"If I hadn't known Chu Xingchen, I'm afraid this disciple would never have been able to see you here."
Wukong sounded rather resigned to his fate, his expression saying he might as well let things be.
The old monk began to catch on. Presumably, nothing good had happened to this Buddhist Child after meeting Chu Xingchen either.
With a soft chuckle, he came to the point:
"It must not have been easy to get in here. Has the Great Thunderclap Temple given you some task?"
Wukong answered tactfully:
"All the Buddhas are concerned about whether you are well."
The old monk chuckled and shook his head. "You are a junior, and a Buddhist Child. You may speak plainly to me. I won't blame you. Do those above wish to demand why I did not intervene?"
"I made three wagers with them. I lost, so I could not intervene."
"Just take that answer back. Whatever follows will be my concern."
"Is there anything else you wish to ask?"
Wukong bowed slightly. Whatever else, this had solved a major problem for him. He then continued his questions:
"If trouble arises on the Western Ox-He Continent, might Buddha Ruzhong lend his aid?"
The old monk nodded very quickly. "Naturally. If I am able, I will naturally act."
Hearing this ambiguous answer, Wukong directly filed it under "will not act." But this was not a question he had wanted to ask; he was asking on behalf of the Buddhist cultivators following him.
He cupped his hands and bowed. "Thank you, Buddha. Do you have any other message for the Great Thunderclap Temple?"
The old monk answered calmly:
"All is well with me. Tell them not to worry."
Wukong bowed again. Having understood that this Buddha could not be relied upon, he prepared to take