Leading the crowd of demons into the empty housing district, the monsters gazed at the rows of houses, their eyes dazzled and brimming with tears, utterly at a loss.
Some even broke down and wailed in public.
Though these houses weren't exactly luxurious, every brick and beam looked like something only wealthy families in the mortal world could afford. Opening the doors revealed fully furnished rooms, and the storerooms were stacked high with grain.
Louis Quickpaw rushed over, trying his best to cozy up to Shawn Cloud, making Shawn laugh nonstop. It was unclear whether Louis’s words were truly that funny or if he just found Louis, the demon, amusing.
Miles settled the Monkey King, Big Bull, Shortbeak, and other familiar demons into one courtyard, then hurried off to arrange housing for the rest. Placing nearly a thousand demons wasn’t easy, but thanks to Louis Quickpaw’s popularity and enthusiasm, Miles was spared much trouble.
Sitting in his small room, the Monkey King stared blankly out the window at the sky.
"Feeling any better?" Anna Yang asked as she brewed tea nearby, her tone still tinged with a faint gunpowder edge.
"Same as ever. Still mad I knocked you out?"
Anna shot him a cold glare. "So what’s your plan now? Are you going to keep leading them forever?"
"Next… Well, I’ll stay here for a while. If my second senior brother doesn’t kick us out." The Monkey King shifted slightly, accidentally tugging at his wound and cried out in pain.
"What’s wrong?" Anna immediately set down her teacup and rushed over.
"It’s nothing, I won’t die." The Monkey King gritted his teeth, sweating as he shook his head and waved her away.
"You’ll end up killing yourself with your recklessness." Anna glared at him angrily and began to nag, listing every reckless thing he’d done—from the Kunlun Mountain adventure to killing Wang Luqi, to rescuing monsters at Dragon’s Pool.
The Monkey King didn’t listen to a word of her nagging, just kept grinning foolishly.
The more he smiled, the angrier Anna became, her nagging growing fiercer. Finally, in a huff, she stormed out, leaving two steaming cups of tea on the table.
Staring at the two cups of tea, the Monkey King stretched out from his bed, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reach them. He frowned. "No one thinks to bring it over for me. If I drag myself over and tear my wound open, what then? Forget it, drinking tea isn’t wise when I’m this injured anyway."
Just then, a commotion erupted outside. A small figure burst into the courtyard, shouting loudly.
"Monkey King! Monkey King!"
"Over here." The Monkey King leaned by the window and waved outside.
Shadow dashed over, with Louis Quickpaw following close behind.
"Monkey King, I want to live with you all!"
"This place is full, do you understand?" Louis Quickpaw barked, hands on his hips. "Hey, why can't you mouse demons understand plain speech?"
Shadow ignored him completely, his small eyes fixed unwaveringly on the Monkey King.
The Monkey King glanced at Louis Quickpaw. "No more rooms left here?" he asked.
"Really, none left."
"Just squeeze in. Not everyone needs a private room."
"Uh…" Louis Quickpaw hesitated, suddenly bashful.
"Share with him. Neither of you are very big," the Monkey King said offhandedly.
Louis Quickpaw was left utterly dumbstruck.
"Hmph." Shadow lifted his head in triumph, eyeing Louis Quickpaw. "Which room is yours? Is it this one?"
"Don’t just barge in! It’s here! Listen, everyone in this courtyard is important, so don’t wander around, got it?"
"Important people? I know Monkey King, I know Miles, I know Anna too, and I respect Shortbeak and Big Bull. You though… hmph."
Louis Quickpaw’s face flushed bright red.
"Shadow, are you living here too?" Fiona Fox sprang out of her room, delighted.
The two little demons began chatting excitedly.
Louis Quickpaw immediately slunk over to the Monkey King, lowering his voice. "Great King, that little mouse moving in here clearly has some motive."
"What motive could he have?" The Monkey King yawned, expressionless.
"Can’t you see, Great King?" Louis Quickpaw widened his eyes, giving a meaningful look.
"Nope." The Monkey King shot him a glance.
"Tsk, Great King, are you really clueless or just pretending? Look—" Louis Quickpaw pointed at Fiona Fox, then at Shadow. "Isn’t it obvious?"
The Monkey King lifted his head and took a deep breath. "I rather like Shadow. If he and Fiona Fox are fond of each other, childhood sweethearts wouldn’t be so bad."
With that, he pulled his head back inside, ignoring Louis Quickpaw.
"Huh? Did I get it wrong?" Louis Quickpaw was left bewildered, scratching his head and sighing.
