Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 172 A Perilous Crossing of the Tongtian River (Part 12)
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang felt deeply wronged when Chen Qing questioned him.

Tang Sanzang said, "I know nothing about what you are saying, benefactor!"

Chen Qing said, "Last night, I led the villagers and caught the arsonists. The two men confessed that the Holy Monk ordered them to set the fire in order to lure out the monster. Did the Holy Monk not know this?"

Tang Sanzang repeatedly said, "This humble monk never ordered them to set fire; these two are falsely accusing me!"

Chen Qing said, "The two men said that Elder Sun, the eldest disciple of the Holy Monk, instructed them to do it."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang hurriedly called out to Wukong.

Upon hearing this, Wukong was furious and recounted the whole story.

After learning the reason for the incident, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but chant Buddhist mantras.

Chen Qing said, "Since that's the case, would the Holy Monk be willing to confront those two face to face with this old man to prove his innocence?"

Tang Sanzang said, "This humble monk is willing."

Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing also came along.

The three of them were filled with anger at being slandered by Tang Sanzang.

Chen Qing led Tang Sanzang and his disciples to an open space in the village, where the villagers were already waiting. The couple were also brought up bound.

Tang Sanzang said, "Two benefactors, I have no grudge against you two, so why are you framing me?"

Wukong slammed his golden cudgel into the ground and roared, "Hurry up and tell the truth! If you dare to slander my master again, I'll show you this iron cudgel!"

Pigsy angrily retorted, "Old Pig's iron rake isn't something to be trifled with!"

Sha Wujing angrily retorted, "My master is the one chosen by the Buddha to retrieve the scriptures. How dare you slander my master! The gods will not let you get away with this!"

Upon hearing this, the couple knelt down on the ground.

The woman said, “Holy Monk, I dare not slander you. The reason I have done this is only to ask you to have mercy and plead for my child. He is still young and has done nothing wrong.”

Tang Sanzang was somewhat taken aback by what he heard.

He thought the two would try to deny it again, but to his surprise, they admitted it directly.

Chen Qing snorted coldly and said, "Holy Monk, there is no need to be soft-hearted. That bastard was born to these two people and is the offspring of wicked people. The sooner he is killed, the less he will cause endless trouble!"

Tang Sanzang said, "This..."

The woman hurriedly said, "Holy Monk, my son is naturally kind and good, and is by no means a wicked person."

The child then pleaded with Tang Sanzang, saying, "Holy Monk, I don't want to die, please save me!"

The child was only five or six years old at the time, and his mind was not yet mature. The reason he was saying this was because the couple had taught him the night before.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's heart softened, and he said to Chen Qing:
"Benefactor, that child is truly innocent. Could you please spare him?"

Chen Qing was naturally unwilling, and the villagers behind him also disagreed.

Upon seeing this, the man in the couple kowtowed three times to the villagers and said, "Fellow villagers, all the fault lies with me. I was bewitched and committed a terrible crime. I beg you, fellow villagers, to spare my son's life for the sake of our many years together. I'll take my leave now!"

After saying this, the man struggled to his feet, found a rock, and smashed his head against it, dying instantly.

Seeing this, the villagers couldn't help but waver slightly.

The child burst into tears, crying out, "Father!"

The woman said, “My child! Don’t cry! Your father and I have committed a grave mistake, and it is our own fault. From now on, I am no longer your mother, and he is no longer your father. You will only stay by the master’s side as a slave and serve him well. But if there is the slightest disrespect, your father and I will not rest in peace in heaven. Master, before I die, I beg you to take my child as your slave. Please accept him and give him a way to live!”

After saying this, the woman also wanted to die.

The man's suicide attempt was so sudden that the villagers responsible for controlling the two men behind him didn't have time to react.

When the woman tried to commit suicide again, the villagers, having learned from their experience, held her down firmly to prevent her from doing so.

However, a large amount of blood flowed from the woman's mouth; she had bitten her tongue and committed suicide.

Seeing this, Tang Sanzang sighed and said to Chen Qing:
“Benefactor, a dying man’s words are good. The couple has already committed suicide, so please spare the child’s life.”

Faced with this situation, Chen Qing could no longer refuse and said, "Fine, spare his life and take him as a servant."

Tang Sanzang quickly praised Chen Qing's compassionate heart.

Chen Qing didn't think much of it. For him, although taking him in as a servant wasn't the same as eliminating him completely, it wasn't far off. He could do whatever he wanted with a servant in the future.

The woman on the ground, not yet completely dead, finally died with peace of mind upon hearing Chen Qing's agreement, her vision gradually fading into darkness. Her son was saved.

Not only that.

My son's future may not be bad either.

If you are taken in as a servant by someone else, you will be a slave for life and it will be difficult to escape.

However, Chen Qing and Chen Cheng were different.

The two had no children and no descendants, and were left to rely on in their old age. If their son were taken in as a servant to serve them closely, over time, they might develop feelings for each other and perhaps he would be adopted as their godson.

Although the chances are slim, as long as her son does his best, there will always be a chance.

Last night, she had already told her son everything she could think of.

My son is too young; I don't know how much he can understand.

But she couldn't do anything; she couldn't wait for her son to grow up.

This was the last bit of help she could leave for her child as a mother.

The woman died.

However, what Wukong saw was different from what ordinary people saw.

Under Wukong's fiery eyes, the man died, and his soul floated out, but the woman was not dead; she had simply fainted.

A familiar figure bounced up from underground, trying to steal the man's soul.

Wukong's primordial spirit left his body and landed beside that figure.

The ghost of impermanence was startled to see Wukong appear beside him and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Great Sage, Grandpa!"

Wukong asked, "What are you here for?"

The impermanent ghost said, "I'm here to collect souls."

Wukong said, "Don't hook him yet, this person can't just die like this."

Upon hearing this, the Impermanent Ghost hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir."

After Wukong drove away the ghost of impermanence, he raised his hand and pushed the man's soul back into his body.

Wukong returned to his primordial spirit and secretly blew a breath of immortal energy. Instantly, the man and woman recovered from their injuries and regained consciousness.

Chen Qing's expression changed, and he said, "Good, you're not dead. Take you away!"

Wukong then found the Duty Officer and the Five Directions Protectors above him and asked, "Those two framed my master. Have you recorded their crimes?"

The group hurriedly replied, "Great Sage, we have noted it all down. You can rest assured!"

Wukong nodded.

Tang Sanzang never saw what happened after that.

However, regardless of family rules or national laws, those who commit arson will never escape.

The matter has come to an end.

The four of them then settled down in Chenjiazhuang.

Chen Qing sent people to find a suitable boat to ferry the four travelers across the river.

As for the sacrificial ceremony, it has been abandoned.

The monster's severed tail was hung at the village entrance to scare away evil spirits.

Everyone thought that was the end of it.

Little did they know that this was just the beginning.

In the Tongtian River, Ao Tu was playing with the newly resurrected Xiao Guan Bao, a smile on his face.

Ao Tu prepared to escort Xiao Guan back to Chen Family Village when Chen Qing had found a boat and Tang Sanzang and his disciples were about to leave.

(End of this chapter)