Wukong flipped through a somersault and arrived at the Verdant Cloud Mountain, searching for the Iron Fan Princess.
The Buddhist Sect appears compassionate and empathetic, but in reality, their dominance is incomparable. Otherwise, why would they not convert Wukong with Buddhist Law, but instead slay him with a single palm strike? Why would they not reform the Black Bear Spirit with Buddhist teachings, but subdue him with a headband? Why would they not guide Hong Hai'er to conversion, instead, bind him too with a headband? When Tang Sanzang drank the water from the Women's Country and conceived a child, only to then abort it, isn't that also killing life? Creating boats by chopping trees on the westward journey, isn't that also destroying life? Every plant and tree are living beings!
Anyone involved in such nefarious acts always coats them with a veneer of righteousness and morality, and Buddhism truly excels in these malevolent acts!
On the surface, the Iron Fan Princess seemed to be letting Guanyin discipline Hong Hai'er for lack of respect, which seemed a good thing, but then which parents would allow others to discipline their children? Furthermore, Iron Fan Princess was an extremely domineering person, and it was conceivable she was very unsatisfied with Guanyin, only wary of Guanyin's profound mana.
Wukong realized that if he wanted to challenge the Heavenly Court and suppress Buddhism, he could never do it with his strength alone. Therefore, he must do everything possible to rally forces for resistance in the future.
"Is the Iron Fan Princess present?" Upon arriving at the entrance of the Banana Leaf Cave on Verdant Cloud Mountain, Wukong asked the door-guarding apprentice to announce him.
"The Princess is inside. And you, Taoist, who might you be?" the apprentice inquired.
"Please kindly report that the Heaven-Defying Taoist has come to visit," Wukong replied.
The apprentice, with his meager mana, naturally did not recognize the Heaven-Defying Taoist, whose reputation was currently soaring. Sensing that he was not a minor character, the apprentice said, "Please wait for a moment."
In a short while, the apprentice invited the Iron Fan Princess out. Hearing that it was the Heaven-Defying Taoist, she immediately stepped out with her Palm-Leaf Fan in hand.
"Are you the Heaven-Defying Taoist?" Iron Fan Princess asked, squinting her dazzling eyes.
"Indeed, it is I," replied Wukong, who had not yet reached the point of revealing his true identity and was still going by the alias of the Heaven-Defying Taoist when dealing with acquaintances.
Iron Fan Princess said, "I have heard that the Heaven-Defying Taoist is making waves, overturning the Bodhisattva's Daoist temple, slaughtering the Dharma Bodies of the Eight Divisions, bringing life back to the Water Curtain Cave, and delivering several slaps to the Buddhist Sect."
Wukong smiled and said, "I dare not claim credit for such accolades."
Iron Fan Princess, holding the Palm-Leaf Fan, said, "You, as the Heaven-Defying Taoist, seek me out for what purpose? Could it be that you wish to snatch my Palm-Leaf Fan and disrupt my Daoist temple?"
Before Wukong could speak, Iron Fan Princess suddenly swung her fan, unleashing a powerful gust. Wukong summoned his World-Cleansing Dust Whisk and furiously brushed against the wind. A burst of Seven-Colored Divine Light emerged, entwining with the fan-generated gust, and after a while, reversed the wind's direction.
With a light cry, Iron Fan Princess raised her Palm-Leaf Fan for another fan, sending an even stronger wind back against the reversal, intensifying the force and causing the sky to darken with the immense wind. Wukong naturally did not dare to be careless, for a single misstep could result in being blown tens of thousands of miles away.
He continually wielded his Dust Whisk, engaging in over ten exchanges with her, each unable to secure a victory.
After a while, Iron Fan Princess, also feeling weary, lowered her fan and said, "You do have some skills indeed!"
Wukong laughed and remarked, "I have long heard of the renowned Iron Fan Princess, famed for her valiant spirit, and indeed the praise is well-deserved!"
