No More Victorious Fighting Buddha

Mountain ranges stretched endlessly beneath vast blue skies, with green hills and clear waters as far as the eye could see.

Sun Wukong and Victorious Fighting Buddha stood atop a mountain peak. From there, they could see only the rolling sea of clouds, a magnificent sight.

"Are you really leaving?" Sun Wukong asked in a low voice.

Over the past few days, Victorious Fighting Buddha had taught him much. The two monkeys were both master and friend, and Sun Wukong found it hard to part with him.

Victorious Fighting Buddha gazed toward the horizon and smiled softly. "Time waits for no one. I must leave."

Though their time together had been brief, he had been very satisfied.

He had taught Sun Wukong all his lessons and abilities, ensuring that Sun Wukong would not walk his old path again.

From this day onward, there would be no more Victorious Fighting Buddha.

There would only be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

"When will you return?" Sun Wukong asked through gritted teeth. He had heard Patriarch Bodhi mention that Victorious Fighting Buddha did not seem to have much longer to live.

Yet Victorious Fighting Buddha had never told him the truth. Even now, Sun Wukong remained in the dark.

"Return?" Victorious Fighting Buddha paused, then shook his head with a smile. "Wukong, remember this: not everything in this world can be turned back. Cultivate well. Do not be like when you first left Mount Fangcun—indulging in pleasure and losing your resolve."

Sun Wukong nodded solemnly. He would not forget the lessons of his previous life. Now that he was in the Great Qin Heavenly Court, he was no longer the strongest and had to continue striving.

Victorious Fighting Buddha smiled faintly. The wind grew stronger, making his golden fur flutter. His entire