The alley fell silent, leaving only the wind howling as it whipped up the folds of Tripitaka's kasaya.
Tripitaka gazed quietly at Barry Bear, who was kneeling before him, saying nothing.
Monkey tilted his head, glancing past Barry Bear toward the rear of the alley.
Barry Bear blinked and followed Monkey's gaze over his shoulder.
Not far away, King Macaque leaned against the doorway, standing crookedly and staring at him with open disdain.
"You want to be a monk? Blackfur, are you out of your mind?"
"I..."
"You're a demon—no, a great demon. Wouldn't it be better to rule a mountain as a king? A monk?" King Macaque snorted, gave a helpless laugh, shook his head, and limped back inside.
In the awkward silence, Barry Bear slowly turned back, his eyes wet, and stared at Monkey and Tripitaka. He spoke in a daze, "Master Tripitaka..."
Before he could finish, Monkey said gently, "I understand what you're thinking, but... the strength he needs isn't something you can provide. Besides, you're a Daoist cultivator—save your energy."
With a sigh, Monkey stepped away.
As he passed Barry Bear, Monkey reached out and gave Barry's head a playful shove.
Barry Bear stayed in the awkward position Monkey had left him in, blinking at Tripitaka. "Master Tripitaka..."
"Stand up first."
Tripitaka shook out his sleeves and reached to help Barry Bear up. But Barry refused to rise; instead, he grabbed Tripitaka's hand, eyes wide. "Master Tripitaka, it's not like the Great Sage said. I truly agree with your Dao. If this world were truly filled with 'goodness,' then there would be no more suffering. Even if we can't all become Buddhas, everyone could live in peace. Since you lack power, let me be your strength! Is that alright?"
"Please, get up."
"I won't! If you don't agree, I won't get up!" Barry Bear let go of Tripitaka's hand, scooted back, and then knocked his forehead to the ground three times, each bang echoing through the alley.
Each resounding knock reverberated in the empty alley.
Tripitaka's outstretched hand froze in midair.
In front of him, Barry Bear bowed low, pressing his forehead to the ground, eyes tightly shut, waiting in silence.
Tripitaka stood motionless, quietly gazing at him.
After a long silence, Tripitaka spoke softly: "Rise. It is not that I am unwilling to accept you as my disciple, but that I cannot. To take on disciples before one's Dao is fully understood is to risk leading them astray."
"Master Tripitaka has already grasped the Dao. He is more than qualified to take disciples."
"No," Tripitaka replied, gazing at Barry Bear with a soft sigh. "Until I reach Spirit Mountain, nothing is truly decided."
......
At that very moment, as Tripitaka struggled with doubt, far away, Kunlun Mountain was facing a tremendous crisis.
Within the Golden Mist Cave, Jade Cauldron Immortal stepped out of his sanctuary.
Two Daoist disciples rushed past him, riding their magical artifacts. Jade Cauldron quickly grabbed a third: "What’s happening?"
The young disciple hesitated briefly, then bowed: "Reporting to Granduncle Master, an external enemy has invaded!"
"An enemy?" Jade Cauldron Immortal was stunned.
No sooner had Jade Cauldron released him than the disciple hurried off again.
Looking up, Jade Cauldron saw the skies above Kunlun Mountain swarming with flying magical artifacts—so dense they resembled a plague of locusts. Countless disciples darted about, riding them in frantic haste.
Such a scene was unimaginable in ordinary times. Clearly, the Flight Ban Array over Kunlun had already been lifted.
"An enemy..." Jade Cauldron blinked in disbelief, muttering to himself, "Who would dare attack Kunlun Mountain directly?"
Before he finished, a thunderous crash echoed from afar—the entire main hall of a Daoist temple was hurled skyward, wood chips and stone dust scattering in the air!
"There! Quick!"
In an instant, the chaotic swarm of flying artifacts found their target and all shot toward the ruined temple.
Amidst the crowd, Jade Cauldron even caught sight of Master Taiyi.
Before Jade Cauldron could react, Master Taiyi, racing forward, pulled a disk-shaped artifact from his robes, bit his finger, and wrote runes in blood upon it.
Then, with a swift motion, Master Taiyi flung the artifact into the air. Golden light burst forth, sealing the shattered temple and the surrounding peaks within its radiant barrier.