Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

(PS: The remaining two updates will be uploaded together at 6 PM. Time to stir things up in the Heavenly Court, so I'd better think it through.)

"Venus? Great White Golden Star?"

Seeing that the Great White Golden Star kept staring at Zi Lan Fairy, Sun Wukong frowned with displeasure. She was his woman, and although they hadn't officially become Taoist companions, who on Flower-Fruit Mountain didn't know? The Great White Golden Star's gaze was too lecherous!

"Hey! Old man, what are you looking at?"

After calling out twice and getting no response, Sun Wukong became annoyed and raised his voice. The Great White Golden Star jolted in surprise, then remembered he had lost composure. Realizing he was on Flower-Fruit Mountain, on Wukong's turf, he hurriedly made a courteous apology, "Great Sage, forgive me, I was simply surprised to see Zi Lan Fairy here, and I was momentarily astonished.

Fairy, the Queen Mother almost turned the Heavenly Court upside down because of your disappearance... What are you..."

"Zi Lan is Old Sun's woman!"

Sun Wukong interrupted the Great White Golden Star, reached out to encircle Zi Lan Fairy's slender waist, and declared to Venus, "Venus, go back and tell the Queen Mother that Zi Lan will stay on Flower-Fruit Mountain from now on... Ouch!"

He felt a sharp pinch on his waist all of a sudden. Sun Wukong's instinctive defense Primordial Force was about to counterattack, but he forcibly held back. The one who had pinched him was Zi Lan Fairy, and if she got hurt by the Primordial Force's rebound, that would cause Wukong much grief. He retracted all his defensive Primordial Force and bore the pinch with gritted teeth.

With the strength of his physical body as it was now, even if he didn't cultivate to defend, Zi Lan Fairy couldn't injure him. However, the pain was very real.

"Venus, don't listen to Wukong's nonsense. I'm only staying at Flower-Fruit Mountain temporarily. Please tell the Queen Mother that I will return soon to confess, and there's no need for her to worry," Zi Lan Fairy said as she frowned at Sun Wukong, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She felt the large hand still mischievously on her waist and cleared her throat before smilingly nodding at the Great White Golden Star.

"Fairy, you are too polite, too polite. The Queen Mother was just worried about your safety. As long as you are safe, there's no need to speak of confessing; it's not necessary," the Great White Golden Star hastened to dismiss with a wave of his hand.

Though Zi Lan Fairy was known as an attendant, in fact, the Queen Mother treated her like her own daughter, and even planned to take her as her adopted daughter. This was known to everyone in the Heavenly Court; otherwise, why would her disappearance cause such an uproar?

"Great White Golden Star, why have you come here? Let's cut to the chase and just speak plainly!"

Sun Wukong frowned. He was very averse to Zi Lan Fairy mentioning returning to the Heavenly Court to confess. Why should his woman be humiliated there? Confess? No chance!

"Great Sage, I've come here on the holy decree of His Majesty the Jade Emperor, inviting the Great Sage to ascend to the heavens and accept an official title!"

The Great White Golden Star shivered a little at the cold glint in Sun Wukong's eyes, swallowing hard and forcing a smile with humility in his attitude. The demon monkey before him was not an ordinary being; he was a mighty force from the Demon Clan who could even repel the Ancient Buddha Ran Deng. If he accidentally angered Sun Wukong, leaving in one piece would be difficult!

"Ascend to the heavens and accept an official title? Which title, what position?"

Sun Wukong chuckled, his laugh filled with a hint of chill and derision, "Venus, although Old Sun hasn't held an official position in the Heavenly Court, I'm somewhat aware of the ins and outs. The position you're talking about is probably some minor, sesame-sized idle official post, right? Like what, Equine Supervisor or Avian Supervisor?

Surely these are not the positions the Jade Emperor intends to offer Old Sun?"

"Of course not! How could that be?"

The Great White Golden Star was shocked internally; Sun Wukong actually knew so much about the positions in the Heavenly Court, which made things difficult.

To be honest, the Great White Golden Star indeed had such thoughts before – to manage Sun Wukong with a small but not insignificant position, binding him within the Heavenly Court structures. Nearly every department in the Heavenly Court is like a hole with a radish. There were basically no vacancies except for the idle posts such as the supervision of horses and birds that Sun Wukong mentioned.

If Sun Wukong was clueless, it would be easy to just coax him to ascend first and deal with it later. Once in the Heavenly Palace with a position bestowed and no one to tell him the truth, he wouldn't notice. And even if he did, what could he do while in the Heavenly Palace?

But the Great White Golden Star didn't expect Sun Wukong to know about the categories of official positions in the Heavenly Court; that made things very tricky!

The glance from the Great White Golden Star swept over to Zi Lan Fairy, suspecting she might have been the one to inform Sun Wukong, thinking he would need to offer something substantial, fearing Wukong would not agree to accept a position in the Heavenly Court otherwise.

"Great Sage, positions are indeed limited in the Heavenly Court, and there really aren't many vacancies. But rest assured, Great Sage, I will definitely strive to secure a satisfactory position for you, and ensure you won't be wronged! His Majesty the Jade Emperor cherishes talents greatly; he specifically instructed me to persuade the Great Sage to ascend and accept an official title.

