At these words, everyone immediately turned to look at Thomas.
"You have a way?"
"I do."
"What way?"
"First, calm the people’s anger."
"Calm the people’s anger first?" Monkey turned his head to look at the crowds outside the door, and said slowly, "You mean like you just did, preaching to them? It seems they really did listen, but... there are only a few hundred people here. The whole country... are you planning to preach in every place, one by one?"
Thomas also glanced at the impassioned crowd outside, then shook his head and said, "I’m afraid even I can’t persuade them. But, if there’s one precondition, then it’s simple."
"What precondition?" General Curtain asked urgently.
This shout was almost a roar, startling everyone. They all stared at him, wide-eyed.
Regaining his composure a little, General Curtain gazed at Thomas and said in a low voice, "What precondition... please, Master Thomas, enlighten us."
Tripitaka extended a finger, his voice calm. "Grain. Food is the foundation of the people. If we can help them live well, every problem will unravel itself. If not... Well, if their bellies are empty, persuading them will be anything but easy."
General Curtain was stunned by these words, his mind reeling.
"Do you have any grain?" Monkey King asked languidly.
"I do... but not much," General Curtain replied, frowning in distress. "The weather has been kind these past years, but war has left many fields abandoned. The grain collected as tax dwindles year by year. If it weren’t for earlier stockpiles, we’d barely have enough to pay the army..."
After speaking, General Curtain glanced warily around, his eyes flickering between Marshal Silver and Monkey King.
Exchanging a look with Marshal Silver, Monkey King rolled his neck and said, "I’ll go find the grain."
He planted his Golden Staff on the ground and strode toward the door.
"Where will you look?" Marshal Silver called out. "Does Louis Quickpaw have grain?"
"I’ll search everywhere—the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, the Heavenly Court, dig them all out. Even if Quickpaw has grain, he’s got his own troops to feed. It wouldn’t be right to take it. Besides, this is an entire kingdom we’re talking about."
As he spoke, Monkey King flung open the door with a resounding bang. The crowd gathered outside jumped, quickly clearing a path.
Striding to the center of the courtyard, Monkey King vaulted into the air, transforming into a streak of golden light that vanished into the sky, leaving the onlookers gasping in awe.
General Curtain stared blankly in the direction Monkey King had gone. Only after a long moment did he recover, turning to Tripitaka and bowing deeply: "General Curtain thanks Master Tripitaka for your boundless kindness. If this succeeds, I will have no more regrets and will devote myself to escorting you westward!"
...
In her room at Tusita Palace, Clara Heart sat hugging her knees, staring blankly at the ceiling, her face streaked with tears.
The vase was smashed, the chair broken, the table overturned. Even the quilt on the bed had been shredded, its cotton stuffing scattered across the floor.
Morning sunlight streamed through the lattice, weaving a net of pale beams in the dust-laden air.
The entire room was a mess, as if a battle had just been fought here.
Knock, knock, knock.
A soft knocking came from outside the door.
Clara Heart lowered her head, sniffing quietly.