Is death really like falling asleep? When Shi Yue closed his eyes, ready to embrace death, it did not come. His consciousness remained, though he heard nothing.
Was this the sensation of dying, or had he already died? Suddenly, something began to flow into him, warming his entire body. Sleep overcame him, and he succumbed to it.
He didn't know how long had passed. When Shi Yue's consciousness awoke again, it felt like millions of years had gone by. To his surprise, he found himself inside a massive stone egg, reminiscent of Godzilla's egg from the movies, perched atop a high mountain.
Next to him was another life—a golden-furred monkey, shimmering with light, curled up asleep. He too was curled up, and with the exception of his own black shiny fur, he was nearly identical to the golden monkey!
Shi Yue was no longer calm. After being in shock for what seemed an eternity, he gradually came to understand. Without realizing, his consciousness began to extend down the mountain.
The mountain was lush with flowers and fruits. In the distance, a group of monkeys played under a pine tree. Further away, the scene became vague and unfocused, but Shi Yue had seen enough to be almost certain.
A stone egg, a golden monkey, a mountain filled with flora, and his mystical ability to "see" without eyes—it must be the Flower-Fruit Mountain of legend!
As realization dawned, Shi Yue felt excitement surge through him. The mythical era! He had been reborn in this legendary time, seemingly as a twin with Sun Wukong, both born from the primordial stone after countless years of nurturing!
The idea of the mythical powers—catching stars and grasping the moon, moving mountains and seas—made Shi Yue's heart race. High above were gods and buddhas with immense powers. He realized he might only be a minor demon now, not even yet born, but pressure creates motivation.
Being a twin with Sun Wukong meant unmatched potential. Becoming a powerful demon king seemed inevitable, but whether he could roam freely or would be subdued by the gods was troubling.
Shi Yue refused to become anyone's steed or pet, not even Buddha's or the Jade Emperor's. With such a noble origin as a primordial stone, he doubted any could surpass it.
As these thoughts settled him, Shi Yue knew Sun Wukong was the hero of "Journey to the West." He might have been marked by Western deities already, and his birth would certainly attract divine attention. Shi Yue himself might already be caught in a celestial scheme.
Unable to open his eyes, he relied on his mind to sense. When overwhelmed by excitement earlier, it seemed Sun Wukong was influenced, their heartbeats synchronizing—a strange phenomenon perhaps due to their twin connection.
Sun Wukong still slept. Shi Yue quietly sensed their surroundings, the chaotic stone infusing their bodies with spiritual energy from the earth, while sun and moon essences refined them.
Attempting to move was useless; he couldn't escape the stone any more than he could advance his birth. Realizing the wait was not over, Shi Yue was motivated and began absorbing the external essences and spiritual energy.
Days passed, years flowed on.
Centuries blinked by, and on the mountain below, generations of monkeys lived and died. Perhaps due to the vibrant spiritual energy, some monkeys lived long. Four frequenting the area were over two hundred years old, revered yet contentious elders, each leading subgroups.
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One day, a red-bottomed, white-furred monkey and a long-armed gray monkey collided, both vying for a large, ripe fruit. The tussle, amid cheering screeches of gathered monkeys, attracted two major groups to watch.
As the two monkeys fought, the sky darkened suddenly, thunder roaring like a beast. Terrified, all the monkeys looked up fearfully.
On the mountaintop, the oval stone gleamed brilliantly, drawing every eye. The stone was well-known, but its height and barrenness meant no monkey ventured there. Now, it showed a wondrous change.
Inside the stone egg, Shi Yue could finally open his eyes, though still trapped within the stone. He sensed an immense threat above, but despite centuries of training, he lacked the strength to free them.
Sun Wukong awoke as well, seemingly unaware of the danger, and began struggling for freedom.
The celestial threat gave Shi Yue no time to ponder. Thunderbolts gathered and struck the stone, fracturing it with a resounding crack. Primal energy shot through the cracks, bathing them in golden light, though Shi Yue and Sun Wukong remained unharmed.
The restraining force diminished significantly. Shi Yue felt he could break free, and Sun Wukong intensified his struggles.
Suddenly, with a loud bang, golden light burst forth, a wave of energy rolling across the mountain, scattering clouds and all monkeys below.
In a flash, a golden-furred monkey leapt high from the mountain peak and descended among the monkey crowd below.
"Look! A stone monkey, born from that stone!"
"His fur is so beautiful!"
"Ancestor, was that monkey really born from the stone?"
"It seems so."
"How is he different from us, standing on two legs?"
"Look! There's also a black monkey on the peak, standing on two legs too, but it has much less fur."
Though the monkey crowd chattered noisily, Shi Yue clearly sensed their expressions but had no time to interact.
Meanwhile, upon landing, Sun Wukong used the remaining primal energy within him to let out two beams of golden light from his eyes, piercing through to the Thirty-Three Heavens.
Shi Yue's eyes emitted golden beams too, but he was atop the mountain, gazing down into the earth, as opposed to Sun Wukong, who looked up from below. Enthralled by this ability to see underground, Shi Yue focused downward.
In a moment, the primal energies in both dissipated, their sight no longer reaching afar. As the light faded from their eyes, Shi Yue was struck by a realization.
Not only had he seen the dark Netherworld and its bloody river, but also the great Hall of Yama. Every strange life form his gaze touched trembled. Within the shadowy hall, a black-faced figure hurriedly stood, voice trembling slightly as he nervously addressed the unseen visitor: "I am unaware of the divine presence that graces us. Forgive my inadequate welcome."
Then, as the last traces of primal energy vanished, Shi Yue's insight into the Netherworld ceased. He realized that his gaze had startled the monastery beyond and Sun Wukong had likely caught Heaven's eye as well.
Sun Wukong's eyes no longer emitted golden light, and he scratched his head, puzzled. His form resembled its portrayal in media—standing bipeds among typical monkeys, his gleaming fur now a striking shade of orange-yellow.
In contrast, Shi Yue seemed odd among monkeys. Though resembling a monkey in shape and face, his dense black fur covered him. From human perspective, he looked like an incomplete evolution, a wild-man hybrid. To monkeys, his fur was scant, but he had long hair draped down his back.
Exhibiting a strong build, with tight muscles forming perfect lines, his presence exuded power, and his eyes sparkled with intelligence.
As Shi Yue gazed over, seemingly recognizing the strange brother born alongside him, Sun Wukong returned the look, confused by the recent events.
Without explanation, Shi Yue flashed a look and then darted into the forest. He realized the celestial beings were likely watching and decided it prudent to keep a low profile, to escape the monkeys' attention. He didn't want to compete for the spotlight with Sun Wukong; to thrive in this mythic era, subtlety and prudence was key.
Sun Wukong watched him flee, more puzzled, and scratched his head. Unable to understand, he put the thought aside, absorbed by his surroundings, marveling at the new, wondrous world.
Suddenly, Sun Wukong spoke, his voice human-like: "Who are you all? I am, I am Sun Wukong."
Not far away, Shi Yue, just entering the forest, nearly tripped with surprise, casting an incredulous look back at Sun Wukong. "Sun Wukong" was a name the Patriarch Bodhi was supposed to give, so how did he know it already?