Monkey had no idea what was happening inside Tusita Palace.
And as for what was unfolding before him, he no longer had the luxury to be distracted.
News that Belle had been taken away by the Tusita Palace boy quickly reached the Jade Pool and the High Sky Throne Hall.
The Queen Mother, who had already learned much about Belle from the Lunar Star Lord, grew uneasy after hearing Warden Joel Chow and Captain Carl Chang’s vivid explanations; but the Jade Emperor’s reaction was entirely the opposite.
Belle was originally recommended to Heaven by Lord Lao—others might not know, but the Jade Emperor was perfectly aware.
For Lord Lao to take Belle away at this moment at the very least signaled that he already knew about the Jade Emperor’s impending move against Monkey, and tacitly permitted it.
With the support of his courtiers and Lord Lao’s silent consent, the Jade Emperor seemed invigorated. He issued secret orders for full war readiness, began massive shipments of supplies to Cloudrealm Sky Harbor, and even had the South Heaven Gate garrison dispatch a transport fleet to assist.
And, to guard against Monkey, he called in the Five Directional Wardens.
With the Twenty-Eight Mansions and the Five Directional Wardens combined, these thirty-three generals together might not guarantee a one-shot victory over Monkey, whose cultivation had reached the peak of Grand Taiyi Golden Immortal, but they were more than enough to keep him contained.
Now that the Five Directional Wardens were involved, news of these developments was relayed word for word to both Monkey and Anna Yang.
Three demon generals descended from the sky, kneeling on one knee and offering a golden whip with both hands.
"Holy Mother, the entire army has assembled."
Shortbeak landed beside her, nervously asking, "Are you sure... we should strike first?"
Anna Yang put away the Linked Bamboo Scroll, took a deep breath, and sighed, "We must force the Heavenly Court to redeploy its main battle generals."
With that, she took the golden whip, gripped it tightly, and boarded the steel flagship with the three demon generals, not looking back.
The fleet, vast enough to blot out the sun, beat its war drums, sounded its horns, and raised its sails.
Blossom Mountain was no longer the Blossom Mountain of a century ago.
Buildings and fortresses rose everywhere, iron armor bristled across the cliffs. After a century of sharpening the blade, this demon army before them was now equal to Heaven’s forces.
"Go! Bring our king home!" Anna Yang stood at the prow, waving the golden whip and shouting.
"Long live our king! Long live our king!"
Could he truly be worthy of such devotion? The question gnawed at him, lingering in the silence.
He did not know, nor did he dare to imagine the answer.
“The hardest thing to repay in this world is a beauty’s favor.”
He could only sigh, tucking the Linked Bamboo Scroll into his robe, gathering his scattered thoughts, and setting out on his journey.
…
Blossom Mountain.
A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, stirring the branches, fluttering the petals, and brushing against the hems of flowing skirts.
Anna Yang stood in the courtyard, clutching the Linked Bamboo Scroll, her gaze vacant. She waited, but the reply she longed for never came.
Disappointment welled up in her eyes, unbidden and quiet.
A vast shadow, cast by the steel warships above, slowly enveloped the small courtyard below.