The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 189 - 185: Misfortune Falls on Tao Yao in the Flat Peach Garden

Chapter 189: Chapter 185: Misfortune Falls on Tao Yao in the Flat Peach Garden

Zhuge Liang had borrowed the Seven Stars Sword to call forth the eastern wind, yet none of the immortals in heaven showed any signs of movement. Coincidentally, Princess Iron Fan passed by and saw that Zhuge Liang had taken out her teacher’s Seven Stars Sword to no avail, which infuriated her. She used her own Banana Leaf Fan to whip up a ferocious gale, which unexpectedly attracted the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon Bodhisattva.

Last time at Mount Meru, the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon Bodhisattva had given Wukong and his brothers a pretty hard time. They nearly lost their lives at his hands. However, this time he found himself in a pitiable state, being swept back to West Cow He State by the Banana Leaf Fan and then taking a hit from a Golden Sand Pill hurled by Wukong, leaving him severely wounded. What goes around, comes around!

Seeing someone had joined the fray on her behalf, Princess Iron Fan exclaimed, "I don’t know which fellow cultivator lent me aid from the shadows, but I am deeply grateful!"

Wukong descended from the clouds, chuckling, "It was me, it was me! I recognize you, you’re Princess Iron Fan, my elder brother’s wife."

Curious, Princess Iron Fan asked, "And who might you be?"

With a laugh, Wukong replied, "I am a loose cultivator from Yingzhou Island, my dharma name is Wukong, and I’m brothers with the Ox Demon King. That makes you my esteemed sister-in-law!"

Overjoyed, Princess Iron Fan said, "Ah, so you’re family. Uncle, do you happen to know where that foolish ox, my husband, currently resides?"

Wukong grinned, "Bull is still hanging around Flower-Fruit Mountain! Do you plan to seek him out, sister-in-law?"

Speaking of the Ox Demon King set Princess Iron Fan ablaze with rage. She snapped, "I heard that oaf has taken up with another woman. Is it true?"

"Well..." Wukong found himself in an awkward position; such matters were tricky to address, "Sister-in-law, this is not easy for me to discuss, after all, it concerns your family affairs. Whether it’s true or not, you’ll know once you see for yourself."

"Very well, I thank you, uncle," Princess Iron Fan replied.

Wukong thought to himself, "This Princess Iron Fan is so fiery, the Old Bull doesn’t know how much trouble he’s in for! As powerful as the Old Bull’s mana is, he’s at a disadvantage in the face of the Banana Leaf Fan; didn’t you see how it sent the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon flying off into the distance? Ha, it’s best I don’t wade into these murky waters. I wonder who let the cat out of the bag about the whole affair to Iron Fan. The Old Bull is in for it!"

Coming out of the battle at Mount Meru, Wukong had gained some notoriety; word had spread that there was a formidable loose cultivator overseas. No one connected him with Sun Wukong, even though the names were similar. After all, who among cultivators doesn’t wish to comprehend the Great Dao? Choosing Enlightenment Dao as a dharma name was not unusual.

Princess Iron Fan glanced towards Red Cliffs, where fire rose to the sky and screams were almost audible across the river. The naval forces of Eastern Wu had taken the opportunity to strike at Cao’s army. Clearly, the Battle of Red Cliffs was yet another victory for the Sun-Liu Allied Forces.

Once Princess Iron Fan had left, Wukong raised a jade talisman and flew back to Flower-Fruit Mountain. Naturally written on the talisman was news that Princess Iron Fan was coming to seek out the Ox Demon King, advising him to find a way to escape quickly. Being brothers, Wukong knew about Princess Iron Fan’s fierce reputation, and that the Ox Demon King could not withstand her wrath if caught red-handed. Further, with Iron Fan’s volatile temper, there was a chance she might even resort to killing in her rage, which would be unfortunate.

Meanwhile, Princess Iron Fan hastened on her way, eventually arriving at the Dongsheng Immortal State. From a distance, she could already see Flower-Fruit Mountain, where a sinister miasma filled the sky – a clear sign of gathering fearsome Demon Kings. She steered her cloud straight towards Flower-Fruit Mountain.

