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

Chapter 46 Yellow Wind Ridge: Seeking the Immortal and the Great Sage

After the villagers had dispersed, Li Fa turned to Sun Wukong, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Elder Sun, didn't you go west? Why have you returned?"

Sun Wukong hurried forward and, without any formalities, said, "Daoist, my master has been captured by a tiger demon. He claims to be the vanguard of the Yellow Wind King, but Bajie and I have been searching for a whole day and have not been able to find his cave."

I've heard that you and the old Taoist Ji Huazi are from the same school. He's skilled in divination, and you must also have the ability to find traces. I've come specifically to ask for your help to divine the whereabouts of my master and rescue him!"

Li Fa nodded slightly and said, "Elder Sun, don't be anxious. I have also heard of the Yellow Wind Monster's reputation."

This demon roams the mountains and forests, commanding five or seven hundred lesser demons. It delights in harming passersby and local people, committing numerous evil deeds.

Although I don't often descend the mountain, I know that he has no other dwelling place; he only lives in a cave in these mountains.

Sun Wukong said, "What you say is true, Daoist! But my brother and I searched the entire mountain and couldn't even find a single hair of that demon, let alone its cave!"

Li Fa said, "Don't be impatient, panic will only make you lose your composure. If you and Bajie can't find it, it's very likely that the monster used some kind of trick. Although I am not as powerful as my elder brother Ji Huazi, I am skilled in some geomancy. Why don't I go down the mountain with you and search for it there?"

Wukong was overjoyed and said, "Good! Good! Thank you for your help, Daoist! We should not delay, let's set off quickly, or my master may be in trouble!"

So the two rode on the clouds and arrived in the mountains in no time. From afar, they saw Pigsy squatting on a blue stone, looking very anxious.

Upon seeing Wukong and Li Fa arrive, Pigsy immediately jumped up to greet them: "Brother! You're finally back! The Taoist priest is here too! We've searched the whole mountain but haven't found a trace of any monster. What should we do, Master?"

Li Fa remembered clearly that the location of Huangfeng Cave in the original story was under a rocky cliff. So he said, "Elders, don't worry. I have already calculated with my geomancy that Huangfeng Cave is hidden under a rocky cliff. It must be that the Yellow Wind Monster used his supernatural powers to cover his tracks. We just need to search under the rocky cliff."

The three dared not delay and immediately split up to search. Before long, as dawn broke, they stopped in front of a rocky cliff hidden by ancient pines.

The sheer cliff face rose thousands of feet, with endless yellow sand below, a stark contrast to the lush vegetation surrounding it.

Li Fa pointed to the pile of yellow sand and said, "Please look here, both of you!"

Wukong and Bajie hurried forward and indeed saw a narrow crack hidden in the center of the yellow sand pile. The crack was covered by vines and weeds, and if you didn't look closely, it was no different from an ordinary earthen slope.

Sun Wukong activated his Fiery Eyes of Truth and focused intently, indeed sensing demonic energy emanating from behind the crevice in the rock. Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "It really is here! But these yellow sand vines are blocking the way, making it inconvenient to open the door!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy patted his chest and said, "Brother, don't be impatient, watch what I, Old Pig, can do!"

Having said that, he activated his supernatural powers, transforming into a giant pig, dozens of feet tall, with a swift snout, and forcefully rammed into the yellow sand pile.

With a loud "boom," yellow sand scattered and vines flew up, revealing the entrance to a cave.

Sun Wukong then drew his golden cudgel, leaped to the mountain gate, slammed it down, and shouted fiercely, "Listen up, demons in the cave! Quickly send my master out! If you dare hesitate even a moment, I, Old Sun, will overturn your lair, raze your Yellow Wind Cave to the ground, and ensure you all die without a burial place!"

Hearing this angry shout, the lesser demons inside the cave were terrified. Trembling and stumbling, they rushed to the Yellow Wind Monster, reporting in trembling voices, "Great...Great King! Disaster! Disaster!"

Yellow Wind Monster was sitting in the hall drinking wine when he heard this. He frowned and said, "What trouble have you in such a panic?"

The little demon knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly: "A monk with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth came to the cave entrance, holding an iron rod as thick as a bowl, shouting loudly that he wanted his master!"

Yellow Wind Monster was startled, his face darkened, and he turned to Tiger Vanguard, scolding, "When I taught you to patrol the mountains, I only told you to catch some wild oxen, wild boars, fat deer, and wild sheep to fill your stomach. Who told you to capture that Tang Monk? Now his disciples have come to attack us, what are we going to do?"

Tiger Vanguard clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured and have nothing to worry about. This humble general is willing to lead fifty strong and capable demons out to bring back that Sun Wukong so that Your Majesty can have a good meal with him!"

Huang Feng said strangely, "In my cave, besides the big and small leaders, there are five or seven hundred lesser demons. You can choose as many as you like. As long as you can capture that Sun Wukong, I will become your sworn brother and share Tang Sanzang's flesh. But if you can't capture him and are injured by him instead, don't blame me!"

Tiger Vanguard said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured! I will be there soon."

Having said that, he immediately summoned fifty strong and capable demons, who beat drums and waved flags, and rushed out of the cave. He shouted at Wukong, "Where did you come from, you monkey monk? How dare you shout and yell in front of my Yellow Wind Cave? Are you tired of living?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was so enraged that his steel teeth chattered and his fiery eyes widened. He cursed, "You skinned beast! You dared to use the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell trick to abduct my master, and now you dare to question me? Hand over my master obediently, and I, Old Sun, might spare your dog's life; if you dare to resist, I will surely beat you to a pulp!"

Tiger Vanguard sneered, "I took your master. I was just about to cook him with my king's food. If you know what's good for you, you'd better get back now, or I'll take you too and make a delicious meal for you. Wouldn't that be buy one get one free?"

Sun Wukong was furious. He drew his iron cudgel and shouted, "How dare you boast like this! Don't run! Take this!"

Seeing this, Tiger Vanguard quickly drew his knife and charged into battle, and the two of them began to fight.

But how could he be a match for Sun Wukong?

After only three or five rounds, he became weak and powerless, and turned to leave.

However, he had spoken about it to the Yellow Wind Monster, and fearing that the old monster would blame him, he dared not return to the cave and fled directly to the hillside to escape.

On the hillside, Pigsy and Li Fa were already waiting.

Tiger Vanguard saw that one of them was Pighead, whom he had fought before, and the other was a Taoist priest he didn't recognize. He immediately identified Li Fa, brandished his knife and charged straight at him, wanting to capture the man first.

But Li Fa remained calm, with not a trace of fear in his eyes.

Because at that moment, the merit chart had already appeared before his eyes:

[Target for execution: Tiger Vanguard (a demon general under the Yellow Wind Monster)]

[Karma Assessment: C (477 lives lost)]

Success rate of hunt: 100%

Rewards received:

[Optional Reward 1: Two Jiazi of the "Creation of Heaven and Earth Technique" Mana]

[Optional Reward Two: Skinning Technique (Escape Technique, Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell)]

[Optional Reward Three: Five Elements Primordial Spear (Upgraded Black Gold Spear, Top-Tier Acquired Spiritual Treasure)]