They traveled like that for nearly another half-day.
The Tongtian River was still wide.
Layers of white mist receded across its surface.
The distant shoreline remained suspended in the fog.
They could see it.
Yet it seemed they could never reach it.
Old Tortoise moved slower and slower.
His shell had been as steady as a stone platform earlier, but now it kept trembling faintly.
Water streamed down his face.
Once it fell into the river, there was no telling whether it was water or tears.
He held back for a long time.
Then he finally ventured to ask.
"Holy Monk..."
Xuanzang sat beside A-Hu.
His palms were pressed together, his eyes closed in silence.
Old Tortoise paused, then continued:
"Holy Monk."
"Old Tortoise thought about it just now."
"This business of dying once I cross the river..."
Xuanzang kept his eyes closed and did not answer.
A little more time passed.
Old Tortoise still refused to give up.
"Holy Monk."
"If Old Tortoise doesn't go ashore..."
Xuanzang did not open his eyes. He merely said calmly, "Benefactor, this humble monk does not speak falsehoods. You will die upon reaching shore. There is no need to ask again."
Having said that,
Xuanzang closed his eyes once more.
He spoke no further.
A breath caught in Old Tortoise's throat.
Silence settled over his shell for a moment.
Bajie sat to one side, holding the Rake.
He had been rather bewildered earlier, but now he seemed to have caught on.
Seeing this, he hugged the Rake closer and sighed.
"Oh, Old Tortoise."
"Why put yourself through this?"
Old Tortoise did not even raise his head as he slowly moved forward.
Bajie said, "Everyone has their own fate. Heaven decrees it."
"Didn't you want to know how long you had to live in