Volume 2: The Path That Can Be Told, Chapter 141: No Elegant Intent

Chi Songzi played with the Ruyi Golden Cudgel for a long time before reluctantly returning it to Wukong. Wukong quickly took it, noticing Chi Songzi’s expression of longing, and grew slightly worried that he might keep it for himself despite his status.
Seeing Wukong’s expression, Chi Songzi laughed and said, “Though this cudgel is good, it’s of no use to me. Don’t worry.”
Wukong’s face turned red, and he hurriedly changed the subject. “The Rain God once said that the phoenix serves as an accomplice to the tiger. May I ask boldly—who is the tiger?”
Upon hearing this, Chi Songzi’s smile faded again as he picked up his teacup and fell into thought.
Wukong thought to himself that as the saying goes, provocation works better than persuasion, so he said, “If that opponent is too powerful, it’s better not to mention it, to avoid bringing trouble upon oneself.”
Chi Songzi laughed and said, “You’re quite good at provoking people. I’ve never feared anything in my life. But just now I realized that since we old folks have our own agreements, we can’t casually bring this up.”
Wukong sneered, “Deluding yourself.”
Chi Songzi was stunned. He had always held a noble status, and no one dared speak to him like this. Yet Wukong’s sarcasm was precisely timed, and he couldn’t refute it. So he said, “Not at all. This matter must be kept in mind and not forgotten. But since your intention is merely for entertainment, forcing me to bring up old wounds—why go to such lengths?”
Wukong was astonished. It turned out the matter wasn’t unspeakable; it was just that Chi Songzi treated him as an outsider, so talking about it was pointless. In his past life, he had read many martial arts and fantasy novels where the protagonist cleared paths through mountains and built bridges over rivers—there were no such obstacles. Only now, meeting Chi Songzi, did he realize those were just tales. One thinks oneself indispensable, but in others’ eyes, one is just a passerby.
Wukong carefully searched for flaws in Chi Songzi’s words and said after some thought, “You say it must not be forgotten, but perhaps if given the chance, you’d still want to talk about it.”
Chi Songzi replied, “Perhaps… there will be no such chance again. But if I meet the person involved, I must pour out all my thoughts to him.”
“The Rain God, sometimes you talk about enemies, sometimes about opponents, and now about the person involved—what exactly is which? It’s confusing me,” said Wukong.
Chi Songzi replied, “Whatever it is, it has nothing to do with you. The person I’m talking about is the Seven Monkeys of Chaos. What good would it do to tell you?”
Wukong’s body trembled. Though he had guessed that this ancient matter might be related to the Seven Divine Monkeys, hearing Chi Songzi say it outright still surprised him.
Chi Songzi laughed and said, “Though you may resemble a divine monkey, I know you’re not one.”
Wukong asked with a smile, “On what basis do you conclude that?”

