"I came with Uncle Master Skylar Loft to watch the excitement at Guanjiao Port, and swung by to see you on the way."
But that was only to be expected. Even if their means of communication were unknown, given their cultivation, it was certain they had some way.
The Monkey King grunted in response, sipping his tea as he glanced up at Miles Moon, wondering why he had brought this up so suddenly.
Miles Moon’s expression grew solemn as he looked at the Monkey King and said slowly, "Master Sage Subhuti’s reply was: ‘No need for now.’ But he didn’t refuse Elder Dante. Word is... Elder Dante is currently hunting a vicious flood dragon in the South Sea and will return soon."
Miles Moon lowered his head, holding his teacup, and said quietly, "From now on, Simon Stone, you’d best be even more careful."
"Little Junior Sister, come, try some tea I personally grew at the top of Cloudrise Peak. Even Uncle Master Skylar Loft is reluctant to give this away. His disciples are always after my tea leaves, so I guard them carefully." Miles Moon raised his eyebrows and took out a small bamboo tube filled with tea leaves from his pocket.
Whether by design or not, Miles Moon led Belle on a circuit around the entire monastery before finally stopping at the mountain gate. Only then did he suddenly say, "Belle, from now on, try to keep your distance from Simon Stone."
"Why do you ask?" Miles Moon replied.
Belle’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She quickly straightened and bowed. "Belle greets Senior Brother Miles Moon!"
His words were like a thunderclap.
"Let me do it." Belle grinned and held both hands on the lid. "Ta-da! Look! Do you like it?"
The two of them stood quietly on the ancient stone steps, sunlight streaming down as shadows of leaves danced in the wind.
After a long while, Miles Moon took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, gazing up at the drifting clouds. "No matter which of those three fates awaits, the path will be paved with bones. All the elders see this clearly."
"Isn’t fruit your favorite?" Belle frowned, pouting.
Miles Moon, off to the side, sighed. "She really is only ten years old—not just youthful in appearance. Come, try my tea."
The three of them picked up their teacups and began to taste.
The tea was smooth and mellow, its aroma filling their noses. As they swallowed, a sense of comfort and relaxation washed over them.
"Immortal tea?" The Monkey King had never imagined tea could be like this. No wonder someone at Miles Moon’s level would still tend to his own plants, loving them so much.
"Hey, what do you mean, ‘never mind’? If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t!" Belle puffed her cheeks and protested.
Chewing on the fruit, the Monkey quickly moved the basket aside and asked, "Why is it so quiet today?"
Belle pouted. "Elder Sky isn’t giving lectures anymore, and the whole monastery is in chaos. Even my master hasn’t come out, so I have nothing to do. But you’d better watch out—I heard some of the older senior brothers want to beat you up."
"Huh? Are they Elder Sky’s disciples?" the Monkey asked, stunned.
"No. Elder Sky has been shut away for three days now. I heard he’s not seeing anyone—not even the ones delivering food. Luckily, his cultivation has reached the Nascent Soul stage, just entered it, so there’s no need to worry about him." Seeing the Monkey eating happily, Belle rested her chin in her hands and asked with a grin, "So, how is it? Do you like what I made?"
Just as the Monkey was about to complain and banter with her, a voice suddenly rang out: "Hahaha! Our Fourth Princess can cook? That’s truly rare!"
Monkey and Belle both jumped in surprise, quickly looking around.
The voice seemed to echo directly in their minds, with no clear source or direction.
Soon, an eagle’s cry pierced the air. A mighty eagle swooped down from the sky, transforming midair into human form, sleeves billowing in the wind as he landed gracefully.
The newcomer was a handsome young man, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a fitted black Daoist robe. At the center of his hair bun was a striking streak of white.
Belle’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She quickly straightened and bowed. "Belle greets Senior Brother Yuechao!"
Yuechao looked at Belle, smiling as he asked, "Why do you act so casually with Uncle Master, but get all formal when you see me, your senior brother?"
"He’s just a monkey, there’s no need for formality," Belle replied, pouting.
The intimacy in her tone didn’t escape Yuechao’s notice, and it sparked a faint worry in his heart.
He reached out and patted Belle’s head, then turned to the Monkey and bowed respectfully. "Uncle Master Wukong, it’s an honor to meet you. I am Yuechao, senior disciple under Elder Gale."
Elder Gale is another name for Qingfengzi.
After all this time at Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave, it was the first time anyone had shown him such respect. The Monkey was stunned. He hurriedly returned the gesture, "You’re too polite. I only just joined the sect myself."
After the exchange, Yuechao glanced at the Monkey a few times, then went to take Belle’s food basket. "I’ve never tasted Fourth Junior Sister’s cooking before, and I happen to be hungry. Huh? It’s all fruit? You call this cooking?"
Belle’s face flushed red. She rushed over to snatch the basket back, muttering, "It wasn’t meant for you anyway."
