Inside the west guest room.
The two Ginseng Fruits lay quietly on the tray, like sleeping infants.
Xuanzang raised his eyes, swept his gaze over his four disciples, and said, "Bajie says these are supreme treasures, Wuji says they come from a spiritual root, and Wujing has seen them in Heaven."
"But in your master's eyes, these are clearly two infants not yet three months old. Their limbs are whole, their brows and eyes lifelike."
Everyone froze.
Sun Wukong scratched his cheek. "Master, these are fruits. They grew on a plant, not out of a person. They may look human, but they have neither soul nor spirit. They're just fruits."
"Are they?"
Xuanzang murmured, and the crimson [Red-Blood Buddha Wheel] appeared.
This time, the wheel turned soundlessly, its red light flowing like water as it gently covered the two fruits.
They were like cold, dead ashes.
He pondered for a moment, then looked at Wukong.
"Wukong, go invite those two immortal attendants here."
Seeing his master's grave expression, Wukong did not dare delay. In a flash, he was out the door.
Before long.
Qingfeng and Mingyue were "invited" back by Wukong.
The moment they entered and saw the four disciples gathered around the tray, their hearts lurched. They thought the monk meant to call them to account.
Qingfeng forced himself to remain composed. "Holy monk, why have you summoned us? Is it... that our local offering is not to your taste?"
Before Xuanzang could speak, Zhu Bajie jumped forward, pointed at their noses, and grumbled:
"Hey, hey, you two little Daoists! If you were giving us treasures like Ginseng Fruits, why didn't you say so? Why hide it and call them a local offering?"
"You made our master think they were babies, so he didn't dare take a bite.