After hearing him out, Bajie glanced at Sha Wujing and chuckled.
"Not bad, Old Sha. You've improved."
Sha Wujing stood there with a guileless look, scratching his head.
Bajie stuck out his belly, patted his shoulder, and declared with perfect assurance:
"But how could Old Pig ever forget what Master said?"
"I was just testing you."
Sha Wujing's eyes lit up as understanding dawned on him.
"I knew it! How could Second Brother forget? So you were testing me on purpose!"
Bajie gave him a thumbs-up.
"Well done. Keep at it."
Little White Dragon stood to one side, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
He looked at Bajie's utterly self-assured expression, then at Sha Wujing, who had actually believed him. Without a word, he slowly closed his eyes and pressed a hand to his temple.
As though he had a splitting headache.
Wukong heard every word and was thoroughly amused.
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom braced himself against the desk and slowly stood.
As the last name was recorded, the vermilion brush in his hand finally rolled to the floor.
His hand had swollen.
Vermilion ink stained his knuckles.
The brush shaft had also rubbed his palm raw. Tiny beads of blood mingled with the ink in a dark red smear.
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom looked at the Grand Tutor, his voice painfully hoarse.
"Grand Tutor, issue another edict."
"I will dictate. Record it yourself."
The Grand Tutor hurriedly assented.
The Ruler of Chechi Kingdom spoke each word distinctly:
"Effective immediately, examine the rolls of the dead, return their remains, establish burial grounds for the unclaimed, restore temple lands, compensate surviving families, and review wrongful convictions."
"Any official who conceals, omits, or suppresses the report of even one person shall be dismissed, imprisoned, and forever barred from