I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

The Bodhisattva's voice, like heavenly music, reached the bottom of the water, but it made him wary.

The mission's restrictions were like iron hoops, sealing off all supernatural powers. One could only lurk in the form of a fish, and any slight movement would reveal one's true nature.

"The time has not come yet."

Jiang Wang thought to himself, and with a slight sway of his tail, the fish swam toward deeper water.

The South China Sea was warm, and corals grew in abundance. He patiently observed the bodhisattva's daily routine.

The jade bottle never left the Bodhisattva's hand, and the cave was surrounded by layers of barriers, making Sudhana extremely vigilant.

The slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.

He recalled the allure of the Primordial Spirit Crystal, and a slight smile played on his lips—the best show always begins after a long night.

Weary from his journey, Pigsy arrived at the South Sea. Seeing Mount Luojia in the distance, he gasped and cried out, "Bodhisattva! Bodhisattva, save me! I, Pigsy, beg to see you!"

His voice was rough, yet tinged with urgency, breaking the tranquility of the sea and sky.

Inside the Tide Sound Cave, upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva raised her eyebrows slightly, sprinkled a willow branch, and the light curtain at the cave entrance opened and closed.

Pigsy stumbled in and knelt down with a thud: "Bodhisattva, my master has been kidnapped by Red Boy! That little demon's Samadhi True Fire is too much for Monkey King to handle, and even the Dragon King can't extinguish it! Please, Bodhisattva, have mercy and descend to save him!"

The Bodhisattva smiled slightly, his voice like a clear spring: "Holy Infant King, son of the Bull Demon, your karmic obstacles have not yet been eliminated."

You and your disciples are destined for calamity.

"After I have made some preparations, I will go with you."

She rose, tucked the jade bottle into her sleeve, and followed Pigsy out with light steps.

At the bottom of the water, Jiang Wang's eyes flashed, catching this slight movement.

Is a bodhisattva making a journey? An opportunity is emerging.

He remained motionless, secretly calculating—if the bottle were to leave his body for even a moment, it would be a golden opportunity.

Patience is like that of a hunter, waiting patiently for the prey to fall into the net.

Outside the Fire Cloud Cave, Sun Wukong sat leaning against a rock, his golden cudgel across his knees, his monkey eyes gazing at the sky.

Sha Wujing, guarding the horse, whispered a comforting message: "Elder brother, don't worry."

"If my second senior brother goes to pray to the Bodhisattva, there will surely be a turning point."

Sun Wukong nodded, but his heart was burning with rage.

Relatives are disowned, the inferno is insurmountable, and the master's safety is unknown.

He recalled the trials and tribulations of his journey to the West and sighed inwardly: When will this journey to the West ever end? Behind him, the firelight illuminated half the sky, and thick smoke, like a dragon, devoured all life.

Meanwhile, turbulence is brewing in the South China Sea.

Pigsy led the way, followed by the Bodhisattva with her lotus-like steps. The sea parted to reveal a golden road.

Jiang Wangyu's tail twitched slightly as he silently followed, his figure as ghostly as he moved through the crevices of the reef.

Two threads, like two dragons playing with a pearl, quietly converge in this chaotic world of Journey to the West.

Sun Wukong suddenly felt a pang of fear. He looked up and saw a golden light piercing through the sky from the direction of the South China Sea.

He grinned, his monkey-like mouth agape, and exclaimed joyfully, "The Bodhisattva has arrived! Sha Wujing, prepare to welcome her!"

Sha Wujing got up and tidied his luggage. The white dragon horse neighed, as if it also sensed a turning point.

The Bodhisattva descended to the head of the ravine, his gaze sweeping over the sea of ​​fire, and sighed, "The true fire of Samadhi, the fire of karma burns the heart."

"Holy Infant, turn back!"

With a flick of her willow branch, the vase appeared, its contents shimmering faintly.

Jiang Wang lurked underwater, his fish eyes fixed on the bottle.

My heart is pounding—right now? No, it needs a moment of opportunity.

He remained still, poised to strike.

Amidst the sea of ​​fire, Red Boy, hidden in the smoke, gripped his spear tightly, grinning maliciously: "Monkey, come on! We're uncle and nephew, let's burn each other to the ground, then we'll be reunited!"

He spewed real fire from his nose again, the flames soaring into the sky, making the golden statue of the Bodhisattva sway slightly.

Pigsy, carrying his nine-toothed rake, hurriedly built a cloud and headed straight for the South Sea.

