Chapter 82: Xuan Wu Pays Homage to the New Green Emperor
Xiaoqing didn’t know how many days he had been suppressed, when suddenly he sensed a dazzling golden light shooting from above.
"You are not Sun Wukong." It was Tathagata who had descended into the desert, staring at the subdued Xiaoqing and said.
"I never claimed I was," Xiaoqing replied with a faint smile.
Tathagata felt a surge of anger. How absurd was it that creatures he could toy with had deceived him? He looked down upon Xiaoqing from on high as Xiaoqing lowered his head and closed his eyes.
Tathagata said, "Why won’t you look at me?"
Xiaoqing answered, "I dislike your condescension. I don’t see where you are more noble than I, needing me to look up to you."
All Tathagata felt was intensified rage upon hearing this, but he didn’t want to kill Xiaoqing on the spot. Wasn’t imprisoning him an even crueler fate, a fate worse than death? He stopped speaking, scoffed coldly, and left, but this incident had cost that tricky monkey some face.
Since returning to Water Curtain Cave, Wukong spent his days lying on the mountain peak, gazing at the stars, his mind as tangled as a mess of yarn.
One day, Princess Iron Fan came to the mountain peak.
Princess Iron Fan asked, "Brother, why are you so despondent?"
Wukong gave a wry smile, feeling an immense bitterness in his heart. Unable to restrain his feelings, he first told her about Zixia, then about how Xiaoqing had taken his place to face the calamity. Tears continuously fell from Princess Iron Fan’s eyes as she dabbed at the corner of her eyes with her sleeve, deeply moved.