Buddha calmly watched Ye Chen standing on the clouds below South Heaven Gate. He didn't agree with Ye Chen right away, but he didn't immediately object, either.
No one knew what Buddha was thinking. Sun Wukong's life was now in Buddha's hands; with a single thought, Buddha could make Sun Wukong vanish from the Three Realms.
Most of the Kami in the Heavenly Court had regained their senses by then. They looked up at Buddha, then at Sun Wukong's savage face, and couldn't help hoping Buddha would kill the monkey at once.
But in the end, Buddha didn't strike. He withdrew the hand seal he had formed, then suddenly vanished from where he stood.
The next instant, Ye Chen saw Buddha appear in front of him out of nowhere. No more than a breath had passed.
Ye Chen felt somewhat nervous. He didn't know what Buddha had discerned about him, or whether Buddha was hostile toward him.
"A man from the future?" Buddha waved his hand and spoke softly, then studied Ye Chen carefully.
"The Indestructible Body, and the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. As expected, he gave you the best."
"Buddha, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand." Ye Chen looked at Buddha in confusion, unsure why he had suddenly said that.
"Nothing. Why are you pleading for this monkey?" Buddha ignored Ye Chen's question. Ye Chen could tell that Buddha must have known who he was.
He wanted to ask Buddha right then who he really was, but from Buddha's attitude, Ye Chen knew he wouldn't get the answer he wanted today.
"Buddha, this monkey has to live. Without him, the Road to the West can't continue. I think you know that." Ye Chen said.
"The journey west—why must it continue?" Buddha asked softly.