Tripitaka gathered his robes, lifted the front hem, and stepped around the massive boulders, making his way toward the mountain summit.
The night wind howled through the mountains.
In the distance, flashes of lightning and peals of thunder gradually faded into muffled rumbles, like a wild beast baring its claws and fangs, growling low to release some hidden hostility—yet never truly leaping forth to rend and tear.
Perhaps even Heaven and Earth have come to understand that this scripture-seeking monk, who sets life and death aside, cannot be frightened.
“I haven’t agreed yet—!” Monkey King called out, stretching his voice.
“As I have said, whether you agree or not, I will release you. Once the seal is broken, whether you stay or go, wherever you choose to walk, I will not hinder you.” Tripitaka continued his steady ascent, speaking softly. “I once vowed to deliver all beings from suffering. To me, you are also one of those beings, naturally included in my vow. Now that I have met you, if I do nothing, would that not betray my own heart?”
Monkey King lay motionless in the pile of withered grass, as quiet as if asleep, yet his eyes remained half-open, flickering between presence and absence.
After a long while, Tripitaka finally reached the summit, standing before the massive stone, its weathered Sanskrit inscription bearing six hundred and fifty years of wind and rain.
Without further words, he joined his palms, closed his eyes, bowed his head slightly, and began to chant under his breath.
When the incantation was complete, he extended one finger and gently touched the massive stone.
In an instant, a beam of golden light shot skyward. The Sanskrit on the stone rippled like waves on a lake, dissolving into countless sparkling motes that drifted away on the wind.
The brocade headband between his temples fluttered in the wind.
He slowly exhaled, turned, and descended step by step, returning to Monkey King. Bowing, he said, “I have said all that needs saying, and the seal has been broken. Whether you emerge or not is now your choice. I have disturbed you long enough; now I take my leave. If fate allows, we shall meet again. If not... I ask only one thing of you.”
Monkey King lay dazed, resting his head on his arms, staring blankly at the withered grass just inches away. He asked, a little lost, “What is it?”
Tripitaka joined his palms and said calmly, “I hope that after you emerge, no matter what you encounter, you will not give in to anger lightly. The Buddha and you have a deep blood feud; Heaven and you share old grievances. Setting aside doctrine, even if you clash with them again, it is understandable. But the countless beings of the Three Realms have never wronged you. I beg you, do not again bring ruin to Heaven and Earth. Wherever, whenever, whatever happens, remember the common people... Do not forget your original intent. Do not forget that the demon clan you protect, those you care for and love, also live beneath this same sky. On behalf of all living things, I thank you.”
With that, Tripitaka bowed and took his leave, saying no more.
In a haze, Monkey King seemed to recall another old friend.
The silhouette of a hunched figure sitting on a stone at sunset, like an old farmer troubled by his livelihood, remains etched in his memory.
“Old White Ape... Heh.” Thinking of this, he smiled helplessly.
White Ape and Tripitaka—perhaps they are truly the same kind of person. Their abilities may differ, but their hearts are alike. As for himself, though he once took the staff from White Ape’s hands, he has never truly lived up to that heart.
Once he mounted his horse, Tripitaka gave Monkey King one last look, tightened the reins, raised his whip, and rode westward without looking back.
Monkey King watched Tripitaka in silence, saying nothing.
After a long time, when Tripitaka had ridden five li away, he finally reined in his horse and looked back.
In the distance, the high mountain trembled, slowly splitting open with a thunderous roar. Then, it exploded.
A shaft of golden light vanished instantly into the eastern night sky.
Gazing at the horizon, at the faint light of dawn spreading across the sky, Tripitaka smiled quietly, turned his horse, and continued westward.
At that moment, neither of them noticed a carriage from the Skyward Bureau racing by high overhead...
......
Spirit Mountain, Great Thunderclap Temple.
Inside the grand hall, all was silent as ever.
A host of Buddhas and arhats on the side silently watched the Buddha and Right-Dharma Radiance Tathāgata.
After a long pause, the Buddha slowly closed his eyes and asked softly, “That demon monkey hates my Buddhist order to the bone. Why did you help him escape?”
“That was not my intent, nor did I mean to help the demon monkey escape.”
“Not to help the demon monkey escape?”
“My true intent was to test Golden Cicada.” Right-Dharma Radiance Tathāgata joined his palms and spoke softly, “He claims to seek a law of universal salvation. If that is not mere delusion, then a law that can save all beings must also be able to save the demon monkey.”
“And if he cannot?”
“If he cannot, and the demon monkey is set loose, then all beings of the Three Realms will be imperiled, and the notion of universal salvation will be void. Golden Cicada’s ten-lifetime debate over doctrine should then come to an end. But if he truly succeeds, it will be a great merit, benefiting Buddhism and harming none.”
Hearing this, the Buddha only smiled and asked no more.
After a long silence, Manjusri stepped forward, joined his palms, and bowed. “If we truly wish to test him, I have a plan. May I speak?”
At his words, all the Buddhas immediately turned to look at Manjusri.
......
