NABC Chapter 991: A Strong Sense of Oppression
Chapter 991: A Strong Sense of Oppression
With that, the two of them leaped into the air and flew towards the grassland, quickly returning to it.
Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie rushed to greet Sun Wukong and Chu Yang upon their return. Zhu Bajie immediately asked, "Brother Monkey, Brother Chu Yang, how are you? Are there any monsters around? Is anything unusual?"
Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Don't worry, there's nothing unusual around. There was just one lackey from Lion Camel Ridge who secretly followed us and spied on us. I caught him and have already released him. Moreover, we've received some good news."
"Good news? What good news?" Pigsy's eyes lit up, and he asked hurriedly, his face full of curiosity.
Chu Yang laughed and said, "That little minion told us that after the Black Mountain Demon King returned, he didn't tell the three kings that we had left Lion Camel Ridge. He only told them that he hadn't captured us and had been defeated by us. Then, he left Lion Camel Ridge to find a place to heal his wounds. The three kings still don't know that we've left Lion Camel Ridge. They still think we're inside and are sending people to search for us everywhere. They haven't sent any other lesser demons to chase after us."
"Great! That's fantastic!" Pigsy jumped up excitedly, his face beaming with joy. "This way, we'll have enough time to leave here and get far away from Lion Camel Ridge. Even if they find out we've left, they might not be able to find us! I, Old Pig, finally don't have to worry about being chased by those monsters anymore!"
Tang Sanzang also breathed a sigh of relief, a look of satisfaction on his face. He clasped his hands together and said softly, "Amitabha, this is wonderful, truly wonderful! Thank you, Buddha, for your blessing, allowing us enough time to leave this place and get away from the Lion Camel Ridge. In this way, we can continue our journey westward smoothly, obtain the true scriptures as soon as possible, and save all sentient beings."
Sun Wukong nodded and said, "That's right! Right now, the three great kings are still searching for us in Lion Camel Ridge, so we have plenty of time to leave. Let's rest well for the night, and tomorrow morning we'll continue our westward journey, getting as far away from here and Lion Camel Ridge as possible. Otherwise, things might get complicated, and if the three great kings discover we've left Lion Camel Ridge and send people after us, we'll be in trouble."
"Alright!" Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Chu Yang responded in unison.
Night deepened, and the waning moon still hung in the sky, its faint light spilling onto the grass and illuminating the figures of the group. They lay down on the grass, closed their eyes, and gradually drifted off to sleep. The grass was utterly still, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the grass and the breathing of the white dragon horse, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary peace.
They knew that this night, they could finally rest in peace, no longer worried about being ambushed by monsters, no longer worried about being chased by the three great kings and their lesser demons. They also knew that tomorrow morning, they would continue their westward journey, with a long road ahead, many hardships and difficulties awaiting them, and many more monsters waiting for them. But they would not back down, they would not give up; they would work together, united as one, to overcome all difficulties, defeat all monsters, successfully journey westward, obtain the true scriptures, and save all living beings.
Before they knew it, dawn broke, and the east turned a pale white. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the entire meadow and the figures of everyone present. They gradually awoke, their faces regaining their spirits; their fatigue had completely vanished.
"Master, you're awake!" Sun Wukong said quickly when he saw Tang Sanzang wake up.
Tang Sanzang nodded, a gentle smile on his face: "Wukong, Chu Yang, Bajie, you're awake too. You had a good night, that's wonderful."
Pigsy stretched and yawned, saying, "Yes, a good night's sleep! I slept soundly! This is the most peaceful night's sleep we've had since arriving at Lion Camel Ridge!"
Chu Yang smiled and said, "Yes, we had a peaceful night. No monsters attacked us, and nothing unusual happened. Now, let's quickly pack our things and continue our journey westward, getting as far away from here and the Lion Camel Ridge area as possible."
"Okay!" everyone responded in unison.
As they spoke, everyone stood up and began packing their belongings. Sun Wukong helped Tang Sanzang onto the back of the white dragon horse, Zhu Bajie carried the luggage, and Chu Yang walked at the front, responsible for scouting the road conditions. The group slowly headed west.
