In the cramped upper corridor of Cascade Cave, a throng of demons pressed together, their bodies jostling for space. Not far off, Monkey and Jade Cauldron squatted side by side, listening intently through a flimsy wooden door to the fierce quarrel erupting within the guest room.
"Do you even understand what you're doing?" Still clad in his armor, Erik Yang slammed his palm onto the wooden table, sending a faint puff of dust into the air. "He's a demon—are you really going to follow him into madness?"
Anna Yang sat motionless in her wooden chair, her face utterly blank. She raised her cold eyes and retorted, "Are you so certain he's not the one following me into madness?"
Erik Yang paused, struck silent for a moment.
"You refuse to rebel against Heaven, you refuse your duty to our parents, and yet you won't let anyone else rebel or be filial? Our parents' murder is a debt that cannot be ignored—you may be able to forget, but I cannot. The Jade Emperor—sooner or later, I'll tear him limb from limb. Just wait and watch!"
"You—!" Erik Yang was momentarily lost for words, his breath coming hard as he paced the room. After a long pause, he turned to Anna Yang and said, "You know what the Heavenly Court is. To oppose Heaven... Do you realize Lord Lao's child-attendants have long since infiltrated Blossom Mountain? Do you really think Heaven is ignorant of everything happening here? The armies at South Heaven Gate are already preparing to march. If they come, I fear you won't even leave a corpse behind!"
"Afraid of death?" Anna Yang bit her lip, slowly lifting her head, eyes tinged red. She gave a scornful laugh. "Our bodies and lives are gifts from our parents—how could I not avenge them? Even if I die in the attempt, that would be repaying my debt. You're afraid of death? With a son like you, I truly feel ashamed for Father and Mother!"
"I'm not going to argue with you over this!" Erik Yang erupted in fury, shouting, "I want you to come back to Guang River Estuary with me right now. This place isn't fit for you!"
"You want me to leave?" Anna Yang let out a cold, mocking laugh, her reddened eyes staring dazedly ahead. "And what if I refuse?"
"If you won't leave, I'll drag you back myself!"
"Is that so?" Anna Yang lifted her head, staring wide-eyed at Erik Yang. "If you want to drag me away, fine—defeat him first."
"You really think I can't kill him?" Erik Yang's eyes widened, incredulous.
...
At the doorway, Monkey sprawled on the ground, legs splayed wide in boredom, his eyes lazily drifting toward Jade Cauldron.
With just a single glance, Jade Cauldron dropped his gaze, instinctively scooting his rear further away.
Monkey snorted with laughter, shuffled over, and slung his arm around Jade Cauldron's shoulders. "Brother Jade Cauldron, what's troubling you? Come, let's have a word."
"Talk? Talk about what?" Jade Cauldron felt his scalp prickle. "I'd rather not speak to you."
No sooner had Jade Cauldron tried to slip away than Monkey seized him, yanking him back with a menacing glare. "Don't want to talk? You have to talk! Are you looking down on me?"
Jade Cauldron was petrified on the spot.
Monkey's power now... compared to mine... I don't even have the strength to fight back!
Monkey kept a firm grip on Jade Cauldron's hand, grinning. "Brother Jade Cauldron, about that matter we discussed before—how's it going?"
Jade Cauldron shook his head and waved his hands, avoiding Monkey's gaze and stammering, "No, no, let's not talk about it."
Monkey grabbed Jade Cauldron's face, forcibly twisting his whole head back around, baring his fangs menacingly. "Talk, or not?"
Jade Cauldron was nearly in tears.
Just then, Shortbeak approached from a distance, crouched down, and whispered in Monkey's ear, "Rhino's fine—Erik Yang didn't try to kill him. Right now, Yi Su is tending to him."
"Got it." Monkey let go of Jade Cauldron's head and turned to Shortbeak, signaling with a glance toward the wooden door.
Shortbeak immediately understood, nodded silently, and left.
Monkey glanced at Jade Cauldron again, smiling as he wiped his recently cleaned ear on Jade Cauldron's robe. "Just kidding, don't take it so seriously. But really, Brother Jade Cauldron, your disciple wrecked my things and wants to run off without compensating me? That's not very honorable. Even if I mark the price down by half, you'd have to work here for a hundred and eighty years just to pay it off. Am I wrong? Think carefully—Heaven is already hunting you, but you can still hide here. If I blacklist you, you'll have to trail after Erik Yang every day. And in a few years, even that might not be enough. By then, Brother Jade Cauldron, you'd be rootless, disgraced, wandering with nowhere to go. Just thinking about it makes me sad..."
"Wait a moment, let me put on a sad face." Monkey patted Jade Cauldron's shoulder, turned away, and put on an exaggerated look of grief, gazing at him. "Brother Jade Cauldron, tell me, am I right? I'm only saying this for your own good."
Jade Cauldron shuddered, goosebumps rising all over.