Yuechao sighed helplessly. "Never mind, then. I thought my junior sister had improved—after just a year away, I thought you’d learned to cook."
Belle hid the basket behind her back and quickly changed the subject. "Senior Brother, why did you suddenly come back from cultivating at Cloudrise Peak?"
"I came with Uncle Master Lingyun to watch the excitement at Guanjiao Port, and swung by to see you on the way."
"Watching the excitement at Guanjiao Port?" The Monkey frowned. "Is a fight about to break out?"
Yuechao slapped his thigh and sat cross-legged. "Yep, news from the Heavenly Court. For some reason, the Grand Supreme Elder Lord suddenly emerged from seclusion ahead of schedule. Now the Jade Emperor is preparing for war in earnest, and Erlang Shen Yang Jian is about ready too. They’re recruiting soldiers everywhere—anyone with a bit of cultivation is being called up. Looks like this feud between uncle and nephew is going to be a fight to the death. But, since one day in Heaven is a year on Earth, the battle probably won’t start for another month or two. We’re in no rush."
With a wave of his hand, Yuechao conjured a tea set out of thin air, complete with a charcoal stove and steaming hot water.
(This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading more exciting content!)
The Monkey was left speechless by the scene.
"Little Junior Sister, come, try some tea I personally grew at the top of Cloudrise Peak. Even Uncle Master Lingyun is reluctant to give this away. His disciples are always after my tea leaves, so I guard them carefully." Yuechao raised his eyebrows and took out a small bamboo tube filled with tea leaves from his pocket.
The Monkey quickly asked, "Do you also cultivate the Traveler’s Path?"
"Why do you ask?" Yuechao replied.
"This... Isn’t that only possible at the third stage, when spirit and body become one? If you’re not on the Traveler’s Path, how are you so young and already able to..."
Belle tugged lightly at the Monkey’s hand and whispered in his ear, "Senior Brother Yuechao is already over three hundred years old..."
"Huh?"
While the Monkey was still confused, Yuechao had already brewed the tea and poured it into cups, sliding two of them over to the Monkey and Belle. "An immortal’s appearance reflects their heart. If the heart does not age, the face does not age. When you meet Uncle Master Lingyun someday, you’ll see—he still looks like a youth of seventeen or eighteen, full of vigor."
The Monkey’s first reaction was to glance at Belle.
"What?" Belle glared right back at him.
Yuechao, off to the side, sighed. "She really is only ten years old—not just youthful in appearance. Come, try my tea."
The three of them picked up their teacups and began to taste.
The tea was smooth and mellow, its aroma filling their noses. As they swallowed, a sense of comfort and relaxation washed over them.
"Immortal tea?" The Monkey had never imagined tea could be like this. No wonder someone at Yuechao’s level would still tend to his own plants, loving them so much.
After sipping his tea, Yuechao gazed thoughtfully at Belle, then suddenly turned to the Monkey. "Uncle Master Wukong, Uncle Masters Lingyun and Yiyuan have already sent word to Master Sage Subhuti, asking if they should return to take charge of the monastery."
It seemed that, even while away, these senior brothers were fully aware of everything happening in the monastery.
But that was only to be expected. Even if their means of communication were unknown, given their cultivation, it was certain they had some way.
The Monkey grunted in response, sipping his tea as he glanced up at Yuechao, wondering why he had brought this up so suddenly.
Yuechao’s expression grew solemn as he looked at the Monkey and said slowly, "Master Sage Subhuti’s reply was: ‘No need for now.’ But he didn’t refuse Uncle Master Danny Crimson. Word is... Uncle Master Danny Crimson is currently hunting a vicious flood dragon in the South Sea and will return soon."
Belle’s face instantly turned pale, though the Monkey didn’t understand why.
Yuechao lowered his head, holding his teacup, and said quietly, "From now on, Uncle Master Wukong, you’d best be even more careful."
After a few more words of idle chat, Yuechao took his leave, asking Belle to see him off, leaving the Monkey alone to continue his cultivation.
Whether by design or not, Yuechao led Belle on a circuit around the entire monastery before finally stopping at the mountain gate. Only then did he suddenly say, "Belle, from now on, try to keep your distance from Uncle Master Wukong."
"Why do you say that, Senior Brother?" Belle was clearly startled.
Yuechao stopped walking, slowly raised his head, and said, "The Traveler’s Path, such a temperament, and Master’s attitude toward him—he’s only been here a year and already reached late-stage Focus. Someone like him is just like Yang Jian; there are only three possible outcomes: a hero to the world, a demon among men, or—death."
His words were like a thunderclap.
Belle’s petite frame trembled slightly. She stopped in her tracks, silently bowing her head and wringing her small hands.
The two of them stood quietly on the ancient stone steps, sunlight streaming down as shadows of leaves danced in the wind.
After a long while, Yuechao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, gazing up at the drifting clouds. "No matter which of those three fates awaits, the path will be paved with bones. All the uncle masters see this clearly."