Returning to Rule the Mountain

Even the Heavenly Court Keeper of the Heavenly Horses dared not stop him and could only let him strike.

After Sun Wukong broke through the Southern Heavenly Gate, he was eager to return home. He immediately summoned his Somersault Cloud, stepped onto it, and rushed towards Flower-Fruit Mountain at his fastest speed.

"His Majesty is back; I just saw him."

Before Sun Wukong even reached Flower-Fruit Mountain, a monkey with a very good purpose happened to see it and then loudly proclaimed it to those around him.

"His Majesty has returned."

Upon hearing this news, the young men immediately became excited and spread the word to the monkeys who didn't yet know.

"Has the King really returned? Don't lie to me, the King has been gone for over ten years."

Upon hearing the news, the old clan chief grabbed the little monkey who had told him and said with a serious expression.

"It's true, Chieftain. Would I lie to you?"

"If you don't believe me, why don't you just go out of the Water Curtain Cave and see for yourself?"

The little monkey that the old patriarch had grabbed spread its hands and said with an innocent look on its face.

Just as the old clan chief emerged from the Water Curtain Cave, Sun Wukong returned on his Somersault Cloud.

As soon as Sun Wukong landed, a group of little monkeys surrounded him, wanting to ask him many questions, but not knowing where to begin, so they just stared at Sun Wukong expectantly.

"Your Majesty, how have you been in heaven these past ten years or so? What position have you held? Have you been doing well?"

At this point, it was the old clan leader who, concerned about Sun Wukong's life in Heavenly Court, was the first to speak and ask.

"Oh, don't even mention it. That old Jade Emperor is completely incompetent at employing people. He gave me a position called Keeper of the Heavenly Horses) based on my appearance, and at first I had no idea what that position was for."

"After taking office, I did my best, working tirelessly for several nights in a row. Although this didn't put any burden on me, I felt that I had done my utmost."

Sun Wukong began to recount his experiences as an official in the Heavenly Court.

"However, just half an hour ago, my men prepared a banquet for me to welcome me and celebrate my arrival. I was enjoying myself at the banquet, so I asked them what my official rank and grade were. Guess what happened?"

At this point, he paused mysteriously, letting the old clan chief guess.

"Your Majesty, please stop playing coy. You know I can't guess, so why make me guess?"

The old clan chief said with a hint of helplessness.

"This official position is utterly worthless; it's the lowest and most despicable of all official posts. One is only fit to tend horses for others and will have to be subservient to them from now on."

Sun Wukong said angrily.

"So I overturned the seats, took out my Law Treasure, and fought my way out of the Southern Heavenly Gate, returning to our place."

Then Sun Wukong told everyone how he returned.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back, Your Majesty. You reign supreme in the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain, where you deserve our respect. How can we let you become a stable boy for that old Jade Emperor?"

"Everyone, go and fetch some wine to help the King relieve his boredom and ease his mood."

After hearing Sun Wukong's words, the old clan chief first sighed with joy at Sun Wukong's return, and then sent several little monkeys to fetch wine to help Sun Wukong relieve his sorrow.

When Sun Wukong returned, half a year had passed since the end of the month. It was also the second day in the Heavenly Court, just as the Jade Emperor was holding court.

"More than ten days ago, Sun Wukong was appointed as the new Keeper of the Heavenly Horses. At yesterday's banquet, he learned that his official position was very low. Dissatisfied with his low rank, he rebelled against the Heavenly Palace and even let all the horses escape."

A man from the Imperial Horse Stables came to report this matter to the Jade Emperor.

"The newly appointed Keeper of the Heavenly Horses left through the Southern Heavenly Gate for some reason."

At this time, Heavenly King Zengguang, who was mainly responsible for guarding the Southern Heavenly Gate, learned of this news and informed the Jade Emperor today.

"I must capture this monster today. Is there anyone willing to go to the Flower-Fruit Mountain in the next world and bring this demon monkey back to me?"

After hearing their words, the Jade Emperor became angry and decided to capture Sun Wukong.

"I am willing to go."

At this moment, among the immortals, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, and Third Prince Nezha, stepped forward and expressed their willingness to capture Sun Wukong.

"Alright, I now appoint Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, as the Grand Marshal of Demon Subjugation, and Third Prince Nezha, as the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas. Then, lead a multitude of heavenly soldiers and generals down to capture that monkey demon."

Upon seeing Li Jing and Nezha step forward, the Jade Emperor was immediately pleased and bestowed upon them the title, ordering them to lead some heavenly soldiers and generals to Flower-Fruit Mountain to capture Sun Wukong.

After bidding farewell to the Jade Emperor, Li Jing and Nezha immediately mustered their troops, sending the Giant Spirit God as the vanguard to capture Sun Wukong in the mortal realm.

After arriving in the Mortal Realm, they rested briefly, and then the Spirit-Gathering God came to the area of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"I'm asking you, do you recognize Sun Wukong? If you do, go tell him now to come here and surrender. I'll be waiting here. Otherwise, don't blame me for taking your lives."

Upon arriving, the Giant Spirit God happened to meet a little monkey and told him these words, instructing him to quickly report to Sun Wukong.

The little monkey, who had always lived in Flower-Fruit Mountain, had never seen such a massive creature as the Giant Spirit God. To this little monkey, the largest creatures were tigers, elephants, and bears. Today, after seeing a Giant Spirit God that was almost a hundred times larger than a black bear standing up, it was completely terrified.

After hearing what the Giant Spirit God said, the little monkey originally wanted to run directly to Sun Wukong to report, but its legs were too weak to move and it took a while for it to regain its senses. Then, the little monkey scrambled and crawled towards the Water Curtain Cave.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A deity has descended from heaven and demands your surrender. He is currently to the east, about twenty miles from here, and he is as big as a hundred bears. Your Majesty, if you cannot defeat him, please leave quickly. We will hold him off here."

After a while, the little monkey ran into the Water Curtain Cave at the fastest speed of his life and told Sun Wukong that the Giant Spirit God wanted him to surrender. He also said with concern that if Sun Wukong couldn't defeat him, he should take this opportunity to leave and let him hold off the Giant Spirit God.

"I am your king, how can I abandon you and sing off-key alone?"

"Besides, with my strength, there are very few people in this world who can be my match, so you don't need to worry about anything."

"You just said he's about twenty miles east of here, right?"