Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 33, Reward Settlement

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples crossed the Flowing Sand River.

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked the three holy beings Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the Old Mother of Lishan to devise a plan to subdue Ao Tu.

On Ao Tu's side, the rewards were settled, and the five rewards were distributed accordingly.

The Three-Turn Rejuvenation Pill, the Six-Thousand-Year-Old Peaches, the Headache Chime, the Dragon-Binding Rope, and the Five-Colored Divine Light.

Ao Tu accepted the Three-Turn Rejuvenation Pill, intending to save it for future use.

After swallowing the peach, his cultivation level increased somewhat.

He took the headache chime and tied the dragon-binding rope around his waist.

The five-colored divine light merged seamlessly, revealing five rays of light behind it, arranged according to the five elements: green, yellow, red, white, and black, which could be controlled at will.

Leading Tiger Vanguard, they traveled a thousand miles westward, crossed a mountain cliff, and saw a cluster of pine trees in the distance. Inside, there was a magnificent palace with ethereal pavilions, truly awe-inspiring.

There: The mist and haze hold the lingering moisture, moss aids the new green. A phoenix sings among the green phoenix trees, a dragon hides in the flowing water. The emerald cliffs rejoice at the rising moon, birdsong delights in the clear sky. Two groves of bamboo offer cool shade, a path is lush with flowers. Occasionally, white clouds drift by, aimlessly carried by the wind.

It is truly an ancient site spanning millennia and a trace of immortality.

Beneath that palace, for some unknown reason, a group of demons gathered.

Ao Tu glanced around and saw tiger spirits, leopard spirits, wolf spirits, deer spirits, musk deer spirits, fox spirits, black snake spirits, rat spirits, crow spirits, mantis spirits, dragonfly spirits, ant spirits, and so on.

These monsters, each with a different form, were all polite and stood outside.

Inside, you can hear people talking about some dragon maiden from the West who is sitting on the mountain looking for husbands.

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu became somewhat wary.

He took a few steps forward, stood on the cliff, and looked down to check the situation.

Just then, the system voice sounded.

[Ding, entering the mission area]

[Current Side Quest: The Four Sages Test the Mind of Zen]

[Task Requirements: Block the pilgrims in this area. Rewards will be calculated based on the time taken to block them.]

[Task Rewards: 3 days/Buddhist Rebirth Mantra, 7 days/Spell/Turning Earth into Steel, 1/Half a month/Purple-Veined Peach, 1 month/Spiritual Root/Third-Grade Golden Lotus, 1 season/Supernatural Power/Rainbow Transformation Technique, 6 months/Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood, 1 year/Innate Spiritual Treasure/Soul-Scattering Gourd, 3 years/Innate Spiritual Treasure/River Chart and Luo River Writing, 12 years/Chaos Bell, 60 years...]

Current progress: 1 day

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu recalled what he had heard about the Dragon Girl seeking a husband and realized that this was a scheme devised for him by Guanyin Bodhisattva and others.

After thinking for a moment, he realized that he had the Five-Colored Divine Light as his trump card, so he could at least protect himself. He decided to play along and led Tiger Vanguard up to stand outside with the group of monsters to wait.

Before long, the gate of the palace courtyard opened, and a woman walked out.

The woman, though middle-aged, was not old at all. She wore a green brocade jacket with a light red overlay; a bright yellow skirt with colorful knots; and high-heeled embroidered shoes. Her hair was a striking mix of black and white, and her face remained beautiful.

The way is:
Her hair, half-gray, resembled phoenix wings in flight; her earrings were adorned with two rows of precious pearls.

She is beautiful even without makeup, and her charm is still that of a young man.

The woman looked down and immediately spotted Ao Tu, who stood out from the crowd, and asked, "Young man, are you here to find a husband?"

Ao Tu feigned indifference and said, "That's right."

The woman said, "Then please come in quickly!"

Ao Tu, accompanied by Tiger Vanguard, followed the woman inside.

The other monsters, seeing this, dispersed, cursing and saying that the dragon girl had no sense of propriety.

The woman politely invited Ao Tu into the hall, where they sat down and had tea.

From behind the screen emerged a young girl with her hair in a bun, carrying a golden tray and a white jade cup. The fragrant tea emitted a warm glow, and exotic fruits released a delicate aroma. She held up the jade cup and served the tea.

