Journey to the West: Life Simulation of Sun Wukong

Amidst the joyous gathering of immortals, each presented Sun Wukong with gifts they had brought.

Zhen Yuanzi brought two ginseng fruits, white tinged with red and surrounded by a fragrant aura.

"Younger brother," Zhen Yuan said, "there isn't much of value in my abode, except for these two ginseng fruits, which are certainly noteworthy. I hope you won't decline them."

"What are you talking about, Elder Zhenyuan?" Sun Wukong received the two ginseng fruits and laughed, "If these ginseng fruits aren't considered valuable, then there's nothing valuable in this world."

Then, the Bodhisattva Guanyin took a willow branch from her Jade Clean Bottle, pouring out a crystal-clear dewdrop surrounded by a mist of spiritual energy, as if teeming with thousands of life forces.

"Your Highness," Guanyin said, "this is a droplet of dew from my Jade Clean Bottle, imbibing the spiritual energy of heavens and earth, capturing the essence of the sun and moon. I hope you will kindly accept it."

Sun Wukong smiled as he took it, sensing the transformation within the dew, capable of bringing the dead to life or reducing flesh to white bone, and said, "The Bodhisattva has gone through a lot of trouble."

Guanyin, however, shook her head, "It's just a droplet of dew; it's trivial."

Taibaijinxing was at a loss for words.

One of you gives ginseng fruits and claims they are worthless; the other gives transformation dewdrops and calls them trivial.

What are those of us who have yet to give gifts supposed to do?

"Your Highness, I don't have much wealth, just a Gengjin Sword," Taibaijinxing said, presenting an unsheathed celestial sword.

The cold light flickered, the sword's vigor piercing.

About four feet in length, a golden pattern ran down the middle of the sword's body.

"Old Brother Taibai, why doesn't your sword have a sheath? If it weren't devoid of a murderous intent, I would have thought you were trying to stab me," Sun Wukong teased.

Taibaijinxing coughed, saying with some embarrassment, "This Gengjin Sword's aura is so fierce that no ordinary sheath can contain it."

"Then I must thank you, elder brother," Sun Wukong said.

He took the Gengjin Sword, feeling its sword qi, as if it could pierce through anything, and nodded slightly.

He was proficient in all eighteen types of weapons.

Naturally, he knew how to wield a sword.

However, this sword was somewhat light, only really suitable for collection, and couldn't compare with his Ruyi Jingu Bang.

Nezha brought forth thirty-six Tian Gang knives as his offering.

Sun Wukong's face showed a peculiar expression.

If he remembered correctly, these thirty-six Tian Gang knives were Heavenly King Li's weapons. During his first trial, the Bodhisattva, in order to subdue Red Boy, had sent Mu Zha to borrow them from Heavenly King Li. They were transformed into a thousand-petaled lotus platform to entice Red Boy to sit upon it.

Unexpectedly, they ended up in Nezha's hands.

Taibai laughed, "Crown Prince Nezha, how did you bring your father's Tian Gang knives here? Even though he doesn't often use them, he treasures them dearly. Did you sneak them out? Be careful when you go back home; the Heavenly King Li might spank you."

All the immortals laughed heartily.

"Hmph!"

Nezha snorted coldly, "These Tian Gang knives were a gift from my father, the king. Since they are mine now, I shall do with them as I please."

These Tian Gang knives, all thirty-six of them, were thin as cicada wings, flashing cold light, and each was a magical treasure capable of transforming with an incantation.

Nezha handed the thirty-six Tian Gang knives to Sun Wukong, along with the incantation, "A single knife is merely a divine weapon, but when all thirty-six are used together, they can form a great array, providing protection and peace of mind."

"Even though you possess vast divine skills, Huaguo Mountain's defenses are a bit weak. This should be perfect for setting up an array."

Wukong replied with a smile, "Thank you, Nezha."

