The monkeys, upon hearing this, couldn't contain their excitement. They murmured, asking the stone monkey to lead the way and guide them inside.
Closing his eyes and crouching down, the stone monkey leaped inside while shouting, "Follow me in!"
The brave monkeys, seeing the stone monkey entering and exiting without any risk, followed him. Some timid ones hesitated, scratching their heads and contemplating, but eventually, urged by the impatient monkeys, they jumped in too.
Entering the Water Curtain Cave, the monkeys were overjoyed, exploring every corner, touching this basin and tapping that bowl. They sat on stone stools and lay on stone beds, having a great time.
After playing for a while, the stone monkey noticed that no one mentioned making him their king. So, he stood on the highest chair in the center of the cave and shouted:
"Everyone, please pause and listen to me. You said that anyone who can enter and exit without harm can be your king. Now, I've gone in and out, and without any damage, I've found this wonderful cave for you all. Do you intend to fulfill your promise and make me your king?"
Upon hearing this, some monkeys were willing to keep their promise, some were confused, and some simply didn't care. There was also a tall and fierce ape showing a hint of aggression.
The imposing ape rudely pushed aside two small monkeys in front of him and walked towards the stone monkey. He knocked the two monkeys down, causing a commotion. When the two small monkeys looked up and saw it was the ape, they fell silent, not daring to speak.
This ape, known for bullying the weaker monkeys, was rumored to have even eaten some of his own kind. Many monkeys had been oppressed by him, but they had to endure it because he was too powerful and fierce. They dared not speak up against him.
"You, with your small arms and legs, an orphaned stone monkey, what ability do you have to make us worship you as king?" The ape approached the stone monkey, looking down at him with disdain.
The stone monkey was taken aback, thinking that this scene wasn't in any TV show. He responded, "Without trust, one cannot be known. Since everyone agreed to this, you shouldn't go back on your word."
"When did I say I would go back on my word?" the ape retorted.
"If you're not going back on your word, then quickly worship me as your king," the stone monkey scolded, narrowing his eyes.
"We said anyone who can enter and exit without harm can be our king. Now, every monkey here can do that. Doesn't that mean anyone can be king?" The ape turned abruptly, facing the monkeys and asked, "Tell me, am I wrong?"
Upon hearing this, the monkeys realized that what the ape had said was true. Entering and exiting the Water Curtain Cave was not a difficult task, and everyone could do it without harming themselves. Discussions ensued.
"Yeah, that's right. Since it's so easy, why should we worship that stone monkey as our king?"
"Exactly, we have the same abilities. I won't willingly accept him as our king."
Suddenly, the ape roared, interrupting the monkeys' discussions. With a powerful shake of his arms, he declared, "The strong should rule. I am undoubtedly the strongest here, so the position of Monkey King rightfully belongs to me!"
After saying this, the ape cast a sharp gaze over the monkeys and continued, "If anyone disagrees, come forward and challenge me. Unless someone defeats me, you must all worship me as your king!"
The monkeys, fearing the consequences, fell silent. Unable to speak, they stood frozen in their places, unsure of what to do.
"Since no one dares to challenge me, the position of Monkey King is rightfully mine," the ape proclaimed. With a smile on his face, he walked towards the chair beneath the stone monkey, and like swatting a fly, he swung his right hand towards the stone monkey's face.
Reacting quickly, the stone monkey extended his arm, grabbed the ape's right palm, and forcefully twisted it. A crisp sound of breaking bones echoed as the ape's hand was gruesomely broken.
"Ah! I will kill you and feast on your flesh, suck your marrow!" The ape's face twisted in pain, and he howled, clutching his broken hand. Glaring at the stone monkey with resentment.
The stone monkey tossed the broken hand to the ground, leaped high into the air, and fiercely smashed his fist into the ape's chest.
"Bang!"
A dull thud resonated, followed by the abrupt silence of the ape's agonizing cries coming to an end.
The monkeys, fixing their gaze on the scene, felt a chill down their spines. The ape's mighty and imposing figure now had an additional bloody hole, his heart shattered by the stone monkey's punch.
"Now, why haven't you worshipped me as your king? What are you waiting for?" The stone monkey stood up, suppressing the nausea rising within him, and stared at the monkeys with eyes as sharp as knives.
Afraid of meeting the same fate as the ape, the monkeys immediately prostrated themselves. "Hail the Thousand-Year Reign King!"
Seeing this, the stone monkey resumed his seat in the center, leaning against the high chair, and accepted the monkeys' worship.
After the worship ceremony, a long-armed ape, the one who suggested earlier to acknowledge whoever could enter and exit without harm as their king, stepped forward. It was the ape who had proposed that the stone monkey be their king. Opening his mouth, he said, "In that case, why not drop the 'stone' and be called the Handsome Monkey King?"
"Good idea!" The stone monkey nodded in agreement. He added, "But since I already have a name, call me Handsome Monkey King Sun Wukong."
"Sun Wukong?" The long-armed ape was visibly shaken, a hint of disbelief in his eyes, quickly concealed. He praised, "Sun Wukong, indeed a great name. From now on, we will address you as the Handsome Monkey King Sun Wukong."
"Since my surname is Sun, then from this day forward, all the monkeys on Flower Fruit Mountain should also have the surname Sun." Sun Wukong declared.
Hearing this, the monkeys erupted in joy, excitedly exclaiming, "I have a surname now, I have a surname!"