Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Due to the delay caused by the Dragon Cat, Sun Wukong was still circling the third Dragon Island, and a sense of frustration had been bottled up inside him for a long time. He was not about to let the Dragon Cat off so easily—after all, a significant lesson needed to be taught!

Chaos Primordial Force and True Solar Fire continued to erode the insides of the Dragon Cat, and even its sturdy physical body couldn't withstand it, as it screamed continuously, "I give up, I was wrong, I won't bother you anymore! Please stop! I'm really going to get roasted!"

Whoosh!

Chaos Primordial Force and True Solar Fire suddenly retracted into Sun Wukong, who then lifted the Dragon Cat in front of him, blinked, and sternly asked, "Do you really know what you did wrong?"

"I know."

Your next journey awaits at empire

The Dragon Cat displayed a face of grievance, with two teardrops hanging from the corner of its eyes, looking pitiful. Its mouth puckered, and unable to hold back, it started to sob softly, "It was you who stole my transformation peach, yet you are so fierce..."

"It's just a peach, isn't it? You've been going on about this the whole way, is it really necessary?"

Sun Wukong was somewhat embarrassed and also a bit headache-inducing. He didn't understand why the Dragon Cat was so obsessed over a single peach. Although he had eaten the transformation peach, he hadn't felt anything special about it!

"That was my transformation peach!"

The Dragon Cat looked accusatory, "I had been waiting for it for a thousand years, and just when it finally ripened, you took it!"

"Transformation peach?"

Sun Wukong released the Dragon Cat, raised his eyebrows in surprise, and turned to Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan, "I've never heard of it, Brother Mu, do you know about this?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I haven't heard of it either, but it sounds like something that could help in shape-shifting," guessed Mu Chenxuan.

"Exactly, it's a transformation peach!"

The Dragon Cat floated in front of Sun Wukong with its plump little paws pointing to itself, "See? Because of this appearance, I have very weak attack power, can't even break the barrier of the Heavenly Dragon Valley, and can't get out. Think of all the delicious foods and beautiful women outside, I can only dream about them. How miserable!

That transformation peach was the only spiritual treasure that could have turned me into a Heavenly Demon form, and you ate it up, along with my hopes of transforming, wah~!"

Speaking to this sad part, the Dragon Cat began to cry out loud, crying like a child.

Sun Wukong was dumbfounded. It was only a peach; he never imagined it would cause so much trouble!

The transformation peach was of no use to Sun Wukong since he inherently possessed the Heavenly Demon Body and was almost indistinguishable from a human form. The peach's effect was merely to turn members of the Demon Clan into a Heavenly Demon form, human-like. For him, eating it was no different from eating a regular peach, but it was different for the Dragon Cat.

The Dragon Cat clearly couldn't transform on its own and had to helplessly wait for the transformation peach to mature. To think it was unwittingly stolen by Sun Wukong made it even sadder as it cried louder and louder. With its cute appearance, the crying was immensely heart-wrenching, making even Sun Wukong feel embarrassed about his unrighteous deed.

"Stop crying, the peach is already eaten, crying won't bring it back!"

"Old Sun didn't know the peach was so useful to you, thought it was just a regular peach."

"You claim to be a Quasi-Saint, can't you hold yourself with a little dignity of a Quasi-Saint? Crying like a child just looks so ugly!"

"Alright, alright, stop crying! If it's really just a transformation peach, and you say where else we can find such peaches, even if it's in a dragon's den and tiger's lair, Old Sun will fetch it for you!"

Irritated by the Dragon Cat's incessant crying, Sun Wukong, who was not particularly sweet-tongued nor good at consoling, simply glared threateningly, "Shut your mouth! Keep crying and Old Sun will really roast you!"

The Dragon Cat was so scared by Sun Wukong's shout that it stopped crying abruptly, pursed its lips, and looked pitifully at Sun Wukong, asking in a very aggrieved tone, "Will you really help me get another transformation peach? You're not tricking me?"

"Old Sun is upright and honorable, my word is as solid as gold. If I said I'll help you, I definitely won't go back on my word! Tell me, where is another transformation peach? As long as you can point it out, Old Sun will surely fetch it for you!"

As soon as Sun Wukong finished speaking, he felt a weight in his arms as the Dragon Cat leaped into his embrace, its eyes still bearing traces of tears but now squinting with a grin, "You promised yourself, no going back on your word, no cheating! I actually do know where another transformation peach is located, and judging by the time, it should be ripe soon."

"Where?"

"Just ahead to the left, at the center of a large island not too far from here. But there are many very ugly and fierce fellows there; you'll have to protect me!"

The Dragon Cat murmured, shrinking to the size of a palm, and "whoosh," it darted into Sun Wukong's collar, leaving only its head shaking.

"An island to the left? Could this fellow be talking about..."

Sun Wukong recalled Ao Tian mentioning the Beast Spirit Mountain Range, which should be in the front-left direction. But now, he was supposed to go directly ahead to the Dragon Nest to fetch the Chaos Dragon Divine Armor.

