8mi Chapter 12: Sun Wukong Driven Mad, Team Disbanded! I'm done! I'm Leaving Flower Fruit Moun
Chapter 12: Sun Wukong Driven Mad, Team Disbanded! I'm done! I'm Leaving Flower Fruit Moun
Taiqing Palace.
Qingfeng Daotong has returned, and this time he brought back more detailed information.
"Master, I went to see for myself. That mortal indeed had no cultivation whatsoever, not even the lowest level of spiritual energy fluctuations. He was clean and tidy, just an ordinary person."
Laozi sat on a futon, holding a pill in his hand, and slowly put it into his mouth.
"Anything else?"
"And another thing... this person's behavior is quite strange." Qingfeng scratched his head. "Every day he just roasts sweet potatoes, fishes, and builds thatched huts. I've observed him for three days, and that's all he did. It doesn't seem like he's deliberately trying to obstruct the journey to the West."
"What about the Monkey King?"
"The Monkey King goes to fight every day, and comes back looking terrible."
Laozi finished chewing the elixir and smacked his lips.
What do you think?
Qingfeng thought for a moment and said, "I think it's most likely that the monkey is using this as an excuse to make demands. The Buddhist sect has been exploiting him too much, with one of the eighty-one tribulations after another, and without giving him any benefits. Anyone would throw a tantrum in that situation. This time, the monkey has learned his lesson and found an excuse to negotiate with the Buddhist sect."
Lao Tzu smiled slightly, neither saying he believed nor disbelieved.
"Interesting. Keep an eye on it."
The Heavenly Court, the Lingxiao Palace.
The daytime wandering god's report was concise and clear.
"Your Majesty, I have personally confirmed that the mortal possessed no aura of immortality, demonic energy, Buddhist energy, or evil spirit. He was just an ordinary mortal. He roasted sweet potatoes, fished, and occasionally built a thatched hut. His behavior was strange, but it certainly didn't seem to have any ulterior motive."
After hearing this, the Jade Emperor picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Where is the Monkey King?"
"Going to fight every day, returning covered in dust every day." The Day Wanderer hesitated for a moment, "But I dare not judge whether he is truly unable to win or is faking it. That monkey's acting skills have always been quite good."
Venus chuckled beside him, "That monkey complained that his position as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses was too low back then, and caused a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace. This time, he complains that the journey to the West is too arduous, so it's normal for him to cause a fuss. That monkey has only one flaw: he won't accept anything less than what he's paid."
The Jade Emperor put down his teacup, remaining noncommittal.
"Keep watching. Don't interfere, and don't help Buddhism."
Northern demon race.
Several demon kings gathered together, listened to the scout's report, and laughed so hard they almost fell over.
"Just an ordinary person? Hahahaha!"
"The Buddhist temple was blocked by a mere mortal for five months; if word got out, this would be a laughing stock for three hundred years!"
"Whether it's true or not, as long as Buddhism loses face, that's all that matters! Come on, let's drink!"
"Wait a minute, if that monkey was really faking it, then he's got guts. He single-handedly shouldered the pressure of the entire Buddhist sect and went toe-to-toe with them; it's a bit like the Monkey King's havoc in Heaven back then."
"Then we should definitely watch the show! Let's go, send more scouts over there, don't miss a good spectacle!"
The Dragon Palace of the Four Seas.
Upon receiving the news, Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, sighed as his first reaction.
"That monkey has caused trouble again."
He knows Sun Wukong too well. He still remembers how Sun Wukong stole the Golden Cudgel from him and disturbed his Dragon Palace back then.
"Confirmed? That mortal has no connection to the dragon race?"
"It's confirmed, Your Highness. They are not from the Dragon Clan."
"That's none of our business. Let them do whatever they want, just don't take it to the East China Sea."
Ao Guang waved his hand and continued drinking his tea.
Summary of conclusions.
All the informants from various factions in the Three Realms have reported back.
The answers were highly consistent: that mortal named Lu Chen indeed had no cultivation, no background, and no power controlling him from behind.
