It is said that Ao Tu saw through Wukong’s transformation, yet he did not expose him. Instead, he said:
“You little fiend truly know nothing. This precious fan of mine has a great origin.”
Hearing this, Wukong hurriedly asked:
“Second Great King, may I ask what origin this precious fan has?”
Ao Tu said, “Cannot say, cannot say.”
Wukong quickly poured wine for Ao Tu and said, “Second Great King, please tell this lowly one about it, so I may broaden my horizons!”
Ao Tu said, “This is my private secret. I cannot tell outsiders.”
Wukong kneaded Ao Tu’s shoulders and said, “Second Great King, this lowly one has had the tightest lips since childhood. I guarantee I won’t tell anyone. Please, just tell this lowly one a little!”
Hearing this, Ao Tu pinched Sun Wukong’s ear and said, “You guarantee you won’t tell anyone else?”
Wukong endured it and said, “This lowly one guarantees it, guarantees it!”
Ao Tu said, “Pour me wine.”
Wukong hurriedly poured wine for Ao Tu.
Ao Tu took a sip, then laughed and said:
“Very well, very well. Seeing as you have some filial devotion, I’ll tell you! Bring your ear over!”
Wukong was overjoyed and hastily leaned in.
Ao Tu said:
“From here, go to East Victorious Divine Continent. There is a kingdom called Lingjue Kingdom. Within that kingdom is a peak called Jiyin Peak. Beneath the peak is a pool called Mangzhang Pool. Beside the pool is a cave called Yashi Cave. In the cave lives a Perfected One called Liubi Zhenren, also known as Withered-Wood Venerable. This magic treasure of mine was stolen from him. Now that you know of this matter, you must never speak of it outside. Otherwise, if he learns of it, he will surely come to seize me!”
Hearing this, Wukong was delighted. He memorized the information, and fearing Ao Tu might sense something amiss, he respectfully attended upon him for a while longer before withdrawing.
Once out of the cave, Wukong quickly mounted a cloud. Seeing Nezha and Heavenly King Li, he said:
“I’ve discovered that fiend’s origin. Wait here. I’ll go invite someone to subdue him at once.”
Nezha asked, “What origin is it?”
Wukong said, “No time to explain. If I’m late, I fear Master will meet disaster.”
With that, he turned a somersault and rushed off to East Victorious Divine Continent.
East Victorious Divine Continent revered Daoism and suppressed Buddhism; there were few temples and many Daoist abbeys.
Wukong lowered his cloud, transformed into a young Daoist, found the ruler of a small kingdom, and asked, “Your Majesty, this young Daoist has come from afar. As the lord of a kingdom, have you ever heard of a country nearby called Lingjue Kingdom?”
The ruler said, “I have not.”
Wukong again mounted his cloud and flew into famous mountains and great rivers. He summoned the mountain gods and local earth deities and asked:
“Mountain gods, earth deities, have you ever heard of a mountain peak called Jiyin Peak?”
The mountain gods and earth deities said, “We have not.”
Wukong again rode his cloud to where rivers converged, summoned the river gods, and asked:
“Have you ever heard of Mangzhang Pool?”
The river gods said, “We have not.”
Wukong also gathered the demons in the mountains and asked:
“Have you ever heard of Yashi Cave?”
The demons said, “Never, never!”
After searching for an entire day, he had not obtained the slightest clue. Wukong was so anxious he leapt up and down, yet there was nothing he could do.
At last, he found a Daoist abbey and asked an old Daoist priest:
“Old Daoist, have you ever heard of Liubi Zhenren, also known as Withered-Wood Venerable?”
The old Daoist pondered and said, “Liubi Zhenren? Withered-Wood Venerable? Young Daoist, why are you looking for this person?”
Wukong told him the whole story from beginning to end.
After hearing it, the old Daoist burst into loud laughter and said:
“Young Daoist, you were tricked by that fiend! Where is there any Withered-Wood Venerable? He was mocking you as keen yet unawakened, silent without sound, blind and seeing nothing, mute and hearing no voices, your six faculties obstructed and blocked, no different in form from withered wood!”
Wukong suddenly understood. Both grieved and furious, he bowed and said:
“This disciple was far too anxious and lost his wits. Many thanks for your guidance, Old Daoist!”
He turned, leapt onto his Somersault Cloud, and returned to Yellow Wind Ridge.
Seeing him, Nezha asked, “Where is the person you invited?”
Wukong said, “Don’t mention it. Old Sun was fooled by that fiend and ran about for a whole day in vain. Tomorrow I’ll regroup and probe Yellow Wind Cave again.”
