In the thick encirclement, Monkey widened his eyes slightly, staring at Anna Yang.
At this moment, every gaze was fixed on Anna Yang. Everyone held their breath—even Damon Six-Ears was secretly watching her out of the corner of his eye.
Yet Anna Yang only covered her face, standing quietly as she sobbed, unable to calm herself for a long time. No one could see her expression at this moment.
The hand covering her face was the last line of defense for this stubborn woman in that moment.
Monkey gripped the Golden Staff tightly, his breathing heavy and labored.
In this silence between heaven and earth, time dripped by, second after second. Everyone waited anxiously.
......
In the courtyard of Crescent Star Cave, Clara Heart and Tripitaka sat at a stone table.
A gentle breeze stirred, swaying the tree shadows cast over Clara Heart. She sat motionless, her long hair falling forward to shield her face.
Across the stone table, Tripitaka silently sipped his tea, glancing at Clara Heart from time to time.
Everything seemed to freeze. In the sunlight, the world around was so gentle, yet a helplessness seeped into the heart, leaving one without the courage to face it.
Suddenly, she remembered that day more than six hundred years ago.
On that day, she faced a choice identical to today. She wept, urging Monkey to fetch Anna Yang, then summoned her courage and smiled as she faced fate alone.
For that gentle, insignificant girl, it was the bravest decision of her life. Yet in the end, it merely triggered a catastrophe that swept across the Three Realms.
In this life, she wanted to escape, to end everything here. But when he opened his arms to her... alas, it was all just an illusion.
This time, she was no longer so fragile—perhaps even a bit headstrong. Yet... she suddenly realized she was still herself, unchanged through past and present lives.
In the gentle sunlight, brief happiness slipped away like drifting sand through her fingers—no matter how tightly she held on, she could not keep it.
All that remained was the nightmare of three lifetimes.
In the silence, her heart withered bit by bit.
......
On the terrace, Subhuti stood alone, quietly listening to the winds of the Three Realms.
Behind him, at the tea tray, Lord Lao silently savored his tea.
One wore a grave expression, the other appeared serene.
......
In Mi’luo Palace, Lord Genesis and Lord Skygate silently faced each other, saying nothing.
......
In Thunderclap Monastery, the Arhats craned their necks, quietly waiting, each glancing at the others.
......
A faint breeze swept by, stirring fallen leaves and bending the mugwort; even the warships in the sky slowly loosened their formation.
It was a long wait. Amid the silence, a restless undercurrent was quietly beginning.
"Will you?" Monkey took a step forward, reaching out a hand from afar. "Promise me—come back with me?"
That hand stretched toward her, suspended high in the air.
Yet Anna Yang only clung to her face, refusing to let go.
Eight hundred years—she had waited for eight centuries. It all began before Monkey ever ascended to Heaven and took office.
Eight centuries of bitter waiting—wasn't it all for these words today?
She had received them. She truly had defeated that once-unbeatable 'enemy.' But...
......
At the stone table, Clara Heart bowed her head, hands clasping a cup with only a trace of tea left. She sat motionless.
"Damon Six-Ears has taken Anna Yang hostage. The Great Sage has lost his composure." Tripitaka sighed softly. "In my view, even if something is gained from this, it will only sow calamity for the future."
Clara Heart blinked blankly, gazing at the empty teacup in her hands, lost in thought. Beneath the swaying tree shadows, her slightly widened eyes shimmered like the surface of a lake under moonlight.
"Do you know how the Great Sage was defeated that day, Clara Heart?" Tripitaka took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and spoke slowly. "When great powers clash, in the end, it is a battle of heart-nature. The Great Sage's strength is unmatched, but... his heart cannot compare to those ancient beings who have lived for ten thousand years. Because of his deep feeling, he became the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, famed for his deeds. Yet, it was also because of his deep feeling that he was pinned beneath Five Elements Mountain. That is his greatest weakness. Now, with his weakness laid bare in the game, how could he possibly gain the upper hand?"
Clara Heart smiled faintly, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
"Yes... how could he possibly win? Actually, it's all my fault. If not for me, no one could have controlled him. He wouldn't have been used by the Buddha either. From the very beginning, it was a mistake... all because I didn't finish reciting the spell. Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out like this."
......
Looking up at the sky, Lord Lao stroked his long beard and sighed, "Do you know why I chose 'Clara Heart' as that girl's Dao-name?"
In the gentle breeze, Subhuti slowly turned to look at Lord Lao, but remained silent.
