On the following day, Sun Wukong was practicing beneath a waterfall on the back mountain, comprehending the Tao.
"Wukong," Bodhi Patriarch called out, holding a horsetail whisk, as he appeared in the distance.
"Disciple pays respects to Master," Wukong's form flashed, and he quickly moved forward to bow in greeting.
"You have comprehended the Tao for a year; how well have you grasped the Daoist magic?" Bodhi Patriarch asked with a smile.
"Disciple started with Master's teachings and comprehended the way of the staff. I have now reached one level of realm," Wukong replied with a smile, "Additionally, I learned archery from a chopper of firewood and thus understood the principles of the Way of the Arrow. After reflecting for a year, I, too, have attained one level of realm in that aspect."
Bodhi Patriarch paused in waving his horsetail whisk, then stroked his beard, saying, "Good, very good. Then I can rest assured. You may leave the mountain now."
"Leave the mountain?" Wukong turned around subconsciously, but then quickly realized what was happening, and scratching his face, he said, "Master, your disciple just returned from the woodcutter's house yesterday."
"Where did you come from?" Bodhi Patriarch asked.
"Disciple came here from the Water Curtain Cave in Flower-Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country, Eastern Shengzhou," Wukong quickly replied, already understanding what was implied.
Was Master asking him to leave the mountain?
Before learning the Way of Slaughter last time, the all-knowing predecessor Hong Zhi inadvertently revealed that he would be asked to leave the mountain by the Patriarch due to showing off.
Thus, during this year, he had diligently practiced and never flaunted his abilities in front of his fellow disciples. Why then did his master still want him to leave?
Sure enough, he heard the Bodhi Patriarch say, "You came from there, so return there. You have been here for ten years. It is time for you to leave the mountain."
"Master, your disciple is indebted to you for your great kindness in imparting your teachings, and I have not yet repaid you in any way, how can I leave!" Wukong spoke earnestly, "Besides, I have not yet perfected my skills; how can I leave?"
"Talk not of repaying kindness," Bodhi Patriarch sighed, "A teacher's duty is to impart knowledge, take on disciples, and dispel doubts. I was merely doing what I should. If you have learnt well and do not use the skills you have acquired for evil, that will be the best repayment.
As for continuing your training, your skills are already accomplished, and I have nothing more to teach you.
As long as you do not forget your aspiration for cultivation, you will one day eventually ascend to the mixed Yuan realm."
Seeing that the Patriarch was firm in his words with no room for negotiation, Wukong had to accept it; perhaps this was an unchangeable future.
"I will keep Master's teachings close to my heart." He bowed once more, his heart inevitably filled with sorrow and reluctance.
Having been in the mountains for ten years, and although only training under his Master for three years, those three years deeply moved him with a sense of profound gratitude towards his teacher.
The old Master granted him his name and never kept any secrets from him.
Whatever he wished to learn, the Master would teach without asking for anything in return.
Reflecting on this, Wukong, unable to part, said, "Master, your disciple will definitely come to visit you often in the future."
"There is no need, we will meet again if it's destined," Bodhi Patriarch said, "but there is one more thing I'd like to give you."
"Please tell me, Master," Wukong promptly replied.
"I have mentioned this before," Bodhi Patriarch said sternly, "I hope that you will hold on to your true self in the future, perform more good deeds, and avoid doing evil. Even if misfortune and great sorrow befall you, you must not sink deep into the demonic path, otherwise I will surely not forgive you!"
"Your disciple has noted it!" Wukong earnestly bowed.
"Go now," Bodhi Patriarch waved his horsetail whisk then turned and disappeared from sight.
"Master, your disciple is leaving," Wukong bowed once more to the ground, stayed a while before getting up, then leapt on his cloud, heading back to the Eastern Ocean.
Atop Magic Square Mountain, Bodhi Patriarch and the woodcutter looked into the distance, watching the cloud disappear before withdrawing their gazes.
The two of them, one puzzled, the other astounded.
"It was reasonable for him to grasp the principles of the Way of the Staff, but when did he comprehend the Way of the Arrow?" the woodcutter could hardly conceal his astonishment, "It's only been a year, a year!
And he has even cultivated both profound principles to the first realm!"
"I can no longer see through him," Bodhi Patriarch shook his head.
When Sun Wukong had initially wanted to learn the Way of Slaughter, he seized the opportunity to guide him into the principles of the law, imparting the practice of the staff with the hope that his surpassingly astute disciple would take three to five years just to enter the stage. Yet unexpectedly, Sun Wukong's cultivation of the Taoist magic had far surpassed his expectations.
There are three thousand great ways, each principle holding twelve realms.
