"That smells amazing!"
Barely had Xuanzang finished speaking when Bajie's nose twitched twice.
He had been covering his ears a moment ago, but now he craned his neck and looked toward the lakeshore.
"Food!"
Bajie took off running.
Wukong called after him, "Idiot, slow down! No one's going to steal your share!"
"Brother Monkey, what do you know? Food doesn't taste good once it's cold!"
Bajie answered without slowing down. If anything, he ran faster.
He burst out of the woods and raced down the last stretch of stone steps to the lake.
The Earth God sat beside their luggage, both hands resting on his walking stick, his head nodding.
The Mountain God squatted a short distance away.
An earthenware pot rested between two rocks, with a few pine branches burning beneath it. Steam made the lid rattle up and down, and the lake breeze carried the aroma of vegetables far into the distance.
Hearing footsteps, the Mountain God turned and saw Bajie, then Xuanzang and the others coming down the mountain path. He hurriedly called, "Earth God, wake up! They're back!"
The Earth God jerked his head up, and his walking stick tilted sideways.
He quickly steadied it, straightened his robes, and joined the Mountain God in going to greet them.
Bajie, however, had eyes only for the pot.
He waved a hand and grinned. "Oh, why stand on ceremony, you two?"
"What have you got cooking in there? Why does it smell so good?"
The Mountain God rubbed his hands, which were smeared with grass ash.
"There isn't much worth eating in these mountains."
"I found some wild greens and mushrooms, cut up a couple of pieces of dried bamboo shoot, and put them all in the pot."
"I thought the Holy Monk and the rest of you