Monkey stood silently, nodding blankly, unable to utter a single word.
From Erik Yang’s eyes, he read a kind of indifference—as if facing a stranger, or even an opponent.
Perhaps this was what he truly feared: if Anna Yang looked at him with the same expression, what would he do?
After six hundred and fifty years, what was destined could not be escaped.
An awkward atmosphere instantly spread, leaving even General Lee at a loss.
Beside him, Tripitaka pressed his palms together and stood quietly, his gaze shifting between Erik Yang and Monkey, silent.
After a long moment, Erik Yang drew a deep breath, turned to General Lee, and said, "If the Heavenly King has anything to say to this monkey, please do so quickly. I’ll wait nearby."
Without waiting for a reply, Erik Yang leaned on his Trident Saber and walked away without looking back. Only when he had gone thirty zhang did he stop, standing motionless with his back to the others, gazing up at the drifting clouds.
What could he say to this monkey?
Monkey didn’t know what to say—and neither did he.
Tripitaka glanced over, pressed his palms together, and bowed slightly: "This humble monk should withdraw."
With that, Tripitaka turned and walked toward Erik Yang, and the Little White Dragon, who had been hiding behind the campfire, hurried after him.
Only Monkey and General Lee remained by the campfire.
Monkey let out a long sigh and said, "General Lee, I trust you have been well."
"Thanks to the Great Sage, all is well," General Lee replied quickly, hands cupped in salute.
"Are you still in your old position?"
"Yes... still in my old position."
"I remember telling you not to meddle in Heavenly Court affairs anymore."
General Lee was startled, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He forced a dry laugh: "Great Sage, the reason I resumed my post as South Heaven Gate commander was at your master's request."
"The old man asked?" Monkey glanced at General Lee casually. "Is the old man serving in Heaven now too?"
Master Sage Subhuti does not serve in Heaven, but when the world collapsed, it was thanks to him that things were repaired and the suffering of the Three Realms avoided.
"Enough, let’s skip your situation for now." Monkey turned and walked toward the campfire, saying casually, "What did the Jade Emperor send you to say? Get on with it."
General Lee hurried after him, grinning obsequiously: "His Majesty hopes to coexist peacefully with the Great Sage."
"Oh?" Monkey slapped his thigh, sat down, and closed his eyes, saying languidly, "How does he want to coexist?"
"This…"
"Does he want to coexist peacefully with me alone, or with all demons?"
Bowing slightly, General Lee stood behind Monkey and said cautiously: "His Majesty means to first understand your intentions, Great Sage."
"My intentions?"
Monkey let out a sly laugh, making General Lee nervous, but he could only press on.
"Yes… yes, His Majesty wishes to first understand your intentions, Great Sage. Next, are you planning to rebuild Flower Fruit Mountain?"
"I have no plans for now." Monkey opened his eyes slightly and said with some confusion, "For the time being, I don’t intend to clash with you. Otherwise, I would have stormed Heaven already instead of sending letters."
...
In the distance, Erik Yang stared coldly at the Little White Dragon and asked quietly, "Why are you with him?"
Glancing back at Monkey, the Little White Dragon replied awkwardly, "For the peaches."
Erik Yang looked toward General Lee, frowning, "Are these peaches for you?"
The Little White Dragon nodded quickly.
"Why do you need peaches? For just two peaches you’re getting mixed up with this monkey. If your father finds out, he’ll be angry again."
"Let him be angry." The Little White Dragon rolled his eyes. "I’ve gone back to the Western Sea six or seven times, but he refuses to give me any. Not only that, he’s tightened control over all the peaches. If I weren’t truly desperate, I never would have risked trying to get the scripture seeker’s flesh."
Erik Yang’s gaze slowly shifted to Tripitaka, asking quietly, "And this master is…?"
Tripitaka pressed his palms together and bowed, "I am Tripitaka. Greetings, General Erlang."
"You are Tripitaka?" Erik Yang raised his head slightly, studying him thoughtfully.
"This humble monk is indeed Tripitaka." Tripitaka saluted again.
Tripitaka was tall for a human, but still half a head shorter than Erik Yang. Still, few humans could stand tall and meet the gaze of General Erlang, knowing who he was.
Staring at Tripitaka, Erik Yang frowned slightly: "There are rumors that the Buddha ordered you to travel west for scriptures, to spread the faith to the East. Is that true?"
[SKIP]
Tripitaka smiled faintly: "I am indeed going west for scriptures, but not by the Buddha’s command."
