Running all the way to the village entrance, Tang Sen immediately saw a scrawny Old Man squatting under a big tree, eating.
“Amitabha!”
“Old Man, may I ask what place this is?”
“We have traveled a long way, could we possibly beg for some water?”
Tang Sen walked up to the Old Man with a kind expression and asked.
The Old Man was first startled by the sudden voice behind him and was about to turn around and curse, but when he turned and saw a fair-skinned monk with a small monkey looking around behind him, he immediately grinned.
“Little Monk, this is Tiger Temple Village!”
“Are you here to beg for alms?”
“Perfect, our Village Chief is most benevolent and charitable. If you follow me to his house, he will surely be happy to see a Monk visit, and it won’t be difficult for him to give you a vegetarian meal!”
Tang Sen didn't expect to secure a meal so easily, and a grin immediately spread across his face.
“That’s wonderful!”
“It’s just that although I am a Monk, I am not particular about my diet. In fact, I can also eat some meat…!”
Tang Sen was pondering how to tell the Old Monk his desire for meat, but unexpectedly, the Old Man in front of him seemed even more anxious. He suddenly grabbed Tang Sen’s arm and hurried towards the village.
“What nonsense are you talking about, let’s go!”
The Old Man’s strength was immense, and Tang Sen, caught off guard, almost stumbled.
“Hey, Old Man, you didn’t take your rice bowl.”
Tang Sen quickly reminded the Old Man.
The Old Man grinned, showing his teeth to Tang Sen, “Can’t wait! Besides, with good food to eat, who would still eat this coarse meal?”
“Just follow me.”
Tang Sen thought the Old Man meant he could also get a meal at the Village Chief’s house, so he didn’t mind and just followed the Old Man, rushing forward.
However, Sun Wukong, who had been following the two, had an increasingly strange smile on his face.
The two people and one monkey sped along and quickly entered the interior of Tiger Temple Village.
As soon as he entered the village, Tang Sen immediately felt that something was amiss.
Originally, he thought that at dusk, every household should have smoke curling from their chimneys, children playing in the village, and the incessant barking of chickens and dogs. However, upon entering the village, Tang Sen found it to be quite desolate.
Not only were people rarely seen, but when they were, they were bent over, heads bowed, and so thin they were skin and bones, like starving ghosts.
What puzzled him even more was that some households, whose doors were open, immediately closed them in a panic when they saw the Old Man pulling him past their doors, as if they had seen the God of Plague.
“What’s going on?”
Tang Sen couldn't help but frown.
He always felt a sense of eeriness permeating the village.
But before he could think further, the Old Man had already pulled him to the entrance of a large courtyard in the center of the village.
A burly man in official robes, with a broad back and strong shoulders, was waiting at the entrance with a smile.
“They’re here!”
“Oh, and they even brought a monkey, how very thoughtful of you.”
“Old Nie, quickly help me welcome our two distinguished guests inside, let’s eat.”
The official laughed heartily, took Tang Sen’s arm from the Old Man, and pulled him into the courtyard.
Tang Sen looked puzzled.
He wondered how this official knew he was coming!
But before he could figure it out, the burly man had already pulled him into the courtyard, where a large pot was set up, steaming with boiling water.
Next to it lay a freshly slaughtered fat pig.
“Official, you are too kind!”
“Are you inviting me to eat pork?”
Tang Sen had a look of flattered surprise.
“No, no!”
“Little Monk, you misunderstand. This pig was originally my dinner, but since you’ve arrived, it’s no longer needed and can be saved for breakfast tomorrow.”
“After all, how can pork be as fragrant and sweet as human flesh!”
As the official spoke, he had already pulled out a pig-slaughtering knife from under the nearby chopping board, drooling at the corners of his mouth, and greedily stared at Tang Sen.
At the same time, the Old Man who had led them here also helped the official close the main gate, and likewise stared sinisterly at Tang Sen and Sun Wukong.
“You want to eat me?”
Tang Sen couldn't help but widen his eyes, looking at the official with his bulging muscles.
He thought to himself, the Journey to the West hasn't even started yet, how could demons already be coming to his door, wanting to eat Tang Seng’s flesh!
“Haha, now that you know, isn’t it a bit late!”
The fat official burst into laughter, and with his laughter, his body suddenly grew taller, transforming into a small giant in the blink of an eye. At the same time, his head changed from a human head to a tiger’s head.
“Hmm… this is very Journey to the West!”
Tang Sen’s expression gradually calmed. He put his palms together, a golden light emanating from his body, and stared solemnly at the Tiger Demon, his face serene.
“Die!”
The Tiger Demon, holding the pig-slaughtering knife, slashed down with a single strike.
“Great Vow Dragon!”
Tang Sen roared, and threw a punch towards the Tiger Demon in front of him.
“Clang…!”
“Crack!”
The pig-slaughtering knife shattered instantly upon contact with Tang Sen’s fist. Tang Sen’s fist was unharmed, and the golden light even became more intense than before, striking the Tiger Demon’s head with a single punch.
Behind Tang Sen, Sun Wukong, who had been intently watching him, saw this scene, and his gaze instantly narrowed.
Because at the moment Tang Sen threw his punch, he clearly felt the endless spiritual energy from all around converging towards Tang Sen’s body.
The speed of this convergence even created a breeze formed by spiritual pressure.
It was precisely this convergence of spiritual energy that made the golden light on Tang Sen’s body brighter and his strength greater, allowing him to send the Tiger Demon flying with a single punch.
“Great Vow Dragon?”
“Could this be some incredible divine ability?”
A hint of doubt flashed in Sun Wukong’s eyes.
“Impossible!”
“A mere mortal!”
On the other side, the Tiger Demon was also stunned by Tang Sen’s punch. He shook his head, struggling to get up.
In his eyes, Tang Sen was just a mortal without any immortal aura, so how could he be sent flying by a single punch!
But the next moment, when he struggled to his feet and tried to attack Tang Sen again, he found that the little Monk was already standing in front of him without him realizing it.
“Great Luo Dharma Incantation!”
Tang Sen roared again, and kicked the Tiger Demon’s head.
“Pfft!”
The Tiger Demon’s head, like a large watermelon, was directly kicked open by him.
Only the Tiger Demon’s huge body remained, twitching as it fell to the ground.
And as a cloud of black mist dispersed from the Tiger Demon’s body, a headless striped fierce tiger appeared before Tang Sen.
“No…!”
“My King!”
On the other side, as the Tiger Demon died, the Old Man who had led them here also began to emit clouds of black mist, and his entire body seemed to be evaporating, rapidly dissipating.
“This is…!”
Tang Sen looked at the Old Man with a puzzled expression.
“Tiger Ghoul!”
Sun Wukong chuckled as he walked to the Old Man’s side, extended his hand and flicked, a wisp of golden light striking the Old Man. Immediately, a trace of clarity flashed in the Old Man’s struggling eyes, and a look of relief appeared on his face. He bowed to Tang Sen and Sun Wukong, and then completely dissipated into the world.
