After Golden Cicada Child finished speaking, he sank to his knees, his figure as faint as a wick about to burn out.
"I beg the Bodhisattva for mercy."
Guanyin lowered her eyes to him, her expression unreadable. The clear light of the Pure Water Vase hovered at her fingertips.
Only a soft sigh could be heard.
The dust and light dispersed.
Sanzang did not move.
He stood there with his head bowed.
He looked at his palms.
Great King Linggan stood beside him, his twin hammers hanging down to the ground.
Their heads still glowed red.
He said nothing either, merely staring at Sanzang's face.
Wukong stood beside Xuanzang, still clutching his sleeve.
Subhuti walked forward.
His footsteps were very soft.
One step.
Two steps.
He stopped before Sanzang.
Sanzang's head remained bowed.
Subhuti watched him, fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"The World-Honored One once said: when the heart is bound to one person, the calamity is bound to that person as well."
"To dispel a great calamity, one must turn one's heart toward all living beings, rather than remain trapped in a single thought."
"But I did not listen."
"My attachment led me into darkness."
"And I truly showed contempt for the Buddhist Dharma."
Wukong abruptly raised his head.
"Master..."
Subhuti did not look at him.
He looked only at Sanzang.
"Fellow cultivator."
"When I entered this calamity, I said it was for myself, for him, and for all living beings."
"But this tenth incarnation was only for myself."
"I begged the Bodhisattva to create a dream for you."
"Little did I know that I was already trapped deep within a dream myself."
"Unwilling to wake."
At this point, he took half a step back.
His sleeves fell.
He bent before Sanzang in a deep bow.