The Thunderclap Demon Dragon had been remarkably diligent throughout the journey, showing not the slightest sign of neglect. Sun Wukong didn't wish to break his promise, so he hopped off the dragon's back, patted its body, and spoke.
"My lord, are you truly letting me go?"
The Thunderclap Demon Dragon could hardly believe its own ears.
"What? You don't want to go? You want to go in with old Sun?"
Sun Wukong pointed, amused, toward the direction from which the energy fluctuations were coming.
"No no no, my lord's cultivation is profound, and your strength is immense. I'd rather not cause any trouble for you. I thank you for sparing my life. I'm off, I'm off!"
The Thunderclap Demon Dragon hurriedly shook its head and turned to bolt back the way it had come, disappearing into the dense forest in the blink of an eye.