Let the tale divide into two threads, each to be told in turn.
Now, Ao Tu and Qiao’er were laboring in the fields.
After the false body of the White Bone Demon was beaten to death by Wukong, it flew over and reported to Ao Tu in secret.
Once Ao Tu learned of it, he said to Qiao’er:
“My lady, for some reason my younger sister still has not come to bring us our meal. I am somewhat hungry; let us go back first.”
Qiao’er was utterly obedient to Ao Tu, and naturally agreed.
The two of them picked up their hoes and tools and returned home.
After arriving home and seeing Qiao’er’s parents, Ao Tu asked:
“Why do I not see my younger sister and brother?”
Qiao’er’s parents said, “Son-in-law, Jingjing went to bring you your meal and has not returned all this time. A moment ago, that brother of yours went to look for her, and he has not returned either.”
As they were speaking, they saw Tiger Vanguard dragging a broken leg, fleeing back in a wretched state.
When everyone saw him, they were all greatly shocked and asked what had happened. Tiger Vanguard wept and said:
“Elder brother, on the road, I ran into four bandits. They waylaid travelers and robbed the road, and they harmed our little sister. To silence me, they broke my leg as well. I risked my life to escape back and report this.”
When everyone heard this, they were all overcome with grief.
Qiao’er’s parents shed tears and said, “How pitiful! Son-in-law, your family had already suffered calamity, and you had only just settled down here, yet now you have met with such unexpected disaster and lost a close kin!”
Qiao’er also wept and said, “This White Tiger Ridge is rarely visited by people. How could bandits suddenly appear here? Had I known this, I should never have let her bring the meal. I have wronged her!”
Ao Tu shed tears and said, “Pity my younger sister Jing’er, so young and yet met with such misfortune! My lady, go set up an incense altar. Allow me to recite the Rebirth Mantra to deliver Jing’er’s soul.”
Qiao’er’s parents said in surprise, “Son-in-law, you can recite scriptures and chant mantras?”
Ao Tu said, “You do not know this, but since childhood I have loved monks and revered the Buddha, and I am well versed in Buddhist teachings. Whenever I see a monk, three parts of joy arise in me out of nowhere. I also carry a Buddhist image with me for worship. Please wait a moment while I go fetch it.”
Ao Tu walked into the wooden hut, removed one dragon scale, and transformed it into his own appearance, capable of speaking and walking. His true body changed into a Buddhist statue, which he held in his hand.
That Buddhist statue was none other than Ao Tu’s likeness wearing a kasaya, seated upright upon a golden lotus, its face compassionate, the statue solemn and majestic.
Ao Tu carried the Buddhist statue out and enshrined it upon the incense altar that had just been set up.
He also helped Tiger Vanguard into the hut and let him lie on the bed, instructing him not to move, so that in a little while they could properly extort that Tang Seng.
Afterward, the whole family knelt before the Buddha, wiping away tears and weeping.
Ao Tu recited the Rebirth Mantra, urging it with his magic power, and the sound carried for ten li.
Tang Seng and his disciples crossed the mountain ridge and continued westward. Before long, they saw several wooden huts. From afar, they heard the sound of scriptures being recited and mantras chanted. Tang Seng said joyfully:
“Amitabha! The West truly is a blessed land! Even in these barren mountains, there are families reciting scriptures and invoking the Buddha!”
Bajie said, “Master, don’t be too happy too soon. Old Zhu thinks that place is a root of trouble.”
Tang Seng said, “How is it a root of trouble?”
Bajie said, “Master, listen. Mixed into that chanting is the sound of weeping. I fear it is the family of that woman Senior Brother beat to death, holding a ritual to deliver her departed soul!”
Wukong said, “Idiot, what nonsense are you spouting? Those few houses are seeping with demonic aura; they must be dwellings of demons. Master, let’s take a detour!”
Tang Seng said, “Wukong, those few houses clearly have Buddhist sounds reaching my ears. I can hardly go fast enough to pay my respects, yet you say they are demons? Cease your nonsense. Hyah!”
Tang Seng rode the white horse down the slope and came before the wooden fence of the huts. He saw a family inside, all kneeling and worshiping before a Buddhist statue while weeping, and one person among them was reciting scriptures.
Tang Seng said, “Almsgiver, this poor monk is a monk from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, traveling to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. Passing through your honored land, I heard the almsgiver reciting true words, and so I have come here to pay my respects!”
When Ao Tu heard this, he stopped reciting, opened the fence, and invited Tang Seng inside. He said, “Master, please come in. My household has met with misfortune, and if our hospitality is lacking, I hope you will forgive us.”
Tang Seng was just about to enter.
