A Name Bestowed: Sun Wukong

After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, the Little Stone Monkey suddenly opened its eyes.

"Huh? Where am I?"

He subconsciously rubbed his still somewhat dizzy head. He remembered that after his battle with the two monsters, he collapsed in front of the Old Monkey King.

"You're back?"

He looked around and realized he was in a monkey cave.

"Oh no! The Old Monkey King!"

He suddenly sat up from the stone bed and ran outside. He arrived at the main hall of the Monkey Cave and saw a familiar figure.

"Dao Venerable!"

The Little Stone Monkey was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to respectfully bow to Lin Tian.

Then he saw the Old Monkey King standing to the side, full of energy, and exclaimed excitedly, "Old Monkey King! You... you're alright? Your injuries..."

The Old Monkey King smiled at the Little Stone Monkey, cupped his hands, and said, "Thanks to Your Great King's blessing, and even more so to this immortal's great kindness! Oh, this wretched life of mine was pulled back from the brink of death by the Ghost Gate Pass."

"If it weren't for the immortal's compassion and supreme Supernatural Power to expel the poison and heal my wounds, I would have already perished by now."

Upon hearing this, the Little Stone Monkey looked at Lin Tian, its eyes filled with tears.

It finally understood that it was the Dao Venerable who brought them back!

"Dao Venerable... thank you! Thank you for saving the Old Monkey King!"

The Little Stone Monkey's voice choked with sobs. It knew that with the Old Monkey King's injuries at the time, he would have surely died if the Dao Venerable hadn't intervened.

Lin Tian smiled and waved his hand, "It's nothing, but you've really impressed me."

Lin Tian glanced at the Old Monkey King beside him, "It was because he saw that he was willing to sacrifice himself for righteousness and still had a sense of justice that I saved him."

"What is a matter of life and death for us is merely a matter of lifting a finger for you, Dao Venerable..."

The Little Stone Monkey murmured, filled with awe and reverence for Lin Tian.

He recalled his journey from birth to the present day, and realized that without the Dao Venerable, he might have perished long ago!

Thinking of this, it bowed solemnly to Lin Tian once again. "Dao Venerable, thank you for your guidance, protection, and support along the way. I will never forget this kindness and virtue!"

Lin Tian said gently, "Get up. Your success today is the result of your own hard work. I was merely going with the flow and providing some guidance."

"Now that you are awake, I shall leave."

"What?"

The Little Stone Monkey was stunned for a moment, then suddenly raised its head. "Dao Venerable... you... you're leaving? Why? Is it because... did I do something wrong? Or..."

The Old Monkey King, being quite tactful, bowed to Lin Tian again, then gestured to the surrounding monkeys to leave the main hall.

The Little Stone Monkey was filled with unease. Was the Dao Venerable leaving?

From the moment he opened his eyes and saw this world, the Dao Venerable had been by his side, guiding and teaching him. Was he about to leave?

He suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart, filled with reluctance.

Lin Tian noticed the Little Stone Monkey's dependence and sighed.

"Little Stone Monkey, the road you must walk yourself in the end. I have taught you everything I can. The rest of the road is for you to explore, experience, and understand on your own."

The Little Stone Monkey wasn't stupid; he understood the reasoning. He nodded and said, "Dao Venerable, I... I understand. I will remember your words and will definitely cultivate diligently to protect my clan!"

Lin Tian nodded with great satisfaction.

At this moment, the Little Stone Monkey cautiously asked, "Dao Venerable... will we ever meet again?"

"Of course, once your cultivation has improved, we will meet again. At that time, I will carefully examine your cultivation progress. I hope... your cultivation level won't be too poor."

Lin Tian smiled and said this, easing the tension.

The Little Stone Monkey felt much more relaxed.

"I will! Dao Venerable! I will definitely cultivate diligently and will never let you down!"

He seemed to remember something, a hint of embarrassment on his face, and said, "Um... Dao Venerable... I... could I ask you for one more favor?"

"What is it? Tell me."

The Little Stone Monkey scratched its head. "I just... I just hope that the Dao Venerable can... can give me a proper name."

"Those monkeys, like Thin Monkey, Long Hair, and Huo Ya, all have names. I was always Little Stone Monkey. Dao Venerable knowledge, could you... bestow upon me a name?"

Lin Tian was slightly taken aback, then laughed and shook his head, saying, "You stone monkey, fine, since you've spoken, I'll bestow a name upon you."

A smile appeared on his lips, "You were born from a celestial stone, created by heaven and earth, without father or mother, and are the Spiritual Stone Monkey, one of the Four Primordial Chaos."

"From now on, you will be called Sun Wukong, how about that?"

"Sun Wukong... Sun Wukong..."

