Investigating the Truth

When they reached a distance, they saw Sha Wujing still crying there. Zhu Bajie grew increasingly sorrowful, so he dropped his Nine-Toothed Rake, lay down beside the grave, hugged the yellow earth, and wept:

"Master, you've suffered so much. We're now separated by life and death. I don't know where I'll ever see you again."

After hearing what Zhu Bajie said, Sun Wukong finally lost his temper and patted Zhu Bajie the shoulder to comfort him, saying:

"Zhu Bajie, don't be sad here. That monster has blocked the front door, but he can definitely get in through the back. You two wait here for me while I go check it out."

With tears in his eyes, Zhu Bajie said to Sun Wukong, "Brother Monkey, you must be careful now. If he catches you, we won't live much longer either."

Upon hearing Zhu Bajie's concern, Sun Wukong smiled and said to Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, "Don't worry about that. Even the gods in Heavenly Court couldn't catch me back then, let alone these monsters."

After speaking, Sun Wukong put away his Ruyi Jingu Bang), strode up the hillside, and suddenly heard the sound of flowing water. Looking back, he saw a stream rushing down from above.

Beside the stream, there was a gate, and to the right of the gate, there was a stinking ditch with red water flowing inside.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong thought to himself, "This must be the back door. If I'm still in my current form, those little demons definitely won't open the door for me. I'll transform myself and then sneak in for a closer look."

Then, after thinking for a moment, Sun Wukong transformed into the shape of a rat. Sun Wukong instantly arrived in the courtyard, looked up, and saw several little demons drying human flesh in the sun. Seeing Sun Wukong, he felt deeply saddened and thought:

"Those things must be Master's flesh. He couldn't eat them all, so he left them there. If I reveal my true form now and kill them all with one blow, it would make me look like a fool. I'll observe more closely how that old demon deals with them."

Just then, Sun Wukong suddenly appeared in the main hall and saw the old demon sitting upright in his seat, drinking wine. One of the lesser demons came up from behind and said to the old demon:

"Your Majesty, I have good news to tell you."

After hearing what the little demon said, the old demon asked him with a puzzled look, "What good news is it? Tell me quickly."

"When I was eavesdropping through the back door, I suddenly heard someone crying loudly. I quickly climbed up the mountain and looked over. It turned out to be Zhu Bajie and his group weeping there. They must have buried that head, mistaking it for Tang Xuanzang."

Seeing this, the little demon explained to the old demon that he wanted to share this happy news with him. Sun Wukong, upon hearing this, was secretly delighted, thinking to himself:

"If that's what this little demon says, then my master must still be alive and hasn't eaten yet. Let me look again."

After thinking it over, Sun Wukong looked around the courtyard and suddenly saw a small door that was closed very tightly. He squeezed through the crack in the door and saw that it was a large courtyard.

All that could be heard was the sound of crying inside. Sun Wukong went straight in and suddenly saw two people tied up under a big tree, one of whom was Tang Xuanzang.

Overjoyed, Sun Wukong revealed his true form and quickly stepped forward, loudly proclaiming:

"Master, so you've been here all along!"

Tang Xuanzang, of course, recognized Sun Wukong's voice, and with tears streaming down his face, he said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, is that really you? You've come! Quickly, save me!"

Just then, Sun Wukong hurriedly said to Tang Xuanzang, "Master, you must not speak loudly now, lest someone ahead leak the news."

"Now that you're alive, I'm definitely going to save you. That monster just lied to us, saying he'd already eaten you and was using a fake head to fool me."

After saying this, Sun Wukong paused and looked around. Once he was sure no one was around, he continued speaking to Tang Xuanzang:

"Don't worry, Master. Wait here a little longer. I'll kill that demon and then come back to rescue you."

After speaking, Sun Wukong chanted a spell and arrived in the middle of the group of monsters. While the monsters were playing and frolicking there, suddenly one of them jumped out and said to the old demon:

"When the king and his men saw that we had blocked the door and couldn't open it, they gave up and abandoned Tang Xuanzang. They used that fake head as a tomb. They'll cry for two or three days, and then we can eat it when they return."

Another little demon clapped his hands and said, "Actually, there's no need for this at all. Since they already know their master is dead, why don't we just eat him now?"

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong, eavesdropping from the rooftop, thought angrily, "What does my master have to do with you? You're all going to eat him!"

Then, Sun Wukong revealed his Ruyi Jingu Bang) and quickly killed all the surrounding demons. He then ran to the backyard, rescued Tang Xuanzang, and hid him in a secluded spot.

After seeing that Sun Wukong had untied him, Tang Xuanzang quickly took Sun Wukong's hand and said to Sun Wukong:

"Now that you've rescued me, why don't you send me out? Instead, you're hiding me."

After hearing what Tang Xuanzang said, Tang Xuanzang Sun Wukong smiled and said to him, "Master, you can't be in a hurry now. I'll kill all those monsters first, and then I'll send you out."

Just then, a farmer nearby said to Tang Xuanzang, "Master, please have your disciple rescue me first. I'll take you out so he can fight the monster in peace."

Upon hearing this Tang Xuanzang immediately called Sun Wukong back and said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, save this person as well."

After speaking, Sun Wukong looked at Tang Xuanzang a puzzled expression and asked, "Who exactly is this person? Why did you save him?"

"This man was arrested before me. He's a farmer with a very old mother at home, and he wanted to take care of her during this time. Could you rescue him as well?"

Pointing to the farmer tied to the tree, Tang Xuanzang slowly spoke to Sun Wukong.

Following Tang Xuanzang's instructions, Sun Wukong untied the ropes and was led to the back door. Once at the edge of the cliff, Tang Xuanzang patted Sun Wukong on the shoulder and said:

"Thanks to you for saving my life and this farmer's life, where are Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing now?"

"Master, look! Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing are crying under that tree."

Pointing at Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing in the distance, Sun Wukong said mockingly.