The Secret

The official then whispered in Tang Xuanzang 'Tang Xuanzang ear:

"Please don't ask about this, elder. He must have his reasons. Stay here for now, and set off early tomorrow morning."

However, Tang Xuanzang was even more puzzled, so he grabbed the official, wanting to get to the bottom of it. The official quickly shook his head and said, "Please don't mention this matter again."

Tang Xuanzang didn't want to give up so easily, so he kept asking until he got to the bottom of it. The official, having no other choice, could only say to Tang Xuanzang:

"Then wait here for me a little while, I'll go and discuss it with them."

After speaking, he turned and left, then pulled a servant behind the screen.

A short while later, a sound came from behind the screen.

"How should we handle this? Our king hasn't mentioned anything about these goose cages, so just give him a casual answer."

Just then, Tang Xuanzang's voice suddenly rang out, loudly asking, "Sir, what exactly is going on here? Why don't you explain it to us clearly?"

The official had no choice but to tell Tang Xuanzang the truth.

"This place was originally called Bhikkhu Kingdom, but a folk song later changed it to Children's City."

"Three years ago, an old man dressed as a Daoist priest brought a girl who was only sixteen years old. The girl was fair-skinned and beautiful. His Majesty loved beauty, so he made her his empress."

"After some time, the king became incompetent and tyrannical, spending his days indulging in beautiful women, which left him mentally exhausted."

"But what happened next?"

Tang Xuanzang persisted, wanting to get to the bottom of things.

"Finally, His Majesty contracted an illness that the imperial physicians could not cure, but the Daoist priest said there was a secret remedy abroad that could prolong life."

"The medicinal ingredient is also extremely potent; it requires the hearts and livers of many children to be boiled into a broth for consumption, and it is said to have the power to grant immortality."

The official sighed and said helplessly to Tang Xuanzang.

As Tang Xuanzang listened, he became increasingly shocked.

"Don't the parents of those children know about this? Why are they helping the king recover?"

"There's nothing we can do about it. Other parents are afraid of the games, so they don't dare to make a fuss and can only spread rumors about the Young Children's City."

"It gradually became Children's City. Elder, tomorrow when you go to the imperial court, just exchange the travel permits, and whatever you do, don't mention this matter."

After speaking, the official turned and left. Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang collapsed to the ground, his bones weak and his muscles numb, unable to hold back his tears. Suddenly, he cried out in a hoarse voice:

"What a tyrant! Why didn't he stop him back then? He himself is fond of beautiful women and has made himself sick, but why does he have to take the lives of so many children with him?"

Upon seeing Zhu Bajie immediately stepped forward to comfort Tang Xuanzang, saying:

"Master, what's wrong with you? Why are you carrying someone else's coffin into your own house and crying? Don't worry, as the saying goes, 'If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die; if the father commands the son to die, the son has no choice but to die.'"

"He's hurting his own people now, what does it have to do with you? You should go to bed and stop worrying about them."

"How can I not be sad? I am a monk, and I spend my days spreading the Dharma, but this tyrannical ruler's behavior is truly distressing."

"I have never seen anyone who eats human hearts and livers to prolong life. This is absurd, how can I not be saddened?"

As Tang Xuanzang spoke, he grew increasingly agitated. However, at that moment, Sha Wujing spoke up to offer advice:

"Master, please don't be sad. We'll exchange the travel documents tomorrow morning and tell the king."

"If he doesn't listen to us, let's see what that Daoist priest looks like. He's probably a monster too."

Sun Wukong, finally unable to bear it any longer, patted Tang Xuanzang the shoulder and said:

"Master, don't worry about this. Sha Wujing is right. You go to sleep now, and tomorrow morning I'll go with you to the imperial court to see what that Daoist priest looks like."

"If he were a human being, he probably would have gone Evil Dao and wouldn't know what the right path is."

After speaking, Sun Wukong pondered seriously for a long time, and then thought:

"I'm afraid if I just tell my master about this now, he definitely won't believe me. I need to tell him more to gain his trust."

Sun Wukong then continued, "If it's a demon, then I'll capture him and show him to the king. What do you think of this plan?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang was overjoyed and quickly bowed to Sun Wukong, saying:

"Wukong, your plan is truly brilliant. However, even if we meet the tyrant, we probably can't ask him about this matter. That tyrant doesn't discriminate based on distance; he'll punish anyone who spreads rumors. How can we distinguish between them?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said upon hearing this:

"Master, don't worry about this. I have some Law Power and can take all these children to another city, so he won't be able to get their hearts tomorrow. Then the local officials will definitely discuss it with the king."

"Or we could discuss choosing another time, and then they wouldn't blame us anymore."

After speaking, Sun Wukong looked at Tang Xuanzang, anticipating his next reaction.

"Your idea is excellent, but how can we get these children out of the city?"

"If we can help them find relief, that would be an immense act of kindness. Let's get started quickly, or we might not be able to do anything at all."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang was overjoyed and quickly patted Sun Wukong the shoulder, saying...

After receiving Tang Xuanzang's affirmation, Sun Wukong, brimming with confidence, rose and instructed Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing:

"You two stay with your master now and wait for me to unleash my divine power. If you hear a cold wind blowing, that means the child has left the city."

After speaking, Sun Wukong immediately went out of the city and whistled. A whistle flew into the air and began to play. After a short while, some immortals came to Sun Wukong's side and said to Sun Wukong:

"Great Sage, what brings you here so late?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong smiled and said, "I'm currently passing through the Bhikkhu Kingdom. That king is a tyrannical and incompetent ruler who insists on using children's hearts and livers as a medicinal ingredient in his quest for Changsheng."

"My master could no longer tolerate it and wanted to rescue those children, so I invited you all here, hoping you would use your Divine Ability to take these children to the forest overnight and keep them safe for a day or two, so they won't go hungry."