All the people of Thunderhill County had gathered outside Thunderclap Monastery, their figures hunched and prostrated on the ground, forming circle after circle, as if without end.
Along the ruined streets flanking either side, Tripitaka walked slowly, a travel pack on his back and one hand lifting his monk’s robe, gently stepping over the scattered rubble.
A dazed confusion lingered on his face, as if newly awakened from a harsh dream.
Not far behind him, Monkey, Marshal Silver, and all the demon generals stood at a distance, watching.
After a long while, Barry Bear couldn’t hold back any longer. He jogged up, calling out, 'Master Tripitaka, Master Tripitaka! Couldn’t you reconsider? Even if you don’t want to confront the Buddhist Order, at least give us some time to repair the destroyed buildings. After all, that was...'.
Before he could finish, Tripitaka slowly shook his head and continued to walk forward, still cautiously picking his way.
Barry Bear swallowed his words and changed tack: 'Master Tripitaka, if you really leave like this, it goes against the intent of our Westward Quest. We’re meant to ferry all beings, but the people of Thunderhill County remain unferried, and now you’re leaving. This...'.
Barry Bear continued to follow closely. When Tripitaka climbed a slope, Barry did the same; when Tripitaka leapt over a ditch, Barry followed, never leaving his side, chattering incessantly. Yet Tripitaka never looked back, keeping his head down and hurrying along.
Barry Bear was at a loss, but didn’t give up. When they reached a slightly wider road, he quickly moved up beside Tripitaka and said quietly, 'The Great Sage was wrong, yes, but he didn’t mean it. Besides, we really can fix everything quickly. Maybe you could…'
'I never said he was wrong.'
Tripitaka’s cold reply stuffed all of Barry Bear’s explanations back into his throat. For a moment, Barry seemed stunned. He stammered, 'Master Tripitaka, are you saying... it wasn’t the Great Sage’s fault?'
'How could it be his fault?' Tripitaka adjusted the strap on his shoulder and kept walking, sighing softly. 'He only made everything erupt a bit earlier. If there’s any true blame, it falls on me. I was the one who asked the Great Sage to protect our Westward Quest.'
...
'He’s really gone?'
'He’s really gone.' The monk who came to report nodded emphatically.
Venerable Lingji couldn’t help but laugh. He rolled his eyes and said, 'Honestly, things have only just begun and he’s already run off. Even if he reaches Spirit Mountain, there’ll be nothing worth watching.'
The monk bowed and cautiously raised his head, asking, 'Venerable, the people are still outside, hoping you’ll help them rebuild their damaged homes. How should we handle this?'
'Handle it? What else is there to do?' Lingji jerked his chin. 'Let them solve it themselves. Who has the time to fuss over them?'
'Let them solve it themselves... Didn’t Venerable say you wanted them to depend on our Buddha?'
Lingji’s expression froze for a moment, his face growing cold. He sighed, 'Now that he’s gone, who’s left to witness their dependence? Ah... I have to admit, it’s a clever move. He can’t win, but at least he won’t lose too badly.'
Lingji lowered his gaze and spoke bluntly, 'Pack up. We’re heading back to Spirit Mountain. As for those people outside… Giving them this land was generous enough. What more do they want? Let them go back—no, let them stay out there and figure things out for themselves. If they can find enlightenment, let them. If not, that’s fate.'
The monk kneeling before Lingji bowed deeply and answered in a soft voice, 'Your disciple obeys.'
...
'Master Tripitaka, don’t say that, please don’t say that.'
Tripitaka stopped and turned around.
Barry Bear, rushing too fast, nearly bumped into him. He quickly stopped and gazed quietly at Tripitaka.
Tripitaka’s gaze bypassed Barry Bear and settled on Monkey in the distance, their eyes meeting across the space between them.
