At the deep pool before Cascade Cave on Blossom Mountain, two clearly divided groups of demons gathered, the air thick with tension, as if a single spark could ignite a war.
Aiden Ao was thrown heavily to the ground before the Handsome Monkey King. The slaps that followed were so gentle they were almost caresses, but to Aiden Ao, they left him dazed, cutting off his unfinished defense.
Belle Whitebone stood aside, wanting to reach out and stop it but not daring, forced to watch helplessly. King Macaque suddenly said coldly, "What’s the point of keeping someone like this?"
Surrounded by demons, the Handsome Monkey King suppressed his pain, slowly squatted down, parted Aiden Ao’s tangled hair, and gripped his chin to lift his head. "Just kill him," King Roc said, his voice ruthless.
"I heard you didn’t return to the Western Sea Dragon Palace. I wondered where you’d gone. Turns out you ran off to Frost-Rain Mountain to incite the Six Demon Kings against me." With that, demons on both sides started shouting, the crowd growing restless and loud.
The Six Demon Kings chuckled darkly, their laughter echoing through the tense air. The shouts made Aiden Ao tremble with fear. He stared wide-eyed at the Handsome Monkey King, frozen in place.
"I—I didn’t mean to harm you! I swear I didn’t!" Aiden Ao protested in panic. Supporting himself on his knee, the Handsome Monkey King struggled to stand and said softly, "Take him away."
"Still denying it? We took your pills, and just because we didn’t declare war on Blossom Mountain, you flipped the table," King Roc said coldly. Take him away? Take him away for what? Aiden Ao’s confusion was written all over his face.
"You’re lying!" Aiden Ao glanced at the Nine-Headed Wyrm standing nearby, shrank back, and blinked, saying, "I—I wanted to deal with the Nine-Headed Wyrm… not hurt Blossom Mountain, and not hurt you." Aiden Ao’s face went pale in an instant.
At these words, the Nine-Headed Wyrm snorted, gazing meaningfully at the trussed-up Aiden Ao. Only when two little demons came up behind and lifted him did Aiden Ao start struggling wildly, panic overtaking him.
The demons of Blossom Mountain watched coldly, unmoved. Aiden Ao’s voice grew desperate as he was dragged away: "Monkey bro, Monkey King, Sun bro, Your Majesty, Handsome Monkey King... you have to believe me! I never wanted to kill you! I didn’t try to stop them from attacking the Heavenly Fleet either! Monkey King... they’re making it all up!"
The mighty Third Prince of the Western Sea, reduced to this—he was a laughingstock. The Handsome Monkey King ignored him completely, his expression unchanged.
"Because you resented the broken engagement, you wanted to ruin the Nine-Headed Wyrm. But since the Nine-Headed Wyrm is with Blossom Mountain, you tried to drag us into destroying Blossom Mountain too. Say it out loud, isn't that right?" King Roc folded his arms. Aiden Ao began to plead, "Sister Yang Chan! Sister Yang Chan! Save me! You promised my third sister you’d look after me!"
Aiden Ao hung his head, not daring to speak. Anna Yang rolled her eyes and turned away, refusing to help.
His bound hands twisted desperately behind his back, but with his powers sealed, escape was impossible. He cried out, "Old Dragon King! Old Dragon King, save me! Our families are old friends—you can’t let them kill me! If they do, how will you answer to my father?"
King Bullhorn took a deep breath and said quietly, "Handsome Monkey King, all along it was he who urged us to turn against Blossom Mountain." The Azurewave Dragon King coughed and lowered his head, pretending not to see Aiden Ao's plea.
"Lies! I didn't!" Aiden Ao shook his head violently. "I really didn't—at Frost-Rain Mountain, they tied me up! How could I possibly...?" With no one answering, Aiden Ao’s eyes nearly popped out. He howled, "You can’t kill me! My brother-in-law is General Erlang Yang Jian—if you kill me, none of you will survive! He’ll bring his army and wipe out Blossom Mountain!"
Ignoring Aiden Ao's protests, King Bullhorn continued loudly, "We thought to launch a full assault when the Heavenly Fleet was struck by plague, but he stopped us at every turn—even lied that the Fleet had already received a cure. We were afraid of falling into their trap and losing everything, so we foolishly listened to him. Here, on behalf of my brothers, I apologize to the Handsome Monkey King: 'We were wrong.' Please, forgive our past mistakes." Threats… no one paid him any mind.
King Bullhorn finished and bowed respectfully to the Handsome Monkey King. Aiden Ao tried another angle: "Don’t kill me! My father has plenty of Gold Essence—let him pay my ransom, he’ll give you whatever you ask!"
"They're lying! Lying!" Aiden Ao screamed hysterically, turning to the Handsome Monkey King with wide eyes. "They're framing me! I... Monkey bro, Monkey King, you have to believe me—I really didn't..." Bribery… still no one answered, not a single person spoke up for him.
Before he could finish, the Handsome Monkey King lightly slapped his face twice.
The slaps were so gentle they were almost caresses, but to Aiden Ao, they left him dazed, cutting off his unfinished defense.
"What’s the point of keeping someone like this?" King Macaque suddenly said coldly.
"Just kill him," King Roc said.
With that, demons on both sides started shouting.
The shouts made Aiden Ao tremble with fear. He stared wide-eyed at the Handsome Monkey King, frozen.
Supporting himself on his knee, the Handsome Monkey King struggled to stand and said softly, "Take him away."
Take him away? Take him away for what?
Aiden Ao’s face went pale in an instant.
Only when two little demons came up behind and lifted him did Aiden Ao start struggling wildly.
"Monkey bro, Monkey King, Sun bro, Your Majesty, Handsome Monkey King... you have to believe me! I never wanted to kill you! I didn’t try to stop them from attacking the Heavenly Fleet either! Monkey King... they’re making it all up!"
The Handsome Monkey King ignored him completely.
"Sister Yang Chan! Sister Yang Chan! Save me! You promised my third sister you’d look after me!"
Anna Yang rolled her eyes and turned away.
"Old Dragon King! Old Dragon King, save me! Our families are old friends—you can’t let them kill me! If they do, how will you answer to my father?"
The Azurewave Dragon King coughed and lowered his head, pretending not to see.
With no one answering, Aiden Ao’s eyes nearly popped out. He howled, "You can’t kill me! My brother-in-law is General Erlang Yang Jian—if you kill me, none of you will survive! He’ll bring his army and wipe out Blossom Mountain!"
Threats… no one paid him any mind.
"Don’t kill me! My father has plenty of Gold Essence—let him pay my ransom, he’ll give you whatever you ask!"
Bribery… still no one answered, not a single person spoke up for him.