The story begins with the bride marrying off her daughter, and the woman, at the age of one hundred,

The bright moon, like a silver plate, shines its light upon the earth.

The Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave were all coated with a layer of silver light.

Sun Wukong, who was worried about Changshou, saw him off from the cave and then came to Wanjuanlou alone, where he stayed in his old house in a daze.

Later, holding the bundle he had prepared, he sat by the window, staring up at the sky, waiting for night to fall.

For the first time, Sun Wukong felt that time was passing so slowly.

I used to think that time flew by, and a day would be over in the blink of an eye.

Today, however, every second feels like an eternity, as if the sun and moon, like an old man, are frail and weak, their steps faltering, trembling, moving as slowly as a snail, shaking like a leaf.

At dusk.

Feeling hungry, he went to the small kitchen.

Sun Wukong paused as he pushed open the door.

On the stove was a bamboo stick covered in Old Man Chang's scribbles, which looked like chicken claws. It read:

Good monkey, eat your food obediently and cultivate yourself diligently.

In an instant.

Sun Wukong's eyes reddened.

He tilted his head back, trying to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. He was clearly pleased inside, but he complained with disdain:

"That old man is so annoying!"

Until the corners of my eyes became dry again.

Sun Wukong carefully put the bamboo sticks away from his body, picked up the key that Old Man Chang had left in his bundle, and opened the stove and cupboard.

Besides the cooking utensils, there was a plate of longevity peaches inside.

Sun Wukong's eyes gleamed.

He knew about this food.

These were special peaches that Old Man Chang prepared for him when he first celebrated his birthday at the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.

It was made by Old Man Chang by kneading together wheat flour, honey, and peach juice, and then steaming it.

Because it resembles a peach, tastes sweet, and is also fermented rice, I quite like it.

After trying it once, I couldn't forget it.

No matter how much he pleaded, Old Man Chang refused to make it for him on days other than his birthday; he was too old-fashioned and stubborn.

If you anger someone, they'll start repeating themselves:

"Longevity peaches can only be eaten on one's birthday."

Or deliberately show a look of disgust:

"Monkey, you really haven't eaten anything good."

Every year on his birthday thereafter, Old Man Chang would prepare longevity peaches for himself.

I never expected that an exception would be made this time.

Picking up a longevity peach that Old Man Chang had described as "a large and filling meal," Sun Wukong took a big bite. Although the peach had clearly cooled down, it felt exceptionally warm in his mouth and stomach.

"That old geezer, he's always up to something."

After eating.

The monkey returned to its hut.

It remained quietly by the window.

At this moment, his spirit and energy were completely different.

There was less loneliness and more composure.

It seemed like only a meal had passed, but his character underwent a qualitative change, and at that moment, he truly grew up.

He stopped staring intently at the sky.

He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, calming his mind and focusing his spirit.

---

It was around midnight.

Sun Wukong opened his eyes, tiptoed out of the house, gently closed the door, turned and left, his destination clear.

At this moment, all around was quiet and utterly silent.

Walking along the cobblestone path and between the corridors, the monkey occasionally looked up at the bright moon in the sky, which was as bright as a silver plate, and pondered to himself.

Old Man Chang's whereabouts are unknown.

Are you also looking at this moon?

Are you worried that I, Old Sun, haven't gone to see the Patriarch in the dead of night?

The moon shines brightly, the dew is cold, and the eight directions are free of dust.

Fireflies scatter their light and shadows, while wild geese fly in formation amidst the clouds.

At the third watch of the night, one should seek out the true Daoist.

Sun Wukong continued on his way and soon arrived at the back door. He was initially uneasy, fearing that he might have misunderstood his master's intentions, but when he saw that the door was half open, he was overjoyed and felt more confident, and his steps became lighter.

He didn't go in right away.

He first tidied his appearance, patted the dust off his body, and then slowly approached, stepping aside to enter the room.

Upon reaching the bedside, they saw the patriarch sleeping with his head turned inwards.

Wukong dared not disturb him and obediently knelt before the bed, waiting for his master to wake up.

It's about time.

