Tiger Strength Immortal fell silent for three breaths.
Then he smiled.
He nodded.
An apology it is.
What's the big deal?
He turned to Deer Strength Immortal and Goat Strength Immortal.
"My two younger brothers."
"What do you think?"
Deer Strength Immortal froze for a moment.
Goat Strength Immortal narrowed his eyes slightly.
The three brothers exchanged a glance.
That glance held far too much.
There was calculation.
There was tacit understanding.
There was an unspoken code that only the three brothers could decipher.
Then Goat Strength Immortal spoke.
"Elder Brother is right."
"It's only an apology."
"It's not as though they're asking for our lives."
Deer Strength Immortal nodded as well.
"What's an apology worth?"
"It's not as though we've never apologized before."
Tiger Strength Immortal turned to Tang Sanzang.
"We'll apologize."
Once a word was spoken,
even a team of four horses could not chase it down.
Tiger Strength Immortal took a deep breath.
Then he did something no one had expected.
He straightened his robes.
He adjusted his Daoist crown.
He smoothed his cuffs.
Then he bowed deeply to the five members of the Preaching Squad.
Ninety degrees.
He bent as far as his waist would allow.
"Members of the Preaching Squad."
His voice echoed before the Golden Throne Hall.
"During the earlier contests, the three of us employed improper means."
"We interfered with your performance."
"And rendered the results unfair."
"Such conduct violated the rules of the Daoist School."
"We hereby apologize to you all."
"We humbly ask you, in your magnanimity, to overlook our petty offenses."
"And compete with us once more."
Deer Strength Immortal bowed as well.
"I was in the wrong earlier."
"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you all."
"I humbly ask your forgiveness."
Goat Strength Immortal was the last to