Volume 1: Unsayable – Chapter 36: The Art of Distraction

Wukong let out an “ah,” and the Wind-Bringing Divine Ape said, “What, are you scared?”
Wukong replied, “I’m not scared, but I feel uneasy about killing the Bodhisattva.”
The Wind-Bringing Divine Ape spat and said, “Bodhisattvas are also humans; even immortals and Buddhas can be demons. Heaven upholds justice, and all living beings can attain enlightenment. Yet they look down on demons and monsters in the world—this is the most shameless act!”
Wukong said, “With our combined abilities, it’s more than enough to defeat King Bodhisattva, the Great Sage National Teacher. Why not set off now?”
The Wind-Bringing Divine Ape replied, “There’s no rush. Tens of thousands of years have passed like mist—why hurry? As for that Bull Demon outside, think about how to help me conceal my identity.”
Wukong smiled and said, “What’s the problem? The Bull Demon King is my sworn brother—there’s no need to deceive him.”
The Wind-Bringing Divine Ape said solemnly, “Wait! This matters to the survival of our clan—don’t be careless at all. In the world, only the Seven Divine Apes have no grudges and need no suspicion. None of the other beings are trustworthy. Remember, everyone in the world acts out of greed for fame and profit. Why not be cautious?”
Wukong kept these words in mind. Though he had known the Wind-Bringing Divine Ape for only a short time, their mutual trust far exceeded that of others—not feigned, but natural. Moreover, from Wu Zhiqi’s words, though not explicitly stated, his inner resentment was evident, and he too saw all beings as enemies.
Wukong thought for a moment and said, “Let’s say we’ve been fighting for a long time without a clear winner, and by chance we both fell into this maze. We respect each other and work together to break through it, turning enemies into friends—how about that?”
The Wind-Bringing Divine Ape said, “It’s acceptable. Though a bit forced, it makes sense. The Bull Demon King only knows the basics of battle tactics and certainly can’t see through my setup.”
Wukong and the Wind-Bringing Divine Ape left the maze, and the Wind-Bringer destroyed it before going to find the Bull Demon King. As expected, the Bull Demon King, being open-minded, didn’t suspect anything at all. The three of them happily returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Upon arriving, the Bull Demon King said mysteriously, “I’m going to find a place to cultivate. Don’t let your sister-in-law know I’ve returned.” Wukong, holding back his laughter, agreed repeatedly.
After seeing the Bull Demon King off, Wukong and the Wind-Bringer went to Water Curtain Cave to talk. The Wind-Bringer recounted everything that had happened in the past, leaving Wukong deeply moved.
What the Wind-Bringer said was similar to what Wu Zhiqi had told Wukong. But what hurt the Wind-Bringer the most was that it was he who had originally devised the plan to persuade the Seven Divine Apes to give up their claim to the world.
In a sense, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that it was the Wind-Bringer who had led the Seven Divine Apes into this precarious situation.

Tongfeng said, “I hate that I believed the slander of villains, made one wrong move, and lost everything.”
Wukong comforted him, “That’s not true. If they had any schemes, they would try another plan if one failed. The Divine Ape doesn’t understand cunning tactics nor has he any awareness of guarding against others—how could he be outwitted by them? And what does it have to do with you?”
Tongfeng replied, “At that time, I had two subordinates—clever and astute, skilled at reading people’s minds. I trusted them greatly. They never spoke outright but would say to me every day about the vastness of the sky and sea and the freedom to roam far and wide. I was bewitched, and coupled with my innate wildness, over time I suggested to my six brothers that we return to the World of Freedom.”
Wukong casually asked, “Who were those two?”
Tongfeng said resentfully, “They’ve always remained nameless—just two Unicorn Ghost Kings. Their cultivation was low, and I killed them long ago. I don’t know how many reincarnations they’ve gone through now—whether they’re human or beasts.”
Wukong was shocked. Unicorn Ghost Kings! That name also appeared in Journey to the West.
After Wukong resigned from his position as Horse Guardian and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain, it was these two Unicorn Ghost Kings who presented him with a reddish-yellow robe and suggested that he claim the title of “Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”
What exactly was the relationship between these two Unicorn Ghost Kings and what Tongfeng had said? It was very strange; he would keep an eye on it. Wukong thought to himself: Could these two Unicorn Ghost Kings be reincarnations of slanderous spirits, meant to harm the Seven Divine Apes?
Wukong found a quiet and secluded place and left Tongfeng to live there on Flower-Fruit Mountain. Tongfeng set up defensive formations around his residence, making it difficult for ordinary people to enter. Wukong would visit him when he had time and thus learned many anecdotes about immortals and demons from past ages.
Tongfeng was reincarnated ten thousand years ago and remembered his past four thousand years ago. He had been devoted to cultivation all along and, with the guidance of a master, developed strange and extraordinary powers, especially in the art of concealment.
Wukong also demonstrated his own transformations for Tongfeng to watch. Tongfeng watched intently and couldn’t help but marvel, “These transformations are truly rare; half of them are beyond my knowledge.”
Wukong asked, “Who taught you your transformations?”
Tongfeng replied, “You must know that compared to the innate powers of the Divine Ape, these are merely superficial skills. I still haven’t remembered my own innate powers, and so have you. When the time comes, you’ll naturally achieve success. All divine powers in the world are based on fate. The Seven Divine Apes possess the most fundamental fate in the universe, so no matter what powers they cultivate, their achievements will far surpass others.”
Wukong said, “No wonder I was able to reach the level of a Taiyi Immortal in just a year or two.”
Tongfeng replied, “I wonder who blessed you. Now that you’re a Taiyi Golden Immortal, your fate has indeed been extraordinary.”