The Ox Demon King was alarmed upon receiving the jade talisman. He quickly hid Hu Li within the cave abode, cautioning her not to come out and avoid being spotted by the wicked old woman.

One reason the Ox Demon King feared Princess Iron Fan was her extreme ferocity; second, the might of her Banana Leaf Fan; and third, Iron Fan was a disciple of Laojun who was treated almost like a daughter, someone he dared not offend. Once not yet married, she was a sweetheart, but after their union, she had turned into a wicked old woman. The Ox Demon King could hardly express his suffering. The woman had changed seventy-two times, from being amiable before the marriage to outrage afterward. Encountering the Jade-faced Fox was already troublesome, but now Iron Fan was charging towards him with full force. The thought alone made his heart quake, and he considered fleeing straight to the Uttara Kuru Kingdom or Yingzhou Island.

"You dead bull, come out to your wife this instant!" a voice thundered from outside, startling all the Demon Kings seated within the Water Curtain Cave.

"Ha-ha, Old Bull, your wife’s come looking for trouble. Let’s see what you’re going to do!" Jiao Demon King couldn’t help but guffaw.

"Go on, before your wife gets too angry and blows us all from Flower-Fruit Mountain to the Eastern Sea with a wave of her fan!" Macaques King chuckled and chimed in while scratching his ear.

Without a choice, the Ox Demon King reluctantly emerged from the Water Curtain Cave just to see Princess Iron Fan standing on the mountaintop with hands on her hips.

Immediately trying to appear cheerful, the Ox Demon King greeted her, "Iron Fan, what brings you here?"

Princess Iron Fan’s face was dark as she asked sternly, "How long has it been since you’ve been home? And you still have the nerve to ask? I heard you’ve taken up with another woman here. Is that true?"

The Ox Demon King hurriedly replied, "No, absolutely not! I’ve just been busy, you know. We just had a clash with those baldies from Western Heaven, and I’ve had my hands full lately! When would I have had the time to find another woman? It must be slander, meant to drive a wedge between us."

But Princess Iron Fan did not believe a word from the Ox Demon King. Men are masters of deception, aren’t they? When she previously encountered Enlightenment Dao in the Southern Toad Continent and inquired about it, he had refused to speak openly, essentially confirming her suspicions. With a shift in thought, she deduced that the chatter about the Ox Demon King finding another woman was likely true.

This time, Princess Iron Fan had become a pawn in someone else’s scheme by learning this news. Why else would this information come to light precisely at this time if not to enrage her? Bursting out of Banana Leaf Cave, she encountered Zhuge Liang using the Seven Stars Sword to borrow wind, providing her with the perfect opportunity to wield the Banana Leaf Fan in favor of Eastern Wu, creating a mighty eastern wind, and crushing Cao’s forces. Of course, the Ox Demon King too was a victim of this plot, inevitably set to be disciplined by his wife.

Princess Iron Fan, however, grimaced and said, "You still want to lie to me? Call that woman out and let me see, or else you’ll be served with the Banana Leaf Fan!"

The other five brothers hid behind the Water Curtain Cave, watching the show with smirks on their faces, finding it quite amusing to see Old Bull being disciplined; it was too satisfying.

"Ah! Iron Fan, this is really a misunderstanding; you must have heard some false rumors. You have to believe me!" Ox Demon King insisted earnestly.

Grinding her teeth in anger, Princess Iron Fan retorted, "You’ve barely come home in nearly twenty years, and when I passed through the Southern Toad Continent, I met your brother. He too chose to keep mum when I asked about this matter, telling me to see for myself! Obviously, this isn’t some false rumor. You clumsy ox, you still want to deceive me even now! Behold the magical treasure!"

