Sun Wukong had no choice but to strike the ground with his Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Immediately, the local earth god was summoned. After inquiring, he learned that this was a rat demon residing in the Bottomless Cave of Xiankong Mountain. So, Sun Wukong went there. After calling for a challenge, the rat demon did not appear.
Sun Wukong then descended along the cave entrance. However, the entrance was too narrow, and the rat demon had set up an ambush. Sun Wukong couldn't fully utilize his abilities and had to fly back up.
With no other option, Sun Wukong transformed his body into a small flying insect and flew down.
He finally reached the demon's lair and successfully found Tang Sanzang. After telling Tang Sanzang not to panic, Sun Wukong said, "Master, if you trick her into drinking this bowl of water, I can enter her belly and resolve this matter."
Tang Sanzang, having received Sun Wukong's hint, feigned agreement when the Earth-Worm Lady arrived. The Earth-Worm Lady was overjoyed and, without much scrutiny, drank the water handed to her by Tang Sanzang. Once Sun Wukong entered the rat demon's belly, he unleashed a barrage of punches, causing the rat demon immense pain.
"Demon, release my Master!" Sun Wukong shouted triumphantly from within the Earth-Worm Lady's belly.
"Alright, alright, alright, I will release the holy monk immediately!" the Earth-Worm Lady said quickly.
She then placed Tang Sanzang outside the cave. Zhu Bajie received Tang Sanzang, and only then did Sun Wukong emerge from the Earth-Worm Lady's belly. However, the Earth-Worm Lady instantly reneged on her promise, snatched Tang Sanzang again, and fled back underground.
Sun Wukong was furious. This monstrous fiend! She was courting death!
He re-entered the cave but could no longer find the Earth-Worm Lady or Tang Sanzang. He had no idea where they had gone. However, Sun Wukong found the spirit tablet of Li Jing, which bore the title "Father." Immediately, Sun Wukong took the tablet and ascended to the Heavenly Court to make a complaint.
In another cave dwelling, the Earth-Worm Lady sneered repeatedly. This Tang Sanzang dared to trick her? She wouldn't show any mercy.
"My little ones, your old mother is getting married tonight!" the Earth-Worm Lady commanded her subordinates before leaving with a flick of her sleeve.
Sun Wukong arrived in the Heavenly Court and directly sought out the Jade Emperor to lodge his complaint.
The Jade Emperor was utterly bewildered. Was this monkey seeking the wrong person? He himself had little real authority, as those subordinates wouldn't listen to him.
Seeing that Sun Wukong was accusing Li Jing, his expression became even more peculiar. Li Jing was the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King of their Heavenly Court, but his family had deep ties with Buddhism. Logically, they should have been allies.
Intrigued, the Jade Emperor said, "You insolent ape, elaborate!"
Sun Wukong recounted the matter of the Earth-Worm Lady, mentioning that he had seen Li Jing's longevity tablet in the demon's cave, and that she claimed to be Li Jing's daughter. Since this daughter of Li Jing had captured Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong naturally demanded an explanation from Li Jing.
The Jade Emperor's eyes lit up, and he immediately declared, "Very well, I shall convene all the Immortals!"
Soon, all the Immortals arrived at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, looking at the Jade Emperor with surprise, wondering why he had summoned them all so hastily.
"Your Majesty, what is the matter that has caused you to summon us in such a hurry?" Di Xin asked directly. He wondered what new scheme the Jade Emperor was devising.
The Jade Emperor snorted, inwardly sneering at Di Xin. This time, Di Xin was in trouble. Look at the Heavenly Court under his administration; the daughter of a high-ranking official was masquerading as a demon in the mortal realm. This was not what they had agreed upon.
Di Xin appeared completely bewildered. Did this Jade Emperor have a screw loose?
"Where is Li Jing?" the Jade Emperor asked sternly.
Li Jing stepped forward, looking utterly confused. Why had the Jade Emperor suddenly summoned him?
The Jade Emperor then gave Sun Wukong a look, clearly indicating that it was his turn to act.
Receiving the signal, Sun Wukong immediately declared, "Your Majesty, I wish to accuse Li Jing of failing to properly discipline his child, who has privately descended to the mortal realm as a demon and captured my Master!"
Hearing Sun Wukong's accusation, Li Jing was dumbfounded. What nonsense was this monkey spouting? He had only three sons and one daughter, and his youngest daughter was merely seven or eight years old. Now this monkey claimed she had descended as a demon?
"Insolent ape, cease your baseless ramblings! My daughter is only seven or eight years old, how could she possibly have descended as a demon? She even greeted me earlier. Tai Bai, you saw it too, tell them!" Li Jing retorted in great anger, dragging Tai Bai Jin Xing into the matter.
Tai Bai Jin Xing emerged with a deadpan expression and said, "Your Majesty, Li Jing's daughter has not descended to the mortal realm."
The Jade Emperor was also taken aback. Damn it, this monkey had set him up! At this moment, the Jade Emperor also remembered that Li Jing's youngest daughter was indeed only seven or eight years old. How could she have descended as a demon? This monkey had misled him!
"Hmph, I have the spirit tablet as proof!" Sun Wukong presented the tablet.
The Immortals exchanged glances and then looked at Li Jing.
Li Jing examined the spirit tablet. He could sense the incense power emanating from it, but he truly couldn't recall having another daughter.
Nezha then ran over and said, "Father, a while ago, when we were apprehending the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Demon, she seemed to have called you Father."
Li Jing slapped his forehead and remembered. However, he hadn't agreed to it, and now that the matter had escalated, he certainly wouldn't. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, that White-Haired Rat Demon was wishful thinking. I never agreed to it."
Sun Wukong snorted. This was an attempt to shirk responsibility!
The Jade Emperor rolled his eyes. He knew it was useless to try and implicate Di Xin this time. He simply waved his hand and left, unwilling to get involved further.
"Great Sage, let us go and apprehend that demon!" Nezha said.
Sun Wukong saw that the Jade Emperor had already left and agreed. His original intention was for Li Jing to capture the demon and rescue his Master.
Subsequently, Li Jing and Nezha accompanied Sun Wukong to Xiankong Mountain. Li Jing unleashed his treasure pagoda and began to capture the demon. Soon, the Earth-Worm Lady was subdued within the pagoda. Sun Wukong glanced at it and quickly went to search for his Master.
After finally rescuing Tang Sanzang, Li Jing and Nezha took their leave.
"Monkey Brother, let's go!" Zhu Bajie urged.
Sun Wukong nodded, then turned and set the Bottomless Cave ablaze before departing.
At this very moment, Zhu Bajie was also contemplating. On this journey, he had originally intended to gain some experience, but he had suffered setbacks multiple times due to the powerful beings. This monkey was sometimes quite unreliable.
With this thought, Zhu Bajie said, "Monkey Brother, I'm going to borrow a magical artifact."
Sun Wukong was utterly confused. You're going to borrow a magical artifact? Are you still asleep?
But he still waved his hand. On the journey to the West, one more Zhu Bajie wouldn't make a difference, nor would his absence.
Thus, Zhu Bajie rode his cloud and flew away.
Indeed, this time Zhu Bajie intended to seek out his cheap master.
He was referring to Xuan Du, the eldest disciple of the Human Sect. After all, Zhu Bajie was Xuan Du's registered disciple. It was only due to merit and destiny that he had joined the pilgrimage team.