Gold Star Taibai's expression became solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Great Saint, the Heavenly Court has collapsed, causing utmost chaos in the Three Realms. Powerful demons and immortals have lost their restraints and are bringing calamity upon the common people. Taibai, under the Decree of Great Emperor Ziwei, invites you to come out of retirement to cleanse the realm of these demon clouds."
"I can."
Sun Wukong agreed readily.
Gold Star Taibai was overjoyed.
He had not anticipated that Sun Wukong would agree so easily.
"I have one condition."
Sun Wukong continued to speak.
Gold Star Taibai said with a smile, "Great Saint, feel free to speak your mind. It's not just one condition, even ten conditions would be acceptable. For the sake of the common people, Great Emperor Ziwei would agree to the Great Saint's terms."
Sun Wukong expressed his admiration, "Great Emperor Ziwei has a grand spirit; thus, I shall not be bashful."
"Please speak, Great Saint."
Sun Wukong, with a smiling expression, said, "My condition is quite simple. After I come out of retirement, Ziwei will join my ranks, and once the demon clouds of the Three Realms have been cleared, I will be revered as the Great Heavenly Venerate and lead the Three Realms."
The smile on Gold Star Taibai's face vanished instantly.
He said with a wry smile, "Great Saint, please don't joke like this."
The smile also disappeared from Sun Wukong's face, and he said indifferently, "It was you who started the joke. Why should Ziwei expect to enlist me into his service?"
Gold Star Taibai sighed and said, "I understand the Great Saint's intention. Now I can return to the Great Emperor to report."
He did not leave immediately but instead, his gaze fell upon Sun Wukong.
"Before I came, I considered that this mission might fail, always harboring a glimmer of hope. But now, there is not the slightest hope left."
Sun Wukong's eyebrows rose.
This old servant is actually quite decent.
His gaze intense, he gave a piece of advice, "Ziwei is not one to achieve great things. Choosing him at this moment is unwise."
As Sun Wukong finished speaking, he saw the bitter smile at the corner of Taibai's mouth.
He understood.
Sun Wukong laughed.
"No wonder. Go back and report. If you don't wish to leave, feel free to stay on Huaguo Mountain."
Gold Star Taibai laughed bitterly and said, "I wouldn't want to trouble the Great Saint."
He turned and left.
After leaving Huaguo Mountain, Gold Star Taibai went back to report to Great Emperor Ziwei.
"He too is a pitiful man," Sun Wukong said.
Lady Dragon of Wealth did not understand.
Gold Star Taibai, a trusted official under the Jade Emperor, what's there to pity?
Now that the Jade Emperor had just died, he promptly switched his allegiance to Great Emperor Ziwei.
Given his status, it was likely that he would be put to good use by Great Emperor Ziwei.
As the head of the Heavenly Civil Officials, naturally, he wasn't someone ordinary to be compared with.
Sun Wukong knew she didn't understand and didn't wish to explain so much to her.
On Mount Ji Lei, Red Boy was about to dash out towards the Purple Bamboo Forest.
He knew that the Bodhisattva Guanyin was in danger and might fall.
The Ox Demon King and his wife stopped Red Boy.
The Ox Demon King, dissatisfied, said, "With your strength, even if you find the Bodhisattva, you cannot help her. There is only one way to save the Bodhisattva."
Red Boy became excited immediately.
He knelt before the Ox Demon King, urgently saying, "Father, speak quickly."
"Find your Mr. Monkey."
The Ox Demon King did not beat around the bush and directly provided the solution.
Mr. Monkey?
Red Boy's eyes lit up.
"If Bodhisattva is faced with a deadly Jie, there are not many in the Three Realms who have the power to help her. Your Mr. Monkey is one of them. I will go with you to find your Mr. Monkey. When the time comes, your father and Mr. Monkey working together can withstand them all, even if Great Emperor Ziwei himself takes action, or Amitabha Buddha steps in."
The Ox Demon King spoke with an air of dominance.
He considered himself the foremost great sage of the Demon Clan.
