The moment he finished speaking, Sun Wukong moved.
His Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils were already open.
Golden light flickered faintly in the depths of his pupils.
Under his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, that vermilion-lacquered cabinet was as transparent as glass.
The lacquered surface.
The wood grain.
The cabinet walls.
Layer by layer, his gaze pierced through them.
The object inside the cabinet was perfectly clear.
A peach.
Large and red.
An utterly ordinary peach.
It was nowhere near as delicious as the Flat Peaches bestowed by his master.
Sun Wukong did not hesitate.
He stepped forward.
"The object in the cabinet,"
he declared loudly,
"is a peach."
His voice was not loud.
Yet everyone before the Golden Throne Hall heard it.
The entire crowd fell silent for a moment.
Then came a low buzz of discussion.
"A peach?"
"They guessed peach too?"
"What about the National Preceptor?"
"The National Preceptor hasn't guessed yet."
"But they guessed first."
"Does the first guess count as a win?"
The king looked toward Goat Strength Immortal.
"National Preceptor,"
"What is your guess?"
Goat Strength Immortal stood where he was.
From beginning to end, he had not moved.
He had not formed any hand seals.
He had not cast any spells.
He had not released any spiritual radiance.
He had not even walked up to the cabinet.
He merely stood there.
His expression was blank.
His gaze was calm.
After hearing Sun Wukong's answer, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
It was not a smile.
It was a kind of... confirmation.
As if he had known all along that Sun Wukong would say this.
As if everything had gone exactly as he expected.
"A peach."
Goat Strength Immortal spoke.
His voice was flat.
Without a hint of fluctuation.
"I also guessed peach."