Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

After being driven away by Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

That day he kowtowed nine times, but couldn't get his master to turn around even once.

As soon as the golden light appeared, it soared into the sky, heading straight east along the old road, heading towards Flower Fruit Mountain.

Clouds and mist churned, and the sea and sky merged into one color.

As he passed by the East China Sea, he couldn't help but stop his somersault cloud, stand on the waves, and gaze at the familiar ripples, his heart filled with countless emotions.

"I haven't taken this road for five hundred years."

Five hundred years ago, he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, borrowed weapons from the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, and turned the world upside down, becoming a force to be reckoned with.

For five hundred years, they were trapped under the mountain, suffering endless torment.

Now, he is free again, but not because the 100,000 heavenly soldiers have retreated, but because his master kicked him out with a single sentence, "Let's go."

He scratched his cheek and gave a wry smile.

"Enough, enough, Old Sun will no longer serve that monk!"

"Let's go back to Flower Fruit Mountain and live a carefree and happy life!"

One somersault covers 108,000 li.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Flower Fruit Mountain, which was no longer the same as before.

After he was captured and suppressed, the Jade Emperor issued another decree, ordering Erlang Shen to lead heavenly soldiers and generals to set the mountain on fire.

Huaguo Mountain, once the ancestral home of ten states and the source of the dragon veins of the four seas, is now nothing but scorched earth.

The trees were burned to ashes, the cave collapsed, and the monkeys and their offspring scattered and fled.

Now that he's back, the monkey can't help but let out a long roar: "I, Old Sun, am back!"

In the mountains, the surviving monkeys and their offspring gathered upon hearing this.

They were all overjoyed to see Sun Wukong return.

They squeaked and squeaked, some rushing up to hug their legs, others clinging to their shoulders.

"It's Grandpa Monkey!"

"Grandpa Monkey King is back!"

"The mountains are unclaimed; these past years have been bitter!"

Sun Wukong looked at the little monkeys, each one thin and bony, with dry and yellow fur, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

But he burst into laughter: "Good! Good!"

"Old Sun is back!"

"From this day forward, you are no longer ownerless monkeys!"

The monkeys cheered.

But a clever monkey asked, "Grandpa Sage, we heard you went to protect that pilgrim monk on his journey to the West?"

"Why are you back?"

It would have been better if they hadn't mentioned it, because bringing it up only made the monkey angry again.

He slammed his golden cudgel into the ground, sat on a rock, and recounted the events of White Tiger Ridge in detail.

The monkeys were all enraged upon hearing this.

"The old monk has eyes but doesn't recognize a pearl!"

"Why bother being a monk!"

"Grandpa Monkey protected him all the way, but it was no match for a few words from a mortal!"

"Great Sage, ignore him!"

"Take us along, let's have some fun in these mountains and forests!"

"Yes, yes! Eat peaches and drink fine wine!"

"Hunting, playing!"

The monkeys and their offspring chattered amongst themselves.

Hearing this, Sun Wukong was immediately filled with heroic spirit.

He laughed heartily: "Great!"

"Old Sun is no longer going to protect that monk!"

"Let's rebuild Flower and Fruit Mountain!"

"Enjoying a carefree and happy life!"

At this moment, a horde of demons has gathered.

The monkey, being a man of high social standing and great influence, first traveled by waterway to the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas.

The Dragon Kings were both surprised and delighted to see the Great Sage return.

"Old man Ao Guang, do you still remember me, old Sun?"

The Dragon King of the East Sea hurriedly greeted him, "Great Sage! Great Sage!"

"The grandeur of five hundred years ago is still vivid in my mind!"

Sun Wukong laughed, "Lend me some sweet rain and immortal water! My Flower Fruit Mountain was burned to ashes by that thief, and now it must be rebuilt!"

How could the Dragon Kings dare refuse? They all offered up their precious rain.

When Sun Wukong returned to the mountain, the sweet rain poured down like a torrential downpour, washing away the scorched earth and filth, and the grass and trees in the mountains grew wildly as if they had sprouted roots.

He then ordered his monkeys and their offspring to plant elms and willows in front, pines and nanmu trees in the back, and peaches, plums, dates, and apricots—leaving nothing out untouched.

The Water Curtain Cave has been completely renovated.

The waterfall plunges straight down, the cave is deep and secluded, and a colorful flag has been made.

Fourteen large characters were written on it:

"Rebuild Flower Fruit Mountain, restore Water Curtain Cave, and be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

Flags flutter in the wind, and demons gather in righteousness.

How delightful!

At first, the monkey would occasionally miss Tang Sanzang.

But as time went on, he spent his days seeking immortals and visiting friends, getting drunk all over the world, drinking and chatting with old friends, calling each other brothers, and had long forgotten about Tang Sanzang.

"A pilgrimage to the West?"

"What are you going to seek scriptures for!"

"Old Sun is living a carefree life!"

He laughed loudly.

He wielded the golden cudgel with great skill and, in his spare time, taught his monkey followers to practice, creating a joyous atmosphere throughout the mountains.

That day.

The monkey was leading the baby monkeys in training.

The shadows of clubs flashed, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.

Suddenly, a little monkey came to report:

"Grandpa Monkey King!"

"An old man has come to the cave!"

"He only said he wanted to find you."

Sun Wukong wore a golden chainmail armor, a phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes, and held the Ruyi Jingu Bang (golden cudgel).

How impressive!

Upon hearing this, he laughed and asked, "Who is it?"

Back then, the monkey crossed out the Book of Life and Death, and all the monkeys and their descendants on the mountain had unlimited lifespans. Therefore, they all witnessed the scene when Venus came to invite Sun Wukong.

The little monkey said, "He looks like the old man who invited the Great Sage to Heaven to become an official back then."

Sun Wukong was taken aback, then burst into laughter:

"It's the Archangel!"

"Quickly, invite them in!"

Back then, all the gods in heaven looked down on people, but Taibai was always respected. Therefore, the monkey also showed him full courtesy and personally went out to greet him.

Outside the cave, Venus had been waiting for a long time.

Sun Wukong appeared, exuding an imposing aura.

In a daze, Taibai returned to that year and saw the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, who looked down upon the world. But when his gaze fell on the golden headband under the purple-gold crown, he was pulled back to reality.

After a moment of stunned silence, Taibai laughed:

"Great Sage, how have you been?"

Sun Wukong scratched his cheek and laughed, "Old Star Lord, long time no see! It's been several years since we parted ways at Yellow Wind Ridge."

"Old Sun is very happy to be back in the mountain!"

"Why are you here? Come quickly, don't refuse. Come with me into the cave for a few drinks. I haven't even had a chance to thank Huang Fengling for his guidance yet!"

Seeing the monkey so carefree, Taibai reached out to stop it and sighed:

"The Great Sage is so carefree."

"But little did you know... your master is still suffering!"