On his Flying Nimbus, Wukong headed straight to Flower Fruit Mountain, searching for a path. Suddenly, he heard the cries of cranes and the wails of apes, their sorrowful sounds reaching high into the sky.
"Hey guys, I'm back!" He called out.
From the cliffs, rocks, flowers, and trees, monkeys of all sizes leaped out, surrounding their beloved Monkey King, bowing and saying, "Hey, Your Majesty, you're finally back! We've been waiting for you. Lately, a wicked demon has been causing trouble, trying to take over our Water Curtain Cave. We fought with all we had, risking our lives to resist him. But he stole our sacred fire and captured many of our family members, keeping us awake day and night to protect our home. Thank goodness you're here now. If you didn't come back, we would've lost our cave."
Wukong's blood boiled with anger as he asked, "Who dares? Tell me all the details, and I'll take care of him."
The monkeys bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, he calls himself the Demon King of Chaos, living northward."
Wukong asked, "How far is it from here to his place?"
The monkeys replied, "When he moves, clouds or fog cover his path. Wind, rain, lightning, or thunder accompany him. We can't tell how far it is."
Wukong assured them, "Don't worry, my loyal crew. Have some fun, and I'll go find this troublemaker."
Full of excitement, the Monkey King leaped into the air, flying on his cloud north to take a look. There he saw a towering mountain, treacherous and steep.
What a magnificent mountain it was! With sharp peaks piercing the sky and deep valleys extending into the ground. Flowers and trees adorned the cliffs, and numerous pine and bamboo groves competed in their lush greenery. On the left, dragons moved gracefully and tame, while on the right, tigers lay peacefully and subdued. Iron bulls plowed the land, and wherever they went, they seemed to sow golden coins. Enchanting birds sang their songs, and crimson phoenixes stood tall, basking in the morning sun.
The rocks and waves appeared rugged and pure, with an ancient and peculiar charm. Countless famous mountains in the world were boasting blooming flowers that eventually wither. Still, none could compare to the eternal beauty of this place. Throughout the year, through all seasons, its splendor remains undisturbed. Truly, this mountain serves as a source for the three realms and nourishes the water veins of the Aqua Depths Cave.
The Monkey King was silently enjoying the scenery when he heard voices nearby. He decided to go down the mountain to investigate. As it turned out, the Aqua Depths Cave was right in front of the steep cliff. Some little demons were dancing outside the cave, but when they saw Wukong, they ran away.
"Get the word out, imps! Let everyone know that the handsome Monkey King, owner of the Water Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain, is here. I've come looking for that troublemaking monster who dares to bully my children and grandchildren repeatedly. I'm here to settle things with him!"
The little demon heard the news and hurriedly ran into the cave to report, "Great King, trouble is brewing!"
The Demon King asked, "What trouble is there?"
The little demon replied, "Outside the cave, there's a monkey claiming to be the master of the Water Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain. He says you have repeatedly harassed his children and grandchildren and has come specifically to confront you."
The Demon King chuckled. "I've often heard those monkey spirits talk about a great king who left to cultivate and practice. It seems he's here now. How does he look? Does he carry any weapons?"
The little demon answered, "He's not carrying any weapons, just a bare head, wearing a red robe, with a yellow sash tied around his waist. He's wearing black boots, not resembling a monk or cultivator, and he's standing outside the gate, shouting."
Upon hearing this, the Demon King said, "Bring me my armor and weapons."
Promptly, the little demon fetched them.
The Demon King donned his armor, brandishing a sword, and led the other demons out of the cave. He loudly called out, "Who among you is the master of the Water Curtain Cave?"
Wukong quickly opened his eyes and saw the Demon King.
> A helm of darkened gold upon the head, sunlight's gleam it sheds,
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> If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
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> A robe of ebony silk adorns, fluttering in winds' threads.
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> Clad in iron black, tightly bound by leather's braid,
> Feet in creased boots step firm, like a commander displayed.
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> Broad the waist, a girth of ten, stature towering high,
> In hand a mighty blade, its edge bright as the sky.
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> Known as the worldly fiend, a fierce and fearless guise,
> Champion of chaos, bold and wild, under fierce sun's rise.[1]
The Monkey King shouted, "This arrogant demon has big eyes but can't see me!"
The Demon King laughed and said, "You're not even four feet tall, not yet in your thirties, and you have no weapon in hand. How dare you be so bold and come looking for me?"
"You clueless demon, you underestimate me for being small, but I can easily grow big. You think I'm unarmed? I can wield the moon from the sky with my bare hands. Don't be afraid. One punch from me, and you're done." Sun Wukong cursed, then jumped up and went straight for the demon’s face.