He turned to look at Shadow and Fiona Fox, muttering to himself, "Fiona is so close to the Great King, but she’s not… If that’s the case, then this mouse demon…"
With that thought, he seemed to make up his mind and hurried over to Shadow. "Hey, hey, your name’s Shadow, right?"
Seeing Louis Quickpaw grinning like a flower, Shadow shivered with goosebumps.
"So, Shadow, do you have any luggage? Need help moving? Here, I’ll give you the best spot in the room. I heard you saved the Great King this time, that’s a huge merit…"
Listening to the voices outside, the Monkey King carefully stretched, then lay down, thinking he’d better sleep early. Tomorrow morning, he’d need to visit his second senior brother to offer thanks.
After all, in these times, not just anyone would dare shelter a whole nest of demons.
Thinking of this, he suddenly found his eighth senior brother, Skylar Loft, much more endearing than before.
Why did Skylar take in so many demon disciples at Cloudrise Pavilion? Was it pure sympathy?
"I wonder how he’s doing now. Probably back at Cloudrise Pavilion, living the easy life," he thought.
If only Master Subhuti’s intentions weren’t so inscrutable, the Monkey King would gladly stay in Crescent Star Cave forever. Compared to the hostile outside world, Subhuti’s mountain was paradise.
(This chapter isn’t finished ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!)
Unfortunately, judging by all the signs and what he’d learned of the Sage’s Path, he could clearly infer that the outcome Subhuti wanted was not the one he wished for.
Worse yet, from the current situation, even without Subhuti’s guidance, he found himself walking step by step along the path his master hoped for, unable to turn back.
"Ah… just take it one step at a time."
He let out a long sigh, shifted a bit, found a more comfortable position, and closed his eyes.
That night, Miles and Louis Quickpaw worked through till dawn. By the time they returned to the courtyard the next morning, Miles looked so exhausted that the Monkey King couldn’t bring himself to mention visiting Elder Stillwater.
Without Miles to guide him, the plan to visit Elder Stillwater had to be abandoned.
Since that was the case, the Monkey King, already up early, simply curled back under his blanket to catch some more sleep, though it was anything but restful.
The demons were far too excited, gathering in the courtyard to find Miles and Louis Quickpaw to discuss plans for the future. It seemed they truly intended to settle here for the long haul.
Miles was genuinely exhausted and hid in his room, refusing to come out. Louis Quickpaw, on the other hand, was energized by talk of planning, and ran to the Monkey King’s window to suggest the demons discuss ideas first and then present them to the King for a final decision. Bloodshot-eyed, he joined the noisy crowd in the courtyard until Anna lost her temper and drove all the demons, Louis included, out.
In this courtyard, the one the demons feared most was probably Anna. At the slightest frown from her, even the burliest monsters dared not make a sound.
With the morning quiet, the Monkey King rested peacefully. By noon, fully refreshed, he sat by the window and happened to see smoke billowing from the kitchen.
Soon, Anna emerged from the kitchen carrying several trays, followed by Shadow and Fiona Fox, each with dishes in hand.
Aside from Golden Mist Cave, he’d rarely seen Anna cook anywhere else.
Thinking of this, the Monkey King couldn’t help but smile.
Sixth Heaven, Celestial Palace—layered towers and pavilions hid within the clouds, leaving only faint silhouettes.
Streams flowed gently, sending up strange mists; the broad courtyards brimmed with rare birds, beasts, and flowers. Now and then, stunningly beautiful celestial maidens passed by.
Across a jade bridge built of precious stone, Marshal Silver walked slowly, clad in silver armor.
The Celestial Palace was unlike any earthly palace. With four hundred thousand troops stationed at South Heaven Gate, there was little need to worry about assassins. Thus, the inner palace had none of the ever-present guards of mortal palaces.
After crossing the grand bridge, Marshal Silver walked along a path paved with variously cut gemstones. Celestial maidens and guards greeted him silently, and he responded with a faint nod.
He passed through the broad courtyard and entered a long corridor.
On both sides of the corridor were strange rocks and ancient pines, with clear springs flowing between them, producing a pleasant sound.
Two sparrows landed on the rocks, pecked at the moss, then fluttered away.
At the end of the corridor, Marshal Silver saw a massive palace, with two Skyward Legionnaires standing guard at the door.
Seeing Marshal Silver, the two guards saluted briskly.
"Please inform His Majesty that Marshal Silver has arrived," he said respectfully, bowing with hands clasped.
One of the guards bowed in return, slipped through the side door, and went inside.
Soon, the main gate swung open. Out strode a Heavenly General as tall as Marshal Silver, but even more robust, clad in silver armor and wielding a Demonbreaker Staff, his beard bristling.
"General Curtain pays respects to Marshal Silver."