The first time it happened, no one thought much of it.

MK noticed his mentor had been… distracted. Slipping away mid-training. Vanishing between staff drills. Returning with peach petals in his fur and that lazy smile stretched just a little too thin.

“Bathroom break?” MK had joked.

Sun Wukong only ruffled his hair.

“Don’t wait up, kid.”

But it kept happening.

Cloud streaks across the sky at the same hour every afternoon. Peach blossoms drifting where they absolutely did not belong.

Over lava.

Over volcanic stone.

Over the battlements of the Bull Clan.

—

Inside the war chamber of Bull King’s fortress, molten light flickered against iron walls. Holographic maps glowed red.

Red Son slammed a device onto the table.

The screen displayed a repeated arc in the sky — a cloud signature.

Daily. Precise. Deliberate.

“And you’re telling me,” Red Son snapped, eyes blazing, “that this is coincidence?”

Across from him stood the Monkey King himself, arms folded, tail flicking lazily.

“Nice tech,” Wukong hummed. “Bit dramatic though.”

Red Son pointed to the projection. The cloud path curved directly over the castle’s inner courtyard. Over the private training grounds. Over you.

“Peach blossoms,” Red Son hissed. “Scattered along the volcano ridge. Explain that.”

Wukong’s grin widened.

“Wind’s funny like that.”

The temperature in the chamber spiked.

“You’ve been circling my territory,” Red Son accused. “And I want to know why.”

Wukong’s eyes slid past him.

Not to the throne. Not to the guards.

To you.

Standing at Red Son’s right hand. Calm. Composed. Watching him without fear.

Ah.

There it was again.

That wicked stillness wrapped in something beautiful.

Wukong tilted his head slightly.

“I wasn’t aware your territory extended to people.”

Red Son’s flames flared brighter. “She’s allied with the Bull Clan.”

“Is she?” Wukong’s tone stayed light. Almost curious.

He stepped forward, boots clicking against volcanic stone.

Peach blossoms drifted down from nowhere, landing at your feet.

“You look good against fire,” he murmured. “But it’s temporary.”

Red Son moved between you instantly. “Back up.”

Wukong laughed softly.

“Relax. I’m just visiting.”

“Every day?” Red Son shot back.

The Monkey King didn’t answer that.

Instead, he crouched slightly, golden eyes locking with yours.

“You’ve got ambition,” he said quietly. “I can see it from across a mountain.”

The war chamber lights flickered.

Bull King rose from his throne, massive shadow stretching across the hall. “Speak your purpose, Sage.”

Wukong stood, stretching like a bored cat.

“My purpose?”

His gaze never left you.

“I’m offering her something better.”

Red Son’s gauntlets ignited.

“You don’t get to offer her anything!”

Wukong finally looked at him.

And for a split second — the smile thinned.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

The air shifted.

Subtle.

Heavy.

A cloud platform materialized beneath Wukong’s feet, lifting him slightly off the volcanic ground.

He extended his hand.

Not forcefully.

Not yet.

“Come see what eternity looks like,” he said.

Peach blossoms spiraled around you, warm against your skin despite the surrounding heat.

“Or stay here,” he added lightly, glancing at the molten walls. “Play soldier until someone stronger decides your fate.”

Red Son stepped forward, furious.

“She doesn’t belong to you!”

Wukong’s eyes flashed.

“She doesn’t belong here.”

The cloud above the castle thickened, casting a shadow over the chamber.

MK’s voice echoed faintly through a communicator somewhere in the Sage’s sash.

“Uh— Monkey King? You’ve been gone a while—”

Wukong flicked the device off without breaking eye contact.

“Take your time,” he told you softly. “But understand something, Peach Blossom…”

His smile returned.

Slow. Certain.

“If I keep circling, it’s because I’ve already chosen.”

Take his hand — walk willingly into the unknown heights of Flower Fruit Mountain, into peach groves and promises of immortality.

Or step back beside the Bull Clan, flames rising in defense, and see how long patience lasts with a god.