Traveling Through Journey to the West: I Am the Dragon King

Ao Guang said, "Alas! I thought even he couldn't lift it, but I never expected that the demon monkey would be so powerful."

Yun Chonghua then said, "That thing is probably too heavy for even me to lift. With such great supernatural powers, it's probably no less powerful than the previous demons. I'm afraid I'm powerless to help it. How about this, you all go to the Heavenly Palace first and report to His Majesty. I'll go to Flower Fruit Mountain first and see what this monkey's origins are."

Hearing Yun Chonghua's excuse, Ao Guang didn't complain. After all, an opponent who could easily pick up that divine iron was indeed very troublesome.

Ao Guang said, "In that case, we will first go to the Heavenly Palace to report to His Majesty. We will trouble you, Immortal, to investigate the origins of that demon monkey."

The four dragons then soared into the sky, heading straight for the Southern Heavenly Gate. Yun Chonghua, on the other hand, flew towards Flower Fruit Mountain.

Before even reaching Flower Fruit Mountain, they saw the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) growing larger and larger, soaring straight into the sky.

Upon seeing this, Yun Chonghua activated the power of his Kunlin Armor and quickly moved forward. In a short while, he arrived above Flower Fruit Mountain.

At this moment, the gibbon pointed to the sky and shouted, "Your Majesty, look! A deity has descended from heaven!"

Wukong looked up and saw a handsome celestial being slowly descending from the clouds.

Seeing this, Wukong put away his golden cudgel, held it in his hand, and then stood on the high seat in the training ground of Flower Fruit Mountain, asking, "Where did you come from, celestial official? What brings you to my Flower Fruit Mountain?"

Just as Yun Chonghua was about to step forward, he was blocked by the monkey soldiers of Huaguo Mountain who set up a sword formation.

Yun Chonghua looked at Sun Wukong on the hillside and called out, "Brother! It's me! It's Chonghua!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong said, "Are you Chonghua? Children, clear the sword formation and let the celestial official come closer."

The monkeys immediately parted to make way, and Yun Chonghua quickly stepped forward. He approached and carefully examined Wukong before him.

At this moment, Wukong wore a phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, a golden chainmail armor, lotus-silk cloud-walking boots, and held the Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel), truly exuding majesty. He lived up to his title of "Handsome Monkey King."

Wukong carefully examined Yun Chonghua, but the Yun Chonghua he knew was still a small dragon that had not yet taken human form. Although he no longer possessed the Fiery Eyes of Truth, he could still tell that the person before him was a human, not a dragon.

Unsure of his suspicion, Wukong immediately asked, "Are you truly my brother Chonghua?"

Yun Chonghua replied, "Of course, after that parting in the mountains, we brothers were separated. I didn't want to disturb your peaceful cultivation, so I placed a stone tablet beside you. On that tablet, I left a letter informing you that I was returning to the East first, promising to meet again another day. I never expected you to return only today."

Upon hearing this, Wukong put away his golden cudgel and took out the stone with Yun Chonghua's inscription from his pocket.

He then took the moss-covered message stone and rushed to Yun Chonghua, saying, "Oh my! I never expected it to really be you, my worthy brother. We sought immortality together before..."

"I entered the cave but didn't find you; I searched high and low. The guardian fairy said you had a different destiny. At the time, I thought he was just making excuses. But I never expected it to be true. My brother was once a four-clawed dragon, but now he has cultivated into human form. If it weren't for this message stone, I truly wouldn't have recognized you."

Yun Chonghua laughed and said, "Hehe, I have indeed changed a lot over the years."

Wukong then said, "Come, come! Brother, please take a seat." With that, he led Yun Chonghua to the Monkey King's throne.

Wukong called to the monkeys, "My children! This is the brother I made on my journey of learning. Now that we're reunited, quickly bring out the best wine and fruits from the mountains. Let's welcome him back!"

Upon hearing Wukong's call, the monkeys immediately sprang into action. Some picked melons, some gathered fruit, and some served wine.

This blessed land of Huaguo Mountain and the Water Curtain Cave, though not as grand as the Jade Pool Scenic Area, has its own unique charm.

Then Wukong took the wine jar and poured a large bowl of coconut wine for Yun Chonghua.

