467: fooling the monkey

Lu Jiuyuan stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “You monkey, you are quite sharp. Fine, I will tell you the truth."

He stood up, walked to the mouth of the Immortal Cave, and looked out at the vast sea of clouds:

"The heavenly laws are strict, maintaining the order of the Three Realms; this is correct. But the heavenly laws constrain more than just the gods—they also constrain... the human heart."

"Erlang Shen wants justice for his sister, and justice for his mother, Yao Ji.

He also likes the Fairy of Guanghan Palace and wants to be with her and raise a bunch of little brats.

And countless immortals and gods are dissatisfied with the heavenly laws. This grievance has been suppressed for too long; it must eventually erupt."

"Instead of waiting for them to erupt on their own and cause chaos in the Three Realms, it is better for Me to personally push them, allowing them to test, challenge, and verify things within a controllable range."

He turned and looked at the Monkey King:

"Chenxiang is the catalyst.

When he goes to save his mother, he will inevitably violate the heavenly laws and attract countless eyes.

Erlang Shen will secretly help him, Nezha will fan the flames, and even more people will jump out."

"And what I need you to do is, when he comes to you for help, teach him your skills, and also teach him principles."

The Monkey King was silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "You want a monkey to teach a human how to be human?

Aren't you afraid he might actually forge a path and truly change the heavenly laws?"

"Change?" Lu Jiuyuan laughed. "If it can be changed for the better, I would be happy to see it happen.

But I want to know even more what this 'better' they imagine actually looks like."

He paused, his tone turning cold:

"Moreover, some things cannot be changed just by saying so.

When gods feel emotion, the Three Realms fall into chaos!

Gods falling in love, immortals marrying mortals—it sounds beautiful, but have they ever considered the price that must be paid?

A wise man's thousand schemes cannot compare to a fool's sudden inspiration.

A bunch of fools, who think they are clever!"

"Old Jade Emperor, why does Old Sun feel like you have a hidden meaning in your words!" The monkey scratched the back of his head.

"Don't worry about it. Just teach that little brat well—teach him how to behave, teach him Divine Ability, teach him how to use Magical Power. I've already notified the Grand Supreme Elder Lord!

Go to the Yama Palace later," Lu Jiuyuan patted the monkey's shoulder and said with a smile, "He is your apprentice, so you have to teach him how to cause havoc in the Underworld and how to cause havoc in the Heavenly Palace..."

The more Lu Jiuyuan spoke, the darker the monkey's expression became. The hair on his head seemed ready to stand on end, and he stared wide-eyed at Lu Jiuyuan:

"Old Jade Emperor, tell Old Sun the truth, when Old Sun caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace back then, did you also arrange it this way?"

"No, of course not!" Lu Jiuyuan quickly waved his hand and said.

Only then did the Monkey King heave a sigh of relief.

"Your scene back then was much grander than this one..."

Before Lu Jiuyuan finished speaking, the Monkey King suddenly leaped up, his Fiery Eyes of Truth practically spitting fire. His Kasaya moved without wind, and a furious Aura instantly filled the entire Immortal Cave, making the stone walls hum.

"Old Jade Emperor! What did you say?"

"Back then, Old Sun caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, fighting from the South Heaven Gate all the way to the Tongming Hall. One hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were helpless, and the Grand Supreme Elder Lord's Pill Furnace couldn't trap me. In the end, it took The Buddha's intervention to suppress me under the Five Elements Mountain... Are you telling Old Sun that this was also arranged by you?"

A Fei subconsciously blocked Lu Jiuyuan, the Shadowless Sword Pattern on his wrist glowing faintly.

Lu Jiuyuan gently patted his shoulder, signaling him to step back, and continued to watch the enraged monkey with a calm expression.

"Yes, and no."

"You were born a Stone Monkey, brought forth by destiny.

You ventured out to sea to Seek Immortals, take a master, and learn skills; you broke into the Dragon Palace to seize the golden-hooped rod, and descended to the Underworld to erase the Book of Life and Death... These were your own fortune and your own choices."

"But what about later?"

"When you ascended to Heaven, you disliked the small position of Bi Ma Wen, rebelled against the Heavenly Court, and established yourself as the 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven'."

The Monkey King's pupils contracted. The golden-hooped rod appeared in his hand, and the veins on the back of the hand gripping it bulged.