"Oh? Not the Buddha? Then whose command?"
"It is the command of my own heart."
"Your own heart?" Erik Yang was momentarily stunned, puzzled. "I may not keep up with worldly affairs, but I know that Buddhism now governs the Netherworld. Many accomplished monks, after passing, are spared Lady Lethe’s draught and can reincarnate with their cultivation. Master, your previous life was...?"
"Golden Cicada." Tripitaka pressed his palms together.
Hearing this, Erik Yang was enlightened. He smiled slowly, asked no more, and turned to the Little White Dragon: "So, you promised to help him with something, and that’s why he agreed to ask Heaven for peaches for you?"
"I promised to escort Master Tripitaka to fetch the scriptures."
Erik Yang raised his head slightly and sighed softly, "The journey west for scriptures... that’s 108,000 li."
The Little White Dragon swallowed nervously and said in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, could you talk to him for me? Don’t let me go. Judging by the past few days, if you speak up, he’ll definitely listen."
Erik Yang just smiled and sighed softly, "You still haven’t grown up."
"Me?" The Little White Dragon was stunned.
Erik Yang nodded, "A person without faith cannot stand in the world. If you didn’t want to go, you shouldn’t have agreed in the first place. Since you did, you must see it through. 108,000 li—it’ll be dangerous. Treat it as training."
With that, he took out a jade tablet from his waist and handed it to the Little White Dragon. "Keep it. If you’re truly stuck, call once."
The Little White Dragon blinked and helplessly put away the jade tablet.
After speaking, Erik Yang turned to Tripitaka and said respectfully, "My brother-in-law Aiden Ao is hot-tempered. I’ll rely on Master Tripitaka to guide him on the journey."
"You honor me, General Erlang." Tripitaka quickly returned the salute.
...
In the distance, General Lee was still probing cautiously, but every time he spoke, Monkey shut him down.
Eventually, Monkey lazily dug at his ear and said, "Just tell the Jade Emperor I have no plans for now. He can sit on his dragon throne in peace, but he’d better not do anything outrageous. He knows how the last Jade Emperor died."
General Lee smiled awkwardly.
"Did you bring what I asked for?" Monkey looked up.
"I did… I did." General Lee nodded quickly, took out two large peaches from his sleeve, was about to hand them over, but seeing Monkey’s attitude, tore off his own sleeve and placed the peaches on a rock.
Monkey glanced at the two peaches, which gave off a faint spiritual aura, and said softly, "Alright, leave them and you can go."
General Lee bowed, "I take my leave."
He was about to turn away, but Monkey called him back.
One hand on his knee, the other poking the dying campfire with a stick, Monkey said lazily, "I just want to escort Tripitaka safely to Thunder Monastery at Spirit Mountain. Along the way, tell the Jade Emperor to keep his people in line. If anyone blocks us…"
Monkey bared his teeth, "Even the Jade Emperor himself will die. Do you understand?"
General Lee bowed quickly, "I understand. I’ll relay your words exactly."
"Go on."
General Lee bowed again, bid farewell, and slowly walked toward Erik Yang.
"All settled?" Erik Yang asked.
"More or less." Turning to Tripitaka, General Lee pressed his hands together and saluted, "Master Tripitaka, you have worked hard."
"Not at all." Tripitaka pressed his palms together in return.
General Lee sighed lightly, "We’ll take our leave for now. If Master Tripitaka ever opens a lecture hall, we’ll be sure to visit."
"If that day comes, I’ll be sure to let you know."
After bidding farewell to Tripitaka, the two turned into golden light and vanished into the sky.
As soon as they left, the Little White Dragon rushed to the peaches, hugging them with delight.
Tripitaka walked over to Monkey, shook out his sleeves, and sat down.
"It’s fully daylight. Let’s set out," said Monkey.
Tripitaka nodded silently and went to pack his belongings.
...
In the rushing wind, General Lee and Erik Yang flew side by side.
General Lee said quietly, "That Tripitaka is the reincarnation of Golden Cicada. Did you know?"
Erik Yang replied casually, "Just found out."
Pressing his lips together, General Lee smiled helplessly, "So the rumors about the scripture seeker weren’t baseless. And he’s the reincarnation of Golden Cicada from the Thunder Monastery debate. Looks like something big is about to happen."
"Something big?" Erik Yang was startled.
Taking a deep breath, General Lee said quietly, "The monkey problem is solved for now, but this journey west for scriptures may be the real headache. We must report to His Majesty at once."