The Monkey King’s New Home

The forest at night teemed with unknown dangers.

Indeed, as the tall, black-clad figure, cradling Tou, sped through the woods, a colossal palm suddenly materialized, sending him hurtling through the air.

Then, a majestic and imposing silhouette swept past, crushing him beneath its foot. The dark figure then approached Tou, sniffing intently, before excitedly pounding its chest with a triumphant ‘Hoo, hoo, hoo,’ as if it had discovered a priceless treasure.

‘Of course, good things must be brought home!’ And so, Tou was abducted mid-journey.

Not long after, the shorter figure who had been with the tall, black-clad man sensed their comrade’s demise through forbidden arts. Fearing a major incident, they used a communication talisman to inform Ji Jie of the events.

Upon arriving at the scene, Ji Jie found no trace of Tou’s body, and a sigh of relief escaped her.

However, seeing the massive footprints on the ground, she couldn’t help but frown.

These belonged to the Golden-bodied Water Monkey; she couldn’t fathom the creature’s true intentions for abducting Tou!

Regardless of its purpose, it was now certain that Tou was still alive; finding the Water Monkey meant rescuing Tou.

Yet, this task was far from simple; the forest was vast, and her resources were limited. Locating them would prove exceedingly difficult.

Nevertheless, she resolved to try her luck at the Water Monkey’s cave.

****

****

‘Ah—’

His head throbbed once more, and Tou abruptly sat up from the ground, clutching his head and groaning in discomfort.

For some unknown reason, he had been plagued by headaches recently. Could it be a side effect of whatever Qiao Qiao’s mother had forced into his mouth earlier?

‘If so, I truly need to be more careful from now on; I absolutely cannot just pop any strange pills into my mouth!’

Soon, his headache subsided. Opening his eyes—

‘Ahhh! What is this place?!… Mon… Monkeys?’

Tou was startled; this place resembled a dimly lit cave, yet he could clearly discern three golden-furred monkeys before him.

The three monkeys, seemingly frightened by Tou’s cry, huddled together fearfully.

Tou was bewildered again, wondering where he had ended up. He recalled escaping from Qiao Qiao’s mother, climbing ashore, and then falling—

‘Ahhh! My tooth, my little canine tooth… it’s gone… it’s… it’s gone!’

As if remembering something crucial, Tou reached a finger into his mouth, confirming his little canine tooth was indeed missing, and he cried out with a wail.

His little canine tooth was gone, and where was this place anyway? Tou scrambled outwards, only to discover he was enclosed within a large cage.

Outside, it was even darker than inside the cage, with many large monkeys sprawled on the ground, sleeping. Further away, other monkeys patrolled, moving back and forth.

Upon seeing the monkeys outside, Tou quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, fearing his voice might carry and rouse them.

‘So scary~~ Master, where are you~~’

Ignoring the three other monkeys confined with him, Tou wiped away the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth and huddled fearfully behind a rock.

He thought of his masters in the Demon Fairy Fortress, and also of Four-Master who had come out with him.

Recalling Four-Master’s tales of man-eating demon beasts, he surmised he had been captured by one and would surely be devoured by the monkeys outside when mealtime arrived!

The thought sent a fresh wave of terror through Tou.

Feeling an intensifying chill, he curled even tighter behind the rock.

‘Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~’

Tou felt something touch him. He looked up to see a small stick fall before him, and then noticed the three monkeys again huddled together in fear.

‘What’s going on? Do these monkeys think I’m some kind of dangerous creature?’

‘Awooo~~’

Tou opened his mouth wide, attempting to scare them.

‘Chirp! Chirp-chirp!’

Indeed, the little monkeys scattered in every direction, as if they had just witnessed a primordial beast!

‘Eh?’

With a mind full of questions, Tou had long forgotten his fear. He sprang up, intent on catching one of the monkeys to examine it.

While the monkeys possessed far greater speed and agility than Tou, their cultivation realm seemed to be merely at the Qi Condensation stage.

Tou, being at the Spirit Vein stage—a whole major realm above them—easily caught a scruffy-furred monkey.

‘Chirp~ Chirp~’ The little monkey’s eyes were wide and watery, as if pleading for mercy.

‘Is this a demon beast? It’s not scary at all! Hahahaha!’

Seeing the little monkey’s pleading eyes, Tou let out a hearty laugh. ‘These weakling demon beasts think they can eat me? They’re the ones who should be eaten!’

‘But how am I supposed to eat this little monkey in my hand?’

‘I don’t seem to know how to cook. Swallowing it raw feels rather inappropriate, and I’ve even chipped a little canine tooth, boohoo~~. I won’t be able to swallow the meat if it’s not cooked!’

‘Chirp-chirp~’

As Tou pondered how to devour the monkey, the two monkeys he had previously scared away returned, dragging a bundle of bananas. After placing them not far from Tou, they quickly huddled together in fright, as if they had seen a ghost.

‘Bananas!!’

Upon seeing food, Tou tossed the monkey aside and pounced towards the bananas.

‘Are these for me! Are these for me! Hehehe, what a cute little monkey!’

‘Chirp-chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp-chirp!’

The three monkeys joyfully bounced together, appearing quite delighted.

‘Mmm! Mmm! On account of you bringing me food, I won’t eat you after all!’

Tou peeled a banana and ate it bite by bite. With a missing tooth, the soft fruit was perfectly suited for him.

Then, glancing at the few remaining bananas in his hand, he cast a sly, sinister look at the three monkeys, his smile gradually turning mischievous.

‘Little monkeys~, if you don’t bring me more food, I’ll eat all of you!’

Evidently, the monkeys didn’t understand his words. Watching a little monkey playfully toss a banana peel around, Tou felt rather foolish. ‘Why am I even talking to monkeys?’

‘But I don’t have enough food! How can I get these rotten monkeys to bring me more to eat?’

‘Time to use the same trick again!’

‘Ah hahahaha! Rotten monkeys, if you don’t give me food, I’ll eat it! Awooo~~’

Once Tou caught the little monkey again, the other two monkeys chirped anxiously. Obediently, they brought many fruits and piled them at Tou’s feet.

Tou seemed to have discovered a business opportunity: catching and releasing the monkeys, then releasing and catching them again! Soon, he amassed a huge pile of food.

‘This much food will last me a long time! This truly is paradise!’

Tou found himself entertaining the thought of never leaving this place.

‘First and foremost, a continuous supply of food is essential!’

****

****

‘What is that guy doing?! Why would the big monkey put Tou with the little monkeys? What’s its purpose for catching Tou?… Tou’s coloring resembles a monkey’s so closely… Could it be…’

Unbeknownst to Tou, in a shadowed spot beside the cage, Ji Jie, cloaked in black, had been observing him ‘play’ with the monkeys for quite some time.

Upon closer inspection, Tou blended in seamlessly with the monkeys, without a hint of incongruity.

His yellow fur, slender frame, uninhibited way of eating, and the occasional mischievous laughter truly made him resemble a monkey. Though, compared to the others, he was somewhat lazier.

He looked more like a monkey king character.

Nevertheless, no matter what, this little Tou was truly adorable! Still clad in Xiao Yuan’s pajamas, every glance, every smile, every movement was utterly charming.

He was simply delightful!