Following that, the Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity offered up a millennium pine tree, a vermilion date, and a large longevity peach; the Nine Luminaries each contributed a bit of their spiritual light; the Twenty-Eight Constellations prepared an astral map; Marshal Tianpeng...

Sun Wukong gratefully accepted all the power the immortals had brought him.

Afterward, the grand feast of Huaguo Mountain continued, with dances and performances by various tribes of Huaguo Mountain, which greatly impressed all the immortals.

Thus, three days and nights passed in a blur.

The grand banquet was drawing to a close.

In the arena, Ao Yun personally took the stage to mark the end of the banquet with a graceful dance.

Her body moved fluidly, long sleeves fluttering.

Her dance was so pure and light, like the moon veiled by thin clouds, like snowflakes carried by the returning wind.

Suddenly, Ao Yun flung her water sleeves wide, her sleeves flowing, as countless petal-like flakes descended, gently twirling and bringing with them strands of Chen Xiang, refreshing to the heart and spleen.

At that moment, Sun Wukong transformed a bamboo flute in his hands and began to play as he walked into the center of the arena, personally performing for the immortals.

The emerald flute played, golden robes glinted, and Sun Wukong quietly blew into the flute, a breeze lifting the hem of his clothes as they fluttered, with Ao Yun looking even more like a fairy from the Sea Dragon Palace in front of him.

The two of them together formed an exquisitely beautiful scene.

For a moment, the immortals were enthralled, having never imagined that a dragon alongside a monkey could be so harmonious, so perfect.

Yet they also understood that both this dragon maiden and this monkey were exceptional.

Had it been any other dragon and monkey... it would probably have been chaos incarnate.

As the flute's tempo quickened, Ao Yun's dance grew faster, her jade-like hands gracefully moving, her skirt billowing, her eyes misty with unspoken words, glimmering and dancing, the whole being like a hazy flower behind a fog, obscure and ethereal.

Ao Yun's dancing was light and agile, her body light as a swallow, soft as cotton, her arms as if boneless, her steps blossoming like lotuses, like butterflies flitting among flowers, like babbling brooks, like the moon in the deep mountains, like the dawn in a narrow alley, like dew on the tip of a lotus leaf.

It intoxicated the immortals as if they had drunk fine wine, making them lose control.

At the end of the dance, peach blossoms fell from the sky. Sun Wukong put away his jade flute, transformed it back into hair, and regrew it atop his head. Ao Yun followed behind Sun Wukong, standing to one side.

The East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang was all smiles, radiating springtime cheer.

He could see that his own daughter and the Eastern Leisurely Spirit King were a match made in heaven.

"Big Brother, congratulations!" the other three Dragon Kings laughed.

"It's still early yet."

Ao Guang chuckled merrily; he and the other three Dragon Kings had arrived a bit late, coming after the banquet was nearly over because they had gone to heaven to report on their duties.

But catching this scene, the four venerable dragons were also elated.

"Everyone, shall we go to Shuilian Cave for a look?" Sun Wukong smiled, "Inside my Shuilian Cave lies a treasure, perfect for sharing with you all. Those who are fated might even get to taste it."

"What treasure could it be?" Zhen Yuanzi edged closer to Sun Wukong, whispering as he glanced at the immortals behind him, "Tell me first, brother."

"Zhenyuan, no rush, no rush. Everyone will see once we enter—it's not something to hide," replied Sun Wukong, keeping them in suspense. Together with Zhen Yuan, Taibaijinxing, and Nezha, he walked across the white jade bridge toward Shuilian Tower.

Following were Ao Yun, Yuyan, and Iron Fan, and then came the Three Stars of Wealth, Prosperity and Longevity, the Nine Luminaries, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, and various scattered immortals from overseas.

Outside the tower, stone lions Shi Wu and Shi Wu greeted the immortals with nods, which were all returned in kind in the manner of Sun Wukong.

Guarding peace for one region, bringing auspiciousness to a household.

These two stone lions had already become enlightened, thus they were worthy of the immortals' salutations.

