Clara Heart froze.
"Hurry up and get over here, stop dawdling! The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace says he's almost here. If you don't come soon—damn! He's already outside South Heaven Gate..."
At these words, Clara's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened, like a timid little girl.
Clara asked in a trembling voice, "He... why is he coming?"
"I don't know either, just get here quick! I... damn it, I have to go help. Hurry up! Get over here, we're counting on you!"
On the other end of the Jade Tablet, Nathan Young's voice abruptly stopped.
Clara stood there in a daze, clutching the Jade Tablet, hesitating, her breath growing uneven.
"Am I... really going to see him?" She pressed her hand to her chest, squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to steady her breath, muttering over and over: "Stay calm, stay calm, he doesn't know, he knows nothing... Right, right, he knows nothing..."
After a long while, she managed to compose herself. She drew a deep breath, lifted off, and flew toward South Heaven Gate.
...
On the vast, boundless plain outside South Heaven Gate, the Monkey King stood alone, leaning on his Golden Staff, facing the tightly shut doors. He dug at his ear, waiting, his expression sour.
Inside the gate tower of South Heaven Gate, a crowd of Heavenly Generals gathered nervously, eyes wide as they stared out.
They remained locked in this stalemate.
After a long while, Clara finally arrived, dusty and travel-worn. The moment she entered the gate tower, everyone turned to look at her. Clara stared back at them, a bit wooden herself.
After a brief silence, Nathan Young shot out of the crowd with a swoosh, grabbed Clara's hand, and started dragging her outside without explanation.
"Why are you only just getting here? Good thing that monkey hasn't caused trouble yet!"
"W-wait a moment..."
"Wait for what? We're already in deep trouble!"
"No, I... I need to ask clearly..."
"He's your senior-brother—he won't eat you, but he might just eat us!"
Dragged along by Nathan Young, Clara was hurried down the steps. The two quickly reached the main passage at the front of South Heaven Gate.
General Lee was waiting anxiously. When he saw Clara, he immediately came forward, pulled a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve and stuffed it into her hands, whispering, "This is the imperial edict His Majesty just issued, appointing you as Imperial Envoy in charge of all matters related to the Monkey King. The situation is urgent—read it later."
Clara stared blankly at the yellow silk in her hands. "Does Heaven even have an office called Imperial Envoy?"
General Lee paused, then whispered, "It didn't before, but it does now. The Monkey King is right outside, and he's been waiting a while. If we don't go out soon, there'll be trouble. Remember—the Emperor's orders are to protect Heaven's face no matter what, and not to let the Monkey King get everything he wants, or things will only get worse."
With that, General Lee turned and waved his hand, signaling the Skyward Legionnaires to open South Heaven Gate.
"Wait!"
Before the Skyward Legionnaires could move, Clara grabbed General Lee's wrist.
Instantly, Nathan Young, General Lee, and even the Skyward Legionnaires at the winch froze, staring at her.
Clara's gaze flickered anxiously; she looked flustered, her mouth half open but unable to speak for a long moment.
"What's wrong?" Nathan Young asked, frowning.
"I... I'm not ready yet. Can you handle it yourselves this time?"
"What is there to prepare?"
"I..."
"Enough, let's go! If we wait any longer, that monkey's going to blow his top!"
Nathan quickly moved behind Clara, ignoring her protests, and began pushing her toward the gate. The Skyward Legionnaires hurried to the winch, gripping the handles and straining to turn it.
The clinking of chains, the thunder of gears, the grinding of the gate's bearings—amid the rumbling, South Heaven Gate slowly opened a crack.
A blinding light streamed through the gap from outside.
Clara instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes.
Before Clara could react, General Lee was already at her side, quietly reminding her, "Remember what I just said—don't make any mistakes. Once you step out, every decision is yours."
"You're not coming out with me?"
"Huh?"
For a moment, General Lee and Clara simply stared at each other, dazed.
Clara blurted out, panic rising, "I... I don't understand how Heaven works! You have to be there—otherwise, what am I supposed to do?"
With a rumble, South Heaven Gate had opened a hand's width. The strong light bathed Clara, gilding her silhouette in gold.
Time was short. General Lee could only nod heavily and say, "Nathan, you go too."
"Me? Why do I have to go too?"
General Lee shot him a fierce glare, and Nathan immediately lowered his head in obedience.
The harsh noise finally stopped.
A wild wind swept in from above, and clouds outside the gate surged in like a tidal wave.
The three of them stood side by side at the gate, but none of them took the first step.
General Lee and Nathan Young both frowned at Clara, who stood clutching her chest in panic, her gaze darting between them.
For a moment, all three of them were frozen in place.
As the clouds gradually parted, the Monkey King's figure appeared in the distance, no bigger than a fingernail.
He leaned on his Golden Staff, tilting his head as he watched the three of them.
General Lee kept signaling Clara with his eyes to step forward, but she didn't move an inch.
Time ticked by; General Lee was drenched in sweat, and Nathan Young gripped his Fire-Tipped Spear tighter and tighter.
"How long are you planning to stand there?" came the Monkey King's impatient roar from afar.
General Lee gritted his teeth and hissed, "Go! Aren't you going over?"
"Maybe... maybe let me do it next time instead?"
Clara shrank back a little, looking ready to turn and run.