Along the way, the three brothers were harmonious and friendly.
Only when the Six-Eared Macaque was mentioned did the other two frown slightly.
"Brother Sun, must you gather all four monkeys? Don't you know that this Six-Eared one is completely different from us? While we may have had misunderstandings with you, he..."
As if recalling past events, Zhou Wuxian's eyes shot out dissatisfaction and hatred towards the Six-Eared Macaque.
When speaking of the crucial part, tears even welled up in his eyes.
Sun Kong was both surprised and perplexed.
After all, in his memory, although the Six-Eared Macaque was not a good being, and in another timeline, he had enacted a 'true and false Sun Wukong' scenario with him, making many powerful figures in the Three Realms unable to distinguish them.
Yet, at the same time, this fellow's abilities were indeed not weak; he was skilled in hearing sounds, discerning principles, knowing the past and future, and understanding all things.
If his rebellious nature could be tolerated and he could be slowly conquered,
then his abilities would be a powerful supplement to the three of them.
At best, with the four of them working together, they would rarely be defeated.
At worst, if these four chaotic monkeys united to form a cohesive team, let alone a mere Journey to the West, they could even establish their own faction and contend with all the Saints.
Perhaps there would be hope of success.
Why did this second and third brother cause so much trouble?
"Third Brother, don't be nervous. Brother Sun just has this idea, he doesn't want us four monkeys to fight amongst ourselves, he's not actually going to accept him unconditionally."
"I understand what happened to you back then, but don't rush. Let me talk to Brother Sun again."
Just as Sun Kong was puzzled by this, the second brother, Wuzhiqi, stepped forward. While he soothed the somewhat agitated third brother Zhou Wuxian, he also began to tell Sun Kong some speechless past events.
As it turned out, the Six-Eared Macaque was truly not a good thing.
The Six-Eared Macaque was not only cunning and cruel by nature, unlike the three monkeys who had some sense of morality and conscience, but he also harbored a deep, life-and-death animosity towards Zhou Wuxian.
This story dates back hundreds of years.
To elaborate, hundreds of years ago, Sun Kong had not yet transmigrated, and the former self of Sun Kong, Sun Wukong, had not even appeared on the scene.
At that time, there were nominally four chaotic monkeys, but in reality, the Gibbon Monkey Zhou Wuxian was still the most respected and powerful.
Zhou Wuxian, having cultivated for thousands of years, possessed the cultivation to ascend to the Heavenly Realm and achieve immortality. However, in the final month, something went wrong.
The person who caused this mishap was none other than the Six-Eared Macaque, who was envious and jealous of Zhou Wuxian's Dao heart!
If not for the Six-Eared Macaque's interference, Zhou Wuxian would not have ended up as a demon, resorting to threatening others with force to prevent intrusion into his territory.
If not for the Six-Eared Macaque's sabotage, Zhou Wuxian could have not only ascended to the Heavenly Realm and achieved the Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal status but also lived happily with his one true love.
If not for the Six-Eared Macaque's scheme, Zhou Wuxian would not have waited to become Sun Kong's sworn third brother; with his aptitude and comprehension, he would have long been ranked among the immortals, a rival to none other than Erlang Shen Yang Jian!
It could be said that the Six-Eared Macaque destroyed everything for Zhou Wuxian.
Naturally, this made Zhou Wuxian intensely dislike that scoundrel!
"Thank you, second brother, for telling Brother Sun the truth for me. However, it would be more appropriate for me to speak about this matter myself."
Seeing that his second brother Wuzhiqi had taken on much of the pain for him, Zhou Wuxian felt much better, gradually recovering, and proceeded to recount the story.
In simple terms, hundreds of years ago, Zhou Wuxian was at the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, just one step away from Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal.
At that time, he was not only a demon favored by the Six Great Sages, Spirit Mountain, and the Heavenly Court, but also greatly admired because he had never killed anyone since his birth.
