Golden light crossed the threshold and continued spreading outward along the long flight of steps before the hall.
Bajie had been leaning beside the stone steps, catching his breath.
His mouth, which had been so swollen it was skewed to one side, had gone down considerably, and most of the agonizing pain that bored into his bones and shot straight to his head had receded.
When the pain had been at its worst, the Ren Water within him had already begun circulating on its own, washing over the injury again and again.
An icy chill flowed along his meridians.
Each time it passed the corner of his mouth, it suppressed the burning pain a little more.
The wound still throbbed now, but the pain had become bearable.
He worked his jaw, then tried opening his mouth.
"B-Brother Monkey."
His voice was still somewhat slurred, but at least his words were clear.
Wukong glanced back at him.
"Idiot, you're better?"
"Almost. The stuff Brother Miaole gave me really works."
Bajie touched the corner of his mouth and drew in a soft breath of pain, then bent down to pick up the Nine-Toothed Rake.
"But this demon's divine ability is vicious. It hurt like death."
Wukong said nothing and turned back to the demoness.
The golden light had already reached her.
She stood below the stone steps, her trident hanging at an angle by her side.
Golden light spread across her shoulders.
At that very instant.
Wukong's expression changed.
Behind the demoness.
An enormous black shadow clung tightly to her back.
Compared with the things inside the hall earlier, this one was far darker and far larger.
It almost completely enveloped her from behind.
Its pitch-black head rested against the back of her skull.
Two arms pressed down from either side of