The woman laughed and said,
“Good, this is a good idea! Daughters, quickly put on your veils and catch your heaven-matched groom.”
And so the three Bodhisattvas could only cover their heads with the veils and come to catch Ao Tu.
Ao Tu had been playing along from the start to make fools of these immortals, so how could he let them catch him so easily?
Ao Tu used Ground-Skimming Golden Light to dodge about. None of the three Bodhisattvas could catch him; they were exhausted and panting, yet dared not reveal their divine powers for fear that Ao Tu would see through the flaw. They were truly helpless.
The woman laughed from the side and said,
“Good son-in-law, you have so many divine abilities that none of them can catch you. Why not give them a little leeway?”
Ao Tu stopped and said, “It is not that I refuse to give them leeway. It is only that if I do, and any one of the younger sisters catches me, I fear the other two younger sisters will say I am biased.”
Just then, the woman pushed Lianlian, sending her forward, and she caught hold of Ao Tu.
Caught him! Guanyin Bodhisattva clenched her silver teeth, secretly seething with hatred.
The woman laughed and said, “Rather than choosing a day, one might as well take today. The two newlyweds should hurry and bow in the hall to complete the marriage!”
With that, the little maid from earlier came out, carrying two lacquered wooden trays, upon which lay two sets of ceremonial attire.
The woman said, “Good son-in-law, quickly put on this groom’s hat and see whether it fits.”
Ao Tu picked up the hat, knowing full well that it was most likely a hoop. Once he put it on, it would be over.
Holding the hat, he pretended he was about to put it on.
The woman stared at Ao Tu without blinking, neither urging nor stopping him, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Ao Tu feigned putting it on, but after holding it for a while, he set the hat back down and said with a smile,
“No hurry to wear it. If we are to be married, a banquet must first be prepared. It cannot be beneath my status.”
The woman said, “Son-in-law, my household has quite some wealth. Whatever banquet you desire, just say the word. Whether rare flowers and strange fruits, or immortal delicacies and divine flavors, all can be prepared within a day.”
Ao Tu said, “There are plenty of rare flowers and strange fruits in my Buddhist sect, and I have grown rather tired of immortal delicacies and divine flavors. In all my life, there is only one thing I have ever truly fancied.”
The woman asked, “What is it?”
Ao Tu said, “Tang Monk’s flesh! He is the second disciple of the Tathagata Buddha, the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, a good man cultivated through ten lifetimes. If one eats even a mouthful of his flesh, one’s cultivation will greatly advance. Tang Monk will pass through here in a few days. Mother-in-law, please capture him and make him into the wedding banquet. Only then can this marriage take place.”
The woman said, “Since Tang Monk is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, he should be of the same sect as you. Why would you want to eat him?”
Ao Tu said, “Mother-in-law, how muddleheaded you are!”
The woman was puzzled. “How am I muddleheaded?”
Ao Tu said, “Among we Buddhists, fellow disciples harming one another is perfectly common. Even if the Buddha knows, he tacitly permits it. Could it be that Mother-in-law does not know?”
The woman laughed again.
She felt this little fellow was truly too amusing. She did not know whose disciple he was, but he was indeed interesting.
When Guanyin Bodhisattva heard Ao Tu slander Buddhism in this way, she was extremely vexed.
The little maid at the side said, “There is no rush to speak of Tang Monk’s flesh. Young Master-in-law, please try on the clothes first and see whether they fit. If they do not, they can be changed.”
Hearing this, Ao Tu raised his hand and smashed a fist onto the little maid’s head.
A large bump rose on the little maid’s head from the blow, and she sat on the ground clutching her head.
Ao Tu said, “You little maid, what do you know of my divine powers? If the clothes are small, I will simply make myself smaller. If the clothes are large, I will simply make myself larger. How is there any room for you to interrupt?”
Seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva knew there was nothing she could do to Ao Tu. Furious, she gave a salute and took her leave.
The woman said, “My youngest daughter is impatient. Because she could not be married, she was driven away in anger. Son-in-law, what do you think? Should we perhaps not eat Tang Monk’s flesh for now, and coax her back?”
Hearing this, Ao Tu stood up, cupped his hands, and said,
“The conditions absolutely cannot be changed. When a woman marries, she follows her husband. For a pampered daughter like this, even if she were born more beautiful still, she would hardly move a man’s heart. I think Mother-in-law had best instruct her properly. Otherwise, this marriage will be difficult to accomplish. Though fated to meet, we are not fated to be together. I shall take my leave here.”
