One night, at the third night watch.
Under the green bamboo, the Six-Eared Monkey stealthily opened its eyes. It cocked its body, inching an ear towards the west, its small face scrunched up as if intently eavesdropping on something.
"Is there no other Six-Eared here?"
"Heh heh."
"Silly stone monkey, how would you know of my Six-Eared prowess?!"
The Six-Eared Monkey seemed to hear amusing words, and it chattered away with a mix of anger and laughter—baring its teeth and grinning.
Without adding more words.
It continued to listen below.
In an instant, as if intoxicated.
Only after a good long while did it gather itself, still not quite satiated.
Feeling like a thief with a guilty conscience, it glanced towards the west, then stealthily at the bamboo next to it, feeling relieved to have gone unnoticed. The monkey exhaled in relief, chuckled, closed its eyes, and fell asleep.
The next morning.
