Old Man Chen sighed, his face full of difficulty.
"Alas, we really shouldn't have told you about this. It isn't anything honorable, after all. But we were truly driven to desperation before resorting to such a measure."
The more Sun Wukong and the others listened, the more confused they became, as though shrouded in clouds and mist. He simply said, "Enough, old man. Stop beating around the bush and tell us what's going on."
"Alas, it's like this. The reason we invited so many monks and Daoists to dine here is because the annual sacrifice to the River God will soon take place."
"The River God? A sacrifice?"
For some reason, as Sun Wukong repeated those two words, a faint unease rose in his heart.
"Go on. What River God?"
"Elder, you do not know this. Our Chen Family Village is considered prosperous throughout the surrounding villages because we have the protection of a River God."
"Outside Chen Family Village flows a river called the Tongtian River. Within it resides a River God named Great King Inspiration, who governs three hundred li of the Tongtian River."
"Because of his protection, Chen Family Village enjoys favorable winds and rains and abundant harvests. But we must sacrifice to the River God once every year, offering a pair of young boys and girls each time. Only then can Chen Family Village continue to enjoy favorable weather and abundant crops. Otherwise, a great flood will descend upon us."
"What? Young boys and girls?"
Sun Wukong's heart blazed with formless fury. He sneered and said, "That is no River God. He is clearly a demon."
"This Great King Inspiration is nothing more than a fiend plaguing the region!"
"He devours young boys and girls every year, and you still worship him?"
"Ah, Elder, you do