Yang Jian had always struggled to pierce through Xu Fang's motives. As Master Bodhi's direct disciple, Xu Fang cultivated with meteoric speed, wielded unfathomable powers, and possessed the cunning of a nine-tailed fox—so why chain himself to Heaven's rotting bureaucracy? Through Yang Jian's eyes, the Heavenly Court festered with corruption, the Jade Emperor an incompetent puppet. This celestial farce deserved to be toppled! Were it not for his own shackles, even Yang Jian might have stormed the Hall of Divine Mists himself!
What value does Xu Fang see in propping up this corpse of a regime? The question gnawed at him. If Xu Fang opposed Heaven, why serve? As Patriarch Bodhi's heir, he must know of Buddhism's grand designs. So why wade into Sun Wukong's turbulent waters?
Yang Jian's surveillance of Xu Fang stemmed partly from his sister Yang Chan's infatuation with the strategist. Years of observation yielded only deeper mystery. Now, witnessing Xu Fang's "battle" against Sun Wukong—the clash that propelled the monkey to Great Luo Golden Immortal—Yang Jian's confusion deepened.
Brother against brother? The surface narrative claimed Xu Fang sought glory by capturing his wayward junior. But Yang Jian knew better—he'd walked the paths of Mount Fangcun with Xu Fang, seen the man's unshakable principles.
The epiphany struck as Yang Jian descended upon Flower-Fruit Mountain. In Xu Fang's eyes flashed a glimmer of veiled concern—not for himself, but for the monkey.
"So this is your game," Yang Jian murmured. "You play the hunter to shield your prey." The duel had been a masterclass in subtle guidance, pushing Sun Wukong to transcend his limits.
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"No piece moves freely on this celestial board," Yang Jian sighed, clasping Xu Fang's shoulder. To Li Jing, he barked: "When I engage the monkey, none shall interfere. Just keep your Demon-Revealing Mirror ready to seal his escape."
The Pagoda Bearer nodded, manifesting an octagonal bronze mirror etched with celestial runes. "With this, the beast shall find neither sky nor earth as refuge."
Above Flower-Fruit Mountain
Yang Jian's gaze swept over the monkey armies assembled below. At their center stood a tiger-skin throne beneath a banner proclaiming "Great Sage Equal to Heaven"—the audacity drew a smirk.
"Where hides your king?" Yang Jian's voice boomed. "Tell Sun Wukong: Yang Jian comes to test his vaunted title!"
In the Water Curtain Cave, a panicked monkey envoy shook their drunken sovereign. "Great Sage! The Heaven-Subduer descends!" Sun Wukong lay sprawled across an obsidian table, reeking of immortal wine. Desperate, the envoy upended a wine jar over the monkey king's face.
"Ach! Who dares—" Sun Wukong bolted upright, golden fur dripping with liquor.
Heavenly Battle Lines
Li Jing's patience snapped. "Take every monkey! Smoke out the coward!"
Xu Fang blocked the Heavenly Marshal's path. "These innocents didn't raid the Peach Banquet! Must Heaven stoop to hostage-taking?"
"Innocents?" Li Jing's sneer cracked his jade-like composure. "They're weeds sheltering vermin!" To the Twenty-Eight Constellations, he thundered: "Advance!"
As golden-armored troops descended like a meteor shower, Xu Fang whispered to the Star Spirit of Wuqu: "Lead the Divine Strategy Camp. Capture, don't kill."
Chaos erupted. Monkey warriors clashed with celestial forces, bamboo spears shattering against moonsteel blades. Yet Xu Fang's troops moved with surgical precision—disarming opponents, binding them in spirit-suppressing chains.
