Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Wow!

The monkey stared at him blankly, then suddenly burst into tears.

The other little monkeys also started crying.

Sun Wukong remained silent.

He simply placed the smallest monkey on his shoulder, and then picked up the two smaller monkeys clinging to his legs, one in each hand.

Then, they walked out of that dark and damp dungeon.

Li Yan stood outside the cave.

He heard Sun Wukong whisper to the little monkeys:

"I'm not afraid."

"I'm back."

"From now on, no one will dare to bully you."

The monkeys clung to him, their whimpers fading into the distance, eventually replaced by the cheers of the troop.

Li Yan lowered his eyes.

The sable poked its head out from his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek.

The jade rat peeked its little head out from its bosom, unusually quiet, its small eyes gazing at the little monkeys, lost in thought.

The cave became quiet.

Li Yan did not leave immediately.

First, take a look around at the layout of this dirty cave.

The cave is divided into three sections. The outer cave is spacious, while the middle cave has a stone table and benches, which is where the mischievous demon king usually sits, lies down, and feasts.

The inner cave is long and narrow, with several stone chambers carved out on both sides.

Some were piled with stolen gold and silver utensils, while others were stored with wine, meat, and grain.

The deepest rooms are the dungeons.

Li Yan turned around and walked into the dungeon.

The cell was dark and gloomy, with hay and excrement scattered in the corners.

Dozens of iron chains are embedded in the stone wall.

One end of the chain was a shackle, the size of which was just right for the monkey's wrist and ankle.

He lowered his eyes and stared for a moment.

Then, the mirror of the heart hangs high, reflecting all the remaining vital energy in this place.

The [Taoist Tortoise Shell] trembled slightly, and the eight trigram patterns lit up one by one.

To deduce what happened here two years ago.

The image is like a reflection in water, flickering on the mirror of the heart.

First, the Demon King sat in the outer cave, drinking wine in large gulps, with two little demons kneeling at his feet.

Then a cold wind suddenly rose outside the cave, and a black mist descended from the sky, landing in front of the cave.

Where the black mist receded, a figure appeared.

It was blurry and indistinct, neither human nor inhuman, shrouded in gray mist, making its appearance unclear.

Only a pair of eyes, shimmering with a ghostly green light through the thick fog.

Those eyes were fixed on the mischievous demon king.

The mischievous devil seemed to have received some kind of instruction, nodding repeatedly.

Then, the scene changes.

The Demon King led his demon horde eastward, crossing mountains and streams, heading straight for Flower Fruit Mountain.

And then.

Li Yan's eyes narrowed.

In the image, the figure shrouded in gray mist slightly turns its head.

That direction was exactly where he was standing at that moment.

Two years had passed, and across the mirror of deduction and retrospection, those eyes seemed to meet his for a moment.

My heart trembled violently.

The screen shattered.

Li Yan suddenly opened his eyes, his back already covered in a layer of cold sweat.

[Drill Interrupted]

[A higher-ranking being exists that interferes with celestial secrets, making further investigation impossible.]

[Analysis of residual aura: Within the gray fog, there is a hidden flow of turbid and impure energy, its source pointing north.]

north?

Li Yan pondered.

North of Jambudvipa lies Uttarakuru.

That place was harsh and barren, teeming with demons and monsters, and had always been a place rarely visited by immortals and gods.

If there really is a mastermind pointing the finger at Flower Fruit Mountain, what is their motive?

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something.

The patriarch once said, "Go back to where you came from."

These words were spoken to Sun Wukong.

But why go back to Flower Fruit Mountain?

Just because it was his home?

Or is there something wrong with Flower Fruit Mountain itself?

Li Yan took a deep breath and temporarily suppressed these thoughts.

This is not the time to delve into it.

Since the being in the gray mist can interfere with the secrets of heaven, its status must be at least above that of a celestial being.

Although he had the Gui Zang tortoise shell to conceal his aura, if he rashly investigated, he would inevitably alert the enemy.

