Chapter 81: Bull Demon King: Can you believe this? I got robbed in my own cave

The Bull Demon King clearly hadn't expected Tang An to rob him so brazenly, and in his own cave at that.

No, wait, he was robbed in his own home?

The key was that Wukong, Yang Jian, and Nezha all wore expressions of having long since grown accustomed to this, finding it nothing out of the ordinary.

Is this the style of the Destined One on the scripture-seeking journey? Is he, the old bull, just ignorant and ill-informed?

"Just you wait, I'll go fetch them for you right now."

The Bull Demon King glanced at Red Boy to the side, then went off quite decisively to retrieve his treasures.

Before long, the Bull Demon King returned with some minor demons in tow.

There were eighteen chests of gold, silver, and jewels in total, and a whole row of magic treasures like hammers, all laid out for Tang An to take.

"As expected of you, Bull Demon King. Yumian Huli is truly wealthy."

Tang An's eyes flashed with gold coins; she was practically dizzy with happiness.

"Not taking them for nothing, definitely not for nothing." Tang An hurriedly swept all these items into her Universe Bag, lest the Bull Demon King regret it a moment later.

Once the items were collected, Tang An clapped her hands. "Don't worry, I won't..."

"Uh, I won't take your things for nothing. I'll definitely handle the matter beautifully for you."

Why did she stop calling herself 'Big Sister'? Because the seniority was all messed up.

She was currently the master of Sun Wukong on his scripture-seeking journey, but Sun Wukong was her sworn second brother, and the Bull Demon King was the eldest brother of Sun Wukong's sworn brotherhood.

The Bull Demon King looked at Sun Wukong, then at Tang An.

"Does the Destined One know what matter I need your help with?"

"Isn't it just to protect Red Boy for you?" Tang An picked up a pastry to eat, her tone very relaxed.

The Bull Demon King was shocked. "How did you..."

"How did I know?" Tang An brushed the crumbs off her hands; it was her turn to give a speech.

First, she certainly held the script and knew that Guanyin was going to take Red Boy as the Wealth-Bestowing Boy.

Of course, she couldn't say this explicitly; she could only tactfully borrow the information she'd obtained from subduing the Azure Lion Spirit to express it roughly.

The Azure Lion Spirit had revealed two pieces of information.

First, Guanyin was about to make a move on Red Boy, using the Bull Demon King's family to drive the Eighty-One Tribulations. This would both force the Bull Demon King into a confrontation with them and provide an opportunity to take Red Boy in one fell swoop.

Second, Yumian Huli was actually Guanyin's person; she was both a pawn to bewitch the old bull and a piece to push events forward. Red Boy being so unruly had a lot to do with Yumian Huli's instigation and "killing with kindness."

Having learned these two things, Tang An had long since had a plan in place.

Rather than sending this great asset, the Bull Demon King, to the Buddhist sect, it was better to pull him to her side.

After all, Guanyin calling it taking Red Boy as the Wealth-Bestowing Boy was less accurate than calling it taking a hostage.

No father would want to send his child away to be held as a lifeline by others, worrying about them day and night.

Of course, excluding that heartless pagoda-bearer, Li Jing.

So Tang An had tipped off her three disciples in advance; otherwise, outside the Fire Cloud Cave, when Red Boy fought Nezha, he would have been killed by Nezha long ago.

Therefore, upon learning that Sun Wukong had cut ties with the Bull Demon King after his havoc in the Heavenly Palace and didn't know the situation of the Bull Demon King's family, Tang An hadn't told Sun Wukong in advance that Red Boy was his big nephew.

It was mainly for fear that he would get excited and, in a moment of carelessness, ruin the act.

Once the four master and disciples had intentionally put on a show for the Bodhisattva, grinding through the four tribulations, and then brought Red Boy to trap the old bull, the play-within-a-play they had set up was complete.

At this point, the situation was set, and neither the four master and disciples nor the Bull Demon King and his son were so passive anymore.

At the very least, here in the Moyun Cave, with the dual-layer array of the Bull Demon King and Yang Jian, Guanyin couldn't probe anything with her abilities.

Originally, Tang An had thought that after arriving here, she would observe the Bull Demon King's attitude before considering what response to use to trick him into standing on their side.

