While Anna Yang was using the banner of demonkind’s revival to purge the monsters of Lionback Kingdom, and as the Three Realms churned with turmoil, Monkey still walked the long, endless road westward.
A gentle breeze swept across the land. On the barren hillside, a few sparse, withered trees shivered in the wind, their branches trembling.
On the mountain path, Tripitaka trudged alone, carrying his pack with difficulty. His cloth boots were already worn through, and his clothes were filthy, as if he had rolled in the dirt.
Under the scorching sun, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his lips were cracked and dry. Yet he pressed on energetically, a smile on his face.
Not far away, Monkey stood atop the mountain, watching coldly.
"How much water does he have left?"
Behind him, King Bullhorn hesitated before answering, "He should be out by now."
"Out? Where’s the nearest water source?"
"If he keeps going straight, there’s a village a day’s walk ahead, with a well in the center. That’s probably the nearest water source. But..."
Monkey’s eyes slowly narrowed to the side.
Standing atop the mountain, Monkey furrowed his brow slightly.
Behind him, King Bullhorn looked surprised, while Louis Quickpaw gave a helpless laugh and sighed, "Looks like we've been found out. Master Tripitaka knows we set this up."
"How does he know?" King Bullhorn asked hurriedly.
"How does he know? Bull King, you're clueless. It's simple," Louis Quickpaw pursed his lips, shook his head, and said teasingly, "The water here must be dead water. It's crystal clear—obviously fake."
"Then next time, make it a bit muddier?"
"There isn't a single water source for miles. When you finally find one, there's no green trees, no birds or beasts, not even a blade of grass. Obviously fake."
"Then should we conjure up some birds and beasts, and a few trees?"
"This spot faces the sun. If there really were water here, it would've dried up long ago. How could any be left?"
"Then should we put it on the other side of the mountain?"
"That won't work either. Look at the soil here—it's not the kind that holds water..."
"Then what do you suggest?" King Bullhorn was clearly displeased, his voice rising. "If you're so smart, you do it!"
"Me, do it? I'm the chancellor—I'm not here for trivial tasks like this!"
"Chancellor, my foot! Go handle it, then! All you do is criticize after the fact!"
"What do you mean? What do you mean? Are you trying to rebel against your superior?"
"Enough!"
At that moment, Monkey suddenly roared.
Instantly, the two men, faces flushed, fell silent and stared at Monkey in shock.
Monkey took a deep breath, his face dark, and said, "That guy has no cultivation, but when it comes to worldly matters, he's a hundred times more knowledgeable than you. You can't outsmart him. If he won't drink, then let it go. If he can't walk, use a spell to send a breeze to push him forward, and if he collapses from the sun, pour some water into him to revive him."
With that, Monkey bared his teeth and turned to leave, leaving the two men standing there in a daze.
...
As night fell, Tripitaka lit a small campfire halfway up the mountain. A cold wind swept by, leaving him shivering with cold.
At the foot of the mountain, Monkey also lit a campfire, but his blazed high into the sky. Three demons kept adding firewood, while more than ten others searched the surrounding ten li for scarce dead wood.
Warming himself, Prince Adrian the Little White Dragon sighed quietly, "Isn't Master Tripitaka just bringing this on himself? All along, we've protected him. It's been tough, but at least he wasn't so wretched. Now, after all this, he's practically turned himself into a dark-skinned man."
Beside him, Marshal Silver replied offhandedly, "What do you know?"
Instantly, Monkey turned his face, "You know?"
Meeting Monkey's gaze, Marshal Silver took a deep breath and continued staring at the fire, "I spoke with him after we returned."
"What did you talk about?"
"He said only by experiencing the suffering of all beings can he truly understand the meaning of universal salvation. So he's been tempering himself. Haven't you noticed that, even though he's enduring hardship, he seems more spirited than before?"
Monkey raised his head and glanced toward the mountainside.
After a pause, Marshal Silver continued, "Actually, everyone knows you're in a hurry. But with things like this, rushing doesn't help. The road must be walked step by step, especially the road to salvation. Let him find his own way."
"Find his own way..." Monkey muttered to himself, snorted coldly, and lowered his gaze to the two small objects in his palm.