Iron Fan Princess modestly responded, "You flatter me. It's merely the prowess of a High Immortal, wielding the fan to flaunt some temporary power."
Wukong certainly recognized that the fan used by the Golden Horn apprentice to stoke the flames in the Alchemy Furnace, back when he was captured and thrown into it by Laojun, was actually this Palm-Leaf Fan. It wasn't just about the power of Iron Fan Princess's magical treasure; the real power was her formidable backing!
"Heaven-Defying Taoist friend, you've come from afar. Whatever it is, let's talk over a cup of tea inside the cave abode," Iron Fan Princess smiled and invited.
"Then I must thank the Princess," Wukong replied, bowing, maintaining his impeccable Taoist disguise.
Following Iron Fan Princess into the cave abode, Wukong's mind was filled with deep reflection. He had once transformed into a fly to infiltrate it, then entered Iron Fan Princess's stomach to torment her, all for the sake of obtaining the Palm-Leaf Fan to cross Flame Mountain. The goal that had once been so important now seemed pointless, and the ideals he had held were now replaced with a torrent of anger and dissatisfaction!
After the apprentice served the tea, Iron Fan Princess finally spoke, "What brings you here to seek me, Heaven-Defying Taoist? Is it indeed to borrow the Palm-Leaf Fan?"
Wukong shook his head and said, "The Palm-Leaf Fan is your Life-Bound Magical Treasure, how could I presumptuously speak of 'borrowing' it?"
Iron Fan Princess's expression soured, "So you mean to steal it?"
Wukong, caught between laughter and tears, replied, "Please don't misunderstand, I simply wish to seek an alliance with the Princess."
"An alliance with me? I am but a recluse, what use would allying with me be? You should be allying with those powerful demons," the Iron Fan Princess suggested gracefully.
Wukong chuckled slyly and said, "I've heard that your child was taken by Bodhisattva Guanyin and is now serving as a Daoist boy in her sanctuary?"
"Yes," Iron Fan Princess replied, her expression growing even less pleased.
"The Princess is merely wary of Guanyin's skills, and the headband cannot be removed. How about this: in seeking your alliance, I must offer some benefits. You must have heard about how I disrupted Guanyin's Daoist temple. Heh, but I acquired a Dharma Gate from within the temple, known as the 'Tightening Ring Spell'," Wukong broached the subject, and the moment the words fell, Iron Fan Princess's teacup trembled violently and water spilled over.
"My apologies!" Princess Iron Fan said hastily.
"Not at all, not at all. I have come to propose an alliance with you in secret. If I can remove the binding ring from Hong Hai'er's head, would you join me in rallying forces against Buddhism and the Heavenly Court?" Wukong said.
"Yes, yes, yes! As long as you can remove the ring from my child's head, even if it means I have to serve as a cow or a horse in return, I'll agree!" Having said that, Princess Iron Fan immediately knelt on the ground and, pointing her right hand to the sky, made a solemn oath.
Wukong waited until she had finished making her solemn oath and then said, "Princess, there's no need for such formalities; I believe you."
This Princess Iron Fan was no simple character herself—she had once tricked Wukong with a fake Banana Leaf Fan. Now that she had sworn an oath, Wukong felt reassured. The previous conversation was just a formality, a courtesy.
Princess Iron Fan said, "I was rude just now. I hope Heaven-Defying Taoist friend will not take offense."
Wukong laughed and said, "No offense taken. Please don't be so formal, Princess."
Princess Iron Fan sighed and said, "I have a brother known as the Great Sage Equalling Heaven; you must have heard of him, the one who created havoc in the Celestial Palace five hundred years ago. That was Sun Wukong. But he was killed by Buddhism, and they let that Six-Eared Macaque take his place. Alas, my child was captured by Guanyin, and my brother was killed by Tathagata. I utterly detest Buddhism."
