We met a tiger and took refuge in a small cave. As it pursued us, the tiger got stuck. So we had a chance to escape."

All the adult monkeys stood stunned, their faces clouded in disbelief. After a moment, One Hundred and Sixty-Two's father asked.

"And then, you should all come back safe and sound. Why didn't you? Did you separate from them?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Where did you go? Where did they go?" A voice from the darkness. All the monkeys make their way for him.

It's Shen, Three, we mentioned in the cave. I gather all my strength, rising.

"I went to a large cave when I escaped that small cave. At that time, we separated."

"A large cave?" Shen Three strokes his mustache, pondering for a moment.

"Lead us to that cave. Your words could be true if we see that tiger trapped in the cave, your story will be proven true, and you and your uncle would be spared." He gives me an unfathomable look.

"Are you afraid of tigers?" I ask them. They all step back with blank eyes.

"For our kids' sake, we fear nothing! Let's go." One voice from the depths of the crowd seemingly forgets what a tiger means.

For a moment, I feel a mix of jealousy and warmth churning within me.

"What if I had parents?"

Immediately, I shake my head, trying to drive this dreadful idea out of any part of me. I shouldn't think about this, ever. My only poor uncle is implicated in this trouble.

"We must go. What if they lost their way on that pathless mountain?"

"Go, right now." Everyone urges me.

I hit on that familiar but desolate trail. Looking over my shoulder, my small tree hollow nearly disappears into the heavy darkness. Two stones, almost covered by the grass surrounding the tree hollow, stand still beside the tree hollow. They are debris from the rock I was born from.

They, maybe absurdly, are my "parents." I mean, they are what I call my stone mother and my stone father.

That's my deepest secret. I never shared, even with my uncle.

I have always wished to live with my parents like every little monkey. That dream coils in my mind, as dangerous and untouchable as a python. If I touched it, I would be bitten.

Last year, I figured out how to stop being bitten day and night. I brought those two stones to my home from the beach where I was born. Since then, I have been able to stay and talk with my family.

Soon, another question arrives without an invitation.

There must be some difference between my "parents" and theirs. I used to persuade myself to ignore it. But everything smashed tonight.

My parents will never shout for my absence, and they will never go anywhere to find me when I am lost in the night mountain. They can never do that; they can only remain still, silent, and unmoving......

I can't continue to think.

My heart is aching with a sharp and acute pain that is nearly unbearable. If I had never "talked" with and walked with so many real parents, I would never have known what it truly means to have parents.

Under the torch's light, I see their face, paled, worried, with eyebrows furrowed and tears welling in their eyes. They shouted their children's names to the forest, slopes, and almost everywhere. Their hoarse voices just tell me how many times they've cried out for their children over the past three days.

This is parents.

This is family.

This is the word I fear most—more terrifying than a tiger, a thousand times more dreadful than any number of tigers—love.

I, an orphan, nobody caring about my death, as nobody caring about my life. I should have died much, much earlier. Why did they spare my life last time? Could they have been so kind as to refuse to kill a baby?

I am not sure. Anyway, this time, I know they will kill me if they can't find their children. Not for I am so-called ominous. Not for hatred. But for love. Only for love, the most dreadful weapon in this world.

People may not fight for hatred but absolutely for love.

I want to cry for my life, but not for me, only for my uncle. I can't repay for his generosity and love but bring him the disaster. How? How can I save him?

The last fairy peach has been eaten. How could I have proved I truly found that tree? Would they believe me if I said I could find that peach again?

My heart sinks as I see that small cave. No one will trust my words unless the three missing monkeys reappear. Before I can enter that small place, a profound feeling of strong emptiness overwhelms me. Nothing good will happen.

"There it is," I say, staring into the endless darkness of the cave. All the parents rushed to the cave. "And watch out for the tiger. "

The parents slow down and throw some gravel into the cave to test if the tiger is there. However, everywhere is silent, with no hint of danger.

As they approach the cave, they see only gravel scattered about and a robe lying on the ground. Nothing alive stands there.

"No tiger." One Hundred and Forty-Five's father tells everyone.

They run into the cave， looking around, only finding the tough stone wall, the bats cling to it, and the vine growing overhead.

"Why? Where is the tiger? Where are the kids?"

Disappointment gives way to a surge of anger.

"You told a lie! I knew it!" One Hundred and Fifty-Nine's mother rushes to me, trying to slap me again. But she was stopped by another voice.

"Wait，" It's Shen Three," You mentioned you have been to another cave, and that's why you left the other three behind, right?"

I nod.

"So, where is the entrance?"

"Over there," I reply， pointing to the corner close to the overhead crack.

He glances at the monkey standing behind him, a silent command. The monkey springs into action, climbing the wall with agility.

"Nothing. I can't see any opening or crack," it calls down, its voice echoing off the stone walls.

Shen Three frowns at me.

"I...let me climb there to see."

"What if you escape?"

I shake my head, "If not for my uncle, I would never come back......"

He doesn't speak one more word.

