At this moment, on the Westward Quest, Tripitaka—on the verge of collapse after two full days and nights without water—dragged himself up the summit with the strength of nine bulls and two tigers.
Looking out, what unfolded before his eyes was a vast plain.
Though the land remained parched and barren, at least there was a small town on the plain, with thin wisps of smoke rising sparsely into the air.
A town, smoke—these meant people. And where there were people, there must be water.
Thinking this, Tripitaka—his face weary—couldn’t help but let out a breath and smile.
Water was what he needed most now. He still had a little dry food left.
He straightened his monk’s robe—now soiled as if he’d rolled across the ground from wind and sand—gathered his spirits, slung his bag over his shoulder, and step by step descended the mountain toward that little town.
No sooner had Tripitaka started down the mountain than Monkey appeared at the spot where he’d been standing. Watching Tripitaka’s figure below, he turned his face and asked Louis Quickpaw beside him, "Has the town been checked?"
"Yes, Great Sage, it’s all been checked," Louis Quickpaw replied softly. "There’s only one mouse in the whole town with a trace of cultivation, and it hasn’t even taken human form. I’ve already had it sent elsewhere—there’s absolutely no threat to Tripitaka’s safety. But..."
"But what?"
After a moment’s hesitation, Louis Quickpaw said softly, "But this little town hasn’t seen rain in years. Most of the residents are either dead or gone; it’s nearly deserted now, with only a handful of families left. They’re desperately short of both grain and water. I thought about sending them a dream, so they’d offer some food and water to Tripitaka. That way, his urgent need would be met, and he wouldn’t suspect anything, so he’d accept it. But seeing their situation, I doubt a mere dream could make them give up their precious stores."
"Isn’t it simple to get grain and water?" King Bullhorn interjected. "If they’re lacking, then let’s send them some. Deliver ten shares and have them give one to Tripitaka. Who would refuse?"
At that, Louis Quickpaw rolled his eyes and snorted, "If we can’t even stage things properly in the wild, how do you expect a few rustic villagers to act convincingly? If they slip up, it’ll be the same result, won’t it? Honestly, you speak without thinking."
"You!" King Bullhorn’s face flushed red at that retort.
Seeing the two about to erupt into another quarrel, Monkey gave a cold snort from the side. Instantly, both of them swallowed their words.
After a brief silence, Monkey asked quietly, "What’s this place called?"
"Phoenix County. It used to be a proper county seat, but now—it’s not even a real town, barely even a village. Nine out of ten homes are empty."
"Phoenix County... Phoenix County..." Monkey lowered his head and repeated the name twice, committing it to memory.
...
On the outskirts of Lionback, inside a small cottage among the hills, Many-Eyes the Centipede paced back and forth.
Beside him, Clara Heart—once known as Belle, now carrying the memories of three lifetimes—sat motionless, staring straight ahead. Her face was expressionless, but the hostility in her eyes was unmistakable.
After a long silence, Many-Eyes the Centipede spoke. "Lady Clara—Miss Belle, as we once knew you—I only brought you here this way because I had no choice. I hope you won’t hold it against me."
Clara Heart snorted coldly, not even sparing him a glance.
Helpless, Many-Eyes the Centipede pulled up a chair and sat down in front of her. Hunched over, he spoke softly: "Before you enter Lionback, Lady Clara—Miss Belle—there are some things I want to tell you first."
Clara Heart turned her face away, ignoring him completely.
Seeing this, Many-Eyes the Centipede took a deep breath and began speaking anyway: "Her Holiness the Holy Mother is currently in Lionback. I’m sure you already know that. But you may not know what she’s doing there."
"Earlier you said the one in Lionback was the Six-Eared Macaque, but Her Holiness doesn’t seem to think so. She’s acknowledged the Great Sage’s identity and has begun assisting him. When the one you approved came to fetch her, she didn’t leave. It looks like she’s wholeheartedly committed to following this Great Sage. Just a few days ago, she even brought up resuming their unfinished wedding. I imagine sharing a bed won’t be far off."
At this, Clara Heart still ignored Many-Eyes the Centipede, but her brows had begun to knit.
Anna Yang really chose the Six-Eared Macaque? Is that even possible?
She’d heard rumors before, but always assumed Anna Yang had another motive. Now, hearing Many-Eyes say this... it could be a lie, of course, but if Anna Yang truly chose the Six-Eared Macaque, what about the real Monkey? She’d just said those things to him...
