Chapter 392: Past Humiliation
The Golden List Livestream continued announcing the fourth-place ranking.
"Transformation List, Fourth Place: Patriarch Bodhi. Reward: One ten-thousand-year-old ginseng!"
Upon hearing the announcement, Patriarch Bodhi let out a sigh of relief. Although the reward was extremely tempting, it was clearly inferior compared to those given to the top three.
Despite feeling frustrated, he maintained a composed expression and even laughed aloud. "Everyone saw that, right? My abilities are still formidable. I've been awarded this ten-thousand-year-old ginseng, which is far superior to an ordinary ginseng fruit. Consuming it will greatly extend my lifespan!"
"Hah! You're already an old man," Bull Demon King jeered, laughing heartily. "If you don't quickly extend your lifespan, you might drop dead in a few years. Hurry up and eat it! That way, you won't kick the bucket just yet!"
Patriarch Bodhi was clearly irritated by Bull Demon King's mockery and snapped, "Hmph! Who says I'd die without eating this ginseng? Your words are far too rude!"
"Rude? What's the point of being polite? Or is it that you just don't like what I'm saying?"
"Of course, I don't like it!"
"And yet, you were once my second brother's master. Honestly, I don't think you're worthy of that title anymore!"
"Your second brother?"
"Yeah, Sun Wukong!"
Sun Wukong was utterly exasperated. He hadn't expected Bull Demon King to start arguing with his master at this moment. Just as he was about to intervene, Patriarch Bodhi turned to him and said, "Wukong, you've made some poor choices in friends. Why are you associating with someone like him? Let me tell you, choosing your friends wisely is an important skill. You must not befriend such people!"
Sun Wukong forced a bitter smile and replied, "Master, back then, you taught me many transformation techniques. I mastered the Seventy-Two Transformations and thought I had become incredibly powerful. But now, I still haven't earned a ranking. Honestly, I feel quite disappointed. Do you think my transformation skills aren't impressive enough?"
Faced with Sun Wukong's question, Patriarch Bodhi looked rather awkward. He hesitated before saying, "Wukong, some things can't simply be understood through words. I did push you to cultivate diligently back then. If you had trained even harder, you could have learned more from me. But you were playful and lacked discipline. So now, no matter how much you complain, it's useless—it wasn't my fault!"
Sun Wukong knew he hadn't been the most diligent student in his youth, so he couldn't argue.
"Here, if you want this ten-thousand-year-old ginseng, I can give it to you," Patriarch Bodhi offered.
Sun Wukong shook his head. "I don't need it. What would I do with it? Back in the Heavenly Palace, I ate plenty of Peaches of Immortality. You know those peaches extend lifespan, right? My lifespan is already absurdly long, so I don't need this."
"Well, if you don't want it, I'll just keep it for myself."
Meanwhile, the Golden List Livestream continued announcing rankings, but Sun Wukong grew increasingly disheartened—he still hadn't heard his name.
In the Journey to the West world, Sun Wukong's transformations were undoubtedly extraordinary. He had mastered the Seventy-Two Transformations, yet despite having such a clear advantage, the livestream hadn't ranked him at all.
Sun Wukong felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
At that moment, the Jade Emperor approached, sneering. "Well, well, Monkey, did you think you were so great that you'd make it into the top three? Are you disappointed now? After all this time, your name still hasn't appeared!"
"Listen here, old man Jade Emperor, stop mocking me!" Sun Wukong snapped. "Back when I wreaked havoc in Heaven, weren't you scared out of your wits? If not for you begging Tathagata Buddha to suppress me under Five Elements Mountain, I'd be sitting on your throne as the Jade Emperor right now!"
"You—hmpf!"
The Jade Emperor felt a twinge of fear at Sun Wukong's words. Even so, he couldn't afford to show weakness. After all, every move in the Golden List Livestream was being broadcast to the world.
Outside, some spectators watched with amusement, while others treated it as a joke.
As the ruler of the Heavenly Palace, the Jade Emperor couldn't allow himself to become a laughingstock. He composed himself, smirked at Sun Wukong, and said, "Wukong, do you really think I feared you back then? I merely took pity on you. That's why I made you the keeper of the Heavenly Horses—the so-called Bimawen (Protector of the Horses). You were so ignorant that you actually thought it was an honorable title. Looking back now, don't you see it as a humiliation?"
"Of course it was a humiliation! But, old man Jade Emperor, what you did was downright despicable! I may have been uneducated, but you weren't! You tricked me into taking that position—how disgraceful!"
Thinking back to how he had been played like a fool, Sun Wukong grew even angrier. He had abandoned his status as a mountain king, only to end up as a lowly stable hand in the Heavenly Palace. This story had spread far and wide, forever marking a moment of shame in his past.
Just then, Ye Tian, who had been listening, walked over. Looking at Sun Wukong, he said, "Sun Wukong, I know you were young and naive back then, but your potential is limitless. As long as you keep training, you'll definitely grow stronger. Don't let these insults get to you. In time, your path will only widen, while those who mock you now will find their own roads growing narrower."
The Jade Emperor's expression darkened upon hearing Ye Tian's words. It was clear that Ye Tian was taking Sun Wukong's side.
Scoffing, the Jade Emperor said, "Ye Tian, do you really think you're that great? That no one in Heaven or Earth can challenge you?"
(Support me and read additional chapters on my Patreon: p@treon.com/craxxtranslation. Thanks!)