txolops Chapter 165 Fire Cloud Cave - Second Visit to Banana Cave
Chapter 165 Fire Cloud Cave - Second Visit to Banana Cave
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha! So Red Boy was also being used. How pitiful, how pitiful."
Bajie said, "Master, as the saying goes, 'There's always a reason why someone is pitiful!' That demon child used to burn, kill, and plunder on Mount Hao, committing all sorts of evil deeds. His current predicament is exactly what he deserves. There's no reason to pity him."
Tang Sanzang shook his head and said, "Wuneng, you can't be so extreme. If Red Boy is really being controlled by someone and has no choice in his actions, then he is not doing evil by his own will, and he is different from ordinary demons. In the end, he is a pitiful person."
Li Fa, who had been listening to the master and disciples' discussion, stepped forward and said to Tang Sanzang, "Holy Monk, please be merciful. This humble monk has a request to make."
Tang Sanzang said, "Please speak, Daoist Master."
Li Fa said, "Although Red Boy has escaped, he is still in the palm of Daoist Guangming. If the innate essence of the Fire within his body is not removed, he will eventually be controlled by Guangming and fall into the demonic path."
"I wish to save him, but Guangming's cultivation is profound, and I fear I cannot handle him alone. I would like to ask the Great Sage to stay for a few days to lend me a hand. After the matter of Red Boy is settled, I will then escort the Elder on his journey west. What do you think, Elder?"
Before Tang Sanzang could speak, Wukong said, "Old monks, it's not that I'm unwilling to help! It's just that my master's journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is a meritorious undertaking personally appointed by the Buddha. Even traveling day and night might not be enough, so how can we allow it to be delayed? I'm afraid I can't comply with this order!"
Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, the Taoist priest has been kind to us. Now that he is in trouble, how can we stand idly by?"
As the old saying goes, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." Although Red Boy had done evil, he was also being used by others and had no choice in the matter.
If we can save him from suffering and help him reform, it would be a great act of merit, and it might even be an aid to our journey to the West.
"I have agreed on your behalf. I will stay for a few days to help the Taoist priest settle this matter."
Seeing that his master had spoken, the pilgrim no longer refused and laughed, "In that case, I'll do you a favor and stay with you all to meet that old Daoist Guangming again! Let's see just how capable he really is!"
Li Fa was overjoyed and bowed again, saying, "Thank you for your compassion, Elder; thank you for your righteousness, Great Sage! I will never forget your great kindness!"
Tang Sanzang said, "No need for such formalities, Daoist Master. Saving lives is the duty of a monk. But I wonder, do you have specific plans for saving that Red Boy?"
Li Fa said, "Elder, do not worry. I have already made a plan in secret, and it will not be wrong."
Tang Sanzang nodded and said, "Since you are so confident, I will not ask any more questions. Wukong, you will assist you for the next few days. Be sure to be careful and cautious, and do not act rashly."
The pilgrim said, "Master, don't worry, I understand."
He then instructed, "Bajie, Sha Wujing, you must keep a close watch on your master and not be negligent!"
Upon hearing this, Pigsy and Sandy naturally obeyed.
Seeing that he and his disciples had made arrangements, Li Fa leaped onto the clouds and said, "Great Sage, please follow me."
Upon hearing this, the traveler indeed leaped onto a cloud, and the two of them headed west.
Where did the two of them go? They went straight to the Banana Cave on Mount Cuiyun.
The two rode on the clouds and arrived at the territory of Cuiyun Mountain in less than half an hour.
The traveler descended from the clouds and looked around. He saw a mountain covered in lush green pines and cypresses, with clouds and mist swirling around its waist, revealing a cave.
The traveler asked, "Old friends, where is this place?"
Li Fa laughed and said, "This is the cave of the Bull Demon King."
The pilgrim said, "So this is the Bull Demon King's house. What brings me here?"
Li Fa said, "Great Sage, you may not know this. The Bull Demon King married into the Moyun Cave of Jilei Mountain and took the Jade-Faced Fox as his wife, but abandoned his first wife, leaving her alone here."
We have not come here to see the Bull Demon King, but to see his wife, Princess Iron Fan.
Upon hearing this, the pilgrim said, "Is that so? But since the Bull Demon King isn't here, and we're not familiar with his wife, isn't that a bit inappropriate? We don't want to cause any more trouble."
Li Fa laughed and said, "Great Sage, you may not know this, but I once hid in the Banana Cave for more than half a month, disguised as a cleaning maid named Xiao Cui, serving Princess Iron Fan. That's why I know her very well."
Furthermore, regarding Red Boy, we must first inform his mother and discuss countermeasures before taking any action. If we act rashly without informing her, unforeseen complications may arise.
Upon hearing this, the pilgrim chuckled and said, "How do you even know Red Boy's birth date and time? You've been waiting and waiting, and you're quite the schemer! You've even managed to sneak into his inner quarters."
Li Fa didn't answer. He straightened his clothes and transformed back into the appearance of "Xiao Cui": his hair was half-tied up, his face was fair and his cheeks were peach-like, he wore a green shirt and a goose-yellow silk sash around his waist.
Upon seeing this, the pilgrim clapped his hands and laughed, "What a transformation! If I hadn't seen you transform with my own eyes, I really wouldn't have recognized you!"
Li Fa said, "Great Sage, please wait a moment while I go in first, so as not to offend her."
Having said that, he stepped forward and came to the cave entrance.
The little girl guarding the gate recognized him and said with a smile, "Sister Xiao Cui, you're back? Madam has been thinking about you these past few days, saying you went out on business, why did you take so long?"
Li Fa said, "Thank you for your concern, sisters. Please inform Madam that Xiao Cui has returned and has something of utmost importance to report, which cannot be delayed."
One of the girls responded, "Please wait a moment, sister, I'll go in and inform them right away."
Having said that, she turned and went inside, and soon came out quickly, smiling, "Sister Xiao Cui, Madam wants you to go in, hurry up."
Li Fa nodded his thanks, then took light steps and entered the cave.
Princess Iron Fan was still sitting on the stone couch, looking quite haggard.
Seeing Li Fa enter, she nodded slightly and said, "Xiao Cui, you're back. I asked you to go to Haoshan to see my son, did you see him?"
Li Fa knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying, "Madam, this servant is guilty. On my way to Haoshan, I met the young king and also discovered a huge matter."
This matter is of great importance, and I dare not conceal it, so I have come to report it to you, Madam. However… however, this matter is too shocking, and I fear that you, Madam, will find it difficult to bear."
Seeing his solemn expression, Princess Iron Fan dismissed the maids around her and said, "Rise and speak. What is it that you need to say?"
Li Fa stood up, but instead of speaking, he wiped his face, revealing his true appearance.
Princess Iron Fan was taken aback, jumped to her feet, and shouted, "Who are you?!"
Li Fa cupped his hands and said, "Madam, please do not be alarmed. This humble Taoist, Denglizi, is not a bad person. I was entrusted by someone to rescue the young king from his suffering, so I disguised myself as Xiao Cui and served by your side for half a month to investigate the truth. Today I have come to apologize to you and tell you the truth about the young king."
Princess Iron Fan's expression shifted, and after a long while, she finally said, "You...you said you would save my son? What happened to my son?"
Li Fa sighed and recounted the events at Haoshan in detail: how Red Boy was used by Daoist Guangming, how the innate essence of the Fire within his body was transferred in, how Guangming wanted to use Red Boy to cultivate supernatural powers, and how he escaped in the chaos, and now his whereabouts are unknown.