35: Chapter 36 Sending a Message

In the season of late spring, warm breezes brushed their faces and mountain flowers bloomed everywhere. Tang Seng and his three Disciples departed from their previous location and steadily continued their journey westward.

Tang Seng rode the white horse, draped in his kasaya, holding prayer beads, silently reciting scriptures along the way with a peaceful expression.

Monkey King carried his Golden Cudgel, walking at the very front. From time to time, he would leap to high ground to scout the path ahead, his Fiery Eyes scanning all directions, not missing a single detail.

Pigsy carried the Nine-toothed Rake, following in the middle of the group, grumbling all the way about the long journey, eating wind and sleeping in the dew, full of laziness.

Ao Lie walked at the very back, silently guarding them, just like Sand Monk in the original story.

On this day, they reached a certain territory and saw from afar a range of mountains rising from the ground.

The mountains were towering and steep, with overlapping peaks. Clouds and mist swirled among them, heavy and gloomy, blocking out the daylight.

Even though it was daytime, it exuded an indescribable, gloomy Qi, completely different from the open scenery they had traveled through.

Tang Seng reined in his horse, gazing at the high mountain before him. His brows furrowed slightly, and he raised his hand to stop their progress, calling out to Monkey King in front.

"Monkey King, walk a bit slower. Look at this great mountain before us; the clouds and mist are thick, and the terrain is treacherous. I fear there may be unforeseen dangers, so let us not proceed rashly."

Upon hearing this, Monkey King immediately stopped, leaped up, and jumped onto a giant rock by the roadside.

He shaded his eyes with his hand and looked deep into the mountain range. He saw that the mountain spanned several hundred miles, its peaks flat and the vegetation deep and secluded.

Thin wisps of Demonic Qi floated within the forest, though not very intense, as if intentionally concealed. It was certainly not an aura that ordinary Essence Spirit could cast.

He leaped down from the giant rock, walked before Tang Seng's horse, and smiled to comfort him.

"Master, do not fear. It is just a high mountain. Think of how many treacherous mountains, dangerous waters, and powerful demons we have overcome along our journey. This scenery is nothing. With me here, even if there are demons hiding in the mountain, I will certainly be able to protect you and ensure we pass safely."

Tang Seng remained uneasy and sighed softly.

"Monkey King, it is not that your Master is cowardly, but the atmosphere of this mountain is too gloomy. I cannot help but feel uneasy. It is best that we remain cautious."

"Master is right," Ao Lie stepped forward, speaking slowly with a calm tone.

His gaze remained fixed on the clouds and mist in the mountains as he secretly increased the intensity of his Shadow Power to investigate.

"This mountain is called Pingding Mountain. The Demonic Qi is hidden, not exposed, so there must be demons entrenched here for many years. They are not scattered minor demons. Let us proceed steadily and slowly, and remain vigilant. Do not be impatient."

Pigsy listened to their conversation, curled his lip, shook his head indifferently, carried his Nine-toothed Rake, yawned, and muttered.

"I say, Master, Brother Ao Lie, you are all too cautious! Throughout this journey, when has it not been Senior Brother subduing the demons while we just follow along? Where is there so much danger? Even if there are demons, with Senior Brother taking the lead, what is there to fear? Hurrying along is the real business. Let us get to a place with people sooner so we can beg for a meal."

His heart was filled only with thoughts of eating, drinking, and being lazy; he hadn't taken the dangers of the mountain to heart at all.

He only hoped to cross this mountain sooner, find a village to rest in, and never have to toil in this desolate wilderness again.

As they were talking, a woodcutter suddenly walked out from a turn in the mountain path ahead.

The woodcutter wore a blue cloth bamboo hat, was dressed in coarse black cloth, had a hemp rope tied around his waist, and held a sharp wood-chopping axe in his hand.

His steps were steady as he walked straight to block the path of the four Disciples. His expression was grave, lacking any of the leisure of a mountain woodcutter, and instead filled with urgency.

"Elders heading west, stop immediately! You must not continue on this road!"

The woodcutter spoke in a loud, resonant voice, interrupting their conversation, his eyes fixed solemnly on Tang Seng.

"This mountain is extremely dangerous; it is a place that takes lives. If you insist on proceeding, you will surely lose your lives!"

Tang Seng was already uneasy, and upon hearing these words, he trembled all over in fright.

He hurriedly dismounted from his horse, pressed his palms together, and bowed to the woodcutter.

"Many thanks for your warning, kind sir. We are four monks from the Eastern Land Great Tang traveling to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. I do not know what dangers this mountain holds that would make you warn us so."

Monkey King stood to the side, his Fiery Eyes slightly narrowed as he sized up the woodcutter, already knowing the truth in his heart.

