Chapter 2: The Immortal Gate Leading to the Journey West

The monkey scratched its head, as if pondering how to phrase its words. After a moment of fidgeting, it simply grabbed Chu Xiaoyu and, pointing to the faintly shimmering ring of light, said, “Sir, do you see that? That gate of light—I came through it.”

A gate of light? A portal through time and space? Or perhaps an immortal’s threshold? Chu Xiaoyu was both astonished and bewildered.

When had such a mysterious gateway appeared on his farm? Why had he never noticed it before?

Unable to make sense of it, he simply chose not to dwell on the mystery. If it exists, there must be a reason.

Chu Xiaoyu brought the monkey back with him.

A monkey that could speak human language was enough to astound the entire world.

The monkey’s injury was only a dislocated ankle, not too serious.

While examining it, Chu Xiaoyu asked, “What’s your father’s father’s name?”

“Uh… my father’s father’s name? Sir, that question, I…”

Suddenly, with a crack, while the monkey was still muddled and struggling with the question, Chu Xiaoyu deftly set the bone back in place.

The monkey looked utterly confused, slow to react. “Ah… Sir, my leg… the pain’s gone?”

“Try walking a few steps.”

The monkey took a few tentative steps—the dislocation had been perfectly healed. Overcome with excitement, it dropped to its knees and shouted, “Sir, your technique is incredible! You must have used some powerful immortal art. Please accept me as your disciple!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The monkey kowtowed earnestly, overflowing with zeal.

Chu Xiaoyu stroked his chin, thoughts whirling.

The monkey kneeling before him was none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who shared the lifespan of the heavens and the earth.

This mischievous creature was no ordinary being; without a certain level of skill, no one could hope to subdue it.

Still, the monkey’s appearance on the farm was surely a stroke of fate.

Chu Xiaoyu remained silent for a long time, deep in thought, while the monkey waited anxiously, scratching its face and ears, too nervous to rise. Chu Xiaoyu saw all of this.

“Sir, please take me as your disciple. Since the day I sprang from stone, I’ve lived in a haze, never knowing what year it is.

Though I know I am but a monkey, born of nature, I cannot resign myself to such a fate. I want to rise above, not live like a base beast, tearing flesh with tooth and claw.

Please guide me, open my mind, and teach me to become truly human.”

Once more, the monkey knelt and bowed, its sincerity unmistakable.

At last, Chu Xiaoyu spoke: “Very well. I will take you as my disciple, but we must first establish three rules.”

“Ah! Sir, you’ll accept me? Wonderful! Not just three rules—ten if you wish!”

The monkey was beside itself with joy, tears brimming in its eyes.

Chu Xiaoyu paused thoughtfully, then said, “We’ll discuss the rules shortly. By the way, do you have a name?”

The monkey shook its head. “Immortal Master, this disciple has no name. I beg you to grant me one.”

It looked up at Chu Xiaoyu with earnest anticipation.

Chu Xiaoyu’s eyes brightened. “Very well. From this day forth, your surname shall be Sun, and your given name Wukong—Sun Wukong.”

“Sun? Wukong? Sun Wukong? Ha ha… Sun Wukong! I have a name! What a powerful, awe-inspiring name!”

“Thank you, Immortal Master, for bestowing this name.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The monkey kowtowed fervently, then leaped high in excitement.

Truly a mischievous spirit, wild and untamed.

Chu Xiaoyu found himself troubled.

For now, the young Sun Monkey had only just awakened its intelligence and could be easily guided. But once it truly acquired skills and abilities—mastered the seventy-two transformations, soared on a single somersault for thousands of miles, gained immortality, and dared to challenge the Heavens—what then?

Yet his worries were needless. Bathed night and day in the purple mist from the East, Chu Xiaoyu himself was slowly growing stronger.

He dwelled within the mountain, yet could not see its true nature.

To the newly arrived monkey, everything was novel and unfamiliar. It leapt and bounded about, causing a commotion everywhere.

Indeed, a lawless, unruly little rascal.

It was nearly mealtime.

Chu Xiaoyu casually prepared two claypot rice dishes.

Soon, the rich aroma drew the monkey over.

Gazing at the stove in wonder, the monkey asked, “Immortal Master, what is that? Why is it so different from everything I’ve seen before?”

“Ah… that’s called a gas stove. It burns gas for heat. Of course, if you use wood, the rice turns out even more fragrant.”

“A gas stove? What a refined name.”

Everything in the manor was utterly foreign and fascinating to the monkey.

Heh! The Immortal Master truly lives up to his repute; even the tools he uses are extraordinary.

At every new discovery, the monkey wanted nothing more than to haul it all away and tinker with it himself.

Soon, the fragrant claypot rice was ready.

One with sausage and chicken, the other with braised pork ribs, both steaming and aromatic.

The monkey sniffed deeply, eyes shining. “Immortal Master, your skill is remarkable! I’ve never tasted anything so delicious in all my days.”

The monkey shoveled the piping hot food into its mouth, only to be scalded, grease dribbling down its chin—comically crude and unrefined.

Its table manners were truly appalling.

Watching this, Chu Xiaoyu shook his head. “Wukong, you shouldn’t eat with your hands. Use chopsticks, like this.”

The monkey’s bright eyes followed Chu Xiaoyu’s demonstration closely. Before long, it picked up the chopsticks and imitated him, learning the trick in no time.

One had to admit, this was an exceptionally clever monkey.

After the meal, their bellies full,

Chu Xiaoyu brewed a pot of fine tea.

“Oh, what’s this? It smells wonderful.”

Eager as ever, the monkey grabbed a cup and gulped it down, only to spit it out, scalded by the hot tea.

“Pah! Pah! It’s burning me alive!”

The monkey rolled on the floor, fanning its mouth and making a spectacle of itself.

Chu Xiaoyu frowned. “Wukong, you mustn’t be hasty with tea. Let it cool before you drink. Drinking tea is like doing anything else—patience is key. You can’t eat hot tofu in a hurry.”

“Immortal Master’s lesson is wise; your disciple stands corrected,” the monkey replied sheepishly.

“Come here, I have a few things to teach you.”

The monkey knelt quietly. “Please instruct me, Master.”

A talking monkey suddenly appearing on the estate, and then taking it as his disciple—such a bizarre turn of events, Chu Xiaoyu would never have imagined before.