After a long pause, Tripitaka sighed softly. 'I mean nothing else. It truly is my fault. Because I am weak, I had to ask the Great Sage to protect our Westward Quest, and so… when it mattered, I didn’t even have the standing to speak for you. It is my fault, no mistake.'
He shifted his gaze to Barry Bear and said gently, 'Don’t worry. I’m really fine. The truth is plain to see. Venerable Lingji merely showed me a fact: without absolute power, universal salvation is empty talk. Still… perhaps it’s for the best. Once I’m gone, the people of Thunderhill County might finally give up their longing for that so-called Buddha.'
With that, Tripitaka turned and walked on, stepping onto the winding mountain road, heading westward.
'This... this...' Barry Bear was completely flustered. Hesitating, he lifted into the air and quickly landed in front of Monkey, blinking anxiously. 'Great Sage, please, persuade Master Tripitaka.'
'Persuade him? Is he wrong?' Monkey paused, then continued, 'Besides... I don’t know how to persuade him. We’ll just take things as they come.'
All around, the demon generals faded from sight and scattered, once again shadowing and monitoring everything around Tripitaka.
Under the setting sun, on the winding mountain path, Tripitaka still walked alone, carrying his pack.
Yet Monkey only stood in place, watching from afar.
Marshal Silver quietly asked, 'So, you’re not going? After ten years of walking together—whether we succeed or not... shouldn’t we see it through, at least to the end?'
'You go on ahead.'
'We go on ahead?'
'That’s right.' Monkey bared his teeth. 'You heard what Six-Eared Macaque said. I want to go to Crescent Star Cave myself and ask that old man what he really means.'
As he spoke, Monkey’s mind was filled with thoughts of Clara Heart.
Why did Clara Heart ask Six-Eared Macaque to save Aiden Chen...? Why? If something happened to Aiden, shouldn’t she have asked me for help? How could she...
Marshal Silver looked at Monkey in bewilderment.
After a long moment, Monkey slammed his Golden Staff against the ground, soared into the air, and flew toward Crescent Star Cave.
...
By now, Aiden Chen had just returned to Crescent Star Cave, freshly washed and dressed in new clothes, bouncing excitedly before Clara Heart. Yet Clara showed no joy at all, her expression tinged with sadness.
In Lionback Kingdom’s Qi Tian Palace, Damon Six-Ears was pestering Gavin Goathorn relentlessly.
Clutching a pen, his eyes shone as he asked, 'Anything else? What else does she like?'
'Great Sage, I really don’t know. Back on Blossom Mountain, I was just a minor underling—how could I know Miss Belle’s preferences? If she liked anything, she liked the Great Sage. Everyone on Blossom Mountain knew that.'
'Skip that. What else? Like, favorite foods, preferred hair ornaments, things like that?'
'I really don’t know. Maybe you should ask someone else, Great Sage—they might know.'
'No, I want you to do it. I don’t trust anyone else.'
'Th-thank you for trusting me, Great Sage, but... I really don’t know.'
Hearing this, Damon Six-Ears set down his pen in disappointment. 'Fine, you don’t seem like you’re lying. Here’s what you’ll do: investigate thoroughly, top to bottom. I’ll give you two days. Make sure to ask everyone, gather all the answers, and scrutinize them—don’t miss a thing.'
'Y-yes, sir.' Helpless, Gavin Goathorn bowed and accepted the task. As he left the great hall, his legs felt strangely light.
It was a decent outcome, but... the change was so sudden, he hadn’t yet adjusted.
Just as he was leaving, he glanced back and saw Damon Six-Ears giggling over the paper. For some reason, a chill of worry crept over him.
This didn’t seem like just 'being good' to a former friend anymore. After all, there was still another Great Sage in the world. Who knows—maybe the two would fight over this someday.
'Ah...'
With a helpless sigh, he bowed his head and hurried on his way.
In truth, the board had already been laid out by the Buddhist Order; the entire Three Realms was caught in its web. How could a minor demon like him hope to change anything?