Now, Ao Tu had used the Five-Fire Fan to fan Ananda to death. He knew that anyone the Buddhist sect sent next would be beyond his ability to deal with, so he called to the Yellow Wind Demon for each of them to flee for their lives.
After hearing this, Great Sage Yellow Wind said:
“Elder Brother, since that is the case, why not come with me and seek refuge with my sworn sister?”
Ao Tu asked, “And who might your sworn sister be, Worthy Brother?”
Great Sage Yellow Wind said:
“She is an old acquaintance I made while cultivating on Spirit Mountain. She now dwells in Bottomless Cave on Mount Xiankong in Xiniu Hezhou, and is known as Half-Guanyin, also called Lady Diyong. She has beauty enough to make fish sink and geese fall, to shame the moon and flowers. Seeing that Elder Brother is also unwed, this would be a match of talent and beauty, a union ordained by Heaven. Why not let me act as matchmaker and bring about this fine affair?”
Hearing this, Ao Tu realized that Great Sage Yellow Wind’s sworn sister was none other than that golden-nosed, white-furred rat spirit.
Ao Tu shook his head and said, “Your elder brother still has private matters unresolved. Worthy Brother, go and take shelter first. If the two of us meet again in the future, it will not be too late to speak of this then!”
Great Sage Yellow Wind listened, cupped his hands, dismissed the demons in the cave, and then left through the rear entrance of Yellow Wind Cave.
Only Tiger Vanguard remained in the cave.
Ao Tu asked, “Why are you not leaving?”
Tiger Vanguard said, “The little demons have all gone. If I leave as well, there will be no one at Second King’s side to carry out orders. Wouldn’t you have to do everything yourself? For that reason, I am willing to stay and serve Second King.”
Ao Tu smiled and said, “You truly are a capable one. Since that is so, stay by my side. From now on, call me Great King.”
Tiger Vanguard was overjoyed. He knelt and said, “I pay my respects to Great King.”
Ao Tu helped him up and asked, “Do you have any family? Have they been settled?”
Tiger Vanguard said, “I have two young sons. I was planning to hide them in the Southern Mountain.”
Ao Tu said, “No need. Bring them here. I will arrange a place for them.”
Tiger Vanguard said happily, “Many thanks, Great King.”
Before long, Tiger Vanguard brought over two young tiger cubs.
Ao Tu returned to his dragon form, used a spell to change size, tucked Tiger Vanguard and the two cubs between his scales, and then used an escape art to leave Yellow Wind Cave.
On the other side, after Ananda died, Sun Wukong turned a somersault cloud and returned to Spirit Mountain. He met the Tathagata and said:
“Buddha, this disciple and Venerable Ananda went to Yellow Wind Ridge to subdue the demon. This disciple went down first to challenge him and lure the fiend out, and Venerable Ananda acted afterward to subdue him. Unexpectedly, his magic power was insufficient. The demon fanned him several times, and he turned into red ash. I humbly beg my Buddha to show mercy and send another person of high ability to rescue my master.”
The Tathagata sat upright upon the ninth-grade precious lotus throne, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful, and said:
“Ananda’s Buddhist practice was lacking. He has fallen into reincarnation, and this calamity was his due. Kasyapa, go to the Southern Sea and summon Venerable Guanyin to see me.”
Kasyapa received the decree and left. Before long, he led Guanyin in.
The Tathagata said, “Venerable Guanyin, that demon dragon is fierce and vicious, and Ananda could not subdue him. Go and bring him to heel, and rescue the scripture pilgrim.”
When the Bodhisattva heard this, she accepted the decree, bowed, and withdrew.
Wukong and the Bodhisattva rode auspicious clouds together toward Yellow Wind Ridge.
When they arrived at Yellow Wind Ridge and smashed open the cave gate, how could there still be a single demon in sight?
They questioned the local earth deity, who said, “Long before the Great Sage came, the demons in this cave had already scattered. The two leading fiends fled separately, and their whereabouts are unknown.”
Wukong had no choice but to go to the rear garden and rescue his master, his junior brother, Bodhisattva Lingji, and Lord Water Virtue Star, then set fire to the demon cave.
Of the four rescued, aside from Bajie, who was more or less fine, both Bodhisattva Lingji and Lord Water Virtue Star were gravely injured. Tang Seng had been trapped for over a month and was incomparably haggard, almost too weak to walk.
Guanyin Bodhisattva waved her willow branch, sweeping away the wounds and fatigue from the four of them.
There is no need to mention the four giving thanks.
