Red light surged from Sanzang's palm, washing over his knuckles and wrist before flowing up Xuanzang's arm.
Xuanzang lowered his eyes to watch.
Unlike before, the red light was very quiet.
It flowed along his cuff, slipped into his chest, then flashed toward the point between his brows and vanished in an instant.
Sanzang's figure faded with it.
Only a golden-red carp remained on the ground, its tail swaying gently.
Sha Wujing's eyes were red, not with sorrow, but with emotion.
He slowly rose, pressed his palms together, and bowed to Xuanzang.
"Amitabha Buddha. Master, you are compassionate."
Wukong also stepped forward and pressed his palms together before Xuanzang.
"Amitabha Buddha. Master, you are compassionate!"
Little White Dragon stood to one side, pressing his palms together as he murmured, "Amitabha Buddha."
Bajie patted his belly and chuckled.
"What's gotten into you all? Hasn't our master always been like this? You're acting like it's your first time meeting him. Why make it so stiff and formal?"
Guanyin, who had been standing beneath the Bodhi Tree, came over.
Then she bent down and gently scooped the golden-red carp into her basket.
As the carp entered the basket, its tail brushed the bamboo strips, splashing up a few golden-red droplets.
Guanyin looked up and nodded to Xuanzang.
Then she smiled faintly, her smile a little less aloof and a little more softly feminine.
"Excellent, excellent."
"Xuanzang, this time I owe you my thanks."
She gently lifted the Purple Bamboo Basket.
The golden-red carp flicked its tail inside, and a ring of shimmering water reflected against her fingertips.
"Had you not subdued the Heart Demon, my Dharma Form could never have been complete. Thank you, too, for delivering them."
Xuanzang bowed slightly. "I dare not take the credit. It was your compassion, Bodhisattva. My