The cloud was low and swaying, like a drunkard staggering in mid-air, yet he was still enjoying himself, humming a little tune: "This time I, Old Pig, am going to invite the Bodhisattva, I'll definitely make that little demon suffer! Master, you must hold on, I'll bring reinforcements and keep you safe and sound."

His chubby face was puffed up by the wind, his eyes narrowed into slits as he gazed at the distant horizon where the sea and sky met in the south, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

Just now at the foot of Mount Hao, Sun Wukong was seriously injured, Sha Wujing had to stay behind to guard the luggage, and Master Tang Sanzang was kidnapped by the little demon Red Boy and imprisoned in the Fire Cloud Cave, his fate unknown.

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, and the clouds tilted further and further, almost colliding with a passing bird.

On Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea, in the Purple Bamboo Forest, Guanyin Bodhisattva sits on a lotus throne, with a kind and benevolent expression, holding a pure vase, listening to the soft murmurs of a parrot spirit.

Little did Pigsy know that the journey to the South Sea was long and arduous, and that little demon Red Boy had already planned ahead.

He was born with a clever and eccentric personality. From a young age, he listened to the Bull Demon King talk about military strategy in the Fire Cloud Cave and learned some transformation techniques. His Samadhi True Fire was also extremely proficient.

After capturing Tang Sanzang, he sat cross-legged on the throne in the cave, squinting as he pondered: "Although the bald donkey's meat is delicious, Sun Wukong is cunning and Zhu Bajie is stupid. They will definitely go to get reinforcements."

The old nun Guanyin of the South Sea is incredibly powerful. If she were to be invited here, my Huoyun Cave would be quite a spectacle.

"Why not strike first and intercept that fool!"

After saying that, he swayed and transformed into a wisp of red smoke, emerging from the cave entrance and soaring into the air, heading straight for the South China Sea.

Red Boy sped along on the clouds, bypassing Pigsy's path, and landed on a rocky cliff by the sea ahead of time.

He took a deep breath, activated his transformation magic, and a flash of red light transformed him into the appearance of Guanyin Bodhisattva: dressed in white, wearing a jeweled crown, holding a willow branch and a vase, dignified and compassionate, sitting on a rock, with purple bamboo swaying faintly behind him and waves gently lapping, just like a beautiful scene in the South China Sea.

Bajie was panting heavily as he flew when he suddenly saw a Bodhisattva statue appear in the clouds ahead. His eyes lit up, and he knelt down on the cloud with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Bodhisattva, have mercy! Bodhisattva, have mercy! I, old Pig Bajie, kowtow to you! My master, Tang Sanzang, was captured by the little demon Red Boy from the Fire Cloud Cave. That little demon unleashed the Samadhi True Fire, burning my fellow disciples and me to a terrible state."

"Monkey King is injured, and Sandy is guarding the luggage, so I have no choice but to come to the South Sea to beg you, sir, for help!"

The fake Guanyin smiled slightly, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it concealed a hint of cunning.

She gently stroked the willow branch, her voice as soft as the waves: "Bajie, you fool, what trouble have you gotten yourself into now? Tang Sanzang's journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is a divinely ordained great deed, how could he be captured by a little demon? Tell me quickly."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy wiped his sweat and recounted the whole story from the beginning: how he encountered Red Boy at Mount Hao, how he lost the battle, how Tang Sanzang was captured, and how Sun Wukong was injured by the fire in the sky.

He spoke vividly, tears and snot streaming down his face, and at the end he patted his chest and said, "Bodhisattva, you have to help us! That little demon is too cunning and ever-changing. I, Old Pig, am really doomed this time!"

Upon hearing this, Red Boy secretly rejoiced: This pig-headed fellow has indeed taken the bait! He pretended to frown and sighed, "Alas, Red Boy is the son of the Bull Demon King. The Bull Demon King and I have a long-standing relationship in the South Sea. It is truly wrong of you and your disciples to offend him."

"I could have pleaded on your behalf, but you must come with me to the Fiery Cloud Cave before I can resolve this."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy was overjoyed. Regardless of whether it was true or not, he hurriedly stood up and said, "Bodhisattva is wise! I, Old Pig, will go with you and make sure that little demon releases the people!"

Red Boy smiled slightly, rose and rode a cloud, leading Pigsy back north.

Bajie followed behind, muttering to himself, "Bodhisattva, you walk on your cloud so steadily. My old pig's cloud is always crooked. I'll have to learn from you someday."