This woodcutter possessed no mundane aura; instead, he exuded a faint trace of Immortal Qi. He was by no means an ordinary mountain woodcutter, but clearly a transformation of the Heavenly God on duty.

He had descended to the mortal realm specifically to deliver this message of danger, but Monkey King did not expose him, wanting to hear what the other had to say.

The woodcutter's gaze swept over the four, finally landing on Tang Seng, and he said in a deep voice.

"Elder, you do not know. This mountain is called Pingding Mountain, stretching for six hundred miles, and hidden within it is Lotus Cave. Two peerless demons are entrenched in the cave, calling themselves King Gold Horn and King Silver Horn, with countless minor demons under their command. They have committed evil in this mountain for many years, harming passing travelers with extremely ruthless methods!"

Tang Seng turned pale upon hearing this, pressed his palms together, and kept silently reciting Amitabha.

Pigsy also put away his lazy demeanor, gripped his Nine-toothed Rake tightly, and a look of trepidation appeared on his face.

The woodcutter continued.

"Those two demons have long known that the Tang Seng and his Disciples from the Eastern Land Great Tang would pass through here on their way to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures. They have even drawn portraits of you long ago and send people to patrol the mountains day and night, specifically waiting for Tang Seng, intending to capture you into Lotus Cave to eat your flesh and attain immortality! If you take one step forward, you will be walking straight into a trap, with no possibility of survival!"

Once these words were spoken, Tang Seng's legs trembled slightly, and he almost could not stand.

Ao Lie hurriedly stepped forward, gently supporting Tang Seng and secretly steadying his mind, while pondering to himself.

"The demons of this mountain are indeed not simple. They set up a trap early on, just waiting for the Master and Disciples to enter. This tribulation is far thornier than imagined."

Monkey King stepped forward, cupped his hands to the woodcutter, and asked, pretending not to know.

"My good man, what kind of abilities do those two demons in Lotus Cave have, that they dare to be so rampant, blocking the road and committing evil here?"

"Those two demons not only have profound cultivation but also possess Immortal Magic Treasure, making them extraordinarily powerful!"

The woodcutter's expression became even graver, and he specifically warned, "Even those with great Divine Ability find it hard to escape when they encounter them. Elders, take my advice: quickly take a detour. Do not linger here, lest you invite fatal disaster!"

After saying this, without waiting for Tang Seng or Monkey King to ask further questions.

The woodcutter's figure swayed, and a faint golden light radiated from his body.

In an instant, he transformed into a stream of light, shot straight into the sky, and disappeared into the clouds on the horizon.

Leaving behind only a gentle breeze, there was no trace of him left on the spot.

"So it was a Heavenly God from the celestial realm who descended to deliver the message!"

Seeing this, Tang Seng was even more terrified in his heart. He pulled on Monkey King's sleeve, his voice trembling.

"Monkey King, this time even a Heavenly God has come to warn us, which shows that the demons of Pingding Mountain are extremely powerful. We must not proceed; let us take a detour!"

Monkey King looked at the clouds, snorted coldly, and turned to comfort Tang Seng.

"Master, do not fear. It was just a Heavenly God on duty coming to deliver a message; there is no need to panic. The journey to the Western Heaven is inherently full of tribulations that cannot be avoided. Taking a detour is by no means a long-term solution. Moreover, those demons have already set their sights on us; even if we take a detour, we might not be able to escape them. Rather than avoiding them, it is better to face them head-on."

Ao Lie also chimed in from the side.

"Master, Senior Brother is absolutely right. This tribulation is a destined fate; avoidance is useless. We only need to be vigilant and plan thoroughly, and we will surely overcome this tribulation. This Disciple will guard you secretly and will never let the demons easily harm you."

He knew in his heart that the demons had not yet appeared, and all the dangers had not yet begun.

Pigsy, however, had long been panicked and hurriedly said.

"Master, Senior Brother, Brother Ao Lie, even the Heavenly God has said so. These demons must be incredibly powerful. Let us take a detour. If we get captured by the demons, we will lose our lives! I, old Pig, do not want to be caught by demons and steamed or boiled!"

Monkey King glared at Pigsy and scolded.

"You fool, stop spouting nonsense, boosting the demons' morale and dampening our own! With me here, even the demons of Lotus Cave will not be able to harm Master in the slightest. If you dare to say more, watch out for my cudgel!"

Pigsy was scolded by Monkey King and immediately dared not say another word.

He could only shrink his neck, standing to the side with a face full of fear, though in his heart, he had already begun to think of retreating.

Tang Seng looked at the towering Pingding Mountain before him, then at the confident Monkey King. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Very well, very well. Everything will be as Monkey King arranges. But as we proceed this time, you must be extremely careful; do not take it lightly."

The messenger from the celestial realm had finished delivering the message, and the dangers of Pingding Mountain were now fully laid out before the four Disciples.