All Heavens: Sharing Talents with Countless Mes

Sun Wukong couldn't wait any longer, so he opened his mouth and started eating in big gulps.

"Delicious! So delicious!" he exclaimed between bites. "I, Old Sun, have eaten the peaches of immortality and drunk the imperial wine of Heaven, but I have never tasted such delicious food!"

"Your cooking skills are even better than those of the imperial chefs in Heaven!"

Chu Yang smiled slightly and quietly watched him wolf down his food.

Seeing Sun Wukong's satisfied expression, he knew that he had taken the first step towards success.

"Great Sage, eat slowly, there's plenty more."

He then took out a jar of Daughter's Red wine from his storage bag and poured a bowl for Sun Wukong.

"Come on, it tastes even better with wine."

Sun Wukong took the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and let out a hearty laugh.

"That's wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" He squinted, his face full of enjoyment. "I, Old Sun, haven't felt this good in five hundred years!"

"You little brat, I'll remember you!"

Chu Yang smiled slightly and sat down next to Sun Wukong.

"Great Sage, you are too kind. I am also very pleased to meet you."

The two ate, drank, and chatted, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Sun Wukong recounted his exploits during his rampage in the Heavenly Palace, while Chu Yang shared his experiences in the mortal world.

Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened.

"Great Sage, it's getting late, I must take my leave now." Chu Yang stood up. "I will come to visit you again tomorrow."

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "You're coming again tomorrow?"

“Of course.” Chu Yang smiled slightly. “As I said, I came to visit the Great Sage, so naturally I can’t just come once.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes, which then turned into a warm feeling.

"Good! Good! Good!" he laughed loudly, "I, Old Sun, am waiting for you!"

"Remember to bring plenty of good wine and food!"

Chu Yang laughed heartily: "Great Sage, rest assured, I will certainly not disappoint you."

He cupped his hands in greeting to Sun Wukong, then turned and walked down the mountain.

Behind him, Sun Wukong's gaze followed his back until he disappeared at the end of the mountain path.

"Interesting..." Sun Wukong muttered to himself, a smile appearing on his lips.

"This kid is really interesting..."

After five hundred years, finally someone is willing to talk to him and bring him fine wine and delicacies.

This feeling is really good.

"tomorrow……"

He gazed in the direction where Chu Yang had disappeared, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"I, Old Sun, want to see what other surprises you have in store..."

The next morning, it was just dawn.

Chu Yang then carried a full load of ingredients and returned to Five Elements Mountain.

He walked up the mountain path from yesterday, his steps light and his mood cheerful.

Yesterday's first encounter with Sun Wukong went very smoothly. The monkey praised his cooking skills and even said he wanted to be friends with him.

This greatly boosted Chu Yang's confidence, as he knew his strategy was correct.

"I'll cook him a few more of my signature dishes today, and completely win him over with my stomach!"

Chu Yang thought to himself, a smile appearing on his lips.

After walking for about an hour, he finally arrived at the platform halfway up the mountain.

Sun Wukong's head was still sticking out from under the rock, gazing longingly in the direction of the mountain path.

His eyes lit up when he saw Chu Yang appear.

"You've finally arrived, you little rascal!" he shouted. "I, Old Sun, have been waiting since dawn!"

Chu Yang strode forward and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Great Sage. I'll make you breakfast right away."

Sun Wukong swallowed hard: "Great! I've been craving it all night! I'm still savoring yesterday's meal!"

Chu Yang laughed heartily, put down his luggage, and began to get busy.

Today he plans to make a hearty breakfast—millet porridge with various side dishes, plus scallion pancakes, which he recently learned to make.

Before long, an enticing aroma wafted out of the pot.

Sun Wukong sniffed hard, a look of ecstasy on his face.

"It smells so good! It smells amazing!" He swallowed hard. "Even when I, Old Sun, was the king of Flower Fruit Mountain, I've never tasted anything this delicious!"

Chu Yang placed the prepared breakfast in front of him, smiling as he said, "Great Sage, please enjoy."

Sun Wukong eagerly opened his mouth and began to eat in large mouthfuls.

"Delicious! So delicious!" he exclaimed between bites. "This scallion pancake is so fragrant and crispy, it's even better than the peaches from the heavens!"

Chu Yang watched him wolf down his food quietly, a sense of accomplishment welling up inside him.

A culinary skill that even the Monkey King praised highly is truly something to be proud of.

……

And so, Chu Yang began his daily routine of coming to Five Elements Mountain.