For a moment, Clara Heart’s mind was unsettled.
Many-Eyes the Centipede noticed this. Seeing her reaction, his confidence grew.
With a forced laugh, he continued, "As for loyalty and recognition, even if you blame me, I have no regrets. I’ve always served Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Great Sage, and the demon clan. Now that there are two Great Sages, I naturally choose to serve the one who can revive the demon clan. In the end, it’s just about doing my duty—there’s no right or wrong. If you were in my position, I’m sure you’d make the same choice. Just as you chose the other Great Sage, I wouldn’t say that was wrong."
"Strictly speaking, the one in Lionback has no memories, while the other retains them. You recognize the other, and Her Holiness should too. That’s what I thought at first, which is why I didn’t rush to have the Great Sage fetch Her Holiness from Mount Hua."
"But... heh, plans never keep up with fate. The Great Sage doesn’t just listen to me. No need to go into the details, but in the end, he brought Her Holiness back. Now, in Lionback, it’s Her Holiness who calls the shots. Old ministers like me have hardly any place left."
At this, Clara Heart’s voice cut through the room, sharp as a blade. "What exactly are you trying to say? Spit it out. And why does the Six-Eared Macaque want to see me? Isn’t he supposed to have no memory? What’s the point of dragging me here?"
She finished speaking and skewered Many-Eyes with a glare cold enough to freeze blood.
That look made Many-Eyes flinch. He shrank his neck, puffed out his chest, lowered his gaze, and after a long, uneasy silence finally said, "The Great Sage may have lost all his memories, but some feelings always linger, don’t they? And all the old Blossom Mountain followers still remember you. Everyone hopes Miss Belle will return."
With that, Many-Eyes the Centipede chuckled to himself.
Yet under Clara Heart’s icy stare, his laughter died, strangled in his throat.
"If you’re going to flatter me, at least make it believable." Clara Heart’s gaze was ice. "I do know the old Blossom Mountain crowd, but to say everyone’s hoping for my return—that’s overstating things. Back then, I was just Belle, a nobody. I barely crossed paths with most of those old followers. Let’s get to what you really want, Lord Many-Eyes."
Her words left Many-Eyes the Centipede thoroughly embarrassed.
With no other choice, he braced himself and dropped to his knees.
Clara Heart didn’t help him up. She simply sat there, coldly watching.
Her eyes were like daggers, and Many-Eyes felt his scalp prickle as if needles had pierced it.
Gritting his teeth, Many-Eyes raised his voice and shouted, "I came here not only on the Great Sage’s orders, but also at the request of my fellow Flower-Fruit Mountain colleagues—to ask Miss Belle to speak for us!"
...
About half an hour later, Many-Eyes finally pushed open the door and stumbled out, dazed.
He looked up at the sun drifting among the clouds, let out a slow breath, his brows furrowed in gloom, face full of dejection.
Tear tracks still clung to the corners of his eyes—whether real or fake, it was hard to tell. But the dejection on his face was unmistakable.
"Senior, how did it go?" Violet Web tiptoed over behind him.
"No luck." Many-Eyes shook his head and trudged away, his sigh heavy as thunder. "She’s changed too much—she’s not the Belle I once knew. Her spirit is utterly transformed. I should have seen it the moment we took her... What a blunder."
Violet Web’s brows knitted as well.
With a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of mountains, Many-Eyes murmured, "I thought I could deceive her, then use her to challenge Anna Yang in court. The one ruling Lionback cares more than anything about being seen as the true Great Sage. After that legendary rampage at Tusita Palace for Belle, even if his heart is empty now, he’d have to hesitate. It would give us a talisman. But the way she is now—so guarded, so changed—I doubt any words will reach her. She may be Belle, but two lifetimes of memory and her present self have made her someone else entirely."
"So what now?"
"No choice—we’ll take it one step at a time." Many-Eyes stroked his beard and sighed, long and deep as the wind over barren hills. "Prepare yourselves. We’ll send her to Lionback now. Even if she won’t serve us, at least she’ll be a thorn in Anna Yang’s side. Three lifetimes of rivalry—no matter what she thinks, Anna Yang will never welcome her. If trouble brews, so be it. We have no standing to oppose Anna Yang, but she does. I refuse to believe Anna Yang is truly loyal to the Great Sage!"
At this, Violet Web bowed deeply. "Yes, sir."