeing it today, I can see that it truly lives up to its reputation!"

Nezha said, "This is just Qilin Cliff."

Wukong was speechless for a moment. He and Ao Tu followed Nezha up the mountain and saw the Jade Void Palace. It was indeed a fairyland, with scenery that was ten thousand times better than before.

However, even Wukong dared not look into the distance casually upon arriving at this point, and obediently followed behind Nezha.

Nezha led Wukong and Ao Tu to the front of the Jade Void Palace, and they bowed together, but did not actually bow down.

A figure walked out of the palace. When Nezha saw him, he quickly said, "Brother Baihe."

The White Crane Boy said, "Our master said to go look elsewhere."

Nezha replied, "Yes."

The three left Kunlun and returned to heaven, where they told Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun about what had happened at Yuxu Palace.

After hearing this, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun said, "Since it is not from Kunlun, there are not many left. It just so happens that all the immortals are gathered here today. Why don't you ask them one by one, Great Sage?"

Wukong said, "What the Heavenly Venerable says is true. But I am afraid that my matter alone will disrupt today's grand gathering of immortals."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun said, "It's alright. Let me inform the Queen Mother first. Great Sage, please inquire with the immortals." Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun had a very good relationship with the Queen Mother. He told her about the matter, and she agreed.

Wukong then asked each of the immortals who had attended the gathering.

Among all the immortals, none used lions as mounts, but it was inevitable that some would keep lions as pets.

The Barefoot Immortal kept a pair of lions on his sacred mountain.

Wukong went with the Barefoot Immortal to check and found that the lion the Barefoot Immortal kept was not lost.

The Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation and Thunder of the Nine Heavens also kept several lions. Wukong went with him to the Thunder Department to see them and found that they were several blue jade lions that released thunder, and none of them had gone missing.

The Three Fairy Maidens also kept lions. When Wukong followed to investigate, he discovered that they were several little lions playing with embroidered balls.

The Old Mother of Lishan said that there were also lions in the mountains, so Wukong went to see them and found that they were stone lions.

I've gone back and forth countless times, and it's almost dark by now, but I still haven't gotten anywhere.

Wukong returned to the Jade Pool and saw Ao Tu and Nezha huddled together, arms around each other, tending to the flowers and plants. Wukong angrily said:

"Fine, you two. I've been working hard to conduct the survey, and you two are just playing with the flowers and plants."

Nezha said with a grin, "Who told you your clouds to be fast? Our two clouds are slow."

Ao Tu asked, "How's the investigation going?"

Wukong said dejectedly, "No, I've searched most of the heavens, but I can't find it."

Ao Tu said, "In that case, there is only one last option left."

Wukong asked, "What method?"

Ao Tu said, "I report to the Jade Emperor and ask His Majesty to decide!"

Wukong said, "What use would that be? Even if I investigated it myself, I couldn't find anything. If I asked the Jade Emperor to send officials to investigate, it would probably just be a formality."

Ao Tu said, "No! No! It's not about asking the Jade Emperor to investigate, but about asking the Jade Emperor to issue an edict to take that evil Taoist to the Execution Platform for execution. At that time, the person behind the evil Taoist will surely appear to plead for mercy."

Wukong's eyes lit up, and he said, "That's a good idea! But what if that person doesn't show up?"

Ao Tu said, "If he doesn't show himself, there's nothing we can do. But even if he doesn't show himself, he has already killed the evil Taoist, so he deserves what he got."

Wukong said, "Alright, I'll go and inform the Jade Emperor right away!"

Ao Tu said, "Don't rush, wait a little longer. After the Jade Pool Immortal Gathering ends, ask all the immortals to be your witnesses."

Wukong said: "Okay."

The three of them then huddled together, arms around each other, playing with the celestial flowers and herbs in the Jade Pool.

When Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun saw this, he walked over out of curiosity. After glancing at them and finding them rather uninteresting, he scoffed and left.

Nezha was having a great time playing with Ao Tu and Wukong.

Upon hearing Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun's words, Nezha's expression instantly changed, and he said, "Tch, you two are really boring. I'm going to have a drink."

Soon, less than an hour had passed, and the meeting was nearing its end.

The Queen Mother ordered her fairy maidens to deliver celestial fruits and pastries to everyone.

The immortals took their leave.

Laozi then pulled Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun aside and said:
"Heavenly Venerable, please wait. I have a newly refined bottle of 'Reincarnation Elixir' to offer you."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun accepted the gift and entrusted it to a young attendant for safekeeping.

Wukong said, "Meeting adjourned, I'm off."

Ao Tu said, "Go ahead, I won't accompany you."

Nezha asked, "Monk, why aren't you going?"

Ao Tu said, "I'm timid. I'm afraid that in the end, they might find out some important person and take their anger out on me."

Nezha laughed and said, "You monk, you're such a coward! Don't worry, if any important person ever takes offense at you, just come to my palace and I'll protect you!"

Ao Tu said, "Then it's settled."

After listening to Ao Tu's idea, Wukong asked to see the Jade Emperor and, together with Nezha, explained the whole story.

Wukong invited the Barefoot Immortal, the Great Savior of Suffering, the Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation of Thunder and Lightning, and the Three Holy Immortal Maidens to testify.

Upon seeing this, the Jade Emperor naturally took it seriously and immediately ordered Li Tianwang to lead his troops down to the mortal realm to bring the demon back to the mortal realm.

Li Tianwang led three thousand heavenly soldiers, with divine clouds pressing down overhead, and flew to the palace of the King of Wuji Kingdom, where he revealed his divine form.

Upon seeing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom immediately led his civil and military officials to pay homage.

Li Tianwang said, "The Great Sage Equaling Heaven hereby reports to the Supreme Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace of the Heavenly Palace that there is a demon in the Kingdom of Wuji who is causing trouble, usurping the throne, and has been ordered by me to lead troops to arrest him."

Upon hearing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom was shocked and said to Tang Sanzang beside him:
"The holy monk's disciple is indeed worthy of his reputation. He has been gone for more than half a year. We thought we had no news of him, but unexpectedly he actually submitted a petition to the Jade Emperor!"

Tang Sanzang laughed and said, "Amitabha. Your Majesty, one day in heaven is equivalent to one year on earth. My disciple has only been in the celestial realm for less than a day."

The King of Wuji Kingdom exclaimed in even greater surprise, "The Holy Monk's disciple is truly skilled! Truly skilled!"

Li Tianwang asked, "King of Wuji Kingdom, where is that evil Taoist priest now?"

The King of Wuji Kingdom hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the immortal, that evil Taoist is currently at the top of the tower!"

(End of this chapter)