"Mm, we'll finally reach a place with people once we get to Gao Laozhuang," Tang Sanzang murmured from atop the horse.
"Hey, Master, are you tired of eating wild fruit from the mountains and looking to try some vegetarian food?" Sun Wukong scratched the fur on his face and asked with a grin.
"Gao Laozhuang? Looks like we're about to recruit Zhu Bajie." Ye Chen gazed at the plaque bearing the words Gao Laozhuang and sighed inwardly. The scene of Zhu Bajie carrying his bride was still vivid in his mind. "This place has such a strong Demonic Aura!" Sun Wukong took the White Horse from Ye Chen and led the way. He couldn't let Ye Chen put himself in danger. It was midday, yet Gao Laozhuang was completely deserted. Apart from occasional gusts of chilly wind, there was nothing unusual about the place, but the more ordinary it seemed, the more suspicious Tang Sanzang and the others felt.
With no one around, the three men and the horse had no choice but to look for a suitably grand-looking residence. Most wealthy households tended to believe in Buddhism, and it was usually the rich who went to temples to worship. With that in mind, the group decided to try asking if they could stay the night.
Sun Wukong took the lead, hopping up to the gate of the large estate and gently tapping the knocker.
"Is anyone there?" He tapped a few times, but there was no response. Sun Wukong then hit the gate harder, pounding it several times until dust rained down from the roof beams.
"Wukong! Don't be rude!" Tang Sanzang quickly called out to stop him. With Sun Wukong acting like that, even if the people inside heard them, they wouldn't come open the gate.
A short