Xing'er certainly didn't refuse, her little mouth already open, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Tang Monk's flesh. But Yingzi could not endure this torment. The image of the small monkey’s cute, lively demeanor had not yet faded from her mind, and now, seeing it nearly stunned from being thrown down and its neck seized as it was about to be sacrificed to Xing'er, a chill went through her. Confused by what had possessed these monkeys, she instinctively retreated, pulling Xing'er away from the little monkey that was about to bare its neck.

The little monkey, having been nearly stunned, quickly caught its breath. Realizing it was unharmed, it struggled free from the large monkey’s grasp in a few swift movements. When it prepared to climb back onto its mother’s back, it hesitated. This was not for any trivial reason, but because of the very act of its mother, whom it had always trusted implicitly, throwing it to the ground. The little monkey stood frozen between its mother and Yingzi, wavering, not knowing where to go. After a long moment, it threaded its way through the dense crowd of monkeys and slowly climbed onto a low branch, squatting there in solitude, its eyes filled with desolation and despair. Yingzi gazed at the little monkey on the branch; its pitiful, hesitant gaze touched her fragile nerves. She looked down at Xing'er, still nestled comfortably in her arms, basking in boundless affection.

Humans are not made of wood or stone; how can one be without feeling! The little monkey’s tragic plight, the innocent suffering of the midwife, had ravaged Yingzi’s maternal love for Xing'er to its extreme. Although she did not understand the origin of the little fellow in her arms, or why so many people and monkeys had to sacrifice themselves for him, these events had undoubtedly struck the very foundation of her morality. She could not bear to see the innocent lose their lives because of Xing'er, nor could she tolerate watching the little monkey, a child like any other, betrayed by its mother and its own kind, becoming filled with disillusionment and hatred for the world at the very threshold of understanding it.

Ending Xing'er’s life was beyond her capacity, yet sending him back to the Original Shadow Villa was no different from setting a tiger free into the mountains; more lives would be lost to his bloodthirsty habits. After much thought, Yingzi decided to give up. She walked silently through the forest, holding Xing'er, heading toward the small boat they had arrived on. Stopping beside a large boulder, something suddenly occurred to her. She sat down, unfastened the jade pendant hanging around her neck—Xiao Shu’s last birthday gift to her. Where was he now? Did he have new companions? She knew nothing. Nevertheless, this was the only thing she could give Xing'er.

This will have to do, Yingzi thought, fastening the jade pendant, tears streaming down her face, her heart filled with unbearable reluctance.

“This parting is up to fate. If you cannot survive, do not blame your mother for being cruel. Too many lives have already been sacrificed for you. Keeping you close would only cause more people to lose their lives. If you are fortunate enough to survive, remember to restrain your desires, do not be greedy or bloodthirsty. Kindness will always lead to a happier life; the joy of sacrificing for others far outweighs having others sacrifice for you…” Saying this, Yingzi once again picked up the infant Xing'er in her swaddling clothes, walked to the small boat, placed him securely inside, untied the rope tethering the bow, and, gathering all her strength, pushed the boat toward the middle of the Sea of the Departed. The boat drifted like a tiny skiff, swaying gently with the breeze as it floated deeper into the Sea of the Departed.

Seeing Yingzi carry Xing'er away, the monkey troop at first followed silently, keeping their distance. When they saw her place Xing'er in the small boat and push him out onto the Sea of the Departed, they suddenly became anxious and furious. An elderly large monkey hopped and jumped around Yingzi, practically desperate to rush forward and pull the small boat back. However, upon seeing the rolling waves emerging from the center of the lake, it halted its steps, standing dumbfounded on the shore, watching Xing'er’s tiny vessel drift farther and farther away.

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