The first time he opened his eyes, under the dim red glow of firelight, the young man hazily saw three people, a bear, and a monkey gathered around him.
"Finally awake. This guy sure can sleep."
"Should we prepare some questions for him?"
"What's there to think about? Just ask him how Black Rooster Kingdom ended up like this."
"He just woke up, maybe he's not fully conscious yet. Let him rest a bit longer."
While everyone was busy discussing, the young man paused, pursed his lips, and then, still groggy, closed his eyes again. For a long while, he remained completely motionless.
"Passed out again? Did you guys scare him into fainting?"
"Have you ever seen anyone faint like this? I think he's just not fully awake yet."
Barry Bear bent down to inspect him closely, his breath blowing directly onto the young man's face.
Gradually, the young man's complexion began to look worse.
Monkey pointed with his finger, and everyone turned to look at the young man's hands. All ten fingers were trembling slightly, and if you looked closer, his thighs were shaking too.
Suddenly, everyone understood what was happening. One by one, they straightened up and silently watched the young man lying on the bed in the center.
Soon, a shrill scream rang out as the young man sat up with a start, scrambling away, and shouted desperately, "Don't eat me! Don't eat me! I'm too skinny—I'm not tasty! Not tasty!"
In an instant, he had shrunk into a corner, clutching a wooden bucket lid to his chest, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at everyone—especially Barry Bear.
The candle on the table flickered gently as everyone silently watched him, locked in a tense standoff.
After a long moment, Tripitaka shook his kasaya and stepped forward.
Startled, the young man shrank back, aiming the bucket lid at Tripitaka.
Helplessly, Tripitaka pressed his palms together in a gesture of respect and said, "Good sir, I am a humble monk on a pilgrimage to the West for scriptures. We happened to pass through here, and I would like to ask you—what has happened in this place?"
The young man craned his neck and cautiously asked, "Are you... a monk?"
Tripitaka nodded and smiled faintly.