The youth sat atop the highest Stone Monkey statue in Yunxiao City.

His legs dangled over the edge of the statue's shoulders, facing the sea breeze, looking down at the scene below.

A woman was sewing cloth shoes for her child with needle and thread.

"Okay, go play."

After finishing the sewing, the woman let the child put on the shoes and play.

The boy, wearing new shoes, happily frolicked in the surrounding plaza with other children.

These seemed to be a mother and child who had just arrived in Yunxiao City, dressed in tattered clothes, but from their eyes, one could see tranquility and joy.

Sun Wukong, sitting atop the statue, was somewhat pleased.

"Why is someone sitting here alone?"

A candied haw appeared in front of Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong turned his head and saw the familiar face of Zhang Yu.

"Thank you."

Sun Wukong took the candied haw, thanking him.

He wasn't interested in the candied haw, looked at it in his hand but wasn't in a hurry to eat.

"I'm going to visit the flower market later, won't you join me?"

Zhang Yu continued to ask.

"No."

Sun Wukong shook his head: "I don't want to bother you two."

Zhang Yu's face blushed slightly, then he said: "Then I'll be off."

He leaped from the statue, landing on the ground, and joined hands with the woman who had been waiting for a while, slowly walking away together.

It took many years, but the woman had finally moved him.

"Will he still be like this when he remembers who he is?"

Sun Wukong watched their fading figures, unable to help but think.

The Jade Emperor was not one confined by love between men and women; he might like the Queen Mother, but once he remembers his identity, it won't be as pure as it is now.

Five years later, the Immortals of the Ten States and Three Islands seemed to have given up on abducting the Jade Emperor.

But is it really so?

Sun Wukong thought.

He had thought about a lot recently, but no matter, everything was coming to an end soon.

"This is the final stretch."

Sun Wukong said softly.

"Will everything go smoothly?"

A voice asked inside his heart.

"Probably."

Sun Wukong nodded.

"Are you not certain?"

The voice asked again: "I feel a nostalgia for things soon to pass and a fear of what is to come in you."

That was the little Phoenix, she asked: "Are you perhaps anticipating your own failure?"

"Why do you ask?"

Sun Wukong asked indifferently.

"I've looked inside you for a long time, you fear utter failure, but perhaps a degree of failure is best for you, your journey can continue, and you need not bear the responsibility for the future."

The little Phoenix said: "You fear, fearing the future, uncertain if what you are doing is right or wrong."

"Then what do you think, am I right or wrong?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"I think you are right."

The little Phoenix replied: "You will triumph, and you must triumph, this isn't just about you, it's about the expectations of many people."

Sun Wukong smiled.

"I'm not afraid, it's just..."

He looked towards the west, watching the sun that was about to set: "Perhaps, compared to the Heavenly Emperor, I could also be a guide; if I stray someday, someone will stop me."

"You have no other choice."

The little Phoenix said: "You should understand, only the victor can hold the future in their hands."

"You're right."

Sun Wukong saw a Floating Ship cruising through the sky.

On the vast raised sail was an image of Daji singing, she sang even better than she did two hundred years later.

From when Sun Wukong met her, Daji had always been immersed in her own world, living every day in happiness.

Sun Wukong understood.

This is what he must protect.

He must protect his people, and the paradise he built with his own hands.

This paradise belongs not only to him but was also forged through the struggles of countless others.

"Ah, I must win."

Sun Wukong said, "I will win."

"You're only one chess piece away."

The little Phoenix's voice carried a smile, "He'll arrive soon; you won't fail."

"I know."

Sun Wukong stood up, taking one last look at Yunxiao City before dissipating into a wisp of smoke.

He returned to Shuilian Cave.

The final moment would come soon, and he needed to rest well, to gather his energy and spirit.

In his sleep, Sun Wukong saw that dream again.

The sky of the Three Realms was dyed crimson; figures fell from the clouds to the ground below.

This was a dream he had had several times before, where fierce fires burned across the land and people struggled to extinguish them day and night, but the flames continued to rage.

Sun Wukong floated in the air, a dazzling red light struck from beyond the skies, and he lost all consciousness.

Upon opening his eyes, in Shuilian Cave, a figure stood by Sun Wukong's bed.

"This is the last chess piece."

The little Phoenix's voice reminded him from within.

Sun Wukong slowly sat up, his mind still submerged in that dream.

"Some things, perhaps it's better not to know than to know."

He clutched his head and swayed, then asked, "Don't you think so, Six-Eared Macaque?"

The figure by the bed sighed, "I don't know what you saw, but I understand..."

He bent down by the bed, revealing the face of the Six-Eared Macaque.

"Heavenly Emperor, you fear nothing."

The final battle was inescapable for the Six-Eared Macaque.

No matter what, he had to take a side.

Though the Six-Eared Macaque was reluctant, he still made the rational choice to side with Sun Wukong.

"I've been waiting for you for years."

Sun Wukong got out of bed and approached the stone table.

"I have my pride too."

The Six-Eared Macaque followed him over.

He would never stand here if it weren't for this final moment.

"What did you find out?"

Sun Wukong invited the Six-Eared Macaque to sit and then poured him a cup of tea.

"That World Venerable has awakened already."

The Six-Eared Macaque looked at the tea in his hands and answered, "Buddha will soon invite you to attend a Dharma assembly at Lingshan—of course, it's a trap."

"I guessed as much."

Sun Wukong replied, "Buddha also guessed that I would foresee it."

The Six-Eared Macaque shook his head, "I can't see through what you two are planning."

"You'll know soon enough."

Sun Wukong answered, "This is the final battle, but it won't just be between the two of us."

The Six-Eared Macaque seemed to understand a bit.

"Why so?"

He asked.

"It's naturally for the Three Realms."

Sun Wukong answered, "Both he and I are clear that there's only one best method."

The Six-Eared Macaque took a sip of tea, "I only have one request."

"I understand."

Sun Wukong nodded, "I will protect the woman you care about; she won't be affected."

He looked at the Six-Eared Macaque with a smile, "You've changed."

"So have you."

The Six-Eared Macaque set down the tea cup and turned to leave, "In the past, you definitely wouldn't have poured tea for me."

"No, it's just that you never came."

Sun Wukong said.

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