Chapter 380: A Monkey Who Refuses to be the Keeper of Horses: Appointed to the Post of Guardian Marshal

Returning to the side of Huaguo Mountain,

not long after Fang Longye and his companions left, Taibai Jinxing, who had received the imperial decree to offer amnesty to Sun Wukong, arrived at Huaguo Mountain riding on clouds, holding the decree in his hands.

What a primeval treasure land! Taibai Jinxing could not help but praise it inwardly, seeing cinnabar cliffs and strange rocks all around, sheer walls and marvelous peaks, with long-lived deer and fairy foxes in the forests, and spiritual birds and mysterious cranes in the trees.

The jade grasses and exotic flowers in the mountains never wither, and the green pines and emerald cypresses remain ever-spring. Fairy Peaches often bear fruit, and the cultivated bamboo always retains clouds.

Most crucially, there was that primeval spiritual essence hidden in the deep, dark depths—profound and heavy—which is truly rare in the world in this current era.

A place of spiritual beauty, capturing the creation of heaven and earth~

Taibai Jinxing lowered his clouds and went straight to the front of Water Curtain Cave, saying in a deep voice to a few little monkeys playing under the waterfall:

"I am an imperial envoy from heaven, and I have an imperial decree here to invite your Great King to the upper realm. Report this quickly!"

These little monkeys were startled when they saw a strange figure appear suddenly.

Just as they were about to call out, they heard Taibai Jinxing's words and took another look at him. Seeing his image as an old Divine Immortal with a transcendent air, they couldn't help but jump up and say:

"So it is an old Divine Immortal from the Heavenly Court who has come to our Huaguo Mountain. Are you here to find our Great King? An honored guest! Quick, quick, go and report this to the Great King."

At this time, Sun Wukong had just finished a banquet, and since his tolerance for alcohol was not very high, he was sleeping soundly in the depths of the Grotto-Heaven.

The monkeys outside the cave passed the message layer by layer into the depths of the Grotto-Heaven, until it finally reached the Four Generals.

The Four Generals did not dare to disturb their Great King's sweet dream, so they went out of the cave together and said to Taibai Jinxing:

"The envoy has come at a bad time. Our Great King just drank quite a bit of wine and is resting now. If there is anything, let's talk about it tomorrow!"

"Why doesn't the envoy rest in Water Curtain Cave for the night? It won't be too late to deliver the decree tomorrow~"

Taibai Jinxing was a genuine Great Luo, and under normal circumstances, he was enough to overlook the long river of time and space, so how could he not know that what the Four Generals said was true?

However, he still insisted: "I carry the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable and dare not stay long. I ask the four generals to please report it."

The Four Generals haggled with Taibai Jinxing for a while, and seeing his persistence, they were afraid of delaying their Great King's important business, so they went into Sun Wukong's sleeping quarters together.

After waking Sun Wukong up, before he could bare his fangs and brandish his claws in anger, they hurriedly said: "Great King, there is an old man outside carrying a document, saying he is an envoy sent by heaven with an imperial decree to invite you."

The Monkey was already dizzy from the alcohol.

Having just fallen asleep, he was suddenly disturbed from his sweet dream and couldn't help but feel furious in his heart. He was about to scold them, but after hearing the meaning clearly, he was overjoyed.

"For these two days, I have been thinking about finding a way to go to heaven for a walk. I didn't expect an envoy to come and invite me while I'm at home. It's truly like having a pillow just when I'm feeling sleepy!"

He hurriedly said: "Invite him in quickly!"

After the Four Generals received the order to go out of the cave to invite Taibai Jinxing, Sun Wukong hurriedly refined and dissipated all the wine fumes from his body. His whole person returned to clarity, and he put on his clothes and hat neatly, heading out of Water Curtain Cave to welcome him.

As he walked, he said loudly:

"Where is the envoy?"

Taibai Jinxing, guided by the Four Generals, was walking into Water Curtain Cave~

Hearing the voice,

he immediately looked up and saw golden light shining brilliantly before his eyes. Then, a Monkey jumped out, wearing Golden Helmet and Armor, holding the Ruyi Golden Cudgel, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

"Old man,"

Sun Wukong somersaulted to the front of Taibai Jinxing, circled around him, looked him over, scratched his furry head, and said: "Are you the envoy from the Heavenly Court?"

