Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Chapter 157 Fire Cloud Cave - The Monkey King Climbs the Social Ladder

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples continued their westward journey and arrived at Mount Hao.

When Red Boy heard that Tang Sanzang had arrived, he transformed into a boy, hung from a tree, and tried to coax Tang Sanzang.

The old monk, with his mortal eyes, couldn't recognize the demon, and Sun Wukong, unable to dissuade him, rescued the Red Boy and continued their journey westward.

Tang Sanzang was a compassionate man. Seeing Red Boy's miserable state, he asked Wukong to carry him.

Red Boy was, after all, a demon, so he used his supernatural powers to send a thousand pounds of weight to press down on the traveler.

The traveler felt the weight on his back increasing and laughed, "My son, you're using your weight-bearing technique to press down on your old man!"

Seeing that he couldn't hold him down, Red Boy became angry and released his body and spirit. He left the false body on the Monkey King's back and jumped up, standing in the sky. The Monkey King's back became even heavier.

Enraged, the Monkey King slammed the fake body onto a rock, turning it into a meat patty, and then tore its limbs to shreds.

Red Boy watched from the sky, thinking to himself, "This monkey monk is so lazy! Even if I were a demon trying to harm your master, I haven't even seen how I made a move yet, and you've already injured me like this!"

So they conjured a whirlwind in mid-air, and with a whoosh, they snatched Tang Sanzang away.

The pilgrim smashed the fake body, and when he looked back, his master had vanished.

So he rushed to Pigsy and Sandy and asked, "Where is Master?"

Pigsy said, "Brother, a sudden gust of wind just now swept through. Before Sandy and I could even see clearly, Master was gone."

Upon hearing this, the pilgrim stamped his foot and said, "It must be the work of a demon! He disguised himself as a child to make me carry him, while his real body used a gust of wind to abduct Master!"

Sha Wujing asked, "Brother, now that Master has been captured, what should we do?"

The pilgrim said, "I told you long ago that child was a demon, but you wouldn't believe me!"

Pigsy said, "Brother, it's too late to regret now. There's nothing we can do but go find that monster and rescue Master."

The traveler said, "Brothers, let's pledge our allegiance, pack our luggage and horses, and head up the mountain to find the monster and rescue our master."

The three men clung to vines and climbed along slopes and streams, traveling fifty or seventy li, but still received no news.

Enraged, the Great Sage swung his iron cudgel wildly, which only brought out a group of mountain gods and local deities from Mount Hao.

When the mountain gods and local deities saw that the pilgrim was angry, they hurriedly called out, "Great Sage, the mountain gods and local deities have come to see you."

The traveler asked, "How come there are so many mountain gods and local deities?"

The gods kowtowed and said, "We report to the Great Sage that this mountain is called the Six Hundred Li Drill Mountain. We are a mountain god every ten li and a local deity every ten li, totaling thirty mountain gods and thirty local deities."

I heard yesterday that the Great Sage had arrived, but due to some delays in gathering everyone, I was late in welcoming him, which angered him. I beg your forgiveness.

The pilgrim said, "I will spare your life for now. I ask you, how many demons live on this mountain?"

The gods said, "Grandpa, there's only one demon who rubbed our heads bald, leaving us without incense, paper money, or offerings. We're all starving and barely clothed. How many more demons have they eaten?"

The traveler asked, "A demon? What's his name, and what's his background?"

An old local said, "Great Sage, you may not know this, but this demon is the son of the Bull Demon King, whose childhood name is Red Boy and whose title is Holy Infant King. He cultivated in the Flaming Mountain for three hundred years and refined the Samadhi True Fire, making him extremely powerful."

This Fiery Cloud Cave spans three hundred li, all of which is his territory. He has six strong generals and over a hundred lesser demons under his command, who specialize in eating people. We, the sixty mountain gods and local deities, have all been captured by him and made his servants, where we are beaten, scolded, and driven around every day, suffering unspeakable misery.”

Upon hearing this, the Monkey King was overjoyed. He dismissed the local earth gods and mountain spirits, jumped down from the peak, and said to Pigsy and Sandy, "Brothers, rest assured, there's no need to worry anymore. Master will never harm anyone. The demon and I are related."

So the Monkey King returned to his original spot and called to Pigsy, "Fool, come with me. That monster is the son of the Bull Demon King. I have a past relationship with his father. If I go and claim kinship, he will surely release Master."

Pigsy laughed and said, "Brother, don't lie. You're in the Eastern Continent of Victory, and he's in the Western Continent of Bull Demon Kings. They're separated by countless mountains and rivers. How could they be related to you?"

The traveler said, "These people were the local land gods and mountain spirits. When I asked them why they were monsters, they said they were the sons of the Bull Demon King, raised by Rakshasa, and their name was Red Boy, also known as the Holy Infant King."

Five hundred years ago, I was sworn brothers with the Bull Demon King. This demon is the Bull Demon King's son, and I know his father. In fact, I'm his uncle, so aren't we related?

Sha Wujing laughed and said, "Brother, as the saying goes, 'If you don't visit for three years, even relatives won't be close.' You've been separated from him for five or six hundred years, haven't exchanged a single drink, and haven't sent any invitations on holidays. How can he possibly consider you a relative?"

The pilgrim said, "Old Sun and his father are sworn brothers. As the saying goes, 'A floating leaf returns to the sea, and people will meet again anywhere!' Even if he doesn't acknowledge our kinship, he is a devout follower and will not harm my master."

After saying this, he arranged for Sha Wujing to guard the horses and luggage, while he and Zhu Bajie went to find Tang Sanzang.

The traveler shouted, "Open the door! Open the door!"

A little demon poked his head out and asked, "Where did this hairy monk come from?"

The pilgrim said, "Go and tell your king to send out my master, Tang Sanzang, and I'll spare the lives of all you spirits in this cave! If you utter even half a word of dissent, I'll overturn your mountain and raze your cave to the ground!"

Upon hearing this, the lesser demons hurriedly turned around, returned to their caves, closed the two stone doors, and went inside to report: "Your Majesty, disaster has struck!"

Upon hearing the report of impending disaster, Red Boy asked, "What disaster?"

The little demon said, "There's a monk with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth, along with another monk with a long mouth and big ears, demanding Master Tang Sanzang at the gate. But if they utter even half a word of 'no,' they'll overturn the mountain and flatten the cave."

Upon hearing this, Red Boy was enraged. He grabbed his fire-tipped spear, led his demons, opened the cave door, and shouted, "Who are you, shouting in my place!"

The pilgrim stepped forward and laughed, "My dear nephew, stop with the pretense. This morning you tricked my master by the mountain road and brought him here. Now you're putting on this act. You should send my master back as soon as possible. Don't lose face and family ties. I'm afraid your father will blame me for bullying the young and acting improperly."

Upon hearing this, Red Boy was furious and shouted, "You impudent monkey! What kinship do I have with you? What nonsense are you spouting! Who is your nephew?"

The pilgrim said, "Nephew, you don't know this. Back when your father and I were brothers, you were still nowhere to be found."

The monster retorted, "This monkey is talking nonsense! Where are you from, and where am I from? How can you be brothers with my father?"

The pilgrim said, "You don't know, I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. Before I caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, I traveled all over the world."

We became sworn brothers with your father, the Bull Demon King, as well as the Flood Dragon Demon King, the Roc Demon King, the Lion Camel King, the Macaque King, and the Yu Rong King. When my brothers and I were young, you weren't even born yet!