Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"It's you?"

The naval commanders were startled and turned around to see Sun Wukong standing about ten feet behind them, watching them with a cold smirk. When had this demon monkey arrived, and how had they not noticed?

"Sun Wukong, the marshal has already assigned housing to you. What are you doing here?"

The naval commander whose treasured sword was broken by Sun Wukong on the previous occasion in the great hall shouted harshly.

"That little cabin you're talking about? I've checked it out. Too small, can't fit in it!"

A flash of golden light shone in Sun Wukong's eyes as he glanced over the detached houses to the west and chuckled. He spotted an empty house that clearly no one had lived in. That dead fat pig, Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng, had the nerve to say that there was a housing shortage. A housing shortage? Bullcrap. He was just giving me a hard time!

"There's an empty house over there. I'll be living there from now on!"

With that, he turned and leisurely walked towards the empty house he'd spotted.

"Stop right there!"

A few naval commanders surrounded him, blocking Sun Wukong's path. "Who you live with, that's for the marshal to decide! You've been given a small cabin, and that's already giving you plenty of face. Just a minor demon monkey from the lower realm, do you really think you are the Great Sage Equalling Heaven? If you dare act recklessly, don't blame us for being merciless in military law!"

"Merciless in military law?"

Sun Wukong suddenly laughed. "Coincidentally, I also made military laws when I was in Flower-Fruit Mountain. I am quite curious to see how different your Heavenly River Navy's military laws are!"

As soon as he finished his sentence, Sun Wukong's expression suddenly turned stern, and he continued walking forward. "I want to see who can stop me today!"

"How dare you!"

"Capture him!"

The naval commanders were furious. They had spent many years in the Heavenly River Navy, and every newcomer reported with trepidation and respect. They had never seen anyone as arrogant as Sun Wukong!

Drawing their swords and sabers, the naval commanders slashed ferociously at Sun Wukong. A flash of cold light appeared in his eyes, followed by a surge of overwhelming aura erupting from him, causing all the attacking treasured swords and long sabers to be suspended in the air, unable to strike him.

"Roll out of my sight!"

With a roar, a violent shockwave spread out in all directions. The naval commanders were struck as if hit by lightning, thrown into the air, rolling on the ground several times before coming to a stop, vomiting several mouthfuls of blood.

Merely the release of his aura had badly injured the naval commanders!

"A, a Daluo Golden Immortal powerhouse!"

Sun Wukong's full release of his aura had finally revealed his cultivation strength, leaving the naval commanders in shock. Sun Wukong was actually at the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm!

In the entire Heavenly River Navy, the highest cultivation level was possessed by Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng, who held peak Taiyi Golden Immortal strength. As for Daluo Golden Immortals, they were strong enough to intimidate a domain on their own, and among the Heavenly Court Generals, there was only Erlang showing his divine might.

It was rumored that Nezha the Third Prince had also made a breakthrough. Aside from these, no one had heard of anyone reaching such cultivation levels. Who would've thought that this demon monkey, Sun Wukong, was also a Daluo Golden Immortal!

No wonder he was so arrogant, not taking the Heavenly River Navy's military orders seriously, openly defying orders from Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng. He had the capital to be arrogant!

"That room, from now on, is mine! Anyone who disagrees, or wants to discuss military law with me, is welcome to come and see me anytime. I'll surely accompany you to the end!"

He crouched down to gently pat the face of one naval commander and, with a smile, left a remark before casually walking into the detached house. The door closed with a "snap," leaving behind a group of naval commanders lying on the ground, stunned and speechless, staring at each other in bafflement for a long time without a word.

The conflict between Sun Wukong and the naval commanders in the western garden of the Naval Marshal's Mansion had quickly reached the ears of Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng. At first, Zhu Tianpeng was furiously enraged.

But when he heard about Sun Wukong's Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm cultivation level, just as he was about to storm out of the great hall, he abruptly froze, turning stiffly to ask the reporting commander with a somewhat dry voice, "What did you just say? That demon monkey Sun Wukong is a Daluo Golden Immortal? You sure you saw it correctly?"

"Marshal! Absolutely no mistake! After Sun Wukong released his aura, he directly blasted us away. We all got seriously injured. It was clear, he truly is a Daluo Golden Immortal!"

"Hiss~!"

Zhu Tianpeng sucked in a breath of cold air, his body folding back from his intent to burst out of the great hall. His face showed despair as he paced back and forth with a continuous wry smile. "What is His Majesty the Jade Emperor thinking? To actually send a Daluo Golden Immortal to our Heavenly River Navy. How am I supposed to command him?"

In the Three Realms, the strong were respected. Zhu Tianpeng himself was only at the peak Taiyi Golden Immortal level. Before Sun Wukong arrived, he was the one with the highest cultivation and strongest power in the entire Heavenly River Navy, so all one hundred thousand troops obeyed him, following his commands without question.

But now, with Sun Wukong's sudden arrival as a Daluo Golden Immortal, how was he supposed to manage?

