Not long after, the Scorpion Demoness returned, looking quite smug as she said, "Xuanzang, you shouldn't pin your hopes on that disciple of yours to rescue you. That Great Sage Equalling Heaven who caused such havoc in the Heavenly Palace is just a smelly monkey."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang felt a chill run through his heart. Despite the treacherous paths, he knew his eldest disciple wasn't as invincible as he claimed to be.

The Scorpion Demoness smiled with satisfaction and said, "You see, you shouldn't count on your disciple to save you. He's struggling to protect himself after being poisoned by my reversed horse poison. Why not simply yield to me? I assure you, you'll experience comfort and joy like never before."

Xuanzang looked at the Scorpion Demoness, who seemed ready to devour him, his mind racing with thoughts, though the word "seemed" could actually be omitted.

He wasn't a dull person at all; Xuanzang was indeed extraordinarily intelligent.

"Wait a moment!"

The Scorpion Demoness had already taken Xuanzang's struggles as a pre-dinner game.

"Oh, do you have something to say? Or is there a particular position you prefer? Feel free to say, heh heh heh."

Xuanzang, as if making a resolution, said, "I can agree to marry you, but even my eldest disciple's marriage to the queen was celebrated nationwide. As a person from the Central Plains, marriages require gifts, name inquiries, blessings, formal certificates, choosing a date, and the bridal escort. How can it be so careless?"

"Although this cave is simple, I'm not one to disdain poverty or treasure wealth, but there should be some ceremony to it, no? As a master, I shouldn't be far inferior to my disciple, should I?"

Observing the Scorpion Demoness's fluctuating expression, Xuanzang, emboldened, said, "Could it be that you can't match up to the barbarians you mentioned?"

The long speech Xuanzang gave was largely ignored by the Scorpion Demoness. She extracted a keyword from Xuanzang's words: 'inferior to barbarians.'

The competitive nature of women is formidable. Even as a female demon, the Scorpion Demoness couldn't admit she was worse than someone she despised.

"Just you wait; how could I be worse than that female barbarian!"

With that, she left without looking back, off to find wedding goods. During these times, it's not easy even for a demon to get married!

Seeing this, Xuanzang eased his heart a little. As a mortal without the strength to truss a chicken, this was all he could do, leaving everything else to fate, hoping that Wukong could detoxify himself and save him quickly.

Meanwhile, Zhu Bajie carried Sun Wukong back to the Daughter Country Palace. Though Sun Wukong was immortal with Copper Skin and Iron Bones, the pain was still real, especially with a stitch on his scalp.

A splitting headache!

Sun Wukong's agonizing rolls broke the Queen's heart. Furious, she immediately wanted to rally the warriors to attack Venom Mountain to avenge her Prince Consort.

Zhu Bajie and Su Wunu Kong, somewhat akin to real-life fair-weather friends, despite their usual squabbles, would genuinely help in times of trouble.

Besides, she couldn't bear to send these female warriors to their deaths.

"Great King, do not act impulsively. Even Brother Monkey couldn't handle it; sending you would be courting death, hurting the monkey even more when the time comes!"

"I see that demon is a Poison Insect turned essence. I should find some help, not only to neutralize Brother Monkey's poison but also to subdue that demon."

Sun Wukong, enduring the headache, said, "Bajie, hurry, I can endure it, but if we delay any longer our master will be in trouble!"

Without further delay, Zhu Bajie rode his cloud straight to the Heaven Palace.

The Queen, advised not to provoke the demon, ceased her plans but stayed to care for Sun Wukong, preparing tea, providing towels, doing everything a Daughter Country Queen and warrior could do. Could this be false love?

Monkey wanted to refuse, but the poison was constantly corroding her, and Sha Wujing, a clumsy brute, couldn't possibly tend to a poisoned person without making it worse.

Sun Wukong found himself deeply conflicted; no woman had ever been so kind to him since birth, yet he was just a Shi Hou?

What did he know about love and affection?

...

Over on Bajie's side, he went straight to the rear hall, and after a report, saw Nezha listening to a musical performance.

The Moon Palace maids danced gracefully, making Bajie's mouth water. Could the gap between people be so vast?

He was demoted to the Mortal World for confessing his love, while others could openly watch dances and listen to songs without criticism.

"Emperor!"

Before Nezha could speak, Jin Jiao and Silver Horn, who came to find Nezha, peeked over from another side, their eyes never leaving their game.

"Don't call him Emperor; use the title here — call him Your Majesty!"

"Brother is right!"

Bajie pursed his lips; whatever these two little ancestors said must be right.

"Your Majesty."

Nezha didn't want to make a fuss, but he couldn't undermine his friend's face, could he? Since they just pointed it out, he couldn't contradict them. "Your Majesty" it would be, though it seemed to create an invisible barrier between them.

Without taking his eyes off the dancing maids, Bajie relayed the situation.

Nezha wasn't much concerned; their previous deal canceled out their cause and effect, leaving no need for special treatment now.

"Your Majesty, I've come to request the assistance of Mao Ri Star Official for this endeavor."

"Approved."

Having received approval, Bajie reluctantly left the Treasure Hall to find the Mao Ri Star Official. He was quite familiar with the Heavenly Palace as the former Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, technically Mao Ri's superior back then.

But that was all in the past.

On this westward journey, he endured untold hardships and realized the preferential treatment he once enjoyed under the name of Lord, though it was now impossible to return.

Mao Ri Star Official's standing among the Twenty-eight Star Constellations wasn't very high, but he had a good mother and was born of the Jie Sect.

So, his life in the Heavenly Court was extremely comfortable: daily clocking in and out of work, having a car, a house, savings, a decent salary, and plenty of free time — truly the essence of immortal life.

His residence was called the Bright Palace, the very place where he crowed.

Quickly finding Mao Ri Star Official, Zhu Bajie explained their plight and mentioned Nezha's consent.

The initially nonchalant Mao Ri Star Official perked up at the mention of Nezha, as if invigorated by chicken blood — though it's uncertain if chicken blood affects chicken deities.

Either way, Mao Ri became noticeably enthusiastic.

"Marshal, let's go quickly; the Great Saint must be suffering terribly now."

Old Pig promptly led Mao Ri Star Official to the Daughter Country. Mao Ri indeed was the nemesis of Poison Insects worldwide, though this restraint had a threshold, which the Scorpion Demoness hadn't yet exceeded.

Mao Ri Star Official neutralized Sun Wukong's debilitating reversed horse poison with a single spittle.

The detox method wasn't very tasteful but was indeed effective.

Free of pain, Sun Wukong sprang back to life, ready to rush to save his master with Mao Ri, though his urgency partly stemmed from not knowing how to face the queen.

Even a stone heart struggles against a gentle touch.

A group hurried back to Venom Mountain, where the lair was lit up for the wedding celebration, as the raiding Scorpion Demoness prepared for the nuptials!

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