At Liufu Island, suddenly a loud 'boom' rang out, and several figures flew out, pushing waves and causing a commotion, as they began to fight above the sea surface.

Sun Wukong's expression changed slightly, he stepped down once, and he was already there.

He looked towards the battlefield and saw the Bear Demon King and a few Demon Kings joining forces, surrounding a drunken burly man and attacking him.

The burly man, holding a rake, generated a strong wind around him, preventing the Demon Kings from getting close. In the blink of an eye, he was about to injure the Bear Demon King.

"Stop."

Sun Wukong shouted, stepping down once again, appearing between the Bear Demon King and the burly man.

"Ha, another one coming to seek death!"

The burly man laughed loudly as he swung his rake.

Sun Wukong stretched out a hand to block, and with a 'clang,' the rake emitted sparks, its prongs caught by Sun Wukong, who appeared entirely unbothered.

The burly man was greatly surprised; his rake was personally forged by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad using Divine Ice Iron, something ordinary Immortals dare not touch, how could this demon catch it barehanded and still look like nothing happened.

The alcohol effects on the burly man completely dissipated: "Who are you?"

"The master here,"

Sun Wukong replied.

He was familiar with the man's weapon and guessed his identity.

"Gold Star Taibai," Sun Wukong turned and asked, "Is this Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy?"

Gold Star Taibai, who had just flown over, was stunned; how did the Monkey King know about the Tian Peng Marshal?

Seeing his expression, Sun Wukong knew he had guessed correctly.

"Brother, let me capture him,"

Immortal Zhenyuan said.

Sun Wukong released his hand, and Immortal Zhenyuan waved his long sleeve, sucking Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy into it.

The Bear Demon King hurried over to give thanks.

"What happened?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"This guy was causing a drunk ruckus on the island." The Bear Demon King answered: "He smashed the tavern, harassed the Jade-faced Fox with words, and even tried to get physical. When we tried to capture him, he would not comply, leading to the scuffle."

Sun Wukong then called over the Jade-faced Fox.

He inquired further, and the Jade-faced Fox informed him of the whole story.

It turned out that the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy was dining in the tavern, where he got into a dispute with a young man at the next table. The young man did not speak much, and, seemingly unable to argue back, simply ordered some good wine and dishes to apologize.

Unexpectedly, the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy drank too merrily and suddenly became drunkenly frenetic.

He smashed the tavern; the Jade-faced Fox came out to demand an explanation but was instead harassed by him, which angered the Bear Demon King.

"I understand,"

Having learned of the situation, Sun Wukong ordered the demons to step back. He brought the Jade-faced Fox, along with Immortal Zhenyuan and Gold Star Taibai, back to Shuilian Cave.

On the way, he felt more and more that something was wrong.

Even if Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy was lascivious, he should not have caused such a commotion after just a bit of drinking.

"There must be something wrong with the wine."

Sun Wukong turned back, his eyes glowing with a golden light as he scanned Liufu Island.

There was a bird by the sea grooming its wings, which suddenly trembled and dove into the sea, turning into a fish and disappearing.

"So, it was him."

Sun Wukong withdrew his gaze.

Why would Immortal Master Erlang come here?

He normally resides at the Guan River Mouth and is known for his disobedience to the Jade Emperor's summons; Heavenly King Li surely couldn't have moved him, nor did it seem like Gold Star Taibai had summoned him.

"Did he come on his own?"

Sun Wukong could only guess as such.

Back at Shuilian Cave, Sun Wukong asked Immortal Zhenyuan to release Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, first giving him a beating, reveling in the pleasure of being the eldest apprentice as written in the Heavenly Book, then asked him why he came to Huaguo Mountain.

After getting beaten, Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy became much more compliant; indeed, he was invited down by Heavenly King Li to observe Huaguo Mountain.

However, he did not mention the trouble he had caused, only that he had taken a fancy to the Jade-faced Fox and wanted to pursue her. In a moment of infatuation, he resisted arrest.

He even proposed to the Jade-faced Fox in front of Sun Wukong.

This infuriated the Jade-faced Fox, her face turning pale with anger: "I would never agree to it."

"Why wouldn't you agree?"

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy said, "I am the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy. It should be an honor for you that I have fallen for you."

"You are too ugly!"

replied the Jade-faced Fox.

Immortal Zhenyuan nodded: "I think she has a point."

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy was deeply hurt.

"You shouldn't change the subject."

Sun Wukong looked at the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy: "The fact that you caused trouble at Huaguo Mountain stands, if I let you go too easily, how can I justify it to the other demons?"

He naturally cast his gaze on the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy's Nine-toothed Spiked Rake.

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, terrified, hugged his rake tightly and said: "I can compensate you with some silver. The girl wasn't injured after all, and this rake was a gift from the Jade Emperor. If you dare to take it, I will have to sue you!"

Sun Wukong thought it over; indeed the Nine-toothed Spiked Rake was a treasure.

However, he gave up on the idea, for he did not know how to use the rake, and it was a weapon forged by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, thus difficult to recreate.

"Monkey King, allow me to step in."

Gold Star Taibai stepped forward and said: "Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, why don't you and I recommend the Monkey King to ascend to heaven together? If so, I will persuade the Monkey King to let you off."

"No way."

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy refused.

Gold Star Taibai continued: "Then I will tell the Inspector Spirit Official about your mischief in the Mortal World, compromising the Heavenly Palace's dignity."

"Gold Star Taibai, please don't do that."

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy immediately changed his mind: "I'll agree to your terms."

Gold Star Taibai looked towards Sun Wukong and Immortal Zhenyuan, and both nodded in agreement.

"I can let you go, but I will add one condition: you may never speak ill of me," Sun Wukong continued.

It was recorded in the Heavenly Book that Zhu Bajie liked to badmouth him, stirring up trouble—although most of it was in jest, who knows if he might do the same to the Jade Emperor? One can never be too careful.

"If you don't say anything bad about me, then today's encounter never happened," Sun Wukong said.

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy nodded: "Agreed."

He then turned to Immortal Zhenyuan, wondering what he might demand.

Immortal Zhenyuan originally had no such intentions, but after hearing Sun Wukong's words, he was inspired.

"My perspective is different from my virtuous brother's," Immortal Zhenyuan said. "I won't make things hard for you, nor forbid you from speaking, but if you ever mention me again, you must add a few words of praise."

"You're no better than that monkey!" Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy thought to himself.

But, given Immortal Zhenyuan's high status, of course, he didn't dare to voice his thoughts aloud.

Sun Wukong and Immortal Zhenyuan had extracted benefits from Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, and the Jade-faced Fox also received monetary compensation from him. Sun Wukong then released him, allowing him to return to the Heavenly Palace with Gold Star Taibai.

"Virtuous brother."

Watching the two disappear into the clouds, Immortal Zhenyuan asked: "Do you think Gold Star Taibai can persuade the Jade Emperor?"

"It's doubtful."

Sun Wukong shook his head. He had made significant demands known to Gold Star Taibai, demands that the Jade Emperor was unlikely to accept.

As for Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, inherently timid and not a threat even when sober, it was not bad to have something to hold over him.

Sun Wukong calmed his mind and summoned the demons again to teach and preach.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

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