Wukong hurried over and said, “Master, you mustn’t go in!”
Tang Seng paid him no mind and walked straight into the courtyard.
Wukong had long since recognized Ao Tu, but he still did not know what scheme Ao Tu was using this time to capture his master. He was so anxious he scratched his ears and cheeks, yet there was nothing he could do.
Behind them, Bajie and Sha Seng also caught up at this moment, and the master and his three disciples entered the courtyard.
Qiao’er and her parents, upon seeing them, were so frightened by the appearances of several of them that they retreated again and again, crying out that they were monsters.
Tang Seng hurriedly said, “Almsgivers, do not be afraid. They are all disciples of this poor monk. Though their appearances are ugly, they are all good people!”
Ao Tu said, “Since they are eminent monks, they are certainly not bad people. It is only that, Masters, as you travel along, you must be careful. Recently, a gang of bandits has appeared in these mountains. They waylay and kill travelers, and their actions are vicious. Someone in my household has already fallen victim to their cruelty. Masters, you must be most careful.”
Tang Seng said, “Amitabha. Almsgiver, though you are so devoted to the Buddha, you have suffered the grief of losing kin. Sadhu! Sadhu! I hope the almsgiver will restrain his grief and accept what has happened.”
Ao Tu pressed his palms together and returned the courtesy.
Bajie whispered to Wukong, “They couldn’t be talking about us, could they?”
Wukong said irritably, “Get lost, idiot.”
At this moment, Tang Seng noticed the Buddhist statue on the incense altar and asked:
“May I ask, almsgiver, which venerable Buddha is this statue enshrining? This poor monk has read through many of our Buddhist scriptures, yet I have never recognized such a form.”
Ao Tu said, “Master, you may not know this, but this is the Lingshan King Buddha!”
When Wukong heard this, he could not help laughing aloud.
Bajie asked, “Senior Brother, what are you laughing at?”
Wukong said, “If that’s the Lingshan King Buddha, then Old Sun is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven Buddha!”
When Tang Seng heard this, he angrily said, “Wukong! If you dare speak nonsense again, your master will recite the spell!”
Wukong quickly fell silent.
Ao Tu said, “Master, please do not be angry. Speaking of this Buddha, there is in fact some history to it. I was originally from the Kingdom of Baoxiang, from a noble and eminent household, but because disaster befell my family, I took refuge here.
“When I was young, I once dreamed of this Buddha. He transmitted true scriptures to me, saying that I was fated to encounter calamity, and taught me to wait here for the holy monk Xuanzang from the Eastern Land. If I passed the scripture on to him, I could escape my tribulation. Since then, I have loved monks and revered the Buddha, but I have never been able to wait until that holy monk arrived.”
When Tang Seng heard this, he was overjoyed and said:
“Amitabha. Karmic affinity! Karmic affinity! Almsgiver, this poor monk’s secular name is precisely Chen Xuanzang!”
Ao Tu said, “There is actually such a thing! This is truly the Buddha manifesting his spirit! Quickly, invite the holy monk into my humble dwelling to sit and talk. My lady, prepare tea and vegetarian food to entertain the four holy monks!”
When Wukong heard this, he seized Ao Tu by the arm and said, “What trick are you trying to play now?”
Ao Tu said, “Holy monk, this is…?”
Tang Seng angrily said, “Impudent monkey, how dare you be so rude!”
Wukong said, “Master, he is a demon. You have mortal eyes and a fleshly body; you cannot see through his transformation!”
Tang Seng angrily said, “Impudent monkey! This is the Buddha manifesting his spirit, teaching this almsgiver to pass scriptures to me. How dare you obstruct it!”
When Wukong heard this, he had no choice but to release Ao Tu. He stayed right at Tang Seng’s side, following him step by step to protect him.
Ao Tu respectfully invited Tang Seng into the hut.
After Tang Seng entered, he saw:
A freshly hewn wooden table, clean and free of dust;
Newly cut rattan chairs arranged deep within the hall.
Coarse clay bowls reflected the light by the pine-framed window;
Plain cloth curtains divided the deep shadows of bamboo.
Tang Seng pressed his palms together and said, “Almsgiver, your home is fresh, clean, and orderly. It can be seen that the almsgiver conducts himself with discipline. You are truly worthy of being called a person who turns toward goodness and cultivates blessings!”
Ao Tu said, “Holy monk, you praise me too highly.”
Tiger Vanguard, in the inner room, heard Ao Tu’s voice and knew Tang Seng had arrived, so he cried out:
“It hurts so much! It hurts so much! My leg!”
When Tang Seng heard this, he hurriedly asked, “What is this?”