Six-Eared Macaque answered without hesitation.
Bajie stared at him for a long while, unable to find a reply, then turned to Wukong as though to confirm he had not misheard.
Wukong shrugged. "He said Bodhisattva Manjushri told him personally. That's why I brought you over to see for yourselves."
Bajie asked again, "So you came here on your own?"
Six-Eared Macaque answered, "My master brought me here."
Bajie could not quite wrap his head around it. "The Bodhisattva went out of his way to bring you to us so you could be our ordeal?"
Six-Eared Macaque nodded. "Master said the karmic conditions had ripened, so he sent me here, both to repay a kindness and to meet the kalpa."
"Master said that when he took me away back then, he had already told the Holy Monk that a wish made on the Wish-Granting Stone came at a price. My becoming the Holy Monk's ordeal is that price."
Everyone's gaze settled on Xuanzang. He nodded lightly. "The Bodhisattva did indeed say that back then."
At this, Bajie rubbed his belly, circled Six-Eared Macaque once, and clicked his tongue twice.
"What a strange ordeal. Every one before this hid itself away and dug a pit for us to fall into. But this one comes running over to introduce himself first."
Little White Dragon suddenly asked, "Then what are you planning to do?"
"I don't know."
"When does it start?"
"I don't know."
"What do you need us to do?"
"That, I know."
This time, Six-Eared Macaque answered much faster. He nodded. "Master only told me to learn skills from the Holy Monk, the Great Sage, and all you Elders."
"Whatever you're willing to teach me, I'll learn. And then I have to find my own wish."
Bajie opened his mouth, then