Squinting his eyes, Wukong said, "Princess, you have such a powerful background. Can Laojun really do nothing about it?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Iron Fan was shocked and said, "How do you know?"
Wukong laughed and said, "I'm not stupid. Hong Hai'er can breathe Samadhi True Fire, and he is protected by the Purple Fire of Douluo. Apart from Laojun's furnace, which can refine the Purple Fire of Douluo, where else could there be a furnace capable of such a feat in the world?"
After listening to him, Princess Iron Fan could only sigh deeply and said, "Heaven-Defying Taoist brother indeed has great skills to know such things."
Now she called him "Taoist brother" instead of "Taoist friend," showing her sincere admiration for Wukong.
But Wukong modestly said, "Princess overpraises me. It's just a trivial cleverness."
Princess Iron Fan said, "Although my master is powerful, the origin of that binding ring is quite significant. It was consecrated by a great figure of the Western Heaven. Without the right Dharma Gate, forcibly removing it is likely to explode and shatter both the body and the Primordial Spirit. My master is fifty percent confident, but as the mother of the child, I dare not risk my child facing the danger of their Divine Soul being destroyed, so I had no choice but to let him follow that Guanyin."
"Then do you blame that brother of yours for your child being captured by Guanyin?" Wukong asked, feeling nervous.
"Of course not. He was just a pawn; what did he know? It is pitiful that in the end, not even his bones were left—he was turned into ashes by a single palm strike." Princess Iron Fan, thinking of Wukong and her own child, couldn't help but shed two tears.
Wukong said, "Princess, don't cry. Such a great enmity, we will certainly avenge one day!"
Princess Iron Fan nodded and said, "What Daoist brother says is very true. I worry day and night over my child's matter, afraid that he may truly become a Buddha and be emptied of all desires, causing my cultivation to make no progress for many years. Otherwise, it would not be impossible for me to reach the realm of a Superior Immortal."
Wukong sighed and said, "Such is the heart of parents all over the world."
Having spoken those words, he thought of himself as naturally begotten by heaven and earth—who was his own mother? Was it Nuwa? She patched the sky with stones, and he was that leftover piece of rock, which after countless eons, transformed into a monkey.
"Oh, and where might the mighty Bull Demon King be now?" Wukong said.
Princess Iron Fan replied, "Our relationship was sustained only through my child. Since he was captured by Guanyin, the Bull Demon King has been without worry. We have not met for a long time, and he is probably now enjoying his time with the Jade-faced Fox."
Princess Iron Fan spoke calmly, as if she had come to understand the principle that what is destined will happen, and what is not should not be forced.
Wukong nodded and said, "In that case, Princess, summon your child here at once, so I can remove the binding ring for him."
"That would be wonderful! I have not seen my child for a long time, and I miss him terribly. This will be a good excuse to have him come back," Princess Iron Fan said.
Having said this, Princess Iron Fan called for a maidservant with a slightly higher cultivation level.
"Red Leaf, go to Bodhisattva Guanyin's Daoist Temple at Mount Putuo and visit. It has been a long time since I've seen my child, and I miss him dearly. Call him back to see me," Princess Iron Fan instructed.
The maidservant named Red Leaf accepted the order and left the cave abode, heading towards Mount Putuo.
Princess Iron Fan said, "This place is also far from Mount Wutai. Daoist brother may rest within the cave abode for the day, rest well, and tomorrow when my child arrives, Daoist brother can proceed to release the binding ring."
Wukong bowed and said, "Then I shall trouble the Princess."
Princess Iron Fan smiled and said, "Daoist brother is helping me with a great favor by eliminating a serious concern of mine; I should be the one thanking you. There is no trouble in this."
Thus, Princess Iron Fan instructed another maidservant to lead Wukong to an empty room.
Wukong sat and meditated in the room throughout the night, familiarizing himself with the 'Tightening Ring Spell' Dharma Gate in preparation for removing the binding ring from Hong Hai'er the next day.