At the foot of Spirit Mountain, King Earth‑Store walked step by step up the long stair, his sleeves half-rolled.
In the pavilion beside the stair, Saint Samuel stood quietly alone, looking especially solitary and cold.
Ever since handing the Wish‑Following Iron Rod to the Six‑Eared Macaque, he had not set foot in the main hall of the Great Thunderclap Temple. Instead, he lingered quietly on this mountain path—silent, or perhaps, deep in thought.
Seeing King Earth‑Store pass by, he pressed his palms together and bowed respectfully. King Earth‑Store returned the gesture, hands joined in reply.
"Venerable Earth‑Store, have you just returned from a journey?"
"Just so."
"Where did you go?"
King Earth‑Store sighed lightly and said, "I went to Lionback Kingdom. Master Sage Subhuti has made his move—he means to win back a round through the Six‑Eared Macaque."
"Oh?" Saint Samuel smiled faintly, sighing, "This Westward Quest—are we witnessing Tripitaka's enlightenment, or are we ourselves being tested?"
At these words, King Earth‑Store paused, momentarily taken aback.
The two silently met each other's gaze.
There was helplessness in Saint Samuel's eyes, while King Earth‑Store's brows furrowed slightly.
Venerable Samuel, do you believe this is wrong?
The Fourfold Emptiness Creed of Buddhism—where could right or wrong exist?
King Earth‑Store replied coldly, "If all is empty, right and wrong do not matter; but the great confusions of the Dharma across the ages must be distinguished as true or false. This matter is already an arrow nocked to the string—it must be loosed!"
At this, Saint Samuel actually smiled, nodded, and said nothing more.
Suddenly, the atmosphere between them became awkward.
After a long silence, King Earth‑Store spoke softly: "The Six‑Eared Macaque scheme—I have plotted it for a long time. Not even Master Sage Subhuti, or even Lord Lao, could easily intervene. Venerable Samuel, will you not come with me to the temple hall?"
"No, no. The hall is too noisy," Saint Samuel waved his hand. "I will wait here. As for seeking the Dharma, though Tripitaka has not truly grasped its essence, I believe he has found the key point of enlightenment—he simply cannot find the gate to enter. If Tripitaka truly attains the Dao, he will ascend this road. If his Westward dream is shattered, the Buddhas will descend by this path. I will wait here."
"If that is so, I take my leave." With that, King Earth‑Store pressed his palms together and hurried past Saint Samuel.