Even amidst the idyllic days on Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Stone Monkey's heart was not at peace. He realized that the three teachings he had heard upon first entering the Water Curtain Cave had somehow imprinted themselves in his memory. Though not dull-witted, he had never possessed such an unfailing memory before. Could it be that his talents had transformed upon arriving in this world, or was it the work of the divine powers of the sage who had imparted these teachings? The Stone Monkey often associated this sage with the revered Subhuti, who, within the entirety of "Journey to the West," bestowed the greatest benefits upon Sun Wukong. But why would he do so?

A year swiftly passed, and the day the Stone Monkey had long pondered finally arrived. That day, as he sat meditatively on a stone platform, gazing at the fruit wine before him, several young monkeys rushed in, panic-stricken, reporting, "Your Majesty, an old monkey has suddenly died. We know not the cause!"

After a moment of contemplation, the Stone Monkey commanded, "Summon the ministers to the hall." For better governance, he had organized the thousand-plus monkeys into three ranks. Aside from himself, four red-bottomed, long-armed elder monkeys were appointed as deputy cave masters, overseeing food and miscellaneous duties, with over a dozen other monkeys of high repute assigned various roles.

As the monkeys gathered inside the cave, the Stone Monkey instructed the young ones to prepare a feast, though the atmosphere was somewhat solemn, the monarch's countenance clouded with unspoken thoughts. After three rounds of drinks, the Stone Monkey's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears—a display of emotion, though feigned, as befitting his past life as an actor.

A red-bottomed macaque stood up and inquired, "What troubles you, Your Majesty?"

The Stone Monkey responded, "Today, our kind has diminished by one more. Reflecting upon our own eventual fate, trapped in the cycle of rebirth, how many days of joy do we have left?"

A long-armed monkey approached, saying, "Your Majesty is of divine origin; why fear such ends? It is we, the common kind, who cannot escape the fate of life and death."

Though the long-armed monkey stood respectfully, a glint of joy in his eyes did not escape the Stone Monkey's notice, leading him to harbor doubts. Yet, he replied, "I myself am not afraid, but it pains me to see you suffer."

Disappointed but quick-witted, the monkey responded, "If Your Majesty truly cares for us, it would be the greatest joy for our kind!"

"And where does this joy come from?" asked the Stone Monkey.

"Your Majesty, do you not know? In this world, three beings—saints, immortals, and Buddhas—are beyond the reach of the King of Hell. If one could learn magical abilities from a great master, it would be possible to escape the cycle of rebirth and achieve eternal life."

Feigning surprise, the Stone Monkey asked, "Is that so? And where might these beings reside?"

With concealed delight, the monkey shared, "They dwell in ancient caves and immortal mountains across the four great continents, where traces of immortals can be found."

The Stone Monkey, slamming his hand on the armrest, exclaimed, "Excellent! Tomorrow, I shall venture forth to seek such immortality, to teach you all how to escape the cycle of rebirth and enjoy eternal happiness."

Overjoyed, the long-armed monkey applauded, "Tomorrow, we shall prepare a grand feast, gathering exquisite fruits to bid farewell to Your Majesty!"

The Stone Monkey was well aware of the long-armed monkey's true intentions, suspecting he wished for the Stone Monkey's permanent departure to claim leadership himself. Yet, the Stone Monkey thought, limited by his own scheming and understanding, how could he comprehend the rules of this world?

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The next day, the monkeys built a raft from pine trees, celebrating with a feast. The Stone Monkey, with a bamboo pole and some fruits, set sail into the sea, undaunted and unworried, for he remembered a passage from "Journey to the West" about being guided by a southeast wind to the shores of another continent.

Leaving the monkeys behind, he lay on the raft, letting it drift. Most monkeys watched with tears, having been treated with fairness and compassion under his rule. Now, with the Stone Monkey gone, the mountain was leaderless, sparking ambitions among some to vie for control. Yet, the Stone Monkey, with higher aspirations, paid little heed to the squabbles over Flower-Fruit Mountain, knowing he would return someday.

Lying on the raft, under a sky dotted with clouds and bathed in warm sunlight, the Stone Monkey, driven by a thirst for knowledge, embarked on his journey. He rose with the sun and rested at sunset, with plenty of fruits for sustenance. However, after three days of calm seas, he grew anxious, recalling the book's mention of a persistent southeast wind, fearing he might perish on the raft without it.

On the fifth day, a strong wind finally arose. Securing himself to the raft with vines, he let the southeast wind carry him northwest, making his journey more efficient. Soon, a dark line appeared on the horizon—the shores of another continent.

Reaching shallow waters, the Stone Monkey picked up a bamboo pole and made his way to the shore. Donning clothes left by fishermen, a thought crossed his mind: Am I now a monkey or a human?

Arriving at the seaside market, the Stone Monkey, with his nimble skills, managed to stealthily obtain a few steamed buns and found a secluded spot to enjoy his meal. Looking back, he realized it had been over a year since he arrived in the world of "Journey to the West," and this was the first time he had tasted grains again.

After filling his stomach, the Stone Monkey pondered where he should go next. According to the plot of "Journey to the West," the Stone Monkey spent eight or nine years searching for immortals in the Southern Continent without success, before heading to the Western Continent of Cattle Gifting, where he finally met Subhuti. However, Subhuti is portrayed as an enigmatic figure in the epic, appearing seemingly out of nowhere and disappearing just as mysteriously, existing only to teach Sun Wukong.

Knowing that heading straight to the Western Continent of Cattle Gifting might not result in finding Subhuti, the Stone Monkey decided against taking the risk. After much deliberation without reaching a decision, he began to wander around the area. His appearance, covered in fur, caused ordinary people to avoid him, leaving him feeling isolated and depressed. He decided to head north, hoping to find a desolate mountain to spend the eight or nine years.

The opulence and liveliness of the Southern Continent far exceeded the Stone Monkey's expectations, with human activity everywhere. The road he chose was an official highway, making it impossible to find a desolate mountain.

After enduring countless blisters and sweating profusely, the Stone Monkey continued his slow journey. As the seasons changed, a year and a half passed. The further north he went, the colder it became, until he reached a barren landscape with towering mountains blocking his path, and not a single human dwelling in sight.

One day, as large snowflakes began to fall, turning the world around him into a wintry wonderland, the Stone Monkey sought shelter from the wind and snow, finding a small cave. The hardships of the past year and a half, alternating between hunger and satiation, had taken their toll. The innate superiority he felt as a "rock-born monkey" had all but vanished, and the advantages of being a transmigrator had yet to manifest, leaving him disheartened. Huddling in the cave, he was shivering with cold.

Taking out the last two dry buns he had, a tear fell from his fuzzy eyes onto the bun. He thought of his past life of luxury and even his time on Flower-Fruit Mountain where he never suffered. This hardship was a first for him in both his past and present lives, making it all the more bitter.

Biting into the bun, tears and all, the Stone Monkey resolved to head south after the snow stopped, to at least avoid freezing. Just then, a severe chill hit him, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, with his tears freezing on his face and the bun turning as hard as iron. Lucky for him, he was not made of flesh and blood, or he would have turned into an ice monkey. Even so, he was so cold he couldn't move.

In his moment of fear, a clear and youthful male voice thundered from the sky, "Evil creature, where do you think you're running?" followed by the sound of thunderous booms and the clashing of metal. The sounds grew closer, and suddenly, with a loud explosion, the mountain shook, and the wall of the cave beside him slowly fell outward. Fortunately, it fell away from him, or he would have been trapped under the mountain, unable to escape for thousands of years.