Xuanzang did not answer him. Instead, he slowly straightened, turned, and bowed toward Diting, who lay on the other side of the Lotus Pedestal with his head buried deep beneath his paws.
"Divine beast, might I trouble you once more?"
Xuanzang's voice echoed through the great hall.
Diting opened one eye beside the Lotus Pedestal.
He replied helplessly, "This humble beast would not dare refuse. Please speak."
"May I ask, divine beast!"
"Had we not intervened, what would have become of the Blackwater River God three hundred years from now, according to his original destined course? What end awaited him?"
Profound, complicated helplessness showed on Diting's otherwise unreadable tiger face. He sighed heavily and answered in a low voice:
"Three hundred years later, the old River God's resentment would have deepened, his obsession sunk into his bones, and he would have trespassed into the sea eye of the Northern Sea."
"The sea eye is forbidden ground of the Dragon Tribe. Trespassing there is itself a capital offense punishable by the destruction of soul and spirit."
"And his powers were meager. Without outside assistance, he could never have descended into that realm of lethal cold in the depths of the sea eye."
"So he would have burned through the very essence of his soul just to force his way inside. After risking everything to reach the sea eye, he would have happened upon Prince Mo Ang on patrol."
"After telling Mo Ang the truth of what happened all those years ago, his obsession would have dissipated. He would have dispersed his own soul, forever beyond rebirth."
Having finished, Diting closed his eye and buried his head beneath his paws again, saying no more.
Xuanzang pressed his palms together and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for telling me, divine beast."
Then he turned