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

After saying this, Li Fa turned and walked out.

The Old Mother of Lishan remained calm and composed, only smiling slightly: "Why is the Daoist in such a hurry? I still have a few heartfelt words to say to you."

Seeing her appearance, Li Fa knew he had fallen into a trap.

So he focused his mind and secretly made the hand seal for earth escape, circulating his magic power, hoping to escape underground by using the earth escape technique.

But today, for some reason, this land is as solid as a rock, and the earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic that allows one to escape) technique is completely ineffective.

Li Fa sensed something was wrong, but fortunately, he was a perceptive person, and besides, his mother had previously given him some advice. So he sat back down, chuckled twice, and said, "Old woman, I am truly a monk. How could I be swayed by wealth and status, or be tempted by beauty? That's illogical!"

The old woman laughed and said, "How pitiful! How pitiful! What good is being a monk?"

Li Fa said, "Old woman, what good is it for you to be part of the family?"

The old woman said, "Please sit down, Daoist Master. Let me explain in detail the benefits of being a layperson; it cannot be fully explained in just a few words. How so? There is a poem to prove it:"

In spring, she cuts square knots and wears silk scarves; in summer, she changes into light gauze to admire the green bamboo.

Autumn wine is brewed into fragrant liquor, and winter wine is enjoyed in a warm and intoxicating atmosphere.

Enjoying all things in all four seasons, and savoring all new delicacies during the eight festivals.

A night of brocade and silk, adorned with candles and flowers, surpasses even the act of reverence and worship of the Jade Immortal.

Li Fa said, "Old woman, you enjoy wealth and luxury at home, with clothes to wear and food to eat, and your children reunited with you. It is indeed good. But you don't know that I, a monk, also have my advantages. How so? There is a poem to prove it: The poem says:"

Cultivate virtues exceeding eight hundred, and accumulate merits in secret to reach three thousand.

All things, self, relatives, enemies, and friends are one; worldly desires and desires are exhausted, and the heart finds peace.

Weapons and tigers are hard to harm, and treacherous villains are unpredictable and cannot entangle you.

"Heaven bestowed a precious talisman upon the imperial palace; the phoenix chariot steadily ascended to the heavens."

Upon hearing this, the old woman laughed and said, "What you say, Daoist, sounds grand and dignified, but it's all empty talk."

"What virtues of eight hundred or three thousand in secret deeds? There are no ledgers or records, no evidence to prove it. If we continue to cultivate in this muddled way, who knows when we'll finally achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven in broad daylight?"

Li Fa's heart tightened, and he cupped his hands in greeting, asking, "What exactly is the meaning behind your words, old lady? Please explain."

The old mother said, "In my humble opinion, Daoist Master, you should abandon this arduous life of cultivation and choose one of my three daughters to marry, have children, and enjoy the joys of family life. This earthly happiness, though not that of immortals, is better than that of immortals. What do you think?"

Li Fa was prepared, and upon hearing this, he immediately looked troubled. He pretended to be distressed and sighed, "Old lady, you are mistaken. It is not that I am ungrateful, but this matter is absolutely unacceptable."

If I choose the eldest daughter, I fear the second daughter will be resentful; if I choose the second daughter, I fear the third daughter will be bitter; if I choose the third daughter, I will be wronging the eldest daughter. Wouldn't this only create more trouble and damage your relationship as mother and daughters?

The old mother smiled and said, "The Taoist priest is indeed meticulous and thoughtful. Since that's the case, I have a way that can both satisfy the Taoist priest and make my three daughters completely convinced."

Li Fa felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive. He simply cupped his hands and said, "I would like to hear the details."

The old mother smiled and said slowly, "I have a handkerchief here. Put it on your head to cover your face and you'll have a lucky marriage."

Tell my daughter to walk past you. Whichever one you reach out and grab, you will marry. If you can't grab her, then you are not destined to be with her.