And among the works of art carved and crafted by mortals, few could achieve enlightenment. Those that could were exceptional.

With enlightened stone lions guarding outside Shuilian Cave, wasn't this proof that the Eastern Leisurely Spirit King was a virtuous being?

They were certainly deserving of respect.

After all, there might come a day when they would seek the aid of these stone lions.

Entering Shuilian Cave, it was brilliantly bright inside, with no need for sun or moon to shine splendidly.

Pavilions, towers, palaces, and halls were too many to count.

And with different heights and layouts throughout the cave, from a distance it bore a resemblance to the Heavenly Court.

"It truly is a cave paradise!"

"Indeed, it's a land of blessing!" Rеаdеr suppоrt аt М*VLЕМ*РYR mаdе this trаnslаtiоn pоssiblе.

The immortals could hardly contain their excitement. Led by Sun Wukong, they leisurely admired the sights, drifting among clouds and mists, until they finally arrived before the towering hundred-zhang-high Mortal Dust Peach Tree.

Surrounded by a tranquil pond, still as a mirror, it reflected their figures, almost as if it could reveal their hearts.

Yet the immortals' gazes landed on the colossal Mortal Dust Peach Tree that seemed to support the entire cave heaven.

Jade leaves and golden branches were not mere words but realities.

Interspersed among its jade leaves were countless unripe peaches of green and red, but it also bore three thousand ripe ones, glowing like red jade, resembling agate.

Just a whiff of their fragrance and the immortals were almost intoxicated.

Sober in body but drunken in spirit, as if entering the mortal world.

The Three Stars of Wealth, Prosperity, and Longevity had some knowledge of all kinds of celestial treasures, but such a peach tree was unheard of, unseen before.

Nezha wore a curious expression.

Among the immortals, he was the only one who had been here before. The last time, there was only a clear spring pool, so how did an old peach tree appear? Could it be the work of Sun Wukong's transformation?

It looked naturally grown, not like a celestial tree forced by spells.

As he was pondering, Nezha saw Sun Wukong wink at him, understanding the message: Don't tell.

Nezha nodded subtly.

After all, it was just an additional peach tree—nothing too serious.

Zhen Yuanzi marveled at the peach tree, "My brother, this peach tree of yours is just as impressive as my ginseng fruit tree in appearance alone. What kind of peach tree is it?"

Sun Wukong explained, "This is the Mortal Dust Peach Tree, cultivated amidst the mortal world. The fruit it bears are the Mortal Dust Peaches. Eating one is akin to experiencing a lifetime of trials and tribulations as a mortal."

The immortals were astonished, and the Three Stars of Wealth, Prosperity, and Longevity exclaimed, "There's such a treasure in this world!"

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "The world is vast and wonders abound. Beyond the Three Realms, there also exist other worlds. A single Mortal Dust Peach Tree is nothing out of the ordinary. Those among you with the ability, if you can pluck the fruit of Mortal Dust, feel free to eat."

Gazing at the grand red jade peaches, the immortals looked at each other, none daring to make the first move.

It seemed that picking the Mortal Dust Peaches came with its prohibitions, and without knowing the reasons, they feared to act rashly.

"My brother, don't keep us in suspense, tell us how one might pluck these Mortal Dust Peaches," Zhen Yuanzi said.

"Very well,"

Sun Wukong let out a sigh and said with seriousness, "These Mortal Dust Peaches can only be plucked by those who are of the mortal world or those who have gained an understanding of it."

"Otherwise, you can't even think about touching them, not to mention getting close to this Mortal Dust Tree."

"This is one thing."

One thing?

So there is also a second thing?

Zhen Yuanzi was curious and pressed Sun Wukong to continue, urging him not to keep them hanging.

But Sun Wukong just chuckled, "Why the rush, Brother Zhen Yuan? The second is about the taboos of consuming it. If you manage to pluck it, then it won't be too late for Old Sun to tell."