As long as one can fully comprehend the first realm of any profound principle, and their cultivation reaches Da Luo's perfection, they have an opportunity to break through and become a Quasi-Saint Golden Immortal.
This meant that the Quasi-Saint realm no longer posed any challenge in front of Sun Wukong, just waiting for the perfection of "Great Luo" to naturally come to fruition.
The woodcutter slightly composed himself after the shock, then noticed a touch of hidden worry flickering in the eyes of the patriarch.
"Are you still worried, Master?" he asked.
"He has his own path to walk, what should I worry about," Patriarch Bodhi said, "Moreover, with Wukong's strength, in the current Three Realms, it's only he who bullies others, unless those shameless ones dare to pick on the weak."
"Master, you're worried about him falling into demonhood, aren't you?" the woodcutter bluntly revealed.
"Yes," Patriarch Bodhi sighed, "He is naive and simple-hearted, and his temperament is yet to be settled. He acts on his emotions, hence he could become an immortal or a demon."
"I think there's no need to worry about these," the woodcutter shook his head, "Although little junior brother's temperament is unsettled, he has a clear sense of right and wrong, hates evil as if it were his foe, and often acts kindly and takes joy in helping others. Even if he were really to enter the path of demons, he would be able to return to his true nature and correct his ways.
Moreover, if he does not go through adversities and profound enlightenment, how can he understand the grand game and turn himself into a player of it?"
"You see it very clearly, I really should send you out too," Patriarch Bodhi glanced at him.
"I am at ease now, master, please spare me," the woodcutter hurriedly begged for mercy, waving his hand to open a rift in the void, and left as if fleeing.
Meanwhile, Sun Wukong, riding on his somersault cloud, returned from Magic Square Mountain in the West Beef Hezhou to the Water Curtain Cave in Flower-Fruit Mountain in the East Shengzhou in less than an hour.
Standing on the cloud, he gazed at the immortal mountain island situated by the seaside from afar.
Sun Wukong had already shed the downturn of his farewell earlier, and became joyful, further feeling secretly proud of himself.
When he went, he paddled a wooden raft, rode the winds across the sea, wandered in the South Part Shenzhou in search of the Way, crossed the Western Sea, and finally reached Magic Square Mountain.
This journey took him seventeen or eighteen years.
But now, returning took less than an hour.
He had gained longevity and had also grown stronger. From now on, he could truly live freely and enjoy the wonders of eternal life with his children!
Thinking of this, Sun Wukong descended from the cloud head, directly towards Flower-Fruit Mountain, making his way to the Water Curtain Cave.
Suddenly, he heard the cries of cranes and monkeys, the sounds filled with profound sadness.
The heart-wrenching sounds prompted Wukong to shout, "Children, come out, all of you come out!"
"The Great King has come, the Great King has come!"
Countless voices responded, and from beneath the cliffs, among blooming flowers and in the woods, many monkeys of all sizes leapt out, gathering in their tens of thousands.
They surrounded Sun Wukong, each expressing their grievances.
"Great King, why were you gone for so long? We constantly hoped for your return!"
"Great King, recently a Demon King frequently came to bully us, attempting to seize our Water Curtain Cave. It was only through our desperate fighting that we preserved our home."
"Yes, Great King, that scoundrel recently stole our basic household items and captured many of our young, leaving us sleepless day and night."
"Great King, thankfully you've returned. Had you waited a few more years, our cave and all within it would have belonged to someone else."
Hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately became furious, "What kind of demon dares to act so brazenly? Tell me in detail, and I will seek him out to take revenge!"
An old monkey said, "Great King, that scoundrel calls himself 'Havoc-bringing Demon King' and resides in the land to the north."
Sun Wukong then asked, "From here to his place, how far is it?"
The frightened monkeys responded, "He comes amid clouds, leaves amid fog, sometimes with wind, rain, thunder, or lightning; we do not know the distance."
Sun Wukong consoled the monkeys, "In that case, do not be afraid, go on and play, while I seek him out!"
He then leapt up, riding his somersault cloud, and headed straight north.
Halfway there, standing on the cloud, Sun Wukong seemed to remember something.
He often consulted with seniors on the internet and was no longer the naive and simple-minded person he used to be.
"Strange indeed, having left for over twenty years, I never heard of any demon wanting to take over Flower-Fruit Mountain. Yet as soon as I decide to return, this Havoc-bringing Demon King appears?"
"Also, if that scoundrel could advance into the Water Curtain Cave, why only move worthless household items like stone basins and bowls?"
"Hmm, I remember a senior once said, 'If you think a coincidence is not a coincidence, then it surely is not a coincidence.'"