Chapter 3: Secrets of Crescent Hollow

Thomas and I exchanged glances.

The old turtle asked again, “Why isn’t the holy man answering? Did the Bishop not say anything?”

Thomas looked embarrassed, guilt all over his face. “Sorry, old turtle. In the rush to fetch the scriptures, after such a long journey, I... I actually forgot your request.”

Thomas’s answer made my heart skip.

Sure enough, the old turtle roared, “I carried the holy man across the river, and he asked what wish I had. I just wanted to know when I could shed my shell and become human. He promised—so why can’t his words become law?”

As the old turtle’s shell shook, I felt like just an ordinary monkey.

All my powers—useless.

Fierce waves swallowed me whole.

In front of heaven and earth, I was just a speck of dust.

Was this the Bishop warning me?

I knew it.

It was his warning.

Even with the golden band gone, in these Three Realms, he’s still my golden band.

As long as he wants me dead, I’ve got nowhere to run.

After a dizzying spin, the waves washed me ashore.

Now my church robes were torn, my fur a mess.

I was truly as wretched as a stray dog.

After I delivered the scriptures to the Great Republic, I fled back to Silver Hollow Mountain.

I opened a new den inside the Waterfall Cavern.

Like that old turtle, I hid myself in my shell.

And I hid there for a thousand years.

For a thousand years, I kept having the same dream, over and over.

I dreamed that when the Great King set out to sea to learn the arts, he entrusted all the mountain monkeys to me, saying:

“If I never return, you must protect all these mountain monkeys...”

And in the dream, when the Great King returned, full of pride after learning the arts, he said to me:

“You were born with six ears, you understand everything, and you master whatever you practice. So I’ll pass all my powers to you!”

I dreamed that when the Great King gathered everyone to storm the heavens, he only left one message:

“If Old Sam dies, you must protect all these mountain monkeys...”

And again, I dreamed that when the Great King was crushed under Five Finger Mountain, he only waved to me from afar:

“If Old Sam can’t get out, you must protect all those mountain monkeys...”

Then the scene changed. I saw holy light—divine punishment—falling, and a figure hidden behind the glow said to me:

“If you don’t kill that demon monkey, I’ll destroy your Silver Hollow Mountain.”

At that moment,

The mountain monkeys howled in pain, and I trembled with anger.

But I couldn’t even look directly at that golden light.

So I could only ride the clouds out of the mountain, using the powers the Great King taught me, to repay his kindness with betrayal.

I still remember—before entering Mount Laurel—

The furious Great King suddenly put away his staff.

“You... monster, do you really want to replace Old Sam?”

My steps faltered, and I forced a wild laugh: “Mount Laurel is just ahead. Are you... monster... scared?”

“King of All Demons, Great Sage—those titles are meaningless in the end. If you want them, take them!”

The Great King shook his head in disappointment, his departing figure suddenly incredibly lonely, leaving only a faint sentence:

“After Old Sam dies, you must protect all those mountain monkeys... If one day you can’t protect them, go to Crescent Hollow in Silver Hollow Woods...”

I watched, blank, as he entered the sanctuary.

His figure was swallowed up by holy light.

I strictly followed my agreement with the Bishop.

I raised the staff and brought it down.

After the staff fell, the Great King’s soul was completely destroyed.

All the saints in the hall grinned.

They wore the most compassionate faces, but their laughter was more chilling than ghosts.

I stood there in a daze.

For a moment, I couldn’t tell if I was in the holy land of Mount Laurel or in some hellish nightmare.

Because that compassionate face was turning into a demon.