Hearing Sun Wukong say that, Tang Sanzang immediately sternly rebuked him.
"Wukong, as monks, we must hold compassion in our hearts. Since we heard cries for help, we must go and take a look no matter what."
"Saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. If we let a life fade away simply because we fear demons, my conscience would be troubled, and it would go against the Buddhist teachings I cultivate."
"Since we heard the cries for help, we must go and see."
Tang Sanzang spoke so firmly that Sun Wukong had no choice but to lead the group in the direction of the voice.
In the end, they arrived before a tree, where a child was tied up.
The child wore a Red Dudu and a red skirt around his waist. His face was as pale as powdered flour, his lips as crimson as cinnabar, and he looked exceedingly adorable.
When he saw them, the child hurriedly begged, "Grandmaster, please save me."
Seeing such an adorable child looking so pitiful while tied to a tree, Tang Sanzang's heart softened. He quickly told Sun Wukong to untie him.
But Sun Wukong possessed Fiery Eyes of Truth and had long seen that the child was a demon. He did not step forward, merely folding his arms and staring at the child.
When Tang Sanzang saw that he could not order Sun Wukong around, he had no choice but to tell Pigsy to go untie the child.
Once the child was freed, Tang Sanzang asked him gently, "Where does this little benefactor live? Where are you from, and how did you end up tied to this tree?"
The child immediately spun a tale. "My home is in these mountains, not far ahead. Today, I ran into a group