Peace of Mind

Ao Lie

This chapter, described in a few words? What happens when you don't communicate SHIT to one another.

Also, dragon-boi is here!

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The fresh layer of snow on the ground reflects the light of the winter sun, the frigid landscape ahead of you mirroring the ice cold silence that holds your group in a vice-like grip. The last few days have been extremely quiet, it isn't as though there is much for the three of you to talk about. It's only unfortunate that the silence is as tense as it is.

If anyone has anything to say, it is usually the Tang Monk asking about taking a break to stop and eat, or setting up a place to camp for the night. The Monkey King has barely said anything, still fuming in silence over the incident with the gold that now encircles his head. You can feel his glare from time to time from where he walks, carrying his master's luggage. Despite the angry looks he sends your way, you keep your head up.

It doesn't stop the guilt that bubbles up into your chest and twists in your stomach, but you have to push that down. You have to remind yourself there was no other way. It isn't as though the demon would have complied with the Tang Monk otherwise, you just have to accept that this was the best outcome for continuing with the pilgrimage.

As you walk alongside the monk's horse with the reins in your hold, you begin to feel hints of familiarity from the land around you. The sound of rushing water catches your ear, and you soon find yourself and your travelling companions facing a wide river. Have you stopped by this area before?

When travelling east with Moksa and Guan Yin, the three of you moved swiftly over the continent with little breaks. It took little time to make it to Chang'an when travelling via cloud, so there weren't many places you stopped. However, something itched at the back of your head, an inkling of remembrance. "I remember this river..." You mumble softly with a slight frown.

It's been so long, what was here again? There must be a reason for you to remember this place, it's just slipping your mind. The monk looks down at you, his expression as curious as you feel. "Do you remember a way to cross it? It seems much too deep to wade in."

You frown, its familiarity still bothering you. "No, I flew over it the last time I was here... Oh, of course!" It finally hits you, and you light up before looking back at the monk. "If my memory serves correct, Great Monk, your next–"

The rest of your sentence is left unsaid as a massive spout of water erupts from the river. All three of you shield yourselves from the sudden rain as a low growl rumbles from the direction of the water. Looking up, you're nearly blinded by the glistening white scales of a dragon leaping out from the river. There are green scales scattered sparsely over his serpent-like body, some shades lighter than the green of his dark mane of hair that a pair of horns poke through. His long whiskers fling back as he races towards you, fangs protrude from his snout, the razor-like teeth look to be half the size of your head! That's right, this is the river where you came across the dragon prince, Ao Lie.

The dragon charges in your direction, his claws digging into the ground and showing no signs of slowing. There's a thump you hear from behind, and when you look back at Tripitaka, you see– no Tripitaka?!

You are holding onto the reins of a horse with no rider, barely able to catch a glimpse of the blur that whizzes away. Sun Wukong is gone, the luggage dropped and Tripitaka nowhere to be found. Did he seriously just run off without you?! He left you!

There's barely a moment for your shock to simmer into anger before you're forced to jump back, Ao Lie hurtling straight for you. You are barely able to dodge in time, falling onto your back as the dragon captures the horse with his teeth instead.