The central palace of Lion Camel Ridge is constructed entirely of dark black rock, its sharp edges resembling the fangs of a giant beast. Skull lanterns embedded in the ceiling emit eerie green flames, casting flickering light throughout the palace. Three massive, dragon-carved stone pillars stand within, their golden scales gleaming coldly in the ghostly fire, yet unable to conceal the dark red blood seeping from their cracks—marks of countless gruesome deaths. The air is thick with a pungent stench of demons and blood, mingled with a faint, almost imperceptible, sweet, metallic scent of alcohol, all creating a nauseating atmosphere.
The Green-Haired Lion Monster sat atop the highest black jade throne in the hall, his mane bristling like steel needles. His dark blue face was framed by a pair of large, copper-bell-shaped eyes that stared intently down below. His voice was filled with rage, and his roar made the skull lanterns on the ceiling sway slightly: "Useless! All of you are useless! Forty-eight thousand lesser demons, we laid a net that could not even keep an eye on Tang Sanzang, and he even let that Sun Wukong and that mortal boy escape with him? What is that useless Black Mountain good for?!"
He slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne, and several fine cracks instantly appeared on the black jade seat. The lesser demons in the hall were so frightened that they all knelt down, heads bowed low, not daring to breathe, their breaths becoming extremely shallow. The yellow-toothed old elephant monster sat on a stone bench to the side, his massive body almost crushing the bench. His long trunk occasionally swung, slapping the ground with a dull "thump," his tone full of impatience: "Brother, don't get angry. It's not worth ruining your health. That Sun Wukong is already incredibly powerful, and that mortal named Chu Yang is meticulous and good at planning. It's not surprising that they were able to sneak away."
"Not unexpected?" The green-haired lion monster roared, leaping off its throne. In a flash, it grew to ten feet tall, its dark blue fur standing on end. It brandished its spiked club, creating a whooshing sound. "That Tang Sanzang is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, a cultivator for ten lifetimes, his primordial yang energy undiminished. Eating his flesh will grant immortality and a thousand years' worth of magical power! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If we let them escape like this, when will we ever get another chance?"
A chilling wind howled through the hall, stirring up dust and a few dry, demonic hairs. The eerie light from the skull lanterns flickered, making the ferocious face of the blue-maned lion monster even more terrifying. The Golden-Winged Roc sat on a stone couch on the other side, enveloped in a faint golden light. His face was cold, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and a disdainful sneer curled at the corner of his mouth. He slowly spoke, "Brother, calm down. They're just a few clowns. They can run, but they can't hide. That Tang Sanzang is only human; even if Sun Wukong and Chu Yang run fast, they can't carry him. Besides, they've just escaped Lion Camel Ridge and must be exhausted. As long as we send men after them, we can definitely bring them back."
Upon hearing this, the green-haired lion demon's anger subsided slightly. He turned around, stared at the golden-winged roc, and said urgently, "Third brother, you're right! We absolutely cannot let Tang Sanzang escape! You're the fastest; a single flap of your wings can cover ninety thousand miles, even faster than Sun Wukong's somersault cloud. This matter is entrusted to you! You immediately lead men to catch up and bring Tang Sanzang back. If they get too far, I will definitely not forgive you!"
"Don't worry, elder brother." The Golden-Winged Roc slowly stood up, his figure upright. His golden robes gleamed coldly in the eerie green ghost fire. He stretched his wings, which spread out and almost covered half of the hall. His feathers were as sharp as gold flakes, gleaming with a chilling light. "Although Sun Wukong can perform seventy-two transformations and has great supernatural powers, he is far slower than me. I will personally chase after him and be able to catch him off guard and bring Tang Sanzang back. This will allow elder brother and second brother to get their wish, eat Tang Sanzang's flesh, and increase their magical power."
The yellow-toothed old elephant monster nodded, flicked its trunk, and said, "Third brother is right. In terms of speed, few in the Three Realms can match you. If you go after them yourself, you will definitely be able to capture Tang Sanzang. However, Sun Wukong and Chu Yang are not to be trifled with either. You must be careful and cautious, and do not underestimate them, lest you be caught off guard and suffer an unexpected setback."
"Second Brother, you're overthinking it." The Golden-Winged Roc sneered, its eyes full of confidence. "A monkey and a mortal, even if they join forces, they're no match for me. I only need to flap my wings to catch up with them in an instant, and I can kidnap Tang Sanzang while they're off guard. Then I can quickly return to Lion Camel Ridge. Even if they want to chase me, they won't be able to catch me."
