In the mortal realm, thanks to Monkey's intervention, Quinn Wolfstar's whole family was saved.
"We never should've used that method in the first place," someone complained. "If we hadn't, we wouldn't be in this mess. Gods who fall for mortals have always committed a grave offense. Only that Fairy Cloudnymph escaped punishment because the Monkey got involved. What now? His Majesty will definitely demand we hand someone over! We... we should never have done it that way!"
"It's too late for regrets now. We thought demoting that maid to the mortal realm would make Kui-Wolf give up, but he's so stubborn he followed her down. Honestly... I don't think he ever cared about his divine post at all."
"Isn't it obvious? All he ever thinks about is his wife and kids. Sneaking down to the mortal world... he was even on guard against us."
The moment Quinn Wolfstar appeared, the fighting stopped.
According to the plan, Quinn Wolfstar swiftly seized the King of Precious Elephant, and in front of everyone, displayed power equal to Marshal Silver. He forced the king to pardon all those who had supported him, and then left with his wife Belle and their children to live in exile.
It was he who first suggested demoting the maid from Fragrant Cloud Palace. He knew it, everyone here knew it, and in the end, Kui-Wolf knew it too.
In front of the Precious Elephant King, Quinn Wolfstar showed his strength. As long as he lived, the king wouldn’t dare take revenge on his followers.
But this meant Belle, Quinn Wolfstar’s wife and the former princess, had to leave the land where she was born and raised, able to reunite with her parents only once a year.
For Monkey’s sudden protection, Quinn Wolfstar and his family were endlessly grateful.
Once Quinn Wolfstar’s family had settled down, Monkey’s party resumed their journey westward.
......
"So what's the situation now? Are we still going or not?"
"I heard that demon monkey protected Kui-Wolf."
"What? That can't be right. Why would he do that?"
Was he simply trying to embarrass the Jade Emperor? But the Jade Emperor hadn’t wronged him, and if Monkey wanted to humiliate him, there were easier ways than protecting Quinn Wolfstar.
Outside Tusita Palace, a crowd of Heavenly Generals gathered on the deck, chatting openly without a hint of restraint.
Clara Heart stood quietly nearby, listening in, lost in thought.
Several Heavenly Soldiers hurried past her. When they saw her, they paused for a moment, but sensed nothing unusual.
"What are they talking about?" Clara reached out to stop one of the Heavenly Soldiers.
The Heavenly Soldier hesitated for a moment, then bowed and replied in a low voice, "The generals are talking about Kui-Wolf, the Star Lord."
"What's going on with Kui-Wolf, exactly?"
"That... I don't know either."
After a brief thought, Clara nodded, signaling the Heavenly Soldier he could go.
"Did Monkey do something outrageous again? He really causes more trouble than I do," she sighed wistfully.
Lost in thought, she wandered aimlessly along the deck.
A lone woman stood out among the great army, but she carried Lord Lao’s token. Many Heavenly Generals had already met her and knew her identity, so they simply busied themselves and pretended not to see her.
......
In the Imperial Study, the Jade Emperor gripped the memorial just handed to him. The veins on his forehead pulsed, and for a moment he was speechless.
Before him, a dozen or so immortals stood in silence, heads bowed. Clearly, they already knew what had happened.
After a long pause, the Jade Emperor spoke in a trembling voice: "You may all withdraw."
At his words, the immortals hurriedly bowed and left.
"General Lee, stay."
General Lee stopped in his tracks.
Soon, the immortals had all left, leaving only the Jade Emperor and General Lee in the study.
The door closed softly, and the Imperial Study grew so quiet not a sound could be heard.
The Jade Emperor said nothing; General Lee said nothing. The two simply sat there in silence.
After a long while, the Jade Emperor set down the memorial, slumped back in his chair as if drained, closed his eyes, and murmured, "General Lee... do you have any strategies?"
General Lee slowly shook his head, watching the Jade Emperor with utmost caution.
The Jade Emperor didn't notice General Lee's subtle gesture. But even before he asked, he already knew the answer.
Eyes shut tight, the corners of his mouth curled in self-mockery. "Me, the Jade Emperor—supposed ruler of the Three Realms—yet in the end... I'm not even a match for a demon monkey."
General Lee still said nothing.