The Little Stone Monkey muttered the name to himself several times, as if it were a name that was born for him.

"Great! Great name!"

Sun Wukong was extremely excited. "Sun Wukong! Sun Wukong! I feel like we were born to be together! Thank you Dao Venerable Master, for bestowing this name upon me! From now on, I will be the Monkey King Sun Wukong of Monkey Mountain and Handsome Monkey King Cave! I will make everyone who looks down on our monkey clan know how powerful I, Sun Wukong, am!"

It excitedly pumped its fist, as if it could already see the day when its fame would spread far and wide.

However, Lin Tian shook his head. "The Monkey Mountain and Monkey Cave... it sounds a bit vulgar, unworthy of the name Sun Wukong, and unworthy of your future achievements."

"Ah?"

Sun Wukong was stunned, looking at Lin Tian in confusion, "Dao Venerable, why doesn't it sound good? I think... it's quite majestic."

That fits perfectly!

Lin Tian smiled faintly, "This mountain is blessed with natural beauty and abundant flowers and fruits, so let's call it Flower-Fruit Mountain. It's a fitting name and also shows vitality."

"This cave is located behind the waterfall, hidden by the curtain of water, a secluded paradise. Why not call it Water Curtain Cave? Isn't that much better than Monkey Cave?"

"Flower-Fruit Mountain... Water Curtain Cave..." Sun Wukong repeated, "Flower-Fruit Mountain Water Curtain Cave... Handsome Monkey King Sun Wukong... Flower-Fruit Mountain Water Curtain Cave Handsome Monkey King Sun Wukong!"

The more he read it, the smoother it sounded, and the more powerful it seemed!

"Good! Good! Good! That sounds so powerful! We'll listen to the Dao Venerable!"

Sun Wukong was extremely excited, "From now on, this is Flower-Fruit Mountain! This is the Water Curtain Cave! I am the Handsome Monkey King of the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain — Sun Wukong!"

After the initial excitement subsided, Sun Wukong remembered something and quickly asked, "By the way, Dao Venerable, could I... could I teach the monkeys in my clan the cultivation techniques you passed on to me? I want everyone to become stronger so they won't be bullied anymore!"

Lin Tian chuckled and said, "Now that I've passed on the technique to you, it's yours to do with as you see fit."

"Yes! This disciple understands! Thank you Dao Venerable!"

Sun Wukong was overjoyed and bowed again.

Lin Tian nodded and said, "Sun Wukong, since that's how it is... I'll be leaving now. Take care of yourself."

After saying that, Lin Tian disappeared.

"Dao Venerable! Take care! Sun Wukong will definitely try his best! He will definitely come to find you!"

He shouted loudly at the vanishing light and shadow.

"Your Great King?"

A moment later, the Old Monkey King slowly walked in, and he saw only Sun Wukong there.

"That immortal... is gone?"

Sun Wukong nodded, his voice low and deep. "Okay, let's go."

The Old Monkey King approached Sun Wukong and couldn't help but ask, "Your Great King, I've always had a question in my mind: who exactly is that immortal? I've always heard you respectfully address him as the Dao Venerable."

Sun Wukong turned his head and slowly said, "He said his name is Lin Tian, and he lives on one of the Three Immortal Islands in the East Sea. In the Primordial Wilderness, many beings respectfully call him— Dao Venerable Lin Tian."

"Dao Venerable Lin Tian?! The Three Immortal Islands of the East Sea?!"

Upon hearing this, the Old Monkey King trembled violently, his eyes widening in disbelief!

"It's... it's him?! The legendary... Dao Venerable Lin Tian?"

The Old Monkey King's voice trembled with excitement, "When I went out to seek the Dao years ago, I heard of this great man's esteemed title from afar!"

"Legend has it that he is transcendent, possesses great Supernatural Power, and even sages must show him deference. He is one of the most powerful beings in the Primordial Wilderness! However, he is elusive and rarely manifests his divine abilities."

"I never imagined... I never imagined Your Great King would have such immense good fortune to receive personal instruction from such a great figure. This... this is simply... simply..."

The Old Monkey King was so excited he was incoherent, and he looked at Sun Wukong with disbelief in his eyes.

Sun Wukong listened to the Old Monkey King's description, his understanding of Dao Venerable Lin Tian Zun deepened.

Immediately, he declared, "From this day forward, this mountain shall be called Flower-Fruit Mountain! This cave shall be called Water Curtain Cave! I am the Handsome Monkey King of the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain — Sun Wukong!"

"Send the order to gather all the clansmen! We are about to begin a new life! I will teach everyone the methods of cultivation, so that the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain will no longer be bullied, and can all live free, strong, and happy lives!"

The Old Monkey King bowed excitedly and replied, "Yes, Your Great King! As you command!"