Guanyin Bodhisattva was a little annoyed.
Xuanzang had barely left before saddling her with a mess.
There was no helping it.
After all, hadn't she approved most of the rotten dealings surrounding the Journey to the West back then?
So, the moment Xuanzang left, Guanyin wasted no time. She immediately sent a talismanic summons to Lesser Mount Sumeru, inviting Lingji Bodhisattva over.
They were old acquaintances and usually got along well. There was no need to dance around with empty courtesies.
Lingji Bodhisattva had only just stepped off his cloud.
Guanyin didn't even pour him tea. She went straight to the point. "Lingji, stop rolling those prayer beads. The Heavenly Court has its eye on you. Xuanzang just came to see me too. What he meant was that you should find a way to return the merit, so everyone can live in peace."
The words had barely left her mouth.
The kindly face on which Lingji Bodhisattva always wore a compassionate smile could no longer hold its expression.
The Heavenly Court was investigating him?
He could accept that.
But what was Xuanzang playing at, throwing stones down the well while he was already trapped inside?
They all belonged to the Buddhist Sect, branches of the same tree sharing the same breath. Back then, he'd even lent them the Wind-Calming Pearl to help subdue the Yellow Wind Monster, and lent it again when they crossed Flaming Mountain, helping them complete the Eighty-One Tribulations. Now Xuanzang was swooping in to scoop up the spoils?
"This is going too far!"
"I won't stand for it!"
Lingji Bodhisattva flew into a rage, his monk's robes billowing without a breeze. "That scoundrel Xuanzang dares stab me in the back? I'll ride a cloud to Pure Heart Temple right now and demand an explanation!"
"Lingji."
Guanyin