"Follow the official road west. After passing two or three more towns, there's a place ahead called Wild Goose Slope." Chu Yang raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. "I heard things have been unsettled there lately. People keep vanishing at night. Either bandits or evil spirits. We'll see when we get there."
Sun Wukong grinned. "If they're bandits, I'll loosen up my bones a little. If they're demons, even better. Saves us from getting bored on the road."
Tang Monk gave him a look. "Sun Wukong, why are you happier to hear about demons these days than you are to hear about a vegetarian meal?"
"Master, that's an injustice to Old Sun." Sun Wukong spun his Golden Staff and lowered his voice. "Vegetarian meals can be had every day, but you don't run into demons every day. Besides, some demons go even better with a meal than vegetarian food."
Chu Yang burst out laughing. "Brother Monkey, if those words get out, you'll anger every spirit in the mountains into coming alive."
"Good. Then Old Sun won't have to look for them one by one."
The three men, one horse, and one donkey traveled along the mountain road for half a day. As the sun rose higher, the cicadas in the forest grew louder. Rolling hills flanked the official road, thick with wild trees and mottled shade. Every so often, a squirrel darted across the branches, shaking down a scatter of fine pine needles.
Near noon, they rounded a bend and suddenly found a dilapidated pavilion by the roadside.
Most of the green tiles on its roof were missing, its pillars were weathered and peeling, and old cobwebs hung in the corners. Beside it stood an old locust tree with lush branches and leaves, casting a wide