"I remember! I remember everything!" Sha Monk shouted, "Master! My master!"

He raised his crescent shovel and rushed into the crowd, but it was already in vain.

Only a skeleton remained of his master. He threw himself onto the skeleton, wailing, "It's my fault for not protecting you, master! It's all my fault!"

"Puchi!"

An arrow pierced through his chest. Nezha shot several arrows in a row, quickly turning Sha Monk into a hedgehog.

Before he died, he held onto his master's bones tightly.

"Tian Peng!" the voice of the Tathagata thundered in my ears, "It's your turn! Go and kill Sun Wukong!"

The monkey was still hiding under the desk, staring blankly at everything, muttering, "They're all dead, how did they all die..."

"Kill him!" Jade Emperor shouted, "Kill him, and I'll promote you!"

Thunder God beat the drum, Electric Mother blew the horn, and the gods applauded:

"Kill him! Kill him!"

The monkey seemed indifferent to all of this, not even noticing when I approached him from behind.

Unconsciously, the Nine-Tooth Rake had slipped into my hand.

The monkey's slender back was right in front of me.

For some reason, I had a strong premonition that if I struck with the rake, the monkey would be smashed into pieces like tofu.

To die completely, without reincarnation, without another Journey to the West.

In just the blink of an eye, it would all be over.

I would return to the Heavenly Court and live my life as a marshal, enjoying a carefree life with Miss Gao.

But I hesitated, unable to take action.

"Tian Peng, what are you hesitating for?" Tathagata shouted.

Yes, what was I hesitating for?

Unconsciously, I heard the sound of an old woman kowtowing, "Dong, dong, dong," in my ears.

My father's dying request flashed in front of my eyes.

In the ancestral hall, the expectant gazes of my clan members.

Before leaving, Miss Gao gently held my hand and said, "I believe in you!"

Various scenes clashed in my mind.

...

"Still not taking action?!" Jade Emperor cursed, "Look up and see who this is?!"

He suddenly pulled out a person from behind, and it turned out to be Miss Gao.

"If you don't take action, I'll kill her right now!" Jade Emperor pinched Miss Gao's delicate neck and raised her high.

"No!"

I swung the rake, and when it was less than an inch away from the monkey's head, I heard another voice:

"Stop—"

Miss Gao spat in Jade Emperor's face, "Forcing relatives to fight each other, what kind of Jade Emperor are you? Mr. Wu said the entire Heavenly Court is rotten from the inside out, and it's true."

"You're asking for death!" Jade Emperor angrily said, a huge fireball rising and quickly engulfing Miss Gao.

"No!!!"

A wave of heat rushed towards me, the flames licking her delicate cheeks.

Her hair, skin, and bones slowly turned to ashes.

I flew towards her, but I was still one step too late.

"Tian Peng!" In her final moment, she shouted, "Go and do what you've always wanted to do!"

The hot wind carried her ashes, brushing against my cheek, still carrying her warmth.

In this moment, the doubts buried deep in my heart suddenly emerged.

I finally understood your meaning. Without being with the person you love, immortality is the cruelest curse.

Ten thousand years is too long, seize the day and seize the hour.

It was as if I had taken off an invisible shackle, and my state of mind became clear like never before.

I gripped the rake tightly once again, and a surge of true energy erupted from my body.

'Why aren't you taking action? What are you thinking, Tian Peng?!'

"Fine, I'll take action!" I roared.

The monkey turned his head slightly, as if sensing the change in the air. His eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw a glimmer of recognition.

With all my strength, I swung the Nine-Tooth Rake towards the monkey's head. The weapon moved with incredible speed and precision, aimed directly at his vulnerable spot.

But just as the rake was about to make contact, a blinding light erupted from the monkey's body. The light enveloped him, creating a protective barrier that repelled my attack.

The force of the impact sent me flying backward, crashing into the ground with a thud. I quickly regained my footing, my eyes fixed on the monkey.

He stood there, unharmed, his eyes filled with determination. It was as if a spark had been ignited within him, awakening a power that had long been dormant.

"You underestimate me, Tian Peng," the monkey spoke, his voice filled with newfound strength. "I may have forgotten who I am, but I will not let anyone control my destiny."

I felt a mix of astonishment and admiration. This was not the feeble monkey I had encountered moments ago. He had tapped into a reservoir of inner strength that surpassed anything I had ever witnessed.

"I may not remember my past, but I know one thing for certain," the monkey continued. "I will not be a pawn in anyone's game. I will forge my own path."

I could sense the determination in his words. This monkey, Sun Wukong, had found his resolve.

As I stood there, still reeling from the failed attack, I realized that I had been wrong all along. It wasn't my duty to kill him. It wasn't my place to decide his fate.

"Sun Wukong," I said, my voice filled with a newfound respect. "I have no intention of taking your life. I see now that you are not the enemy."

The monkey regarded me warily, his eyes narrowing. "Then why did you hesitate? Why did you almost strike me down?"

"Because I was lost," I admitted. "But your strength, your determination, it has reminded me of something important. We all have the power to shape our own destinies."

The monkey's gaze softened, and he nodded in understanding. "We may have been pitted against each other, but perhaps there is another way. A way to break free from the chains that bind us."

I extended my hand towards him, a gesture of trust and alliance. "Let us find that way together, Sun Wukong. Let us defy the heavens and forge our own paths."

For a moment, the monkey hesitated, then he reached out and clasped my hand firmly. It was a pact, a silent agreement to stand united against the forces that sought to control us.

And so, with a newfound resolve, we set off on a journey that would challenge the very fabric of our existence. Together, we would unravel the mysteries of our pasts, confront our fears, and rewrite our destinies.

The battle lines had shifted, and the game had changed. No longer were we mere pawns in a cosmic chessboard. We were the masters of our own fates, and nothing would stand in our way.

The story of Sun Wukong and Tian Peng had taken an unexpected turn, and as we ventured forth, we would discover that the true power lies not in the hands of gods or emperors, but within ourselves.

And so, the legend continues...