Zhu Bajie first took a deep sniff through his snout, then opened his mouth wide to take a bite. Suddenly, someone behind him gave him a sharp rap on the head. "Ow! Who was that?" Zhu Bajie yelped in pain and turned around to find Sun Wukong grinning at him. Tang Sanzang was also slowly making his way over from a distance.
"Uh, Monkey Brother, Master, you're all right now!" Zhu Bajie quickly tossed aside the chicken leg and wiped his hands on his broad sleeves as he spoke.
"Hey, don't go throwing food around!" Ye Chen picked up the chicken leg from the ground with a pained look, blew on it, then started eating it himself.
He wasn't at all surprised by Tang Sanzang's recovery. According to the Journey to the West, if Tang Sanzang had died during one of the first few trials, someone else would have had to take his place as the Pilgrim.
"Ye Chen, Master's here. You'd better put away the food in your hands," Sun Wukong whispered as he stepped forward to warn him.
It went without saying that monks weren't allowed to eat meat. Eating meat in front of one was an even greater affront to Buddhism, and no matter how mild-mannered a monk was, he couldn't tolerate such a thing.
But Ye Chen acted as if he hadn't heard Sun Wukong's warning. He kept chomping on the oily roast chicken in his hands, making Zhu Bajie practically drool with envy. But common sense told him not to tempt fate, or Tang Sanzang would kick him out again.
"Once Ye Chen's finished eating, let's pack up and get going." Tang Sanzang's words left Zhu Bajie dumbfounded. His attitude now was worlds apart from before. Tang Sanzang had always loathed meat. Just yesterday, when