Wukong asked, “What’s the difference between a scattered immortal and a golden immortal?”
Tongfeng replied, “The Dao is the ultimate essence—it cannot be shaped or named. If forced to be named, it is called Taiyi, which is also Taiyi. What originates from Taiyi is the primordial energy of the universe before heaven and earth were separated. By cultivating to this level, one begins to glimpse the origin of all things. If one fails to advance from a scattered immortal to a golden immortal, their efforts will be in vain, and they will suffer from the Three Calamities.”
Wukong murmured. So, becoming a Taiyi golden immortal could prevent the Three Calamities. He asked further, “I’m completely confused about how I became an immortal myself. How should I take this step from a scattered immortal to a golden immortal?”
Tongfeng said, “One can also cultivate, but it’s extremely time-consuming and not guaranteed to succeed. Another option is to consume the spiritual treasures of heaven and earth, but such treasures are very rare. What if one lacks the right opportunity? Or one could take the Divine Elixir of Fate—although created later, its power surpasses that of innate cultivation. I don’t know which path you’ll take.”
Wukong remembered the golden pill given to him by Master Subhuti and guessed it must be the effect of that pill.
Tongfeng continued, “Our race was born alongside heaven and earth. The Three Calamities in this world don’t pose much threat, but the real danger lies in encountering the Creator of Worlds. Once inside his realm, one becomes at his mercy.”
Wukong asked, “Who is the Creator of Worlds?”
Tongfeng replied, “To create his own realm and set its rules—that’s his ability.”
Wukong thought to himself: Master Subhuti counts as one such being. He then said, “My master who taught me my powers might well be a Creator of Worlds.” He briefly recounted his experiences in the Cave of the Three Stars under the Slanting Moon.
Tongfeng nodded. “What you say is correct. That indeed is the ability to create worlds.”
Suddenly, Wukong remembered his battle with the Tathagata and asked, “What should I do if I encounter such an opponent?”
Tongfeng replied, “If it’s a beginner, one must be cautious and avoid entering their realm. But if it’s a powerful opponent…” He sighed. “There’s nothing but to surrender.”
Wukong pressed, “Is there really no solution at all?”
After thinking for a long time, Tongfeng said, “I’m powerless. When the Seven Divine Apes were hunted, I also entered someone else’s realm. When the art of creating worlds reaches its peak, one merges their realm with this world, and before they know it, they’re trapped and can’t escape.”

Wukong pondered in silence, wondering to what extent the Tathagata had progressed. If he could only create his own realm without achieving the fusion of two realms, then Wukong would just need to be careful and avoid falling into his grasp. Assuming the Tathagata was guiding him step by step, using every trick in his arsenal to battle him—seemingly casually but actually planning meticulously—Wukong felt much more at ease, thinking the Tathagata had not yet reached the highest realm. Yet then he thought of Patriarch Subhuti and was shocked.

He had unknowingly found the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars while in the mountains—that was surely the ability to fuse two realms. If that were the case, Patriarch Subhuti must be even more skilled than the Tathagata. With such a figure in the Journey to the West, who exactly could he be?

Then Fengtong said, “Your ability to extract your original spirit is truly remarkable. If used together with the skill of transforming through conception, it far surpasses ordinary concealment and transformation techniques, even allowing one to deceive a Taiyi Golden Immortal. You should practice diligently.”

When Wukong first learned the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang, Patriarch Subhuti had already explained in detail this power of extracting the original spirit, and Wukong had taken it very seriously. But he had never tried it as Fengtong described it.