Mount Li''s Elder Lady said, "As for the strong ones in the world, you and I basically know them all. This sudden emergence of a strong one is inevitably somewhat suspicious. As the saying goes, ''Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles,'' we need not rush to take action. This time let''s use a little trickery!"

    After speaking, Mount Li''s Elder Lady whispered something into the ears of the three Bodhisattvas.

    The three Bodhisattvas'' eyes lit up.

    Samantabhadra Bodhisattva smiled and said, "That''s good, if things work out, we can directly take action and capture that false Monk and accuse him;

    if it doesn''t work out, we can still retreat in one piece.

    Wonderful, wonderful!"

    Manjusri Bodhisattva said, "The strategy is good, but it requires some powerful artifacts to succeed. I have an Immortal Tying Rope that can be used."

    As he spoke, Manjusri Bodhisattva produced a pale golden rope.

    Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said, "Your rope, though not as good as the Immortal Tying Rope, is nearly comparable and indeed a fine treasure. I also have a similar treasure here, used by me in the past to capture a True Dragon in the South Sea."

    Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva presented a fishing net before them.

    Samantabhadra Bodhisattva said, "I have a chain here that was said to have bound a giant fish in the old days, it should be useful!"

    Mount Li''s Elder Lady nodded and said, "With these three treasures, plus my Sky-Blocking Curtain, this matter is seventy percent assured."

    As she spoke, Mount Li''s Elder Lady pulled out a palm-sized courtyard model, casually threw it, and the model turned out to be a treasure as well, swelling in the wind and then landing and taking root, transforming into an ancient, stately, and magnificent courtyard.

    Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva waved her hand, and several paper figures flew out, landing in the garden and transforming into children, chefs, and other servants.

    Everything ready, the three Bodhisattvas shook themselves and transformed into three youthful and beautiful girls, who bowed to Mount Li''s Elder Lady and said, "We pay respect to our mother."

    ...

    Three days later.

    Zhu Ganglie suddenly shouted, "Master, ahead lies a household!"

    Upon hearing this, everyone''s eyes lit up!

    Now things were different. Following Tang Sanzang to retrieve the True Scriptures in the West, they could no longer rob and plunder, so they had to appear amiable. With their current looks, it simply wasn''t feasible...

    Thus, the two transformed, shrinking their bodies to about 1.8 meters, roughly Tang Sanzang''s height, and then taking on human forms before they knocked on the door.

    "Is anyone there? We are monks from Great Tang in the Eastern Land, tasked with retrieving the True Scriptures from the West. Passing by this treasure trove, we seek some food and water to consume!"

    Zhu Ganglie called out.

    Soon after, footsteps were heard, and a languid voice responded, "Monks from the Eastern Land? That is quite rare."

    As they spoke, the door opened, and a middle-aged woman stepped out.

    Dressed in fine silk, her hair coiled atop her head, she appeared to be over thirty but still had the charm and vibrance of a woman in her early twenties. Her eyes sparkled with a mature, indescribable warmth and allure.

    At just one glance, Zhu Ganglie was completely mesmerized!

    Though he had seen countless goddesses and even Chang''e from the Moon Palace, during his years in the mortal realm, he had mostly fancied Gao Cuilan. And there''s no need to say more about Gao Cuilan''s appearance...

    Later, as they traveled west with Tang Sanzang, they did not encounter any notable female demons.

    A few years had passed in a blink, and he had been parched for so long that he could subsist on mere droplets. But now, he was unexpectedly presented with a gush of clear spring water—how could he stand it!

    The woman moved gracefully, her charm not just captivating Zhu Ganglie but even making Sha Wujing take a few extra glances.

    Yet Sun Wukong didn''t pay much attention; instead, he surveyed the items within the yard.

    Tang Sanzang too raised an eyebrow and grinned, "Benefactor, this poor monk comes from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, preparing to seek the True Scriptures in the West. Passing by, we request some water to drink."

    The woman was indeed Li Mountain Old Mother in disguise, her beautiful eyes shifting as she assessed the fake Tang Sanzang in front of her.

    What surprised her was that the fake Tang Sanzang looked exactly like the real Tang Sanzang, the only difference being his temperament.

    This one looked thoroughly deserving of a beating, completely unlike the real Tang Sanzang''s ethereal grace.

    Li Mountain Old Mother thought to herself, "Indeed, this fake Tang Sanzang must be intentionally deceiving people, not out of a misunderstanding. As such, it serves him right to be taught a lesson."

    Upon this thought, Li Mountain Old Mother smiled and said, "Since you are a monk from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, naturally you shall be treated well. Please come in..."