The bandits

"Who are you?" Wukong asked, holding back laughter.

"If you want to know!" Red Bandit stepped forward and introduced himself with a flourish.

"Actually, I don't want to know," I replied.

"Huh?! If you don't listen, how can we show gratitude to the predecessors' teams?" he exclaimed.

"...Predecessors' teams?" I asked anxiously.

Although the strong monkey was right beside me, if these guys played dirty or something and she couldn't save me in time, it would be a disaster.

"Exactly! Our predecessors are great, and there are so many of them that we have to give each team a unique name! The first team is the Super Card Bandits, the second team is the super animal bandits, the third team is-"

"You talk too much! Take my strike!" Wukong impatiently grabbed a small bottle from his pouch, enlarged it to about 500 meters long and 3 meters thick, then swung it towards the robbers.

"Hmph! You think That pole can hit me?! Pink Bandit! Use that thing!"

"Yes, captain!" Pink bandit ran up and pulled out a shield made of bronze from behind, which looked very ancient.

Wukong narrowed her eyes at the shield but still attacked.

 *Clang

Wukong's staff was blocked.

"What?! " I dropped my jaw, disbelief in my eyes.

'Wukong's weapon was blocked?! I thought that was the most powerful weapon in Journey to the West!'

"That's a good shield" Wukong praised the bandits with a smile.

"Of course, this isn't the first time we've fought strong opponents" Red bandit replied confidently.

"Well, if you say so, then you haven't met a truly strong opponent yet," Wukong said with a mocking smile.

"HMPH! If you believe that, then take my twin swords!" Blue bandit sprinted at high speed and struck Wukong's head.

*KANG

The blades of the twin swords shattered into pieces, leaving only the handles.

"W-what?!" Blue bandit stared in horror at his shattered twin swords.

"With that much power, you dare to attack me? I'll make you pay for it!" Wukong leaped up and transformed her staff again.

"Let me remind you! My weapon is the Ruyi Jingu Bang. If I want it to be big or small, it can be done!" She swung the staff at the bandits.

"Don't even try!" Pink bandit jumped up, intending to block with his shield.

"And let me remind you further, my staff is even more versatile than you think!" The top of the staff split into 5 pieces. Instead of attacking Pink bandit, it stabbed straight into the ground.

'What's that monkey thinking?!'

*Boom ×5

"Alright, farewell to you all! HAHAHAHA!" Wukong laughed loudly and discarded her weapon, clasping her hands together.

'She's up to something! I have to stop her!!' Red Robber thought.

"Brothers! Quickly get your weapons out and attack her!"

"Got it!" Black bandit pulled out an axe, and Gold bandit wielded a spear. Blue Robber also brandished his knife.

"ATTACK!!!"

All five robbers charged at Wukong, but she only looked down at them with disdain.

"Fools."

Suddenly, an unimaginable heat emanated from beneath the ground, causing me to quickly flee from the area as fast as I could.

Wherever the Jingu Bang staff had stabbed, something began to spew out.

"L-lava?!!!"

In just one second, the volcanic lava erupted and engulfed the bandits at an unbelievable speed.

"AGHHHHHH!!!!!" Their desperate screams echoed.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Wukong laughed like a maniac at the sight, retracting her staff and approaching me.

"Impressive, isn't it?!" Wukong looked at me, expecting some praise.

"..."

She's even more evil than the Sun Wukong in the movies.

After Wukong ruthlessly killed the bandits, we retrieved their horses. I turned back to look at Wukong, who was sitting on a tree branch eating a banana that I didn't know where she got it from.

Then I looked back at the burnt bodies, beyond recognition, and asked Wukong

"Wasn't it a bit cruel to kill them like that?"

"Cruel? Don't make me laugh, they died because they dared to obstruct my path. In this world, it's kill or be killed."

'She's right, but... I'm afraid if I accidentally displease this monkey, she might just kill me...'

I had to quickly submit to this stone monkey.

"Why do you keep asking those questions? Do you feel sorry for them?" Wukong questioned.

"Huh? Well, not exactly," I replied.

Sure, I felt a twinge of sympathy. After all, I was human, and their deaths were brutal and disrespectful.

'But my own life is more important...'

Sigh, I'm such a hypocrite. I'm even afraid that the original Tang Sanzang might come and lecture me about morals...

"Hehe, you're too kind, rare to find someone who cares about others like that, whether they're above or below this earth."

"I don't think so, there are still people better than me out there."

"Tang Sanzang, modesty isn't always good, if I praise you, your only duty is to accept that praise."

"..."

Even though she's much more evil than the original Wukong, I like her personality...

***

(Sun Wukong pov)

'Cuter than I thought.'

Honestly, this is the first time I've seen someone so kind.

No, more accurately, it's the least hypocritical person I've ever seen.

In this world, hypocrisy is quite common, to the point where it's like drinking water.

Those who pretend to be kind just to stab others in the back, or those who intentionally help others just to gain their trust, it's countless.

And I don't like being like them, so I'd rather do what I like.

Having encountered all sorts of people in life, I can usually discern their motives just by looking into their eyes.

And this young man, Tang Sanzang, has a very... peculiar purpose.

While it's not uncommon for people to fear death and crave life, it's rare to find someone who still possesses enough compassion for others amidst that fear of death.

"And he even intended to make me submit to him, huh? Hehe, you're quite audacious for someone who has just ascended to the first level," Wukong remarked to herself.

Wukong's impression of Tang Sanzang was increasingly favorable.