The Demon King blocked with his hand and said, "You're short, and I'm tall. You want to use fists; I want to use a sword. But I'll be laughed at if I kill you with a sword. Let me put it down, and we'll see who's better at using fists."
Sun Wukong agreed, "Fair enough, come on."
The Demon King dropped his guard and started attacking. Sun Wukong dodged and met his blows head-on. They exchanged punches and kicks, one charge after another. The Demon King's long reach had power, while Wukong's short stances were sturdy.
Sun Wukong found an opening and hit the Demon King's weak spot, staggering him.
The Demon King grabbed a large steel sword and aimed to strike Wukong's head.
Quick on his feet, Wukong dodged, and the Demon King's strike hit nothing but air. Seeing the ferocity of the Demon King, Wukong immediately used his transformation skill. He plucked a strand of hair, chewed it into pieces, and then spat it into the air, shouting, "Transform!" In an instant, he turned into three or two hundred little monkeys, surrounding the Demon King from all sides.
After becoming enlightened, Wukong gained a celestial body, capable of endless transformations. Unbeknownst to others, since he attained the Dao, he had eighty-four thousand hairs on his body, each one capable of changing and adapting to any situation.
Those clever little monkeys were agile and quick, immune to blades and impervious to spears. Watch how they jumped and leaped, surrounding the Demon King. They hugged and pulled, tugged and teased, they dodged and pounced, kicked and scratched, poking eyes, pinching noses, and drumming on his belly until they overwhelmed the demon.
Wukong grabbed the Demon King's sword. After warning his little helpers, he swung it down, cleaving the demon in two.
Leading the others, Sun Wukong stormed into the cave, exterminating all the little demons. After he released the multiplication transformation, some monkeys still didn't change back into his hair. They were the ones the Demon King had captured from Water Curtain Cave.
Wukong asked, "Why are you all here?"
About thirty to fifty of them tearfully explained, "After the Great King left to cultivate, we've been abducted by this Demon King for two years. He even took away the fire from our cave and all our stone pots and bowls."
"Since it's ours, we take it, " Wukong declared, "but I’m feeling generous. They may have some of the fire."
So they set the cave ablaze, reducing the Aqua Depths Cave to ashes.
Wukong said, "Now, follow me back home."
The monkeys replied, "Great King, when we came here, we only heard the sound of wind in our ears, and we ended up here without knowing the way back. How can we return now?"
Wukong reassured, "This is just his trickery, nothing to fear. I'm now well-versed in all kinds of magic. Close your eyes, and don't worry."
The monkey king chanted a magical spell, and a wild wind carried them down on clouds. He called out, "My children, open your eyes!"
The monkeys firmly set their feet on the ground, recognizing their homeland. They all rushed towards the familiar path to the cave's entrance with joy in their hearts. Inside the cave, the other monkeys surrounded and accompanied them, lining up and bowing to pay respect to the Monkey King. They arranged food and drinks, celebrating and congratulating him, eager to hear about his adventures in defeating demons and rescuing his son.
Sun Wukong recounted every detail of his journey, and the monkeys couldn't praise him enough for the incredible skills he had acquired during his travels. Then, he told them about his past, how he had drifted through the vast oceans, explored distant lands like the Western Continent and Southern Lands, and studied to become a true immortal. He wore his iconic attire and wandered for nearly a decade, searching for the path to immortality. He also mentioned how he had encountered an old immortal who taught him the true method of eternal life and longevity, a miraculous practice that defied death.
The monkeys cheered and hailed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Sun Wukong teased them, saying they now all had the same last name.
The monkeys were curious and asked, "What is the King's surname?"
Sun Wukong proudly declared, "I am now surnamed Sun, with the name Wukong."
The monkeys clapped their hands and joyfully responded, "The King is Sun, and we are Second Sun, Third Sun, Little Sun... One Sun, One Nation, and One Big Family of Suns!"
They all showered praises upon Sun Wukong, and together they enjoyed coconut wine, grape wine, celestial flowers, and fruits, filling the atmosphere with family happiness and delight. How wonderful!
> Unified in one great name, roots we reclaim,
> Awaiting glorious ascent, to immortal fame.
> The outcome's veil, yet to be unfurled,
> In this realm, mysteries wait, yet to be twirled.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, life's rhyme uncurled.
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[1] The Demon King had a black-gold helmet on his head, shining brightly in the sunlight. He wore a dark satin robe that fluttered in the wind. His lower body was clad in black iron armor, tightly fastened with leather straps, and he had flower-creased boots that made him look like a mighty general. He had a waist of ten feet and stood three zhang tall. In his hand, he held a sharp sword with a gleaming blade. He was known as the "Worldly Demon”, exuding a fierce and imposing aura.