Mount Luojia, Putuo, in the South Sea. The Purple Bamboo Forest.
The pond water was crystalline, and golden-scaled fish played among the ripples.
Guanyin Bodhisattva sat upright on the Lotus Pedestal, holding the Willow Branch and Pure Water Vase as she watched the ripples in the pond.
Those ripples spread in widening circles, stirred not by the flick of fishes' tails, but by fluctuations in the spiritual currents of the Three Realms reflected within.
Today, the water was terribly unsettled.
"Bodhisattva."
The Dragon Maiden approached bearing a pearl and reported softly, "The Pilgrim's third disciple, Ao WujI, requests an audience. He looks hurried, as though he has urgent business."
Guanyin's brows drew together slightly.
Wuji was a prince of the Dragon Tribe, thoughtful and composed. Nothing short of an earth-shattering matter could have left him so flustered.
"Send him in."
A moment later, Ao WujI strode into the Purple Bamboo Forest.
He had rushed all the way here, and fine beads of sweat had actually formed on his forehead.
At the sight of Guanyin, Wuji dispensed with the finer points of etiquette and dropped to his knees with a thud. "Your disciple, Ao WujI, pays his respects, Bodhisattva!"
Guanyin said gravely, "Wuji, your Dragon Tribe has its own Telepathic Transmission Secret Art. Why come in person, looking so bedraggled? Has Xuanzang caused trouble again?"
Ao WujI drew a deep breath and raised his head, his eyes full of solemn concern. "Bodhisattva, it was indeed Master who sent me."
"At Longevity Mountain Wuzhuang Temple, Master saw the Ginseng Fruit Tree..."
He paused. "Master said... he intends to knock the tree down."
"He also sent Eldest Brother and Second Brother to Shangqing Heaven to invite Great Immortal Zhenyuan back to watch him do it."
Guanyin's entire aura changed, her serenity vanishing.
But