A spectacular, sweeping manhunt ultimately devolved into a farcical mess. Heaven not only paid the bitter price of fifty thousand troops, but now found itself riding a tiger, unable to extricate itself from an unmanageable crisis.
Belle, stationed in Tusita Palace, managed to claim Monkey with a letter so fake it could fool no one.
Everyone could see through it, yet no one wished to expose the truth—because by now, they were all embroiled in the affair.
For them, this letter had become their last shred of dignity.
When the Heavenly Generals stormed into Heaven’s Prison, even Nathan Young hadn’t yet grasped what was happening before Monkey was hauled away.
All the way, no matter how Monkey questioned or cursed, not a single soul spoke a word to him.
Bound five-flower style, the locks piercing his pipa bones still in place, Monkey was brought up to the Thirty-Three Heavens. At the gates of Tusita Palace, he saw Belle, her tears streaming like rain.
Right there, before the assembled Heavenly Generals, Belle threw her arms around the blood-soaked, half-dead Monkey and sobbed.
Monkey pried Belle’s hands away and managed a strained smile: “I was just threatening Heaven’s officers a moment ago… Now you’re crying like this, I’ve lost all my face.”
Belle reached out to wipe the blood from Monkey’s face, her voice soft: “What does face matter? Staying alive is what counts.”
“How can face not matter? I’m the Handsome Monkey King, commanding a million troops. A warrior may die, but never be shamed.”
Belle managed a teary smile and scolded, “Don’t give me that. I knew you back when you wore those ill-fitting cloth robes. Trying to act tough?”
Hearing this, Monkey couldn’t help but laugh too.
Weary, he lifted his gaze, and saw her messy black hair, tear-streaked face, and emerald eyes shining against the blue sky.
He remembered their first meeting at Crescent Star Cave—how that stubborn little girl had tried to chase him away. Who could have imagined they’d come to this day?
“It’s alright now. I’m here.” Belle hugged Monkey tightly and spoke in a low voice.
At last, Monkey’s taut nerves began to relax, and he fainted in her arms.
……
One way or another, Monkey was sent into Tusita Palace. The entire host of Heavenly Generals, Jade Emperor included, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, it was no longer their stubbornness risking the fate of the Three Realms. From here on, Lord Lao would decide what came next.
Isabel Su’s request was flatly rejected. When news reached the demon army, Anna Yang erupted in fury.
The bombardment outside South Heaven Gate grew even fiercer.
Emboldened by a certain tacit assurance, the Jade Emperor ordered General Lee to open South Heaven Gate and fight. The Twenty-Eight Mansions, Nine Luminaries, Five Directional Wardens, and the Four Heavenly Kings took up positions inside the gate, laying a pocket formation with their troops.
Seeing this, the already frenzied demon army launched an immediate assault.
But despite their million-strong numbers, the demons could not deploy their formations in the narrow approach to South Heaven Gate. With Heaven’s heavy troops lying in ambush inside, casualties mounted swiftly. Unable to break through, Anna Yang reluctantly ordered a retreat to avoid needless slaughter.
After this battle, Heaven managed to salvage at least some of its lost prestige.
The situation was now clear. If Heaven’s generals stepped outside South Heaven Gate, even their formidable strength could not match a million demons. Yet if the demon army tried to force their way in, they could not breach the artifact-laden lines of Heaven’s defense.
And so, the standoff continued.
The demon army’s letters demanding the Monkey King came one after another; the Jade Emperor’s imperial edicts condemning the demons flew back in reply. Both sides hurled insults across the closed gate, the shouting match never ending.
With no progress at South Heaven Gate, Anna Yang, increasingly anxious, turned her gaze elsewhere.
She issued ultimatums to the underworld, the Four Sea Dragon Palaces, and every major power in the Three Realms, demanding they declare whom they recognized as supreme: the Heavenly Court, or Blossom Mountain.
Previously, the Handsome Monkey King had been appointed by the Jade Emperor as Steward of the Peach of Immortality Orchard. Blossom Mountain’s coronation of him as king was, strictly speaking, an internal rebellion within Heaven’s system—not a challenge to the rule of the Three Realms. But with these ultimatums sent, everything changed.
It marked Blossom Mountain’s open break with Heaven, demanding dominion over the Three Realms.
Of course, without support from the Three Pure Ones, neither the Ten Kings of the Underworld nor the Four Dragon Kings would dare pledge allegiance to Blossom Mountain at this moment. At best, the move increased pressure on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but held little real strategic value.
Meanwhile, Curtain Lifter remained imprisoned in Heaven’s Prison awaiting trial. In the next cell, Marshal Tianpeng, long since despondent, sat in silence. These old comrades, reunited at last, did not speak a single word.
Perhaps they both felt there was nothing left to say.
And so, the days passed in turmoil.
Two days later, by Heavenly Court time, Monkey finally opened his eyes in Tusita Palace. Struggling to sit up, the first thing he saw was Belle, exhausted, slumped asleep at his bedside.
Tear stains still marked the corners of her eyes.
How many days had it been? She must have kept vigil like this, never leaving his side.
Gazing at the girl who smiled faintly even in her sleep, Monkey felt a sudden ache in his heart and could not help but reach out to gently touch her face.
"Does your heart ache?" A voice sounded directly within Monkey's mind.
Startled, he looked around in alarm.
He found himself in a small alchemy room, its faint red glow cast by the pill furnace, pill shelves lining every wall.
Nearby, several gourd bottles of varied hues sat uncapped and askew on the tea table.
Only now did Monkey realize his depleted spiritual power had not merely recovered, but surged past its former peak, with faint signs of breaking through to the Great Luo Immortal stage.
The previous barrier to his cultivation had vanished—or rather, it had been raised to a new height.
He stared blankly at his empty hands, lost in confusion.
"I told you before: even if you refuse, I can always find a way to pry open your mouth and force the golden pill down. The Dao of calculation values 'non-action'—all things and beings in heaven and earth may serve as my tools. You are but a monkey; how could you contend with the myriad forces of the cosmos? Hahaha."
A swirl of green smoke gathered before the bed, condensing into the figure of Lord Lao.
He slowly turned, shook out his sleeves, and settled onto the high chair, regarding Monkey with deep meaning.
Monkey quietly loosened Belle's sleeping hand, then turned toward the pill furnace and said coolly, "So what do you plan next? Toss me into the Eight Trigram Furnace?"
"Not yet. It's only been a hundred years—there's no need to rush," Lord Lao replied, eyes crinkling in amusement.
Monkey lowered his head in silence, his gaze reflecting the desolation that follows a great battle.
What could he say?
He had no words left.
Round and round, struggling as he might, in the end he was still dragged back onto the preordained path.
What is the Buddha's palm compared to this? Lord Lao's grasp is truly formidable. He can exploit every weakness you have; no matter where you go, he will wrench you back onto the path he set.
After sitting in a daze for a long time, Monkey spoke softly, "Now I finally understand why your fellow patriarchs and my own master dislike dealing with you. It's suffocating."
With that, he glanced at Lord Lao and broke into a wry, meaningful smile.