"That is correct~" Taibai Jinxing nodded, a signature smile appearing on his face, kind and amiable.

"I am Taibai Jinxing from the Western region, sent by the Jade Emperor's Dharma decree to come to the lower realm and invite you to heaven to receive the Immortal Record."

"Haha! Many thanks to the old Star Lord for descending! Little ones, arrange a banquet to entertain him!"

Sun Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this.

He immediately ordered the monkeys around him to set up a grand banquet to treat the guest well.

Seeing this, Taibai Jinxing waved his hands repeatedly and said:

"I carry the holy decree and dare not stay long. Please, Great King, come with me. After you are promoted, we can talk at our leisure."

"Very well~"

Sun Wukong thought about it, and it was indeed the right thing to do. He immediately ordered the monkeys of Huaguo Mountain, saying:

"Children, you must look after the home well and do not neglect your cultivation. Wait for me, your Great King, to go and scout the path first, and then I will bring you up to live there together~"

"Good!"

"May the Great King live for ten thousand years!"

"Many thanks, Great King..."

The monkeys of Huaguo Mountain, hearing that they also had a chance to go to heaven, all danced and clapped their hands in joy~

These monkeys had all entered the path of cultivation, and having followed Sun Wukong in welcoming and seeing off guests all these years, they were naturally not ignorant of the Heavenly Court.

They all knew that the Heavenly Court was indeed a good place.

Just the various legends they had heard about the Heavenly Court were enough to make one yearn for it.

"Let's go!"

After arranging all the matters in the Cave Abode, Sun Wukong and Taibai Jinxing rode their clouds, rose into the sky, and headed toward the Heavenly Court.

Let us say that Sun Wukong and Taibai Jinxing left Water Curtain Cave together and rose on the clouds.

He was a macaque by nature, impatient, and had expectations about going to the Heavenly Court. He kept rushing forward, soon leaving Jinxing behind~ Before long, he arrived outside the South Heaven Gate first.

Just as he was about to put away his clouds and enter,

he was blocked by the Zengzhang Heavenly King, who led Pang, Liu, Gou, Bi, Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao, along with a group of Great Strength Heavenly Soldiers, with spears, blades, swords, and halberds, blocking the Tianmen and refusing to let him in.

"This old man Jinxing is truly a treacherous person! Since he invited me, Old Sun, why did he have people brandish blades and spears to block the way?" Sun Wukong was extremely annoyed.

Just as he was arguing, Taibai Jinxing caught up.

"You old man, how could you deceive me? You said you came with the Jade Emperor's amnesty decree to invite me, so why did you have these people block the Tianmen and not let me, Old Sun, in?"

Sun Wukong started scolding him as soon as they met.

Taibai Jinxing hurriedly stepped forward to apologize, then asked the Zengzhang Heavenly King to clear the way, and led Sun Wukong to walk slowly into the Heavenly Court; only then did the Monkey stop.

"What a Heavenly Court! It truly lives up to its reputation; no wonder there is a phrase called 'the magnificent scenery of the Heavenly Palace'!"

As soon as Sun Wukong entered the South Heaven Gate, his eyes were dazzled by the sights within the Heavenly Court, and he could not help but exclaim in admiration.

Looking all around,

Ten thousand paths of golden light, a thousand strands of auspicious vapor.

In terms of grandeur and magnificence alone, it was truly the greatest the Monkey had ever seen in his life; there was no place that could compare.

"We have arrived at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall!"

Taibai Jinxing led Sun Wukong, walking and stopping along the way, until they finally arrived outside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Sun Wukong cast his eyes over it, seeing golden gates, silver railings, and the Purple Mansion, with rare flowers, jade grasses, and precious blossoms; it was truly indescribably strange, beautiful, and magnificent. Without waiting for a summons, the Monkey pulled Taibai Jinxing and stepped straight into the hall, right up to the imperial presence.

