Chapter 49: Master, Are You Leaving?

Spiritual Platform Fangcun Mountain, Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.

There is no ethereal aura swirling as imagined, nor any crane dances or ape cries.

It is quiet here like a forgotten landscape painting.

Sun Wukong steps in, and his heart inexplicably sinks.

Too quiet.

In the past when he returned, the old man was either napping under the peach tree or sweeping the ever‑unending fallen leaves with that broken broom.

Today, no one is under the tree, and the stone bench is empty.

Kong Xuan follows behind him, the scarlet cloak still wrapped around her, covering her delicate figure tightly.

She feels a bit constrained.

This is her first time setting foot on this legendary holy land.

Moreover, it is her first time to meet that terrifying being to which even saints must kneel.

Bodhi Patriarch stands at the entrance of the cave dwelling, arms crossed.

He does not look at Sun Wukong, nor at Kong Xuan.

He simply looks up at the unchanging sky, his gaze without focus.

"Master."

Sun Wukong steps forward a few paces, bowing properly in salute.

"Disciple has returned."

Kong Xuan hurriedly follows the bow, head bowed low, daring not to gasp.

"Hmm."

Bodhi replies with a sound, and his gaze finally returns from the heavens.

He first glances at Sun Wukong, then his sight falls on Kong Xuan.

That look is calm, yet seems able to see through her past and present lives, discerning every imprint deep in her bloodline.

Kong Xuan's body stiffens, feeling that before this old immortal she is like a bird stripped of all feathers, with no secrets left.

"Girl, not bad."

Bodhi slowly speaks, his voice warm, "You possess the three‑part spirit of the ancient Phoenix Ancestor."

Then he flicks his wrist.

A radiant feathered robe materializes out of thin air, five‑colored divine light swirling, its embedded Source Power more than ten times stronger than the one Kong Xuan previously wore.

"A meeting gift."

Kong Xuan freezes, instinctively looking at Sun Wukong.

"Given by Master, you take it."

Sun Wukong grins, the lingering unease in his heart greatly eased.

The old man even knows to give a daughter‑in‑law a meeting gift; seems the problem isn't serious.

"Thank… thank you, senior."

Kong Xuan takes the robe, its touch warm; a pure Phoenix Source streams up her arm, and the wounds on her body miraculously heal in that instant.

Bodhi no longer pays her attention, turning to walk into the cave dwelling.

"Wukong, come with your master."

Sun Wukong gives Kong Xuan a glance, signaling her to wait outside, while he hurries after him.

The interior of the cave dwelling remains as simple as always.

Stone table, stone bench, a dim yellow oil lamp.

Bodhi Patriarch sits at the main seat, his finger lightly tapping the void.

There is no earth‑shaking might.

The entire cave dwelling vanishes in an instant.

In its place is an endless darkness.

Countless stars flicker in the darkness, converging into a ceaseless flowing star river, vast beyond imagination.

Sun Wukong feels as if he has become a speck of dust, drifting in this vast universe.

"This is..."

He watches, his spirit wavering, this more magnificent than any scene he has ever seen.

"Chaotic Star Map."

Bodhi's voice sounds in the darkness.

He points to a grayish light sphere wrapped in countless law‑chains.

"Here is the Primeval Wilderness."

Sun Wukong looks in the direction he points; the light sphere appears fragile, as if it could be devoured by the surrounding darkness at any moment.

"The Primeval Wilderness is merely a starting point."

Bodhi's voice is calm, yet like a heavy hammer striking Sun Wukong's heart.

"I know," Sun Wukong nods, "Old man, you are a Chaotic Demon God, I am as well."

"You only know one part, not the other."

Bodhi shakes his head.

His finger sweeps across the star map, illuminating several dark regions beyond the Primeval Wilderness.

There, a few larger, more sinister light‑shadows flicker, exuding an aura that makes even Sun Wukong's heart race.

"When Pangu created Heaven, three thousand Chaotic Demon Gods fell; did you think they were all wiped out?"

Bodhi sneered.

"That's only the portion that Pangu killed."

