The cave suddenly fell silent.
Sanzang knelt on the bluestone floor.
His back was perfectly straight.
Yet his head hung low.
His hands were joined before his chest, fingertips pressed together.
He looked utterly devout, as though worshipping the Buddha and seeking scriptures.
Bajie stood beside him, completely bewildered, his mouth slightly open and his eyes darting back and forth.
This time, he could not make sense of it either.
He scratched his cheek and opened his mouth.
"What... what's going on here?"
Sha Wujing looked at Xuanzang, then at Sanzang.
Two masters.
One standing.
One kneeling.
The same face, only a few steps apart, yet worlds away.
Seeing Sanzang kneeling on the floor, he stepped forward to help him up.
But Bajie grabbed him.
Sha Wujing turned back and asked, puzzled:
"Second Brother, why're you holding me back?"
Bajie answered in a low voice:
"Old Sha, what are you doing?"
Sha Wujing replied in his simple, earnest way:
"He's hurt. He shouldn't be kneeling. I'm going to help him up."
"The hell you are!" Bajie snapped. "Are you stupid? He knelt down himself."
Bajie jerked his chin toward Wukong. "Didn't you see how Brother Monkey looked just now? Master hasn't said anything either. Something must be going on."
Hearing that, Sha Wujing drew his foot back.
Little White Dragon stood beside Xuanzang with his spear in hand, its tip slightly raised. His gaze swept around the cave.
Bajie noticed and hurried over to ask quietly, "White, what're you looking for?"
"Demons," Little White Dragon answered softly.
Bajie froze.
"Demons? Where? Didn't Eldest Brother deal with them all?"
"I don't know." He paused. "That's why I'm looking."
Bajie clutched his head. "You... is there not a single normal one among you?"
Little White Dragon ignored him and kept his spear