Every morning, he would bring fresh ingredients to the mountain to cook all kinds of delicious meals for Sun Wukong.

Breakfast is usually a light porridge with side dishes, lunch is a hearty main course, and dinner is a few exquisite dishes to accompany wine.

Sun Wukong always ate to his heart's content, and his fondness for Chu Yang grew day by day.

Besides cooking, Chu Yang would also chat with Sun Wukong to keep him company.

He told Sun Wukong all sorts of interesting stories about the human world, such as the prosperity of Chang'an, the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan, and the landscapes of the frontier...

Sun Wukong listened with great interest, occasionally interjecting with questions. The two chatted and laughed, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Sometimes, Sun Wukong would tell Chu Yang about his experiences from back then.

What about becoming king and dominating Flower Fruit Mountain? What about learning martial arts from Bodhi Patriarch? What about causing havoc in the Dragon Palace to demand weapons? What about erasing oneself from the Book of Life and Death?

Although Chu Yang had read these stories in Journey to the West, hearing them told by Sun Wukong himself gave them a completely different flavor.

Especially when Sun Wukong talked about his experience of causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, his unruly spirit seemed to return, making Chu Yang's blood boil.

"The Great Sage was truly awe-inspiring back then," Chu Yang exclaimed sincerely.

Sun Wukong chuckled, his face full of smugness.

"Of course! Back in the day, I, Old Sun, was a fearless fellow!"

"What a pity..." His smile faded, and he sighed, "What a pity I ran into that bald monk later..."

Chu Yang knew he was referring to the Buddha, so he didn't say anything more, but simply poured him a bowl of wine.

Sun Wukong took the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and let out a long sigh.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that anymore." He shook his head. "Anyway, I, Old Sun, am stuck here, and I can't get out of this mess."

Chu Yang was silent for a moment, then said, "Great Sage, I have heard that as long as a destined person comes to break the seal on the mountaintop, Great Sage will regain his freedom."

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Chu Yang smiled slightly: "I've traveled far and wide and heard many rumors. It's said that the destined person will appear soon."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes, but then dimmed again.

“Five hundred years…” he murmured to himself, “I, Old Sun, have waited five hundred years…”

"Will that destined person... really come?"

Looking at his dejected expression, Chu Yang felt a surge of sympathy. "Yes," he said solemnly, "Great Sage, rest assured, the destined one will definitely come."

Seeing his serious expression, Sun Wukong finally smiled.

"Well done, kid. You know how to comfort people."

"Whether that destined person comes or not, I, Old Sun, have decided you're my friend!"

Chu Yang smiled slightly: "It is my honor to be a friend of the Great Sage."

……

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

Chu Yang and Sun Wukong's relationship grew closer and closer, from strangers to close friends who could talk about anything.

Sun Wukong stopped calling him "you kid" and instead affectionately addressed him as "Brother Chu Yang".

Chu Yang no longer called him "Great Sage," but instead called him "Brother Monkey."

"Brother Monkey, I'm going to make you a new dish today—Beggar's Chicken," Chu Yang said while busy at work.

Sun Wukong asked curiously, "Beggar's chicken? What's that?"

Chu Yang laughed, "It's just wrapping the chicken in lotus leaves and mud, then roasting it in a fire. The roasted chicken is so tender and fragrant, I guarantee Brother Monkey will want more after he eats it."

Sun Wukong swallowed hard: "Sounds good! I'll be waiting!"

Chu Yang wrapped the prepared chicken in lotus leaves and mud and put it into the fire.

While waiting, the two drank and chatted.

"Brother Chu Yang, I, Old Sun, have something I want to ask you," Sun Wukong suddenly said.

"Brother Monkey, please speak."

Sun Wukong looked at him with a serious expression in his eyes.

"You come to keep me company every day, cooking for me, but what is it all for?"

Chu Yang was taken aback, not expecting Sun Wukong to suddenly ask this question.

"Although I, Old Sun, am trapped under this mountain, my brain isn't damaged," Sun Wukong continued. "You, a cultivator, instead of focusing on your cultivation, spend your days keeping an eye on me, a stinky monkey trapped under the mountain. You must have your reasons."

"I, Old Sun, don't blame you. I just want to know what you really want?"

Chu Yang was silent for a moment before finally speaking, "Brother Monkey, I won't lie to you."

"I did have a purpose in initially coming to you."

Sun Wukong nodded, signaling him to continue.

Chu Yang took a deep breath and said, "I've heard that a high-ranking monk will come to break the seal and rescue you. Then you will escort him to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures."