Chi Songzi said, “Back then, I fought against the Seven Mischievous Apes for years, so I was well familiar with their features. That’s why I recognized right away that you weren’t one of them.”
Wukong replied, “Rain Master, that’s not right. Even after the Deathly Divine Ape dies, it can be reborn. How can you know what it will look like?”
Chi Songzi said, “That’s something you don’t know. The Bright Divine Ape has stars in its eyes; the Water-Raising Divine Ape has white hair all over its head; the Wind-Blowing Divine Ape has a tuft of white hair on its forehead; the Pest-Driving Divine Ape has sharp claws and red eyes… Each of them has an indelible mark that cannot be changed, no matter how many times they die or what form they take in life.”
As Wukong listened to Chi Songzi’s detailed explanation, he grew increasingly astonished. Excluding the Bright Divine Ape, Wu Zhiqi, Wind-Blowing, and the King of Yuyon indeed matched his description perfectly. But where were the stars in his own eyes?
Wukong devised a plan and asked, “I wonder how to identify the Yin-Yang Divine Ape, the Arm-Extending Divine Ape, and the Intelligent Divine Ape?” Hearing the names of these divine apes, Chi Songzi narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Who are you, that you know the names of these divine apes?”
Not knowing whether Chi Songzi was an ally or enemy of the Seven Divine Apes, Wukong replied, “You don’t know? The names of the Seven Divine Apes have long been known throughout the world—even children can recite a few of them.”
Although Chi Songzi was an ancient deity, he couldn’t predict events tens of thousands of years in the future. So he said skeptically, “The Yin-Yang Divine Ape has ears that hang to its shoulders, and the Arm-Extending Divine Ape also has a tuft of white hair, but it grows on its chest. The Intelligent Divine Ape is the most unique—its eyes and ears are of different sizes, making it easy to identify. These aren’t any secrets; it’s fine to tell you.”
Wukong thought of the Six-Eared Monkey, which didn’t have the physical traits described by Chi Songzi. Could it be that it wasn’t the Intelligent Divine Ape? But after further thought, he couldn’t be sure. He also had no stars in his eyes, yet he was the Bright Divine Ape. Strange—why was it accurate for Wind-Blowing and the others but not for him? Suddenly, an idea struck him: Could it be that the characteristics mentioned by Rain Master only appeared after the divine apes awakened? Yes, that must be it! Wukong gained more knowledge from this conversation and felt happy, his face showing joy.
Seeing Wukong’s uncertain expression, Chi Songzi grew suspicious. Could this monkey really be related to the Seven Mischievous Apes? If so, he would need to treat it differently.
Chi Songzi said, “Since you can wield the Sea-Stabilizing Needle, you must be an extraordinary person. Do you have a master?” Wukong replied, “No, no. I figured it out on my own.”

“Huh?” Chi Songzi was somewhat skeptical. “Just by random enlightenment, how could one achieve the rank of Taiyi Golden Immortal?” He waved his hand, and a dust broom standing in the corner leaped into his grasp. Muttering to himself, he said, “It’s been a long time since I fought anyone. I wonder how much I still remember.”
Wukong asked in surprise, “Do you want to fight me?”
Chi Songzi replied, “It’s just a sparring match. I want to see what’s so remarkable about your staff techniques. I certainly won’t hurt you.” His tone was quite arrogant.
Seeing Chi Songzi’s condescending attitude, Wukong felt displeased and said, “If we’re going to fight, let’s find a better place. This place might collapse with just one move.”
Chi Songzi thought for a moment and said, “You’re right. Your Sea-Stabilizing Divine Rod is indeed quite bulky.” It was the first time since Wukong had used the Golden Cudgel that someone had called it bulky, leaving him at a loss as to whether to laugh or cry.
Chi Songzi led Wukong out of the house. With a flick of his toes, he soared into the air as if pulled by a thread. Waving his dust broom, he said, “Come up.”
Without hesitation, Wukong raised the Golden Cudgel and swung it at him. Not knowing Chi Songzi’s level of cultivation, he used only 10% of his strength. Seeing Wukong hold back, Chi Songzi coiled the Golden Cudgel with his dust broom and threw it away. Wukong felt as if the cudgel was out of his control for the first time, almost slipping from his hand.
Chi Songzi said seriously, “Don’t hold back. Just go ahead.”
Wukong shouted, “Alright!” This time, he didn’t rush in recklessly. He executed each move of the Qi Tian Staff Technique methodically, interspersing a few moves he had learned from fighting the Six-Eared Monkey.
The more Chi Songzi watched, the more astonished he became. He simply used his dust broom to block lightly, and even after Wukong finished all his staff techniques, he couldn’t do anything to Chi Songzi. Seeing Chi Songzi’s calm demeanor, Wukong realized that this man’s cultivation was truly unfathomable. So he put away the Golden Cudgel and bowed deeply, saying, “Lord of Rain, please stop teasing me.”
Chi Songzi landed on the ground and laughed. “I never expected you to be a disciple of Dayu. Come on, I’ll take you to find him!” Wukong wondered how he, who had only learned the Qi Tian Staff Technique, could be a disciple of Dayu.
Before Wukong could speak, Chi Songzi ignored his explanations, grabbed him, and soared into the air, flying away.
After a while, they arrived at a even more tranquil place. Surrounded by three mountains, a stream several zhang wide flowed through the valley. Fish darted joyfully in the water, occasionally leaping out. By the stream, a young boy picked up the fish from the flowers and grass and threw them back into the water.

