Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 469 - 242 Cui Cui

Dapeng listened quietly to the words of Green Lion and Bai Xiang, and slowly set down his wine cup before frowning and saying, "Is this Sun Wukong really so formidable?"

Green Lion nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, he is a troublesome fellow, worthy of the name Great Sage Equalling Heaven."

As soon as Green Lion spoke these words, Dapeng couldn't help but reevaluate the monkey. The fact that the ever proud Green Lion spoke in such a manner was proof enough of his strength.

"It seems he is a troublesome fellow indeed," Dapeng murmured to himself.

"But fortunately, he and Lu Yu are not of the same kind. He follows the path of proving his way through strength and doesn't possess many unpredictable mystic arts." Bai Xiang said with relief. The pressure that Lu Yu had put on them had been enormous, and even now, they couldn't stop thinking about it.

At the mention of Lu Yu's name, Dapeng's expression immediately darkened. It was a disgrace he bore, and currently, he saw no hope of avenging it.

"Hmph! Last time I fell into the trap set by that Protector of the Horse, so that I could only shamefully send him away. This time he has come to Lion Camel City, and I must make him pay," Green Lion said indignantly.

Now that the three of them were united, their confidence had drastically increased, clenching their teeth in anticipation of avenging their previous shame.

Meanwhile, in a small corner of Lion Camel City, there were sporadic collapsed houses of evil residents. This area had once been the slum of Lion Camel City, inhabited only by the most downtrodden citizens.

However, since the demons had occupied Lion Camel City, this place had become the only surviving area for the human race. Of course, not because the demons were merciful, but because they needed a place to keep the human race from being completely devoured.

The person in charge here was a middle-aged man who in Lion Camel City would not dare to raise his head, always nodding and bowing submissively.

But at this moment, he no longer displayed any of the previous timidity and fear. He walked arrogantly among the houses, occasionally grabbing a running child to look at closely.

A few solemn-faced men followed behind him, step by step walking towards the open area in the center where the surviving people had already gathered.

One by one, they had emaciated faces and wore tattered, coarse clothing. Their eyes looked dull as they stood still, cautiously protecting the children hidden under their arms.

The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction. The flush of red on his gaunt and diseased face showed the extent to which the people's reactions satisfied his twisted psychology, giving him a kind of mental pleasure.

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"What? Not happy to see me?" the middle-aged man asked with a smile on his face, speaking to the crowd.

The answer to his words was the resentful stare from the crowd, each of them glaring at him, wishing they could tear the detestable man before them into thousands of pieces.

However, a look of indifference appeared on his face; he had grown accustomed to such stares, even taking some enjoyment in them.

"I have got some good news for you. The other two Great Kings of Lion Camel City have arrived. To celebrate, we will select a sacrifice," the middle-aged man said slowly with a cold smile on his face.

As soon as he had finished speaking, everyone's expression changed, and many tightly hugged their children, while some women's faces already showed the beginnings of tears.

The middle-aged man scanned the crowd with satisfaction, left behind a remark, "Prepare well, tonight it's the same old rules," and then walked away with leisurely steps.

In a dilapidated house, a family sat with frowns, looking helplessly out the door.

She was an innocently cheerful little girl, clad in tattered burlap clothes. Her small garment barely covered her young body. Perhaps due to prolonged malnutrition, the girl appeared exceptionally frail, clutching a doll made of different scraps of cloth tightly in her hand.

Even so, her face still beamed with a radiant smile. The hardships of life hadn't seemed to affect her spirit; she continued to smile in the face of everything.

At that moment, she was holding her doll, mimicking the aunties around her to lull a baby to sleep, murmuring an indistinguishable lullaby that sounded quite pleasant, with large eyes that seemed as bright as the moon, dazzling onlookers.

Her name was Cui Cui, just an ordinary little girl from Lion Camel City's slums. For her, the greatest joy in life was the days she spent playing with her friends. However, as time went by, the number of playmates dwindled, her parents telling her each had gone to a faraway place.

Every time she heard this, Cui Cui would pout, upset they had left without saying a word, deciding never to play with them again.

Sometimes Cui Cui remembered these friends who had gone far away, talking to the ground, the trees, the birds, sharing her yearning. She joyfully shared her joy and sorrow with the small animals around her, loving the world with all her might.

Today, as she bounced through the door holding her doll, what met her eyes was the sorrowful face of her parents, as if despair was gathering in this dilapidated house.

"Cui Cui's home, come here, let mommy and daddy have a good look at you," her parents, holding back tears, called out to the flushed-faced Cui Cui as she ran towards them.

Very obediently, Cui Cui ran to her mother's side and nestled in her embrace, saying with concern, "Mommy, are you unhappy? Cui Cui will make you feel better!"

The childish voice reached the woman's ears, prompting her to no longer suppress her emotions, embracing the child and crying loudly, while the man nearby also shed tears in a low voice.

Cui Cui seemed unsure if she had said something wrong, wondering why her parents were crying so much. Being young and naive, she too started to cry along with them.

"Cui Cui, mommy is so sorry!" The woman hugged Cui Cui, whispering apologies, seemingly intent on crying out all the tears of her life.

Standing dazed in place, Cui Cui still didn't understand what was happening. It wasn't until that night when the uncle, whom everyone feared, walked into their home with a fierce grin that Cui Cui began to realize that she, like her former playmates, might be going to a distant place.

Tonight, the slum was brightly lit, and all the surviving residents were out. They looked solemnly at the bewildered Cui Cui as fearsome demons took her away. In the end, her mother, holding back tears, handed over Cui Cui's beloved doll.

Cui Cui showed one last radiant smile. She didn't understand that the path she was headed down was one of death, still facing everyone with her innocent smile.