Inside the side hall, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Tuo Jie's face darkened completely.
The malice and viciousness he had struggled to hide in his eyes finally spilled out.
He drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the brutality that threatened to erupt from him.
His stiff facial muscles twitched as he forced a smile:
"This... this humble dragon truly never imagined that the Journey to the West would be so... so difficult..."
"Your realms are far too lofty. This humble dragon cannot compare to even a ten-thousandth of your attainment."
Xuanzang watched him without exposing the pretense. He merely shook his head gently and said:
"How about this, benefactor? Go back and think it over carefully tonight. Give this humble monk your answer tomorrow."
He turned toward Sha Wujing:
"Wujing, fetch our benefactor a copy of the Heart Sutra you transcribed earlier."
Sha Wujing immediately took a thin handwritten booklet from the luggage and handed it to Tuo Jie.
Xuanzang looked at Tuo Jie, his gaze as calm as ever:
"Benefactor, have a look through this sutra and read it. Come back tomorrow and give this humble monk your answer. Would that be agreeable?"
Tuo Jie reached out and accepted the sutra.
Looking at Sha Wujing's guileless smile, he felt his veins bulge involuntarily. He clenched his back teeth hard, hiding every trace of viciousness in his eyes.
Holding the sutra in both hands, he bent deeply at the waist and bowed:
"Thank you, holy monk... for your compassion. This humble dragon will return and think it over carefully."
"This humble dragon was presumptuous tonight. Please forgive me, holy monk!"
"I will have someone show you to your quarters. It is getting late. Please retire early."
Tuo Jie stood beneath the covered walkway, his face wreathed in