When Chen Qing finished speaking, the twenty-odd people beside him could hardly contain their grief.
All of them had sacrificed children from their families, so naturally, Chen Qing's words struck a chord with them. The villagers behind them also showed varying degrees of sympathy.
Of course, there were also those who took the opposite view.
Those like Chen Si, who were to offer their own children in this sacrifice, naturally stood against Chen Qing and the others.
However, the people Chen Qing had brought to seize Little Shitou were all inclined toward his side, so most of the villagers present sympathized with him and his companions.
Wukong could least bear dealing with such things. Everyone had their own difficulties; he could neither beat them nor scold them.
Bajie said, "Master, now we're in a fix."
Tang Sanzang sighed.
As the two sides remained at an impasse, sounds of a struggle came from behind, followed by a child's crying and a woman's coarse curses.
At some point, two villagers had climbed over into the back and dragged Little Shitou out.
Terrified, Little Shitou wept and cried for his mother.
Chen Si's wife tugged at them, but how could one woman contend with two men? She could only curse and pull, dragged along the ground by the two villagers.
For a time, cries and curses rang out without end.
Seeing this, Sha Wujing went to stop the two villagers.
The two villagers were somewhat frightened by Sha Wujing's appearance, but they steeled themselves and kept walking. They bumped into him, yet could not budge him in the slightest. Sha Wujing was like a wall.
Sha Wujing said, "How could you lay hands on a child? Put him down at once."
Though frightened of Sha Wujing, the two villagers answered stubbornly, "We won't!"