Chapter 98: Gao Village

When Xuanzang slowly awoke, the sky was already bright.

Outside the window, unknown birds joyfully hopped among the branches.

The plan of the year lies in spring; the plan of the day lies in the morning.

Xuanzang stretched his body; halfway through, he suddenly recalled the terrifying events of the previous night.

He had been drugged and eventually fainted.

What exactly had happened during that time?

That monkey...

“Master Sun... Master Sun!”

Xuanzang immediately grew anxious and hurriedly searched the entire room for someone.

The whole temple appeared empty, as if no one had ever lived there.

Where were the abbot and his disciples? Why were they all nowhere to be found?

Could they have vanished into thin air overnight?

Impossible!

They were all living, breathing people.

They were neither ghosts nor phantoms!

But no matter how hard Xuanzang searched, there was no trace of any living person anywhere in the temple.

Could this be just a dream?

Yet the dream felt far too real.

Xuanzang began to feel confused.

At that moment, Sun Wukong, who had disappeared for a long time, appeared as if a phantom, casually strolling in.

“Master Sun? Where have you been? I’ve just searched the entire temple and found no one. Where did the abbot and the others go last night?”

“What abbot? I’ve never seen one,” Sun Wukong said boldly, lying without hesitation even in broad daylight, which surprised Xuanzang even more.

“No... I mean the abbot from last night, they…”

“Tang Monk, please stop dawdling. Look at the time—it’s already high noon. We need to get moving.”

The abbot and monks? They must have vanished into thin air.

Perhaps that band of thieves is now crossing the Bridge of Helplessness, drinking the soup of forgetfulness.

Reluctantly, still muddled, Xuanzang took up his pack and continued traveling under Sun Wukong’s impatient urging.

By noon, the two arrived at a place called “Gaolao Village.”

Sun Wukong quietly pulled Xuanzang aside and whispered mysteriously, “Monk, this place is called Gaolao Village. The village head is called Elder Gao. He’s currently facing a very troublesome problem. You should go see him and tell him that your companion, me, Old Sun, am a formidable demon hunter.”

Xuanzang was taken aback. “Master Sun, what exactly is going on? The villagers seem so simple and peaceful. Where could any demons be?”

Sun Wukong rolled his eyes. “Oh, Monk, why do you have to be so slow? I told you to go, so just go. What’s with all the nonsense?”

Xuanzang joined his palms together and said, “Very well, since Master Sun insists, I shall go.”

“Good, hurry up. I’ll be waiting under this old banyan tree.”

Having foreseen the troubles in Gaolao Village through his master’s teachings, Sun Wukong was ready.

It was said there was a pig demon hidden in this village, whose true form was none other than Marshal Tianpeng from the Heavenly Palace.

Mentioning the Heavenly Palace filled Sun Wukong with a burning anger.

Someday, he vowed to thrash the Jade Emperor to avenge the humiliation of being trapped under the Five Finger Mountain after wreaking havoc in Heaven.

Sun Wukong led the White Dragon Horse to cool off beneath the ancient banyan tree.

Meanwhile, Xuanzang, following Sun Wukong’s instructions, knocked on the door of a household in the village.

The vermilion door opened, and a servant came out, looking at Xuanzang curiously. “M-Monk? Are you a demon-hunting priest?”

Xuanzang was puzzled. “Uh... excuse me, young sir. I come from the Eastern Tang Empire, passing through here. May I ask what troubles have befallen this place?”

Sure enough, the monkey had been right: the household was seeking a priest to exorcise a demon.

The servant glanced at Xuanzang again and replied, “My master is troubled by a demon. He is searching everywhere for a skilled demon hunter. Judging by your appearance, you must be a monk—surely a powerful exorcist. Please wait a moment; I will fetch my master.”

The servant cheerfully returned inside.

Soon, an elderly man and woman hurried out.

Both were over sixty years old.

“Monk, please come inside quickly.”

“Amitabha!”

“You are a monk? A truly enlightened master?”

Elder Gao looked at Xuanzang with delight, secretly thinking: Such a handsome man, why would he become a monk? What a waste of such good looks.

“Master, please come inside,” the woman warmly invited.

“Indeed, please come in, Master,” the man urged.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Xuanzang entered the inner courtyard and took a seat.

Tea, fruit, and snacks were served.

Elder Gao kept his eyes fixed on Xuanzang, growing even happier the longer he looked.

“Master, are you truly a monk?” Elder Gao couldn’t help but ask.

The woman quickly stopped him. “Old man, what nonsense are you talking? Haven’t you seen how dignified and sacred the Master looks? If you don’t know what to say, better keep quiet.”

“Ah! Madam, your teaching is right. I spoke thoughtlessly. Please forgive me, Master,” Elder Gao hastily apologized.

Xuanzang smiled gently. “No fault in ignorance. Now, tell me—has your village truly been troubled by a demon? What kind of fiend is causing this?”

At the mention, both Gao and his wife’s faces clouded with worry.

The woman looked at her husband and said, “You tell the Master. Alas, my poor daughter...”

Suddenly, she wiped tears away with sorrow.

Elder Gao furrowed his brows and began, “I have three daughters. The eldest and second are married, but the youngest... my wife and I hoped to find a son-in-law to carry on our family line after we have passed.”

“One day, a tall and burly man came. He was born with immense strength, so powerful that one man’s force equaled that of twenty or thirty.”

“His appearance, stature, and character were all excellent. The only flaw was his enormous appetite—he could eat enough for dozens.”

“Over the years, I have earned enough silver to ensure the family’s comfort and security. Even if we took such a hungry son-in-law, we wouldn’t fear being consumed.”

“We thought we had found a good match for our youngest daughter, Cuilan, and they were well suited. But on the night of their wedding... ah, it was a bitter fate for my poor daughter.”

What exactly happened on that wedding night?

Xuanzang remained puzzled.