It is said that after Ao Tu arrived in the region of Gao Village, the system’s side quest updated as well.
The rewards for the other progress milestones did not change. Only the milestones Ao Tu had already achieved at Guanyin Chan Monastery—three days, seven days, and half a month—had their rewards altered.
From this, it seemed that for later milestones, so long as Ao Tu had not reached them, the rewards would remain listed there and would not be changed.
At present, Ao Tu’s obstruction progress stood at twelve days. This was inherited from his previous progress at Guanyin Chan Monastery.
In the region of Guanyin Chan Monastery, Ao Tu had obstructed Tang Seng and his disciples for twenty-seven days. Because it had been less than thirty days, he had only obtained the reward for fifteen days; the surplus twelve days had automatically been transferred into this side quest.
At this moment, Tang Seng and his disciples had not yet arrived in the Gao Village region, so the system progress remained at twelve days and had not continued counting.
Ao Tu had already thought of a way to obstruct Tang Seng and his disciples this time. As for the reward for obstructing them for a full month, he was determined to obtain it.
He flew down from the clouds and cast a transformation spell, changing himself into Tang Seng’s appearance. Then he took two dragon scales, transforming one into a brocade kasaya and the other into a nine-ringed monk’s staff.
Ao Tu was now draped in a kasaya, holding a monk’s staff, his face like a divine moon, his eyes like bright stars. The monk’s staff jingled as its nine rings clashed, and the bright pearls on the kasaya shone across heaven and earth. He truly looked like a Buddhist disciple descended to the mortal realm, a holy monk living in the world.
Because Ao Tu had once kept the bell in the Western Heaven world, he was imbued with Buddhist aura and knew how to recite scriptures. Thus, when he transformed into a monk, the resemblance was the most lifelike, making truth and falsehood difficult to distinguish.
Reciting scriptures along the way, Ao Tu entered Gao Village. He did not go to anyone else’s home, but headed straight for Gao Taigong’s residence.
When he arrived, he knocked on the door. Before long, the door opened, and a young man walked out.
The young man had cotton cloth wrapped around his head and wore a blue jacket. He was a servant boy in Gao Taigong’s household, named Gao Cai.
As soon as Gao Cai opened the door and saw Ao Tu’s bearing, he could not help but show him some respect and asked, “Elder, you are?”
Ao Tu said, “This humble monk comes from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land. By decree of Emperor Taizong, I am traveling to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Passing by your honored village, I saw demonic qi pervading your household and knew there must be a reason. Thus, I have come especially to dispel calamity and resolve your family’s troubles.”
When Gao Cai heard this, he was immediately overjoyed and said,
“Yes, yes, Elder, you speak truly! You are indeed a holy monk from the Great Tang. Holy Monk, please wait a moment. I shall go report to my master at once!”
Gao Cai hurried inside and reported the matter to Gao Taigong.
When Gao Taigong heard it, he immediately changed his clothes and came out with Gao Cai to welcome him.
Gao Taigong wore a dark blackish-green cap on his head, a clean brocade robe on his body, a pair of felt boots on his feet, and a black cord tied around his waist.
When he came out and saw Ao Tu’s bearing, Gao Taigong thought to himself that this was indeed a holy monk from the Great Tang. He hurriedly called out, “Holy Monk,” and cupped his hands in greeting to Ao Tu.
Ao Tu returned the courtesy.
Gao Taigong invited Ao Tu inside to sit in the inner hall.
Once they were seated, Gao Taigong asked, “I heard just now that Holy Monk has come from the Eastern Land?”
Ao Tu said, “That is correct. This humble monk has been ordered by the Tang King to travel to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures.”
Gao Taigong said, “Since Holy Monk has come from so far away, you must surely possess magical powers. I beg Holy Monk to take pity on us and rid my family of this monster.”
Ao Tu said, “This matter is not difficult. Tell me the monster’s origins. What abilities does he possess? What spells is he accustomed to using? At what time does he come each day to cause trouble? Then I can capture him for you.”
Gao Taigong said:
“That monster was originally a son-in-law my family took in. He did work and ran errands for my household for three years, and he did indeed help us accumulate quite a bit of property. If things had stayed that way, it would have been fine.
“But he can change his face. At first, he was a dark, fat fellow, but later he changed into the appearance of a pig. He can eat an extraordinary amount. Fortunately, he eats only vegetarian meals; if he ate meat as well, all my family’s property would be eaten clean within half a year!
“That would still be tolerable, but now he can also summon winds. Every day, clouds come and mists go, sand flies and stones tumble. He has imprisoned my youngest daughter in the rear residence, and father and daughter have not seen each other for half a year. Only then did I realize he was a monster. I beg Holy Monk to get rid of him.”
Ao Tu said, “He is still your son-in-law. He worked and ran errands for your family for a full three years, and he has never harmed you. Can you really bear to have him eliminated? How about I capture him and have him break off the engagement, then release your beloved daughter?”
Gao Taigong said, “Aiya, Holy Monk, Elder, who would want a monster as a son-in-law? I ask Holy Monk to help me get rid of him and eliminate future trouble!”
Ao Tu shook his head inwardly and said, “Very well. When does he come?”
Gao Taigong said, “He comes only after nightfall and leaves at dawn. I shall first prepare a vegetarian feast for Holy Monk. If you need any weapons or manpower, Holy Monk, just tell me, so I can prepare them early.”
Ao Tu said, “No weapons are needed. Invite ten young men and prepare lamps and torches. I will have a use for them.”
Gao Taigong said, “Simple, simple. I will certainly prepare everything for Holy Monk.”
Before long, the vegetarian feast was prepared. Gao Taigong also spent money to invite ten strong adult men from the village, who carried torches and lanterns. Everything was made fully ready.
After nightfall, before long, a gust of wind indeed arrived, sending stones tumbling and sand flying.
Ao Tu waited in the room for a while. When the wind gradually died down, he knew that Zhu Bajie had already entered the rear residence, so he called everyone out.
He ordered the ten men to divide into two lines outside the residence and light the lamps and torches, illuminating the whole estate brightly from top to bottom, so that every person’s appearance could be seen clearly.
Ao Tu said, “In a moment, whatever I say, you repeat it. Shout it together three times.”
Everyone nodded.
Ao Tu said, “Wuneng, why have you not come out to pay respects to your master?”
When everyone heard this, they shouted in unison, “Wuneng, why have you not come out to pay respects to your master!”
Inside the residence, Zhu Bajie was just about to climb onto the bed when he suddenly heard the shouting outside. He was immediately startled and said, “Who is that? How does he know the Dharma name Bodhisattva Guanyin gave this old pig? Could it be that the scripture seeker has arrived?”
Thus, Zhu Bajie immediately came out of the residence to investigate.
Outside the estate, after Ao Tu had everyone finish shouting, he stood there waiting.
Before long, a monster emerged. His appearance was indeed unsightly: a black face, short bristles, a long snout and large ears. He wore a blue-green straight robe and had a patterned handkerchief tied around his waist.