Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

Tang Sanzang's face turned ashen, but he ultimately did not utter another word to blame Sun Wukong.

He recalled the journey so far, how Wukong, though fierce in nature, had been diligent and devoted to protecting his master. He remembered the fear of being soaked in hot water for nine days and nine nights at Huangfeng Ridge, his flesh softening and his bones becoming emaciated. Even now, he would wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night.

That near-death experience made him truly understand the dangers of the journey to the West for the first time, and it also made him feel an indescribable dependence on his eldest disciple.

Finally, Tang Sanzang turned his head, his gaze falling on the winding mountain path ahead. He silently recited a few Buddhist chants, repeatedly telling himself:

"The one that was beaten to death... was a monster, a monster."

He no longer wanted to look at Wukong, nor at the thatched hut that had turned to charcoal.

Seeing that his master had stopped reciting the Tightening-Headband Mantra and hadn't sent him away, Sun Wukong felt a slight relief from the pent-up frustration in his heart. He scratched his cheek and said in a low voice:

"Master, let's... keep going."

Tang Sanzang hummed in agreement.

Pigsy wanted to say a few more sarcastic remarks, but Sandy secretly pulled him back, so he had no choice but to shut up.

The group remained silent and continued their westward journey.

Before long, the trees ahead thinned out, and a small village with a dozen or so households came into view.

The village is small, with thatched cottages scattered in a pleasing manner, wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, a few chickens and ducks strolling leisurely by the fence, and the laughter of children chasing and playing in the distance.

Tang Sanzang was taken aback when he saw the smoke and fire of the human world.

"There are actually people living in these deep mountains and forests?"

His heart stirred slightly, but then sank back down.

If the people in this village are also mortals, then wouldn't the women, old women, and old men who were killed by Wukong earlier be truly innocent?

Once this thought arose, it was like a thorn, piercing deep into his heart and making it difficult for him to breathe.

Pigsy, however, paid no heed to any of that. His eyes lit up the moment he saw a house:

"Master! There's a village! We can go begging for alms now!"

He rushed forward excitedly and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Is anyone home? We are monks from the East and would like to beg for a vegetarian meal!"

Several men chopping wood at the village entrance looked up and saw Pigsy's protruding tusks and ears as big as palm fans. Instead of screaming and running away, they showed a look of indifference.

The leading man put down his axe and greeted them with a smile:

"Oh dear, here to seek refuge with White Tiger City again?"

Pigsy was taken aback: "What, White Tiger City?"

The man scratched his head: "No? Didn't you come from the east? There have been a lot of people coming from the east lately."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's heart stirred, and he clasped his hands together and asked:

"Esteemed benefactor, how far is this place from White Tiger City?"

The man said enthusiastically, "It's not far, not far at all. Just cross that ridge ahead, and it'll be another thirty or fifty li. We're going to town to buy some things tomorrow, so why don't you elders come with me? Let me tell you about White Tiger City..."

Listen to him ramble on and on.

Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong exchanged a glance, feeling that something was amiss.

Sha Wujing also whispered, "Master, this place... seems a bit strange."

Pigsy, however, didn't care about any of that. He rubbed his hands together and said, "Who cares if it's strange or not? Getting alms is the priority! Master, let's go inside!"

Tang Sanzang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's getting late, and there are houses here. It would be good to rest for the night."

Although the villagers saw that they were not coming to seek refuge in White Tiger City, their enthusiasm was not diminished, and they hurriedly welcomed the four of them into the largest house in the village.

The homeowner was an elderly man in his fifties surnamed Li. He owned three tiled houses, a spacious yard, and kept several fat pigs and more than a dozen chickens and ducks.

Old Man Li invited them into the main room, busily serving them tea and water. He also had his wife kill chickens and ducks, steam buns, cook porridge, and stir-fry vegetables, keeping them busy and enthusiastic.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang felt that the people were simple and honest, and thanked them repeatedly.

The food was served quickly; although it was mostly vegetarian, it smelled delicious.

Pigsy didn't stand on ceremony, devouring the food in a whirlwind, then patted his belly and said:

"The food in the mortal world is still the best! It's even more delicious than the ginseng fruit from the Wuzhuang Temple!"

Sun Wukong didn't touch a single bite.

He squatted on the doorstep, his sharp eyes scanning every household in the village, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"strangeness……"

He muttered to himself.

These villagers were clearly ordinary people, yet each of them was surrounded by an extremely faint, almost imperceptible, demonic aura, like smoke or mist, blending into the human presence and making them extremely difficult to detect.

If it weren't for his keen eyesight, anyone else probably wouldn't have been able to see it at all.

"How could these mortals...be tainted by demonic energy?"

Sun Wukong was suspicious, so he got up and walked around the village.

He deliberately approached a few children, squatted down, and asked:

"Child, is there some kind of evil spirit haunting your village?"

The child stared wide-eyed, bewildered, and said, "What 'skewed insect' and 'proper insect'? I don't know."

Another little girl, holding a fluffy kitten, said in a childish voice, "Little Tiger, you're so silly. This monkey uncle was asking about the caterpillars in the tree, right, uncle?"

Hearing these innocent and naive words from a child, the monkey chuckled and said, "It's nothing, you guys play."

He then walked over to a man chopping wood at the village entrance and asked in a low voice:

"Brother, are there any monsters causing trouble in your village?"

The man laughed heartily: "Elder, you're joking! What monster would cause trouble here? We're all neighbors!"

Sun Wukong pressed further, "Then why aren't you afraid of us?"

The man gave him a strange look: "Master, you've come from the east, haven't you? We're used to this here. Humans and demons are all one family in White Tiger City; no one bullies anyone. What's there to be afraid of? Besides, your master looks kind and benevolent. You're his disciples; could you possibly be some kind of evil person?"

Although it was clearly praise, Sun Wukong became more and more surprised as he listened.

He returned to Old Man Li's house and saw Tang Seng chatting with Old Man Li in the main room.

Sun Wukong stood at the door, his face grim.

He suddenly spoke:

"Master, I have something to say to you."

Tang Sanzang apologized to Old Man Li and got up to leave.

"Wukong, what's wrong?"

Sun Wukong lowered his voice: "These villagers all have a trace of demonic energy on them! But they are not demons in disguise."

Tang Sanzang frowned: "You're here again. Are you going to kill everyone in this village before you're satisfied?"

Sun Wukong said urgently, "Master! This disciple absolutely did not mean that! It's just that... this place is too abnormal!"

But Tang Sanzang waved his hand wearily and said:

"Wukong, I know your character, but along the way, you have already killed three, three... people."

"I'm tired."

"Rest here tonight, and let's not talk about these things again."

Sun Wukong opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed all his words.

He walked out of the main room, sat on the threshold in the courtyard, and gazed at the bright moon in the sky with a gloomy look in his eyes.

One by one, the lights in the village went out.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples were arranged to rest in the east wing of Old Man Li's house.

At this moment, a figure quietly left the village and headed east.