Chapter 12

The trepidation in Su Chen's heart soon became reality.

Ever since Sun Wukong mastered the Seventy-Two Transformations and the Somersault Cloud, he was like a mischievous child holding a precious jade, always wanting to take it out to show others.

Su Chen had tried to persuade him a few times, hinting that he should restrain his nature and not reveal his abilities easily, lest he invite disaster.

Sun Wukong agreed readily enough, but his restless nature was not something that could be changed just by saying so.

He practiced in the mountains every day, either transforming into a hawk to catch rabbits or into a tiger to play with wild beasts, having the time of his life.

Fortunately, he still remembered Su Chen's warnings and dared not act recklessly before Wu Ming and the other senior brothers.

However, what was meant to come could not be avoided.

On this day, after the Patriarch finished his lecture, the disciples were chatting under the pine tree in front of the cave.

It was unclear who started it, but the topic gradually shifted to Sun Wukong.

A disciple who had a good relationship with Sun Wukong asked, half out of curiosity and half out of flattery: "Senior Brother Wukong, you have cultivated with the Patriarch for many years and received the true teachings; what magical techniques have you learned? Could you let us open our eyes?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze shifted to Sun Wukong in a flash.

Sun Wukong was naturally a show-off; how could he withstand such flattery and instigation?

He first declined a few times, saying things like "I dare not make a fool of myself before you senior brothers," but seeing that everyone was increasingly curious, his competitive heart could no longer be suppressed.

He rolled his eyes and chuckled: "Very well, since you senior brothers wish to see, I, Old Sun, shall make a fool of myself. But you must keep it a secret for me and not let Master know."

Everyone agreed repeatedly.

Sun Wukong stood triumphantly in the center of the clearing, recited a spell, and shook his body.

With a light "Crack!", the monkey was nowhere to be seen; in his place, a tall, straight pine tree had appeared out of thin air.

The pine tree had lush branches and leaves, verdant pine needles, and rough bark, indistinguishable from the real pine trees around it, even mimicking the scent of pine resin with uncanny realism.

"Good!"

"Wonderful!"

Upon seeing this, the disciples all clapped and cheered, their exclamations and praises merging into one.

Although they were also cultivators, they had never seen such a miraculous art of transformation, and one by one, they gathered around the pine tree, clicking their tongues in wonder.

Wu Ming stood outside the crowd, watching this scene with a complex expression.

He was amazed by Sun Wukong's divine ability, yet he vaguely felt that something was amiss.

Su Chen stood at the back, his heart sinking as he thought to himself: This is bad.

Just as the cheering of the crowd was at its loudest, a cold voice suddenly rang out, drowning out all the noise.

"Wukong."

Just two words, yet they seemed to carry a strange magic, causing the entire scene to fall silent instantly.

Everyone turned back to look and saw that Patriarch Puti had appeared behind them at some point, his face as dark as water.

"Ma... Master..." Sun Wukong was startled and quickly transformed back into his original form, lowering his head like a child who had done something wrong.

"I ask you, what are you doing here?" Patriarch Puti's voice was calm, yet it made everyone present feel a pressure like a mountain storm about to break.

"The disciple was chatting with the senior brothers..." Sun Wukong stammered, not daring to tell the truth.

"Chatting?" Patriarch Puti sneered. "Is what I taught you meant to be used to show off in front of others?"

His gaze swept over the surrounding disciples as he continued: "If others see you perform such transformations, what will they think? Seeing you have such means, they will envy you and inevitably come to beg you. If you teach them, you are leaking heavenly secrets and privately passing on the Great Dao; if you do not teach them, they will harbor resentment and might one day harm you. Is acting this way not inviting disaster and trouble upon yourself?"

Sun Wukong was rendered speechless, cold sweat pouring down.

Patriarch Puti looked at him, his tone carrying a touch of finality: "You must go."

"Master!" Sun Wukong suddenly raised his head, his face full of disbelief.

"I can no longer tolerate you here." Patriarch Puti turned around, his back to him, his voice devoid of any ripples.

The disciples were also stunned; no one had expected that the Patriarch would expel Sun Wukong from the sect over such a "small matter."

"Master! This disciple knows he was wrong! This disciple will never dare do it again!" Sun Wukong fell to his knees with a "thud," clutching Patriarch Puti's leg and weeping loudly. "I beg Master to show mercy and forgive this disciple just this once!"

However, Patriarch Puti's mind was made up.

He flicked his sleeve gently, and a soft yet irresistible force pushed Sun Wukong away.

"Our time as master and disciple has come to an end. You will surely cause trouble when you leave, but no matter what disaster you cause, you are not permitted to say you are my disciple."

The Patriarch's voice became exceptionally stern, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"If you mention even half a word, I will know. At that time, I will surely peel your skin and grind your bones, banish your soul to the Nine Netherworlds, and ensure you never rise again for ten thousand kalpas!"

These words struck Sun Wukong's heart like bolts of thunder.

He knew that Master truly did not want him anymore.

He knelt on the ground, dazed, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

He could not understand why he had to be driven away just for transforming into a tree to show his senior brothers.

Su Chen stood in the crowd, watching this scene with mixed feelings.

He knew this was a fated calamity for Sun Wukong, but he had not expected it to come so quickly.

He looked at the weeping monkey—the monkey who had entered the sect with him, cultivated with him, and would jump with indignation if he were wronged—and an indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart.

Finally, Sun Wukong wiped away his tears; he knew that begging further would be useless.

He kowtowed three times respectfully toward Patriarch Puti's departing back.

Each kowtow was incredibly solid, his forehead colliding with the bluestone floor and emitting a dull thud.

After rising, he did not look at anyone else but walked straight to Su Chen.

"Little Brother, I am leaving." Sun Wukong's voice was hoarse, his eyes red.

Su Chen looked at him, a thousand words stuck in his throat, but in the end, they only turned into: "Monkey Brother, take care."

"Mm." Sun Wukong nodded heavily. He grinned, trying to force a smile like he always did, but it looked even worse than crying.

He patted Su Chen's shoulder hard.

"Little Brother, you take care too. Once I, Old Sun, make a name for myself out there, I will definitely come back to find you!"

Having said that, he did not linger. With a leap, he flipped onto his Somersault Cloud, transformed into a golden light, and vanished into the horizon in an instant.

Su Chen looked up at the empty sky, feeling as if a piece of his heart had also gone empty.

That boisterous figure had just left like that.

From then on, there was one less ear-scratching, cheek-rubbing Monkey King on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

He let out a long sigh.

With Sun Wukong expelled, the atmosphere in the entire Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave became incredibly oppressive.

The disciples were all as silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Just as everyone was in a state of panic, Patriarch Puti summoned all the disciples to the lecture hall once again.

Su Chen's heart jumped into his throat.

He stood beside Wu Ming, looking at that unfathomable figure on the prayer mat ahead.

Patriarch Puti's gaze slowly swept over every disciple in the hall, finally lingering for a moment on Su Chen.

After a long while, he spoke, his voice calm and distant.

"I opened this cave to take in disciples only to fulfill a karmic connection. Now, the connection is exhausted, and the matter here is concluded."

"From today on, the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave shall be disbanded."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was in an uproar.