Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4 - 7 2018 | Page 178

helping either. Yet none of these had been more destructive than his new disciple. Wukong was a good
hiker, no doubt, and a better fighter. Above all, Wukong was the most passionate photographer he’d ever
seen. His Instagram account held the most detailed possible record of their journey. Pictures of the meals
they had, paths they crossed, monsters they encountered, and all sorts of random things were posted with
fancy filters and captions. At first, Xuanzang found it quite fascinating. The Internet had made
communication around the globe so much easier. He never came across it in his years of isolation as a monk.
However, it soon turned out to be his worst nightmare in the hands of his disciple.
On they went with their journey, on Wukong went with his photo-taking. He was clearly distressed, but
made no further complaints about network connection. Whether it was to save his head from being dropped
onto the rocks again, Xuanzang didn’t know. But he was definitely enjoying the result of it -- the journey
seemed to have become relatively peaceful.
***
“Wukongggggggggggggggggggggggggggg-------------------------------” It was
another night. Another person screaming. In another level of urgency and agony.
Wukong bolted upright. The overwhelming sea of green in front of him instantly snatched away all his
weariness.
“Where is my camera? Where is it? Never mind. I’ll settle with my phone. Let me switch it to night vision
mode.”
But he was just in time to snatch a photo of Xuanzang’s thrashing limbs among the disappearing green
creatures. A second later, the cave restored its calmness. Nothing could be heard except for Wukong cursing
under his breath as he continued his search for his camera. He was unsatisfied with the quality of that
picture. The lighting was horrible. Only Xuanzang’s forearm was visible. His skin tone was light enough.
Wukong couldn’t even see the shape of the monsters, let alone focus on the misplaced features on their face
which, according to his standards, needed plastic surgery. The lighting of his camera might be better. Here it
is.
*
Deep inside a cave, Xuanzang was tied up against its icy stone walls, his eyes fixed upon the opening of the
cave. He knew Wukong would come rescue him soon. No way would Wukong abandon his master. But,
there’s no way it would take him that long either. He must have woken up from all the noise. He should be
coming right after them.
Monsters started circling Xuanzang, blocking the entrance from his sight. Maybe they were just curious.
Maybe they had nothing better to do without WIFI. But to Xuanzang, they were hungry, starving, aching