Chapter 112: The Earth-Shattering Battle Between a Boar Demon and a Tiger Demon

Tang Sanzang never imagined that the first disciple he would take under his wing would be a pig demon. It was truly a surprise amidst the unexpected. Of course, had the trajectory of Mount Wuzhi not been rewritten, his first chief disciple would undoubtedly have been the Monkey King. However, the historical path of the Journey to the West had undergone earth-shattering changes, all due to the flapping of a tiny butterfly’s wings named Chu Xiaoyu.

Xuanzang was a man of kind heart. Since it was the Bodhisattva’s guidance that he was destined to take this pig demon as a disciple, he decided to follow the choice within his own heart. In the end, he named the pig demon "Zhu Bajie." With the matter at Gao Village settled, the group continued their journey toward the Western Heaven.

One day, the trio arrived at the foot of a steep mountain. Sun Wukong, acting as the vanguard, was certain that this was the Yellow Wind Cave spoiled by the Immortal Chu Xiaoyu, where a truly remarkable yellow-furred ferret resided. The Immortal had said that this ferret was nothing more than an ordinary creature from the foot of Spirit Mountain, which had coincidentally stolen and consumed the sacred oil from the Buddha’s glazed lamp, transforming into a formidable demon.

"Master, Senior Brother, we’ve been walking all day. I’m absolutely exhausted. Why don't we take a break?"

Zhu Bajie, carrying the heavy luggage, was worn thin. Ever since becoming a pig demon, he had lived in seclusion at Gao Village and had rarely traveled such long distances. Having to rely on his own two feet while hauling heavy burdens was no easy feat. With the scorching sun overhead, Xuanzang, too, found the heat unbearable and decided they could travel no further.

With his master’s permission, Zhu Bajie dropped the luggage and happily trotted over to Sun Wukong. "Hehe... Monkey Brother, Master says we can rest. Now that we have a moment, could you... let me see that precious Universe Bag of yours?"

Ever since he first laid eyes on Sun Wukong’s bizarre and powerful Universe Bag, Zhu Bajie had been utterly captivated. Every time the bag was opened, it revealed an endless variety of delicacies—the most delicious food the pig demon had ever encountered. He was deeply shaken and astonished. *Damn it!* Where on earth did this monkey find such a rare and peerless treasure?

Seeing the pig’s face lit with gluttonous anticipation, Sun Wukong’s monkey eyes darted around as a scheme took root. "Hehe, you want to see my treasure? It’s not impossible, but I have a condition."

Zhu Bajie couldn't wait. "What condition? Just say it!"

Sun Wukong’s eyes gleamed with cunning. "Well... look, not far ahead at the foot of the mountain, there seems to be a cave dwelling. I see the monk is quite parched. Why don't you go over and ask them for some water or something to quench his thirst? If you do that, I’ll let you see it."

"Alright, alright! Hehe, it’s a deal then."

Zhu Bajie was overjoyed. Asking for a drink of water? How simple could that be? He took off running, unaware that he had fallen for the monkey’s trick—a ploy to use the pig demon to probe the ferret hiding within the Yellow Wind Cave.

"Halt! Who goes there? This path is closed! Stay where you are!"

As Zhu Bajie happily hurried toward the cave, his path was suddenly blocked by a leaping tiger. A tiger that had gained spiritual power? One that could speak human language? It was a magnificent, striped beast, tall and fierce. Zhu Bajie was startled. "You... are you a tiger demon?"

With a sudden *whoosh*, the tiger transformed into human form, though his upper body remained that of a beast. The tiger demon glared at Zhu Bajie with disdain. "That’s right, I am a tiger demon, and I’m still better than a pig demon like you. Who are you? I am the vanguard for the Great King of Yellow Wind. If you want to pass, leave your toll."

*Huh?* Robbed by a beast? Zhu Bajie was taken aback. "You want to... rob me? Pfft! You tiger demon, do you know who your grandfather is—"

*Boom!* Before Zhu Bajie could finish, the tiger demon swung a heavy club at him. Beasts that attained enlightenment in the wild were always short-tempered; they would start a fight at the slightest provocation. Jolted by the sudden strike, Zhu Bajie barely dodged with a clumsy roll.

"Damn it! You wretch... taste my rake!"

*Boom!* Zhu Bajie drew his muck-rake and waded into the fray. In an instant, the pig demon and the tiger demon were locked in a fierce battle that shook the mountains and shattered the earth.

"Er... Benefactor Sun, how did Bajie end up fighting? Why don't you go see what’s happening?" Xuanzang, cooling himself in the shade of a rock crevice, suddenly noticed the violent struggle at the foot of the mountain.

"It’s nothing, they’re just playing around."

*Heh!* The Great King of Yellow Wind? He’s just a ferret, what’s with the pretense? Still, he couldn't be underestimated. He was no ordinary ferret, having consumed the sacred oil under the Buddha's lamp.

Sun Wukong sneered, but then a thought occurred to him. The Immortal had said his Universe Bag could hold anything in the world; capturing this ferret would be a piece of cake. However, Wukong had his own reservations. If it were any other kind of beast, he might consider it, but this was a ferret. Put it in the Universe Bag? The bag was for storing food, and the thought of the stench—ferret farts were notoriously pungent—made him recoil. *Absolutely not!*

"Monk, you sit tight. I’ll be back in a flash." The monkey, always fond of a good show, headed over to watch the pig and tiger battle.

*Bang!* *Clash!* *Boom!*

The tiger demon was surprisingly ferocious. Even with his limited cultivation, his combat power was terrifying. For the first time since leaving the mountain, excluding his fights with the monkey, Zhu Bajie felt the struggle was draining. *This beast is tough,* he thought while fighting.

On the other side, the tiger demon wasn't having an easy time either. A hideous pig demon was actually outperforming him? Tigers eating pigs was an immutable law of nature, but today, that law seemed to have failed. The pig demon’s fighting style was savage, and gradually, Zhu Bajie began to gain the upper hand, pushing the tiger demon into a corner.