Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 163 A Perilous Crossing of the Tongtian River (Part 3)
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, along with the child, headed towards Chen Family Village.

Little Stone sat on the carrying pole that Pigsy was carrying.

At first, Little Stone was very reluctant, afraid that he would be eaten by monsters if he went out.

But after being carried by Pigsy for a while, Little Stone discovered that there really were no monsters outside. His reluctance quickly dissipated, and he began to look forward to going home.

How could a child that age not miss home?
On the way, they met some villagers, who were Little Stone's uncles and aunts, and Little Stone greeted them happily.

Wukong laughed and said, "Kid, you see? With me here, what demon would dare to come near?"

Little Stone said happily, "Thank you, Uncle Monkey!"

Wukong said, "You little brat!"

Pigsy laughed and said, "You've got it wrong, you should call him Uncle Bi Ma Wen!"

Wukong said, "Go away, you idiot!"

Little Stone asked, "Uncle Pig, what is Bi Ma Wen?"

Pigsy said, "You child, it's fine to call me Uncle Pig, but why add 'Big'? I, Pigsy, was once Marshal Tianpeng!"

Wukong and the others all laughed.

After laughing, Tang Sanzang rode his horse and said, "Wukong, Bajie, Wujing, we don't know what unspeakable difficulties this child's family has that made them hide him in the dilapidated temple. If it's within our power, let's help them and do a good deed, which can be considered as accumulating merit."

Wukong laughed and said, "Don't worry, Master. No matter what he does, how can he possibly stump me, Old Sun?"

Bajie said, "What could be wrong? I think it's probably because this family is poor and has to pay a poll tax, so they hid the child. It's not hard to solve; we just need to give them some of my brother's savings!"

Wukong said, "Fool, when have I ever had any secret savings?"

Pigsy said, "You have it, I've seen it, it's in your arms!"

Wukong said, "How dare you talk nonsense! Where would I have any money in my pocket? I saw you hiding some secret money in your ear!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy was so frightened that he quickly covered his ears to prevent Monkey from stealing his money.

The master and his disciples chatted and laughed as they entered Chenjia Village.

Wukong had followed the man to his home yesterday, so he knew the way and led Tang Sanzang and the others there.

As they approached, they saw several houses surrounded by a fence. Before they even got close, Little Stone jumped off his load with joy and exclaimed, "We're here! We're here! This is my home! I'm going to call my parents!"

Little Stone ran over and skillfully slipped through the gap in the fence.

At home, Chen Si and his wife were crying and burning paper money.

The wife said, “My son, it’s a pity you became a ghost at the tender age of five. I don’t know if you will know how to use the paper money I burn for you. If you don’t know how to use it, won’t you be tricked by those old ghosts when you buy things? I will burn more paper money for you, so that even if you are tricked, you will have enough money.”

Chen Si said, "Stone, it's all my fault! I thought the Great King Linggan was dead and the temple was destroyed, so no one would go there. I hid you there and planned to bring you back after the New Year! But who would have thought there were still monsters there! It's all my fault! Don't blame me, I made some paper buns for you. Take them with you and eat them slowly on the way..."

Upon seeing this, Little Stone happily exclaimed, "Dad, I don't blame you!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Si turned his head and saw Little Stone. He was so frightened that he rolled to the ground sideways, exclaiming in panic, "Stone! You! You!"

Little Stone asked, "Dad, what's wrong?"

Chen Si's mouth was agape, unable to utter a word.

Little Stone picked up a paper bun, squeezed it, and found it was just paper. Somewhat disappointed, he said, "Dad, Mom, I want to eat a real bun."

His mother realized what had happened, hugged her son, and cried, "My son, thank God, you're not dead!"

Chen Si also recovered and exclaimed in surprise, "Thank goodness, Stone, that monster didn't eat you. How did you escape back?"

Little Stone said, "A few monk uncles brought me back."

Chen Si asked, "Where are those monks?"

Little Stone said, "They're outside."

Chen Si said, "Quickly, take us to thank our benefactor." Little Stone led his parents outside and opened the fence.

A high-ranking monk was standing outside.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Elder, for saving our son."

Tang Sanzang said, "Amitabha, you two benefactors need not be so polite."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy, who was behind Tang Sanzang, stepped forward and said, "Why don't you thank me? I'm the one who carried your son all the way here!"

When Chen Si saw Pigsy, he was so frightened that he fell down and exclaimed, "Monster! Pig Demon!"

His wife was equally terrified.

Bajie said, "You, instead of thanking me, why are you calling me a monster?"

Sha Wujing laughed and said, "Second Brother, it's because you're too ugly."

Chen Si was even more frightened when he saw Sha Wujing, and cried out, "Yaksha! Yaksha!"

Wukong laughed and said, "Brother Sha, you're not even as good as Pigsy!"

Chen Si saw Wukong and exclaimed, "Thunder God! Thunder God!"

Pigsy laughed and said, "Brother, he said you're the Thunder God!"

Wukong said, "The Thunder God is my great-grandson!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Si scrambled to his feet and pulled his wife and children into the house.

Tang Sanzang and his companions stood outside and explained the situation thoroughly before finally clarifying things.

Chen Si and his wife opened the door, removed the ancestral tablets from their home, invited Tang Sanzang and the others into the room, and poured hot water.

Chen Si's wife went downstairs to prepare a vegetarian meal.

Chen Si spoke with Tang Seng and the others.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Benefactor, what troubles you that you would so cruelly hide your child in a dilapidated temple?"

Chen Si sighed, "Elder, it's not that I'm heartless, it's just that I have no other choice!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Benefactor, please tell me what difficulties you are facing. My disciples are all highly skilled and will help you."

Bajie said, "Yes, we will all help you."

Wukong said, "Speak quickly!"

Chen Si said, "I know that the elders have unusual appearances and special abilities, but even if you are capable, I'm afraid you can't help me."

Wukong said, "You're really driving me crazy! I've taken down countless demons along the way, is there anything I can't help with?"

Chen Sixi asked, "The Elders' Council is going to capture monsters?"

Pigsy laughed and said, "My senior brother is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven descended to earth, and he is skilled at catching demons and monsters!"

Wukong laughed and said, "What's wrong? Judging from your appearance, have you really encountered a monster?"

Chen Si said, "Yes! To be honest, Elder, the reason I hid the child in that dilapidated temple was because of the monster."

Wukong said, "Tell me what exactly happened, and I, your old Sun, will help you catch the demons and monsters."

Chen Si said, “The story goes back thirteen years. Our village is called Chenjia Village, with several hundred households. It is located by the Tongtian River, and we have never lacked a livelihood for many years. Thirteen years ago, a spirit king came to the river. Every year he would come to the village to bring sweet rain and auspicious clouds to protect the people.”

Wukong said, "Isn't this a good thing?"

Chen Si said, "Alas, if that were all, it would naturally be a good thing. But the Great King Linggan not only bestows sweet rain and auspicious clouds, but also brings disasters. He demands that we offer him a boy and a girl every year, and only if he eats them will he grant his blessing; otherwise, disaster will befall us."

(End of this chapter)