All the demon officers present were stunned. The other Monkey was inside Crescent Star Cave—what did that mean? Even if no one said it aloud, they all understood perfectly well.
One of them sidled up to the Six-Eared Macaque and whispered, "Great Sage, should we head back first?"
His voice was tinged with a nervous tremor.
Every pair of eyes turned instinctively toward the Six-Eared Macaque.
"No." The Six-Eared Macaque flicked his hand, Iron Sentinel already gripped tight. Baring his teeth, he stared toward the distant Hall of Silent Meditation and declared, word by word, "If anyone has to detour, it should be him!"
At that moment, every hair on his body bristled upright, his whole form poised for battle. "We're heading straight up the mountain—to watch the show!"
With that, he led his entire retinue, flying steadily toward Crescent Star Cave.
……
From afar, Clara Heart saw the Six-Eared Macaque's imposing procession approaching Crescent Star Cave. Standing under the shade, she froze, momentarily at a loss.
……
Inside the Hall of Silent Meditation, Master Sage Subhuti sat with eyes half-closed, quietly watching the Monkey, whose rage had reached its peak.
To be fair, he had long foreseen this moment—it simply arrived sooner than he expected.
"You have no other choice. Protecting Tripitaka on the Westward Quest is your only way out."
"Are you threatening me?"
"This isn't a threat. It's advice."
"Hahaha! Advice! How generous!" Monkey glared, shouting, "So I should thank you for it, Master?"
Master Sage Subhuti remained perfectly still, gazing at Monkey. His elderly face seemed coated in thick frost, utterly devoid of emotion.
The two of them held their standoff, letting time slip away, moment by moment.
……
When the Six-Eared Macaque's grand procession reached the mountain gate of Crescent Star Cave, Clara Heart was already waiting there with Yvonne Rain.
Seeing Clara Heart, the Six-Eared Macaque broke into a broad grin. But for Clara, especially at this moment, the sight of him darkened her face with stormy clouds.
"Why are you here?"
Her icy words wiped the smile clean off the Six-Eared Macaque's face. Regaining his composure, he sighed with mock disappointment, "What, am I not allowed to come? I am your senior brother, after all."
"It's not that you're not allowed. I'm just asking... why are you here?"
"I came especially to bring you some gifts." At this, Clara's face darkened even further, and she replied curtly, "I don't want them."
"Don't want them? You haven't even looked. Maybe you'll like them." With that, the Six-Eared Macaque waved to his demon officers, signaling them to set down the gifts.
The demon officers obeyed at once, fumbling to open the chests and display the gifts. But Clara didn't even glance at them, her expression blank as she glared at the Six-Eared Macaque. "I won't accept rewards for no merit. I won't take any gifts. Take them all back."
"Why won't you take them?"
"I already said—no merit, no reward."
"Does there have to be merit? Am I not your senior brother? Isn't it perfectly reasonable for a senior brother to give something to his junior sister?"
Clara glanced nervously toward the Hall of Silent Meditation, flustered. "I said I won't accept them, and I mean it. I won't take gifts from anyone."
The Six-Eared Macaque craned his neck to peer toward the Hall of Silent Meditation as well, grinning. "Fine, if you won't take the gifts, then I'll just stick around and refuse to leave."
"You—!" Clara's face flushed with urgency.
……
"Today, I'm here to lay my cards on the table." Monkey casually drew the Golden Staff from his ear and slammed it down, then sat cross-legged, his tone harsh. "I won't haggle over old debts. But you must agree to a few conditions, or else... That's right, Lord Lao's Heavenly Dao has already broken; the situation isn't what it was. Still, I have my own ways to deal with you."
Monkey didn't continue. He just stared hard at Master Sage Subhuti.
……
"Fine... fine." Clara blinked rapidly, stammering, "I'll take everything. You can go now."
"You haven't even looked at them yet."
"I'll take whatever it is. Just go."