Seeing that Sun Wukong had successfully signed the contract, Maitreya finally let out a sigh of relief.
With a beaming smile, he pressed his palms together toward Li Yuan.
His plump face was piled high with the sort of mutual business flattery that passed for gratitude.
"Many thanks to Senior Brother Li for lending a hand. If not for your guidance—"
"I probably wouldn't have met today's target. Much obliged, much obliged."
Li Yuan casually tossed him a cigarette and lit one for himself as well.
"Hey, it was nothing."
The two of them drifted up into the clouds, puffing smoke like two parties who had just wrapped up a business deal.
"Junior Brother, now that you mention it, how have the other members of the Journey to the West Team been arranged?"
"Are all the actors in place? Has everyone received the script?"
Maitreya took a deep drag, and his eternally unchanging smile gained a few traces of a working man's exhaustion and bitterness.
"In reply to Senior Brother, everything has more or less been arranged."
"It's just that... there have been a few minor accidents. A few actors have scheduling conflicts."
Li Yuan's hunger for gossip was instantly ignited.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Let's hear it. Which blind fool dared to throw a tantrum in a Dao of Heaven S+-rank project?"
Maitreya sighed and began pouring out his grievances.
"At the original bidding conference for the Journey to the West project, the Heavenly Court, the Dragon Palace, and your Humanity Sect all spent heavily."
"They secured several important accompanying-member slots. You know about this."
"These slots would become the core members of the scripture-fetching team."
Maitreya counted on his fingers.
"The Dragon Palace's side was straightforward enough."
"That old fox Ao Guang knew his Dragon