"Dong-dong-dong-"
The bells of Baolin Temple rang out in the distance.
A-Hu raised his head, swiveled his ears, then lay back down.
Bajie rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head. His snoring stopped for a moment, then resumed.
Little White Dragon had gone to bed late the night before. His brows were tightly knitted, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, as though he were having a nightmare.
Xuanzang, Wukong, and Sha Wujing were already up, performing their morning devotions.
A knock came at the door.
Sha Wujing stood, tiptoed to the door, and opened it.
Only a thin line of gray-white had appeared on the horizon.
Yongde stood in the courtyard with two young novices behind him, carrying trays bearing several plates of vegetarian pastries and a pot of hot tea.
When Sha Wujing opened the door, Yongde pressed his palms together and bowed slightly.
Sha Wujing hurriedly returned the greeting.
"Is the holy monk awake?" Yongde asked quietly.
Sha Wujing nodded. "He's doing his morning devotions. My fellow disciples are still resting."
Yongde nodded and handed Sha Wujing the trays. "Here's some breakfast. We won't go inside and disturb you."
He stepped back twice, bowed again, and left.
Sha Wujing carried the trays inside and set everything on the table.
Xuanzang opened his eyes.
"Master, please have some breakfast," Sha Wujing said.
Xuanzang nodded.
Before long,
Xuanzang and the others had packed their belongings and were ready to depart.
As they left the temple, Yongde stood on the steps outside the mountain gate.
The morning light had just spilled over the distant peaks, gilding the main hall behind him in pale gold.
He was not wearing that eye-catching scarlet cassock, only a plain monk's robe, and he fingered a string of prayer beads.