Lu Yu looked at the Monkey brimming with a fighting spirit and was utterly speechless; that was not at all what he had intended. Where did the Monkey get this fighting spirit? But perhaps this was the difference between him and the Monkey, the one called the Victorious Fighting Buddha—truly a different breed.
The two of them chatted on and off until sunset and moonrise, under the twinkling stars. Lu Yu looked up at the sky and noticed the Mountain God Earth God, who was guarding the Monkey, looking anxiously at him and the Monkey.
It was then that Lu Yu realized he had overstayed this time. These nominal guardians dared not intervene yet feared being accused of neglecting their duties, which is why they looked over anxiously.
He smiled and bowed to the sky, then turned to the Monkey and said, "Looks like I should go now, otherwise these few probably can't take it."
