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

Chapter 99 Baoxiang Kingdom - The Plan at Wanzishan

Upon hearing this, Li Fa sighed deeply, his brow furrowed with worry: "What should I do? Without his hair, I am helpless."

Just as he was feeling down, Baili Bo suddenly spoke up, reminding him, "Brother, when we entered the cave earlier, didn't that old monster complain that we arrived too hastily and that he hadn't even combed his hair yet?"

Upon hearing this, Li Fa's eyes lit up.

Baihua Xiu was also taken aback, then suddenly slapped her thigh, exclaiming in annoyance, "Oh, right! Oh, right! That demon combs her hair every day, rain or shine, how could I have forgotten that!"

Li Fa nodded and smiled, "If that's the case, then this matter will be easy to handle. When that old demon returns to his cave, the princess can say she's combing his hair, and then, when he's not paying attention, pluck a single hair from his head."

Baihua Xiu nodded in agreement, "Plucking a hair isn't difficult, but he's currently fighting those two monks outside. How can we call him back to the cave?"

Li Fa laughed and said, "That demon is deeply in love with the princess. How could he not return if she called out to him?"

Baihua Xiu still had concerns: "Even if we manage to get him back, if those two continue to shout and curse outside, he will definitely have to go out and fight them again, and in the end, it will be difficult to accomplish anything."

Li Fa pondered for a moment and said, "The one who tied the knot must untie it. Those two monks came only to save their master. If the princess goes and releases the old monk, the demon will have no more worries and will naturally return to his cave. Once he returns, you can tell him that you will comb his hair today, and he will not doubt you."

Upon hearing this, Baihuaxiu was overjoyed. She immediately went alone to the place where Tang Sanzang was bound and asked softly, "Elder, where did you come from? Why were you bound here?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang sighed deeply, his expression filled with sorrow: "Female Bodhisattva, there's no need to ask any more questions. I am already a person destined to die. I mistakenly entered your cave. If you want to eat, then eat. Why ask any more questions?"

Baihua Xiu quickly shook her head: "Elder, don't be afraid, I don't eat people. My home is more than 300 li to the west, in the Kingdom of Baoxiang. I am the third princess of that king, and my childhood name is Baihua Xiu."

Thirteen years ago, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I was enjoying the moon in the palace when I was suddenly seized by this demon in a gust of wind. I became his wife for thirteen years, bearing him children, but I have lost all contact with my parents, missing them day and night, unable to see them. Where did the elder come from, that he captured him?

Tang Sanzang sighed, "This humble monk is on the orders of the Tang Emperor to travel to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures. I unexpectedly wandered here and stumbled upon a demon's cave. Now he wants to take my two disciples and steam them with me."

Baihuaxiu smiled and said, "Elder, please don't worry. Since you are a virtuous person on your journey to the West, I will save you. Baoxiang Kingdom is the main road for your westward journey. Please send a letter home for me and pay respects to my parents, and I will ask them to spare you."

Tang Sanzang nodded hurriedly, overjoyed: "If you, Bodhisattva, can save my life, I am willing to do your utmost to deliver the letter home to the king."

Baihua Xiu dared not delay. She hurriedly went to the back hall, quickly wrote a letter home, sealed it properly, and then came to the post. She untied the ropes binding Tang Seng and handed him the letter.

Having escaped a great calamity, Tang Sanzang held the letter from home in both hands and thanked her repeatedly, saying, "Thank you so much, Bodhisattva, for saving my life! On my way, when I pass through Baoxiang Kingdom, I will personally deliver this letter to the king. However, I fear that as time goes by, your parents may not recognize you upon receiving this letter. At that time, I hope you will not blame me for lying."

Baihua said shyly, "Elder, rest assured, my father has no sons, only the three of us sisters. When he sees the letter from home, he will surely be happy to recognize us and there is no reason for him to refuse."

