The abbot downstairs was scared witless, then knelt on the ground and worshipped, saying, "The mercy of the Buddha!"

    Tang Sanzang, however, turned to look at Bumpity Ba...

    Bumpity Ba immediately shouted, "I..."

    Tang Sanzang clenched his fist and stepped forward, as Bumpity Ba cried, his mouth opening a few times but not knowing what to say.

    Just when he thought he was surely dead, a gust of wind blew past. Tang Sanzang shivered and his eyes gradually cleared up. Then he scratched his bald head and asked, "Uh...where did that fish go?"

    On hearing this, everyone''s heart filled with wails, "Damn, so this guy just blacked out from drinking..."

    Quietly mourning Bumpity Ba for two seconds, Sun Wukong said, "Master, that fish sought its own end, but it knew who stole the Shariputras."

    Tang Sanzang said with some regret, "Ah, such a good fish, why would it choose such an end." Then he asked Bumpity Ba, "Now it''s just you, hurry and explain in detail. If you miss a single word, I''ll stew you with tofu!"

    Instead of being afraid, Bumpity Ba breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thankful that the monk was finally back to normal.

    Then Bumpity Ba hastily answered, "Reverend, I, along with that...that fish, are both underlings of the Wan Sheng Dragon King of Luanshi Mountain Bi Bo Pond. My name... I am a black fish spirit, and he was a catfish spirit.

    A few years ago, the Wan Sheng Dragon King had a daughter named Princess Wan Sheng.

    The princess was born with the grace of the moon and the beauty of flowers, extremely beautiful, known as the number one beauty of Bi Bo Pond, and for a time, she had innumerable suitors."

    Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang''s eyes lit up immediately, "Has she ever been married?"

    Bumpity Ba smiled bitterly, "She''s already married."

    Tang Sanzang''s face then fell flat with disinterest, "Well...never mind. Continue."

    Bumpity Ba said, "That prince consort, named Nine-headed Prince Consort, possessed vast divine skills... He came here the year before last, wishing to marry the princess.

    The Wan Sheng Dragon King asked him to show off his skills.

    Tang Sanzang nodded, "Go ahead."

    Sun Wukong did not waste words, pulled out the Jingu Bang, and uttered, "Grow!" Experience new tales on empire

    In an instant, the Jingu Bang grew longer, turning into a massive staff that he thrust into the Green Waves Pond. Then, stirring forcefully, the once placid waters shattered, whirling on the surface and churning wildly, creating a loud splashing noise.

    Soon the entire Green Waves Pond was a mess of turmoil.

    Sun Wukong bellowed, "Listen up, you monsters in the water, your Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong is here. Present the treasures from the Golden Light Temple''s pagoda of Jisai Country forthwith, and you may be spared. But if you so much as utter a word of refusal, I''ll turn this pond into a meat grinder and grind you and your kin into mincemeat!"

    Having said this, Sun Wukong threw Bian Bo''er Ba straight into the pond.

    Bian Bo''er Ba dared not linger and dove into the Green Waves Pond frantically.

    Inside, the pond was already chaos incarnate. It was bad enough getting poked by a staff in the middle of the night, but to have it stirring up a storm, leaving the shrimp and crabs, vomiting all over the place...

    Bian Bo''er Ba rushed straight to the Dragon King''s palace, shouting, "Great King, terrible news, terrible news!"

    The Wansheng Dragon King and the nine-headed son-in-law were already cursing the fool who was stirring up the pond. Seeing this guy rush in, bellowing disaster, only fueled their ire.

    The nine-headed son-in-law, clad in silver armor, rose angrily and scolded, "Bian Bo''er Ba, what''s all this shouting? What''s the trouble?"

    Bian Bo''er Ba reported, "To inform the son-in-law, yesterday I was patrolling the tower when I was captured by Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and others. Now, Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang have arrived at the Green Waves Pond, sending me to deliver a message."

    "What message?" the nine-headed son-in-law inquired.

    Bian Bo''er Ba relayed, "Sun Wukong demands we return the Shariputra immediately, otherwise he threatens to kill us all with a single strike."

    Hearing this, the Wansheng Dragon King shivered with fear, trembling, he said, "My dear son-in-law, what should we do? The others are one thing, but this monkey, he''s truly troublesome. He isn''t one to be trifled with. If things escalate, we are not equipped like the heavenly courts to withstand his fury—we''ll be turned upside down!"

    The nine-headed son-in-law, however, laughed and said, "Fear not, father-in-law. Since youth, I''ve acquired some skills. I''m well-regarded amongst the heroes within the Four Seas, so why fear a mere monkey? Let me handle him; I''ll serve him up as a toast to you!"

    After finishing his words, the nine-headed son-in-law noticed Bian Bo''er Ba hesitating to speak.

    The nine-headed son-in-law frowned and said, "Bian Bo''er Ba, speak up if you have something to say. What''s with all the hesitancy?"