Great Demon Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong carried the Bull Demon King back to Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing's place, and it didn't take long for Zhu Bajie to return as well. After explaining the situation in detail, Tang Sanzang nodded and said, "Since the matter here is concluded, Wukong, you should quickly take the Bull Benefactor home. Previously, we assisted Bodhisattva Guanyin in taking their child; this is already an inconvenience for the Bull Benefactor's family. If anything else happens to the Bull Benefactor, it would be a grave sin."

Regarding Guanyin taking in Hong Hai'er, Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang felt a sense of guilt, but there was little point in discussing it further at this stage. Sun Wukong nodded, quickly carried the Bull Demon King, and returned him to the Banana Leaf Cave of Emerald Cloud Mountain. He first apologized to the Iron Fan Princess and explained the situation concerning Hong Hai'er, then described in detail how the Bull Demon King was rescued.

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, the Iron Fan Princess was already in tears. Regarding Hong Hai'er, she did not blame Sun Wukong. After all, it was Hong Hai'er's mistake; he was too arrogant and listened to slander, which led him to go against Tang Sanzang. In the end, he was taken by Guanyin, which was helpless because it was calculated by Guanyin long ago.

This took Sun Wukong by surprise, and he asked the Iron Fan Princess to elaborate. She first settled the Bull Demon King and arranged for someone to look after him. The Bull Demon King wasn't severely injured; it was just that he suffered day and night for so many years, and his soul and essence were sealed by Tathagata. He needed some time to recover slowly. After arranging everything, the Iron Fan Princess said, "Actually, eight years ago, Bodhisattva Guanyin had come to find me."

"At that time, my Hong Hai'er was only three years old. Although he was young, he already understood things well, and I had told him about his father's situation. But our mother-and-son pair were too weak, and we simply couldn't rescue my husband. For so many years, my husband suffered at Flame Mountain, while I remained here in the Banana Leaf Cave, **** with tears. That day, Guanyin found me and said they wanted to talk to my Hong Hai'er. I didn't want to agree, but Guanyin merely waved her hand, and I was immobilized."

"Guanyin found my child and called him to the guest room. At the time, I didn't know what they talked about, and Guanyin soon left. Later, after repeatedly asking about it, my child finally told me that on that day, Guanyin offered him a condition. If Hong Hai'er could capture Tang Sanzang on his journey to the Western Paradise, Guanyin would release the Bull Demon King. My child, upon hearing there was a way to save his father, agreed."

"But how could he know that the one who imprisoned his father at Flame Mountain was the evil Buddha from the Western Paradise? I repeatedly tried to stop him, but my child wouldn't listen and eventually had a big fight with me before running away from home. I've been searching for him all these years but haven't heard any news. Recently, a little demon reported that my child captured Tang Sanzang at Flaming Cloud Cave in Mount Hao Wind, but was ultimately subdued by Guanyin and appointed as Guanyin's Disciple of Wealth. Only then did I realize my child had been tricked."

"I may be a woman, but I understand what's going on. I know who caused this feud and who to hold accountable for it. Uncle, thank you for saving my Bull Demon King this time." After saying this, the Iron Fan Princess wanted to kowtow to Sun Wukong in thanks, but Sun Wukong wouldn't accept it and immediately stopped her, saying, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for this. I'll avenge Big Brother and Nephew in time. Please take good care of Big Brother from now on. It's better to stay in than venture out, as one never knows if people from Buddhism might trouble Big Brother again."

"Also, sister-in-law, if you have any problems or are in danger, just burn this hair of mine, and I'll come to your rescue immediately. My master is still waiting, you take care." With that, Sun Wukong plucked a few hairs and handed them to the Iron Fan Princess. Before she could say anything more, Sun Wukong somersaulted away.

However, Sun Wukong's heart was filled with even more resentment.

Unexpectedly, the old Tathagata was so ruthless, indirectly freeing the Bull Demon King but capturing Hong Hai'er.

Sun Wukong quickly returned and once again spoke in detail to Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Wujing about the matters concerning the Iron Fan Princess and Hong Hai'er, which left everyone silent.

"Some things we should just keep in mind. Since the fire of Flame Mountain has been extinguished, we should be on our way now." Tang Sanzang said this and then mounted his horse. The great fire of Flame Mountain had been extinguished, and it had just rained heavily, so the air was no longer hot and the mountain was passable. Everyone understood who was behind these events, but nobody spoke further about it.

The four men and their steed set out again on their journey westward, traveling for seven whole days. On this day, Tang Sanzang and his companions arrived at a small town. As soon as they entered the town, Sun Wukong's brow furrowed, and Tang Sanzang and the others did likewise. Tang Sanzang couldn't help but ask, "Wukong, what is going on here?" Upon entering the town, Tang Sanzang had noticed it was strange; it wasn't bustling like other towns, instead exuding a deep aura of death and gloom.

Though this little town had a fair number of people, everyone seemed dazed, and their conversations were bizarre, as if they were living corpses, making one shudder. Sun Wukong coldly laughed and said, "Master, don't be hasty. Wait until night, and everything will be clear. For now, let's find an inn to rest; there's a good show to watch tonight." Sun Wukong didn't explain further, and Tang Sanzang didn't press for answers, but he knew there was surely an issue here.

Soon, everyone found an inn. The innkeeper was also vacant-eyed but not foolish-looking; Sun Wukong and his party secured a larger guest room, arranged their belongings, and ate some dry rations before resting. Zhu Bajie really wanted a meal, but Sun Wukong warned that if he wanted to end up like the townspeople, he could eat freely. Zhu Bajie awkwardly laughed and begrudgingly gnawed on bread.

The sun soon set, the moon rose, and as night fell, Sun Wukong suddenly awoke, rousing his master and the others. Sun Wukong chuckled, saying, "Come, let's watch the show." With that, he was the first to go out the door. Stepping out of the inn, Zhu Bajie noticed how bright it was outside, and when he looked up at the moon, he found that it wasn't particularly big. Yet the entire town seemed as if it was illuminated by fire.

Before Zhu Bajie could say anything, he saw many people suddenly emerge from each household, all of them with their eyes shut and staggering as they walked. Tang Sanzang was shocked and queried Sun Wukong, "Wukong, what's happening? What about these people?" Sun Wukong sneered again and replied, "Do you see the light here? This light is the culprit. Humans have three souls and seven essences, but beyond that, they have spirit. Spirit is the source of a person's will. Lose the spirit, and a person becomes like this, resembling a walking corpse. This light that shines at night slowly devours people's spirits. Once a person's spirit is completely absorbed, they become an empty shell, an unharmed shell with their three souls and seven essences intact."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie quickly took off his clothes and held them above everyone's heads, saying, "Cover quickly, cover quickly, don't let that light hit us." Sun Wukong said, "It's alright; the light is already quite weak. Unless you've been exposed to it for years, it won't matter, plus you and I are demons, not easily devoured. However, there's undoubtedly a problem with this country. Let's go back to sleep. Tomorrow, we'll follow this light and see what's devouring people's spirits."

Zhu Bajie was evidently terrified of this light, shrank his neck, and said, "Brother Monkey, this light is so sinister, maybe we should take a detour?" Sun Wukong looked up at the night sky, sighed, and said, "From the first day we embarked on our journey to the west, we lost the chance to detour or turn back. Since we've encountered this, it proves that it's neither accidental nor incidental, but rather…"

"But rather that someone deliberately set this up, waiting for us, Bajie, Wujing, let's go back and sleep." Tang Sanzang continued the sentence that Sun Wukong hadn't finished.