At the edge of White Jade Plaza on Heaven Mending Pavilion's Main Peak.
An ancient tree towered overhead, its lush crown reaching straight into the clouds.
Shi Hou concealed himself, both feet planted firmly on a thick branch.
Furball crouched on Shi Hou's left shoulder, scratching its head nonstop with both forepaws. It gazed longingly at the Main Peak hall shrouded in mist ahead, squirming on his shoulder.
Growing impatient, Furball grabbed a fistful of Shi Hou's hair and tugged hard.
"Squeak, squeak!"
It squeaked softly, miming stuffing food into its mouth with both paws, urging Shi Hou to hurry inside and find something to eat.
Shi Hou slapped the monkey's paws away and smoothed his hair.
"Stop pulling. If my hairline starts receding, I'll stew you into monkey-brain soup."
Furball shrank back and sat obediently, though its round eyes kept darting about.
On his right shoulder, Black Pig lay sprawled belly-up, its tail wrapped around Shi Hou's neck. Drool dripped from the corner of its mouth as it slept soundly.
Shi Hou shook his right shoulder in disgust, jostling the pig's head aside.
"Keep calm. Everything out here is worthless junk. We need someone to lead the way."
A streak of sword light flashed across the sky.
Dressed in white, Xia Youyu came racing over on her flying sword.
She moved so fast that her sword energy cleaved a corridor through the air.
Her steps were unsteady when she landed, and she stumbled.
Without stopping to straighten her disheveled clothes, she rushed straight toward the Main Peak hall.
Shi Hou's eyes lit up, and he bent his knees slightly.
He leaped out of the treetop and trailed Xia Youyu at a distance.
Inside the Main Peak hall.
The Pavilion Master sat in the seat of honor, holding a white