Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

Deep within the Lotus Cave of Pingdingshan Mountain, Golden Horn and Silver Horn stood silently facing each other when the elusive ghost suddenly stumbled and tumbled into the cave, panting, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! There's movement down the mountain!"

"A few monks arrived. The one in the lead rode a white horse and wore a kasaya; he looked quite imposing! There was also a hairy-faced, thunder-mouthed one carrying an iron rod; he didn't look like someone to mess with!"

King Golden Horn suddenly stood up, and the chess piece in his hand fell onto the chessboard with a thud, rolled a few times, and fell to the ground.

King Silver Horn jumped up, exclaiming joyfully, "Oh? They've arrived! They've finally arrived!"

He rubbed his hands together, pacing back and forth in the cave, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Brother, we've waited for years, and finally, the real deal is here!"

However, just to be on the safe side, the Silver Horned King grabbed the Fine-Eyed Ghost and asked, "Did you see clearly how many people were in that group? Wasn't there a hairy-faced guy with a thunder god's mouth, and another one with a long snout and big ears?"

The meticulous ghost said tremblingly, "I saw it clearly, I saw it clearly, it seems there is one... two... three..."

He counted on his fingers, then looked up and said, "There are five people in total. There is one with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth, but there is no one with a long mouth and big ears like Your Majesty described. There is one who looks like charcoal, another with a yellow face, and yet another who is twelve feet tall."

"Um?"

Silver Horn loosened his grip on Fine-Eye Ghost and looked at Golden Horn: "Brother, this isn't right. Didn't the Patriarch say that the group heading west included Sun Wukong, Pigsy, and Sandy? Fine-Eye Ghost's words don't seem to match up. Could there be a mistake?"

King Golden Horn pondered, "A monkey with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth—that must be him, right? Perhaps the pig demon wasn't accepted as a disciple, but instead took on a few others?"

King Silver Horn thought about it and realized it made sense. So he happily said, "Since the people are innocent, let's hurry up and add to their suffering so we can return to the Tushita Palace to report. I don't want to stay in this mortal realm for even a day longer!"

Golden Horn, however, was more composed. He sat down again, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and pondered, "Don't be so happy yet. We've both heard of Sun Wukong's abilities. With just the two of us, we probably wouldn't have the upper hand in a head-on fight."

"Besides, now we have a few more disciples whose backgrounds we don't know. We don't want to end up getting caught off guard and bringing shame to our ancestor."

Silver Horn King was taken aback, but quickly calmed down and said, "Brother is right. That monkey is indeed difficult to deal with, but our ancestor instructed us to set up a challenge. We can't just watch them pass by like this."

King Golden Horn nodded and said, "Of course not, so we have to think of a way to separate him from that Tang Sanzang first."

Silver Horn King's eyes darted around, and he suddenly smiled, saying, "Brother, I have an idea."

He leaned close to the Golden Horned King's ear and whispered a few words. After listening, the Golden Horned King's brow gradually relaxed, and he nodded, saying, "This plan is feasible. But... what if the monkey isn't subdued?"

Silver Horn King chuckled, reached into his robes and pulled out a purple-gold gourd, weighed it in his hand, and said, "What are you afraid of? We haven't used a single one of the magic treasures bestowed upon us by our ancestor."

He then pulled out a golden rope. "The purple-gold gourd, the jade bottle, and the golden rope—any one of them would be enough to give that monkey a hard time."

King Golden Horn looked at the magical treasures and then relaxed: "Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! With these magical treasures from our ancestor, no matter if you are a Taiyi or a Daluo, you can't escape our grasp!"

"Don't think that just one monkey and a few other apprentices are the problem. Even if a hundred or so came, we wouldn't be afraid!"

"Alright, we'll do as you say. Take all the magic treasures down the mountain. If the plan succeeds, capture Tang Sanzang first. If the monkey escapes, use the gourd to capture him, and then use the Golden Rope to bind the other disciples."

Silver Horn King nodded, put away the magic weapon, and transformed back into a ragged old Taoist priest. Carrying a bamboo cane, he limped out of the cave and headed down the mountain.

