Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

The torches were held high, reflecting each other with dim halos, casting long and short shadows on the objects in the cave. When the white-haired Taoist came, he brought with him a brilliant golden light, instantly illuminating the people and objects in the cave in every detail, even the heads and faces of the people were illuminated in a dazzling golden color, and at first glance they looked like golden statues in the temple.

In the chaos of everyone talking, Wen Jiao decided to take the initiative. She smiled and said to the old Taoist: "Isn't this Jin De Tai Bai Tian Hao Xing Jun? I haven't seen you for twelve years, and you are still as charming as ever. We are roasting meat here, and you must have smelled it and want to try it too?"

Amid the lingering aroma of meat from General Yin, Xiong Shanjun and Te Chushi, Taibai Jinxing pointed at the three monsters and asked, "Are these the roasted meats you are talking about?"

Who could eat the flesh of a half-human monster? She was not Winnibal.

Wen Jiao kept talking nonsense without changing her expression, "How could that be? These three are for me to practice with. Actually, I have been practicing the skill of roasting meat with lightning recently. I was afraid that I couldn't control the temperature well, so I roasted a few demons that were harming people and causing chaos to practice. I haven't roasted meat properly yet. Xingjun is used to eating dragon and phoenix dishes in the heaven, so how about trying the game from the lower world occasionally?"

Taibai Jinxing glanced at her meaningfully, as if he had seen through her cunning thoughts. He just gently ignored her and nodded with a smile, saying, "In that case, I will bother you for nothing."

Wen Jiao calmly chopped the bodies of the three demons into charred ashes, and blew the dregs away with a gust of wind, completing the entire process of destroying the bodies in an instant. With another whisk, she swept up the two servants who were so frightened by the descent of the True Immortal that they could not get up, and ordered: "You two, follow me to the back cave to find any usable vegetables, wine and meat. Sister Huo, Xuanzang, you can chat with the Star Lord."

Poor Huo Ling'er was an elf. Hearing this "honor" was more frightening than killing herself. She immediately jumped up and said, "I'll help you!" She jumped in front of her in two or three steps and whispered, "My knees go weak when I see a fairy. It's more than enough for Xuanzang to be the escort."

There was also a banquet prepared by the little monsters in the cave. All the meat was cooked without oil or salt. How could Wen Jiao like it? Fortunately, a few wild deer were found, as well as many wild vegetables and fruits, which could be used as ingredients. Even more gratifying was that some wild onions, ginger, garlic and dogwood were also found, and the spices were basically complete.

She told two servants to wash and rinse, and told Huo Ling'er to go to the nearby town to buy salt and vinegar, and preferably some pepper. She melted General Yin's weapons into many thin iron skewers, and taught the two to cut the venison into pieces, skewer them one by one, and then skewer the meat and vegetables. After Huo Ling'er bought it and prepared the seasoning, she sprinkled it evenly on top, and Wen Jiao snapped her fingers, and many electric sparks burst out.

In an instant, the rich fragrance filled the air.

With the skills that can be used to kill demons, it is natural to cook some wild game. The roasted venison is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the vegetables are also well-seasoned, especially the roasted mountain mushrooms, which are so delicious that Xuanzang can hardly stop eating. There are also wild fruits that can be directly squeezed with true qi to extract juice, and then mixed with honey, which also has a unique flavor.

While eating the skewers, Taibai Jinxing said to Xuanzang, "With your mother's protection, it would be a great pleasure for the Master to complete his journey to the West."

Xuanzang's face turned slightly red. He felt as if this old immortal treated him as an old child who was still dependent on his mother.

Wen Jiao personally poured a cup of fruit juice for Taibai Jinxing: "Xingjun is pointing out the younger generation. If Xuanzang walks to Tianzhu step by step and goes to Lingshan to seek the true scriptures, the true scriptures will come to him. If he eats and drinks well every day like today, without any danger, even if he reaches the West, he will not be able to see the Buddha and obtain the true scriptures."

Xuanzang seemed to be thinking about something.

Wen Jiao added, "Don't worry, Xingjun. I am not the kind of person who dotes on my own flesh and blood. I know how precious the Mahayana Sutra is. It cannot be obtained without infinite merit. I came here today because I was concerned about the two mortals who were accompanying me. They cannot endure the hardships of the journey to the west. If they died in vain because of the emperor's order, wouldn't it be pitiful? So I came here to take them back."

The two servants were happily chewing on the venison skewers, and they burst into tears of gratitude when they heard this. Xuanzang couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid that your child will lose his life, mother?"

Wen Jiao rolled her eyes at him and said, "Didn't I tell you before in Chang'an? You will have your own followers to protect you from now on. Do you think that my mother is deceiving you?"

Xuanzang was stunned and said, "But when my mother was in Chang'an, she said that Guanyin Bodhisattva arranged a disciple for me, but she didn't say that it was a divine disciple."

In front of Taibai Jinxing, you really poured it all out.

Wen Jiao calmly covered up: "You should know that this journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is a great event for Buddhism. If it can be successfully completed, there will be immeasurable merits. Guanyin Bodhisattva has infinite wisdom. She brought the messenger Hui'an to specially choose you to go to obtain the scriptures. Is it just to let you fill the teeth of the demons?"

As she spoke, she bowed to the sky. With Taibai Jinxing guarding beside her, she was extremely respectful to the gods and Buddhas. "Only gods can slay demons and exorcise monsters. I don't believe that she won't arrange for a few gods to help you."

Taibai Jinxing laughed loudly and agreed, "Yes, yes. If you go a little further, you will meet a disciple with supernatural powers. By then, even if the little demons like the one we met today rush over, they will not be able to withstand a single blow from him. But he has a somewhat violent temper and is a bit eccentric, so I'm afraid he will be difficult to get along with."

Xuanzang chanted a Buddhist name and said, "My mother once told me to trust people when I employ them."

Taibai Jinxing looked at Wen Jiao with a smile and nodded, "You are quite interesting, little girl."

Wen Jiao resisted the urge to shrink her head in guilt and said with a smile, "Xingjun, you are too kind to praise me. I am ashamed to accept it."

"I said you are interesting, so you are interesting. Why should I be ashamed? And do you think I am the only one who said that? When I came down, I ran into Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun at Guanjiangkou. I saw him tying Xiaotian Dog to the ground, which was really pitiful. So I asked him, 'Zhenjun has always treated this beast as if it were your eyeball. Why did you tie it up today?'"

He stared at Wen Jiao with a teasing look: "Guess what he said?"

This time, Wen Jiao lowered her neck guiltily.

"He said, 'A young girl from the sect of the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Lord went to the True Lord Temple and burned a complaint, accusing Roaring Sky Dog of letting beasts commit crimes and letting them dig out the hearts and livers of mortals while hiding behind and taking the profits. Attached to the complaint was a long list of victims, asking me to take good care of my dog.'" Taibai Jinxing said with a smile.

Xuanzang was surprised: "Could it be that the names of the injured monks in Jingye Temple that my mother asked me to count are written on that list?"

Wen Jiao cleared her throat and forced a smile, "Xingjun is really funny. How dare I speak to Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun like that?"

"What did my mother say?" Xuanzang couldn't help but ask.

Wen Jiao said, "I beg Master Erlang to control his followers and not let them be deceived by the shameless little demon and abuse their power to hurt others and commit evil. Mortals are ignorant and will not understand that Master Erlang's followers were actually deceived by the little demon. They will only think that it is the little demon that has backed them and that Master Erlang is backing them up."

Isn't this just asking him to take care of his dog?