Night made no difference beneath the water.
Inside the guest room, the silence lay heavy.
Bajie snored as loudly as ever. Sha Wujing slept soundly against the luggage, while A-Hu curled into a ball in the corner, his tiger ears twitching gently.
Xuanzang had not gone to bed. He sat cross-legged on a rush cushion on the floor, already deep in meditation.
Little White Dragon leaned against the floor behind the door, his arms folded, the Silver Spear standing within reach and his back pressed against the cold stone wall.
He had not fallen asleep. Ever since entering this residence, ever since seeing Tuo Jie's warmly smiling face, something had weighed on his chest-not heavily, but it would not go away.
Wukong lay on the table, one leg dangling down, his eyes closed.
Suddenly!
"BOOM-!!"
A tremendous explosion rang out.
The entire cavern residence-collapsed.
Little White Dragon did not freeze or hesitate. His body moved faster than his mind.
His left hand formed a spell seal, conjuring a water-blue hemispherical barrier that enclosed Xuanzang completely.
Even as he finished, he kicked off hard and sprang up. The Silver Spear was already clenched in his palm as he lunged straight in front of Xuanzang.
"Senior Brother! Master!"
"BANG!"
Wukong sprang up.
Without touching the ground, he flipped in midair, already drawing the Golden Cudgel from behind his ear. With a flourish into the wind, it grew as thick as a bowl's mouth. Golden light burst from its shaft, spreading a dark-gold barrier above them all.
Sha Wujing snatched up the luggage and reached Xuanzang in two strides.
The first blast hurled Bajie off his bed, sending him rolling twice across the floor.
Still half asleep, he grabbed the Nine-Toothed Rake and shouted at the top of his lungs:
**"What's happening?