Just then, the woman suddenly noticed the belt around Ao Tu's waist, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Ao Tu asked, "May I ask your surname, mother-in-law? And why have you come here to seek a son-in-law?"

The woman said, “My maiden name is Jia, and my husband’s name is Mo. I am a relative of the Dragon King of Sagara in Xiniu Hezhou. However, my husband died early, and I was destined to have no sons, only three daughters. Therefore, I wish to marry someone else.”

Ao Tu said, "So, we are of the same clan."

The woman said, “That’s right. The demons down the mountain are all coarse and ugly, unlike you who are naturally handsome and closely related to my family.” Ao Tu nodded, “That’s true.”

The woman asked, "Son-in-law, I still don't know your name or where you live?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu said, "My name is Ao Tu, also known as the King of Lingshan. I am a disciple of Buddha at the foot of Lingshan."

Upon hearing this, the woman couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth with her fan.

Ao Tu asked, "Why is your mother-in-law laughing?"

The woman said, "I was delighted to learn that my son-in-law comes from a wealthy family, hence my laughter."

Behind the screen, Guanyin Bodhisattva listened to Ao Tu's words and couldn't help but frown slightly.

The woman then asked, "Since the son-in-law is a Buddhist, is this marriage appropriate?"

Ao Tu said, "It's alright, Mother-in-law, there's no need to worry. I am a Buddhist disciple, and my main practice is to cultivate the Buddha within my heart."

The woman asked, "What is the Buddha in one's heart?"

Ao Tu said, "The so-called Buddha in one's heart means that one has broken all the precepts against greed, anger, and ignorance. As long as one recites the Buddha's name in one's heart, it will not be a problem."

The woman couldn't help but cover her face and laugh again.

The Guanyin Bodhisattva inside the house said angrily, "How can I forgive this wicked beast for slandering my sect like this?"

The two Bodhisattvas, Manjushri and Samantabhadra, who were standing nearby, quickly advised, "Great Bodhisattva, you must prioritize the greater good, prioritize the greater good!"

Because the demonic dragon had many tricks up its sleeve, the two were afraid that if they acted rashly, Ao Tu would escape, so they advised each other against it.

At this point, the woman felt that they had talked enough, so she said:
"In that case, I will call out my three daughters and see which one I will be betrothed to you."

Ao Tu said, "Please invite your three sisters out."

At the woman's call, three young girls emerged from the house, each possessing a beauty that could topple kingdoms.

The woman introduced them: "This is my eldest daughter, Zhenzhen; this is my second daughter, Ai'ai; this is my third daughter, Lianlian. Why don't you pay your respects to the King?"

The three daughters said in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

They were manifestations of Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Avalokiteshvara.

The woman asked, "Well, good son-in-law, which of my daughters have you taken a fancy to?"

Ao Tu feigned sincerity and said, "All three are doing very well."

The woman smiled and said, "Then I will give all three of them to you, so that you can share the bridal chamber with them, shall we?"

Ao Tu said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mother-in-law, but I dare not accept it."

The woman asked, "Why? Is it because you are weak and lack strength?"

Ao Tu said, "No. I know the art of dual cultivation and the method of fierce battle, but I'm afraid that my three sisters will be too fond of each other and it will be difficult to be fair, which will lead to discord over time."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva became extremely angry, clenching her fists tightly.

Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas quickly pulled Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva back.

Ao Tu said, "Mother-in-law, look, Lianlian and I are already having some disagreements."

The woman covered her mouth and laughed, "You've thought this through quite thoroughly. How about I marry Zhenzhen to you?"

Ao Tu said, "No, I'm afraid Ai Ai and Lian Lian will resent us."

The woman said, "Then shall I give you my love?"

Ao Tu said, "This is bad. I'm afraid Zhenzhen and Lianlian will resent us."

The woman said, "Then shall I marry Lianlian to you?"

Ao Tu said, "This is bad. I'm afraid Zhenzhen and Ai'ai will resent us."

The woman said, "Good son-in-law, I have no other choice. What do you suggest we do?"

Ao Tu stretched out his hand and conjured three large red veils, laughing, "How about this, I have three veils here, let the three sisters wear them on their heads and have a celestial marriage. Whoever catches me will be mine."

(End of this chapter)