In the Ninth Heaven, a celestial general clutched a memorial as he hurried across the empty plaza. Banners fluttered all around, while ranks of silver-armored celestial soldiers lined both sides, looking dignified and imposing.
The battle 650 years ago was a nightmare for the Three Realms, and even more so for the Celestial Court.
The celestial army was nearly wiped out; immortals and soldiers suffered over a million casualties. Most of the palaces were burned to the ground.
It could be said that Monkey King, with just his staff, nearly destroyed the entire Celestial Court, and even wiped out the Daoist order’s accumulation of ten thousand years.
Now, after 650 years of rebuilding, the Celestial Court is not what it was at its peak, but has regained some of its former scale. Still, many posts overseeing the mortal and underworld realms remain vacant due to lack of manpower. Even the inviolable celestial edicts have been greatly revised, so that although the scenery, uniforms, and titles are the same, this Celestial Court is vastly different from the one before.
This chapter is not finished ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!
Soon, the celestial general strode up the long white jade steps, circled past the High Sky Throne Hall, and arrived at the Imperial Study, only to be stopped by the guard at the door.
“Please inform His Majesty that I have urgent military news to report. Not a moment can be lost.”
“Urgent military news?”
“Yes, urgent military news. I must see His Majesty at once.”
As he spoke, the celestial general unconsciously wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve three times, leaving the guard at the door somewhat stunned.
After a slight hesitation, the guard bowed and said, “Please wait, General. Allow me to report to His Majesty and return with a reply.”
With that, the guard turned, opened the door to the Imperial Study, and went inside.
Soon after, the doors swung open and several immortals came out, each cheerfully saluting the messenger general. The general managed a forced smile, too anxious to return the gesture, craning his neck to peer inside and occasionally wiping sweat from his brow.
From the outside, the Imperial Study looks much as it did 650 years ago—still grand and elegant, with furnishings unchanged. If one didn’t know better, they might believe it survived the war untouched.
Only, the master of the Imperial Study has changed.
Soon, the guard returned from the Imperial Study and said, “General, His Majesty will see you now.”
The general nodded, hurried forward, and stumbled over the threshold as he entered.
Normally, such a scene would be terribly embarrassing, but today, he was far too anxious to care.
As soon as he steadied himself, the general hurried toward the inner chamber of the Imperial Study.
Inside, a middle-aged man in a dragon robe sat upright behind the dragon desk.
His face was fair as jade, with long whiskers and brows a foot in length that hung at either side, giving him a regal bearing. Yet his bright eyes were bloodshot, betraying deep exhaustion.
Back then, Monkey King slew the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, destroying even their souls. So when Heaven was rebuilt, there was no way to revive them. After consultation among the Three Pure Ones, a new emperor was chosen.
This man was Edward Zhang, the new Jade Emperor.
Upon seeing the Jade Emperor, the general immediately knelt on one knee and presented the memorial, saying, “Your Majesty, this is an urgent report just delivered from the Celestial Inspectorate.”
“Urgent news from the Celestial Inspectorate? Who’s causing trouble now—Nine-Headed Wyrm? Or King Bullhorn, King Roc?” The Jade Emperor rubbed his brow and sighed, forcing a bitter smile. “Didn’t General Lee just sign a truce with them? These demon kings never rest for a single day.”
The general bowed his head and replied softly, “Your Majesty, it’s not them…”
“Not them? Could it be Lü Qing or Many-Eyed Monster? They rarely cause trouble.” As he spoke, the Jade Emperor reached out his hand.
An attendant quickly took the memorial from the general and handed it to the Jade Emperor.
At a glance, the Jade Emperor’s face turned pale, his eyes wide, and the corners of his eyes twitched sharply.
Kneeling before the dragon desk, the general carefully watched the Jade Emperor and reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, in Southern Jambudvipa there is a mountain called Two Worlds Mountain. Recently, a great disturbance occurred, disrupting the lives of the people. The Celestial Inspectorate sent a patrol to investigate and found the mountain had split open. Local villagers said a demon monkey had been imprisoned beneath the mountain, and the disturbance was caused by the demon monkey breaking the seal and escaping. The Inspectorate suspects that the escaped demon monkey is none other than the long-sought Sun Wukong.”
“Sun Wukong…”
For the Celestial Court and the Three Realms, the name ‘Sun Wukong’ is a nightmare. Could it be that, under his reign, that nightmare will begin anew?
A faint panic crept into the Jade Emperor’s heart. He blinked rapidly and pointed at the general, “Do you know where the demon monkey is now?”
“The demon monkey has vanished without a trace. The Inspectorate is currently searching everywhere.”
“Don’t make any large movements—do not alarm him. If there is solid evidence that the demon monkey is Sun Wukong, report first to the Three Pure Ones before taking any action. Do not act rashly and provoke him.”
“Understood.”
The general was about to leave when the Jade Emperor added, “Notify General Lee: until the situation is clear, do not deploy troops in the mortal realm, lest unnecessary trouble arise.”
“Even against rogue demons?”
“Yes,” the Jade Emperor replied firmly.