Inside the cave-manor, the Six-Eared Macaque slowly raised his head. The dim light cast eerie shadows across his furry face; the former look of confusion had vanished without a trace, leaving only ferocity and cunning.
"You are not Sun Wukong. You never were, and you never will be. And you certainly will never be my husband."
"What did you say!" Damon Six-Ears' eyes widened, glaring angrily at Anna Yang.
Anna Yang slowly seated herself in the stone chair, leaning gently against the table. She toyed with the still-shattered Jade Tablet in her hand and said, "He would never devour the blood essence of his own subordinates. But you would."
"Faster! Faster! Even faster!" he shouted inwardly again and again.
"I had no choice! I have to survive!"
Anna tilted her head with a gentle smile, gazing at Damon Six-Ears. "He would sacrifice himself for others. Could you do the same?"
"That... well, it depends who it is."
Damon Six-Ears struggled to get the words out, but Anna Yang only laughed. She covered her lips, chuckling softly. "At Dragon's Pool, at Blossom Mountain, so many times, he risked his life. For so many people... For instance, at Dragon's Pool, it was just for some little demons, for a dream that might never come true. Those weren't even his own subordinates. But you, you devour your own underlings, just to prolong your own life."
"That's just foolishness!" Damon Six-Ears shouted, "What are those little demons worth risking his life for!"
The smile faded from Anna Yang’s face. She answered, word by word, "That’s why you’re not him. And what I love, is exactly that foolishness."
"You!" Damon Six-Ears roared, gathering all his fury. "What’s so good about him? On your wedding day, he left you for another woman!"
"That was repaying a debt." Anna replied expressionlessly, "If he didn’t value loyalty and righteousness, he wouldn’t be the man I love."
"He’s been gone from Five Elements Mountain for years, and he still hasn’t come to see you!"
"That’s long-term planning." Anna lowered her head, playing with the shattered Jade Tablet, her tone casual. "Only by overthrowing Tathagata can there be lasting peace. That was proven more than six hundred years ago. I tried everything to make him come, but he didn’t—because he cares about me. I didn’t summon you, yet you came, just to have me validate your identity. That shows you don’t value me at all. Am I right?"
"You! By your logic, he’s good at everything?"
"Yes." Anna lifted her head and gazed at Damon Six-Ears. "He is good at everything. If I resent him, it’s because he’s wronged me. But that’s between husband and wife, not for an outsider like you to meddle in."
Her words left Damon Six-Ears utterly speechless.
"I... I’m an outsider?"
"Aren’t you?" Anna exhaled slowly. "Using his face to say all those senseless things... Hah. You don’t even know what I want, yet you make wild promises."
Outside the cave-manor, Erik Yang, who had been quietly listening in, was left stunned by their exchange.
"That's all?"
At this moment, Louis Quickpaw and the others had all arrived at the Western Isle. Unfortunately, they were too late.
Tripitaka was already gone. Both the attackers and defenders had lost their purpose for fighting, and now both sides slowly withdrew toward their respective camps.
During this, Many-Eyes, hidden among the demon ranks, took out his Jade Tablet and pressed it to his lips.
The Six-Eared Macaque was momentarily stunned by the question.
Inside the cave-manor, Damon Six-Ears, trapped and at a loss, paused for a moment and reached for a Jade Tablet at his waist.
Suppressing his anger, the Six-Eared Macaque barked, "You don't need to do anything else. Just do what I said!"
"Great Sage, that monkey seems to have gone toward Mount Hua. Be careful!"
After a brief pause, the Six-Eared Macaque hastily added, "Or, you can do whatever you want—I won't stop you. As long as you're on my side, you'll benefit!"
"Got it." The moment Damon Six-Ears put down the Jade Tablet, the panic vanished from his face. He fixed his gaze on Anna Yang, the corners of his mouth lifting in a slow, cold smile. "You’re stalling for time, aren’t you?"
That did it—the Six-Eared Macaque was truly enraged now. He roared, "What the hell are you laughing at? Is it really that funny? I'm making you an offer! I'm negotiating with you!"
"Now, I’ll give you two choices." Damon Six-Ears casually raised Iron Sentinel and pointed it at Anna Yang, gritting his teeth. "Either you leave with me right now, or I kill your brother and then abduct you. Choose."
Anna Yang stared blankly at Damon Six-Ears, her eyes wide with shock.
At that moment, inside the cave-manor, Erik Yang, fully aware of the situation, gripped the Trident Saber tightly, ready to storm in at any moment.
Just then, Anna's voice sounded in his mind: "Brother, don't come in."
Moments later, Monkey landed at full speed with Tripitaka on his back.
Looking around, he saw that the courtyard buildings were nothing but ruins. All around, besides the Guang River Estuary troops, there were hordes of demons—even Erik Yang was among them. Countless were wounded, but most injuries were minor, including Erik’s.
The sight made Monkey’s heart lurch. He quickly dropped Tripitaka and rushed to Erik Yang, asking urgently, "Anna... Where’s Anna? Has something happened to her?"
Erik Yang said nothing, merely rubbed his injured shoulder, his face cold and indifferent.
Monkey spun around, about to leap into the air.
"Stop!"
At Erik Yang's shout, Monkey abruptly halted and turned back.
"Don't chase," Erik said quietly, lowering his head with a sigh. "Anna asked me to tell you she can handle Damon Six-Ears herself. She wants you not to worry. Don't try to straddle both sides—if you do, you'll end up failing both."
With that, Erik glanced coldly at Tripitaka in the distance and said, "See to Master Tripitaka's safety first."
"I had no choice! I have to survive!"
Anna tilted her head slightly, looking at Damon Six-Ears with a playful smile. "He would sacrifice himself for others. Would you?"
"That... well, it depends on who it is."
Damon Six-Ears finally managed to squeeze out a reply, but it only made Anna Yang laugh. Covering her lips, she chuckled softly. "At Dragon's Pool, at Blossom Mountain, so many times, he risked his life. For so many people... For instance, at Dragon's Pool, it was just for some little demons, for a dream that might never come true. Those weren't even his own subordinates. But you, you devour your own underlings, just to prolong your own life."
"That's just foolishness!" Damon Six-Ears shouted, "What are those little demons worth risking his life for!"