"This place scares me," the Tang Monk said. He and his companions were traveling through a dense forest. Vines hung from twisted branches. The leaves up above blocked out the sunlight. The whole place was dark and spooky.
Wukong waved a hand. "You worry too much, Master! Nothing here is going to harm you."
"That's right!" Bajie puffed his chest. "You have us, and—Ouch! A bug bit me!" Bajie swung his rake as the bug flew away.
Wujing shook his head. "I don't think you worry too much, Master. There have been many dangers along the way. But we'll keep you safe."
Wukong yawned. "Yes, we'll protect you, Master."
The Tang Monk gave him a funny look. "Wukong, didn't you get enough sleep last night?"
"I got enough sleep," Wukong said. "I'm just bored."
"How can you be bored?" Wujing asked. "We just saved Master from a demon yesterday!"
Wukong shrugged. "That was yesterday. Today is boring so far. And besides, that demon yesterday was dumb. Fighting him wasn't a real challenge."
Bajie grabbed an apple from a branch. "I happen to like when things are boring."
As everyone laughed, a tree shook gently. Leaves rustled as several figures hurried along a branch. Suddenly three small chipmunk demons leaped down.
"The Tang Monk!" one demon said.
Bajie and Wujing drew their weapons. The Tang Monk shook with fear and fell from his horse.
Wukong chuckled. "Relax, Master." He took out his iron bar, which quickly grew. "I'll take care of these silly little demons."
One of the demons raised his head, trying to look tall. "You're not afraid of us?"
Wukong snorted. "You're tiny!"
"Then why do you need that huge iron bar?" another demon asked.
"Yeah!" the third demon said. "If you truly weren't afraid of us, you wouldn't need such a big weapon."
"You know what? You're right!" Wukong put the iron bar away. "In fact, let's make this even more fun. I'll fight you blindfolded too!" He took out a cloth and tied it around his head, covering his eyes.
One of the chipmunk demons quickly whispered something. As he did, a tree moved. Its branches reached out and grabbed the Tang Monk, Bajie, and Wujing. Bajie's rake was yanked from his hand.
"Hey—" Bajie tried to cry out, but a branch quickly stuffed leaves into his mouth. More leaves muffled the voices of the Tang Monk and Wujing. Another branch grabbed Wujing's spear.
The chipmunk demons chuckled and jumped onto a branch. Light sparkled, and the tree vanished, along with everyone in it.
"I was wrong, Master," Wukong said. "Today isn't boring at all!" He turned toward where the demons had been. "Are you all ready to fight me?"
A light breeze blew through the forest.
Wukong scratched his head. "Hello?" Then he laughed. "They got scared and ran off! See, Master? You never have to worry when I'm around . . . Master?"
Wukong ripped off the blindfold. "Oh no! What happened to my friends—Oof!" Two more figures appeared out of nowhere and knocked Wukong to the ground.