Down the mountain, Yun Zhao and his disciples were slowly making their way along the mountain path.

Ancient trees and vines lined both sides of the mountain road, which should normally be filled with the sounds of birds and beasts, but now not even the chirping of insects could be heard, making it unusually quiet.

Sun Wukong walked in front, his golden cudgel slung over his shoulder. He scanned the surroundings, then suddenly stopped and said, "Master, something's wrong with this mountain. It's too quiet."

The black bear spirit also became alert and whispered, "Eldest brother is right, I also feel there's something strange about this."

Huang Feng pressed his hand on the steel fork, Sha Wujing gripped his demon-subduing staff, and the group surrounded Yun Zhao.

Yun Zhao reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping over the dense forest ahead, and he already had a plan in mind.

He already knew this was the training ground of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn, but he remained calm and simply said, "Just be careful, there's no need to be too nervous."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a mournful wail suddenly came from not far ahead, as if someone was groaning in pain.

Sun Wukong looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old Taoist lying in the roadside bushes. His clothes were tattered, his face was covered in blood, and one of his legs was bent at an odd angle, clearly broken.

Upon seeing them, the old Taoist priest seemed to see saviors. He struggled to reach out his hand to them, his voice hoarse: "Help...help...this poor Taoist...this poor Taoist has injured his leg by a demon and can't walk...I beg you elders to have mercy and save this poor Taoist..."

The disciples looked at each other, then at Yun Zhao, unsure whether to save him or not.

The black bear spirit scratched his head and said, "Master, how come there's an old Taoist priest in this desolate wilderness?"

Yellow Wind Monster also said, "Yes, Master, there are no Taoist temples nearby. What is he doing here in this deep mountain forest all by himself?"

Sha Wujing was not talkative; he just watched the old Taoist priest warily.

Seeing their hesitation, the old Taoist priest began to wail again, his voice growing more and more pitiful: "I was originally a Taoist priest from the Jade Void Temple at the foot of the mountain. I went into the mountain to gather herbs, but I encountered a monster... The monster injured my leg, and I fled for several days before finally escaping here... I beg you elders to have mercy and take me down the mountain!"

He spoke with such sincerity that tears streamed down his face, but in the eyes of Sun Wukong and Yun Zhao, his performance was utterly clumsy.

In the middle of nowhere, far from any village or shop, where could a Taoist priest have come from?

Besides, he had a broken leg, lost so much blood, and had been on the run for several days, yet he was still full of energy. How could such a strange thing happen?

Yun Zhao and Sun Wukong exchanged a silent glance, both sneering inwardly.

Yun Zhao dismounted, walked forward, squatted down in front of the old Taoist priest, and said gently, "Amitabha, Taoist priest, please don't be anxious. This humble monk has some medical knowledge. Let me take a look at your injuries first."

A hint of smugness flashed in the old Taoist's eyes, but his face remained contorted in pain as he said, "Thank you, Elder! Thank you, Elder! You truly have the heart of a Bodhisattva!"

Yun Zhao reached out and gently touched the broken leg—crack.

The old Taoist priest sprang up like a spring, roaring in a booming voice, "Where did this stinking monk come from? How dare you be so rude!"

As soon as he said it, he realized he had let something slip, so he quickly fell back to the ground and continued to whimper.

Upon seeing this, the apprentices could no longer contain themselves and burst into laughter.

Sun Wukong laughed, "Old Taoist, you broke your leg really cleanly!"

The old Taoist priest's face flushed red and then turned pale, realizing he had been exposed and could no longer keep up the act.

He suddenly stood up, pointed at Yun Zhao, and cursed, "You damned monk, how dare you mock this great king!"

As he spoke, he shook his tattered Taoist robe, which transformed into a gray Taoist robe. His face also changed, becoming a Taoist with silver hair, a pink face, a golden crown, and a purple-gold gourd in his hand. He was none other than the Silver Horn King.

Yun Zhao shouted, "You monster! I can tell you're not human at first glance!"

King Silver Horn snorted coldly and said, "Enough nonsense! Since you've seen through my plan, don't blame me for being impolite!"