Sword of the Nine Heavens, the Fall of the Gods

The Monkey King's voice echoed in the empty valley, expressing the endless sadness of life.

However, the only responses he received were the echoes of the valley and the sound of the wind blowing through the treetops in the distance.

He lowered his head helplessly again, leaned his head on the protruding rock, and fell into deep thought.

Severe cold and scorching heat have long lost their meaning to him, and his soul has long transcended these worldly constraints.

However, loneliness and solitude were like a sharp knife, ruthlessly cutting his soul.

The Monkey King felt that he was being swallowed by the endless darkness. His body and soul seemed to be being stripped away bit by bit.

Lying on the cold protruding rocks, he thought of Xiao Liuzi, the cowherd boy who had accompanied him here year after year.

If it weren't for Xiao Liuzi's constant companionship, I would have gone crazy by now.

He watched Xiao Liuzi grow up, and now he is an old man.

Xiao Liuzi hasn't been here for a long time, and the years have mercilessly left deep marks on him.

He had become frail and sickly, his steps were unsteady, and every step seemed heavy and difficult.

The once bright eyes became cloudy and blurry, and it was very difficult to see things.

Wukong knew that Xiao Liuzi didn't have many years left to live, and his heart was filled with endless sadness and reluctance towards this friend who had accompanied him almost his entire life.

Whenever he thought of Xiao Liuzi's old and hunched figure, he felt mixed emotions.

How he wished he could quickly escape from the constraints of the Five Elements Mountain, go to heaven and pick some peaches for him, so that he could regain his youth and be reborn.

However, the restraints of the Five Elements Mountain were like a natural chasm that locked his body tightly, making it impossible for him to leave. This feeling of powerlessness made him feel frustrated and desperate.

Lying on the protruding rock, Wukong's body was pressed against the rough stone surface. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on him, making him look lonely and helpless.

Endless years flow under the Five Elements Mountain, like a trapped river, unable to break free and can only wait silently.

The Monkey King's gaze penetrated the clouds and reached the distant and unreachable sky. His eyes flashed with desire for the future and anger at the reality.

"Old Tathagata, let me out!"

Wukong's roar echoed in the valley, shaking the surrounding trees. However, it was all in vain.

The Monkey King reluctantly withdrew his gaze and looked at the fluttering fallen leaves at the foot of the mountain, feeling an inexplicable sadness in his heart.

Those fallen leaves are like Xiao Liuzi's gradually aging figure, year after year.

The Double Ninth Festival is approaching. Can he still arrive as scheduled?

"It's almost Double Ninth Festival again."

The Monkey King sighed softly, his voice full of desolation and expectation, "Little old man, can you still come to the Double Ninth Festival this year?"

Although Xiao Liuzi is old, he rarely comes to see him.

But every Double Ninth Festival, I would always come here, drink a pot of wine with him, and admire the red leaves all over the mountains.

The Double Ninth Festival, the top of the Five Elements Mountain.

When the autumn wind blows, a red leaf dances lightly in the wind, as if whispering the passing of time.

The Monkey King Wukong lay on a protruding rock, his eyes passing through the red leaves all over the sky, looking at the winding path, and a faint sadness welled up in his heart.

“It’s Double Ninth Festival!”

Wukong whispered to himself, his voice filled with memories of the past and expectations for the future.

Every time at this time of year, there is always a familiar figure appearing here.

Their friendship is like the red leaves, which have gone through wind and frost but are still as bright as ever.

The Double Ninth Festival, with golden breeze bringing cool breeze, should be a festive day.

However, this year's Double Ninth Festival seems particularly heavy for Wukong.

Looking at the winding path at the foot of the mountain, his heart was filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

Just yesterday, Wukong accidentally caught a sika deer.

The deer was fat and strong, enough for Xiao Liuzi to live on for ten days or half a month.

However, at this moment, Wukong did not feel excited at all, but was full of worries.

Because until now, Xiao Liuzi has not appeared.

The sun gradually sank to the west, and the sky was dyed with an orange-red sunset glow, making the Five Elements Mountain look poetic and picturesque.

This beautiful scenery could not relieve Wukong's anxiety.

He lay at the entrance of the cave, his eyes fixed on the path leading down the mountain, waiting for the familiar figure.

Time passed little by little, night gradually fell, but Xiao Liuzi never showed up.

Wukong's heart felt heavy, as if it was being weighed down by a heavy stone.

"Isn't the old man coming this year?" Wukong frowned and whispered to himself.

Several days passed and Xiao Liuzi didn't show up.

The sika deer lay quietly at his feet, and its body began to emit a slight odor, constantly reminding him of the passage of time.

By the sixth day, Wukong's mood had reached rock bottom.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Accompanied by a few coughs, Xiao Liuzi finally appeared.

His hair is still white, but his figure is even more hunched.

"Little old man, why... did you come just now?"

There was a hint of reproach and joy in Wukong's voice, and he waved to Xiao Liuzi.

"Cough! Cough!"

As the coughing sound got closer, Xiao Liuzi finally came in front of the Monkey King.

He bowed and saluted Wukong, saying, "Great Sage, I have been suffering from a cold lately and have not gotten better. My health is much worse than before. I guess the day of my death is not far away."

Looking at the old and hunched figure in front of him, Wukong's heart was filled with emotion and helplessness.

In the blink of an eye, the black-haired boy turned into a white-haired old man.

His body is as hunched as a shrimp, and the wrinkles on his face tell of the vicissitudes and hardships of life.

"I thought you were a child with black hair back then, but now you are an old man in his twilight years."

Wukong sighed, "If I hadn't been held here by old Tathagata, I would have gone to the Peach Garden in Heaven to pick some peaches for you, so that you could live forever."

"Thank you, Great Sage!"

A trace of gratitude flashed in Xiao Liuzi's eyes, and he took a gourd from his waist, "Great Sage, this is the wine I brewed this year, please have a taste."

The arrival of Xiao Liuzi brought rare relief and joy to Wukong, who had been shrouded in loneliness and heaviness for a long time.

After taking the gourd from Xiao Liuzi's hand, the sadness on Wukong's face disappeared, and was replaced by a hearty laugh.

"My dear old man, how are the grapes growing this year? Have they been disturbed by those cunning sparrows again?"

Xiao Liuzi smiled and replied, "Great Sage, the grapes are growing well this year. Although the swallows and sparrows often come to make trouble, I don't mind it. I am even very happy."

Wukong was slightly stunned. "Oh? How could an old man like you have such thoughts? Don't you know that those swallows and sparrows are your biggest concern?"

"Great Sage, you may not know that near the Five Elements Mountain, there is a monk named Mouzi. When the monk saw me making a net to catch birds, he felt pity for the birds."

"He found me and exchanged those birds with me for many times the money and supplies. So, I have been able to get by fairly well during this period of time." Xiao Liuzi said with a smile.