Chapter 23: You Definitely Got Beat Up
A monkey-shaped god was lying in the colorful clouds, in a pose not unlike a human lounging on a sofa at home.
When humanity gained its first spark of wisdom—when mythology took form—gods were born. From this perspective, gods and humans are like twin brothers.
The first to appear were the nature gods.
This monkey, a deity who entered the divine ranks during the earliest stage of myth, was very different from many of his peers.
Perhaps because the natural force he embodied wasn't one inherently inclined toward destruction, his attitude toward humans wasn't as violent as his fellow nature gods.
In fact, he was willing—under the right conditions—to protect these "twin brothers" of his. Not due to mythological obligations, but simply because he wanted to.
In that regard, he was quite a friendly god.
But at the same time, he loved fighting.
Especially against dragons and serpents.
After defeating them, he'd make them his underlings. So, as mythology progressed into the heroic god era, he was also recognized as a hero.
When humanity's myth-making entered its final epic stage, turning into living fossils and reviving itself through mythological fiction, he earned a loud, resounding name:
Great Sage Equal to Heaven – Sun Wukong.
On this island, however, he was called the Monkey God-Lord—a name he absolutely detested.
Because, frankly, it sounded awful.
"So boring. Why haven't they come looking for me yet?" Grumbling with his legs crossed, the Great Sage mumbled in the clouds, his monkey face full of annoyance.
Sealed for three hundred years, and having constantly had close contact with the humans on this island—interactions that would never happen with gods under normal circumstances—his behavior and thought process had grown quite aligned with modern times.
Most heretic gods with mindsets utterly incomprehensible to contemporary humans. Not that heretic gods care—humans can't resist their psychic presence anyway.
But the Great Sage didn't like that kind of interaction. He preferred to talk.
He loved noise and activity, and had no interest in lifeless puppets.
Suddenly, the Great Sage spat out a golden orb of light.
Inside it, one could vaguely make out a human figure.
"Forget it, I'm just going to force my way out." He sounded like he was talking himself into it. "I said I wouldn't take revenge on you guys—but if you keep interfering with my fun, I can't be blamed. That's not me breaking the rules, okay?"
He chuckled mischievously, then swallowed the glowing orb back into his belly.
With a flick of his hand, a bright red staff appeared.
This staff wasn't made of any metal humans could recognize.
"First things first—completely break the binding spell of 'Bimawen'," the Great Sage said, raising his weapon and turning to face the east.
The grand sorcery that had bound the former Handsome Monkey King for three hundred years had deeply rooted itself into the land.
The participants weren't just mortals—there were also gods and sorcerers from the spirit world, and even mythological enemies of his.
If not for meeting that god-slayer, he would've had to rely on the shrine maiden's power and tools, and maybe call his junior brothers for help.
But now, that wasn't necessary.
He could channel all his power into shattering the spell.
That god-slayer was special.
The Great Sage sensed a familiar aura behind him—back when he himself was still just a nature god.
"It's been a long time since I came to the human world. Looks like some interesting things are happening again, right?" the Great Sage said to the eastern sky, as if someone were there.
It was morning. The mountaintop of Mt. Nikkō was shrouded in mist. The sun cast dawn's colors over the temple, lake, and human streets below.
From the morning glow, a spirit appeared—a handsome youth in Chinese general's armor, holding a trident.
His slender, elegant eyes sparkled with energy, and a third eye gleamed on his forehead.
Seeing him, the Great Sage's eyes also lit up.
"This time, I won't let you drag me back so easily."
But his excitement quickly faded, replaced by a touch of melancholy.
"So it's just a construct of the 'Bimawen' curse. Makes sense—he's stronger than you, after all."
Yes—the three-eyed god before him was nothing more than a manifested form of the Bimawen spell.
Back when the Great Sage descended to earth, this spirit had been in charge of dragging him back to the Western Heaven Palace. But that one had been different.
This was just a hollow shell.
"Why go so far? What exactly are you trying to do?"
The Great Sage gripped his Ruyi Jingu Bang and lunged forward—then smashed it down in one stroke.
The godly spirit didn't resist at all and was sent flying like a meteor, plummeting toward the earth. As it crumbled, golden flames burst forth, and the faint sound of a hundred birds singing rang out before it fully disintegrated midair.
The curse that had bound the Great Sage for three hundred years was now gone.
His aura surged.
With the spell broken, he was about to fully regain his nature and power.
"Hmph, easier than I expected," the Great Sage spun his staff, then turned to look in the opposite direction.
Normally, this wouldn't have been so easy. But now that Bimawen was dispelled, the power of the Demon Gate was starting to leak out, drawing the spirit world closer.
The Great Sage raised his staff again. In an instant, wind roared, clouds churned, and lightning split the sky.
Under his Fiery Golden Eyes, nothing could remain hidden. The Demon Gate's power was rising, trying to completely sever the remnants of the restrictive spell left in the earth—some of which contained the Great Sage's own strength.
He grinned wide.
How dare such lowly tricks provoke him? These three hundred years—he'd really been too soft.
He slightly adjusted the direction of the Jingu Bang.
He decided to smash the Demon Gate too while opening the portal to the spirit world—teach it a lesson.
But right then, a beam of golden light streaked from the clouds and struck the falling staff.
CLANG—!!
A long sword blocked the Jingu Bang.
"I didn't know you were one of their people too," said the Great Sage.
"Great Sage, now's not the time for this foolishness," said a Western hero, now revealed. Clad in a white cloak, his handsome face wore a hint of helplessness.
"This is just how I roll. I finally got out—I'm going to raise some hell."
"You have more important things to do. Or have you forgotten?"
"I don't care. Besides, you should say that to him. Oh right, you haven't met that interesting little guy yet—the current god-slayer."
"What interesting guy?" the Western hero snorted.
Clearly annoyed. "Just more messy freaks."
"Oh? You got beat up?" The Great Sage lit up with excitement. "Who hit you?"
"You're the one who got beat up!"
"Nope—you definitely got beat up," the Great Sage burst into wild laughter. "So funny! Tell me how it happened. I'm so bored right now!"
The hero god's face instantly darkened.
"Fine. You want to fight, huh?" His expression turned furious. "Then let's fight. As long as that god-slayer on this island dies, you'll come with me, right?"
"Oh, that's fine with me. There are two of them anyway, and we're two, too." The Great Sage scratched his fur, intrigued. "I want the guy. He seems more fun."
"You insane monkey—are you done yet? Say it! How do you want to fight?!"
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