Chi Songzi saw the boy and sighed, “Alas, the truth is clear. To know how to repent is truly the mark of a hero.” There were several thatched cottages in the mountain hollow, and various grains were neatly arranged in the courtyard. An old man sat by the well in the courtyard, gazing at Chi Songzi carrying Wukong. He murmured, “It’s laughable to seek solitude and think one can escape fate by deluding oneself. In the end, human effort cannot overcome karma; what’s meant to happen will happen.”

Chi Songzi landed on the ground, releasing his grip, and Wukong was finally free. Seeing the old man before him, with white hair and a long beard, it was impossible to tell his age. Could this be the ancient deity Dayu, who controlled the floods and demarcated the lands for the people? Was he the one who forged the four Ruyi Golden Cudgels and captured the Water Ape Sage Wu Zhiqi? Wukong found it hard to connect all these achievements with this elderly man.

Chi Songzi quickly bowed and said, “Dayu, Dayu! I never expected that after retreating from the world for so long, you would still have a disciple. I doubt you even realize it.”

Dayu seemed to ignore him, slowly examining Wukong from head to toe. His eyes were piercing, as if able to see through Wukong. Under that gaze, Wukong felt extremely uneasy.

Dayu’s expression was a mix of joy and sorrow. He fell into deep thought, then shook his head, seemingly unable to decide anything. Chi Songzi watched attentively. Suddenly, Dayu’s expression changed, turning solemn and sad. His eyes closed, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.

Chi Songzi asked anxiously, “What? Could he be… really the Divine Ape of Creation?”

Dayu nodded and said, “Yes, indeed, it’s true!”

Chi Songzi was so excited that he clenched his hands tightly, then stretched his arms out and cried to the sky, “Heaven, have mercy! At last, I’m freed from these tens of thousands of years of imprisonment!”

Dayu shouted, “Your sins haven’t been atoned for, and the Divine Ape hasn’t given permission. Don’t speak too soon!”

Chi Songzi looked embarrassed, rubbing his palms together. “Yes, yes, let’s sit down first.” The ancient Rain Master, who once commanded respect throughout the world and possessed a cultivation level comparable to that of a Hunyuan Golden Immortal, was now so excited that he didn’t know what to do.

Wukong was confused by Dayu’s reaction and Chi Songzi’s sudden eagerness. What did they mean by “Heaven, have mercy” and “Sins not atoned for”? As he pondered, Dayu and Chi Songzi both bowed and said, “Please, Divine Ape, take a seat.”

Dayu waved his hand, and several stone benches moved over. Wukong sat down nervously, unsure of what tricks these two ancient deities might play.

Dayu and Chi Songzi didn’t sit either. Dayu bowed again and said to Wukong, “Divine and wise Ape, the truth is indeed complex, especially after tens of thousands of years. Please be patient and listen as I explain slowly.”

Wukong stood up and said, “Please sit down, both of you. It’s improper to have the elder and the younger in such a reversed order; it makes me feel uneasy.”
Dayu replied, “As a guilty man, I dare not sit in front of the divine ape.”
Wukong said, “Very well, if you refuse to sit, then don’t. But first tell me how you recognized me as a wise and divine ape.”
Dayu’s lips twitched, as if he were in great pain, and he slowly said, “It’s because… it’s because I have killed you before, that’s why I recognize you.”