I climb to that corner, expecting that mysterious light to come into my eyes again. But that light has gone for some reason. To my astonishment, even that crack I used to squeeze in also has vanished, as if it never existed there. I hold a torch high but fail to see anything like an opening.

I jump down. Everyone's eyes land on me, as if asking if I am sure what I said about the tiger was just my daydream. I have to reply before they tear me into pieces.

"I don't know what happened, but I truly entered a larger cave, connecting this small one, and I have seen some tree leaves like this. Have any of you seen it?" I pick up a vine leaf, tearing it into the irregular shape I have seen in the deep end of that cave.

"Nonsense!" One Hundred and Forty-Five's father shouts at me. "None of your words can be trusted! You must deceive our children, tempting them to this or other dangerous places. You killed them!"

"How could do it?" One Hundred and Sixty-Two's father said every word difficultly. "Why do you cheat them? Why do you tell them you found out the fairy peach; for Heaven's sake, why do you want to kill my son?"

I am panting to death, unable to find a word to say, merely shaking my head and hands. Tears of anger almost devour my breath, but I can't cry out. For my uncle, for my stone parents, and for everything beautiful in my life, I can't lose.

"Fairy Peaches?" Shen Three stares at me. "Someone had mentioned.

I stare at him. He also stares back at me.

"How could those silly monkeys be trifled by you? How could you find that fairy peach? You, doubtless, are a murderer. Go back. Let's see the Chief. All monkeys will give you a trial of justice and rightness! You must pay for what you have done!"

When the dawn breaks the darkness, we have arrived at the throne. My poor uncle is kneeling there. He must be here for the whole night, my poor uncle.

My heart falls to hard rock in a moment, crashing into pieces. I rush to him.

"Uncle, get up, get up!" I try with all my might to pull my uncle off the harsh and cold flagstone path.

"No, Stone, I......"his voice chokes. It's my fault. I am atoning for my sin. I am very sorry for those poor missing little monkeys. I didn't warn you enough about the fairy peach."

"No, Uncle, you said everything you can tell. It's my fault. I merely wish that Peach could change our miserable life. "

"Silly boy." My uncle sighs, shaking his head slightly.

"There is no Fairy Peach in this mortal world, at least on this mountain. You talk something about your daydream, but you don't know. See?" He glances at the others briefly and gazes at me. I see hundreds of words hidden in his eyes.

"Will they kill me?" I ask him. His eyebrows fold.

"Listen to the Chief's order. He is the one who always has a heart of compassion."

I turn around. Everyone still stares at me except Shen, Three. He is not angry; his eyes are filled with strange emotions, like thrills and hope.

The sky in the east blushes. Birds start to chirp, and flowers and fruit trees around this area send a sweet fragrance. Everything is in peace but my fate.

A noise ran into my ear. I know the chief and all his followers are coming.

Life or death, just his one word.

What is death?

I have thought about this question thousands of times. Whenever I have been severely hurt or starving, I always feel I am on the brink of death. Not to speak of the fear that seizes me at the slightest peal of thunder—that I might turn back into a stone.

The death has been so close to me, even like my second shadow.

Everyone bows low. My uncle almost buries his head into the earth. The chief has arrived. I stand stiff beside my uncle in dumb silence.

"Bow to the chief. Bow to the chief, son." My uncle pulls my arm and murmurs.

I can't give him any response.

A severe cough lasts for quite a while. Everyone makes stealthy eye contact

I heard that news a few days ago. Our chief has been ill and may be going to die. I saw someone's death every year, and people all cried sadly, but at this moment, things are different. I can't sense anything unhappy among the monkeys.

It's confusing——why does no one seem wretched about the chief's upcoming death? Do they care little about his death, just as they do about mine? It's ridiculous. His life is doubtless much more significant than mine.

Finally, the cough stops. The chief starts to talk，"Tell me what happened."

In a low, weak, and hoarse voice, his unrefusable order is delivered. I see his face，pale, wrinkled, and a bit worried. Apparently, he cares about those three kids very much.

If he also wants me to find those three little monkeys back, I might have a chance to survive, and my uncle might also be spared.

But soon, everything goes beyond all my expectations and imagination.

Shen Three is the first one to answer. "My lord, I hate to disturb you about this stone monkey. As you know, three days ago, we lost three little monkeys."

As he says, I noticed that the chief's gaze was always fixed on the distant sea, rarely resting on anyone's face.

"Because they were cheated into the West Mountain," Shen Three continues, "for the Fairy Peach. "

The lord's gaze rushes back, like an eagle diving to its food，" Say that again."

Shen Three raises his voice, a secret smile flickering across his features. "My lord, the stone monkey told someone he found the Fairy Peach. Three of our young monkeys followed him to pick those peaches and lost. So......"

"Where is Stone Monkey? Why didn't you tell me he found the Fairy Peach at the very beginning? Go to find my dearest little Stone, now!" The chief interrupts. Shen Three gives me a mysterious look while my uncle shakes his head.

"I am here, my lord."