"Cough, cough... kid, care for a bun?" The old man gazed at the moon in the night sky. Relying on alms, the o…
"Cough, cough... kid, care for a bun?" The old man gazed at the moon in the night sky.
Relying on alms, the old man pulled Celestial Candle all the way west. They had no destination, just walked.
At first, Celestial Candle was afraid of water, so the old man pushed her. Slowly, the girl dared to walk ahead, testing the river's depth with her feet.
The two supported each other through pass after pass. Only, the old man's back grew more hunched, while Celestial Candle remained silent.
"You're afraid to eat the bun because, back when your parents sold you..." The old man paused.
"On this journey, though we aren't close, I know you're a good kid."
"Kid, don't be afraid of anything, and don't go hungry."
"My journey ends here. From now on, when you're hungry or tired, look for food in the water."
"But test the depth before you go in."
"They say the moon in the water can turn into a bun. I wonder what it tastes like..."
"How does that song go again... 'Moonlight bright, cast your net right... eat a bun, little one...'"
The old man's voice faded, finally dissolving into the water like moonlight.
After a long while, the sound of the girl's weeping came, like a rain that never ceased years ago.