Wukong

"The Symi Ape tribal gathering place is just ahead."

Master Yi pointed towards a lush, primeval forest and said.

After many days of travel, their group had finally reached their destination, Wukong's hometown.

This species of Vastaya called Symi Apes preferred to inhabit the canopies of dense forests.

As their name suggested, they were creatures similar to apes, intelligent, cautious, and peace-loving. They chose to live far from the ground, establishing their society among the highest treetops of Ionia.

The Symi Apes believed life was a climb on the Tree of Wisdom. They believed that after death, they would turn to stone, return to the earth, and begin the climb of life anew.

Wukong was a Symi Ape who was different from a young age. He was lively, active, and loved to play. Wukong was always the troublemaker in the village.

When war reached Ionia, Wukong was deeply drawn to the sounds and colors below the trees—the fighting awakened something real within him, an irresistible calling.

So, Wukong left his community, ready to embrace his destiny.

Without any training, relying solely on survival instincts, Wukong began to wander Ionia, constantly seeking challengers and studying the art of combat.

Although Wukong often got beaten black and blue and lost all his teeth for getting into trouble, with every fight, he progressed further, getting closer to the calling in his heart.

During his journey, Wukong encountered a man wearing strange goggles, meditating in a forest clearing.

Wukong challenged him.

But the man stood up, knocked Wukong to the ground with a single move, and then continued his meditation.

Wukong had challenged many opponents, but he had never experienced a fight like this.

Finally, Wukong decided to do something he had never tried in his life: bow his head.

He knelt before the swordsman and humbly asked for guidance.

The swordsman asked Wukong word by word: "Why do you fight?"

Wukong suddenly realized he had never considered this question.

He could have stayed in his peaceful and stable tribe, but something in his heart had led him to choose a different life.

Wukong asked the swordsman the same question, and he simply replied that he no longer fought.

For the next few days, Wukong sat in the clearing with the swordsman, contemplating the answer to this question.

The man saw Wukong's transformation and his silent determination.

He introduced himself as Master Yi and agreed to teach Wukong self-control, patience, and the true meaning of combat. Master Yi called this martial path "Wuju."

Under Master Yi's tutelage, Wukong's skills and precision grew daily. His former recklessness and impulsiveness were transformed into deadly swiftness and unexpected moves.

Through instruction and example, Kong also realized that he too wished to protect others, and returned to his tribe.

Upon parting, Yi also gifted his student an enchanted staff as a token of their master-disciple vow—from that day on, Kong was known as Wukong.

He truly never expected to find himself in this situation, seeking out his eldest disciple over a matter concerning his second.

Yi's smile was rarely so bright.

Following Yi, Jia Ruo and Neeko stepped into the flourishing forest.

Jia Ruo saw many strange creatures: deer that resembled paozi, but with fur on their backs shaped like feathers;

creatures that slithered like snakes on tree trunks but had the heads and fur of squirrels;

and creatures standing on branches, with wings on their backs and tails like flower branches, clutching a large hazelnut and staring at them—its face looked so much like a marmot's.

Jia Ruo marveled at the peculiar beings of Runeterra.

Suddenly, Neeko felt her tail being tugged by something and cried out, "Something grabbed Neeko!"

Jia Ruo looked around but detected nothing.

Neeko couldn't help but hug Jia Ruo's arm, her long tail even coiling around Jia Ruo's hand.

Suddenly, a pinecone flew at Jia Ruo.

Already alert, Jia Ruo dodged to the side. Just as he was about to find the culprit, he heard Yi laugh, "Wukong, you're still as fond of pranks."

"Heh heh, Master, you finally remembered to visit me."

A monkey wearing a red scarf, with pauldrons and vambraces, slid down from a large tree.

From the dense branches above, monkey heads peeked out, looking down.

With a "duang" sound.

A staff was planted before Jia Ruo. The monkey somersaulted in mid-air and landed steadily atop the staff, "Who are these two?"

"This is Jia Ruo, my newly accepted disciple, your junior brother. And the other one..."

"Neeko is here to ask for your help," Neeko interjected.

Wukong pulled out his staff, slung it over his shoulder, and circled Jia Ruo and Neeko, scrutinizing them.

"As expected, Master even gave you You Meng. You must be someone who can wield You Meng too."

Wukong then turned to Neeko, who was clinging to Jia Ruo, "A couple formed by a human and a Vastaya? That's quite rare."

"We aren't."

Neeko blushed slightly, hastily releasing Jia Ruo's arm, her tail wagging incessantly behind her. "I just followed him to find you."

Neeko recounted her story, begging Wukong to help her find clues.

Wukong stroked his chin and said, "What a coincidence. A pair of Vastaya passed through here a couple of days ago—I just wanted to pluck a feather from that peacock, Golden Shimmer, and the other one, a Raven, chased me for half the day."

"Luckily, my martial arts are superb, and my movement techniques are peerless. I held my own against two."

Wukong conjured a large peach like a magician, taking bites as he spoke, "We fought first, then became friends. They must have respected me as a powerful warrior and stopped fighting. We became good friends. They said they were going to investigate something on an island to the west, something about the spiritual energy drying up and Magic Power being sealed there."

Jia Ruo was stunned.

What do you mean, fought first then became friends? They definitely couldn't catch you in the forest and were annoyed by your pranks.

And, could that Vastaya couple be Rakan and Xayah?

"Where are they now?" Neeko asked.

"They headed west this morning. If you two are quick, you might catch up tonight."

Wukong tossed aside the peach pit and slid over to Yi, slinging an arm around his shoulder.

"Wukong, don't get peach juice on me."

"Heh heh, you two lovebirds go chase them. Leave your master to catch up with me. I've accumulated many doubts lately and need to ask Master for guidance." Wukong was unconcerned and said to Jia Ruo, "Isn't that right, Second Brother?"

"We already said, we aren't a couple."

"What's wrong? Am I not good enough for you?" Jia Ruo picked up where his eldest brother left off.

Seeing Jia Ruo say that, Neeko's face turned even redder. She lowered her head and said, "Neeko doesn't want to."

Then, she ran west.

Seeing this, Jia Ruo chased after her.

"Jia Ruo, be careful. Don't try to fight them head-on if you encounter danger."

Yi cautioned.

His second disciple had exceptional talent. A few days ago, he had already opened all his meridians and could meditate in mid-air like himself.

Yi calculated the time. It was only early spring, and Jia Ruo had reached this level in less than half a year since becoming his disciple. This far surpassed his own progress at that age.

Now that he had learned Meditation, his progress would only accelerate.

Tianyou Wuji.

"Got it, Master!"

Jia Ruo, who had already caught up to Neeko, looked back and replied.