The three women exchanged a glance, and Zhenzhen said,
“Brother-in-law, rest easy. I’ll go subdue that Nezha!”
Ao Tu said, “Elder Sister-in-law, don’t overexert yourself!”
Manjushri Bodhisattva said no more. She rose on a cloud and flew outside.
Seeing this, Ao Tu followed after her to stand guard.
Outside, Nezha saw Ao Tu flying out behind a woman and laughed. “Demon dragon, you can’t beat me, so you’ve brought a woman out?”
Ao Tu said, “Nezha, don’t be so arrogant. This is my elder sister-in-law. Her divine powers are vast. Watch as she casts a spell and subdues you.”
Nezha said, “A petty female demon—what tricks could you have? Watch me cut her down in three sword strokes!”
Manjushri Bodhisattva said, “Nezha, how dare you run wild before me?”
Thereupon she took an object from her sleeve, called the Dragon-Escaping Stake, also known as the Seven-Treasure Golden Lotus, and tossed it into the air.
At once, winds rose across the four fields, clouds and mist filled the sky, earth and dust were stirred up and scattered, and it came down with a resounding crash.
Sun Wukong, up in the sky, saw this scene and inwardly cried that things were bad. He hurriedly pulled Heavenly King Li away and fled.
Nezha was too close and could not escape. Dazed and muddled, he could not tell north from south; in pitch darkness, how could he distinguish east from west? Around his neck was a golden ring, and around both legs were two more golden rings, binding him to a gleaming yellow-gold pillar. By the time he opened his eyes and looked, he could no longer move at all.
Nezha raged, “Damned fiend! How did you steal my martial uncle’s—”
Before he could finish, Manjushri Bodhisattva cast a spell and sealed his seven orifices.
Ao Tu grabbed Nezha by his topknot and tugged at it. “Little Nezha, do you still dare act so madly?” Nezha’s face flushed crimson with fury, but there was nothing he could do.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said, “Brother-in-law, what about the wedding?”
Ao Tu said, “Sun Wukong hasn’t been caught yet. It would be improper to hold the wedding.”
Outside, Sun Wukong and Heavenly King Li fled several thousand li away, still shaken with lingering fear.
Wukong said, “Formidable, formidable. I don’t know what treasure that was, but as soon as the golden mist rose, the Third Prince was taken. Heavenly King, do you recognize what treasure that was?”
Heavenly King Li shook his head. “I was too far away and didn’t see clearly what treasure it was.”
Wukong wrung his hands. “What are we to do? The demons are so powerful—when will I be able to rescue my master?”
Heavenly King Li said, “Great Sage, do not worry. Let me report to the Jade Emperor and request more troops and generals to subdue the demons.”
Wukong said joyfully, “Many thanks, Heavenly King!”
The two then returned to the Heavenly Court and reported the situation clearly to the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor Heavenly Venerable heard the memorial and sent the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Thunder Department’s four generals Deng, Zhang, Xin, and Tao, and the Dipper Department’s Nine Luminaries Star Lords, leading one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals, down to the lower realm to subdue the demons.
Once more, they arrived among the mountains.
The Four Great Heavenly Kings laid down the heavenly net and earthly snare.
The Nine Luminaries Star Lords led the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to surround the place and form their array.
The Thunder Department’s four generals brought down countless divine thunderbolts.
Ao Tu said, “Disaster! We’ve provoked so many heavenly soldiers and generals. We’d better scatter quickly and run for our lives!”
Perfected Samantabhadra said, “Brother-in-law, even if there are one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals, what is there to fear? Watch me fend them off with one technique!”
With that, a white light like a thread shone from her finger, giving rise to an auspicious cloud that covered the manor and its towers. Upon it were eight corners, and on each corner was a golden lamp, with strings of pearls and tassels hanging down, protecting everything beneath.
Countless divine thunderbolts naturally dissolved upon meeting the golden lamps and could not cause the slightest harm.
Seeing this, the Four Great Heavenly Kings acted: Mo Liging used the Green Cloud Sword, upon which were talismanic seals divided into four characters: earth, water, fire, and wind. When the sword was drawn, black winds and fierce flames arose; within the black winds were countless spears and halberds, and within the fierce flames golden serpents coiled and churned.
Mo Lihong used an umbrella called the Primordial Umbrella. Upon it were emerald, jade seals, and green jade; there were luminous pearls, dust-warding pearls, fire-warding pearls, water-warding pearls, cooling pearls, nine-curved pearls, beauty-preserving pearls, and wind-calming pearls. There were also pearls strung together into four characters: Containing Heaven and Earth. When opened, heaven and earth grew dim and the sun and moon lost their light; with a single turn, heaven and earth shook, and it could capture men and seize demons.
Mo Lihai carried a pipa on his back. It had four strings, also corresponding to earth, water, fire, and wind. When the strings were plucked, their sound seized the mind and stole the soul, while wind and fire arrived together, just like the Green Cloud Sword.
