Chapter Twenty-Two: Playing at Life

“Brother Yu Rong King, your injuries should be nearly healed by now, haven't they?”

Over the past few months, the situation in Fiery Cloud Cave had turned into utter chaos. As Yuan Wuji was preparing to leave, he happened to run into Yu Rong King, who had come to bid farewell. Yuan Wuji decided to travel with him, conveniently gaining a guide for the journey.

Yu Rong King had spent these months recuperating in Fiery Cloud Cave, and his wounds were now almost fully healed. Since Yuan Wuji suggested traveling together, Yu Rong King could hardly refuse and agreed to join him.

Yu Rong King's cloud-riding skills were not particularly advanced, so Yuan Wuji slowed his pace to match, making their journey appear more like two friends chatting leisurely.

“Brother Wuji, thanks to the Blood Spirit Pill my elder brother Bull Demon King gave me, my injuries are almost fully recovered.” Yu Rong King was still quite respectful toward Yuan Wuji. In the demon realm, strength rules; Yuan Wuji had subdued Yu Rong King, so Yu Rong King naturally admired him.

“This matter, truth be told, is my fault as your elder brother.”

“It’s nothing serious,” Yu Rong King replied with a bitter smile.

“Yu Rong King, you have considerable cultivation. Do you have your own domain?” Yuan Wuji suddenly asked.

“With our cultivation, we could easily be demon kings in the lower realm. Of course I have my own territory. What’s the matter, Brother Wuji? If you need anything from me, just say the word.” Yu Rong King wasn't sure what Yuan Wuji was planning but nonetheless thumped his chest and agreed.

“Well then, Yu Rong King, how about you take me to your domain and treat your big brother to some hospitality?” In the legends of Journey to the West, among the Seven Saints of Flower Fruit Mountain, the Bull Demon King was most often depicted; little was said about the other five. Now, the Great Sage Who Drives Away Gods, Yu Rong King, was right beside him—how could Yuan Wuji not pay a visit to his domain?

“Of course,” Yu Rong King agreed readily. He hadn’t expected Yuan Wuji to merely want to see his territory. He didn’t have any treasures, nor was his domain anything special; if Yuan Wuji wanted to go, he would take him.

“Brother Wuji, I reside in North Julu Continent. With our speed, it’ll still take some time to get there.”

“No matter. This will give me a chance to familiarize myself with the sights of the lower realm.” The four great continents were vast, and the scenery along the way fascinated Yuan Wuji, making the journey anything but dull. For demons who had been cultivating in the lower realm for years, traveling by basic cloud-riding techniques was tedious, but there was no alternative.

“Haha, since you’re in the mood, I’ll accompany you, Brother Wuji.”

As Yuan Wuji and Yu Rong King traveled, they visited many mortal kingdoms. Occasionally, when a country had particularly interesting customs, Yuan Wuji would descend to explore. In his previous life, Yuan Wuji was a poor soul, always hustling for the future and never able to afford a vacation. Now, in this world of survival of the fittest, he indulged in the pleasures of the mortal realm, experiencing the extravagance of the wealthy that he had never dared to imagine before.

Yu Rong King had always seen Yuan Wuji as decisive and ruthless, yet now he witnessed this playful side. Yuan Wuji would lavish gold in pleasure houses and sneak into royal palaces to steal princesses’ undergarments—none of it made sense to Yu Rong King, though Yuan Wuji seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Yu Rong King even wondered if the monkey before him was the same one who had defeated him.

Of course, sometimes they were discovered. Yuan Wuji and Yu Rong King once tried to give a queen’s personal garment to a beggar on the street, but accidentally alerted the palace guards. The emperor, seeing Yuan Wuji holding his wife’s intimate apparel, flew into a rage and ordered the guards to seize both Yuan Wuji and Yu Rong King. Yu Rong King, seeing mere mortals dare to challenge him, wanted to kill them all, but Yuan Wuji advised him to merely frighten them. In the end, they vanished from the palace before the king’s eyes.

The next day, the beggar was seen wearing the queen’s garment, unable to take it off. The people, unaware of its origin, simply thought someone had been unlucky enough to have it stolen by the beggar. When the emperor learned of this, he strictly ordered all soldiers present not to divulge a word, threatening to execute their entire families if they did. He also sent someone to kill the beggar, but Yuan Wuji had enchanted the garment, making the beggar impervious to ordinary attacks. Since it was a humiliating matter, the emperor dared not seek out experts for fear the scandal would spread nationwide, so he let it drop.

“Brother, we’re almost at my domain.” Though he’d been frustrated by Yuan Wuji’s antics, Yu Rong King dared not complain, given Yuan Wuji’s power.

“Then let’s hurry on our way!” This period was truly the most carefree Yuan Wuji had ever experienced; things he’d never dared even dream of before he was now enjoying to the fullest, and he could hardly contain his excitement.

Just as Yuan Wuji and Yu Rong King sped toward Yu Rong King’s territory, a water-blue ape blocked their path.

“Well, if it isn’t Yu Rong King. I heard you’ve sworn allegiance to the Bull Demon King. Why aren’t you at his side, but instead muddling about with this other monkey?” The water-blue ape sneered at Yu Rong King, his contempt obvious.

Yuan Wuji felt the ape’s mockery but decided to see how Yu Rong King would respond.

“Shui Yu, my affairs have nothing to do with you. If you’ve got nothing better to do, get lost!” It seemed Yu Rong King and this Shui Yu ape had long been at odds, for his words were nothing but curses.

“Was the last lesson not enough for you? Want another round? I’ve reached the Taiyi realm now—if you kneel and beg, it’s still not too late. That monkey beside you seems close; maybe I’ll teach him a lesson as well.” Shui Yu was brazenly arrogant.

Even if he was in the Taiyi realm, it looked to be only the beginning. Yuan Wuji was not about to let himself be humiliated just because the other was a higher realm.

He was about to step forward, but Yu Rong King grabbed his arm, his face tense with struggle.

“Brother, I appreciate your kindness, but you should run. Shui Yu is a direct descendant of the ancient water apes, pure-blooded, and already in the Taiyi realm—you’re no match for him. Hurry and go.” Yu Rong King hadn’t expected Yuan Wuji to stand up for him, risking offense to a demon king of a higher realm.

During their battle in Fiery Cloud Cave, Yu Rong King was wounded, but his sworn elder brother, Bull Demon King, had tended to Yuan Wuji first, leaving Yu Rong King to be dealt with by lesser demons before eventually giving him a Blood Spirit Pill. Yu Rong King assumed Yuan Wuji’s wounds had been treated by Bull Demon King, though in truth Yuan Wuji’s recovery was entirely thanks to his own formidable physique. Still, this incident caused a rift between Yu Rong King and Bull Demon King.

Yu Rong King knew that if the situation had been reversed, he would likely have stood aside and watched, but seeing Yuan Wuji stand up for him awakened a feeling he’d never experienced before.

From birth, Yu Rong King had been half-abandoned, constantly harassed by the younger generations of the ancient water and fire apes, bullied daily. Only after his parents caused a stir in their respective clans were the bullies warned, though the abuse never truly ceased. It wasn’t until he swore brotherhood with Bull Demon King that things quieted for a time. Yu Rong King had even vowed to live and die with Bull Demon King, but the events in Fiery Cloud Cave shattered that faith.

The more he cherished, the less he could tolerate betrayal; thus, Bull Demon King became a knot in his heart. Now, seeing Yuan Wuji stand before him, he felt brotherly loyalty for the first time.

“You call me brother—what’s wrong with a big brother taking the bullet for his little brother?”