The sound of the waterfall soothed the tense nerves. nothing dared to disturb the silence of the mountain. A slight breeze, a falling leaf, the sound of a drop hitting the water, a grasshopper on the grass... Silence and tranquility... Usually they lead to a perfect state of mind, directed to meditation, but today they only got in the way. Silence and absence of thoughts only returned to the torment of the soul... screams, blood, pleading women and crying children... Curses from those who used to have his back...

"I curse you! And your children! And your children's children! I curse anyone who speaks your name! Past, present and future! May my curse like a disease affect everyone-"

Wukong opened his eyes. He exhaled irritably and picked up another packet of peach chips. They couldn't compare to the real ones, but it didn't matter. The only thing Wukong wanted to do was forget himself. Thoughts of past sins slowly crept into his brain and prevented him from thinking. Wukong envied his past self, before, he wouldn't have thought about it at all. So, he plucked out Macaque's eye, so what? He was just a stupid copy of him trying to hurt the monk... But now... under the weight of centuries lived, thoughts of regret were creeping into him... He had robbed his nephew of his father. Yes, he had hurt many... But why was it only after millennia that the weight of responsibility had been thrust upon him?

Wukong unhappily rolled over on his hammock, but immediately resumed his previous position. His body just wouldn't listen to him.

“Buddha Almighty, just-“

Wukong made a displeased face. He instantly changed his mind about saying something out loud, not wanting to repeat the mistakes of his younger self. He exhaled tiredly again and looked up at the ceiling of the cave. He had no desire to walk into an empty castle to feel even more alone.... but he would also never admit to MK that he missed their training and that he was insanely bored and lonely....

“Maybe... get drunk again?”

Wukong started to smirk contentedly, and then giggled.