Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 164 A Perilous Crossing of the Tongtian River (Part 4)
After learning of Linggan Dawang's actions, Wukong sneered:
"What a daring monster! How dare you eat young boys and girls here! It seems it's your turn this year. Don't worry, if that Great King Linggan dares to come, I, Sun Wukong, will capture him for you and prevent him from causing trouble again!"

Chen Si shook his head and said, "No, no, this King of Inspiration is already dead."

Wukong asked, "Dead?"

Chen Si said, "He died, and even his temple was smashed by the villagers. The dilapidated temple where the elder used to live was the temple where the Linggan King was worshipped in previous years."

Wukong said, "I thought it was a temple of some god, but it turns out to be a temple of a monster."

Pigsy said, "The monster is dead, so why are you still afraid of him?"

Sha Wujing said, "It seems that the demon's soul is still causing trouble. Let our eldest brother go to the underworld and ask the ghost messengers to take the demon's soul away."

Chen Si said, "No, no. You don't know this, that monster didn't die of old age or illness. He fought with another, more powerful monster and was eaten by that more powerful monster."

Everyone was surprised upon hearing this.

Wukong asked, "What kind of monster ate him?"

Chen Si said, "I don't know what kind of monster it is. I only know that the monster is called King Pingyou. It came in early spring this year. When it came, it was accompanied by a black wind and red clouds, and a cold wind was blowing. It startled everyone in the village."

Wukong asked, "What does King Pingyou look like?"

Chen Si said, "I don't know what it looks like, I only know it's big."

Wukong asked, "How do you know he's big?"

Chen Si said, "When that monster came, its body was hidden in the clouds, covered by black wind, so its appearance could not be seen. Its voice was like thunder. It stretched out its hand, which was tens of feet wide and hundreds of feet long, and reached into the Tongtian River. It grabbed the Linggan King and ate him. Because of its large hand, we know that it was also very big."

Wukong said, "You didn't see what the monster looked like, so how do you know he ate Linggan Dawang? Could it be that when he ate him, only his mouth was sticking out?"

Chen Si said, "I didn't see his face or his mouth, but I heard chewing sounds, so I guessed that he ate him."

Upon hearing this, Wukong seemed to be deep in thought, and after a moment's thought, asked:
"So, after this monster arrives, how does it compare to the Great King Linggan?"

Chen Si said, "It's better than that Inspiration King, but it's not good for my family."

Wukong asked, "How is it bad for your family?"

Chen Si said, "The King of Pingyou said that he came injured and asked us to sacrifice thirteen children to him this year so that he could heal his wounds. Once he is healed, he will bless us with thirteen years of good weather and abundant harvests, and he will also use magic to bring back the children that were previously eaten by the King of Linggan."

Wukong said, "So it seems your family has been chosen?"

Chen Si said, "No, King Pingyou asked us to perform a sacrifice during the New Year this year, but we haven't drawn lots yet. There are only a few hundred households in our area, and only so many children of the right age. If we choose thirteen children at once, I'm afraid they'll be selected most likely. Last month, the head of the manor said that each household should gather their children together to draw lots first. I hid the child and told everyone that he was lost. The head of the manor brought people to search several times, but they couldn't find him. Because of the shortage of people, the drawing of lots had to be postponed."

Wukong said, "You won't draw if you're missing?"

Chen Si said, “It’s not just me. There are other families too. Some fell into the water, some were carried away by monkeys, some were kidnapped by traffickers, some were blown away by the wind, and some got lost on their own. All sorts of things happened. There are less than twenty families left to participate in the lottery, so it hasn’t started yet.”

Wukong laughed and said, "You guys do have a way, but it's a pity for those honest families. There are less than twenty families left. If you take thirteen of them, you might as well just send them all."

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong!" Chen Si sighed, "Alas, it is we who have wronged those families, but people are all made of flesh and blood. Who can bear to give up their own child? In the past, only two were given out a year, and everyone thought it wouldn't be their turn. Thirteen years have passed just like that. Now, thirteen are to be taken at once. Nobody wants to watch their own child be sacrificed alive!"

Wukong laughed and said, "Don't worry, now that I, Old Sun, am here, you don't need to perform any more sacrifices. I'll take care of this."

Upon hearing this, Chen Si hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, elders. If you can get rid of that monster, our whole family will never forget your great kindness!"

Wukong said, "Get up! Get up! No need to kneel! No need to kneel!"

As they were talking, they heard a commotion outside.

Looking out the window, Wukong saw an old man leading a group of villagers who had gathered outside and were blocking the way.

Chen Si said, "It's the manor lord and the others. They must have been seen by someone when the elders entered the manor. They've come to grab the stones. I'll go and hide them quickly."

Wukong said, "No need to hide. With me here, who dares to come and arrest people? Master, you all wait here and watch me go and deal with him."

After saying this, Wukong twisted his body, transformed into a little monk, and walked out.

Chen Si stared in disbelief and exclaimed, "What...what...how did Elder Sun transform into this?"

Pigsy laughed and said, "What's so special about that? My eldest brother has seventy-two transformations; he can transform into anything."

Chen Si said, "Elder Sun, you truly possess amazing supernatural powers!"

Wukong went outside.

The villagers all looked at Wukong. Among them, the leader, the second head of the village, Chen Qing, said to the people around him, "The four monks you mentioned, is this the little monk?"

The group said, "It's not this monk. There are three strange monks who look quite frightening, and there's also a monk on horseback. This monk isn't among them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing asked Wukong, "Little monk, where did you come from? Is Chen Si inside?"

Wukong said, "Benefactor, I come from the Tang Dynasty in the East. I heard that there is a monster causing trouble here, so I came here to subdue the monster for you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing laughed and said, "You little monk, you really know how to boast. The Great Tang Dynasty in the East is 54,000 li away from here. How did such a skinny little monk like you get here? If you're short of money, come to my village and I'll give you some traveling money. But don't make such boastful claims, or you'll bring disaster upon yourself and lose your life! As for Chen Si, call him out quickly. All the villagers are here today; he can't hide from us. If he doesn't come out, we won't leave!"

Wukong laughed and said, "You old man, I know what you've come here for. You just want to capture children to sacrifice to that monster, right? Now that I'm here, I'll capture that monster, and you won't have to make sacrifices anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing became angry and said:

"You little monk, how dare you speak such arrogant words! Get out of my way, or I'll have you beaten out of my Chen Family Village with sticks!"

Wukong said, "You old man, you can't recognize a true god. You don't believe in me, a monk, but believe in that monster instead! Do you know that I, Sun Wukong, am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago!"

After saying this, Wukong revealed his true form.

(End of this chapter)