The bow shuddered gently as it bumped against the western bank.
The woman put away her short oar and braced her bamboo pole against a rock on the bank. The boat swung sideways through half a turn, then came to rest beside a wooden mooring post.
Wukong leaped ashore first and reached out to hold the bow.
"Careful, Master."
Little White Dragon helped Xuanzang off the boat next.
Sha Wujing shouldered the luggage, turned sideways to pass through the cabin, and stepped steadily onto the riverbank.
Bajie remained at the stern, one hand on the gunwale and the other holding down the gangplank.
Only after A-Hu had stepped ashore did he leave the boat.
The woman stood at the stern, watching each of their movements. She still held her bamboo pole, and the smile on her face never changed.
Xuanzang turned and pressed his palms together in greeting.
"Thank you for the trouble, benefactress."
The woman smiled and nodded.
She did not ask for any money. Instead, she bent down to pick up the mooring rope, looped it around the post beside the water, and slowly wound it around twice.
After tightening the knot, she gave it another hard tug.
The little boat rocked against the bank.
With that done, the woman followed the path beneath the willows toward the farmhouse.
When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.
She turned around, her gaze sweeping over them once more.
"Won't you take some water before you go?"
The woman raised a hand and pointed toward the river.
"This river water is wonderfully clear and sweet."
"Travelers on long journeys usually drink a few mouthfuls when they reach this place."
Bajie glanced back.
The river flowed quietly beneath the shade of the willows.
Everything looked clean, without even a single fish