"I want to...go with you to the Western Paradise to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures after you come out."

Sun Wukong was stunned: "You want to go on the journey to the West with me, Old Sun?"

“That’s right.” Chu Yang nodded. “Brother Monkey, I know this request is a bit abrupt. But I really want to go to the Western Paradise.”

"The Western Paradise is a sacred Buddhist land, filled with countless cultivation techniques and opportunities. If I could go there with Brother Monkey, I could not only broaden my horizons but also improve my cultivation."

Sun Wukong was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"I thought it was something serious! Turns out you just want to go on an adventure with me!"

"Alright! I, Old Sun, agree!"

Chu Yang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course it's true!" Sun Wukong chuckled. "You're with me every day, cooking delicious food for me. How could I not give you that much face?"

"Once I, Old Sun, am released, let's brothers go to the Western Paradise together, chatting and laughing all the way. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Chu Yang was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Brother Monkey!"

Sun Wukong waved his hand: "No need to thank me, we're brothers, no need to be so polite."

"By the way, when is that eminent monk you mentioned arriving? I, Old Sun, can't wait any longer!"

Chu Yang thought for a moment and said, "It should be soon. It's said that the eminent monk has already departed from Chang'an."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I, Old Sun, will have to prepare myself properly!"

Chu Yang smiled slightly: "Don't worry, Brother Monkey, that high monk will definitely come."

The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

……

Another half month passed.

On this day, the sky suddenly turned gloomy, with dark clouds covering the sky, as if it were about to rain.

Chu Yang arrived at Five Elements Mountain as usual, but found that Sun Wukong's expression was somewhat unusual.

"Brother Monkey, what's wrong?" he asked.

Sun Wukong frowned and said, "I have a feeling something is coming."

"what?"

Sun Wukong shook his head: "I can't explain it, but my intuition tells me that thing is very powerful."

Chu Yang's heart stirred, and he looked up at the sky.

Just then, the dark clouds suddenly dispersed, and a golden light descended from the sky, illuminating the entire Five Elements Mountain.

Amidst the golden light, a figure slowly descended and landed on the platform.

She was a woman dressed in white, with an exquisite appearance and ethereal temperament, radiating a faint Buddhist light, like a fairy descending to earth.

"Guanyin Bodhisattva?"

Chu Yang was shocked and immediately knelt down.

"Disciple Chu Yang pays respects to the Bodhisattva."

Sun Wukong did not kneel, but instead curiously looked at the newcomer.

"Are you Guanyin Bodhisattva?" he asked. "I, Old Sun, have heard of you. What brings you here?"

Guanyin smiled slightly and looked at Sun Wukong.

"This humble monk has come to inform you of something on the orders of the Buddha."

"What's up?"

Guanyin said, "Five hundred years ago, you wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and were suppressed here by the Buddha. Out of compassion, the Buddha could not bear to see you suffer forever, and therefore sent this humble monk to give you a chance to atone for your sins."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up: "What opportunity?"

Guanyin said, "In the Great Tang Dynasty of the East, there is a high-ranking monk named Xuanzang, who is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi. He will travel to the Western Paradise, Mount Ling, to seek the true scriptures."

"If you are willing to escort him westward, sincerely repenting along the way, you will achieve perfect merit and attain enlightenment after obtaining the true scriptures."

Sun Wukong was silent for a moment, then asked, "If I, Old Sun, escort that monk to obtain the true scriptures, will I be able to become a Buddha?"

Guanyin nodded: "That's right."

Sun Wukong chuckled: "Becoming a Buddha? I, Old Sun, have no interest in that stuff."

“However…” A glint flashed in his eyes, “I, Old Sun, have been staying at the foot of this mountain for five hundred years, and I’m long tired of it. If I could go out for a walk, that wouldn’t be bad.”

"Alright, I, Old Sun, agree!"

Guanyin smiled with satisfaction: "Excellent, excellent! Your ability to repent and return to the right path is truly commendable."

"When the Venerable Xuanzang passes through this place and breaks the seal on the mountaintop, you will regain your freedom. At that time, you must wholeheartedly protect him on his westward journey and must not commit any further evil deeds."

Sun Wukong waved his hand impatiently: "I know, I know, I'm not a child anymore, do you need to nag me?"

Guanyin shook her head slightly and was about to leave when Sun Wukong suddenly spoke up, "Wait!"

Guanyin stopped and looked at him. (End of Chapter)