He did not perform the rites, but simply stood tall to the side, cocking his ear to listen to Taibai Jinxing's report.

"Your subject has carried out the imperial decree and has brought the demon immortal here."

The Jade Emperor sat upright on the nine-fold throne, with tassels hanging before his face and layers upon layers of halos behind him, permeating the surroundings. He looked at Sun Wukong below and said in an unhurried tone: "Are you the demon immortal from Huaguo Mountain in the lower realm?"

"Indeed, it is I, Old Sun~"

Standing in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Monkey held his head high and chest out, looking dauntless, and stared directly at the Jade Emperor sitting high above on the nine-fold throne.

He looked at the immortal officials standing on both sides of the Jade Emperor, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, like stars surrounding the moon, and could not help but feel a sense of yearning in his heart.

A real man should be like this! Back in Huaguo Mountain, he was just a mountain king; how could that compare to this old Jade Emperor, who sits high on the nine-fold throne and commands ten thousand immortals with a single word? How majestic~

"Bold!"

The Monkey's presumptuous posture could not help but provoke some immortal officials to shout: "You wild monkey! How dare you not bow and pay respects, and instead dare to answer the Great Heavenly Venerable's question like this?"

"He is just a demon immortal from the lower realm!"

The Jade Emperor waved his hand, suppressing the group of immortal officials who were berating the Monkey for his lack of etiquette, smiled, and said: "He has just obtained a human form and does not know the court rites; let us forgive him for now."

"Why don't you thank the Great Heavenly Venerable?"

Amidst the shouts of the immortal officials, Sun Wukong finally bowed and performed a grand salute.

Fang Longye stood with the crowd in the court assembly, and seeing this scene, could not help but laugh to himself.

This Monkey was, of course, not ignorant of etiquette, but purely concerned with his face; he was terrified that if he were too polite on the outside, he would be seen as a coward.

Hmm, it was probably a temperament the Monkey picked up after hanging around with demons for too long~ The Jade Emperor did not mind the Monkey's rudeness and just asked in a deep voice: "My fellow immortals, see which department has a vacancy?"

As soon as the words fell, the Wuqu Star Lord turned to the side and reported: "In the Heavenly Palace, every palace and hall, every corner and place, is not short of officials, but the Imperial Horse Supervisor lacks a head manager."

"Imperial Horse Supervisor~"

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor smiled slightly and said: "Very well, then let him be a Bi Ma Wen!"

"Bi Ma Wen?"

Sun Wukong muttered a few times, a trace of displeasure gradually rising in his eyes, and he said loudly: "Old Man Jade Emperor, although I, Old Sun, do not have much experience, you cannot treat me like a fool! That is bullying me too much!"

The current Monkey was not as ignorant as in the original trajectory; although he did not know what the official rank of Bi Ma Wen was, he still knew what the Imperial Horse Supervisor did.

Sun Wukong suppressed the urge to take out his Golden-Hooped Rod and cause a scene in the hall, and shouted loudly: "I, Old Sun, was originally a king and ancestor at Huaguo Mountain, living a carefree and happy life. It was you who summoned me to heaven, and in the end, you want me to raise horses?"

The Monkey was truly feeling very aggrieved at this moment; just as he said, it was bullying him too much!

He was a king and ancestor at Huaguo Mountain, living so happily, and yet he was tricked into raising horses for others!

He, the dignified Handsome Monkey King, was at least a demon king of a region, and yet he had to perform this lowly task of a junior! It was unbearable! It could only be said that, due to Fang Longye's influence, the Monkey was truly not as easy to fool as in the original trajectory~

"Oh?"

Unexpectedly, the Jade Emperor did not get angry, but instead looked at the Monkey with great interest and said: "Then what official position do you want to request?"

Hearing this, Sun Wukong restrained his anger, his eyes rolled for a moment, and he immediately said: "My requirements are not high; as long as it is not a minor official who raises horses, that will do. Actually, I also really want to contribute to the Heavenly Court."

"Of course," he changed the subject and said: "I heard that the Heavenly Court has a place called Yaochi, where there is a Flat Peach Garden. I wonder if it lacks a manager? I think it would be very suitable for me."

