Meanwhile, Bajie ground the ink, stealing glances up from time to time. He saw Ao Tu writing various punishments on the paper, such as "Thunderstrike the Demon Monkey, Burn the Demon Monkey, Axe-Split the Demon Monkey..."
The sight sent a shudder through Bajie, and he dared not look again.
Outside.
Wukong tumbled up and down, turning somersault after somersault, yet he could not get out. He exhausted himself, and somehow landed before a wooden house.
Wukong was somewhat at a loss when he heard hoofbeats behind him. White Dragon Horse, carrying the unconscious Tang Sanzang, had been fleeing in circles for who knew how long, only to arrive here as well.
Almost at the same time, Sha Wujing flew in from afar. Equally exhausted, he dropped from his cloud with a thud and landed before the wooden house.
Sha Wujing said, "Eldest Brother, why are you here too?"
Wukong said, "There's something strange about this place. One somersault takes Old Sun a hundred and eight thousand li. I turned who knows how many just now. Normally, I would have long since gone beyond the heavens, yet somehow I've landed at this Wooden House Place."
Sha Wujing said, "I headed west all the way, and I ended up here too."
Wukong said, "Carry Master on your back. Let's go inside and have a look."
At this, Sha Wujing lifted the unconscious Tang Sanzang from the horse's back onto his own and walked to the door with Wukong.
Wukong knocked on the door and said, "Is anyone inside?"
The door opened.
"Bajie!" Wukong exclaimed happily.
Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, why are you in there?"
Bajie said nothing, merely pointing inside.
Wukong looked in and saw Ao Tu sitting inside the wooden house.
Wukong's expression changed instantly. At last, he sighed and