A familiar figure was the first to leap through the light.
It was none other than Xuanzang's foremost disciple, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong.
Wukong landed on both feet, excitement flashing in his golden eyes.
He strode over to Little White Dragon and looked him up and down.
His silver armor was shattered and his body covered in blood, but his eyes were clear and his breathing steady. He even possessed an indefinable sharpness that had not been there before.
"Heh heh! Little White! That's my good junior brother!"
Wukong slapped Little White Dragon on his uninjured right shoulder and grinned.
"I heard every word you said from up above! Now that was satisfying! That's what a junior brother of Old Sun should be! A true man who stands tall between heaven and earth!"
Little White Dragon swayed slightly under the slap, but did not wear his usual cold expression.
The corners of his mouth lifted, and for once, he returned a genuine smile.
"Thank you, eldest brother."
"Lie'er!"
An anxious, hoarse cry followed close behind.
The smile on Little White Dragon's face froze instantly.
He turned his head in disbelief and looked into the depths of the light.
A figure stumbled down toward him. His usually stern, composed face now bore unmistakable anxiety and unease.
It was the West Sea Dragon King, Ao Run.
Ao Run rushed up to Little White Dragon.
"Lie'er!"
Little White Dragon stared blankly at his father.
He had never imagined that his royal father would personally descend into such a deadly place to rescue him.
Or that he would look so disheveled, so frantic.
"F-Father?"
Little White Dragon's voice trembled slightly. "Why... why are you here?"
"You are my son! How could I hear you were in danger and not come?"