Changes

Don't worry, even if a monster comes, it won't be able to take you away.

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang felt relieved and continued on his journey. The four of them braved the severe cold and scorching heat to arrive at a place with imposing houses. Tang Xuanzang was overjoyed to see this.

"Wukong, we've been traveling for so long, and I'm getting a little hungry. There are a few houses ahead that look like they're inhabited. Why don't we rest there for a while before continuing our journey?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong quickly focused his gaze and saw that the house was filled with Yao Qi. He immediately turned back to Tang Xuanzang and said:

"Master, I just used my Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to take a look, and I found that it's not a good place. We can't stay here any longer; let's leave quickly."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang looked at the houses in front of him with a puzzled expression, disbelieving Sun Wukong's words, and said to Sun Wukong:

"Look, the houses up there are still smoking; they must be cooking there. Don't be suspicious anymore."

Seeing the infatuated expression on Tang Xuanzang's face, Sun Wukong thought about something seriously and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Master, there are some things you probably don't know. On the journey to the Western Heaven, I overheard them talking about a monster that can spew out mirage-like smoke to bewitch passing humans."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang was instantly frightened. After a short while, he finally couldn't bear it any longer and said to Sun Wukong, "What should we do? My stomach is so hungry I can't stand it anymore."

Seeing the expression on Tang Xuanzang's face, Sun Wukong felt helpless and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Master, please wait here for a while. I'll go find you some food somewhere far away. If you try to move, it's likely that you'll face a very dangerous situation."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang eagerly said to Sun Wukong:

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry back. I'll wait here quietly for a while."

Just as Sun Wukong was about to leave, he glanced at Tang Xuanzang again, then took out his Ruyi Jingu Bang) and drew a circle around Tang Xuanzang, saying:

"I know you're restless, so I drew a circle under you. You can sit in this circle, and put your luggage next to you. Don't be fooled by the fact that I drew the circle."

"But he's like an impregnable fortress; no tiger, leopard, wolf, insect Yaomo can get close to him. But you must never step out of this circle; if you do, you'll surely meet a deadly end."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang sat down in the circle. Seeing this, Sun Wukong felt relieved and continued his journey south.

Upon arriving at the village, Sun Wukong was instantly captivated by the scenery. After a short while, an old man emerged, leaning on a cane, and said, "The weather should clear up tomorrow."

No sooner had the old man finished speaking than a dog ran out from behind and started barking wildly at Sun Wukong.

Just then, the old man realized that Sun Wukong had arrived beside him. Sun Wukong was holding a bowl and said to the old man:

"Old benefactor, I am a monk from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands, on my way to the Western Heaven Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I am passing through here, and my master is starving. I hope to beg for some food."

Upon hearing this, the old man smiled and said to Sun Wukong:

"Don't rush to beg for alms; you've already gone down the wrong path."

Sun Wukong nodded upon hearing this, and then the old man continued:

"You say you came from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands to seek scriptures in the Western Heaven, but this is in the South, which means you've already gone astray. Master, please realize your mistake and turn back."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately sensed that the old man had misunderstood something, so he smiled and explained to him:

"My master is sitting on the main road right now, waiting for me to come and beg for alms."

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately realized that Sun Wukong's words were all lies, and he smiled and said to Sun Wukong:

"Stop lying to me. It would take six or seven days to get here from there. How could you get here so quickly? He'll probably have starved to death by the time you get back."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong smiled and said to the old man:

"Old sir, you must have misunderstood something. I just left my master, and before I could even finish a pot of hot tea, I've arrived here. I've already begged for alms, and I'll need to take it back for lunch later."

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately realized that the Sun Wukong before him was no ordinary person.

The old man grew increasingly frightened and tried to leave quickly, but Sun Wukong persisted relentlessly. Finally, the old man lost his patience and said to Sun Wukong:

"My meal isn't ready yet. Please, elder, go and look elsewhere."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong dashed to the old man's house. Suddenly, Sun Wukong smelled the fragrant rice and thought to himself:

"Oh, so this old man was lying to me."

After thinking about this, Sun Wukong raised the bowl in his hand and scooped a spoonful of rice.

Meanwhile, Tang Xuanzang sat in that circle waiting for a long time without seeing Sun Wukong return, and became increasingly restless. Seeing Tang Xuanzang Tang Xuanzang's expression, Tang Xuanzang Zhu Bajie immediately understood his thoughts and said to him with a smile:

"Master, you don't know this, do you? There was once a man who drew a circle on the ground as a prison. He used a stick to draw a circle, and he said that this thing was as solid as an iron wall."

"If wolves, tigers, Demon Beast really invade, wouldn't we just be offering ourselves up as food for those monsters?"

"Besides, it's so hot right now, a ban won't stop us at all. Why don't we do as I said and head west? When Brother Monkey comes back, he'll definitely be able to keep up with our pace."

Tang Xuanzang was anxious and quickly left the circle. Sha Wujing led the horse and Zhu Bajie carried the load, and they made their way to a house.

Tang Xuanzang, afraid of the wind, sat close to the door. Seeing Tang Xuanzang's posture, Zhu Bajie thought to himself:

"Master is so polite. He was afraid that no one in the family would want to sit here waiting for them to come back."

Then Zhu Bajie ignored Tang Xuanzang and went inside on his own. After a short while, he suddenly saw a firelight behind a curtain.

Zhu Bajie thought to himself, "This family is probably busy burning incense and praying to Buddha right now, and they haven't paid any attention."

After thinking it over, Zhu Bajie went inside and found it empty except for a few clothes scattered on a red table.

Zhu Bajie picked it up, glanced at it, and left. He went downstairs and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Master, this place is completely empty, and these clothes must have been left behind by someone who used to live here."