16: Chapter 17 The Flowing Sand River

The four master and disciples continued their journey westward, undeterred by wind or rain, and the weather was mostly clear.

Since leaving that old man, the master and disciples had mostly eaten dry rations, which were exceptionally choking, leading Pigsy to complain many times.

Monkey King held his magic staff and walked at the very front of the group, swaying leisurely with an exceptionally relaxed expression.

"You idiot, just eat. Why so much nonsense? If you're so capable, go talk to Guanyin Bodhisattva and go back to Gao Family Village to be your fat pig son-in-law!"

Monkey King turned his head and scolded Pigsy, who had been complaining incessantly, even baring his monkey teeth at him.

Tang Seng, however, spoke up to stop him.

"Wukong, do not be rude. We monks should always be compassionate. How can you be so arrogant and rude, constantly using foul language?"

Monkey King rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Ao Lie walked at the very end of the group, side by side with Tang Seng.

He led the horse, upon which sat the "Living Bodhisattva" Tang Sanzang, who was chanting scriptures.

Ao Lie's eyes flickered as he spoke to Monkey King.

"Senior Brother! According to what the old man said, there is a large river ahead with rapid currents. There's likely a great demon hidden there. We should discuss a strategy!"

Seeing his Junior Brother speak, Monkey King happily hopped to the back of the group to walk alongside Ao Lie.

"Indeed, what that old man said is correct. Even if there is a great demon, we have nothing to fear. It'll just take a few more swings of my staff!"

Monkey King scratched his nose.

"Don't forget, your Senior Brother is the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven!"

Ao Lie chuckled inwardly.

This Furry Monkey is really amusing; how many times has he mentioned his so-called great achievements?

Wasn't that just the Heavenly Court playing with a monkey? When it comes to real ability, the Taishang Laojun alone could crush you!

Although Ao Lie sneered in his heart, he appeared easygoing on the surface and spoke with a smile.

"Indeed! That demon will surely be unable to obstruct our path!"

...

The four continued walking. After a few hours, the sound of rushing water echoed from ahead. Monkey King performed a light somersault and jumped to the riverbank.

Leading the horse, Ao Lie felt it was incredibly slow, so he slapped the horse's rump. The horse immediately neighed and dashed toward the riverbank.

Upon reaching the riverbank, Monkey King grabbed the horse's reins, causing the horse to turn back instantly, along with a terrified Tang Seng.

Tang Seng scolded angrily.

"Ao Lie, you have ulterior motives! Are you trying to send your master to his death?"

Ao Lie chuckled sheepishly and apologized repeatedly. After hearing this, Tang Seng chanted some scriptures and ignored him.

What he didn't see was a flash of ruthlessness in Ao Lie's eyes, his gaze becoming extremely cold.

Pigsy walked to the riverbank and reached out to touch the rapid river. He saw the yellow water carrying silt; the impact was incredibly strong when it hit Pigsy's hand.

It felt as if his hand would immediately fester and turn into mud if he left it in any longer.

Frightened, Pigsy jumped back and withdrew his hand.

"Monkey Brother, Dragon Brother! Look at this river! It's like a knife; it cut my hand so painfully! Ow!"

The Furry Monkey also dipped his hand in to test it, but found it felt like nothing more than a tickle. He snorted coldly in his heart.

"An idiot is an idiot. He looks thick-skinned and tough, but he's actually all fat with no real muscle. He's just holding us back!"

"Hmph! If you dare to be this stupid in the future, this Old Sun wouldn't mind striking you dead with one blow!"

Pigsy looked at Monkey King's sinister gaze, grunted, and turned his head away.

Suddenly, he discovered a stone tablet. The tablet was only a few dozen yards away from them. Pigsy performed a somersault and arrived beside it.

On the stone tablet, several large characters were clearly visible.

"Liusha River!"

Ao Lie stepped forward, rubbed his chin with his right hand, and thought about something.

Monkey King knew that wherever there was a named scenic spot, a great demon usually resided there.

Immediately, he pulled out the Sea-Settling Needle: the magic staff, and chanted a spell.

"Grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow."

First, it became as thick as a bowl's rim, then as thick as a roof beam, then as thick as a water bucket.

Then as thick as a round table, then as large as a house, and finally it became as massive as a skyscraper.

That thin and small figure, relying on the Somersault Cloud, stood atop the clouds and thrust the massive magic staff into the Liusha River, stirring it frantically.

The rumbling sound of stirring water combined with the collision of the rapid currents created a world-shaking noise.

Monkey King laughed and stirred even more joyfully.

"So what if there's a great demon? Even if there are many, this Old Sun will strike them down with one blow!"

Just as Monkey King stirred, a whirlpool suddenly emerged in the center of the river. The whirlpool grew larger and larger until it became the size of a football field.

"Halt! Who dares to be so presumptuous here! State your name! I'll give you a quick death!"

A demon with red hair and a blue face jumped out of the whirlpool. He looked hideous, like a Devil King of world destruction, capable of tearing one into a thousand pieces in the next moment.

Monkey King jumped down and stood beside the demon, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Demon, I am the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven who caused Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. I advise you to quickly lead us across this Liusha River! We might spare your life!"

The demon's eyes rolled as a trace of mockery appeared on his lips, though he feigned a pleasing expression on his face.

"Great Sage Sun! So it's Great Sage Sun! This little one truly had eyes but failed to recognize Mt. Tai! How many of you are crossing the river?"

Monkey King curled his lip and pointed at the three men and one horse on the shore.

"Just these! Quickly take them across so I don't have to bother!"

The demon laughed after hearing this.

"Yes, I shall follow the Great Sage's arrangements!"

After agreeing, the demon manipulated the water beneath his feet and moved slowly toward the people on the shore.

He saw the three on the shore: the white horse went without saying; there was a Dragon man, tall and sturdy, handsome, wearing scaled treasure armor, with an extraordinary aura.

Then there was a pig-headed monk with green skin and fangs, drooling all over the place, with a fierce gaze. He was ten feet tall and carried a nine-foot rake on his shoulder, looking quite majestic.

Only the monk in the cassock was chanting scriptures. Although his face was somewhat handsome, his eyes were tightly closed as if he were indifferent to the world, looking like... he would be easy to capture.

The demon glanced at Monkey King behind him, who was a hundred yards away. Instantly, a plan formed in his mind.

"Capture this scripture-chanting monk and eat him for some nutrition. I haven't had fresh meat in a long time!"

Without another word, the demon's eyes glared, and he whipped up a fierce wave that swept toward Tang Seng. At the same time...

Tang Seng wailed. In an instant, the shore remained the same and the water surface remained the same, but two people were missing.

"Master! Second Junior Brother, you idiot, what's wrong with you! How could you let the master be captured by this demon!"

Although he scolded Ao Lie as well, Monkey King was looking at Pigsy when he spoke.

Seeing this, Pigsy squinted and said dissatisfiedly.

"This happened so fast, how could we react? We're not like you—monkey-impatient!"

Monkey King was furious upon hearing this and reached for his staff to strike, but he was stopped by Ao Lie. Ao Lie spoke.

"Let's find a way to save Master!"

Everyone nodded upon hearing this.