The Jade Emperor slowly opened his eyes, looking dazed and defeated as he stared at the dragon desk before him. "Every time he advances, I have to retreat. If he takes ten steps, I must back away ten more. Whatever he wants, I have to hand it over—I don't even dare say 'no.' All the rules, all the Heavenly statutes, none of them apply to that monkey. Tell me, what use are such laws? Tell me... what authority does Heaven have left?"
General Lee still remained silent, lowering his head to avoid the Jade Emperor’s gaze.
The Jade Emperor picked up the memorial and tossed it lightly—it landed right at General Lee’s feet.
Staring at General Lee, the Jade Emperor said wearily, "Think of something for me. No matter what, we have to find a way... This can't go on... We must find a way to rein in that mad monkey."
After a long hesitation, General Lee replied softly, "There... might be one way."
"What way?" The Jade Emperor blinked in surprise.
Lifting his head, General Lee answered quietly, "That monkey is simply too strong. With the power we have, we can't suppress him. But if we stop trying to suppress him... perhaps we could find someone he truly fears to deal with him. At least then, things might not go so far."
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"For example?"
"For example, Erik Yang and Anna Yang, or his fellow disciples from Crescent Star Cave," said General Lee.
At this, the Jade Emperor could only give a helpless, bitter smile.
In theory, the idea was sound. But in practice?
Take Erik Yang, for instance: he commands powerful armies and answers to no one. Anna Yang is imprisoned beneath Mount Hua—she’d have to get past Erik first even if she agreed. As for the Crescent Star Cave disciples... they're not so easily ordered by Heaven. And after the war years ago, how many of Master Subhuti's inner disciples are even left?
After all that thinking, all that remained was a sigh—swallowing bitter defeat.
Faced with absolute power, Heaven’s options were dwindling fast.
After a long silence, the Jade Emperor murmured, "Go try, then. Do your best to find someone he fears and have them deal with him."
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
......
In the mortal realm, thanks to Monkey's intervention, Kui-Wolf's whole family was saved.
After parting with Monkey, he quickly returned to the capital to clean up the aftermath.
By now, both sides inside and outside the city walls had lost the will to fight, even the King of Precious Elephant.
With a hundred-zhang-tall giant watching from the side, who still cared about fighting for power?
The moment Kui-Wolf appeared, the fighting stopped.
According to the plan, Kui-Wolf swiftly seized the King of Precious Elephant, displayed power equal to Marshal Silver, forced the king to pardon all his supporters, then left with his wife and children.
This was, undeniably, the only solution at the time.
In front of the Precious Elephant King, Kui-Wolf showed his strength. As long as he lived, the king wouldn’t dare take revenge on his followers.
But this meant Belle had to leave her homeland, able to reunite with her parents only once a year.
For Monkey’s sudden protection, Kui-Wolf’s family was endlessly grateful.
Once Kui-Wolf’s family settled down, Monkey’s party resumed their westward journey.
The remaining twenty-seven of the Twenty-Eight Mansions returned to Heaven, but the Jade Emperor didn’t summon them, nor did anyone mention the incident in the High Sky Throne Hall. It was as if nothing had happened.
On the surface, everything was calm, but behind the scenes, rumors were everywhere.
Everywhere Clara Heart went in Heaven, she heard immortals gossiping about the incident, describing it as if they’d witnessed it themselves—often with envy.
For a moment, no one understood why Monkey had acted as he did—not even Clara Heart.
Was he simply trying to embarrass the Jade Emperor? But the Jade Emperor hadn’t wronged him, and if Monkey wanted to humiliate him, there were easier ways than protecting Kui-Wolf.
She found her senior brother more and more incomprehensible.
With nothing else to do, she could only let her mind wander—and the more she thought, the more curious she became.
What exactly happened more than six hundred years ago?
Just as she sat in the courtyard, lost in thought, something glittering fell from the sky, landing in the grass beside her.
She stretched her neck to look, but saw nothing move for a long time.
After a brief hesitation, she got up and walked to the grass. As soon as she parted the green blades, a half-transparent, teacup-sized silver-white pearl rolled out.
Is this... a magical treasure?
She tilted her head, picked up the pearl, raised it above her head, and examined it carefully in the sunlight.
Soon, hazy images began to appear inside the pearl...