"Wukong, the large island mentioned by the Dragon Cat is the Beast Spirit Mountain Range, where our Heavenly Dragon Clan exiles ferocious aberrations. It's very dangerous. Are you sure you want to go now?"

From within the Qiankun Bag, where Ao Tian's Divine Soul was merging with the body of the Golden Dragon, he transmitted his voice to Sun Wukong.

"It really is the Beast Spirit Mountain Range!"

Sun Wukong sighed. He indeed had plans to explore the Beast Spirit Mountain Range, but he originally wanted to do it after obtaining the Chaos Dragon Divine Armor. However, it seemed that the Dragon Cat might not be able to wait that long. Should he change his itinerary and go to the Beast Spirit Mountain Range first?

"Hurry up, the shape-shifting peach is about to ripen, and once it does, it'll fall from the tree, burrow into the ground, and become unfindable!"

Seeing that Sun Wukong was motionless, the Dragon Cat grew anxious and urged him, "In the entire Heavenly Dragon Valley, there's only this one shape-shifting peach left. If we miss it, we'll have to wait another three thousand years. Didn't you promise to help me? Let's go now!"

"Fine! The trouble was caused by Old Sun, so I'll help you solve it before I go to find the Chaos Dragon Divine Armor!"

Clenching his teeth, Sun Wukong made a decision, called out to Mu Chenxuan, and turned towards the iron chains at the forward left of Dragon Island.

"By the way, I still don't know your name. How should I address you, big brother?"

"Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Beautiful Monkey King Sun Wukong!"

"Great Sage Equalling Heaven? What a powerful name, I like it! Then I'll call you Brother Wukong from now on! Brother Wukong, you're the first one who could injure me; you're incredible! Once I shape-shift, I'll follow you, and you'll need to take good care of me..."

"Could you please shut your mouth? You're so noisy!"

...

Deep within the Heavenly Dragon Valley, in front of the grand Dragon Nest Divine Palace on the largest Dragon Island, the middle-aged man in a dark aqua Taoist Robe stopped his meditative cultivation. The green sword shadows that appeared behind him withdrew into his body, and he opened his eyes and stood up from the ground.

A streak of light flew from the horizon and landed in the hand of the middle-aged man—a small emerald bird, only the size of a finger, and unlike ordinary birds, this bird's gaze was dull. Like the Undead Dragon Tiger Beast and Golden Dragon Puppet that Sun Wukong and Mu Chenxuan had encountered before, it was clearly a puppet.

Light shot from the man's eyes into the small bird's pupils, and after two breaths, it withdrew, his lips curling into a weird, cold smirk.

"To think he could injure the Dragon Cat, that Monkey Sun's skills aren't small at all! However, his brain isn't too sharp, actually running off to Beast Spirit Mountain Range. You're seeking your own death; don't blame me then!"

With a flip of his palm, a gray crystal sphere appeared in the middle-aged man's palm. Upon entering several Taoist Magic Decrees, the sphere emitted angry roars, along with intense violent and bloodthirsty intents.

"Enjoy the gift I've prepared for you. I hope you still have lives left to make it to this Dragon Nest, heh heh heh!"

The sinister laughter echoed louder and spread in all directions.

On the edge of the vast Dragon Island where Beast Spirit Mountain Range was located, Sun Wukong and Mu Chenxuan leaped from the iron chains and landed on the ground of Dragon Island.

"The aura here seems quite different from the other Dragon Islands…"

Sun Wukong's nose twitched slightly, not knowing why, but he smelled a scent he extremely disliked. The Dragon Island where Beast Spirit Mountain Range was felt starkly different from the other Dragon Islands, and the towering mountains ahead looked like a monster with a gaping maw, ready to devour anyone.

"Brother Wukong, this place isn't benevolent. Why don't we seek the treasure first, then return to check it out?"

Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan also sensed the strange aura and looked quite solemn.

"Old Sun would like to, but this little guy said the shape-shifting peach will ripen in half a month. If we go to get the treasure and then come back, it'll clearly be too late."

Sun Wukong shook his head somewhat helplessly. "Well, since we have to come here sooner or later, let's just move our plans forward. But Brother Mu, you're right, this place is definitely no benign land. We need to be careful."

He tapped the Dragon Cat's head peering out from his bosom, "Hey, where exactly is this shape-shifting peach? Hurry up and lead the way. If we're late and miss it, you can't blame Old Sun!"

"It's just ahead. Just walk towards the center of the Beast Spirit Mountain Range!"

The Dragon Cat stuck out its chubby little paw and pointed forward, then shrank back again.

Sun Wukong looked down at the Dragon Cat with some amusement. This little one really seemed to treat his collar as a snug hideout!

But then again, the Dragon Cat's innate ability to act endearingly was truly striking. If used cleverly, it could potentially be the key to overcoming enemies. His sticking close now might not be a bad thing at all!