The difference between a Daluo Golden Immortal and a peak Taiyi Golden Immortal was only a fine line, but their strength was worlds apart. Not to mention Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Tianpeng, even if the entire Heavenly River Navy with its hundred thousand troops combined forces, they would not necessarily be able to defeat Sun Wukong alone!

Zhu Tianpeng was developing a headache, the coming days wouldn't likely be pleasant.

"Marshal, what should we do now? Should we handle that Demon Monkey with military law?"

"Smack!"

As soon as the naval general finished speaking, his head was smacked hard. Zhu Tianpeng scolded irritably, "Military law, my ass! Who's going to handle it? Who can handle it? You, or me, the marshal?"

Just one look at Sun Wukong and anyone could tell he wasn't the type to submit without a fight. If they enraged him and a fight broke out, with Wukong's cultivation strength as a Da Luo Golden Immortal, Zhu Tianpeng would probably be beaten to the ground in just a few hits, wouldn't he?

"Then, then report to His Majesty the Jade Emperor?"

"Smack!"

Another smack came flying. Zhu Tianpeng was fuming, "Do you have the brains of a pig? Do you think His Majesty the Jade Emperor would bother with such trivial matters? When His Majesty asks what crime the Demon Monkey has committed and why it should be brought to the Heavenly Court's attention, how should I, the marshal, explain? Do I say it's because I tried to show him who's boss and failed? Idiot!"

"Yes, yes! My mind is dull. Then, Marshal, what should we actually do?"

Having taken two hard knocks to the head, the naval general didn't even dare to rub it and could only ask again with a forced smile.

"Do nothing! That detached house was vacant anyway. If he wants to stay there, let him be. We'd better stay away from him as much as possible to avoid conflicts and possible losses!"

Zhu Tianpeng said, then paused before continuing, "Have someone keep a close watch on him to see if he makes any suspicious moves! If we can gather evidence, I, the marshal, would then have something to report to His Majesty!"

"Yes, Marshal!"

In the Jade Pond Water Pavilion, within the Queen Mother's bedroom.

"Zi Lan, do you really have your heart set on that Demon Monkey, er, on Sun Wukong?"

The Queen Mother looked at the kneeling Zi Lan Fairy, her brow deeply furrowed.

"Your Highness, Zi Lan's fate has been linked with Wukong's since the day of our births. I was but a Zi Lan Immortal Herb on Flower-Fruit Mountain, benefitting from the abundance of nature's essence from the Immortal Stone that nurtured Wukong.

Later, Wukong even gave me a drop of his Heart's Essence Blood which allowed me to cultivate a Spiritual Body and to be noticed by the Fairy of Hundred Flowers, who then brought me to the Hundred Flowers Garden in the Heavenly Court. Your Highness, Zi Lan has long decided on Wukong, and in this life, I shall marry no other!"

Zi Lan Fairy prostrated earnestly to the Queen Mother.

"He gave you a drop of his Heart's Essence Blood to help you shape-shift? No wonder then!"

A trace of surprise flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes. She had been told by the Fairy of Hundred Flowers that Zi Lan Fairy was cultivated from a Zi Lan Immortal Herb and brought from the Mortal World to the Heavenly Court. She hadn't expected, however, that Zi Lan Fairy hailed from Flower-Fruit Mountain and shared such a bond with Sun Wukong. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

"No wonder you scorn the other Immortals and Gods. I thought you were indifferent and free from desire, but all this time, you have been waiting for Sun Wukong," the Queen Mother sighed. "Child, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Rules in the Heavenly Court were strict, especially regarding romance between males and females. Unless sanctioned by the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, male and female divinities were not permitted to fall in love privately, much less with mortals or the Demon Clan.

If discovered, they would be stripped of all their cultivation, cast down to the Mortal World to be reborn, and all memories from this life would be erased.

This was only manageable because it involved Zi Lan Fairy. Had it been anyone else, the Queen Mother wouldn't have listened to their explanation and would have ordered punishment according to the celestial rules!

"It was wrong of Zi Lan to keep this from Your Highness. Please grant us your blessing!"

Zi Lan Fairy prostrated again, tears gleaming in her eyes.

"Alright, rise. Let me give this some thought! You are my most beloved girl, and I have discussed it with His Majesty. At the Peach of Immortality Banquet three years from now, I will publicly adopt you as my goddaughter in the presence of all the immortals below heaven. From that day forward, you will be the Eighth Princess of the Heavenly Court.

If Sun Wukong wishes to marry you, I will have to see if he is truly worthy!"

The Queen Mother waved her sleeve and lifted Zi Lan Fairy from the ground with a surge of force.

"The Peach Banquet, taking me as your goddaughter? Your Highness, this, this is too much!"

Zi Lan Fairy was startled. Although she had heard rumors that the Queen Mother intended to adopt her as a goddaughter, it had always been hearsay. This was the first time the Queen Mother had mentioned it herself, and to imagine it happening at the Peach Banquet and in front of all the immortals was an honor that Zi Lan found overwhelming.

More importantly, Zi Lan Fairy was aware of Sun Wukong's ambitions; he was destined to become an adversary to the Heavenly Court someday. In such a case, how would she position herself?