Chapter 436: The Same Monkey

"We must go to fetch the scriptures, to the Western Heaven's Ling Shan, the Great Leiyin Temple, to obtain the Mahayana Scripture."

"We need to find a master, and the second junior brother must be a pig demon, the third junior brother must be one that lives in water, and also a Dragon Horse for foot power…"

Since that strange encounter, when I unexpectedly obtained this wholly jet‑black, seemingly ordinary yet mountain‑heavy, mind‑responsive "Suixin Iron Rod Soldier" in my hand, the thought has grown like wild grass in Six-Eared Macaque's mind, impossible to suppress.

Especially when he eavesdropped on more rumors about the "Western pilgrimage"—completing this journey not only lets one attain the true fruit and be enshrined as a Buddha, but also become renowned across the three realms, praised by all beings, with boundless merit…

"Sun Wukong… Great Sage Equal to Heaven… Heh heh." Six-Eared Macaque sat on a stone chair, gripping the Suixin Iron Rod Soldier, a responsible glint in his eyes, and a kind of ignited, scorching ambition:

"The world only knows he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, awe‑inspiring everywhere, and now he protects Tang Seng on the pilgrimage… but who knows that in this world there is also me, Six-Eared Macaque?"

"He can do it; why can't I? He can be famed across the world; why can't I?"

"If I… if I can obtain the true scripture and return, achieving the Buddha's golden body, then the world's praises will no longer be for Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but… but for my name, Six‑Eared!"

The more he thought, the more his heart surged, as if he already saw himself clad in a brocaded kasaya, a Buddha halo above his head, worshipped by countless beings, a smile tugging at his mouth.

Yet that wonderful reverie was shattered by a rapid clatter of footsteps.

Immediately followed by the sharp, thin cries of his subordinate monkey demons:

"Great King! Great King! Someone outside wants to see you!"

"That person… hairless! Small mouth! Very ugly! Looks nothing like us!"

"Right, right, right! So ugly! But… the fox perched on his head is stunning! Pure white, with many tails!"

"Human?" Six-Eared Macaque straightened from his Throne, eyebrows raised, a hint of interest.

In these desolate hills, aside from occasional passing woodcutters or hunters, few humans ever climb up, let alone specifically request an audience with this Monster King.

"Oh? Bring them in for a look." Six-Eared Macaque waved a hand, tone tinged with playful curiosity.

The little demons below, upon receiving the order, immediately scampered out noisily.

Soon, under Six-Eared Macaque's scrutinizing gaze, a figure walked at a measured pace into the dim cave.

Indeed, the newcomer matched the little demons' description: hairless, small mouth, and to Six-Eared Macaque's eyes a truly "plain and unremarkable" face, even somewhat "ugly".

What caught his eye more was, atop the man's head, a lazily sprawled, entirely snow‑white spirit fox bearing nine fluffy long tails.

The fox's fur was smooth as satin, its eyes lively, and it regarded him with a pair of narrow fox eyes, appraising him.

Six-Eared Macaque, intrigued by the man and fox, deliberately asked in a threatening tone:

"You two, quite bold, aren't you?"

"How dare you trespass alone into my lair. Aren't you afraid… that I might capture you, skin you, pull your tendons, and stew you into a fine soup?"

Yu Lin had not spoken when Tu Shan Zhi, perched atop his head, sneered:

"Heh, you little monkey, such a big mouth."

"Back then, when Mother (I) fought the ferocious demons Qiongqi and Taotie, you hadn't even emerged from whatever stone crevice you were born in!"

"If I can amuse Mother, perhaps my master could point you toward some opportunity; that's not impossible."

Six-Eared Macaque had never before been so openly despised and mocked face‑to‑face.

Already fiercely competitive and especially sensitive about his origins, a surge of wicked fire instantly shot to the top of his head!

"Fine, fine, fine!" Six-Eared Macaque, enraged yet laughing, sprang up from the stone chair, a grimace flashing on his face:

"You ignorant white‑furred fox, how dare you insult me! Today I'll make you witness my methods, and see who truly needs 'guidance'!"

Having said that, he reached with his right hand, and the pitch‑black, seemingly ordinary iron rod "Suixin Iron Rod Soldier" was already in his grasp.

At first glance this iron rod differed completely from Sun Wukong's Golden Cudgel, lacking any luster, yet lived up to its name "Suixin"—as per its will.

