The Curtain-Rolling General was no longer dressed in military uniform, and he no longer recited the Buddha's name as he spoke. Beneath his peaceful expression lurked a hint of ferocity. An Yang did not know whether he had never been as honest and simple as the Journey to the West described him, or whether these eight hundred years of upheaval had changed him.
After all, eight hundred years was more than enough to change too many things.
"May I ask, Venerable One, what happened to the people chasing me?" An Yang asked respectfully as he looked at this former Heavenly Court general, later a Golden Arhat, and now a recluse.
"They?" Sha Wujing smiled indifferently. "They unfortunately lost their footing and fell into the river."
"The river?"
An Yang hurriedly looked toward the river.
Sha Wujing waved his hand. "Don't bother. This river is so deep that anyone who fell in would naturally have drowned."
Drowned...
The corner of An Yang's mouth twitched, but he came back to his senses.
"In that case, thank you, Venerable One."
"No need to thank me, no need." Sha Wujing said, "Have some tea. Have some tea."
An Yang was not reserved either. He picked up the coarse porcelain cup and took a sip. It was merely ordinary rough tea. He set down the cup and let his heart settle as well—
With the former Curtain-Rolling General and Golden Arhat here, he no longer needed to worry about the people from the Demon Palace coming to hunt him down.
After a pause, he asked again, "May I ask whether you were waiting here for me because of Bodhisattva Guangli?"
"Yes," Sha Wujing said. "That Little White Dragon was once my junior brother, after all. Heh, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King suppressed him for more than seven