That boy has been gone for quite some time now...
I wonder if he has met the two Immortals...
White Ape gazed into the fog before him, his mind a flutter of thoughts.
Despite its aged appearance, its mind still retained the innocence and caprice of a young monkey.
Yet just as humans’ mindsets change with the aging body, monkeys cannot escape this law either.
What had only occurred a month ago felt like decades had passed in a fleeting illusion.
Touching the white whiskers on its chin, White Ape sighed inwardly at the inexorable passage of time.
Its thoughts involuntarily returned to the scene when it first encountered the two Immortals...
"You sure are a sly monkey. Well then, since I’ve partaken of your fruit and your wine, I shall bear the consequences thereof. Speak, what do you desire?"
The white-robed Immortal seemed very angry, yet spoke quite placidly. Mao Mao, though not particularly clever, had a talent for sensing emotions and could clearly tell that the other was merely pretending to be upset.
"Immortal, Immortal, I want to control my own fate, I want strength, to no longer be bullied! Please guide me, Immortal."
"Heh, strength, is it? That’s rather unadorned and simple." scoffed the black-robed Immortal.
"Mortal beings are mostly like that. Star Lord, why mock them? Little monkey—strength comes in many forms. There’s the strength of a healthy body, the strength of wisdom and learning, and of course, the strength of Spell. You, obstinate monkey, can’t learn Spell, but you can choose between a strong physique and exceptional wisdom."
As he spoke, he extended his hands out, each holding a fruit.
"Eat this blue fruit, and you will become strong as an ox, capable of slaying wolves, leopards, and tigers with your bare hands.
Eat this red fruit, and you shall gain a comprehension beyond mortals, capable of having satori among nature’s laws and perceiving many different things."
Mao Mao scratched his head, instinctively wanting to grab the blue fruit, yet contemplating the Monkey King’s tyrannical behavior, he felt disdainful.
With a grit of his teeth, he reached out and clutched the red fruit in his paw.
Seeing this, the white-robed Immortal couldn’t help but smile slightly, "Ha ha, such a teachable child."
Mao Mao bit into the fruit without discerning any special flavor, swallowing it down in three or two bites. As he chewed, he suddenly bit into a pit.
Now with some wisdom in his heart, he felt as if the confusing matters of the past were suddenly making sense. An idea struck him, and he tucked the pit into the palm of his hand.
He thought to himself that he would plant it later, and if a multitude of red fruits grew, wouldn’t that make all the monkeys in the valley just as intelligent? He could then create a glorious era for monkeys...
"Alright, little monkey, you have been granted your desire, so make haste and leave. The place you passed on your way here is known as Wangliu River, a place of ill-omen. Our fate is but a single thread, and now it’s at its end. Don’t come looking for us again, or it will just be a waste of time. Remember well."
Elated, Mao Mao readily agreed.
He turned and walked back the way he came, and when he reached the Wangliu River shrouded in thick mist, he looked at the unpredictable fog, like the unknowable journey of life, unable to see through it, yet he had a flicker of realization. He had a vague sense that the power contained within Wangliu River seemed to be related to time...
"Senior Yuan, I have returned!"
A figure suddenly appeared from the fog ahead.
White Ape was jolted from his reminiscences, looking up to see Xiao Jie emerging from the mist.
His heart leapt with joy.
The doubts in his heart, how to escape bewilderment and confusion, perhaps now he would find answers.
"Good, good, it’s good you’re back, kid. Did you manage to get a clear answer?"
At that moment, a dialogue box popped up before Xiao Jie.
Option 1: I found the Immortals, but I didn’t ask Senior Yuan’s question. Instead, I asked my own question (Favorability -50).
Option 2: I didn’t find the Immortals, I’m sorry Senior Yuan, I have failed the entrusted task. (Mission Failed).
Option 3: I have gotten the details clearly, this is what the Immortals said... (Persuade).
Xiao Jie was rather nervous inside. If the persuasion failed, the favorability might plummet, possibly even leading to a fight.
But recalling his plan, he grew confident and decisively chose the third option.
"Senior Yuan, I have inquired clearly for you. The Immortal said that you feel unhappy and confused because you have an identity crisis. You are not human and look down on humans for their cunning and cruelty towards animals.
Yet you are not a normal monkey; you can’t stand the ignorance and the aimless lives of those monkeys.
So to resolve the doubts in your heart and live happily, you need to determine your identity, whether you want to be a human or remain a monkey. Once you find your sense of belonging, you can dispel the cloud of confusion and truly be happy."
White Ape nodded, having some insight into this. "Of course, I know that, but how can one achieve a sense of belonging? Did the Immortal give any advice on that?"
Xiao Jie said, "The Immortal did indeed have advice. He said there are two methods.
First is to become one of the monkeys, enjoy the bliss of ignorance, for though those monkeys might seem foolish, aren’t they living happier than you?
Second is to become a human, join humanity. So the saying goes, by residing with the Xiu you become one of them, and by living among humans you become human. After all, humans are the most intelligent of beings, and when Demons cultivate to a certain level, they often take human form and mingle in human society. Why not do the same, Senior?