In this way, everyone leaves it to fate, and no one will complain. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

Upon hearing this, Li Fa felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

A wedding that happens out of nowhere!

How could he not know that this was the classic scene in "Journey to the West" where the four sages tested the mind of Zen?

In the original story, Tang Sanzang refused no matter what, and in the end, Zhu Bajie stepped forward. As a result, he was tricked by the three Bodhisattvas and ended up being hung on a tree for a whole night as a warning.

Now it's his turn!

He glanced at the three "women" and then at the smiling "old mother," his mind racing.

run?

He had just tried it, and the earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of escape technique) was completely unusable.

And who knows how many other schemes are hidden inside and outside this manor?

With only 10% of his magical power remaining and his senses weakened, a hasty escape would likely result in his capture.

If they don't run away, but stay and try to find a way to survive, they might still be able to find a glimmer of hope.

Just as he was in a dilemma, he suddenly saw a glint of light flash in the old woman's eyes, and she seemed to nod slightly at him.

Li Fa was taken aback.

The old woman remained smiling, her expression unchanged, as if what had just happened was merely his illusion.

But he clearly saw it.

That look...

A bold idea suddenly popped into Li Fa's mind.

Could it be...

He took a deep breath, steeled his resolve, and cupped his hands, saying, "Since you have such a kind offer, it would be disrespectful of me to refuse."

The old woman was overjoyed and said, "Master, you are indeed a straightforward person! So, you agree?"

Li Fa said, "Since the old lady is so kind, how could I refuse? Let's just try to arrange this marriage."

"But let me be frank from the start: if we happen to encounter someone destined to meet you, we can discuss the rest later; if not, please, madam, don't make things difficult for me, and let me go. What do you think, madam?"

Upon hearing this, the old mother clapped her hands and laughed, "Excellent! The Taoist priest is indeed straightforward! In that case, we shall do as the Taoist priest says. Zhenzhen, Ai'ai, Lianlian, you all go and prepare; you will soon have a clash with the Taoist priest!"

The three women responded in unison, their voices melodious and sweet, and then turned and left.

Before long, someone brought a red silk handkerchief and handed it to the old woman.

The old woman took the handkerchief, smiled, and walked up to Li Fa, saying, "Daoist Master, please."

Li Fa took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The old mother covered his head with a handkerchief.

Suddenly, everything in front of me turned completely red, and I couldn't see anything anymore.

He only heard his mother's laughter beside him: "Zhenzhen, Ai'ai, Lianlian, come out and bump into the Taoist priest!"

As soon as he finished speaking, light footsteps sounded, moving around him.

Li Fa pricked up his ears and listened intently.

All that could be heard was the clear sound of jade pendants and the sweet fragrance of orchids and musk, as if fairies were coming and going.

Although Li Fa reached out, he already had a plan in mind.

Could he really be lying? If he were to actually lie, wouldn't that be exactly what the other party wanted?

So he deliberately lunged around randomly, but he couldn't bump into anything on the left or the right.

Countless women came and went, but Li Fa deliberately avoided them all and did not capture any of them.

It lunged eastward to hug the pillar, and westward to touch the wooden wall.

After about half an hour of this, Li Fa was already panting heavily. He simply sat down and sighed, "Old mother, enough is enough! Your three daughters are just too clever and cunning."

He expended tremendous effort, yet failed to obtain a single thing; it was all fate! Fate is unyielding, what can be done? What can be done?

The old mother lifted the veil from his face and said, "Son-in-law, it's not that my daughter is clever, it's just that all three of them are so modest and unwilling to take the initiative to invite you."

Li Fa said, "Old woman, since none of the three sisters are willing to take me in, then it is simply that I am not destined to be with them. Please, be merciful and let me leave!"

The woman said, "That won't do! Here's what we'll do! My three daughters are the most clever; each of them has made a pearl-embroidered brocade undershirt. If you wear one of those, then let one of them woo you."