Before long, the two arrived at the entrance of the Fire Cloud Cave.

Red Boy revealed his true form, grinning maliciously: "Pigsy, you fool, you've fallen for my trap!" Pigsy stared wide-eyed, realizing it wasn't a Bodhisattva at all, but clearly that red-faced little demon! He was terrified and swung his rake, yelling, "You little thief! I'll kill you!"

Red Boy flashed forward, chanting a spell, and Samadhi Fire erupted forth. Pigsy couldn't dodge in time and was caught in the flames, screaming in pain from the heat.

The demons swarmed up from the cave, quickly bound him, stuffed him into a large cloth bag, and hung him from the ceiling beam.

Red Boy laughed loudly, hands on his hips: "This pig's head is so fatty, let's hang it up for two days, starve it until it's thin, then slaughter it, cure it into bacon, enough for me to eat all winter!"

The little demons chimed in, and the cave was ablaze with fire and filled with laughter.

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong sat cross-legged at the foot of Mount Hao, meditating.

Although the Monkey King was severely injured by the Samadhi Fire, he was able to sense Pigsy's movements from afar thanks to his Fiery Eyes and powerful spiritual sense.

Suddenly, a chill ran through him: "Oh no! My second junior brother is in danger! That demonic aura is heading straight for the South China Sea!"

He opened his eyes and stood up, enduring the burning pain in his chest, and said to Sha Wujing, "Brother Sha, you stay and guard the luggage, I'm going to rescue people!"

Sha Wujing nodded, his composure as firm as a mountain: "Eldest brother, be careful, Master's safety rests on your shoulders."

Wukong grunted, his figure blurred, he plucked a hair, blew a breath of immortal energy, and transformed it into a buzzing fly that burrowed into the Fire Cloud Cave.

The cave was sweltering. Wukong flapped his wings and landed silently next to the cloth bag on the beam.

Upon entering the bag, they found Pigsy tightly bound, muttering curses: "You little demon! I, Old Pig, will eat your flesh sooner or later!"

Wukong whispered, "Idiot, stop yelling! I am Wukong!"

Pigsy was startled and exclaimed with joy, "Brother Monkey! What brings you here? Quickly, get me out of here!"

Wukong listened carefully to the sounds coming from inside the cave, and saw Red Boy shouting to a little demon, "Six generals, go quickly and invite my father, the Bull Demon King, to come and share Tang Sanzang's flesh!"

The six generals accepted the order and left.

Upon hearing this, Wukong's eyes lit up, and a plan formed in his mind: "What a great opportunity! I'll transform into the Bull Demon King and cause him some trouble!"

He flew out of the bag, ahead of the six generals, and arrived outside the Moyun Cave of Jilei Mountain, revealing his appearance as the Bull Demon King: twelve feet tall, wearing a purple-gold crown, clad in iron armor, and holding a large iron fork, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

Upon seeing this, the six generals were overjoyed: "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

Wukong said in a deep voice, "I heard that I was in trouble, so I came to help!"

The six generals hurriedly led him into the cave.

Red Boy meets his "father"

Upon his arrival, he rose to greet him: "Father, you've come at the perfect time! I've captured Tang Sanzang, and the monkey has escaped injured. I'd like to invite you to have a taste!"

Wukong laughed heartily, sat down and said, "Good son! Let me give you a piece of advice first. That Sun Wukong is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, with great supernatural powers. Don't provoke him."

While Tang Sanzang's flesh might be nourishing, is it worth risking one's life?

Red Boy was taken aback by these words, squinting at his "father." He saw the man pick up his wine bowl, drink it all in one gulp, but not eat the beef on the table, only slowly chewing the vegetables. He became suspicious: "Father always loves to eat beef and mutton, why aren't you touching any meat today? Could it be..."

Seeing that things were not going well, Wukong quickly changed the subject: "My child, your father is getting old and has a light appetite."

"Come, tell me your birth date and time, and I'll calculate your fortune this time."

Red Boy sneered: "Father, you don't even remember my birthday? I was born on the Dragon Boat Festival in May, at 1:15 AM. Are you getting senile?"

Wukong was taken aback and stammered. Red Boy shouted, "You audacious monkey! How dare you impersonate my father to deceive people!"

He opened his mouth and breathed fire, and Wukong revealed his true form, swinging his golden cudgel in a wide arc to smash him down.

Chaos erupted inside the cave as the demons surrounded him. Wukong fought his way out and escaped to the outside of the cave.