The Demon Clan's recognition of him even surpassed that of Sun Wukong.
Strictly speaking, the demons across the Three Realms revered the Ox Demon King.
As for Sun Wukong, they feared him, for he had slain too many demons on the Journey to the West Path.
The Ox Demon King was truly the great sage of the Demon Clan, and his strength was, naturally, beyond question.
Red Boy said anxiously, "Then let's hurry and find Mr. Monkey."
"We'll set off right away."
The Ox Demon King did not delay.
In the beginning, when the Bodhisattva Guanyin took Red Boy to be Shancai, they were very angry.
Yet, as they later found out Red Boy could visit them, and since he had been taught well by the Bodhisattva, their feelings toward The Bodhisattva Guanyin turned to gratitude.
Now that the Bodhisattva was in trouble, neither spouse wished to stand by idly.
"Father, there's something I forgot to tell you,"
Red Boy's expression turned strange.
The Ox Demon King looked at him with suspicion, motioning for him to speak.
Red Boy relayed the matter concerning the Wealth Dragon Maiden.
It took the Ox Demon King and the Iron Fan Immortal a good dozen breaths to fully grasp the situation.
"Ha-ha, this monkey actually has an interest in women now, this is indeed a joyful event, I must congratulate him thoroughly," the Ox Demon King said, laughing heartily.
"It is also time to find a sister-in-law. The Wealth Dragon Maiden is the Dragon Clan's princess and a disciple of The Bodhisattva Guanyin, indeed she does not bring shame to Nihou," Iron Fan Immortal added, smiling at the corners of her mouth.
The family of three set off, traveling on clouds towards Huaguo Mountain in the Eastern Continent.
No sooner had Gold Star Taibai left than the family of three arrived.
"Brother, open up, your big brother has come," the Ox Demon King bellowed.
Sun Wukong's eyes brightened.
He promptly opened a path, letting the Ox Demon King and his family into Huaguo Mountain.
Red Boy was the first to rush in, kneeling directly in front of Sun Wukong.
"Mr. Monkey, please save the Bodhisattva," he pleaded.
The Wealth Dragon Maiden, standing by Sun Wukong's side, changed her expression immediately upon hearing Red Boy's words.
"What's happened to the Bodhisattva? Could it be that she's in danger?"
Red Boy nodded vigorously. With a morose face, he said, "I'm not sure, it's just a feeling. The Bodhisattva has dismissed all of us; she's clearly decided to undertake something, and it's very likely life-threatening. She didn't want to implicate us, which is why she asked us to leave. Now, the only one who can save the Bodhisattva is you, Mr. Monkey."
"Great Saint, I beg of you, please save the Bodhisattva,"
The Wealth Dragon Maiden also knelt before Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "Don't worry, with me, Old Sun here, the Bodhisattva won't die."
Red Boy and the Wealth Dragon Maiden let out a sigh of relief.
With Sun Wukong's words, they felt reassured.
"Nihou, it's been thousands of years, yet you still retain such a dominating presence," the Ox Demon King remarked admiringly, opening his arms for an embrace toward Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong too extended his arms but bypassed the Ox Demon King to wrap the Iron Fan Immortal in a hug.
"Sister-in-law, long time no see. You still sparkle with such dazzling beauty, utterly enchanting. With your looks, following this brute of an Ox, you're truly wasted," Sun Wukong teased.
The Ox Demon King's eyes bulged, and he huffed heavily through his nostrils.
To take liberties with his sister-in-law in front of him, Ox Demon King, was outrageous.
The Iron Fan Immortal spared Sun Wukong a soft smile, briefly hugging him back before saying, "Nihou is thoughtful as ever. This Ox has never quite grasped this concept. He's still keeping a mistress outside. If it weren't for the fact that Jade-Faced Fox was killed by Monk Sha all those years ago, he probably wouldn't even be coming home now."
The Ox Demon King was about to flare up, but upon hearing this, he immediately backed down.
He chuckled dryly, hastily adding, "Let's not dredge up the unpleasant past."