Wukong had been stung by the monk's retorts and seethed inwardly, but since the other man was an ordinary mortal, there was nothing he could do.
With the monk gone and no one to guide them, master and disciples could only make their own way to the guest quarters at the back.
Fortunately, temples everywhere had much the same layout, so they were unlikely to lose their way.
They passed several Buddhist halls and saw workmen hauling stone and timber to build a Three Pure Ones Hall.
"So they really do worship the Three Pure Ones here," Wukong said.
Tang Sanzang sighed. "How can it be good to muddle Buddhism and Daoism together?"
"Leave them be," Bajie said. "Let them worship whatever they please. It has nothing to do with us."
The four continued toward the back, reached the guest quarters, and settled into a meditation room.
A little later, two monks came carrying buckets of rice on shoulder poles. As they passed Tang Sanzang's quarters, they paused and peered inside. Seeing Tang Sanzang and the others, they did not linger but continued toward the back.
At this, Bajie rubbed his belly. "We've offended the monks here, and now we don't even get a meal."
"As the saying goes," Sha Wujing said, "all temples and monasteries under heaven are one family, and anyone who comes calling has a share of three measures of rice. Yet the monks here won't even give us a meal."
"Alas!" Tang Sanzang said. "Let us bear with it for now. Tomorrow, we'll see whether we can have an audience with this country's ruler. Once our travel papers have been endorsed, we'll leave."
Unable to bear seeing his master go hungry, Wukong said, "Master, stay here with the others. I'll go and see if I can