Dawn had already broken.
In the meditation chamber, Xuanzang sat in a chair silently reciting scriptures, while Bajie lay half-reclined on the bed, idly patting his belly. Little White Dragon leaned by the window, gazing outside, and A-Hu lay at the inner doorway, his tail gently sweeping the floor.
They all waited quietly for Wukong and Sha Wujing to return.
Bajie yawned and grumbled, "Why isn't Brother Monkey back yet? He only went to fetch a soul. What's taking him so long?"
Little White Dragon did not turn around. "What's the hurry? They haven't been gone long!"
"I'm hungry, that's why." Bajie rubbed his belly. "After all that running around all night, there's nothing left in my stomach."
He had barely finished speaking when the door opened.
Wukong strode in, with Sha Wujing following behind.
Bajie sprang from his chair. "Brother Monkey, did you find him?"
Wukong gave him a sidelong look. "When has your Brother Monkey ever bungled a job?"
He turned to Xuanzang. "Master, shall I revive him now?"
Xuanzang nodded.
Wukong extended his hand, and a ball of dim yellow light drifted out of his palm. It hovered in midair for a moment, then floated slowly toward the bed and stopped above the corpse.
Wukong turned his wrist and gently pressed downward.
"Go!"
The light sank softly into the opening between the corpse's brows.
Then he stepped up beside the Wuji Kingdom Ruler, drew a breath, and blew it out hard.
A stream of clear qi passed from his mouth straight into the corpse's throat. It traveled through the Storied Tower, circled the Hall of Light, descended to the elixir field, then reversed its course from the Bubbling Springs back to the Muddy Pellet Palace.
"Whoosh-"
The corpse shuddered violently.
Then he rolled over and sat up,