Chapter 25: Tried and True, Pain and Pleasure Intertwined

In the main hall, Chu Xiaoyu brewed a pot of tea. Across from him, the Monkey sat upright and proper. Only after Chu Xiaoyu finished his tasks did Sun Wukong finally ask, “Immortal Master, I remember you once said that when I reclaimed the Golden Cudgel, certain things would follow. I wanted to ask, what exactly are these things?”

“Come, don’t be in such a hurry. Have some tea first.” Chu Xiaoyu poured two cups, handing one to Sun Wukong.

The Monkey, by nature, was always impatient, but before the formidable Immortal Master Chu Xiaoyu, he dared not act rashly and could only force himself to suppress his restlessness.

Chu Xiaoyu noticed all of this. After they had finished their tea, and Chu Xiaoyu still showed no sign of speaking, Sun Wukong could hold back no longer. “Master, I truly am curious, and a bit anxious. I—”

“Ah, your impatient nature, when will you ever calm down? Very well, I’ll tell you. As the saying goes, a flower doesn’t bloom for a hundred days, nor does a man remain fortunate for a hundred days. Soon, you’ll encounter a rather thorny matter. And this matter, it may well be closely tied to those disciples of yours back at Mount Huaguo.”

Chu Xiaoyu’s words were unhurried, while Sun Wukong grew more anxious. “Master, what do you mean? Are they in danger? Who is it? Is it those demon kings acting up again? Impossible! I’ve already tamed all the seventy-two lords and their minions; they wouldn’t dare cause trouble again.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. When you wielded the Golden Cudgel in the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea, your actions caught the attention of someone in the Celestial Palace.” Chu Xiaoyu guided the conversation.

Sun Wukong looked puzzled. “Someone in the Celestial Palace? Who do you mean, Master?” After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Could it be the Jade Emperor?”

Chu Xiaoyu couldn’t help but give him a thumbs up for his cleverness. “Exactly.”

Sun Wukong was even more perplexed. “But, Master, I still don’t understand. I went to the Dragon Palace for my cudgel—how does that concern the Jade Emperor? Besides, he has no authority over me.”

I am the Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong—I need not live by the Jade Emperor’s whims.

What’s it to him?

A hint of indignation flickered in the Monkey’s heart.

“Wukong, there are some things that even you or I cannot control.”

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished.

You, Monkey, once lost your mind in fury when an elder of your tribe died of illness, and you stormed into the Underworld, causing a great uproar. That incident tore a rift that unleashed a chain of disasters. Precisely because of that, the seeds for your future havoc in Heaven were sown.

So now, should he reveal this crucial rift to the Monkey ahead of time?

Chu Xiaoyu hesitated.

Just then, the tightly shut gates of the manor were pounded upon, over and over.

It was clear that the visitors had experienced something urgent, judging by their anxious manner.

“Master, please remain seated, I’ll get the door for you.” Before Chu Xiaoyu could respond, Sun Wukong leapt out.

COS enthusiast.

Chu Xiaoyu could only explain Sun Wukong’s identity to outsiders again and again.

As the door swung open, Sun Wukong saw a black car parked at the entrance. He knew such things were called “automobiles”—the vehicles of this era.

A large monkey appearing so abruptly, opening the door with a flourish, startled the anxious visitors out of their wits.

A monkey? A real monkey? And such a big one!

“Are—are you a monkey?” one asked in terror.

Sun Wukong, having grown used to such situations, answered cleverly, “No, I’m not a monkey. I’m a cosplay enthusiast. May I ask what brings you here?”

“Ah, hello, my name is Su Qingyi. Is this the Hand-in-Hand Family Eco Farm? The master once told us that we must come seek him three months later. Now that the three months are almost up, we…”

“Master? Oh, you must mean our Immortal Master. He’s here.”

Sun Wukong eyed the visitors with great curiosity.

Outside the door, besides the attractive young woman, there was an older man and a young fellow.

Sun Wukong was just about to step out when an invisible, mysterious force suddenly repelled him.

With a thud, Sun Wukong was knocked to the ground in a rather embarrassing heap.

Ouch!

He’d long known that the manor was shrouded by an invisible barrier, but he could never resist the urge to try and step outside. Each attempt, however, ended the same way: the unseen, forbidding force bounced him right back.

It had never failed—painful yet oddly satisfying.

Flung to the ground, Sun Wukong’s predicament left Su Qingyi and her companions utterly stunned.

Was he really just a cosplay enthusiast? He looked so much like a monkey.

A growing sense of suspicion filled their hearts.

“Are you… are you all right?” Su Qingyi asked, concerned, seeing him so disheveled and preparing to help him up.

Sun Wukong sprang to his feet with a silly grin. “Thank you, I’m fine. You’re here to see the Immortal Master, yes? Come in, quickly.”

He closed the door and led the group inside.

Entering the manor, they noticed the purple mist growing ever thicker, filling the surroundings with an eerie strangeness.

“Qingyi, this master’s estate is so mysterious. We nearly got lost just now. This place is truly extraordinary,” Su Qingsheng couldn’t help but say.

Su Qingyi’s expression was grave. “Dad, don’t forget what I told you before.”

Su Qingsheng nodded immediately. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”

Behind them, the young man added, “Aunt, Grandpa, this little eco farm seems magical. For a moment, I thought we’d stumbled into paradise.”

“Hao Ran, don’t speak nonsense,” Su Qingyi quickly admonished.

Su Haoran immediately fell silent.

At the front, Sun Wukong was all smiles.

Paradise?

This manor of the Immortal Master’s was far superior to the Celestial Palace—what was paradise compared to this?

Suddenly mischievous, Sun Wukong darted to Haoran’s side. “Kid, you just said you’ve been to paradise?”

Startled!

Was this man really just a cosplay enthusiast? No matter how realistic his mask and costume, he looked just like a real monkey. Not just a little, but astoundingly so.

It was entirely possible he was an actual monkey.

Sun Wukong’s sudden, roguish closeness made Su Haoran shudder.

“Well? Cat got your tongue? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I—I…” Su Haoran stammered, his words tumbling out in confusion.

Was he really not a monkey? He certainly felt like one.

Sun Wukong: Don’t just feel it—drop the ‘feel’ part altogether.