Chapter 84: The Immortals Petition, Tai Bai Offers a Plan

In the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Jade Emperor sat upon his imperial throne, gazing down at the crowd of immortal officials petitioning him, his head throbbing with exhaustion.

“Wu De Star Lord, tell me in detail—what trouble has that demon monkey caused now?” the Jade Emperor asked, his tone tinged with irritation.

“Your Majesty,” Wu De Star Lord wailed, tears and snot streaming down his face, “that Sun Wukong is utterly lawless, showing no respect for heavenly rules!”

“Yesterday, he came to my residence, claiming he wanted to spar with me. I had no intention of fighting, but he provoked me with words—I couldn’t hold back and engaged him. But that Sun Wukong struck without restraint; within a few blows, he reduced my Wu De Palace to rubble!”

Wu De Star Lord cried out in anguish: “Your Majesty, I am a rightful deity of the Heavenly Court—how dare he humiliate me thus!”

No sooner had he finished than another immortal official stepped forward, weeping: “Your Majesty, Wu De Star Lord speaks the truth! The demon monkey came to my Thunder Department the day before yesterday, under the pretense of sparring, and disrupted our thunder cultivation drills!”

“And me! Your Majesty, that monkey roasted and ate my celestial cranes!”

“Your Majesty, he pulled up my cultivated immortal herbs, mistaking them for weeds!”

“Your Majesty…”

In an instant, the entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall became a chorus of grievances.

Civil and military officials spoke one after another, stepping forward to accuse Sun Wukong of countless “crimes” within the Heavenly Court.

Rioting in the Thunder Department, brawling in the Combat Division, stealing celestial wine…

In the eyes of the gods, Sun Wukong’s misdeeds were beyond count.

The Jade Emperor sat above, his eyelids twitching, his face darkening outwardly, yet inwardly he sighed with relief.

Originally, to trick the monkey into ascending to heaven and granting him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he had intended for this restless monkey to cause chaos in the Heavenly Court.

But he never expected that Sun Wukong had been accompanied by Su Chen, who had managed to restrain him.

Fortunately, Su Chen had entered seclusion to cultivate, and after three years of suppression, the monkey could no longer hold back.

Now, finally, the monkey could step into the script prepared for him.

“Enough!”

Though inwardly delighted, the Jade Emperor slammed his imperial chair with a thunderous bang—“Boom!”—his face filled with feigned fury.

Instantly, the entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall fell silent.

All the immortal officials froze, too terrified to utter another word.

The Jade Emperor’s gaze swept coldly over the assembled immortals below. “My ministers, you’ve spoken at length—has anyone a plan to deal with this demon monkey?”

At these words, one man in the crowd instantly understood.

“Your Majesty, this old minister has a plan.”

All turned to look—emerging slowly from the ranks of immortals was an ancient deity, white-haired and ethereal, holding a fly whisk.

It was Tai Bai Jin Xing, Li Changgeng.

Seeing him, the Jade Emperor’s tense expression softened.

“Oh? Changgeng, my loyal minister, what is your brilliant idea? Speak quickly!”

Tai Bai Jin Xing did not hurry; he bowed respectfully to the Jade Emperor before raising his head and speaking slowly.

He glanced at his indignant colleagues, then stroked his long white beard.

“Your Majesty, in this old minister’s humble opinion…”

He deliberately drew out his words, building anticipation, drawing every eye to him.

Only then did he speak leisurely: “In this old minister’s view, to make Sun Wukong behave, we must guide him—not suppress him.”

“Guide him?”

The Jade Emperor blinked, puzzled by Tai Bai Jin Xing’s meaning.

“Changgeng, what do you mean?”

The other immortal officials also looked confused, their gazes fixed on this famed Heavenly Court pacifist.

Tai Bai Jin Xing smiled faintly and explained calmly: “Your Majesty, consider this: Sun Wukong is a wild stone monkey. What is the nature of monkeys? Restless, energetic, unrestrained. You confine him within this solemn, rigid Heavenly Palace and give him nothing to do—how could he not grow restless?”

“His repeated disturbances among the immortals, his constant troublemaking—this is not because he seeks to oppose them. He is simply bored!”

“Bored?”

The immortal officials exchanged bewildered glances.

Because he was bored, he had turned the Heavenly Court upside down? What logic was this?

The Jade Emperor frowned, pondering: “Are you suggesting we give him something to do?”

“Your Majesty is wise!” Tai Bai Jin Xing clapped his hands with a smile. “Exactly so!”

“Therefore, in this old minister’s view, assign him an official duty. Let him have something to occupy him, expend his boundless energy—then naturally, he will have no time left to cause trouble.”

Tai Bai Jin Xing’s reasoning was impeccable.

Many of the immortal officials nodded in agreement, finding it sensible.

The Jade Emperor’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Then, in your opinion, what duty would suit him best?”

All eyes now turned to Tai Bai Jin Xing.

This was a crucial question.

If the duty was too trivial, the monkey would refuse—and might erupt on the spot.

But if it was too important, and he abused his authority, wouldn’t that make things worse?

Tai Bai Jin Xing smiled confidently and spoke slowly: “Your Majesty, this old minister has just the perfect duty in mind.”

“I recall that the Queen Mother’s Peach Garden currently lacks a steward.”

At these words, the immortal officials erupted in uproar.

“Tai Bai Star Lord, are you mad? Assign that monkey to guard the Peach Garden?”

“Indeed! Those are the Peaches of Immortality! One ripens every three thousand years—eat one and attain immortality; every six thousand years—eat one and ascend to heaven; every nine thousand years—eat one and live as long as heaven and earth, equal to the sun and moon! How could such a sacred place be entrusted to a demon monkey?”

“What if he steals them?”

A chorus of objections rose through the hall.

The Jade Emperor sat upon his dragon throne, his fingers gently tapping the armrest.

He appeared to be weighing Tai Bai Jin Xing’s suggestion, yet inwardly he sighed with relief.

This veteran minister was truly dependable—he was the one to rely on in critical moments.

Assigning the Peach Garden to Sun Wukong would, first, silence the monkey and remove his excuse for further mischief.

Second, it would indeed remove him from sight—keep him from hovering before the Jade Emperor’s eyes and causing irritation.

As for the risk of theft…

If he guarded it faithfully, the Jade Emperor would have to worry.

But if he dared to steal the peaches…

Perfect!

Then, caught red-handed, with undeniable proof.

When I punish him, who in the world will dare say I am unjust?

What excuse will that monkey have left?

“Changgeng, my loyal minister—this plan is brilliant. I approve it!”

His authoritative gaze swept over the assembled immortals. “Hear my decree!”

“Let the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, be appointed Chief Steward of the Peach Garden. All matters, great and small within the garden, shall be under his sole authority.”

“Draft the edict immediately and deliver it to the Great Sage’s residence!”

“Yes!”

At once, a scribe bowed and withdrew to draft the imperial decree.

Tai Bai Jin Xing lowered his head and returned to his place in the ranks.

Beneath his long white beard, a faint smile curled upon his lips.