The two brothers clinked bowls together and drank the wine in one gulp, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Wukong then asked, "Brother, it's been ten years since we last met. Your fortune has surpassed mine. Oh! By the way! The Patriarch also gave me a Dharma name. Now, my surname is Sun, and my given name is Wukong. I now have a name, just like you."

Upon hearing this, Yun Chonghua cupped his hands and said, "Brother, you have mastered your skills and now have a name. This is truly a cause for celebration."

Wukong observed Yun Chonghua's current extraordinary demeanor, exuding an air of otherworldly grace. He then asked, "After we parted ways in the mountains, I, Old Sun, cultivated under that Patriarch's tutelage, mastering the Somersault Cloud, seventy-two transformations, and immortality. Judging from your current appearance, you too have achieved great fortune. But I wonder where you have attained your cultivation and what your future holds?"

Yun Chonghua replied, "Since parting with my elder brother, I returned to the Chinese territory of Nanzhanbuzhou. Later, I was unintentionally involved in a case in the Heavenly Court and was taken to Heaven. Later, I was favored by Her Majesty and Her Majesty, who enlightened me and gave me an immortal body. Now I am the River God Dragon Lord in the Si River of Nanzhanbuzhou."

Upon hearing this, Wukong exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? I never expected my worthy brother to have such good fortune! In that case, I can rest assured."

Previously, when the two brothers were searching for immortals overseas, Wukong was worried that he and his brother might never see each other again. Now that he sees that his brother has indeed achieved extraordinary fortune, he no longer needs to worry about it.

After a long separation, the two brothers were reunited, each having achieved their own success. After a few drinks, they reminisced about their brotherly bond.

Under Wukong's flattery, the seventy-two demon kings, their tens of thousands of monkey followers, along with Marshals Ma and Liu and Generals Beng and Ba, all stepped forward to pay homage to Yun Chonghua, addressing him as "Grandpa Dragon Lord." They clearly regarded Yun Chonghua as the "second-in-command" of Flower Fruit Mountain.

Wukong was intoxicated and even...

On the training ground, he demonstrated the skills he had learned to Yun Chonghua.

Having witnessed the wonders of these seventy-two transformations firsthand, even Yun Chonghua applauded repeatedly.

After several rounds of wine and various fruits, they also witnessed Wukong's abilities.

Yun Chonghua took a sip of coconut wine, then asked, "Brother, what are your plans for the future? Are you planning to become king in these mountains?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong said, "We monkeys are in this blessed land of immortals, in this ancient cave and divine continent. We are not under the jurisdiction of the Qilin, nor under the control of the Phoenix, nor bound by the constraints of human kingship. We are free and unrestrained, which is truly a boundless blessing. What's wrong with being king in these mountains?"

Yun Chonghua said, "Brother, it is indeed carefree to be a king in these mountains. But I have something to say. As the saying goes, 'Mastering both literary and martial arts, one can serve the emperor.' Now, brother, your skills are outstanding, and you roam the world freely. Why be a mere bandit king in these mountains? If brother is willing, I would like to recommend you to become a registered immortal in the Heavenly Court."

Yun Chonghua genuinely wanted to secure a good future for Wukong. Wukong treated him like a brother, and he couldn't be disloyal.

He had already witnessed the Heavenly Palace. Although the rules were strict and the social niceties were numerous, the beauty of that celestial palace, with its breathtaking scenery, was truly incomparable to anything in the mortal realm.

If Wukong were willing, he would still like to ask him to take a job in Heaven and change Wukong's fate.

As for the arduous journey to the West with its eighty-one tribulations, let whoever wants to go go.

"Oh? I, Old Sun, can become a god too?" Wukong asked.

Yun Chonghua said, "Brother, with your skills, you have already attained enlightenment. What's wrong with that? I am willing..."

But before Yun Chonghua could finish speaking, a demon king frowned and stepped forward to advise, "Your Majesty, what the Dragon King said is inappropriate."

Upon hearing this, Wukong asked, "Oh? Is there something wrong?"

The demon king said, "Your Majesty, it is certainly good to be a god in Heaven. But one is also a subject before the emperor. From then on, one is bound by the heavenly laws and governed by the Heavenly Emperor. How can this be compared to being a slave to humans, and being able to freely reign as a king here?"