Barry Bear's legs trembled uncontrollably in terror as he stared at Monkey, his mind going utterly blank.
A chill had already swept through his entire body.
Monkey's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he stared at Barry Bear, slowly baring his teeth in a menacing grin.
"Forget it. No need to guess—I'll just send you straight to meet your Buddha!"
With a sudden flip, Monkey leapt down from the stone chair. The Golden Staff was already in his hand, and in one swift motion, he swung it toward Barry Bear's face.
"Great Sage!" Barry Bear roared in desperation.
In an instant, Monkey's Golden Staff halted in midair, the wind it carried whipping past Barry Bear's cheek.
At that moment, the tip of the Golden Staff hovered just three inches from Barry Bear's face, trembling slightly.
Barry Bear's mouth hung open, his eyes wide, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.
Monkey narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, asking softly, "You know who I am?"
With a thud, Barry Bear had already fallen to his knees, panting heavily, unable to catch his breath for a long while. His hand pressed to his chest, yet it still could not stop trembling.
If he had shouted even a fraction of a second later, his life would have been forfeit.
"I'm asking you a question—speak." Monkey stood with hands on hips, tilting his head as he gently tapped Barry Bear's shoulder with the Golden Staff.
Barry Bear blinked furiously, his eyes bulging like bronze bells, sweat streaming down his face.
Only after a long moment did he swallow dryly and slowly lift his head to stammer: "Great Sage, I... I once served as captain of the Black-Fur Squad under the Feather-Ape Division at Blossom Mountain. Many times on the battlefield, I witnessed your heroic bearing."
"Feather-Ape Division?" The Golden Staff spun back and struck the ground. Monkey narrowed his eyes, pondering for a moment, then asked softly, "So you served under King Macaque, yes?"
"Yes, yes." Barry Bear forced a smile onto his terrified face and replied cautiously, "I hail from the Southern Jambu Continent. I fought in the Frost-Rain Mountain campaign, then followed King Macaque to Blossom Mountain, entered your service, and was a vanguard in the campaign against the Milky Way Navy. I also fought at South Heaven Gate and in the Blossom Mountain war six hundred years ago. Because of my merits, the Third Saintess granted me the rank of sub-general—the commission even bore your seal, Great Sage. The Black-Fur Squad was named after me... I have always been loyal to Blossom Mountain and to you, Great Sage. Spare me! Spare me, I beg you!"
By now, Barry Bear was kowtowing repeatedly, each muffled thud shaking the hard ground, his black forehead already bleeding.
"So... after all this, you're an old acquaintance?" Monkey's brow furrowed slightly.
Back then, there were so many demons at Blossom Mountain that even Monkey could not remember all the named officers. Still, he vaguely recalled a black bear called Black-Fur. At that time, a sub-general's rank meant even during festivals, they could only sit at the entrance of the Myriad Demons Hall—much less speak directly with Monkey.
Monkey took a deep breath, gazing at Barry Bear as he asked softly, "Then why did you turn to Buddhism? Surely you know Blossom Mountain has no ties to the Buddha's order?"
"This... this..." Barry Bear, still prone on the ground, said, "Great Sage, you may not know—after the Blossom Mountain war, King Macaque led us in retreat, then after the Demon King wars, he grew weary of fighting and vanished, leaving us officers with nowhere to go. We had no choice but to disband. Some joined the Nine-Headed Wyrm, some went to King Bullhorn, some to King Roc, and some even to Heaven..."
"So you thought to join Spirit Mountain? Damn, that King Macaque was truly irresponsible."
"I've practiced Buddhism here for two hundred years, but achieved nothing. Even that Peach of Immortality Abbot Goldenpool received was something I acquired for him through great effort... but... but..."
He could barely finish his words. Barry Bear collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably, tears and snot streaming as he wailed, "I was foolish, I deserve death! Great Sage, I truly did not mean to betray Blossom Mountain. If demons had even a sliver of hope, I would never have turned to Buddhism! Now that you have returned, let me serve at your side! Just say the word—even if you order me to die, I would gladly obey! Spare me, Great Sage! Spare me!"
Watching Barry Bear sob so hard he could barely breathe, Monkey felt a pang of compassion. "Then why did you think to kill the scripture seeker I protect, just to curry favor with the Buddhists?"
"I truly didn't know it was you, Great Sage, guarding the scripture seeker! Abbot Goldenpool only said it was a powerful monkey spirit. There are countless monkey demons in the Three Realms, and you have been unheard of for centuries—how could I have guessed the monkey he spoke of was you?" With that, Barry Bear crawled over and clung to Monkey's leg, pleading, "Great Sage... for the sake of my faithful service at Blossom Mountain, grant me one more chance—spare me!"
"Let go!"
With a cold rebuke, Barry Bear shrank back, prostrating himself on the ground, not daring to move.
"Stand up. Stop groveling."