Chu Yang smiled. "That's more or less what I mean."
Zhu Bajie smacked his lips. "Then whoever set the questions has to watch the examinees answer them, right? Otherwise, how would they grade them?"
"That's what I want to verify." Chu Yang drained the remaining wine in his bowl and set it down. "If the Bodhisattva really is watching, then seeing us sit here eating instead of rescuing Master, she'll eventually be unable to sit still."
Sun Wukong gave a derisive snort. "You're using Master as bait to fish for the Bodhisattva."
Chu Yang replied frankly, "Brother Monkey isn't wrong. But my bottom line is clear—Master won't face any real danger. Given Great King Yellow Wind's methods, he won't harm Tang Monk tonight. If the Bodhisattva still hasn't made a move by the latter half of the night, we'll rescue him ourselves."
Sun Wukong considered it, then picked up the wine jar and poured himself another bowl.
"Fine. We'll wait a little longer. I, Old Sun, also want to see whether that Bodhisattva is really keeping an eye on us."
The three continued eating and drinking.
Zhu Bajie completely let himself go, clearing every dish on the table before ordering another bowl of rice, a plate of peanuts, and half a roast chicken.
Sun Wukong drank more than half a jar of sorghum wine. A faint flush colored his face, but his eyes remained clear. Every so often, he glanced out the window, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Chu Yang did not eat much. Most of the time, he watched the activity outside the window.
The oil lamp's flame flickered in the draft passing through the room, casting shifting shadows across the walls.
There were no other customers in the tavern besides the three of them. The shopkeeper dozed