Chapter 45: The Second Great King of Huaguo Mountain Throws a Grand Banquet

“Big Brother Monkey, are you wondering why I came here?”

Seeing Sun Wukong’s fidgeting, torn between curiosity and hesitation, Su Chen spoke up first.

“Er… well…” Sun Wukong scratched his furry face and let out two awkward chuckles, tacitly admitting it.

He was indeed burning with curiosity, as if a monkey’s claw were scratching inside his chest.

How is Master doing?

What about the fellow disciples?

Why did you come all the way to Dongsheng Shen Zhou alone?

But Master’s warning weighed on his heart like a mountain, making him dare not utter a single word.

Su Chen watched his expression, his face softening with a touch of sorrow as he sighed gently.

“Alas, it’s a long story.”

His sigh instantly set the right mood.

Sun Wukong’s heart lurched at once; his playful grin vanished. He asked anxiously, “Little Brother, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Su Chen gathered his thoughts, then slowly began recounting his prepared tale:

“After you left, not long after, Master said his earthly ties were severed and that he would seek a quiet place to retire completely, no longer meddling in the affairs of the Three Realms.”

“Before he left, Master dismissed all of us disciples. Each of the senior brothers returned to their hometowns or wandered the world, seeking their own immortal fortunes.”

Here, Su Chen paused.

“With all the senior brothers gone, Fangcun Mountain was left empty—so lonely. I thought and thought, and in the Three Realms, besides my parents and family, I’m closest only to you, Big Brother Monkey. But my parents are mere mortals; I can’t stay with them long. So I decided to come to Huaguo Mountain to seek you out.”

Sun Wukong stood frozen after hearing Su Chen’s words.

Master had retired?

All the fellow disciples had scattered?

A profound, indescribable sense of loss surged through him.

Though he had been driven out by Master, he had always regarded Xieyue Sansheng Cave as his home.

He always believed that as long as that place remained, as long as Master was still there, he would always have something to hold onto.

But now, Su Chen told him—his home was gone.

That loss quickly gave way to a deep sense of brotherly affection.

Sun Wukong slapped his chest and boomed with laughter, “Little Brother, what nonsense are you talking? What do you mean by ‘seeking refuge’? We’re brothers—my home is your home!”

“From now on, you’ll live here on Huaguo Mountain. Whoever dares to bully you, dares to challenge me, Sun Wukong!”

His words were sincere.

“Come on, come on! Little Brother, follow me back to my cave—I’ll show you what I’ve got.”

Without waiting for a reply, Sun Wukong grabbed Su Chen’s hand and headed toward the Water Curtain Cave.

His enthusiasm was almost overwhelming.

Su Chen let himself be pulled along, glancing around as they walked.

Huaguo Mountain was truly an immortal’s blessed land.

Along the way, strange flowers and rare herbs bloomed in dazzling competition; spiritual grasses and immortal fungi were everywhere.

Soon, the two arrived before a massive waterfall.

The waterfall cascaded like a silver ribbon from a cliff a thousand ren high, roaring with deafening force.

“Little Brother, look,” Sun Wukong pointed at the waterfall. “Behind this cascade lies my cave—the Water Curtain Cave.”

Saying this, he pulled Su Chen straight into the waterfall.

Inside the Water Curtain Cave, Su Chen saw stone pots, stone stoves, stone bowls, stone basins, stone beds, stone stools—all present.

In the center stood a large stone seat, clearly Sun Wukong’s throne.

The cave was packed with monkeys of all sizes.

Seeing Sun Wukong lead in a strange Daoist priest, they crowded around curiously, chattering incessantly.

“Make way! Make way!” Sun Wukong waved his hands, shooing the monkeys aside, then pulled Su Chen straight to the main seat.

He plopped himself onto the stone throne and pointed to a slightly smaller stone stool beside him. “Little Brother, sit!”

Su Chen didn’t refuse and sat down as instructed.

“My little ones!” Sun Wukong declared loudly to the monkey horde below, “This is my little brother, Wu Chen. From today on, he is the Second Great King of Huaguo Mountain. Treat him as you treat me—understood?”

“Hail the Second Great King!”

Hearing that Su Chen was the Second Great King, approved by the Great King, the monkeys erupted in excitement, bowing and clasping their fists toward him.

Su Chen stared at the lively scene, torn between amusement and exasperation.

I’m the Second Great King now?

“Big Brother Monkey, this is too much, truly too much,” Su Chen hurriedly rose to decline.

“Nonsense! What’s too much?” Sun Wukong waved his hand dismissively. “I say it’s fitting, so it’s fitting.”

His eyes darted, as if struck by a sudden idea; his excitement deepened.

“Being Second Great King isn’t enough of a spectacle,” Sun Wukong slammed his thigh. “I’m throwing a grand welcoming feast for you! Little ones, go! Bring me all seventy-two demon kings from Huaguo Mountain’s caves!”

“Tell them—my little brother has arrived. I’m hosting a welcoming banquet. I want them all here to feast!”

Su Chen’s head spun.

Invite all seventy-two demon kings?

Isn’t this a bit too much?

He only wanted to keep a low profile—he didn’t want to become the center of attention across all of Dongsheng Shen Zhou’s demon realm the moment he arrived.

“Big Brother Monkey, no need for such trouble. We’re brothers reunited—just a few cups between us will do. Why disturb so many?” Su Chen hurriedly pleaded.

“No way!” Sun Wukong shook his head like a rattle drum. “You’ve come all this way to find me—I must treat you properly. Don’t argue!”

He gave Su Chen no chance to refuse, immediately ordering his two monkey generals, Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu.

Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu bowed and led a group of young monkeys off, gleefully splitting up to deliver invitations.

Su Chen watched the scene, realizing he couldn’t stop it—he could only sigh inwardly in resignation.

Well, it’s just Big Brother Monkey’s good intentions.

I only hope this banquet doesn’t turn into some kind of disaster.

With Sun Wukong’s order, Huaguo Mountain sprang into action.

The monkeys scrambled to pick fruit, brew fine wine, clean the cave, and set up the banquet.

Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu personally led teams, riding on demonic winds, heading to each of the seventy-two demon kings’ caves to deliver invitations.

“The Great Sage’s little brother has arrived?”

“A grand welcoming feast? He’s inviting us?”

The demon kings’ reactions varied.

Those seventy-two demon kings who owed allegiance to Huaguo Mountain and followed Sun Wukong’s lead dared not refuse.

Curious about this sudden “Great Sage’s brother,” they hurriedly prepared lavish gifts and set off for Huaguo Mountain.