Returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain, Sun Wukong was radiant with pride.
Seated upon his grand throne, he paraded his newfound treasure before the gathered monkeys.
To further display his might, he performed the Law of Heaven and Earth transformation:
His form grew to towering heights of 10,000 feet, his head resembling a great mountain, his waist a mighty ridge.
His eyes flashed like lightning, and his mouth opened as a blood-red abyss with teeth sharp as blades.
The Ruyi Jingu Bang, now enormous, stood like a celestial pillar, exuding unparalleled might that shook the heavens.
The sight sent shockwaves across the mountain.
The gathered demons and the Seventy-Two Cave Kings trembled in awe, bowing and kowtowing in submission.
Celebrations and Rewards
This display was not mere boasting—it was a calculated move to assert dominance. Among demons, strength still ruled supreme.
Though the Cave Kings came to offer congratulations, beneath their cordiality, many harbored their own ambitions.
Sun Wukong hosted a grand feast in the Water Curtain Cave, offering delicacies and fine wine.
Afterward, he distributed rewards.
He elevated the Four Old Monkeys to positions of authority:
The two Red-Buttocked Horse Monkeys became Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu.
The two Barebacked Gibbons were named General Beng and General Ba.
The Stirring of Ambition
Now armed with a divine weapon, Sun Wukong's ambition surged.
Restless by nature, he soon grew bored of the daily routine on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
One day, he approached the Great King Yellow Wind.
"Virtuous Brother, with your and my skill in combat and divine arts, we've no equals on this mountain.
Why don't we venture out into the world, roam the four seas, seek out worthy challengers, and test our mettle?"
Yellow Wind, who had been studying the divine inscriptions on the treasures he had taken from the Dragon Palace, paused mid-stroke and laughed.
"Brother, your timing is impeccable. I do indeed have somewhere to go."
Sun Wukong's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? Where?"
Yellow Wind explained,
"Do you recall when you first visited my mountain, and that Ruyi Taoist came calling?"
Sun Wukong nodded.
"I remember."
Yellow Wind continued,
"That Taoist is a bull demon from Western Niu Hezhou. He has an elder brother known as Bull Demon King.
This year, during the Ghost Festival, the Bull Demon King will celebrate his thousandth birthday, and I've been invited to attend."
Sun Wukong's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"A splendid occasion! A gathering of demon kings from the west to celebrate—what a perfect opportunity to meet formidable figures and witness their skills!"
Yellow Wind agreed.
"But first, I need to return to Huang Feng Ridge to prepare. Brother, feel free to explore other places for now. Come find me before the festival."
"Excellent!" Sun Wukong readily agreed.
Leaving his generals in charge of camp affairs, he leapt upon his cloud, disappearing into the skies to wander.
The Rat's Hairpin Strategy
The Great King Yellow Wind did not insist on accompanying Sun Wukong.
He wasn't the Monkey King, nor did he aspire to be.
His own path required stability, and his ambitions were rooted in steady growth.
Taking out a Bag of Holding—crafted from the stomach of the Thunder Toad—he carefully stored the treasures he had acquired from Flower-Fruit Mountain:
A jade vein, painstakingly mined.
The thousand-year peach tree, struck by lightning thrice.
The Five-Leaf Vine, growing upon steep cliffs.
A massive moonstone, already consumed to refine its lunar essence.
Regrettably, the ten-thousand-year ginseng root had eluded him. Despite his best efforts, it remained too sly to capture.
"The rat takes its share; the rat takes its share!" Yellow Wind chuckled as an old monkey slapped its chest in dismay.
It had accompanied him, learning the value of these treasures, and was now heartbroken over their loss.
Perspective on Treasures
Value lies in the eyes of the beholder.
To the denizens of Flower-Fruit Mountain, a thousand-year-old tree was nothing more than a potential roof beam or firewood.
But to the Great King Yellow Wind, such treasures represented heavenly opportunities.
"Come now, Old Horse Monkey, don't be so miserly," Yellow Wind teased.
"I've taught you how to forge steel, brew fine wine, and cultivate crops. Aren't those lessons far more precious than these trinkets?"
The old monkey bowed, conceding with a grin.
"Well said, Yellow King. Next time you visit, I'll treat you to Monkey Liquor!"
Wisdom grows with age, and even the elder monkeys knew better than to linger on losses.
The arts passed down by Yellow Wind were treasures in their own right—practical skills that could be handed down for generations.
Across the Lands
After bidding farewell to the mountain and its monkeys, Yellow Wind rose upon his cloud, soaring over the vast ocean and into the lands of Southern Jambudvipa.
Passing over the Eastern Han Dynasty, he marveled at the kingdom's grandeur.
Its golden radiance and martial vigor soared skyward, a testament to its prosperity and cultural might.
"What a splendid empire!" Yellow Wind exclaimed.
"Truly a land blessed with treasures and heroic souls!"
Though impressed, he kept his distance.
Such flourishing dynasties, supported by the collective will of countless people, emanated powerful spiritual energy.
Even demons, spirits, and gods tread lightly in their vicinity.
Tracing the Westward Path
Following a faint intuition of Tang Monk's future pilgrimage, Yellow Wind observed the landscapes.
Some landmarks had yet to form:
Two Boundary Mountain, which would later imprison Sun Wukong under the Five Elements.
Black Wind Mountain, still unnamed, its bear demon yet to attain spiritual awakening.
High Bluff Manor and Cloud Ladder Cave, nonexistent.
The region of Tibet, fractured into warring tribes, remained ununified.
Floating Tower Mountain
Yellow Wind's journey brought him to a towering peak shaped like a pagoda.
A brilliant light radiated from the mountain, momentarily illuminating the heavens with its resplendence.
In awe, he blinked, and the light vanished, replaced by serene greenery and auspicious clouds.
"Floating Tower Mountain! The domain of Old Zen Master Crow's Nest!"
His instincts screamed caution. Without lingering, he turned and fled, unwilling to entangle himself with the mountain's mysterious master.
This Zen Master, shrouded in secrecy, possessed profound insight rivaling that of Patriarch Bodhi.
While the mountain might hold great opportunities, Yellow Wind valued stability and knew when to walk away.
The Watchful Master.
As Yellow Wind sped away, atop a gnarled ancient tree nestled a humble crow's nest.
Within sat an old Zen master whose eyes shimmered like twin suns.
"He knows how to read the stars and avoid calamity," the master murmured.
With a knowing smile, he mused,
"A body imbued with Lunar Sha, and the touch of that one's Dao... No wonder she's becoming restless."
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