Spirit Mountain, Mount Sumeru.
Beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, Zhunti suddenly opened his eyes.
He sat cross-legged upon the Lotus Platform and glanced toward the east.
"Senior Brother."
Hearing this, Jieyin slowly opened his eyes.
"What is it?"
A faint smile appeared on Zhunti's face.
"That Sun Wukong has already become Bodhi's disciple."
Jieyin's fingers, which had been turning his prayer beads, paused slightly.
"Sun Wukong?"
"That Stone Monkey." Zhunti pointed toward the east. "Bodhi has already bestowed a name upon him."
Jieyin murmured a Buddhist invocation. On that gaunt face of his, no expression could be seen; only his lips moved ever so slightly.
"Good."
He began moving the beads again. The string of beads slid through his withered fingers, making an exceedingly faint clacking sound.
"Since he has already taken a master, let Bodhi teach him well."
"The great curtain of Journey to the West has already opened. All that follows is linked ring by ring, and there can be no delay."
"Have him teach him properly. He must not hold anything back. Let this Monkey complete his apprenticeship as soon as possible, so the next step may proceed."
Zhunti nodded.
"Rest assured, Senior Brother. In just a few years, this Sun Wukong will be able to leave his master."
Jieyin's hand, which had been moving the beads, stopped again, and he looked at Zhunti.
"A few years?"
Zhunti met his gaze without flinching.
Jieyin frowned.
"As his senior brother, I am naturally well aware of Bodhi's abilities."
"But the path of cultivation emphasizes advancing step by step, especially during the stage of laying a foundation. It absolutely cannot be rushed."
His pace of speech slowed.
"If his foundation is unstable, and something goes wrong on the road of Scripture Seeking in the future, then the loss