"It's nothing, Master. I'm not tired. That little distance only takes me a few minutes. Master, from now on, you don't need to go begging for food. Just tell me whatever you want to eat, and I'll find a way to get it for you. Unlike that Monkey, who grabs a few wild fruits and fobs you off."
Zhu Bajie pressed his advantage, shooting another glance at Sun Wukong.
"Bajie, I'm a monk. There's no need to be so extravagant just for a meal. Besides, to show my sincerity in seeking the scriptures, I'm practicing our Buddhist Sect's ascetic discipline: eating at a hundred households and walking ten thousand miles."
Tang Sanzang was quite tempted, but he had principles of his own.
"Master, your disciple understands even without you saying it. But out here in the wilderness, there aren't any households. Surely you can't just eat wild fruit? Monkey and I are both immortals. Getting you some food won't hold anything up."
Zhu Bajie urged him again. "Master, surely you won't make me throw all this away? Cuilan put her heart into making it herself. She hasn't even had a chance to show you her filial devotion yet. This is a small token of her regard. If you don't like it, next time-next time, I promise it won't happen again."
In any case, Zhu Bajie had a reason for everything. He understood Tang Sanzang's affected reluctance, too.
Still, he had to put on the proper show.
"All right, Bajie, just this once. Don't waste so much time next time. Wukong hasn't done anything wrong, either."
Naturally, Tang Sanzang agreed with a show of reluctance, but he also spoke up for Sun Wukong to spare his feelings.
"Yes, yes, Master. I promise I won't do this next time."
That was what