He was just an ordinary mortal.
But equally consistent was everyone's judgment.
No faction believed that the Monkey King was truly no match for such a person.
The Taoists felt that the monkey was asking for a price.
The Heavenly Court felt that the monkeys were causing trouble.
The demons thought it didn't matter if it was real or fake, it just looked good.
The Dragon Palace felt it had nothing to do with them.
The attitude of the entire Three Realms was surprisingly unified: watch the show, don't get involved, and don't help the Buddhist sect.
As for the truth?
Can a mortal really go toe-to-toe with the Monkey King?
If this were told to anyone in the Three Realms, no one would believe it.
Even the sun rising in the west is more reliable than this.
Lingshan, side hall.
Guangmu Jingang finished reporting the results of the second round of investigation.
"Your Majesty, they all deny it. No one from any side has claimed responsibility for this person. This time, I have also carefully observed the attitudes of all parties, and it doesn't seem like they are hiding anything."
King Puji remained silent for a long time.
Two rounds of investigations, with the highest-ranking delegation traveling throughout the Three Realms.
The result was the same.
No background.
"Alright." King Puji stood up and made his decision.
"We're not going to investigate anymore."
"If we can't find out, we can't find out. The journey to the West has already been delayed for almost half a year. If we delay any longer, we'll miss the deadline. Regardless of whether that person has connections or not, let Sun Wukong take action first. We can't afford to wait any longer."
He turned to the Vajra of Wide Vision.
"Go tell Sun Wukong: We've investigated again, and he really has no connections. He can make his move now."
"Yes."
Guangmu Jingang accepted the order and set off.
He flew towards the business location in golden light, still thinking: This time it should be resolved, right? Both rounds of investigations have confirmed that he has no background, so the monkey has nothing to worry about.
What he didn't know was that what awaited him was an even more devastating outcome than a "50/50" result.
---
Acquire business location.
The Vajra with Wide Vision landed in front of the campfire and looked around.
Sun Wukong sat on a tree stump, lost in thought. Zhu Bajie was sleeping. Sha Wujing was polishing his staff. Tang Sanzang was chanting scriptures.
It's exactly the same as when I came last time.
It's as if time has stood still here.
"Great Sage".
Sun Wukong raised his eyelids slightly.
"here we go again?"
Guangmu Jingang cleared his throat, trying to make his tone sound solemn.
"Great Sage, Mount Ling has truly investigated this thoroughly. They dispatched the highest-ranking delegation to the Three Pure Ones of Taoism, the Lingxiao Palace of Heaven, the Ten Palaces of the Underworld, the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas, and the Northern Demon Clan, and investigated them all."
No faction has claimed responsibility for this person.
"He really has no connections whatsoever."
Guangmu Jingang looked at Sun Wukong, his tone becoming more forceful.
"So, Great Sage, you can now proceed with confidence."
Sun Wukong listened to all of this without expression.
There was a moment of silence.
Then he laughed.
It wasn't a sneer, nor a bitter smile.
It's the kind of laugh that comes from being pushed to the limit and then not caring about anything anymore.
"OK."
Guangmu Jingang's eyes lit up.
"He has no connections."
"right."
"I see."
"Then, Great Sage, you shall..."
Let's break up.
Guangmu Jingang's expression froze.
"What?"
"Let's call it a day." Sun Wukong stood up from the tree stump, slung his golden cudgel over his shoulder, and said in a calm tone, as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.
"I, Old Sun, am quitting."
Guangmu Jingang opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
Sun Wukong turned to look at Zhu Bajie.
"fool."
Pigsy was woken from his sleep and sat up groggily: "Huh? What's wrong?"
"Didn't you always want to break up?"
Pigsy was startled, and his sleepiness instantly vanished by half.
"As you wish."
All sleepiness vanished.
"Brother Monkey, are you serious?!"
"real."
Pigsy's eyes widened like bells. He looked at Sun Wukong, then at Guangmu Jingang, then at Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing, confirming that he wasn't dreaming.
Then he jumped up.
"Very good!!!"