The most urgent task is to stabilize Flower Fruit Mountain and protect these innocent monkeys.

Then, proceed slowly and methodically.

Li Yan turned around and walked out of the dirty cave.

Outside the cave, the sunlight was blinding.

Sun Wukong was squatting on a large rock, surrounded by his monkey followers.

The baby monkeys that had just been rescued from the dungeon had now been placed on a sunny grassy slope.

An older monkey fed them water, and a female monkey groomed their fur.

Sun Wukong squatted there, looking at the little monkeys who were so thin they were skin and bones.

The smallest monkey walked shakily to him.

It held a wild fruit above its head and offered it to the king.

Sun Wukong looked down at the wild fruit.

The fruit is small, greenish-red, and is a common wild peach found in the mountains.

But the monkey, so thin that its ribs were clearly visible, offered him the only fruit.

Sun Wukong took the wild fruit but did not eat it.

He gently picked up the monkey and placed it on his lap.

Then, he looked up at Li Yan.

There were no tears in his golden eyes, yet there was an indescribable emotion.

Sun Wukong's voice was a little hoarse.

"I, Old Sun, have been away from the mountain for ten years, and they have been waiting for me for ten years."

"I thought that once I got home, I could take good care of them."

He looked down at the little monkey on his lap.

The little monkey had no idea what the king was thinking; it simply nestled comfortably in his arms, its tail swaying back and forth.

"For the past ten years, they've been longing for my return every day, but I..."

Sun Wukong couldn't continue speaking.

Li Yan remained silent.

He recalled the past two weeks of spiritual practice.

The geomantic analysis of the Cangwu Mountains.

The star map resonates along the nameless stream.

The tile patterns on abandoned ancestral halls in deserted villages.

The storyteller in the teahouse...

He walked with composure, observed with meticulous detail, and understood with profound insight.

For the past two weeks, the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain have not had a single day of peace under the bullying of that mischievous devil.

Li Yan spoke up, "The responsibility for this half-month rests with me."

Sun Wukong looked up.

Li Yan looked at him, not avoiding the gaze in his golden eyes.

"I know you are eager to return to the mountain, so I advise you to slow down, observe the mountains and rivers, experience the world, and understand all things."

"I thought the Way was in the human world, but I forgot that there is also a priority and urgency in the human world."

"They've suffered a lot these past two weeks."

"I will take responsibility for this."

Sun Wukong paused for a moment, then shook his head.

"What are you saying? I'm following you willingly."

Besides, if it weren't for you, I would have killed that troublemaker with one blow.

But once this calamity dissipates, who knows how many more years it will wreak havoc.

Li Yan replied, "One thing at a time."

He walked up to the group of monkeys.

The sable perched on my shoulder, its amber eyes gazing quietly at the monkeys.

The jade rat poked its head out from its bosom, its little eyes blinking.

Li Yan looked down at the skinny little monkeys.

"Your king is my brother."

"Half a month ago, we were able to go directly to Dongsheng Shenzhou."

"It was because I said I wanted to enjoy the scenery and contemplate the Tao along the way that my return was delayed."

"It's my fault for making you suffer for the past two weeks."

The monkeys quieted down.

They couldn't understand anything about observing mountains and rivers to comprehend the Tao, but they understood the phrase "delaying their return."

An old monkey, leaning on a cane, stood up shakily.

Then he said, "Sir, you mustn't say that."

The old monkey's voice was aged, yet he spoke clearly:

"When the King left, I was the one in charge of the mountain."

For the past ten years, I've watched these monkeys being born and growing up.

They watched as they waited day after day for their king's return.

"When that troublemaker came, I led my monkeys to fight to the death."

But that demon is incredibly powerful; we are no match for him.

"I am ashamed before Your Majesty and before all the monkeys on the mountain."

"Sir, you have returned with the King, and you are the benefactor of Flower Fruit Mountain."