"More are like Master, who faked death to escape, or simply hid in Deep Chaos to watch the show."

"They dare not enter the Primeval Wilderness because Heavenly Dao and Hongjun press down on it."

"But now…"

Bodhi's gaze became sharp.

"Hongjun was repelled by me, Heavenly Dao was scolded by me, and they have already sensed that the 'Guardian' of the Primeval Wilderness has changed."

"These guys, each one, are watching from the shadows, waiting to pounce."

"Especially a few who have mastered special laws, such as 'Devour' and 'End', they regard the Primeval Wilderness as the most delicious provisions."

Sun Wukong's complexion darkened.

He finally understood why Master was so serious.

Previously he thought the greatest enemies were Ling Shan and the Heavenly Court; once defeated, all would be fine.

Now he knows that was just bullying in a newbie village.

Outside the village, all were full‑level big shots eyeing like tigers.

"Master plans to leave the Primeval Wilderness for a while."

Bodhi finally voiced his purpose.

"I will go to Deep Chaos for a trip, and either subdue or kill these half‑hearted guys."

"So they won't keep worrying about our home."

"Master, you are leaving?"

Sun Wukong became anxious, his voice changed tone.

He instinctively stepped forward, trying to grab Bodhi's sleeve, but stopped halfway.

"If you leave, what if they attack?"

"Aren't you here?"

Bodhi looked at him, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement.

"A fledgling must eventually fly solo."

"Master cannot protect you forever."

"In these Three Realms you are now the boss; I have confidence in you."

This sentence, like a mountain, weighed heavily on Sun Wukong's shoulders.

It is trust, also responsibility.

"But…"

Sun Wukong still felt uneasy.

Bodhi smiled, and took three seemingly ordinary bamboo leaves from his chest.

The leaves were withered yellow, with not a trace of magical flux.

"Take them."

"Each of these three leaves contains Master's full‑force strike."

"Not the full force a Saint should have, but the full force of a Chaotic Demon God."

Bodhi's tone was very calm.

"Crush a leaf, within a radius of billions of miles, nothing remains except you."

"This is what Master leaves you for survival; unless absolutely necessary, do not use it."

Sun Wukong took the three light bamboo leaves, yet his hand felt as heavy as holding three Tai Gu Shen Shan.

He knew these three leaves were three lives.

They were Master's final trump card for him.

"Alright."

Bodhi waved his hand, the surrounding chaotic star map receded like a tide, returning to the simple cave dwelling.

"Tonight, you and I, master and disciple, will discuss nothing else."

"Master will again talk to you about the Dao, about the human hearts and ghostly pits beyond these Three Realms."

That night.

The lights in the cave dwelling burned throughout the night without going out.

Bodhi did not speak of those profound and unfathomable great Dao principles,

He spoke of how to discern human hearts, how to balance forces, how to achieve the greatest deeds with the smallest cost.

He told Sun Wukong that fists are for establishing rules, not for venting anger.

A true king is not judged by how many enemies he can defeat, but by how many people he can make live good lives.

Sun Wukong listened as if he understood, but he memorized every word of Master in his heart.

The next day.

Dawn was just breaking.

Sun Wukong awoke from meditation.

The cave dwelling was empty.

On the stone table, three bamboo leaves lay quietly.

Beside the leaves was a letter, with that bamboo broom he had stared at for five hundred years pressed on it.

Bodhi Patriarch has already left.

Silent and soundless, as if he had never appeared.

Sun Wukong picked up that letter.

The letter had only one line of text.

"Sweep clean the dust of the world, guard well your own home."

ps: Master has left, Hou Ge must shoulder things on his own.

As for what comes next, do you have any good ideas? Come to the comments section to chat; maybe your thought will get written in.

Staying up late every day to write, I just want everyone to have a blast. If you think it's not bad, leave a few more comments so I don't feel like I'm playing a solo game.

Today there's nothing fancy; I just want to ask everyone, did you enjoy this chapter? If you did, that free "for love" and "urge update" buttons,

Thanks, all you big shots!