Fireflies filled the sky like shattered stardust, vanishing inch by inch into the dark night over White Tiger Ridge.
The skeleton stood rooted to the spot. The green flames churning in its sockets shrank, congealing into two cold stars the size of beans. It craned its head, its neck bones rigid, and stared fixedly at the empty space where the woman in red had dissolved.
After a long while, its joints grated dryly.
It slowly turned its head toward Xuanzang on the bluestone.
"Holy monk."
Its voice was barely audible, like wind passing through hollow, rotten wood.
"Was she delivered? Has she been reborn in the Pure Land of Bliss?"
Xuanzang gazed calmly into those hollow sockets and gently shook his head.
"This humble monk does not know."
The skeleton swayed slightly, its jaw working with difficulty. "Then she... isn't suffering anymore, is she?"
Xuanzang shook his head again.
"This humble monk does not know that either. But I believe she has let go."
The green flames suddenly flared!
The skeleton lunged at Xuanzang.
Crack-
It seized the collar of Xuanzang's robes in a death grip and dragged him bodily off the bluestone. Its jaws clattered frantically together, making a shrill, teeth-aching sound.
"You don't know this! You don't know that! What kind of holy monk are you!"
"Then why spout all this nonsense! If you won't deliver her, who will you deliver? Me? I don't need you to deliver me! You couldn't deliver me anyway! Go deliver her! She never did anything wrong!"
Not far away, Little White Dragon's gaze turned abruptly cold. His spear spun a silver blossom in his palm as he stepped forward.
Clang!
The Iron Cudgel swept across its path, firmly blocking the spear tip in midair.
Wukong held the Golden Cudgel in a one-handed