No more need be said of their resting that night.
The next day, Wukong once more transformed into a flying insect and flew into Yellow Wind Cave.
This was the Great Sage’s third probing of Yellow Wind Cave, determined to save the scripture-seeking monk even at the cost of his life.
After entering the cave, Wukong investigated carefully.
Seeing that his master and the others were still tied to the Wind-Calming Posts in the rear garden and had not been eaten, Wukong let out a breath of relief.
Looking carefully, he saw that his master, Bajie, Bodhisattva Lingji, and Star Lord of Water Virtue were all tied to the posts. Only the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea was missing.
Wukong grieved inwardly:
“Pitiful, my old neighbor. To help me subdue the demon, he has now been eaten by the fiend instead. Dragon meat must prolong life, so the demons big and small in the cave likely divided him up and ate him first, without even leaving the bones behind. Pitiful! Pitiful!”
Just then, two little fiends passed by, chatting:
“That old dragon really has too many demands. The water has to be freshly drawn, and it must be living spring water from the mountain; the meat has to be skinned clean, without the slightest bit of hide or hair showing…”
“Stop talking. He’s a relative of the Second Great King. Just serve him carefully!”
Hearing this, Wukong’s heart stirred, and he hurriedly followed them.
Following the two little fiends, Wukong arrived at a separate chamber. Entering, he found it was an excellent room.
Inside, there were embroidered decorations, inlaid pearls and embedded jewels, five-colored gold-painted tables, and thousand-flower jasper plates. On the table were fine wine and fragrant tea; in the plates were rare delicacies.
And seated in the middle—was that not the old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea?
After waiting until no one was around, Wukong revealed his true form, stepped forward, seized the old Dragon King, and said:
“Old loach, I wondered why I couldn’t find you in the rear garden. I thought you had been eaten by that demon, but it turns out you are kin to that demon and are enjoying yourself here in high spirits!”
When Ao Guang saw him, he hurriedly said, “Great Sage, spare my life. This little dragon is guilty.”
Wukong said:
“Speak quickly. What is that demon to you? Otherwise, Old Sun will personally test this iron staff on you!”
Ao Guang said, “That demon is a nephew of mine, originally named Ao Tu. Because my brother-in-law made a slight error in the tallies and violated the laws of Heaven, he was put to death by the Office of Mortal Affairs. My third brother, Ao Run, Dragon King of the Western Sea, saw that he had nowhere to live, so he found connections and sent him to the Western Heaven to serve under the Buddha as keeper of the bells. I don’t know how he escaped from the Western Heaven and came here to commit evil.”
Hearing this, Wukong recalled what Bodhisattva Guanyin had previously told him and said:
“So he is Ao Tu! He has already hindered Old Sun twice before. I’ll go to the Western Heaven to invite Venerable Ananda at once. We must capture this wretched monster!”
After Wukong finished speaking, he transformed into a little insect, flew out of Yellow Wind Cave, and went straight to the Western Heaven.
After Wukong had left, Ao Guang looked around and said:
“Great Sage, Great Sage, are you still here? This little dragon has another important matter!”
He waited for a long while, but there was no response.
Only then did he dare confirm that the monkey had truly gone.
Ao Guang then called to the little fiends in the cave, “Quick, call your Second Great King here!”
Before long, Ao Tu arrived and asked:
“Uncle, why did you summon me?”
Ao Guang said, “Dear nephew, Sun Wukong infiltrated the cave just now and saw through the relationship between you and me. He has already gone to the Western Heaven to find Venerable Ananda. Quickly release Tang Seng and flee for your life!”
Ao Tu said, “No matter. I expected this day would come long ago. Thank you for telling me, Uncle. From this day forth, I, Ao Tu, sever all ties with you and the Four Seas. We have no further relationship.”
Ao Guang knew that Ao Tu was doing this so as not to implicate him, and urged:
“Dear nephew, dear nephew, do not persist in your folly!”
Ao Tu said, “Enough chatter. Heavenly King Li and the Third Prince are right outside. Why not break through the cave gate and flee for your life?”
Hearing this, Ao Guang sighed, smashed through the cave gate, and fled outside.
Ao Tu chased after him and said in a clear voice:
“Old dragon, you disregard kinship and report me to the authorities! Don’t run! Watch as I hack you into ten thousand pieces!”
As he spoke, he flew up with a kick and struck Ao Guang right in his aged waist.
Ao Guang spat out a mouthful of blood and thought, “This kid is really trying to kill me!”
Seeing this, Third Prince Nezha and Heavenly King Li both came over to assist.
Ao Tu retreated back into the cave.