Now, Tang Sanzang and his disciples encountered Red Boy.
Tang Sanzang saw Red Boy hanging from a tree. After examining him closely, he could tell that Red Boy was a demon.
It was the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, and the mountain wind cut into them.
Even in their Cotton Robes, the master and his three disciples felt cold. Yet this child, only six or seven years old, hung stark naked from the tree with all four limbs bound together. His hands and feet were neither blue nor purple, but rosy instead. Was that not unlike an ordinary person?
Moreover, the child had delicate skin all over, yet despite hanging from coarse ropes, he had not a single rope burn anywhere on his body. An ordinary child's skin would surely have been rubbed raw by now.
From this, Tang Sanzang could tell that the child was a demon.
To his surprise, Wukong stepped forward to rescue the child.
Tang Sanzang hurried to stop him.
Wukong said, "Master, don't be afraid. This child is my nephew."
Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, have you lost your senses? He's clearly a demon. How can you call him your nephew?"
Hanging there, Red Boy said, "Elder, don't be afraid. My father is named the Mighty Bull Demon King, a renowned demon king of the Western Ox Continent. Rescue me, and I shall certainly reward you handsomely."
At this, Tang Sanzang shuddered with fright and turned his horse around. "Go! Hurry!"
Bajie laughed. "Master, what are you afraid of? Don't you know that the Bull Demon King is Senior Brother's sworn brother?"
Tang Sanzang said, "You oaf, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Wukong stepped forward and said with a smile:
"Master, Bajie isn't talking nonsense this time. This child really is my own