Watching helplessly as Sun Wukong was taken away by the heavenly soldiers, Xu Fang felt a deep sense of powerlessness and sorrow. Despite all his efforts, he had been unable to save his sworn brother.

  Since his days of cultivation at Mount Fangcun, Xu Fang had always followed the teachings of Master Bodhi, acting according to his own conscience. He had taken a liking to Sun Wukong and had been willing to help him. But now, despite all his careful planning, Sun Wukong had still been captured.

  The only thing he could do now was fulfill Sun Wukong's last request: to protect the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

  Fortunately, Li Jing and the others' primary target was Sun Wukong. They didn't care much about the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain. Moreover, Xu Fang's formidable cultivation made Li Jing reluctant to provoke him further. Thus, Li Jing withdrew his troops and returned to the Heavenly Court, leaving the captured monkeys to Xu Fang's care.

  "Sir, all the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain have been released. Aside from those who perished in the chaos, not a single one is missing."

  Wuqu, the Star Spirit of Wuqu, reported in a low voice. Xu Fang nodded, and after ensuring the safety of the monkeys, he led Wuqu and the Divine Strategy Camp back to the Heavenly Court.

  "Xu Fang."

  Just then, Yang Jian called out to him.

  "True Lord, is there something else?"

  Xu Fang paused, signaling Wuqu to gather the Divine Strategy Camp while he turned to face Yang Jian.

  Yang Jian spoke, "I won't be returning to the Heavenly Court. My younger sister, Yang Chan, is still there. When you return, I hope you can persuade her to go back to Huashan and not stay in the Heavenly Court, a place full of trouble."

  Seeing the look in Yang Jian's eyes, Xu Fang slowly nodded.

  He was well aware of Yang Chan's feelings for him, and the current state of the Heavenly Court disgusted him. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't leave just yet, Xu Fang might have already followed Sun Wukong's example and rebelled against the Heavenly Court.

  "True Lord, rest assured. I will ensure that the Goddess of Huashan returns safely to her mountain."

  With Xu Fang's assurance, Yang Jian nodded, then called for his Howling Celestial Dog and the Meishan brothers, along with his Grass-headed Deities, and flew back to the Mouth of Guan River.

  Xu Fang took a deep breath, gathered the Divine Strategy Camp, and set off for the Heavenly Court.

  ...

  As Xu Fang made his way to the Hall of Divine Mists, a sudden thunderous roar erupted from the direction of the Demon-Slaying Platform.

  Xu Fang's heart clenched. He knew that Sun Wukong must have been taken to the platform for execution.

  However, even if Sun Wukong hadn't consumed the Immortal Peaches and Elixirs, his body, tempered during his training at Mount Fangcun, was already indestructible, impervious to blades, fire, and water. The punishments of the Demon-Slaying Platform wouldn't harm a single hair on his head.

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  Or perhaps, the Jade Emperor knew full well that such punishments wouldn't work. This was merely a show of authority, a display of his intent to punish Sun Wukong.

  ...

  In the Hall of Divine Mists, Xu Fang entered silently. The Jade Emperor glanced at him but didn't seem to mind.

  However, the other immortals looked at Xu Fang with disdain.

  After all, Xu Fang and Sun Wukong were sworn brothers, yet they had ended up as enemies.

  Xu Fang paid no attention to their gazes. His mind was preoccupied with what he should do next.

  Sun Wukong wouldn't be killed, but he would likely be tempered in the Eight-Trigrams Furnace and then imprisoned under the Five-Finger Mountain.

  Eventually, he would be guided by the Buddhist sect to escort Tang Sanzang on his journey to retrieve the scriptures.

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

  At that moment, the celestial general in charge of the Demon-Slaying Platform rushed in, kneeling to report, "Your Majesty, that demon monkey has somehow mastered a body-protection technique. Blades, axes, thunder, and lightning cannot harm him. We don't know how to proceed. Please instruct us."

  "Oh?"

  The Jade Emperor feigned surprise and asked, "This demon monkey is so powerful. Do any of you have a way to subdue him?"

  The immortals began to murmur among themselves. Finally, Taishang Laojun stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, that demon monkey has consumed the Immortal Peaches and the Elixirs I refined. His body is now impervious to blades and fire. However, the Six Ding Divine Fire in my Eight-Trigrams Furnace is extraordinary. If we place the demon monkey inside for forty-nine days, he will be reduced to ashes!"

  The Jade Emperor's eyelids twitched. This was not part of the plan.

  According to the script he had agreed upon with Buddha, the Heavenly Court was supposed to be powerless against the demon monkey, and then the Buddhist sect would step in to deal with him.

  But now, before the Buddhists could intervene, the ancestor of the Daoist sect had spoken!

  Had Taishang Laojun noticed something?

  Taishang Laojun was one of the three incarnations of Laozi, the ancestor of the Daoist sect. With his abilities, destroying Sun Wukong would be child's play. If he really reduced Sun Wukong to ashes...

  Wouldn't all the Jade Emperor's plans be for naught?

  But the Jade Emperor had no way to refuse.

  After all, he had asked the immortals for a solution.

  Now that the ancestor of the Daoist sect had offered one, how could he refuse?

  "Since Laojun can reduce the demon monkey to ashes, let him handle it."

  The Jade Emperor waved his hand and said, "All immortals, you are dismissed..."

  As the immortals filed out of the Hall of Divine Mists, Xu Fang was approached by a celestial servant. "Divine General Xu, His Majesty is waiting for you at the Jade Pool."

  "Waiting for me?"

  Xu Fang was taken aback. After a moment of thought, he said, "Lead the way."

  He wanted to see what the Jade Emperor had to say.

  ...

  Following the celestial servant to the Jade Pool, Xu Fang found the Jade Emperor reclining on a brocade couch, dressed in a green robe. The servant whispered something to the Jade Emperor, who nodded and dismissed him.

  The Jade Pool was now empty except for the Jade Emperor and Xu Fang.

  "Divine General Xu, do you resent me?"

  The two remained silent for a while before the Jade Emperor finally spoke.

  Xu Fang replied stiffly, "Your subject dares not."

  "Haha, you say you dare not, but in your heart, you must hate me, don't you?"

  The Jade Emperor opened his eyes, a faint smile on his face. "All the immortals know that you and Sun Wukong are sworn brothers, but the relationship between you two goes deeper than that, doesn't it?"

  "What does Your Majesty mean?"

  Xu Fang frowned. "Your subject has already severed his sworn brotherhood with Sun Wukong..."

  Before Xu Fang could finish, the Jade Emperor waved his hand and said seriously, "There's no need for such formalities in front of me. The fact that you and Sun Wukong studied together at Mount Fangcun is something you've hidden from the other immortals, but not from me!"

  "Your Majesty, if you have something to say, please speak plainly!"

  Xu Fang's eyes locked onto the Jade Emperor, unsure of his intentions.

  Was the Jade Emperor planning to use his true relationship with Sun Wukong to warn him?

  Surely the Jade Emperor wasn't that bored?