As Six-Eared Macaque's mind shifted, golden light suddenly rippled over the rod, its form swiftly changing; in the blink of an eye it became indistinguishable from Sun Wukong's Ruyi Golden Cudgel!

Even the aura was mimicked perfectly, its power seemingly on par!

Six-Eared Macaque pointed the transformed Golden Cudgel at Yu Lin, shouting, "Every grievance has its source, every debt its owner! I see you as a person, so I won't argue with you! Keep that bragging White Fox, and I may spare you a life, letting you go!"

"Otherwise, you'll both become ghosts beneath my rod!"

Yu Lin quietly observed the Six-Eared Macaque before him, seven or eight parts similar to the later Little Golden Monkey but larger and more fierce‑looking, a faint smile appearing.

Facing that almost perfect, aura‑radiating Golden Cudgel, he was not fearful; instead he nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of praise.

"You do have a sense of righteousness, knowing not to involve the innocent lightly—well done."

"Come, give me the weapon."

Those five words floated out as casually as saying "hand me the fruit."

Yet, the instant the words left his mouth, Six-Eared Macaque was horrified to find his body completely out of his control!

An invisible, immense force enveloped him, like a marionette on strings, making him step forward involuntarily.

His face still a mix of shock and anger, his arm obediently lifted, and he respectfully handed the still majestic, shape‑shifting Golden Cudgel into Yu Lin's outstretched hand.

"This… this… you… I… I…"

Six-Eared Macaque's eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing, unable to utter a single complete sentence.

He could clearly feel the tight bond with the Suixin Iron Rod Soldier still present, yet he could not resist that simple command!

Such a terrifying control, wholly beyond comprehension and overturning cognition, instantly chilled his heart.

This person, terrifyingly strong!

Done!

Yu Lin, however, did not rush to attend to the bewildered Six-Eared Macaque.

He took the Suixin Iron Rod Soldier; it felt slightly heavy, its surface icy, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes.

Indeed, this Suixin Iron Rod Soldier bore the aura of the Buddhist Sect.

"A hand of the Tathagata Buddha…"

Yu Lin understood in his heart.

If he arranged it himself, then later Guanyin Bodhisattva would be unable to discern the real Sun Wukong, and even the Demon‑Detecting Mirror and the Tight‑Binding Spell would fail, which would make sense.

He casually tossed the Suixin Iron Rod Soldier back to the still‑dazed Six-Eared Macaque.

The iron rod in hand, the feeling of losing control suddenly vanished; the Six-Eared Macaque instinctively gripped the weapon tightly, looking at Yu Lin with bewildered uncertainty.

Yu Lin looked at his monkey face, filled with 'Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?', gave a slight smile, suddenly spoke, and asked a series of questions that made the Six-Eared Macaque's heart stop.

You have no father or mother, right?

Ah?! You… you how do you know?!

You are extraordinarily gifted, born with six ears, able to discern principles, know past and future, all things are clear?

Huh?! I… I wasn't hiding it? You… you can see?!

You recently…… have you been thinking all along about wanting to find a Tang Seng and go to the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures?

!!! You… you can hear the thoughts in my heart?!

You're jealous of Sun Wukong, right? You think, why is he honored as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and now he must guard Tang Seng on the journey to fetch the scriptures, destined to go down in history, while you, clearly just as capable, can only hide in these wild mountains, doing the job of an unknown Monster King.

He paused, looking at the Six-Eared Macaque's suddenly pursed lips, his hand gripping the iron rod tightly, and spoke softly:

Actually, deep down, you really crave recognition, right?

…………

The Six-Eared Macaque fell silent.

After a long while, the Six-Eared Macaque attempted to rebut:

How do you… no! I don't need it! I don't need anyone's recognition! I am myself!

Looking at his stubborn expression, Yu Lin's mind suddenly conjured another figure just as proud, just as lonely, just as likely to bare fangs and brandish claws to hide himself—Loki.

The corner of his mouth, the upward arc unconsciously widening a bit: 'It's fine.'

I'm happy to listen to you pour out your heart.

Six-Eared Macaque: '………………'

You… I… I…

I'm not talking to you anymore! I've always been the only one who gets to listen to others' thoughts!

Saying that, he turned and ran deep into the cave abode.

In the past, only he relied on his six ears to listen to others' inner thoughts; who would have thought that today he'd be listened to inside out?

And Yu Lin was merely voicing the thought he later asked Xiao Jin about why he wanted to become the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Indeed, it's the same monkey after all!