One was the Jade Tablet for contacting Clara Heart, the other was Anna Yang's hairpin.
Find his own way... How much time does he have left to wait? The crisis is already urgent; if he waits any longer, not only will Buddha's problem remain unsolved, but all the other troubles may soon crush him.
...
At this moment, Crescent Star Cave.
Under the same night sky, Clara Heart sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, her head bowed, quietly gazing at the Jade Tablet in her palm.
A gentle breeze swept by, rustling the shadows of the trees.
Aiden Chen carried a large stack of scrolls, slowly walking down the corridor. Spotting Clara Heart in the courtyard, he paused in surprise, quickly set down the scrolls, and walked over.
"Master, what's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing." Clara Heart was startled, quickly put away the Jade Tablet, and glanced around in a fluster.
Aiden Chen couldn't help but furrow his brow.
These days, it wasn't the first time Aiden Chen had seen Clara Heart staring at the Jade Tablet, looking absent-minded.
Pressing his lips together, Aiden Chen said softly, "Master, didn't you say you wouldn't bother with that monkey anymore? Why do you still keep the Jade Tablet?"
"Don't keep calling him 'monkey.' He's your Grand-Uncle Master."
"Oh." Aiden Chen answered, lowering his head with a hint of displeasure.
Staring at the empty tabletop, Clara Heart asked softly, "Have you finished today's assignments?"
"Just a little bit left."
"Go finish it, then you may sleep. Don't ask about your master's affairs."
"Understood, Master." Bowing, Aiden Chen turned and headed back down the corridor, hugging his stack of scrolls as he returned to his room.
Once again, the cool courtyard was left with only Clara Heart.
After a long while, a Daoist acolyte pushed open the door and entered, bowing respectfully. "Disciple greets Grand-Uncle Master."
Clara Heart looked up. "Is something the matter?"
The acolyte drew a letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. "Grand-Uncle Master, a demon came up from the mountain and delivered this letter, insisting you open it yourself."
"A demon?" Clara Heart took the letter, uncertain, opened it, and spread the paper out on the table.
At a single glance, Clara Heart's eyes widened and her hand trembled.
"Where is the demon who delivered the letter?"
"Already gone."
Staring at the letter spread out on the table, Clara Heart hesitated.
After a moment, she said softly, "I understand. You may go."
...
Ten li away, a little demon was striding quickly along the narrow mountain path. His steps grew faster and faster, until he was nearly as swift as the wind.
He glanced rapidly around, and, confirming no one was following, leapt off the path and slipped into the forest. At the same time, his speed increased, his movements astonishingly agile.
Clearly, this little demon's cultivation was far higher than it appeared.
In no time, he had crossed several mountains and rivers, then circled back until he stopped before a long-abandoned mountain-god temple.
Pale moonlight spilled over him. He hunched over, gasping heavily, and only after a while did he catch his breath.
Then, with a flicker, he transformed into a woman—the purple-robed junior-sister who often followed Many-Eyes.
"Is the letter delivered?"
"Delivered."
From the shadow of a nearby tree, Many-Eyes' figure slowly emerged. Behind him were several spider-demon junior-sisters, the Three Beasts, and in every corner, hidden demon officers revealed themselves.
In an instant, the once-empty temple was crowded with more than twenty demons.
Soon, another demon hurried in from outside, kneeling on one knee. "My lord, Clara Heart has indeed left Crescent Star Cave!"
"It seems the information was spot-on." Many-Eyes smiled and sighed, "Clara Heart is also Belle, also Birdie. If anyone else had received my letter, they'd be baffled and toss it aside. But if she got it, she would have to act! I suppose we're not the only ones in the Three Realms who don't want the Third Saintess to control Lionback Kingdom. Someone made things easy for us. All officers, listen up!"
"Yes, sir!" the assembled demons responded in unison.
"Capture Clara Heart alive. Unless absolutely necessary, do not harm her!"
"Understood!"
...
"You're not going to stop it?" On the terrace, Lord Lao's eyes slid toward Subhuti.
"No." Subhuti slowly shook his head, stroking his long beard. "There won't be any real danger. It's good to add a bit of uncertainty."