At those words, Little White Dragon looked at Xuanzang.
Bajie stopped looking around and turned back as well. Sha Wujing paused and steadied the carrying pole on his shoulder.
Xuanzang nodded gently.
"There is indeed more to it."
Bajie immediately edged closer. "I knew it! Bodhisattva Manjushri brought Little Six here himself. Surely he wasn't just shirking his duties and telling him to find some 'aspiration' while he was at it. There has to be more behind this..."
Xuanzang glanced at him, his voice reproachful. "Bajie, do not speak nonsense. How can you make such jokes about the Bodhisattva?"
Bajie ducked his head and hastily mimed slapping his own mouth, then chuckled sheepishly. "Master, I was wrong. My tongue just ran ahead of me. Please go on."
Only then did Xuanzang look away.
"The Bodhisattva sent Six-Eared Macaque here to enter into karmic ties. In doing so, he was also protecting him."
Sha Wujing's expression tightened at once. "Master, what's wrong with Little Six? Isn't he all right?"
Xuanzang said gently, "He is all right for now. But if he carries on this way, I fear that one day he may harm himself."
Bajie backed up two steps and scratched his ear, baffled. "Surely not? Those ears of his are sharp beyond belief. What in this world could escape him? Besides, he had Bodhisattva Manjushri protecting him before, and now he has our whole family. Who could possibly hurt him for no reason?"
Little White Dragon's brows stirred. "Master, do you mean... he might destroy himself?"
Xuanzang fell silent for a moment. "Not necessarily. His life may not be what suffers. He might gradually lose his intelligence and awareness instead."
A mountain breeze swept along the slope, gently lifting his monk's robe.
"When water fills to the brim, it overflows;