Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Li Fa thanked her repeatedly and followed the woman into the manor.

Passing through the screen wall, you enter a spacious courtyard. Several osmanthus trees grow in the courtyard, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.

The woman led Li Fa to the hall, and after exchanging greetings, she invited him to sit down and have tea.

Behind the screen, a young girl with her hair in a bun and her hair hanging down, carrying a golden plate and a white jade cup, emitting warm steam from the fragrant tea and a delicate aroma from the exotic fruit.

The little girl, with her colorful sleeves flowing like spring bamboo shoots, held up a jade cup and served tea.

After the tea was finished, the woman stood up and said with a smile, "Daoist, you must be tired from your journey. I will lead you to the east wing to rest. I will then prepare a vegetarian meal so that you can have something to eat."

Li Fa cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your trouble, old lady."

After the woman left, Li Fa sat down in the room and let out a long sigh of relief.

The escape had taken its toll, leaving him utterly exhausted. The flying rainbow rope had stripped him of ninety percent of his magical power, leaving his dantian completely empty and even his primordial spirit listless. If he didn't recover quickly, he feared he wouldn't be able to move for three to five days.

He sat cross-legged, about to regulate his breathing, when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

The woman returned, followed by three other women.

Li Fa looked up and was immediately stunned.

The three women were all quite beautiful, each one more so than the last.

The first one was dressed in a green silk dress, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn water; she was truly a beauty that could shame the moon and flowers.

The second one wore a red silk jacket, her skin was like solidified cream, her waist was slender and graceful, truly a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky.

The third one wore a purple robe, her hair was styled in a cloud-like pattern, her face was adorned with flowers, and her lotus feet were graceful and elegant, exuding an indescribable charm and grace.

Li Fa stared wide-eyed.

The woman smiled and said, "Taoist priest, these three are my daughters. They heard that guests have come to the manor, so they came to pay their respects."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three women curtsied in unison and said in sweet, melodious voices, "Greetings, Daoist Master."

Li Fa then came to his senses and hurriedly stood up, cupping his hands in return: "I dare not accept such a courtesy, I dare not accept such a courtesy, ladies."

The woman smiled and waved her hand, then said, "Master, you have come from afar and must be tired. I don't have much to offer you, so I have prepared some simple wine and dishes to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

"But my estate is usually very quiet and deserted. It's rare to have such an honored guest today. Why don't the four of us, mother and daughters, keep the Taoist priest company for a few drinks and liven things up? What do you think, Master?"

Although Li Fa hesitated, firstly, he had lost all his magical powers and could not drink alcohol, and secondly, it was still somewhat inappropriate for a man and a woman to sit together alone.

Seeing the woman's warm hospitality, he found it difficult to refuse and could only bow and say, "Old madam, I am sorry to trouble you. However, I am of limited capacity and I am afraid I cannot keep you and the three young ladies entertained."

"No need to be so polite, Daoist Master, just enjoy yourself." The woman was overjoyed and ordered a feast to be prepared so that she could drink with Li Fa.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Li Fa asked, "What is your surname, ma'am? And what is the name of your place?"

The woman didn't answer, she just sighed.

Li Fa asked, puzzled, "Why is the old woman sighing?"

The woman said, "To be honest, this place is Xiniu Hezhou. My maiden name is Jia, and my husband's name is Mo."

She had an unfortunate childhood, losing her parents-in-law at a young age. She and her husband inherited their family business and had a large fortune and thousands of acres of fertile land.

The couple were destined to have no children, having only given birth to three daughters. Two years ago, they suffered a great misfortune when the husband passed away, leaving the young woman a widow. This year marks the end of her mourning period.

She left behind only fields and property, and no relatives or family members, except for my mother and daughters. She wishes to marry, but is reluctant to part with her inheritance; therefore, she seeks a husband willing to come to her home.

Upon hearing this, Li Fa laughed and said, "Old mother, there's no need to worry. Your daughters are as beautiful as angels; why should you worry about not finding good marriages?"

The woman shook her head and said, "Master, you don't know. I have also asked a matchmaker, but in this area of ​​a hundred miles, all those willing to come to our door are uncouth villagers. Those with some literary talent are unwilling to come. None of them meet our expectations."

As she spoke, she looked up at Li Fa, her eyes gleaming: "Daoist Master, you are a man of exceptional talent and a recluse; you must possess extraordinary knowledge. I have a request, but I do not know if I should speak it?"

A sense of unease suddenly arose in Li Fa's heart, but he remained outwardly calm and said, "Please speak freely, old lady."

The woman said, "My three daughters are all excellent. Now that you, Daoist Master, have descended to earth, if you do not mind, I would like to take you as my son-in-law. I wonder if you would be willing?"

Li Fa was taken aback.

The woman then said, "If the Taoist priest feels that one is not enough, I would be willing to marry all three."

Li Fa was stunned again.

The woman continued, "I have over 300 hectares of paddy fields, over 300 hectares of dry fields, and over 300 hectares of orchards in the mountains; I also have over 1,000 water buffaloes, not to mention herds of mules and horses, and countless pigs and sheep."

There are sixty or seventy villages and pastures in the southeast, northwest, and all directions. There is enough rice and grain for eight or nine years to last them, and enough silk and brocade for ten years to last them; there is enough gold and silver for a lifetime to last them, which is better than a brocade tent hiding spring, and what is the point of talking about two rows of golden hairpins?

"If the Taoist priest were willing to marry into our humble family, he could live a carefree life and enjoy wealth and luxury. Wouldn't that be better than wandering the world?"

Li Fa's heart skipped a beat.

Why does this sound so familiar?

A sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he remembered something—

In Journey to the West, there is an episode where the four saints test the Zen mind!

The three Bodhisattvas, Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, along with the Old Mother of Lishan, transformed into a mother and daughter to test the Zen mind of Tang Sanzang and his disciples!

The old mother transformed into a woman, and the three Bodhisattvas transformed into three daughters, one named Zhenzhen, one named Aiai, and one named Lianlian!

The scene before me is exactly the same as described in the book!

A bead of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he hurriedly asked, "May I ask your daughter's name and age?"

The woman said, "I was born on the third day of the third month of the Dinghai year at the hour of You (5-7 PM). My late husband was three years older than me, and I am forty-five years old this year."

The eldest daughter is named Zhenzhen, and she is twenty years old this year; the second daughter is named Aiai, and she is eighteen years old this year; the youngest daughter is named Lianlian, and she is sixteen years old this year. None of them are betrothed.

Although the young woman is ugly, fortunately her daughter is quite beautiful and skilled in needlework.

Because her late husband had no children, she raised them as her own sons. When they were young, she taught them to read some Confucian books and they all knew how to compose poems.

Although I live in a mountain villa, I am not of the extremely vulgar kind. I suppose I am worthy of the Taoist priest. If you would be willing to open your heart and act as a head of the household with me, dressed in fine silk and brocade, it would be far better than those with earthen bowls, black robes, snow-white shoes, and cloud-patterned hats!

Li Fa felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

What the hell!

Li Fa was greatly shocked. He suddenly looked up at the woman, and then at the three women.

The woman continued to look at him with a smile, and the three women also continued to smile radiantly.

But in Li Fa's eyes, that smile had an indescribable eeriness about it.

Without a second thought, he stood up abruptly, cupped his hands, and said, "I appreciate your kindness, madam. However, I am a person beyond worldly affairs, always cultivating in seclusion, and dare not be tainted by worldly matters. I will take my leave now!"