The demon was vanquished, and the earth's veins were cleansed; this is all thanks to you, sir.

"The suffering of the past half month is due to my incompetence in protecting these children. What does it have to do with you, sir? The whole internet is abuzz with 'If You Can Attain Immortality in Journey to the West,' a heartfelt work by author Ji Bai V, all available here."

As it spoke, it clasped its hands in a respectful gesture.

Seeing this, the other monkeys also followed suit and bowed.

Li Yan was stunned.

Sun Wukong jumped down from the rock, walked a few steps to the old monkey, and helped it up.

"Old Captain, when I left the mountain, you were still my right-hand man. Ten years have passed, and you still are."

"Thank you for your hard work these past years."

The old monkey's eyes reddened, but he couldn't speak.

Sun Wukong turned around and looked at the monkeys covering the mountain.

In his golden eyes, that trace of guilt and heartache had now transformed into something else.

"Children."

Sun Wukong spoke.

"I'm back."

"From now on, no one will dare to bully you."

"I promise."

The monkeys fell silent for a moment.

Then, cheers erupted like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down.

Li Yan stood outside the crowd.

The sable nuzzled his cheek.

The jade rat poked its head out from its bosom, its little eyes sparkling as it looked at the cheering monkeys.

Li Yan lowered his eyes.

The relationship between Sun Wukong and these monkeys is not merely that of a king and his subjects.

It is home.

It was a home he no longer had.

He remained silent for a moment.

Then, he stepped forward.

"Your Majesty."

Sun Wukong was taken aback and turned to look at him.

Li Yan remained calm, but his address of "Your Majesty" sounded perfectly natural.

"These monkeys that fill the mountain are all your subjects."

"As the master of Flower and Fruit Mountain, you should lay a foundation for them."

"It's easy to protect them for a while, but difficult to protect them for a lifetime."

"What if we eliminate one troublemaker today, but another one appears tomorrow?"

Sun Wukong's golden eyes narrowed slightly.

Li Yan looked at the cheering monkeys and said slowly:

"Teach them how to fish."

"Pass on to them the methods of self-defense, and forge them weapons of self-defense."

"From this day forward, let them no longer be bullied."

"Let them also cultivate themselves from this day forward."

A golden light flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes.

"...Teach us children to cultivate ourselves?"

Li Yan nodded.

"Exactly."

Sun Wukong scratched his ear, thought for a moment, but was somewhat troubled.

"But my fundamental teachings cannot be passed on to outsiders. These children..."

Li Yan shook his head.

"There's no need to teach them their great techniques."

"I have my own way."

Turn around and look at the cheering monkeys.

Among the monkeys, there were four faces that caught his eye.

Those four were all old monkeys.

Two bare-backed, long-armed figures with white faces and no beards, their eyes like lightning.

It had long hair covering both arms, a face as black as charcoal, and strong bones and muscles.

The four monkeys stood among the group of monkeys, seemingly ordinary, yet subtly revealing a hint of the extraordinary.

Li Yan's eyes were slightly open, reflecting his inner thoughts.

【Red-bottomed Macaque (Innate Special Species): Understands Yin and Yang, comprehends human affairs, is adept at entering and exiting, and can avoid death and prolong life】

[Tongbei Ape (A Different Species): Captures the sun and moon, shrinks mountains, discerns fortune and misfortune, manipulates the universe]

[Current Status: Cultivation level concealed, aura restrained, seemingly having suffered a major upheaval and self-sealing]

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

These two pairs of old monkeys were actually born different species.

The red-bottomed macaque understands yin and yang, knows human affairs, is good at entering and exiting, and can avoid death and prolong life.

The gibbon with its back turned can grasp the sun and moon, shrink a thousand mountains, discern good and bad fortune, and manipulate the universe.

Such talent would be enough to be included in the true lineage even if placed in Fangcun Mountain.

But why are they mingling among ordinary monkeys in Flower Fruit Mountain?

Why then did he seal his cultivation and willingly become a mortal monkey?

