One sunlit morning, the monkeys gathered near the edge of a deep ravine, their chatter bubbling like a lively stream. A plump, chatterbox monkey hopped onto a rock and called out, "We don't know where this water comes from. Since we have nothing to do today, let's follow the stream up to its source to have some fun!"
With a shriek of joy, they dragged along their mates and scrambled up the mountain alongside the stream. Reaching its source, they found a great waterfall.
All the monkeys clapped their hands in acclaim. "Marvelous water! Marvelous water!" One of them said, "If any of us has the ability to penetrate the curtain and find out where the water comes from without hurting himself, we would honour him as our King!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement, but none dared to step forward. The Stone Monkey, his eyes flashing with daring, leapt up and declared, "I'll go in! I'll go in!"
The others murmured among themselves, some doubtful, some cheering. "Are you sure, little Stone?" a monkey teased. "That waterfall is loud and cold!"
"Let me show you," the Stone Monkey said with a confident grin, and before long he dashed toward the roaring cascade. Without hesitation, he closed his eyes and darted through the curtain of water like a bolt of lightning and emerged on the other side.
Opening his eyes at once, the Stone Monkey lifted his head and looked around with keen curiosity. Inside the cave, there was neither rushing water nor crashing waves. Only a gleaming, shining bridge arching gracefully before him. He paused, gathering his wits, then studied it more closely.
The bridge was forged from shining sheet iron, its surface smooth and radiant like a river of silver light. Beneath the arch, clear water surged gently through a hole in the rock, flowing outward to the world beyond, filling every shadowed space below.
With careful steps and a bent body, he climbed onto the bridge, eyes sharp as he walked, and soon discovered a wondrous place ahead. A beautiful residence carved into the mountain, serene and grand, as if the cave itself held a hidden palace.
After gazing long and hard at the palace ahead, the Stone Monkey sprang lightly to the middle of the bridge and looked left and right with sharp eyes. There, standing proudly in the center, was a stone tablet carved with clear, bold characters:
The Blessed Land of Flower-Fruit Mountain,
The Cave Heaven of Water-Curtain Cave.
The Stone Monkey's heart leapt. Without hesitation, he spun around and bounded back toward the cave's mouth, his voice ringing with joy: "Great stroke of luck! Great stroke of luck!"
The gathered monkeys rushed to meet him, their eyes bright with curiosity. "How far did you go? What did you find inside?" they clamored.
With a wide grin, the Stone Monkey explained, "The water flows through a hole in the rock, filling all the space beneath the bridge. Beside it stands a stone mansion, surrounded by trees and flowers.
Inside, there are stone pots and pans, stone beds and benches, all carved from the mountain itself! This place is vast and strong, fit to shelter thousands of young and old alike. Let us all move in, make it our home, and protect ourselves against storms and enemies."
The monkeys cheered again, their hearts alight with hope and excitement.
Without hesitation, the monkeys followed the Stone Monkey as he led the way inside. They leapt across the shining bridge, soon scrambling to snatch dishes, clutch bowls, and claim stoves and stone beds, shoving and jostling with gleeful chaos.
True to their mischievous and stubborn nature, the monkeys could not sit still for a single moment, tumbling and chattering until at last, utterly spent, they collapsed in a happy heap.
With the bustle settling, the Stone Monkey rose and took a solemn seat upon a high stone throne. His voice rang clear and proud: "Now that I have come in, gone out, and come in again and have found for you this Heavenly Palace, I hereby declare myself the Handsome Monkey King!"
At his words, the monkeys bowed low in respect, their voices rising together in a thunderous cheer: "Long live our great King!"
And so began the reign of the Handsome Monkey King, leader of all the mountain's monkeys.