46: Chapter 47 A Deceptive Substitution!

The Monkey King was trapped inside the purple-gold red gourd. He felt only pitch-black darkness and stifling heat within, while a strange force constantly coiled around him, slowly eroding his bones and muscles. If he were trapped here for too long, even with his indestructible body, he would eventually be reduced to pus and blood.

Enduring the discomfort, he calmed himself and carefully felt around the interior of the gourd. Soon, he found a tiny gap on the gourd wall, which was the opening. The Monkey King felt a surge of joy, immediately devising a plan to escape.

He first deliberately let out painful wails from within the gourd, shouting, "It hurts! You demons, what cruel methods you have! The magic power inside this gourd is truly formidable; my bones are about to melt!"

He wailed repeatedly, his voice sounding wretched, intentionally letting the two kings, King Golden Horn and King Silver Horn, outside the cave hear him, so they would mistakenly believe he was unable to resist and about to be reduced to pus and blood, causing them to lower their guard.

Inside the cave, the two demons were raising their glasses in celebration. Hearing the Monkey King's wails from the gourd, they laughed triumphantly.

King Silver Horn held the purple-gold red gourd, his face full of arrogance: "Brother, listen, that unruly monkey is almost done for! No matter how great his Divine Ability, he is ultimately no match for our Magic Treasure. In another moment, he will be reduced to a pool of pus and blood, and will never be able to threaten us again!"

King Golden Horn laughed heartily, raising his glass and saying, "Brother is right! Now that the Monkey King is captured and Tang Seng and his disciples are all under our control, once we completely eliminate this unruly monkey, we shall boil Tang Seng, enjoy the meat of immortality, and live freely in the Three Realms!"

The two drank and made merry, filled with triumph, having completely lowered their guard. They did not notice at all that a new conspiracy was quietly brewing inside the gourd.

The Monkey King, inside the gourd, heard the demons' laughter outside and knew his plan had worked; the two demons had lowered their guard.

He immediately plucked a hair, blew a breath of Immortal Qi, and shouted "Transform!", turning the hair into half of his body, which he left at the bottom of the gourd to pose as if he were half-melted. As for himself, he used his 72 Transformations to shrink his body into a tiny cicada, quietly sticking to the gap at the opening of the gourd, waiting silently for the right moment.

After a moment, the Monkey King again called out from inside the gourd with a weak voice: "Oh mother... my waist bones are about to melt..."

King Golden Horn heard the voice and said to King Silver Horn with a smile: "Brother, this monkey must be almost melted. You should uncover the talisman and check his condition, so we can be completely at ease."

King Silver Horn nodded in agreement. Without the slightest suspicion, he immediately reached out, preparing to uncover the Talismanic Incantation on the gourd's opening.

The moment the talisman was uncovered, the Monkey King, who had been stuck to the opening, instantly transformed into a streak of golden light, flew rapidly out of the gourd, landed, and immediately restored his true form, hiding behind a stone pillar nearby. The entire process was silent, alerting no demons.

King Silver Horn uncovered the talisman and looked into the gourd. He saw, indeed, half of the Monkey King's body at the bottom, still moving slightly. Believing it to be true, he hurriedly said: "Brother, this monkey hasn't completely melted yet. Let's quickly cover the lid to prevent him from escaping!"

With that, King Silver Horn immediately reapplied the talisman and firmly covered the lid, not noticing at all that the real Monkey King had already escaped the gourd and was hiding in the shadows of the cave.

The Monkey King hid behind the stone pillar, watching the two demons still completely off guard. He chuckled to himself, and with a roll of his eyes, another plan was born. He used his 72 Transformations again to turn into Yihai Long, the minor demon who had previously gone to Yalong Cave, and tiptoed over to King Silver Horn, pretending to be a respectful attendant.

At this time, King Golden Horn was full of joy. To celebrate the capture of the Monkey King and their complete victory, he personally raised his wine cup and said to King Silver Horn: "Brother, this time it is all thanks to you that we were able to capture this unruly monkey. You have performed a great service, and I, your brother, toast you!"

King Silver Horn was flattered and hurriedly tried to take the wine cup, but one of his hands was tightly holding the purple-gold red gourd, fearing that this precious Magic Treasure might suffer an accident, so he could only free one hand to take the cup.

For convenience in drinking, King Silver Horn, without thinking, handed the purple-gold red gourd in his hand to the Monkey King, who was disguised as Yihai Long beside him, and said in a deep voice: "You hold the gourd for me, and be extremely careful; there must not be the slightest mistake!"

The Monkey King was overjoyed. He hurriedly took the purple-gold red gourd with both hands, pretending to be respectful, holding it firmly in his hands, and stood to the side, serving quietly, not daring to make any suspicious moves.

King Silver Horn and King Golden Horn, the two brothers, toasted each other, enjoying themselves immensely. They paid no attention to the "minor demon" beside them, only concerned with drinking and celebrating, having lowered all their guard.

The Monkey King seized the opportunity. While the two demons were busy exchanging toasts and paying no attention, he quickly tucked the real purple-gold red gourd into his bosom, and at the same time plucked a hair, blew a breath of Immortal Qi, and transformed it into an identical fake gourd, which he continued to hold in his hands, revealing no flaws.

After doing all this, the Monkey King remained calm, continuing to pretend to be respectful, holding the fake gourd and serving on the side.

King Silver Horn finished his wine, took the gourd from the Monkey King's hand without a second thought, and without the slightest inspection, held it firmly in his arms, continuing to drink and laugh with King Golden Horn.

The Monkey King hid to the side, ecstatic in his heart, laughing to himself: "Even if you two demons have immense abilities, you are ultimately no match for me! This purple-gold red gourd is, after all, surnamed Sun!"

Thus, the Monkey King, relying on his wit and Divine Ability, first cleverly escaped from the purple-gold red gourd, and then pulled a bait and switch, reclaiming the precious Magic Treasure from the demons' hands once again. Meanwhile, King Golden Horn and King Silver Horn in the cave remained kept in the dark, completely unaware.

Tang Seng, Pigsy, and Sand Monk, who were imprisoned to the side, watched these scenes, both shocked and delighted. Their hanging hearts were completely set at ease, knowing that the Monkey King had already taken control of the situation, and it was only a matter of time before they were rescued.

Ao Lie also, through his Shadow Power, took in all of the Monkey King's series of operations, admiring him silently in his heart. He remained calm and dormant, protecting Tang Seng throughout, just waiting for the Monkey King's next move to coordinate with him from inside and out, thoroughly overthrowing Lotus Cave, subduing the two demons, and rescuing everyone.

Inside the cave, the demons continued to drink and make merry, believing they had victory in their grasp, unaware that they had already fallen into the Monkey King's trap once again. After reclaiming the Magic Treasure, the Monkey King hid to the side, waiting for an opportunity, preparing to find a chance to seize the remaining Palm Leaf Fan and Seven-Star Sword from the demons' hands and thoroughly end this calamity.

A battle of wits involving a bait and switch reversed the situation once again. The Monkey King, relying on his wit, once again gained the upper hand, and the two demons of Lotus Cave were about to face total defeat.