Chapter 5: The Handsome Monkey King

The morning sun rose, casting golden light across the horizon, rippling gently over the surface of the sea. Mount Huaguo awakened from its slumber, and the monkey troop soon grew lively. They leaped through the forest, busy gathering wild flowers and searching for enticing tree fruits.

Shi Yu had long since become familiar with the monkeys; in a short time, he had mastered the art of picking lice. The elder gibbon in the troop particularly appreciated his craftsmanship, finding him patient, earnest, and thorough in his cleaning. Through this interaction, from yesterday to this morning, the troop had swiftly accepted Shi Yu as one of their own.

Shi Yu smiled at the Stone Monkey, who was playing by the stream, and asked, "Do you know where this stream comes from?"

Shi Kong splashed some water on his face, looked toward the mountain springs hidden in the woods, and simply shook his head.

"Does my elder brother know?"

"I, too, do not know." Shi Yu laughed. He jumped onto a large rock in the stream, looked around, and called out to the troop, "Since this clear spring’s origin is unknown, and we have nothing to do today, why don't we follow the water and search for its source? Let us see what kind of scenery lies up there. What do you say?"

Upon hearing his brother's proposal, the Stone Monkey was filled with boundless spirit. He was the first to shout in agreement, "I am willing to go with my brother!"

"Good! Good! Good!" The elder gibbon and the younger monkeys all chimed in, creating a scene of great excitement. These furry creatures loved a commotion, and now, filled with fervor, they began calling out to their companions. Thousands of monkeys trekked along the murmuring stream, leaping and weaving through the woods, forming a spectacular sight.

However, the quest for the source of the stream proved to be much longer than expected. After climbing the mountain for an entire day, they still had not found its beginning. Seeing that evening was approaching, the troop found a cave, chased out the insects and pythons that lived inside, and claimed it for themselves.

Shi Yu thought to himself that if they couldn't find it tomorrow, he would have to leave when his time was up. The time dilation between these two worlds was immense. In Great Xia, even if he visited once a day, an entire year would pass in the world of *Journey to the West*. It was truly as the old saying went: "One day apart is like three autumns."

Shi Yu sighed, feeling a sense of melancholy. He picked up a branch and began tracing patterns in the dirt.

"Is my brother writing?" The Stone Monkey scampered over, his bright eyes wide. "Could you teach me?"

"You are indeed eager to learn." Seeing the Stone Monkey’s curiosity, Shi Yu couldn't help but think of the future Great Sage, who would one day travel across the ocean for over a decade just to seek immortality and the path of truth—a dedication to learning that no one could match. The Stone Monkey before him already possessed a hint of that spirit.

"If you wish to learn, I shall teach you."

"Read after me."

"One, two, three, four, five; metal, wood, water, fire, earth; heaven and earth divide high and low; the sun and moon illuminate the present and the past!"

As Shi Yu chanted, he used the branch to write in the sandy soil. The Stone Monkey read along, studying the strokes.

"You must firmly remember our surname, Shi."

"And you must remember your name, Kong."

Halfway through the lesson, Shi Yu had a sudden intuition. "Let me teach you two more characters."

"What characters?" asked the Stone Monkey curiously.

"One is: Sun." Shi Yu carefully wrote the character in the dirt, stroke by stroke, with great precision. "The other is: Wu."

The Stone Monkey tilted his head, puzzled. "Is there something special about these two?"

"Nothing at all. You will understand in time, and you will find them useful." Having said this, Shi Yu remained silent on the matter, refusing to reveal another word.

"My brother is speaking in riddles again." The Stone Monkey sighed in frustration. During this time, he had grown accustomed to his brother’s mysterious ways.

By the light of the moon, within a little over an hour, the Stone Monkey had memorized all the common characters. Shi Yu couldn't help but marvel internally; as expected of a Lingming Stone Monkey, he was incredibly intelligent.

"It is late. I will teach you more when we have the chance."

"Thank you, brother!" The Stone Monkey bowed deeply and respectfully to Shi Yu.

A sound echoed in Shi Yu’s mind:

[Host Achievement: Teacher to All]
[Evolution Points: +3]
[Host Evolution Points: 8/100]
[Achievement Reward: The Measuring Ruler]
[Instructions: An ancient and mysterious artifact capable of measuring the depth of a target’s cultivation, as well as evaluating the power and quality of martial techniques and magical treasures, allowing for better instruction.]

*Isn't this a battle power detector?* He thought. *I can use this before fights to know myself and my enemy, and be invincible in every battle!*

Shi Yu pondered for a moment, then stood up and returned a deep, formal bow to the Stone Monkey.

The Stone Monkey jumped in shock. "You mustn't! You mustn't!"

"I must, I must." Shi Yu shook his brother's hand with deep emotion. *What a good man—oh, I mean, what a good monkey.*

*If this continues,* Shi Yu’s thoughts wandered, *will I unlock an achievement for sleeping in the same bed as the Great Sage?*

...

The next day.

Shi Yu checked the system; there were no new achievements. The monkey troop continued their journey with enthusiasm. Before long, they faintly heard a low, thunderous roar.

Shi Yu’s spirits lifted. He immediately signaled the troop to hurry forward. As they approached, the roar became clearer, like the growl of a giant beast. The air grew increasingly moist, refreshing with every breath.

Turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up. A massive waterfall cascaded down from the top of a cliff that reached into the clouds. The water crashed against the rocks, kicking up countless white sprays and foam, emitting a deafening sound. The monkeys, large and small, gasped in amazement, leaping and filled with joy.

They swarmed forward until they reached the base of the waterfall. Looking up at the vertical cascade, they felt its immense power and grandeur. The water surged like an army of thousands, rushing toward the deep pool below with the force of a lightning bolt.

Shi Yu calculated the time; his departure was near. He hesitated no longer. He jumped forward, turned his back to the waterfall, faced the monkeys, and shouted, "Such beautiful mountains and waters! Whoever among you has the talent to plunge through this waterfall and find its source, and come out unharmed, we shall bow to him as our King. How about that?"

Shi Yu shouted three times. The monkeys were stirred, but none dared to be the first to take the risk. His gaze fell upon the Stone Monkey, filled with profound meaning.

Their eyes met, and without a word, the Stone Monkey understood his brother’s intent. He leaped out without hesitation and called out, "I will go in! I will go in!"

Shi Yu revealed a smile of relief. *Go, take that first step into legend. The world will surely remember your name!*

The Stone Monkey’s body arched like a drawn bow, gathering all his strength for this moment.

"Boom!"

With a earth-shattering roar, the Stone Monkey lunged forward like a meteor streaking across the sky, rushing toward the waterfall that draped over the cliff. His figure shimmered with golden light under the sun. He looked like a god walking among mortals, awe-inspiring and magnificent.

Shi Yu gazed at the retreating Great Sage as his own form began to fade, surrounded by specks of light. The moment of parting had arrived.

In his final breath, he shouted, "Little Kong, when you emerge, remember: you shall be King."

"The world-renowned Handsome Monkey King!"