Wukong nodded. "You blockhead, you actually have a point this time."
"The Kingdom of Women is one thing. Capturing a few passing men to have children isn't beyond understanding."
"But river water that can make someone conceive out of thin air? That's unheard of."
With the Golden Cudgel resting on his shoulder, he turned toward Xuanzang.
"Master, I examined the water carefully when we were on the river. I saw nothing strange about it. How could it have such an effect?"
Xuanzang fell silent for a moment, then said, "Wukong."
"Have you heard of dream-ghost intercourse syndrome?"
Wukong's eyes shifted. "Master, do you mean a ghost fetus?"
Xuanzang nodded.
Bajie looked bewildered. "Brother Monkey, what riddles are you two talking in now?"
He glanced around, then lowered his gaze to the ground beneath his feet.
"There are ghosts here too?"
Wukong said, "Blockhead, we're talking about an illness. What are you looking at the ground for?"
Little White Dragon asked, "Master, what is dream-ghost intercourse syndrome? What is a ghost fetus?"
Xuanzang explained slowly, "Humans are born of yin and yang, endowed with the refined essence of the five elements, and nourished by the spiritual energy of the five organs."
"When blood and qi flow smoothly, the organs are settled, and the mind holds fast within its dwelling, ordinary external evils find it difficult to invade."
"But when one's daily habits lose their order, eating and drinking become excessive, blood and qi decline, and spiritual energy scatters, external evils can slip through the weakness."
As Xuanzang finished speaking, Bajie reached up and scratched the back of his head.
"Can a single dream make you ill?"
"Dreams arise from movements of the spirit; illness is borne by the body."
Wukong shot him a glance. "Don't interrupt. Let Master finish."
Xuanzang continued,