Only then did Sha Wujing shoulder the water buckets and follow the old man out of the courtyard.
Six-Eared Macaque had been looking toward the doorway, but when Xuanzang turned around, he lowered his head again.
The old man was still rambling about which household they should deliver to first. Sha Wujing answered each instruction, his honest, gentle voice gradually fading into the distance, scattered through the village by the wind.
Six-Eared Macaque sat by the window, withdrawing his hands from the sill and slowly settling them on his knees.
The chair beside the table gave a soft creak as Xuanzang sat down opposite him.
The little monkey glanced up, then avoided his gaze again.
Xuanzang did not press him.
The courtyard fell quiet. From beside the well came the faint clunk of buckets knocking together, once, then again. Six-Eared Macaque's ears twitched, as though about to turn that way, only to stop short.
Only when those sounds had faded into the distance as well did Xuanzang call gently:
"Six-Eared Macaque."
The little monkey's ears gave a faint tremble.
"Now only you and I remain." Xuanzang looked at him, his tone as calm as when he expounded the scriptures. "Can you tell your martial uncle what exactly you heard, and why you lied?"
Six-Eared Macaque's fingers curled inward.
"Martial Uncle..."
Outside the South Heaven Gate, Wukong was the first to lower his cloud.
Upon seeing him, Growth Heavenly King came forward and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Great Sage. Where are you bound?"
"The Doushuai Palace!"
Wukong answered without breaking stride and headed straight inside. Bajie and A-Hu landed behind him. Hurrying after him, Bajie called, "Brother, slow down! Charging along like that, you might run into another immortal, and then we'll have to stop and apologize!"
Growth Heavenly King