He suddenly laughed.
The laugh was a little foolish.
"Was I, Old Sun... being pathetic?"
Chu Yang shook his head.
"Not at all."
"The greatest promise in the world is having the courage to go back."
Sun Wukong froze for a moment.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Fine! I like what you said, kid!"
He sprang to his feet and grabbed the Golden Staff.
"Let's go!"
"Go back!"
"I, Old Sun, am going back right now to apologize to Master!"
Chu Yang stood as well, brushing the grass clippings from his clothes.
"Brother Monkey."
"Hmm?"
"When you go back... don't argue with Master."
Sun Wukong gave a snorting laugh.
"I know. I, Old Sun, am not stupid."
He leaped up and jumped out of the well.
Then he turned and extended a hand toward Chu Yang.
"Get up here!"
Chu Yang grabbed his hand and was hauled up in one pull.
The two stood side by side atop the wall.
Dawn had already broken.
A streak of orange-red spread across the east, like someone had overturned a palette.
The town gradually awakened.
Cooking smoke rose, chickens crowed and dogs barked, and someone in the distance was calling out to sell tofu pudding.
Sun Wukong took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
"I, Old Sun... am going home."
Chu Yang smiled and followed behind him.
One in front of the other, they headed down the alley toward the inn.
Their steps were not quick.
But they were steady.
In the inn's back courtyard.
Tang Monk was already awake.
He sat beside the stone table, a paper fan resting at his hand. He had not slept all night, and faint shadows lay beneath his eyes.
Zhu Bajie was still snoring inside.
The courtyard gate creaked open.
Sun Wukong strode in.
The Golden Staff