Heavenly King Li, Nezha, and Lord Water Virtue Star returned to the Heavenly Court to report on their mission, while the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea returned to his dragon palace.
Before Guanyin Bodhisattva left, she called Wukong and Bajie over and instructed them, “That demon dragon is a slippery thief. I received the Buddha’s decree to subdue him, yet he left ahead of time. If you encounter him again in the future, hasten to the Southern Sea and report to me.”
Wukong and Bajie agreed.
On the other side, after Ao Tu left Yellow Wind Ridge, he went straight into the Western Sea.
The Dragon King of the Western Sea, Ao Run, still did not know that Ao Tu had caused a great disaster.
After they met, Ao Run said in surprise, “Beloved nephew, I have not seen you for these past few years, and you have changed greatly. I nearly could not recognize you!”
Ao Tu said, “I recently obtained some opportunities, and thus underwent these changes.”
Ao Run asked, “Were they opportunities bestowed by the Buddha?”
Ao Tu said, “They have some connection to the Buddha.”
Ao Run was overjoyed and ordered a banquet prepared.
Ao Tu said, “There is no need to trouble yourself with hospitality. Your nephew has come to Uncle’s home today because I have one matter to request.”
Ao Run said, “Beloved nephew, whatever you seek, speak freely.”
Ao Tu said, “I wish to take a few weapons from the treasury.”
Ao Run said, “Weapons are no great matter, but beloved nephew serves as bell keeper under the Buddha. What do you need weapons for?”
Ao Tu released Tiger Vanguard and the two young tigers from between his scales and said:
“They are not for me, but for them.”
Ao Run said, “Th-this… who are they?”
Ao Tu said, “Uncle, be at ease. They are not bad people. It is only because someone wanted to kill this father and his sons. I found them pitiful, so I saved them.”
Ao Run relaxed and said, “A cause for joy and congratulations! After beloved nephew entered Spirit Mountain, not only has your cultivation greatly advanced, you have also gained a Buddha-heart!”
Ao Tu shook his head and said, “I have gained no Buddha-heart. I merely took the heart of a venerable one.”
Ao Run felt as though he had not heard clearly and asked, “Took the heart of what?”
Ao Tu said, “The heart of a venerable one. Uncle, there is something you do not know. Your nephew has caused a little trouble recently and accidentally beat to death Ananda, disciple of the Tathagata Buddha. Therefore, when I go to the treasury this time, I ask Uncle to announce to the outside world that you were plundered by me. Only in this way can you avoid being implicated!”
Ao Run was greatly shocked. “Beloved nephew, what did you say? Whom did you beat to death?”
Ao Tu said, “No need to say more. Your nephew is off.”
He turned and went to the treasury, directly knocked the guarding soldiers unconscious, smashed through the gate, and entered.
Inside the treasury, divine light spilled in all directions, and precious treasures filled his vision.
Most were coral, agate, pearls, amber, tridacna, spirit shells, fine jade, immortal gold, divine weapons, armor, magic treasures, ritual implements, medicinal pills, and the like.
To Ao Tu, these were merely ordinary things. The dragon race’s true treasures naturally could not possibly be kept here. But to a mountain demon like Tiger Vanguard, who had never seen much of the world, everything before his eyes was a rare treasure he had never laid eyes on in his entire life.
Ao Tu said, “Choose one suit of armor and one weapon for yourself. Do not touch anything else.”
Tiger Vanguard hurriedly kowtowed and said, “Many thanks to Great King for bestowing treasures!”
Afterward, from among the many divine weapons and suits of armor, Tiger Vanguard chose a suit of black-gold armor and a tiger-headed long saber forged together from Kun steel and refined gold.
Ao Tu casually took a few bottles of medicinal pills, intending to reward his subordinates with them in the future. He also took two suitable weapons for the two young tigers. Then he blew out a gust of wind, throwing the treasury into disorder, and took Tiger Vanguard away.
“Beloved nephew, wait!” Ao Run chased after him.
Ao Tu said, “Uncle, do not entangle yourself with me any further, lest disaster arise.”
Ao Run looked around, took a small seal from his robes, and said:
“Beloved nephew, this journey will be fraught with danger. Your uncle has no great treasure to gift you. This is a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure, the Spilled-Water Seal. Its quality is ordinary, and it only has some power when used in water. I hope beloved nephew will take every care.”
Ao Tu sighed, accepted the small seal, and said:
“Just treat it as something I robbed from you! With this departure, a disaster towering to the heavens is sure to arise. Uncle, remember well: do not contact me again. Farewell.”
Ao Run shed tears and still wanted to say something, but Ao Tu had already left.