In the small room, the pale lamp flickered. Erik Yang sat face to face with the Monkey King, neither saying a word.
Ao Cunxin sat quietly with her head bowed, as silent as a quail. Outside the door, Anna Yang pressed her ear to the wood, eavesdropping with care. Tina Ao leaned against the wall in a daze, sighing softly.
A sense of helplessness filled the little room, making the Monkey King uncomfortable all over.
They sat in silence. Erik Yang kept his eyes fixed on the Monkey King.
After a long time, the Monkey King finally couldn’t bear it and said, "Can you just get to the point? I’m not used to you acting like this."
Erik Yang continued to study the Monkey King, taking two deep breaths as if suppressing his emotions. He spoke slowly: "You were born on Blossom Mountain, and now you’re Master Sage Subhuti’s tenth direct disciple, correct?"
"Yes."
"How far have things gone between you and Anna?"
"Huh?" The Monkey King was momentarily stunned.
With a faint sigh, Erik Yang said softly, "You’re a demon. Even as Master Sage Subhuti’s direct disciple, you’re still a demon. No matter how talented or powerful you are, you’re still a demon. In the eyes of Heaven, you can only ever be a demon. Do you understand?"
It sounded like a provocation.
The Monkey King’s lips twitched. He grinned, "If you want to fight, just say so. No need for all this nonsense."
His hand was already reaching for the damaged Cloudwalker Staff.
But Erik Yang didn’t get angry. He simply pressed his lips together, exchanged a glance with Ao Cunxin, and continued calmly: "Humans and demons are destined to stand opposed. That’s the way of things."
"What are you really trying to say? You want to say you’re human, I’m a demon, and we have to fight?"
"You know Anna’s background, don’t you?"
"I know." The Monkey King was more and more confused. The conversation was jumping all over—what was Erik Yang getting at?
Erik Yang lowered his gaze and spoke slowly: "My mother, because she loved a mortal, was suppressed beneath Peach Mountain by Heaven. In the end, she died and her soul was destroyed. Anna is the canonized Holy Mother of Mount Hua—just like my mother, she’s a deity appointed by Heaven. Once a true romance takes root, once the Moon Tree blooms, Heaven will not stand by and do nothing."
The Monkey King narrowed his eyes at Erik Yang. "Can you get to the point?"
Erik Yang took a slow breath and said, "What I mean is, even if you rebel against Heaven, there will be no result. Do you understand? Heaven’s power is not just a mere million Celestial Army troops. If it were that simple, I would have overthrown it myself long ago—it wouldn’t be your turn."
"And then?"
After a long hesitation, Erik Yang lifted his eyes and stared at the Monkey King, speaking with utmost seriousness: "You two... will have no result."
"Whether rebelling against Heaven succeeds or not, that's not for you, Erlang Shen, to decide. How would you know if you don't even try?"
After speaking, he saw that Erik Yang was still quietly staring at him.
That sounded an awful lot like breaking up a pair of lovers.
Suddenly, the Monkey King's eyes widened in realization.
"You mean... me and Anna..."
The whole room fell silent.
Erik Yang watched the Monkey King in silence. Ao Cunxin watched the Monkey King in silence, both expressionless.
But the Monkey King was completely stunned, mouth agape, unable to speak for a long moment.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Outside, Anna Yang stood quietly, her face as red as an apple.
She stepped inside, glanced at Erik Yang and Ao Cunxin, then reached out and grabbed the Monkey King.
"Don’t listen to his nonsense. Let’s go."
With that, she dragged the Monkey King away without looking back, leaving Erik Yang and Ao Cunxin exchanging glances and letting out a long sigh.
Anna Yang pulled the Monkey King out of Cascade Cave. When they leapt to the summit of Blossom Mountain, the sun was just rising.
All across the mountain, wild grasses swayed in the morning light with the gentle wind.
"Hey, did your brother misunderstand something?" The Monkey King craned his neck to look at her.
"He did." Anna replied expressionlessly.
The morning sun crested the horizon over the eastern sea, casting light along Blossom Mountain’s sweeping coastline—and illuminating Anna Yang’s face.