Chapter 17: The True and False Sun Wukong
The monkey bowed with hands pressed together and said, "Please enlighten me, Master."
Seeing Sun Wukong's respectful manner, Chen Nuo nodded with satisfaction and said, "Don't be too arrogant or complacent outside, remember that there are skies beyond the skies and others beyond one's self!"
Although Sun Wukong is now a Taiyi Golden Immortal, within the Three Realms, there are countless capable individuals; being a Taiyi Golden Immortal hardly amounts to anything.
In the original story, even after Sun Wukong had eaten the Miraculous Elixirs and had his strength greatly increased by being refined by Lord Taishang, he was still held back by Wang Lingguan, the gatekeeper of the Palace of the Polestar, which shows how unfathomable the Three Realms are.
As I grew up and contemplated the Journey to the West, I felt that all the Immortals in the entire story were just watching a monkey play.
Only Sun Wukong himself was still full of self-satisfaction, believing he was the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. However, now that I have become his disciple in this life, of course, I would not like to see Sun Wukong make the same mistakes again.
"Disciple understands!"
"Also, if you encounter someone you can't defeat, shout out loud that you are from the Chaos Residence!"
Sun Wukong scratched his head and asked, "What if he doesn't stop then?"
Chen Nuo rolled his eyes and said, "Then you run back to me!"
It would be awesome if the other person stopped. In the past ten years, no one has come here; who knows what the Chaos Residence is.
He just wanted to use Sun Wukong to make a name for himself; after all, as the main character of the epochal catastrophe, Sun Wukong was bound to be restless.
Thinking of this, a sharp glint appeared in Chen Nuo's eyes, "As long as you get back here, no matter who it is, I'll ensure you're unharmed!"
The voice was calm but carried an overwhelming authority. What can be done, when he is just so wanton within the Chaos Residence?
This scene filled Sun Wukong's heart with immense admiration; such poise, truly worthy of being the Master!
He wondered when he, too, would have such confidence like his Master.
"Alright, I have said all I wanted. You may go now."
Sun Wukong didn't leave immediately but bowed and said with embarrassment, "Master, could you possibly lend me a Divine Marvel for self-protection?"
"Moreover, with kitchenware to bolster me, I'm sure I can show off in front of my monkey disciples when I get back!"
...
Sun Wukong left Mount Fangcun and headed towards Huaguo Mountain, following his memories. Looking back at Mount Fangcun, it seemed as if the past ten years were like a single day.
In the blink of an eye, he had gained some cultivation. When he returned, he would certainly impress his monkey disciples with his skills.
Let them know that peaches are nothing special!
Thinking of this, Sun Wukong felt even more energized, and his flying speed increased considerably.
Soon, he arrived, pressed down on the Somersault Cloud, and walked toward the direction of Shuilian Cave.
"Kids, your king has returned!" Sun Wukong shouted upon seeing a few small monkeys, not caring which one they were.
But the little monkeys did not take kindly to this, looking at him warily and asking, "Who are you, and why are you impersonating our king!"
Sun Wukong was puzzled, "I really am your king, the Monkey King, the one who went out to sea in search of immortality!"
"You're talking nonsense, our king came back a few days ago, I just came out from Shuilian Cave, and the king is inside there!" One of the little monkeys sized up Sun Wukong with suspicion and said apprehensively.
"Then someone is posing as me!" Hearing this, Sun Wukong became furious and, ignoring the little monkeys' attempts to block him, rushed into the cave.
He saw atop the throne of the Shuilian Cave a monkey lying there who looked exactly like him, enjoying the massages from the other monkeys.
"Hey! Which demon are you to dare to impersonate me and copy my appearance!" Sun Wukong was instantly enraged; anyone who saw this scene of a bird displacing a dove would not stay calm.
Six Ears opened his eyes and saw the monkey who looked exactly like him but was dressed in a bizarre fashion, his pupils shrank; how could he have appeared!
"I am the king of Huaguo Mountain, the Monkey King Sun Wukong!" Six Ears looked at Sun Wukong without a trace of guilt.
"You wild monkey from who knows where, how dare you pretend to be me, seize him!"
Six Ears waved his large hand with a semblance of command.
The monkeys below swarmed up, intending to capture Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong stomped his foot, and an invisible aura spread around him, rendering the monkeys immobile.
However, he did not harm these children but turned to Six Ears on the throne and coldly snorted, "Do you dare to compete with me to discern the true from the false?"
"Why wouldn't I!" Six Ears replied with a confident smile, without any hesitation.
Even though he was sure of the identity of the monkey before him, what did that matter?
Now, he was the Monkey King!
"Blind old monkey, I can't tell which of the two great kings is real and which is fake," said an aged monkey leaning on a cane, shaking his head and sighing.
"I shall pose a few questions for the two great kings, and whoever can answer them is the true king," the old monkey said tremblingly as he stepped forward.
"I agree!" both Sun Wukong and Six Ears exclaimed in unison.
"First question, do the two great kings know how they were born?"
"Naturally born and earth-nourished, I popped out from a stone!"
"Then the second question, do the two great kings know why they became our king?"
"Because I leaped into Shuilian Cave!" Both monkeys still synchronized.
"Third question, why did the king leave Huaguo Mountain?"
"To seek immortality!"
Seeing that Six Ears also answered fluently, Sun Wukong provoked with a smile, "I didn't expect you, this demon, to be quite capable!"
"Uh..." The old monkey scratched his head anxiously, "Both great kings answered accurately, it's impossible to judge."
"Now, since both great kings are seeking immortality, what abilities have you acquired? And who did you study under?" the old monkey continued to ask.
"I have mastered 72 Fiend Transformations for Eternal Life Through Endless Calamities and can summon the Somersault Cloud, leaping a hundred and eight thousand miles in one bound!"
Six Ears spoke with a hint of pride when mentioning his abilities.
"You haven't mentioned who you studied under yet!" Sun Wukong, unfazed by the imposter's divine skills, still found the mood to tease.
Six Ears snorted coldly and remained silent.
"Then it's my turn!"
Sun Wukong took out the kitchen knife tucked at his waist, flaunting a few impressive sword skills.
"I, old Sun, studied at Chaos Residence!" Sun Wukong raised his neck, prideful and high-spirited!
Six Ears frowned for a moment, then laughed, "Chaos Residence? That wouldn't be something you just made up, would it?"
While many powerful beings have retired to the mountains, unconcerned with worldly affairs, their cave abodes had known names and titles, and he, Six Ears, having roamed The Primordial World for countless years, had never heard of Chaos Residence.
Despite not knowing where the Heavenly Stone Monkey had gone, causing the entire realm of Buddhism to be unable to find him, he now took his place according to Buddhism's instructions.
Moreover, this was his only chance to turn his fate around; even with this monkey reappearing, he would certainly not let go of this opportunity to ascend to the heavens!
Nobody could stop him!
"I, old Sun, have no need to lie to you!"
The murderous intent in Six Ears' eyes flickered and vanished as he said coldly, "If you're not lying to me, then tell me, where is Chaos Residence?"
"Mount Fangcun in Mountain of Mind and Heart!" Sun Wukong, hands on his hips, was the epitome of arrogance.
Six Ears was astonished, Mount Fangcun in the Mountain of Mind and Heart? He had returned from there only a few days ago—what was happening?