Tang Sanzang repeatedly thanked the immortal maiden for saving his life, and then the Three Heavenly Ladies of Xiao Sanxiao departed.
Zhu Bajie clicked his tongue. He hadn't expected Monkey to borrow the treasure so quickly. Seeing how the long-eared Dingguang Immortal met his end so obscurely, Zhu Bajie shook his head and sighed. This was his own doing. Everyone else had planned their moves, but this fellow had rushed in recklessly. His death was his own fault, not anyone else's!
On Jin'ao Island, Wu Yunxian retrieved his Hunyuan Hammer and sighed. "Disciple, why couldn't you see through it? Alas!"
After all, they had all served the Seven Immortals back then, and their relationship was quite close. Seeing the long-eared Dingguang Immortal perish so easily made them all feel a sense of unease.
These considerations were entirely outside of Sun Wukong's purview!
They had already crossed many mountains. In a forest amongst them, they spotted a small child in red clothes tied to a tree. Sun Wukong scoffed. "In this desolate place, how could there be a child? It must be a demon in disguise!"
But Tang Sanzang was soft-hearted. How could such a cute child be a demon? He asked Sun Wukong to carry the child, thinking perhaps they would reach their destination after crossing the next two mountains.
Sun Wukong was reluctant at first, but Tang Sanzang had the Golden Fillet spell. Helpless, Sun Wukong could only carry the child and walk behind!
At this moment, the child laughed, "Dead monkey, you know I'm a demon, yet you dare carry me?"
Sun Wukong sneered dismissively, exerting force with his hands and grabbing the child's legs. "Precisely because I know, I must keep an eye on you!"
The child burst into laughter. "But can you keep an eye on me?"
As he spoke, the child's body grew heavier and heavier. Even for Sun Wukong, it was becoming strenuous. He grunted, "The art of moving mountains, a mere trick!"
The child then chanted an incantation and transformed into a great mountain, crushing Sun Wukong beneath it. The child then instantly escaped and flew towards Tang Sanzang!
By the time Sun Wukong broke free from the mountain, the child had already snatched Tang Sanzang away, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing had been scorched black.
Seeing their miserable state, Sun Wukong did not blame them, only himself for his carelessness. This child was indeed not to be trifled with!
"Brother Monkey, that child is no ordinary being. He can breathe the Samadhi True Fire, which is an innate divine ability!" Zhu Bajie exclaimed immediately.
In terms of cultivation, to be honest, the child's cultivation was mediocre, but his Samadhi True Fire was truly formidable. He, Zhu Bajie, could not withstand it, which was why that child had managed to capture Tang Sanzang.
At this very moment, Tang Sanzang was filled with deep regret. His eldest disciple, Sun Wukong, had warned him it was a demon, but he hadn't believed him. Now, he had been captured by this child demon!
"To deal with Samadhi True Fire, one needs the Yuan Heavy Water!" Sun Wukong muttered, shaking his head. Sun Wukong was no longer naive now. He had experienced the Fire Spirit Mother before, and he had specifically inquired about the Samadhi True Fire then. The Rain Master possessed it!
Therefore, Sun Wukong went directly to the Heavenly Court to find the Rain Master.
Seeing Sun Wukong arrive again, the Rain Master was exasperated. "You rascal, Monkey, you're so unreliable! Now you're here borrowing a magic weapon!"
Seeing the Rain Master's displeased expression, Sun Wukong knew that his own escape back then had been rather impolite. He chuckled sheepishly and said, "Rain Master, this child's cultivation is not strong; it's only his Samadhi True Fire that is troublesome. So, just lend me the Yuan Heavy Water. Once I've dealt with the child, I'll return your treasure!"
The Rain Master nodded and gave the Yuan Heavy Water to Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong took the treasure and descended to the mortal realm.
After reconvening with Zhu Bajie, he asked, "How is it? Have you found out anything?"
They had split up. Zhu Bajie was responsible for finding the local Earth God to inquire about the demon's origins, while he went to the Heavenly Court to borrow the treasure.
"Yes, that child is called the Holy Infant King. He lives ahead and is very arrogant and overbearing, having bullied all the mountain gods and earth gods here!" Zhu Bajie reported.
"Good, let's go! This time, we'll teach him a lesson!" Sun Wukong declared heroically, his confidence bolstered by the treasure in his hand.
Although Sun Wukong was not afraid of Samadhi True Fire, he couldn't withstand the smoke and heat. Back then, in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, he had suffered enough, and Sun Wukong had some lingering trauma. Otherwise, with his physical body, Sun Wukong could have endured it. This was why, upon encountering Samadhi True Fire, he had sought out a treasure.
They arrived at Turtle Trap Mountain, the stronghold of Red Boy.
Sun Wukong went directly to the entrance of the cave and shouted, "Child, your Grandpa Sun is here! Quickly return my master!"
Red Boy emerged with a group of little demons. Seeing Sun Wukong, he sneered, "Dead monkey, you're not dead yet? You dare come looking for me! Let my Samadhi True Fire burn you to death!"
Saying that, Red Boy spewed out streams of flame. Sun Wukong raised his hand, and immediately, a downpour of rain fell from the sky. Red Boy mockingly laughed, "Dead monkey, are you foolish? This is my Samadhi True Fire; rain cannot extinguish it!"
But as soon as Red Boy's words fell, his Samadhi True Fire was extinguished. Red Boy was shocked beyond measure. "What's going on? My Samadhi True Fire was extinguished by rainwater? This is absurd!"
He had cultivated for three hundred years in the Flaming Mountain to achieve this Samadhi True Fire. It was said to be the true fire from Taishang Laojun's Eight Trigrams Furnace, even more potent than ordinary Samadhi True Fire! Now it was extinguished?
Sun Wukong let out a cold laugh. "So what if it's Samadhi True Fire? Everything in heaven and earth has its counter. I, Sun Wukong, know how to borrow strength!"
He immediately drew his Golden Cudgel and attacked!
Red Boy's strength was naturally inferior to Sun Wukong's. After just a few blows, he was crying out in pain. Without the Samadhi True Fire, it was as easy for Sun Wukong to beat him as it was to crush beans!
Just as Sun Wukong was about to strike Red Boy down with his cudgel, Red Boy finally panicked and quickly said, "Dead monkey, if you dare kill me, be careful, my father won't let you off!"
Sun Wukong scoffed, "Your father? Hmph, let's hear about him!"
"Let me tell you, my father is the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, the Bull Demon King! He is a renowned figure among demons now!" Red Boy declared proudly.
Sun Wukong was taken aback. "Good heavens, he's the son of the Bull Demon King? I recall that years ago, on Flower Fruit Mountain, I became sworn brothers with the Bull Demon King. I was known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and he was known as the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven. Since you are the descendant of an old friend, I won't make things difficult for you. Hand over my master, and I'll spare you!"
Upon hearing this, Red Boy quickly handed over Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong's master, and hastily promised never to cause trouble again.
Sun Wukong was satisfied. He took Tang Sanzang and continued on their journey. However, Red Boy's face turned grim, and he rode his cloud to find his father. This time, he would make the monkey pay for bullying him, a junior. As for what the monkey had said, Red Boy didn't doubt it, although his father had never mentioned it to him.