The Bodhi Patriarch, who had been feigning sleep on the couch, finally pretended to wake up, stretched out his legs, and murmured to himself:

Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!

The Tao is most profound; do not take the elixir of immortality lightly.

"Unless you encounter a sage who imparts the secrets..."

Wukong immediately bowed down with great joy:

"Master, your disciple has been kneeling here waiting for a long time."

Although he knew Wukong was coming, the Patriarch insisted on finishing the play that had to be performed.

He pretended not to know and asked what was going on. Seeing that the monkey's questions and answers were reasonable and well-founded, he realized that the monkey had indeed understood the profound meaning of his three rulers and had not disappointed him.

Since that's the case, he naturally won't pretend anymore.

Following the ladder offered by the monkey, he stated directly that he wished to take Wukong as his true disciple, to secretly impart to him the secrets of immortality, and instructed him:

"Without my permission, you must not show off in front of others, otherwise, I will never forgive you."

My long-cherished wish has finally come true.

Sun Wukong tried to hold back, but finally couldn't. Overwhelmed with emotion, he burst into tears of joy.

Bodhi Patriarch did not think his disciple had been impolite.

He knew how difficult the monkey's journey had been, and now that the clouds had parted and the moon was shining, he naturally wanted to vent his frustrations.

Besides, this is his beloved disciple.

The personal disciple whom I have waited for for countless years.

So what if they dislike you? Of course we'll spoil them!

But he soon realized that something was wrong.

Why are you crying so much?

Why is the crying getting louder?

The patriarch looked at the monkey, blinked, as if looking at a rare and exotic species.

As far as he knew, this monkey rarely cried.

Even when faced with numerous obstacles along the way, not a single drop of water was shed.

Upon further reflection, the patriarch understood the reason behind it.

The monkey was initially overjoyed and wept, but soon it felt sad and guilty. These feelings were probably due to the influence of its longevity on the monkey.

Thinking of this, the patriarch felt a pang of sadness.

Because it was the first time my beloved disciple had cried, not only because of his master, but also because of another old man.

But Patriarch Bodhi did not stop it.

Firstly, he didn't want to leave his beloved student with the impression that he was stingy.

Secondly, I wouldn't stoop so low as to compete for favor with a junior elder.

Thirdly, the deeper the emotional bond between this disciple and Chang Shou, the better.

……

For various reasons, Bodhi Patriarch chose to remain an observer.

Sun Wukong didn't want to keep crying either.

But this day was filled with too much.

At this moment, tears welled up, a mix of emotions surged within me, and my eyes were like a dam that had been breached; for a time, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

He cried for Old Man Chang.

He cried about his years of hard work.

He cried because his wish had come true.

He wept, for he was on the verge of immortality.

He wept for the monkeys and their offspring who guarded Flower Fruit Mountain day and night.

---

Once my emotions have calmed down a bit.

He saw the patriarch on the couch with a half-smile.

Sun Wukong smiled sheepishly.

At this moment, his intelligence prevailed, and he suddenly felt that what had just happened was a bit embarrassing and damaged his reputation as the Monkey King.

He rarely felt ashamed.

A monkey's face instantly became the same color as its buttocks.

Those who don't know might think that monkey butts are supernatural.

Seeing the monkey crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, Patriarch Bodhi quickly tossed down a handkerchief and said disdainfully:

"Wipe it off quickly."

A man bleeds, but he doesn't shed tears.

If you continue to embarrass yourself like this, crying like this, don't blame me for throwing you out.

Sun Wukong chuckled.

He wiped his face with a handkerchief, tidied his appearance, apologized, and was about to return the handkerchief.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly stopped.

With a quick glance, Sun Wukong said:

"Master, look how dirty this handkerchief is. Since you don't need another one, why not give it to me as a gift for becoming your disciple? I will definitely wash it clean and keep it safe when I get back."

I saw this shameless scene.

Bodhi Patriarch's eye twitched slightly.

He glared at Wukong, who was shamelessly begging for a gift, then picked up the ruler from beside his pillow and lightly tapped the monkey, feigning anger as he said:

"You ungrateful monkey, don't try to play these little tricks on your teacher. You should know that I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice. Quickly return the handkerchief."