"I came to be your trial."
Six-Eared Macaque answered at once, without even thinking.
The smile on Wukong's face faltered. "What?"
Thinking he hadn't heard clearly, Six-Eared Macaque earnestly repeated, "Master said your next trial would be me."
Wukong stared at the little gray-and-gold monkey before him for a long while before slowly narrowing his eyes.
"Little Six, did Bodhisattva Manjushri say that himself?"
"Yes."
Six-Eared Macaque nodded. "Master said he warned the Holy Monk when he took me away back then. Now that the destined time has come, he sent me here."
Wukong remembered those words too, and the corners of his mouth gradually lifted. "Some trial you are. A few mountain bandits nearly sold you off first."
Six-Eared Macaque rubbed his ears sheepishly.
Wukong folded his arms. "Then what did your master send you here for? To let us give you a beating ahead of time?"
Six-Eared Macaque immediately shook his head. "No. To follow you and learn your skills."
"Hmm?" Wukong pointed at himself. "Skills? We're supposed to teach you?"
"Yes. Master said that over the years, he's taught me plenty of what he ought to teach me, and none of what he shouldn't."
"Master also said the Great Sage has vast divine powers, and each of the elders has his own strengths, so I should learn from all of you."
Wukong laughed at that. "Your master certainly knows how to arrange things. He sends his own disciple over for us to teach, and that counts as a trial?"
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
"You also have to help me find my own wish."
At this, Six-Eared Macaque lowered his head to look at his hands. "Master said I only became what I am today because of the Holy Monk's wish."
The smile on Wukong's face faded