Watch the clouds gather and scatter, listen quietly as flowers bloom and fall, and let the tides rise and ebb

When Cheng Yu let Niu Ba out, Niu Ba was chewing on something.

He looked at Cheng Yu.

"Smack, smack. You-smack-finished-smack-already? Smack, smack."

Cheng Yu first nodded, then stroked Niu Ba's head and said,

"Swallow what's in your mouth before you speak next time, all right, Niu Niu?"

Niu Ba turned his head away.

"Hmph! Why should I listen to you? Besides, what's it to you whether I talk while I eat?"

Cheng Yu patted Niu Ba's head and shook his own as he said,

"I thought you came from a distinguished family among the Demon Race, Niu Niu. Surely you knew not to smack your lips while eating. So you didn't know after all."

Confusion showed in Niu Ba's eyes, but he still stubbornly said,

"I... of course I knew! You just happened to let me out while I was eating, and I happened to ask you a question, that's all!"

Cheng Yu looked enlightened.

"Oh! So you did know! I thought so. How could a descendant of one of the Great Clans not know such basic manners? Well done, Niu Niu!"

Niu Ba turned his head away again.

"Hmph! Don't underestimate me! I know lots of things!"

Amused, Cheng Yu answered as he swung himself onto Niu Ba's back.

"Yes, yes, you know more than anyone. Heave-ho!"

He pointed toward the road they had come along and said,

"We won't have to rush on our way back this time. Let's go, Niu Niu. First, we'll go back and see how many Origin Stones we got. If there are any to spare, we'll have a nice meal before setting off!"

"Great, great! Then I want Roasted Ox Leg!"

"Fine, fine! If we have any to spare, we'll have Roasted Ox Leg."

Beneath the bright moonlight, Cheng Yu rode on