The Heavenly Court is filled with marvelous sights and countless exquisite delicacies. Moreover, if the Great Sage becomes an official in the heavens, wouldn't you be able to meet with Zi Lan Fairy openly and aboveboard?"

Great White Golden Star's eyes darted about, seeking a dignified excuse. It didn't seem like Zi Lan Fairy would remain on Flower-Fruit Mountain indefinitely, so even if it was for her, Sun Wukong probably wouldn't reject the decree to ascend and become an official in Heaven.

"That old rascal Great White Golden Star is really crafty, using Zi Lan to tempt yours truly!"

Sun Wukong sneered inwardly. If it weren't for his having lived again, he would have really fallen for Great White Golden Star's trick! The Heavenly Court has always upheld strict heavenly rules, forbidding romantic relationships between male and female Immortals and Gods.

Yet, this old man even said that he could meet with Zi Lan Fairy openly and honorably; that's complete nonsense, bluffing without even blushing!

However, Sun Wukong was very clear in his heart: if he flatly refused Great White Golden Star today and did not agree to be co-opted, the Heavenly Court would likely launch its true power to exterminate Flower-Fruit Mountain. Despite Flower-Fruit Mountain's strength and possession of the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Formation, its foundation was still shallow.

If the Heavenly Court got serious, Flower-Fruit Mountain wouldn't be able to withstand their assault!

Time, both he and Flower-Fruit Mountain needed time the most at this moment! With time, there would be the opportunity to develop, and with growth in strength, there would be the power to confront the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Kingdom of Western Heaven head-on in the future.

Moreover, Sun Wukong had always been obsessed with the peaches in the Peach Garden and the Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs refined by The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. Those Peaches of Immortality and Golden Elixirs were key to achieving an Indestructible Body. Without taking up an office in the Heavenly Court, how would one have the chance to obtain the peaches and elixirs?

Therefore, he naturally had to accept the co-opting, but how to accept and what conditions to put forward needed considerable thought.

"Venus's words do carry some weight! Well, it's a matter of great importance; I cannot make up my mind in such a short time. How about this, Venus, you stay a few days here on my Flower-Fruit Mountain, let me ponder thoroughly before I give you an answer. What do you say?"

"My lord, His Majesty the Jade Emperor is waiting in the Heavenly Court for this old man to return with the report. This matter would be better sooner rather than later!"

Great White Golden Star grew somewhat anxious upon hearing this. Sun Wukong actually needed to ponder? Who knows how long he'll take? The Jade Emperor is waiting for him to report back! If this dragged on too long and angered the Jade Emperor, then they might complicate matters instead of solving them!

"No hurry, no hurry! Being anxious won't let you eat hot tofu. Take it slow, take it easy!"

Sun Wukong stood up with a smile, giving Leng Xuan a knowing look, "Leng Xuan, for these few days that Venus visits our Flower-Fruit Mountain, you'll be in charge of looking after him. Make sure you take fit and proper care of him, with no mistakes allowed!"

"Boss, rest assured, I know what to do!"

Leng Xuan nodded with understanding. What Sun Wukong meant was to have him keep Great White Golden Star on Flower-Fruit Mountain for a few days, show him what he's supposed to see, and resolutely hide what he's not supposed to. Child's play for Leng Xuan!

"Great Saint, it shouldn't be delayed for too long!" Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"Don't worry, don't worry, I'm well aware!"

Watching Leng Xuan lead Great White Golden Star out of Water Curtain Cave Heaven, Sun Wukong's smiling face instantly turned cold, looking displeased at Zi Lan Fairy: "Zi Lan, are you really going back to serve the Queen Mother? What if I don't let you go?"

"Wukong, don't be like that!"

Zi Lan Fairy shook her head with a wry smile, "Honestly, I don't want to go back either, but the Queen Mother has been kind to me, and I can't just leave without explanation; I owe her that much at least. Don't worry, the Queen Mother has always been fond of me, nothing bad will happen!"

Seeing that Wukong still looked displeased, Zi Lan Fairy changed the subject, "Wukong, are you really going to agree to ascend to the Heavenly Court and become an official?"

"Yes, I've long known that the Jade Emperor would send someone to pacify me. This Heavenly Court, I'm afraid I really need to visit, otherwise, next time it won't be just one hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, but several hundred thousand, or even a million. Not to mention those powerful Immortals and Gods who usually keep out of sight and focus on their cultivation.

Flower-Fruit Mountain is at a critical moment of development and can't withstand a bigger battle. I need to buy time for everyone!"

Sun Wukong did not tell Zi Lan Fairy about the Queen Mother's Peaches of Immortality and The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord's Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, as her knowledge wouldn't help, and it might even backfire. He would wait until he was in the Heavenly Court to act accordingly.

Seeing that Wukong had made up his mind, Zi Lan Fairy did not try to persuade him further. She was, however, puzzled—since Wukong had decided to accept the pacification and ascend to receive an official post in Heaven, why leave Great White Golden Star hanging for a few days? Why not just agree directly?

"Of course, I can't accept outright; that would make me seem too eager, too impatient. I'll keep him waiting, let him get anxious, and then I can put forward my conditions! Hehe!"

Sun Wukong chuckled mischievously, "Come on, Zi Lan, you tell me. What positions are there in the Heavenly Court? I want those that are more leisurely and free, with few restrictions, and it'd be best if it gave access to the Peach Garden..."