Seeing this, the woman could only urge Ao Tu to stay.
There was no other way. Since they wanted to set a trap for Ao Tu, they naturally could not let him leave.
Was it not merely catching a Tang Monk? They could just pretend to catch him first.
After noon, the little maid again brought Ao Tu spiritual fruits, immortal wine, and golden elixirs. Ao Tu feared being plotted against and would not touch even a bit of them. He merely excused himself by saying that the marriage had not yet been settled, so he could not accept anything from his mother-in-law’s household, lest it give others something to criticize.
Seeing that Ao Tu would not be swayed by anything, Guanyin Bodhisattva was so angry she gnashed her teeth. She wished she could reveal her true form on the spot and seize him, but she feared he had many methods and would escape, so she could only swallow this anger.
She could only first capture Tang Monk and his disciples for him, then coax him into putting on that hoop.
After that, Ao Tu stayed there.
Every day he admired flowers and strolled through the gardens, and he did not forget to toy with Guanyin, deliberately ordering her about, making her serve tea and pour water, and accompany him through the gardens to view the scenery.
If she dared refuse, Ao Tu would make as if to leave, and Guanyin Bodhisattva could only compromise.
In this way, nearly two months passed. It was the bright season of spring when Ao Tu looked out from the clouds and saw Tang Monk and his disciples walking over from the distant road. He then flew down from the clouds, found the woman, and said,
“Mother-in-law, Tang Monk and his disciples have arrived. Quickly call the three younger sisters out, and come with me to capture them.”
The woman then called the three Bodhisattvas out.
Ao Tu said, “Tang Monk and his disciples have already arrived. We shall go capture them now. Zhenzhen, you deal with Monk Sha. Ai’ai, you deal with Zhu Bajie. Lianlian, you deal with Sun Wukong.”
When the three heard this, they looked over and asked, “And you?”
Ao Tu said as a matter of course, “I will catch Tang Monk.”
The three were speechless.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “I have heard that Tang Monk’s three disciples are all highly skilled in martial arts, virtuous men enlightened by the Greatly Merciful and Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea. If we attack by force, that would be the inferior plan. It would be better to transform ourselves and use a scheme, making it easier to take them.”
Ao Tu rebuked her, “Lianlian, how can you resort to deceit? Those who change their forms and speak with clever, ingratiating words are all no good people. If you learn from them, how can I marry you?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva was so angry she gnashed her teeth, but she could only listen to Ao Tu and go forth to attack by force.
Manjushri and Samantabhadra each took out a longsword. Guanyin Bodhisattva had no particular weapon, so Ao Tu lent her his Black-Gold Iron Staff-Spear and said,
“Use it carefully. Do not squander the family wealth and damage this divine weapon of mine.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva no longer wanted to stay there. She rose on a cloud and charged toward Tang Monk and his disciples.
Manjushri and Samantabhadra followed closely behind.
Ao Tu followed behind the three of them.
The four master and disciples were just crossing mountains and ridges, walking with difficulty.
Suddenly, an auspicious cloud flew through the sky.
When Wukong saw it, he paid it no mind at first, thinking it was some deity passing by.
All of a sudden, Guanyin Bodhisattva charged out from within the cloud.
Wukong shouted, “Not good! Protect Master!”
With that, he began fighting Guanyin Bodhisattva.
In terms of martial skill, Guanyin Bodhisattva was certainly not as proficient as Wukong.
But Guanyin Bodhisattva had more magic power and spells, and for a time Wukong was suppressed.
Wukong used his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to look at Guanyin Bodhisattva, but he only felt a burst of auspicious light obstructing him and could not discern her true form. He could only fight with all his strength.
To the side, after Bajie and Monk Sha had protected Tang Monk, they saw Wukong locked in combat with a woman and prepared to come out to assist him.
At that moment, Manjushri and Samantabhadra descended from the sky as well, each facing off against Bajie and Monk Sha.
Ao Tu followed from behind, watching the three battles.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said, “Brother-in-law, why have you still not captured Tang Monk?”
Ao Tu said, “I conduct myself openly and aboveboard. How could I take advantage of someone in peril? Hurry and defeat these three, and only then can I properly capture Tang Monk!”