He was truly a favored son of heaven!
He was the center of attention for everyone!
What was even more precious was that Zhou Wuxian had a destined marriage bestowed by the Heavenly Dao by his side. Although she was just a mountain sparrow, she was intelligent, perceptive, and possessed boundless potential.
Like Zhou Wuxian, the mountain sparrow had no ill deeds since birth; on the contrary, she had repeatedly performed good deeds and accumulated merit, making her regarded by countless powerful beings as second only to Zhou Wuxian.
The second most virtuous demon.
Because of this, even the Queen Mother, who was most opposed to immortals falling in love, immortals falling in love with demons, and immortals falling in love with mortals, and had established heavenly laws accordingly, was somewhat moved.
She specially opened a green channel for Zhou Wuxian and the mountain sparrow.
Her intention was to give them an opportunity and to serve as an example for other demons and monsters in the Great Desolation Three Realms.
However, it was precisely this that stirred up the inherently jealous Six-Eared Macaque's extreme dissatisfaction. Taking advantage of Zhou Wuxian's absence to help villagers with their illnesses, he actually ambushed the mountain sparrow.
This ultimately led to a series of disastrous events!
"Third Brother, your strength should be much higher than that Six-Eared one, and it wasn't you who harmed your sister-in-law. Why didn't you find the truth and make it clear to all beings in the Three Realms?"
"Could it be that the Six-Eared Macaque employed some trick, misleading even the Saints of the Heavens, the Tathagata of Spirit Mountain, and the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, causing them to mistake you for the murderer?"
"And that's why you became so dejected for the next few hundred years?"
As Sun Kong listened, he grew increasingly alarmed. Through his deductions, he strongly suspected that the Six-Eared Macaque had made a move using some special means.
As expected.
Upon hearing that Sun Kong had understood the matter, Zhou Wuxian's face showed even more pain. But in order to make his elder brother understand the cause and effect, he endured the heartache and finished the rest of the story.
Indeed.
It was the Six-Eared Macaque, relying on his skill in hearing sounds, discerning principles, knowing the past and future, and understanding all things, a capability that even the Saints of the Heavens might not surpass, who distorted the truth and framed Zhou Wuxian!
Let alone the Saints of the Heavens and other powerful figures at the time, even after hundreds of years, no one had thought in this direction.
Therefore, Zhou Wuxian disliked the Six-Eared Macaque so much and wished he could kill him to avenge the mountain sparrow and himself!
"So that's how it is."
"No wonder. In another timeline, a mere Golden Immortal Six-Eared Macaque could deceive the heavens and earth, making most powerful beings unable to distinguish right from wrong, and those who could, like Di Ting, were afraid of retaliation and could only remain silent."
"So, the crux of the problem lies here!"
Sun Kong gasped, connecting all his memories. He also felt a great deal of contempt and hatred for this Six-Eared Macaque. However, considering his future plans,
he could only try for now.
Seeing his persistence, Wuzhiqi and Zhou Wuxian did not object. But when they followed Sun Kong to the extreme north of the Heavenly Realm, near the Six-Eared Macaque's cave dwelling, they found no trace of him.
The Six-Eared Macaque was not at home.
The Six-Eared Macaque had gone out.
The Six-Eared Macaque did not leave early or late; precisely before the three of them arrived to invite him to join, and according to the descriptions of other demons nearby,
before he left, the Six-Eared Macaque had even predicted that a future powerful figure would definitely seek him out to join them, and so on.
Judging by his demeanor, he had clearly foreseen Sun Kong's arrival!
"Brother Sun, this fellow is disrespectful. Why not go back? Why treat him so well?"
Wuzhiqi and Zhou Wuxian suggested simultaneously.
"Alright, let's go back then."
Sun Kong agreed. Unexpectedly, on the way back, they heard of a major event.
Tathagata was moving house.
Spirit Mountain was no longer spiritual!