Tang Sanzang carefully tucked the letter into his sleeve, thanked Baihua Xiu, and turned to leave, but Baihua Xiu grabbed him, saying, "Elder, wait! You can't get out through the front door. All those demons, big and small, are outside waving flags, shouting, beating drums, and banging gongs, helping the King fight your disciple."

"Go out the back door. If the king catches you, he'll interrogate you; but if you're captured by a lesser demon, he might harm you without considering your guilt. I'll go and plead with him. If the king releases you, you can wait for your disciples to find you, and then we can travel west together."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude. He then carefully followed the instructions, bid farewell to Baihuaxiu, and quietly slipped out through the back door. Not daring to move around on his own, he hid himself in the thorn bushes outside the door, waiting for his disciple.

Baihuaxiu composed herself and hurried toward the front door.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw groups of demons of all sizes lined up on both sides, their weapons clashing in mid-air, the clanging sounds ringing out incessantly. It was Pigsy, Sandy, and the Yellow Robe Monster locked in a fierce battle.

Baihua Xiu shouted sharply, "Yellow-robed gentleman!"

Upon hearing the princess's call, the yellow-robed monster immediately abandoned Pigsy and Sandy, descended from the cloud, sheathed his steel sword, and rushed forward to help Baihua Xiu, saying, "My dear, why did you call me so urgently? What do you want to say?"

Baihua said shyly, "My lord, I was sleeping peacefully in my bedchamber when I suddenly saw a golden-armored deity come to me in my dream."

The man in the yellow robe said, "What kind of golden-armored deity dares to trespass into my Wave Moon Cave?"

Baihua sighed and said, "That deity said that when I was young in the palace, I made a secret wish to the gods: if I could be matched with a virtuous man, I would go to a famous mountain to worship the immortals, offer alms to monks, and accumulate merit and do good deeds."

Since marrying my husband, we've been so loving that I'd forgotten this vow. Today he came to demand it, and the drinking jolted me awake; it was all a dream.

She paused, then continued, "I felt uneasy after waking up and rushed to tell my lord. Unexpectedly, I found a monk tied to a stake. I beg my lord to have mercy on me and spare the monk. Consider it an offering to the monk on my behalf to fulfill my vow. I wonder if my lord would be willing?"

Upon hearing this, the Yellow-Robed Monster laughed loudly, "Wife, you're overthinking it! What's the big deal? If I wanted to eat people, I could find plenty to eat anywhere, especially with Jade Maiden's offerings. Just let this monk go."

Baihua Xiu hurriedly said, "My lord, please be merciful and let him go through the back door, lest he be disturbed by the little demons."

The yellow-robed monster said impatiently, "Fine, fine, let him go. Who cares about the front or back gate!"

Having said that, he picked up his steel sword and shouted at the air: "Hey Pigsy! Come here! I'm not afraid of you, but I'm only sparing your master's life for the sake of my wife."

Go find him at the back gate as soon as possible, heading west! If you dare to violate the boundaries of my Wave Moon Cave again, I will not forgive you!

Upon hearing this, Pigsy and Sandy felt as if they had been granted a pardon. Without daring to delay, they quickly led their horses and carried their loads around to the back entrance of the Wave Moon Cave, calling out loudly, "Master! Master!"

Hearing his disciple's voice from among the thorns, Tang Sanzang quickly responded.

Sha Wujing quickly parted the weeds, helped his master out, and the three of them hurriedly mounted their horses and headed west in a panic. But that's another story.

After dismissing Pigsy and the other two, the Yellow-Robed Monster turned and returned to his cave, where he sat on a stone chair to rest for a while. Baihua Xiu quickly stepped forward and said softly, "My lord, you must be exhausted from today's battle. You probably haven't combed your hair yet. Let me comb it for you."

The yellow-robed monster was delighted and laughed, "Good, good, go and fetch the comb."

Baihua Xiu suppressed her overwhelming joy and quickly turned to fetch the comb.

Before long, he returned with a jade comb, helped the yellow-robed monster sit on the stone bench, and then combed his hair.