Princess Iron Fan opened her mouth and pulled out the Banana Leaf Fan. Ox Demon King was scared out of his wits. He was no match for the Mahoraga, who could withstand the fan with his bare body. In a panic, he grabbed a handful of soil, threw it into the air, and took advantage of the Earth Escape spell to dive underground. Cursing, Princess Iron Fan grabbed soil as well to follow him underground. In no time, the whole Flower-Fruit Mountain started to shake, and soon everyone saw Ox Demon King being fanned out by Princess Iron Fan. He tumbled through the air and crashed to the ground, howling in pain.

"I’ll see how you escape this time!" Princess Iron Fan cursed.

Ox Demon King then cried out, "Brothers, won’t you come out and help me subdue this wicked woman!"

Regrettably, not a single one of the five brothers moved; they all watched from behind, grinning and almost clapping their hands in sheer delight at the thrilling spectacle.

"A bunch of good-for-nothing friends!" Ox Demon King couldn’t help but curse loudly before leaping high and plunging into the river with a splash, from where he fled toward the Eastern Sea.

Princess Iron Fan cursed again and plunged into the water after him, seemingly determined not to let Ox Demon King off the hook.

The Macaques King grinned maliciously and said, "Big Sister-in-law is truly fierce. It seems this time Bull is going to suffer a big loss!"

Peng Demon King couldn’t help but laugh, "Old Bull knows full well he’s got a nasty woman at home, yet he still dares to fool around. Isn’t he just asking for trouble?"

"Sister-in-law won’t beat Bull to death, right? That magical treasure seems quite powerful," Yu Rong King couldn’t help shivering.

"No, no! Even if Old Bull has taken up with another woman, his wife surely won’t kill him. After all, ’A couple’s bond extends beyond a day’s vows’ and they’ve been husband and wife for hundreds of years; their bond is as deep as the ocean. Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha!" The Macaque King began to laugh heartily.

Seeing how miserably Ox Demon King was tormented by Princess Iron Fan, the brothers couldn’t help but burst into laughter, feeling the thrill of seeing someone chased with no place in the sky to fly to and no hole in the ground to crawl into.

Let’s pause the misfortunes of Ox Demon King at the hands of Princess Iron Fan for now and turn our attention to the Peach Garden of Heavenly Court.

Ever since Huang Tuqiu successfully defended against Sun Wukong, who had targeted the Jade Emperor, he had been given a fine assignment.

He had become the director of the Flat Peach Garden, and, as such, his life had become leisurely and more enjoyable. It was far less dull than guarding the Mother Peach Tree in Yao Pond.

For his successful defense, Huang Tuqiu was assigned as the director of the Flat Peach Garden. His days were spent indulging in fine food, sipping wine, napping in the pavilion, and thus, he led a very pleasant life.

One day, as Huang Tuqiu was half asleep, he suddenly opened his eyes and saw a streak of rainbow light whizzing past a peach tree. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was an enchanted Rainbow Peach Tree, and he instantly became alert.

Since returning to the Peach Garden, Tao Yao could only venture out when the garden was closed, but the evenings were dull, and the peach trees rested, leaving no one to talk to her, making her life lonely and dreary.

Among the finer peach trees were those that had birthed spiritual wisdom. With nothing better to do, Tao Yao would chat with the peach trees. Today, taking advantage of the dozing off of the garden warden after his drinking, she decided to play around but hadn’t expected him to wake up suddenly.

"You’re not getting away!" Huang Tuqiu shouted as he woke up, throwing his scroll at her.

This scroll was an ancient relic with extraordinary power. Once activated, it immediately immobilized everything around, leaving Tao Yao, now in the form of rainbow light, with no way to escape.

Tao Yao panicked, realizing the trouble she was in. Now that her tracks were discovered and her father was nowhere to be found, no one could help her.

Although she possessed some mana and had inherited Laojun’s "Tao Te Ching," she was naturally innocent and playful. How could she bear to waste so much time on cultivating Taoist arts? The two spells she attempted were powerless, and she was about to be caught by Huang Tuqiu.

As to her fate, let’s find out in the next Chapter. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please consider supporting the author by voting or purchasing a monthly ticket at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)