Chapter 45

"Monkey Brother, are you wondering why I came here?"

Su Chen looked at Sun Wukong, who was scratching his ears and cheeks, looking conflicted as if he wanted to ask but didn't dare, and took the initiative to speak.

"Uh... well..." Sun Wukong scratched his furry face and gave a dry laugh, which counted as an admission.

He was indeed so curious that it felt like a monkey's claw was scratching his heart.

How is the master doing?

How about the fellow disciples?

Why did younger brother run all the way to the Shenzhou of Dongsheng alone?

But the master's warning was like a massive mountain pressing on his heart, making him not dare to mention a single word.

Su Chen looked at him like this, a look of slight sadness appearing on his face, and he sighed softly.

"Sigh, it's a long story."

This sigh of his instantly set the atmosphere perfectly.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's heart skipped a beat, and the playfulness on his face vanished, replaced by nervous questioning: "Younger brother, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Su Chen brewed his emotions and then slowly opened his mouth, telling the story he had prepared:

"Not long after you left, Monkey Brother, the master said that his worldly ties had ended and he wanted to find a pure place to completely retire, no longer paying attention to the affairs of the Three Realms."

"Before leaving, the master dismissed us disciples. The fellow disciples also returned to their hometowns or traveled the world, looking for their own immortal fate."

Su Chen paused here.

"The fellow disciples have all left, and the vast Fangcun Mountain was left with only me, which was truly lonely. I thought about it, and in this Three Realms, apart from my parents and relatives, I am closest to you, Monkey Brother. But my parents are mortal, and I cannot stay with them for long, so I thought of coming to Huaguo Mountain to seek refuge with you."

Sun Wukong stood frozen in place after hearing Su Chen's words.

The master retired?

The fellow disciples also scattered?

A sense of indescribable loss surged in his heart.

Although he was driven away by the master, he had actually always regarded the Xieyue Sanxing Cave as his home.

He always felt that as long as that place still existed, and as long as the master was still there, he would always have a thought.

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

That sense of loss was soon replaced by a thick sense of brotherhood.

Sun Wukong slapped his chest and laughed loudly: "Younger brother, what are you saying? What do you mean by seeking refuge? We are brothers; Old Sun's home is your home!"

"From now on, you will stay at my Huaguo Mountain. Whoever dares to bully you is going against me!"

He said this with complete sincerity.

"Go, go, go. Younger brother, follow Old Sun back to the cave dwelling; Old Sun will let you see my family's belongings."

Sun Wukong didn't give Su Chen a choice, grabbed Su Chen's hand, and walked toward the Water Curtain Cave.

That enthusiasm made Su Chen somewhat unable to handle it.

Su Chen let Sun Wukong pull him along, looking at the scenery around him as he walked.

This Huaguo Mountain was truly a blessed land of immortals.

Along the way, strange flowers and herbs competed for beauty; spiritual herbs and immortal mushrooms could be seen everywhere.

Soon, the two arrived before a massive waterfall.

The waterfall was like a silver ribbon, flying down from a thousand-foot-high cliff, emitting a deafening roar.

"Younger brother, look," Sun Wukong pointed at the waterfall and said, "Behind this waterfall is Old Sun's cave dwelling, the Water Curtain Cave."

As he spoke, he pulled Su Chen and stepped into the waterfall in one stride.

Su Chen entered the Water Curtain Cave, seeing stone pots and stoves, stone bowls and basins, stone beds and stools—everything was there.

In the center, there was a stone throne, clearly Sun Wukong's treasure seat.

The cave was crowded with monkeys of all sizes.

Seeing Sun Wukong pull a strange Daoist in, they all curiously surrounded them, squeaking and chattering endlessly.

"Move! Move aside!" Sun Wukong waved his hand, driving the monkeys away, and then pulled Su Chen straight to the main seat.

He sat on the stone seat himself, then pointed to a slightly smaller stone stool beside him and said to Su Chen: "Younger brother, you sit!"

Su Chen didn't stand on ceremony and sat down as told.

"Little ones!" Sun Wukong announced loudly to the monkey crowd below after sitting down. "This is my younger brother, Wu Chen. From today on, he is the Second Great King of our Huaguo Mountain. When you see him, it is as if you see me; do you understand?"

"Second Great King is good!"

Hearing that Su Chen was the Second Great King recognized by the Great King, the monkeys all squeaked excitedly, bowing and performing salutes to Su Chen.

Su Chen looked at this lively scene, unable to laugh or cry for a moment.

He had just become the Second Great King?

"Monkey Brother, this won't do, this won't do," Su Chen hurriedly stood up to decline.

"Eh. What won't do!" Sun Wukong waved his hand, not listening. "Old Sun says it's fine, so it's fine. Younger..."

His eyeballs rolled, and he seemed to have thought of something; the excitement on his face grew even more intense.

"Just being a Second Great King isn't enough of a spectacle," Sun Wukong slapped his thigh fiercely. "I want to hold a grand welcome banquet for you! Little ones, go! Invite all the demon kings of the seventy-two caves of Huaguo Mountain!"

"Just say, Old Sun's younger brother has come. Old Sun wants to hold a welcome banquet for my younger brother and invite them to come and eat the banquet."

Su Chen's head ached upon hearing this.

Invite the seventy-two cave demon kings?

Wasn't this commotion a bit too big?

He just wanted to stay low-key and didn't want to become the focus of the entire demon world of the Shenzhou of Dongsheng the moment he arrived.

"Monkey Brother, there's no need for such trouble. We brothers are reunited; it's fine for our own family to have a few drinks. Why disturb so many people?" Su Chen hurriedly persuaded.

"That won't do!" Sun Wukong shook his head like a rattle-drum. "Younger brother, you finally came to find me; Old Sun must treat you well. Don't worry about this matter!"

He didn't give Su Chen a chance to refuse and directly issued orders to his two monkey generals, the Ma and Liu Marshals.

The Ma and Liu Marshals received the order and immediately led a group of monkeys, happily heading out to send invitations.

Su Chen looked at this posture, knowing he couldn't stop it, and could only sigh helplessly in his heart.

Fine, fine, Monkey Brother also has good intentions.

I just hope this banquet doesn't cause any trouble.

With Sun Wukong's order, the entire Huaguo Mountain began to move.

The monkeys were busy picking fruits, brewing wine, cleaning the cave dwelling, and setting up the banquet.

The Ma and Liu Marshals personally led the team, riding demon winds, and went to the seventy-two demon king cave dwellings of Huaguo Mountain to send invitations.

"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven's younger brother has come?"

"Want to hold a welcome banquet and invite us to attend?"

The demon kings who received the invitations had different reactions.

Those seventy-two cave demon kings who relied on Huaguo Mountain and followed Sun Wukong's lead naturally didn't dare not give him face.

They were curious about who this "Great Sage's brother" who had suddenly appeared was, while hurriedly preparing thick gifts and rushing toward Huaguo Mountain.