Although he failed to rescue his master and Pigsy, he stroked his chin and chuckled, "Hehe, that little demon called me 'Daddy,' that verbal advantage was well worth it! Once I bring reinforcements, I'll make you cry for your father and mother!"

Ignoring his injuries, Wukong somersaulted 84,000 li in one bound and headed straight for Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea.

He landed outside the Purple Bamboo Grove, dispelled his cloud-like aura, and respectfully kowtowed: "Bodhisattva, have mercy! Wukong is in trouble, please help me!"

Guanyin appeared, the Dragon Girl offered tea, and Wukong knelt down to recount in detail: Red Boy captured Tang Sanzang, burned Pigsy, transformed into a Bodhisattva to deceive him, and his transformation into the Bull Demon King was exposed, etc.

Upon hearing this, Guanyin's eyebrows furrowed, and she angrily said, "You audacious fiend! How dare you impersonate me and deceive Heaven and Earth!"

She took out a jade bottle, pointed the mouth of the bottle at the sea, and softly chanted, "Seawater into the bottle!"

Instantly, the waters of the four seas surged and churned, transforming into a water dragon that sucked all of it into the bottle.

The sweet dew inside the bottle surged and churned, enough to extinguish all the true fires in the world.

Deep in the ocean, Jiang Wang hid behind a coral reef, observing coldly.

He was a wandering spirit who secretly manipulated the secrets of heaven and foresaw Guanyin's actions long ago.

Seeing the jade bottle absorb water, he grinned maliciously, flipped his hand, and a ball of crimson divine oil appeared in his palm—Samadhi Divine Oil, the most yang substance in the world, which can generate fire when it encounters water, and becomes even more intense when it encounters fire.

He hissed, "Go!"

The divine oil transformed into wisps of red silk, quietly mixing into the seawater and being absorbed by the bottle.

Guanyin put away the bottle and stood up: "Wukong, come with me to Mount Hao, I will use my sweet dew to extinguish his Samadhi True Fire!"

Wukong was overjoyed: "Thank you, Bodhisattva!"

The two rode away on clouds, with the dragon girl Mucha following behind, and auspicious light shone between the sea and the sky.

Outside the Fire Cloud Cave of Mount Hao, Red Boy was smugly directing his little demons to start a fire and roast meat.

Suddenly he heard something unusual in the clouds. He looked up and saw Sun Wukong and Guanyin Bodhisattva coming together. He was startled: "They've come so fast!"

Wukong landed and shouted, "Little demon! Release my master at once!"

Red Boy sneered, "Monkey, so what if you bring in an old nun? Behold my Samadhi True Fire!"

He opened his mouth and spewed out a torrent of crimson fire that rushed straight at Wukong.

Wukong wielded his golden cudgel with impenetrable force, protecting the Bodhisattva as he fought and retreated, shouting, "Bodhisattva, quickly sprinkle the sweet dew!"

Guanyin nodded, uncorked the bottle, and sprinkled the liquid.

The sweet dew in the bottle poured down like rain onto the sea of ​​fire.

To everyone's surprise, the sweet dew, upon touching the flames, not only did not extinguish them, but instead hissed and the fire intensified threefold! The crimson flames soared into the sky, and the heat wave was like a tidal wave. Wukong suddenly felt as if he were in a pot of boiling oil, and even his fiery eyes were burning painfully and difficult to open.

He was terrified and flailed his staff wildly, barely managing to protect himself, but the flames caught the corner of his clothes, burning them black.

"Bodhisattva! Why is this fire burning ever brighter? Why is your nectar not working?"

Guanyin was also taken aback. The sweet dew in the bottle was all poured out. Seawater, which should have extinguished fire, seemed to be aiding and abetting the wicked.

She examined the bottle closely and vaguely sensed a strange, demonic aura emanating from it. She was secretly alarmed: "Could it be that a demon is causing trouble?"

In the firelight, Red Boy laughed loudly: "Old nun, your treasure is no longer effective, is it? My fire is invincible!"

Wukong gritted his teeth and endured the hardship, sweat pouring down his face. He knew things were going badly: this time, the journey to subdue the demon was about to be fraught with difficulties again... Inside the cave, Tang Sanzang was tied to a stone bed. Hearing this, he was terrified and silently chanted Buddhist mantras.

Bajie, dangling from the beam, swung and cursed, "Brother Monkey! Bodhisattva! I, Old Pig, am almost cooked!" (End of Chapter)