After transmigrating into the stone atop Flower-Fruit Mountain, the first thought of the Stone Monkey who burst from it wasn’t to claim kingship or seek immortality. It was: I’m doomed.
He had read Journey to the West. He knew this monkey would stir up the Celestial Court, be pinned beneath Five Elements Mountain, and have a golden headband put on him.
That wasn’t the life he wanted.
So he decided to give up and take it easy.
He wouldn’t leap through a waterfall, become the Monkey King, seek out a master, or touch the Golden Cudgel.
Handsome Monkey King, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Victorious Fighting Buddha: whoever wanted those titles could have them. He just wanted to sunbathe and pick fruit on Flower-Fruit Mountain, and live out his days in peace.
But things kept taking a strange turn.
He didn’t want trouble, but the Demon King of Havoc came knocking anyway.
He ran into Water Curtain Cave to hide, only to be given the title “Handsome Monkey King” as soon as he stepped inside.
He was at his wits’ end. “I just want to take it easy. Why is everyone forcing me onto the pilgrimage to the West?”
And later still...
Wait, why isn’t this story going the way I expected?
