From the outset, rumors spread: "All disasters were brought by the Westward Quest party," then, "Buddhism is useless," and finally, "Tripitaka is nothing but a fraud."
Tripitaka turned a deaf ear to it all.
Public sentiment in the city shifted decisively. Gradually, even Monkey’s companions—Marshal Silver, General Curtain, Prince Adrian, Barry Bear, and King Macaque—were thoroughly ignored.
Of course, it wasn’t true neglect. Because of Monkey’s previous display of overwhelming power, although all the resentment was directed at his companions, the townsfolk remained deeply wary of them. So, they began venting their frustrations in subtle ways whenever they could.
First, they lowered their respect for Tripitaka’s party. When they met them, they no longer greeted them with reverence, but simply passed by as if they were ordinary passersby. Yet in the shadows, countless eyes watched them with venomous resentment.
Once certain there would be no retaliation from Tripitaka’s party, everyone—almost instinctively—joined in ostracizing the Westward Quest group.
Barry Bear, who had been tirelessly rescuing victims, was driven away, his place taken by cultivators. General Curtain, parched and seeking water, found no one willing to give him a drink. Prince Adrian, the Little White Dragon, was dismissed as a nuisance and forced out of the rescue sites. Even Tripitaka’s chanting for the dead was repeatedly interrupted...
For a moment, Marshal Silver was left speechless.
Under the cultivators’ guidance, subtle changes began to take place in the city.
The king who had insisted on Buddhism was dead, and a new center of power had yet to form. For the moment, authority fell into the hands of the cultivators, who spoke with one voice.
From the very beginning, it went from "All disasters were brought by the Westward Quest party," to "Buddhism is useless," and finally escalated to "Tripitaka is just a fraud."
Tripitaka paid no heed to any of it.
Public sentiment in the city began to swing decisively to one side. Gradually, even Monkey’s companions were thoroughly ignored.
In the square, only Marshal Silver, General Curtain, Prince Adrian, and King Macaque remained, standing around Monkey, who was huddled alone in a corner.
First, they lowered their respect for Tripitaka’s party. When encountering them, they no longer greeted them with the same reverence as before, but simply passed by as if they were ordinary strangers. Yet in the shadows, countless eyes watched them with venomous resentment.
Once they were certain there would be no retaliation from Tripitaka’s party, everyone—almost instinctively—joined in the exclusion of the Westward Quest group.
Barry Bear, who had been tirelessly rescuing victims, was driven away, his place taken by cultivators. General Curtain, parched and seeking a drink, found no one willing to give him water. Prince Adrian was dismissed as a nuisance and forced out of the rescue sites. Even Tripitaka’s sutra-chanting for the dead was repeatedly interrupted...
Under the moonlight, Clara Heart walked into the courtyard, carrying her sword. Her footsteps were so light they made almost no sound.
She pushed open the half-closed door, and suddenly a figure darted out from inside, throwing themselves into Clara Heart’s arms.
The cultivators’ strength was astonishing. With more than a thousand Kunlun mountain cultivators joining in, the entire rescue effort advanced at an unbelievable pace. By midnight, they had restored the capital to its pre-battle state.
"Master is fine—how could anything happen to me?" Clara Heart bent down to pick up Chenxiang. As she looked up, she saw Subhuti seated in the room, tea already prepared.
After a brief hesitation, Clara Heart sighed and turned to Chenxiang, "Still awake at this hour?"
By the second watch, the streets of the capital were already deserted.
In the square, only Marshal Silver, General Curtain, Prince Adrian, and the Macaque King remained, standing around Monkey, who was huddled alone in a corner.
It felt as if the entire city had chosen to forget them, leaving a bleak and lonely atmosphere.
"Then off to bed with you." With that, Clara Heart set Chenxiang down.
Prince Adrian glanced at the house in the distance, where the corpses had been placed and where sobs still occasionally echoed, and said, "Over there. What’s the matter?"
The attendant said no more. After bowing again, he turned and headed toward the house.
After a while, for some reason, he came back. Bowing to the group, he said, "Sirs, I... I think I’d better not disturb Master Tripitaka. There’s something I’d like you to pass on for me."
"What is it?"
"I heard that after you finish chanting, you’ll be leaving at dawn, so... the palace asked me to remind Master Tripitaka that it’s almost daybreak..."
At this, the attendant paused, pointed to the eastern sky, and glanced around at the group with wide, nervous eyes.
Suddenly, everyone present understood what he was implying.
General Curtain let out a cold laugh, while Prince Adrian simply grabbed the attendant by the collar and snapped, "What do you mean by this? You’re trying to drive us out, aren’t you?"
"No, no, Prince Adrian, it’s not my idea—it’s what the palace elders instructed."
"Not your idea? Of course it’s your idea! You’re asking for trouble!"
With a shout, Prince Adrian’s fist was already raised, but Marshal Silver quickly grabbed his wrist, gave him a wordless look, and said, "Let him go."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
After a long moment, Prince Adrian reluctantly let go. The attendant scrambled away in a panic.
Watching the attendant’s silhouette fade into the moonlight, the Macaque King let out a long sigh.
"What now?" General Curtain asked.
Marshal Silver pointed at Monkey and said, "We follow his lead."
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Monkey.
After a long moment, Monkey finally raised his head and looked around at them, then leaned on his staff and stood up. "Don’t ask me. Ask... the one inside," he said.
With that, he strode toward the house where Tripitaka was.
......
Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.
Under the moonlight, Qingxin walked into the courtyard, carrying her sword. Her footsteps were so light they made almost no sound.
She pushed open the half-closed door, and suddenly a figure darted out from inside, throwing themselves into Qingxin’s arms.
"Master! Are you all right?"
"Master is fine—how could anything happen to me?" Qingxin bent down to pick up Chenxiang. As she looked up, she saw Subhuti seated in the room, tea already prepared.
After a brief hesitation, Qingxin sighed and turned to Chenxiang, "Still awake at this hour?"
"I was waiting for you, Master."
"I’m fine, so you can stop worrying now, alright?"
"I’m not worried anymore." Chenxiang nodded obediently.
"Then off to bed with you." With that, Qingxin set Chenxiang down.
Chenxiang glanced back at Subhuti, then knelt and bowed to Qingxin. "Then, disciple takes his leave."
Then, turning to Subhuti, Chenxiang bowed again. "Master, I take my leave."
"Go on," Subhuti said, flicking his sleeve.
At his words, Chenxiang rose, straightened his clothes, and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him to keep out the night breeze.