Is that you wanting to contribute to the Heavenly Court? You monkey are purely trying to scheme for the Flat Peaches~

Many immortals and gods could not help but roll their eyes when they heard Sun Wukong's words, feeling speechless in their hearts.

The Jade Emperor could not help but twitch his eyebrows upon hearing this; you monkey certainly dare to think!

Although there had long been similar arrangements planned for this monkey, being proactive and being passive were two different things~

"Your Majesty,"

The Wude Star Lord stood out, performed a salute, and said: "Your subject remembers that the East Heaven Gate still lacks a Guardian Marshal, which is just right for this fellow Daoist Sun~"

"Guardian Marshal?"

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor nodded and said: "Very well, then let him be a Guardian Marshal!"

"Guardian Marshal~"

Sun Wukong muttered a few times, still with a look of dissatisfaction in his eyes. Seeing this, Taibai Jinxing leaned over to him and transmitted his voice: "The rules of the Heavenly Court are strict; it is a place that values seniority. You have just arrived, and to have the position of Guardian Marshal is already quite good~"

Then he paused and continued: "Just accept it for now. With your abilities, Handsome Monkey King, it won't be long before you can make all kinds of contributions. When that time comes, what official position can you not hold?"

Sun Wukong nodded and said to Taibai Jinxing: "Then I will give you some face, old man, and temporarily accept this job of guarding the East Heaven Gate~"

Good grief, Monkey, you would have been better off not saying those polite words! Giving me face? By saying that, are you afraid that I won't be given a hard time by His Majesty?

Taibai Jinxing was speechless in his heart upon hearing this, but he still reminded Sun Wukong: "Then why don't you thank him?"

Hearing Taibai Jinxing's reminder, Sun Wukong did not take it to heart; he just cupped his hands upward and performed a grand salute, acting completely carefree.

"Very well,"

The Jade Emperor did not care about the Monkey's rudeness; he waved his hand and instructed the Wude Star Lord: "Go and send Sun Wukong to the East Heaven Gate to take up his post."

"Your subject accepts the decree."

The Wude Star Lord agreed, led Sun Wukong out of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and walked outward.

Fang Longye's Divine Dao avatar was hidden among the crowd at the court assembly. After the Monkey entered, he watched the scene unfold with a low profile~ It could only be said that the development of events had indeed exceeded his expectations.

"The Monkey actually refused the position of Protector of the Horses? He didn't become the Protector of the Horses as described in Journey to the West, but instead became a Guardian Marshal of the East Heaven Gate~"

Fang Longye thought to himself, "It seems that with my existence, the butterfly effect is quite significant."

"Moreover, this guy actively set his sights on the Flat Peach Garden from the very beginning; it seems the few Purple-Veined Xiang-Kernel Pan Peaches I took out earlier had an influence on him~"

"However, the Guardian Marshal is just a nice-sounding title; compared to the Protector of the Horses, it's not much better."

At the very least, the Protector of the Horses is the head of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, the one whose word is law within the Imperial Horse Supervisor; once the doors are closed, he is the absolute boss with no superiors to hold him back.

Furthermore, the position of Protector of the Horses is very lucrative.

By just fiddling with things a little, one could pocket a batch of top-tier heavenly horses and turn a huge profit on the side~

Don't look at the fact that the title of Protector of the Horses sounds bad and the status is low; in the Heavenly Court, it can be considered a fat job~ or rather,

as long as it involves logistics, the pickings are always rich.

And what about the Guardian Marshal of the East Heaven Gate?

He cannot be the one whose word is as heavy as the Nine Cauldrons at the East Heaven Gate. Although the Guardian Marshal is called a Marshal, in reality, there are Heavenly Kings and True Lords above him; it is actually just a title~ Throughout the entire East Heaven Gate, there are about a hundred Guardian Marshals, and every single one of them holds the title of Marshal.

This position is truly worthless~

To put it bluntly, one raises horses and the other guards a gate; compared to each other, how much better can they really be?

(End of this chapter)