Aw, man! This is one of those volumes where every page/scene/panel is so wonderfully designed! There’s so much action - which I expected having seen the anime - I kept pausing to admire the art style and dedication I know went into all of the characters and details!

After Vol. 2 left me on a cliffhanger, I had to get to this one! Goku and Sanzo’s relationship is just awesome! I love how it doesn’t come across as a older man/teenage boy romance type of relationship but rather a mentor/guardian to student/brat relationship. Throw in what little of their tragic backstories we’ve seen so far, and I can feel how strong of a bond those two have. One of the things I love about Saiyuki is how it handles relationships, particularly with ‘saying things without saying them’. This goes along with Gojyo and Hakkai’s relationship, though more as a brotherly bond.

The end of the Rikudo arc is intense and I love that the Chin Yisou is next because it deals with some heavy stuff - important backstory for Hakkai that explains his demon origin. I would say the Rikudo arc should also be an example of what happens to Sanzo for the rest of the story lol

Another incredible volume and I’m reminded again of just how much I love this series!