"Letting you guard the Peach Garden..." Lu Jiuyuan continued, "That was arranged by Me. Arranging a monkey to guard the Peach Garden, full of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, the Ren Water Peaches allowed you to eat your fill. Have I ever treated you unfairly?"

"Old Sun's name wasn't on the Peach Banquet guest list!" the monkey retorted. "Old Jade Emperor, you knew my temperament, yet you say it wasn't intentional?"

"That was your own choice. Did anyone force you? Instead, My Peach Banquet was ruined by you!"

"You stole peaches, pilfered Imperial Wine, and consumed Golden Cores, proceeding unimpeded all the way back to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

The 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven' is real, defeating one hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals is real, vanquishing Nezha, battling Erlang Shen, and causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace are all real!

It's just that I like you, little monkey! I couldn't bear to truly strike you down." Under the monkey's wide-eyed gaze, Lu Jiuyuan stroked the monkey's head, smoothing his fur:

"Little monkey, think about it: how many benefits did you gain from Me?

Peaches, Imperial Wine, Jade Nectar, Golden Cores, and the Invincible Vajra Physical Body!

Did I truly strike you down that time?

The only time a heavy hand was used was by The Tathagata! He wanted you to protect Tang Monk on his journey to Obtain Scriptures."

The Monkey King scratched his head: "So, you were actually quite good to Old Sun!"

"Hahahaha!" Lu Jiuyuan laughed heartily: "Of course. Under My command, there are the Three Pure Ones and Four Emperors, the Five Elders of the Five Directions, there are Heavenly Venerables, and there is Taibai—which one of them couldn't capture you? I merely held them back!"

"So, you were actually quite good to Old Sun!" The Monkey King scratched his head, his tone softening considerably, but his eyes still held scrutiny.

He withdrew his hand, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze seemingly piercing through time: "That Eight Trigrams Furnace of the Grand Supreme Elder Lord back then, if he had truly intended to refine you to death, let alone forty-nine days, even seven days would have been enough to refine your Stone Monkey Origin into dust.

But why did he specifically leave the 'Xun Palace Position'? The wind fueled the fire, yet it also gave you a thread of life, and furthermore forged your pair of Fiery Eyes of Truth."

"And this position of Heavenly Emperor I hold, how do you think I obtained it?

Between Heaven and Earth, power is might, and the biggest fist is the truth. I can be the Heavenly Emperor because My fist is the biggest!

The Three Realms and Six Paths, I alone am supreme!"

Lu Jiuyuan turned around, looking intently at the Monkey King:

"Little monkey, Heaven and Earth are the furnace, and Creation is the labor."

"Without experiencing that period of 'Lawlessness,' without tasting all the bitterness and sweetness, the glory and the suppression, how could you later become the Victorious Fighting Buddha who escorted Tang Monk and endured the Eighty-One Calamities?

Although, I prefer the unruly and high-spirited 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven'!"

The Monkey King remained silent, the light in his Fiery Eyes of Truth flickering uncertainly.

"So..." The Monkey King's voice was a bit dry, "Old Sun owes his achievements today to your 'arrangements'?"

"Fortune and disaster are intertwined." Lu Jiuyuan said frankly: "Without those 'arrangements,' you might still be a Carefree Demon King on Flower-Fruit Mountain, or you might have long ago been turned to dust in some Heavenly Tribulation or conflict.

It would be absolutely impossible to achieve what you have today: Physical Body Becoming a Saint, attaining the Fruit of Buddhahood, roaming freely in the Three Realms, and having your name resonate through the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands."

He took a step closer, looking into the monkey's eyes: "Little monkey, My telling you all this today is not to erase your pride.

On the contrary, I want to tell you that true strength is not mindlessly charging forward, but seeing clearly the underlying structure and the cost, yet still holding onto your original intention and making your own choice."

"Just like now." Lu Jiuyuan pointed outside the Immortal Cave, "That kid Chenxiang, he also has a path to walk.

A path to save his mother, a path that might touch the heavenly laws and stir up trouble."

"Erlang Shen is secretly laying out a plan, Nezha is fanning the flames, and I am watching with cold eyes, even secretly providing some 'convenience.'

Countless eyes are watching him, and countless hands are reaching out to him, whether openly or secretly.

Among them, there is benevolent guidance, malicious exploitation, cold calculation, and warm concern."

"Family affection, heavenly laws, background, responsibility... He is like a stone thrown into a rushing torrent, destined to stir up waves."