"It comes from 'clear the heart and lessen desire.'" Lord Lao pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and sighed softly. "We are gambling over the Three Realms, but that girl is gambling too—only, she gambles over her own happiness. Sadly, in this game, she is destined to lose. Three lifetimes, her personality may have changed completely, but her essence has not. She did not lose to Anna Yang, but to... Monkey. From the moment she gave everything, she was already at a disadvantage. Eight hundred years, and she still hasn't broken free."
As he spoke, Lord Lao opened his eyes and glanced toward Subhuti. In that instant, Subhuti looked away.
Lord Lao smiled helplessly. "Six hundred years ago, it was a dead game. With her temperament, escape was impossible. I only hope that today, she can walk out of it..."
Subhuti squinted slightly, still standing motionless, gazing into the distance.
......
Surrounded on all sides, Anna Yang slowly lifted her white boot. Under everyone's gaze, she hesitated—and took a step back.
Monkey stared blankly, eyes wide.
Lowering her hands, Anna Yang looked at Monkey with red, misty eyes.
"I'm sorry. I can't go back with you."
"Why?"
"It's just not possible." Anna Yang slowly smiled, a smile more peaceful than ever before.
It was a smile from the heart.
"Thank you..." A voice echoed in Monkey's mind. "I'm already content. But I won't go back with you. Because our journey is still long. If this is fate, then let us face it together and walk this road to the end."
Gently brushing aside Damon Six-Ears’ blade, Anna Yang spoke to him in a soft voice: “He won’t leave, so let’s go.”
“Alright... alright!” Damon Six-Ears nodded blankly, then glanced back at Monkey, a faint hint of challenge in his eyes.
The demon generals behind them quickly parted to open a path.
With Damon Six-Ears and the demon generals in tow, Anna Yang walked away step by step. In the blink of an eye, she had vanished from Monkey’s sight.
The encirclement above and below slowly dissolved; the armies gradually contracted and withdrew, like the ebbing tide. The whole world seemed to be receding from him.
Amid the shattered walls and ruins, only Monkey remained, standing dazed, gazing in the direction where Anna Yang had disappeared.
...
In Crescent Star Cave, a Daoist disciple hurriedly rushed into the courtyard.
“Uncle Wukong, he...” Before the disciple could finish, he realized another disciple was already present.
Taking a deep breath, the other disciple sighed softly, “I’ve... already reported it.”
Tears fell one by one onto Clara Heart’s hand.
Across from her, Tripitaka was startled and immediately fell silent.
After a long moment, Clara Heart slowly raised her head and said, “Take Master Tripitaka back...”
“Th-thank you, Lady Clara Heart, for your understanding.”
“No.” Clara Heart looked at Tripitaka and said calmly, “What I mean is, take you to the temporary quarters prepared inside the monastery. Unless he comes to fetch you himself, you’re not allowed to go anywhere.”
“Ah?”
Before Tripitaka could react, one of the Daoist disciples nearby bowed respectfully and made a gesture of invitation to him.
When Tripitaka glanced at Clara Heart again, he suddenly noticed her brows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were already empty.
With no other choice, he straightened his robe, rose to his feet, and followed the disciple out.
“You may leave as well.”
Hearing this, the remaining disciple paused in surprise, then bowed quietly and exited the courtyard.
In the small, quiet courtyard, only Clara Heart and Aiden Chen, who had been standing by, remained.
...
“Heh, I never thought you’d actually choose me. To be honest, I’m a little surprised.” Damon Six-Ears chuckled. “Don’t worry, from now on I’ll listen to you. Tomorrow—no, right now, we’re moving our capital to Blossom Mountain! I’m going to openly reclaim my title as Great Sage Equal to Heaven!”
Anna Yang walked forward step by step, her gaze steady and unwavering.
“The road will be long, bitter, and dangerous.”
“What’s there to fear? If he could do it, so can I!”
“You’ll have to fight against many, many powers—including the Western Lord Buddha and the Earth-Store King who resurrected you. Be prepared.”
“The Buddhist Order is nothing but a bunch of bald talkers—only he would lose to them. Hahaha! With you by my side, what do they count for?”
Damon Six-Ears gestured exuberantly as he spoke.
From beginning to end, Anna Yang only smiled sweetly; yet her eyes were utterly empty.
...
In an instant, not a single demon was left in sight.
Monkey stood there, utterly alone.
After a long time, he turned and soared into the sky, flying off toward the horizon.
...
“Master, why are you crying?” Beside her, young Aiden Chen carefully took out a handkerchief and offered it with both hands. “Did that monkey... do something to make you sad again?”
Yet Clara Heart did not take it. She turned away, embraced Aiden Chen, and said with a gentle smile, “It’s my own fault, not his.”