In a deserted alleyway, Tripitaka walked alone in silence.
A gentle breeze swept by, scattering a few fallen leaves.
Monkey King, having just shed his insect disguise, appeared before Tripitaka with a mischievous grin. “Beautiful answer! You turned his own Law against him. Just a few words, and Lucas Ling was left speechless. Hahaha! If the debate at Spirit Mountain could go this smoothly, wouldn’t that be grand?”
But Tripitaka merely walked past Monkey King, step by step, brushing shoulders. “It was only a minor trick. In a true debate, this humble monk would surely lose.”
“Huh?” Monkey King froze, then hurried to catch up. “What do you mean? You can’t even out-debate Lucas Ling? Then how will you face Tathagata himself?”
“As I said, it was only a small trick. Such tricks are unworthy of the grand hall. As for whom I debate, it makes no difference. Truth is truth; falsehood is falsehood.”
“Master Tripitaka, please wait! Master Tripitaka, please wait!”
From behind, a tall, thin monk was already hurrying to catch up.
Seeing this, Monkey King quickly resumed his insect form and perched on Tripitaka’s shoulder.
“Tell me, what do you still lack? What would it take for you to win against Tathagata?”
Monkey King was taken aback. "Giving up? Are you really just going to accept fate?"
Tripitaka shook his head. "Not turning back. Just accepting fate."
Promoting good, punishing evil, engaging the world, borrowing strength—these are all correct, all necessary steps toward Universal Salvation. But I still lack the most crucial thing. Without it, everything else is rootless duckweed."
Monkey King exclaimed, "What is it?"
Monkey King was left stunned, struggling to grasp Tripitaka's meaning.
Just then, the monk had caught up to Tripitaka, bowing respectfully. "Master Tripitaka, please wait."
Tripitaka turned and silently returned the greeting, his expression unreadable.
The monk spoke softly, "Venerable Lucas Ling requests that Master Tripitaka remain in Thunderhill County for some days, to walk around and see."
Tripitaka took a deep breath, joined his palms, and bowed again, neither agreeing nor refusing. Then he turned and walked away.
Monkey King, still in insect form, quietly slipped away as Tripitaka walked on alone.
It's a troubling question.
Let it rain in Phoenix County? But that rain was stolen from elsewhere—done out of necessity. As for that well... No matter how much water it yields, it can’t support an entire county. And even if you urge them to leave, would they really abandon their home so easily?
The more Monkey King thought about these questions, the more irritable he became. Battles between Buddhas are all fought with illusions and schemes. He could never master such tricks.
After a long while, he could only ask, "So what should I do? Is there anything I can do that would truly help you?"
"Do nothing. Truly, doing nothing is the greatest help you can give me. Some roads, I must walk alone."
"Can you really walk them alone?"
"From the Dharma-Quest Kingdom until now, hasn't Tripitaka always walked this road himself?"
"If you could walk it alone, why did you ask me to help at the start?"
Monkey King's question made Tripitaka stop in his tracks.
After a long silence, he finally resumed walking, speaking slowly: "When I was young and headstrong, I thought the affairs of the Three Realms could all be held in the palm of my hand. Only now do I see that the Three Realms are filled with helplessness—so many things beyond our power."