Li Yan's mind raced, but his face remained impassive.

He looked away, pretending not to see.

Sun Wukong, unaware of all this, simply exclaimed joyfully:

"It would be wonderful if my brother were willing to teach the children!"

He immediately issued an order for all the monkeys on the mountain to assemble in front of the Water Curtain Cave at dawn the next day.

Sun Wukong sat at the head of the table, with the smallest monkey perched on his lap.

The monkey had eaten and drunk its fill and was now nestled in the king's arms, sleeping soundly.

Li Yan sat to the side.

The sable perched on his shoulder, its amber eyes reflecting the firelight.

The jade mouse nestled on his lap, holding half a piece of fruit that the monkeys had offered as a tribute, and munched on it intently.

"brother."

Sun Wukong suddenly spoke.

Li Yan raised his eyes.

Sun Wukong looked at the little monkey in his arms and said softly:

"Seeing these children today makes my heart ache."

"When I was born from the stone, I didn't understand anything. It was they who raised me."

"They taught me to climb trees, to pick fruit, and to recognize the paths in these mountains."

"Once I became king, they listened to me in everything, trusted me, and regarded me as their leader."

"But once I left, it was for ten years."

"ten years."

"I'm afraid I can never repay them in this lifetime."

Li Yan said, "Your Majesty."

"You left in search of the Way. You seek the Way so that you can better protect them."

"If you had never left, you would have been nothing more than a monkey king in the mountains, living for a few decades before dying of old age in the mountains."

"Who will protect them then?"

Sun Wukong looked up at him.

Li Yan continued:

"If you hadn't cultivated, you would have been killed with a single blow when that devil came today."

"If you die, who will save them?"

"Only if you live can you protect them for a lifetime."

Sun Wukong was stunned.

After a while, the monkey grinned.

"I like hearing what you said, brother."

He looked down at the little monkey in his arms.

"However, I still feel like I owe them something."

"Tomorrow, brother, you will teach them cultivation, and I will watch from the side."

"Once they've learned, I'll teach them to climb trees and pick fruit, and teach them to recognize every path in these mountains."

"I'll dedicate my life to protecting them."

Li Yan smiled slightly.

The campfire burned quietly.

Outside the cave, the sound of the waterfall was like thunder.

Inside the cave, it was warm as spring.

The next day, at 5:00 AM.

In front of the Water Curtain Cave, there is a mountain and a sea of ​​monkeys.

Old and young, big and small, male and female.

Some were squatting, some were standing, some were climbing tree branches, some were hanging from vines, and they were packed together.

Sun Wukong sat on the highest rock, with the smallest monkey nestled in his arms as usual.

The monkey now has a name, Little Drill Wind, which was given to it by the king himself.

Li Yan stood before the waterfall.

Facing the monkeys, with water mist rising behind them, sunlight shines through the water curtain, gilding their bodies with a faint golden edge.

A gray sable perched on his shoulder, its amber eyes gazing quietly at the monkeys.

The jade mouse nestled in his arms, only its two ear tips showing, occasionally twitching.

Li Yan spoke.

"Today's sermon will not delve into the mysterious or profound."

"Just one thing."

"How to live."

The monkeys quieted down.

Li Yan continued:

"Your king was born with extraordinary talent and has cultivated for ten years to achieve his current supernatural abilities."

"But you are not."

"You are mere monkeys."

"Ordinary monkeys who cultivate themselves cannot compare to those born with extraordinary spiritual beings."

"Therefore, the path you are to take is different from that of your king."

A young monkey couldn't help but ask, "So, what kind of shape can we achieve?"

Li Yan glanced at it.

"To live longer, run faster, jump higher, and fight harder."

"To be able to hold out for one more breath when demons come."

"To be able to protect myself when the king is not around."

The young monkey blinked, wanting to ask another question, but the old monkey next to him slapped him on the back of the head, making him behave.

There's always a story waiting for you to uncover.