A thin wave of heat hung in the air, baking their skin until it burned. The cicadas chirped on and off, as if the heat had steamed the breath from them. The little stream at the village entrance had dried up until only a faint damp trace remained. The pebbles on its bed had been bleached white by the sun, scorching their feet when stepped on.
The scripture-seeking party had just reached the village entrance when Tang Monk reined in his horse.
White Dragon Horse lowered his head and sniffed the ground, his nostrils twitching twice before he let out an extremely soft neigh.
"There seems to be a household here..." Tang Monk said softly. Raising a hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight, he looked into the village. "It is still early. Let us ask for a bowl of water, then inquire about the path ahead."
Sun Wukong's ears twitched as he sniffed toward the village.
"There's human scent, and the smell of food too." He grinned. "I, Old Sun, am starving. Come on, let's go beg for a bite to eat."
Zhu Bajie immediately perked up and slung his Nine-Toothed Rake over his shoulder.
"Yes, yes, yes. I, Old Pig, am so thirsty my throat is smoking. Master, let's go in."
Chu Yang walked at the rear, but his gaze lingered for two extra breaths on the old locust tree at the village entrance.
Within the widest crack in its trunk, a wisp of faint white vapor flashed and vanished. Like thin mist scattered by the wind, it disappeared in an instant.
He lowered his eyes and said nothing, merely shifting the Black Short Blade at his waist farther back so that its hilt rested closer to his palm.
The village was small. After passing two Earth