She hadn't expected to accidentally learn the truth about how, when Sun Wukong caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, people from the Buddhist sect had controlled and secretly suppressed the Bull Demon King and other sworn-brother great demons.

If the Buddhist sect hadn't taken a fancy to the Bull Demon King's strength and wanted to recruit him for their own use, the Bull Demon King would likely have been sent into reincarnation long ago.

Moreover, the Bull Demon King seemed very clear that once Red Boy was taken by Guanyin, it would be equivalent to the Buddhist sect holding his lifeline. That was why he had been so quick and proactive when Tang An tricked him out of his gold, silver, and magic treasures.

"It's a pity. If Red Boy can't be saved in this tribulation, you, Bull Demon King, will really be destined to plow fields diligently for the rest of your life."

After Tang An finished saying all this, she drank several cups of tea, her mouth dry from talking.

The Bull Demon King was completely bewildered by Tang An, unable to recover for a long time.

He looked at Sun Wukong, his eyes seemingly asking: "Is your little master's brain really that sharp?"

Sun Wukong gave a "hehe" and waved his hand. "Big Brother, this master of mine is a treasure."

"If you trust me, I'll vouch for my master. She will definitely be able to protect my nephew."

The Bull Demon King hurriedly stood up from his stool, preparing to bow.

"If the Destined One can save my son, I, the old bull, will owe you my life. Whatever you need in the future, I will have no objections."

Tang An looked at the Bull Demon King, then at Sun Wukong.

"Actually, you should be glad."

"Glad for what?"

"Glad that you thought about helping Wukong when he caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace." Otherwise, Tang An might have helped, but she would also have used Red Boy to control and threaten the Bull Demon King for her own use.

If the Bull Demon King didn't agree, then they would fight. Anyway, it was three against one; once the son was beaten into submission, they could just beat the father into submission too.

Even if Guanyin appeared at that time to play the "good guy" helping the Bull Demon King, it wouldn't matter.

At worst, she would just treat her as another tribulation to grind through. Anyway, with the Journey to the West Calamity, Tang An had the confidence to challenge Lingshan.

At that time, under such forceful means, the Bull Demon King would have had no choice.

But now, Tang An naturally abandoned that plan.

Just because Wukong was a natural stone monkey, born without father or mother, unrestrained and free.

But back then, to push the Journey to the West Calamity, he was calculated layer by layer until he rebelled against the Heavenly Court. Then there was Rulai tricking him, pinning him under the Five Fingers Mountain, and finally, that god-damned Tang Seng tricking him into wearing the tight-fillet.

The life of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Beautiful Monkey King, was full of hardships.

So for Sun Wukong, apart from the Bodhi Patriarch, the only person left in this world with a bond to him was likely the Bull Demon King, his former sworn brother.

Thinking of this, Tang An abandoned her previous considerations.

"The Journey to the West Calamity, Wukong's suffering, the Five Fingers Mountain tribulation, the tight-fillet the scripture-seeker had to wear—all of it proves how ironic and laughable that saying, 'Monks do not tell lies,' truly is."

Since she had now become a rebel too, then she, Tang An, would learn from them and defy the heavens to change fate.

"Wukong, your master wants you to know that no matter where you are, when you look back, there will always be someone behind you."

"This time, you will never again face that situation of being isolated and helpless!"

Sun Wukong turned his head in a daze; this time, he was surrounded by people.

Master, Nezha, Yang Jian, the Bull Demon King, his big nephew.

Wukong's hands trembled uncontrollably due to his intense emotions.

"Master..."

The moment he shouted the word "Master," his eyes shimmered with tears, and his nose felt sore.

From this moment on, the word "Master" in Wukong's heart had a true turning point.

It was no longer just a title, but a true master.

He, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, feared neither heaven nor earth. Yet, this feeling of being protected by his master made his tears fall uncontrollably.

"This kindness, I, your disciple, will remember. I will remember it, Master." He bowed to Tang An very earnestly, performing a formal salute.

Tang An patted Sun Wukong's shoulder, smiling so brightly.

"Why be so polite between us? I am your master, it's only right that I cover for you."

For the sake of her three disciples, for the sake of her three childhood idols, and even more for the friendship they had shared on the journey west until now.

Even if it involved all kinds of causality, even if all kinds of causality were heaped upon her.

But she, Tang An, would never regret it. ===== CHAPTER 82 =====