Mo Lishou had an object shaped like a white rat, called the Flower Fox Marten. When released into the air, it manifested like a white elephant, with flying wings growing from its ribs, and could devour all people in the world.
The four generals attacked from all sides, using every means at their disposal. After an hour, they still could not break the golden lamps.
All the generals were shocked and returned to camp to discuss matters further.
Heavenly King Li said, “Great Sage, those demons possess vast divine powers. We cannot break their magic. If we report to the Jade Emperor again and request reinforcements, I fear too much time will pass and your master may meet with disaster. This matter of fetching the scriptures was originally arranged by Guanyin Bodhisattva. Why do you not go to the Southern Sea and invite Guanyin Bodhisattva to come assist us?”
Wukong said, “How could I not have gone? It is only that the Bodhisattva had gone out and was not in the Southern Sea, and no one knew where she had gone.”
Heavenly King Li said, “Since that is so, why not go to the Western Heaven and request Buddhist troops to come to our aid?”
Wukong said, “That is exactly what I had in mind. Everyone, wait here while Old Sun goes!”
Wukong mounted his somersault cloud and arrived at the gates of Thunderclap Monastery on Spirit Mountain, requesting an audience with the Buddha.
The Tathagata issued an order for him to enter, and the Vajra guardians let him pass.
Wukong entered Thunderclap Monastery and bowed low in worship.
The Tathagata asked, “Wukong, instead of protecting Tang Seng on his journey to fetch the scriptures, why have you come here again? What has happened?”
Wukong kowtowed and said, “I report to my Buddha. Ever since this disciple received your blessing and came west with my master from the Tang, we encountered four female demons. I do not know their names, but their divine powers are vast. They forcibly seized my master and junior brothers to hold a wedding, intending to marry into the family of that demon dragon Ao Tu.
“By the Jade Emperor’s grace, Heavenly King Li and his son were dispatched to assist us, but instead the Third Prince was captured. The Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Thunder Department’s four generals, and the Dipper Department’s Nine Luminaries Star Lords led one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to besiege them, yet none were their match.
“Therefore, I have come especially to report to my Buddha. I hope the Buddha will show mercy, dispatch Buddhist troops, capture these fiends, and save my master.”
When the Buddha heard this, he gazed afar with his wisdom eye and knew it was the plan of the Four Sages. He then said,
“I already know of this, but the mysteries of Heaven must not be revealed. I will send eighteen Arhats with you. Surround the demons’ residence, but do not take action. Wait quietly for several days, and there will surely be a turn of events.”
Wukong bowed in thanks, then left Spirit Mountain with the eighteen Arhats on clouds and hurried back to the mountains. When Heavenly King Li saw them, he led the others out to welcome them and recounted everything that had happened.
Wukong conveyed the Buddha’s decree. Heavenly King Li then ordered the gods to set their formations. Together with the eighteen Arhats, following the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, they surrounded the demons’ residence.
When the three Bodhisattvas saw that the Arhats had come, they knew this matter had already alarmed the Buddha. Thus they came again to urge Ao Tu to hold the wedding.
When Ao Tu saw them, he knew the matter had to be brought to a close.
Ao Tu understood clearly that the three of them had reached the limit of their patience, and outside, heavenly soldiers and Arhats had surrounded the place. If he still refused to agree, they would probably make their move by force.
Thus Ao Tu agreed and said, “The wedding may proceed, but before it does, allow me first to make offerings to my deceased father and inform him of it.”
Ao Tu’s request was reasonable and proper, so naturally no one could object.
Ao Tu set up the memorial tablet of the Jing River Dragon King, took out a string of paper money, and wept,
“Father! You died unjustly! I do not know what wretch was behind it, plotting against your life and causing you to die in vain! In the future, your son will surely grind that person’s bones to dust and scatter his ashes, to avenge my father!”
When the Bodhisattvas heard this, each lowered her brows and closed her eyes.
Ao Tu continued, “Father! Your son is to be married today. The one I am taking as wife is a relative of the Western Sagara Dragon King, named Lianlian. She may be considered well matched with our family! Lianlian, come quickly and burn paper in worship to my father!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva froze.
Ao Tu said, “What is it? Today you are marrying me. Since my father is your father as well, are you unwilling to worship him?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva hesitated.
But Lishan Laomu had already stepped forward, wiping away tears as she said,
“In-law! I will burn some paper money for you. I hope that beneath the Nine Netherworlds, you need not worry. Since your son is my son, and he is marrying my daughter, I will surely cherish him, love him, and look after him! My three daughters, why aren’t you coming quickly to burn paper and pay your respects?”
Seeing this, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Guanyin Bodhisattva had no choice but to step forward, bow slightly, pretend to wipe away tears, and burn a few sheets of paper money.
In the underworld, the registrar of burnt offerings was so frightened that he hurriedly reported,
“Terrible news, Lord Yama! Lishan Laomu, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Guanyin Bodhisattva are all burning paper money for that old dragon of the Jing River!”