He paused, then said, "However, just in case, I'll take a few capable men with me to help keep Sun Wukong and Chu Yang in check and ensure everything goes smoothly. Eldest brother, second brother, you two wait for my good news in the hall. I will definitely capture Tang Sanzang and present him to you."
The Green-Haired Lion Demon nodded, his tone grave: "Alright! Third Brother, this matter is entrusted to you! You must be careful and bring Tang Sanzang back without the slightest mistake! If you fail to bring Tang Sanzang back, you need not come back!"
"Rest assured, Brother, I will not fail in my mission!" The Golden-Winged Roc bowed deeply, his tone resolute. Then, he turned and shouted towards the outside of the hall, "Black Wind, Black Cloud, you two, come with me immediately! We're going to chase after Tang Sanzang!"
As soon as the words were spoken, two dark figures darted in from outside the hall and knelt before the Golden-Winged Roc, responding in unison, "Your subordinates obey!" These two little demons were tall and covered in black fur, with fierce eyes and a strong demonic aura. They were the Golden-Winged Roc's most capable henchmen, fast and skilled, and usually patrolled with the Golden-Winged Roc, earning the Golden-Winged Roc's deep trust.
The Golden-Winged Roc nodded and said, "Get up! Let's set off now to catch up with Tang Sanzang! Remember, this mission is a do-or-die situation! Once you discover any trace of Tang Sanzang, notify me immediately. Do not act on your own, lest you alert him!"
"Yes! Your subordinates have remembered!" Black Wind and Black Cloud replied in unison, stood up, and followed behind the Golden-Winged Roc.
Without another word, the Golden-Winged Roc spread its golden wings, leaped into the air, and flew out of the hall. Its wings flapped, creating a whooshing sound and a powerful gust of wind that caused the dust and skull lanterns inside to sway violently. Black Wind and Black Cloud followed closely behind, their figures like two black shadows, swiftly flying out of the hall and disappearing into the sky above Lion Camel Ridge, just like the Golden-Winged Roc.
The green-haired lion monster stood at the palace gate, gazing in the direction where the golden-winged roc and the others had disappeared. His eyes were grave as he muttered, "Third brother, we must capture Tang Sanzang! We absolutely cannot let them escape! This is our only chance; we cannot miss it!"
The yellow-toothed elephant monster walked up to the green-haired lion monster, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Brother, don't worry. Third brother is the fastest and most skilled. He'll definitely be able to capture Tang Sanzang. We'll wait for his good news in the hall now, and also strengthen the defenses of Lion Camel Ridge to prevent Sun Wukong and the others from sneaking back and causing any trouble."
The green-haired lion monster nodded and said, "Second Brother is right! We should now strengthen the defenses of Lion Camel Ridge, and have all the lesser demons be on high alert, patrolling carefully without the slightest slackening! Report any abnormalities immediately!"
"Yes!" The little demons inside the hall responded in unison, stood up, and quickly ran out of the hall to their respective posts to strengthen the defenses. The entire Lion Camel Ridge instantly became more tense. The little demons patrolled back and forth, their expressions vigilant, weapons in hand, not letting go of any abnormality. The demonic energy in the air also became more intense, creating a strong sense of oppression.
At this moment, Tang Sanzang and his companions were traveling through the mountains and forests far from Lion Camel Ridge. The trees in the forest were tall and straight, their branches and leaves lush and verdant. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, a stark contrast to the eerie atmosphere of Lion Camel Ridge, bringing a long-lost sense of peace. A mountain stream babbled gently, its clear, melodious sound ringing out. Occasionally, a few small birds hopped among the branches, chirping and adding a touch of life to the forest.
Tang Sanzang rode on the back of the white dragon horse, hands clasped together, eyes closed, silently chanting scriptures, his face serene, a hint of a relieved smile on his lips. After a night's rest, he felt much better and was no longer as worried as before. Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, walked beside the white dragon horse, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, his golden eyes fixed on the road ahead, not missing a single abnormality. Although he knew the three great kings were still searching for them in Lion Camel Ridge, he still dared not let his guard down, fearing that some lesser demons might pursue them. (End of Chapter)