Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Chapter 45 What is a Dual Cultivation Technique

"Your Majesty, your face..."

Sun Wushuang pointed at his face, and Wukong blinked, forming a Dharma Decree in front of him that created a water mirror for him to look into.

He had not intended to look, but when he did, Wukong nearly jumped up. His body was covered in black soot, all from the furnace explosion earlier. Being busy with alchemy, he hadn't bothered to look in a mirror. Now, he looked like he had just crawled out of a coal pile, as disheveled as one could be!

"Let's pretend you didn't see anything today, and none of you are to mention this outside, or I won't be nice," he warned.

With those words, Wukong turned his head towards the iron plank bridge at the entrance of the Cave Heaven, leaping into the waterway that led to the Eastern Sea. He swam in the sea, cleaning the grime off his body, then headed towards the seashore closest to Flower-Fruit Mountain and entered Jiao Demon King's dwelling through another waterway.

Flood Dragons love the water, so Jiao Demon King's dwelling was built right next to Water Curtain Cave Heaven, on the side of Flower-Fruit Mountain closest to the Eastern Sea.

Each of the Six Great Demon Kings had chosen a location that suited them best on Flower-Fruit Mountain for their dwellings, but for now, only the dwellings of Jiao Demon King and Peng Demon King were fully ready; Bull Demon King and the others were still busy.

"Boss, why have you come to my dwelling without a word? We were just looking for you at Water Curtain Cave Heaven!"

As soon as Wukong entered Jiao Demon King's dwelling, the alarm treasure embedded at the dwelling's entrance sent out a message, and soon after, Jiao Demon King and Peng Demon King appeared inside.

"I just went to bathe in the Eastern Sea and decided to drop by. Third brother, your dwelling looks quite nice!"

Wukong looked around, clicking his tongue. Among the Six Great Demon Kings, Jiao Demon King's dwelling was probably decorated the most lavishly. Gleaming Luminous Pearls were everywhere; Wukong felt as if he had stepped into a separate courtyard of the Dragon Palace.

"It's nothing much, I just threw something together; these are just for show. Any dragon palace could bring out a pile of such things easily," Jiao Demon King shrugged, and Wukong didn't argue. Dragons liked shiny and splendid things, a common trait of the entire Dragon Race.

The ornaments in Jiao Demon King's dwelling weren't particularly valuable, but they looked quite majestic, similar to the imposing and grand aura of the Heavenly Court's buildings, each with their own style and flavor. Wukong thought maybe he should thoroughly renovate Water Curtain Cave Heaven, so it wouldn't look too shabby.

"Third brother, let's go to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace again tomorrow and get some decorative items to spruce up my Water Curtain Cave Heaven. What do you think?"

"..."

"Alright, enough joking. I came here because I need you and Fourth to help me with something!" Wukong said, getting serious.

"What do you need? Just say it, boss. If it's within our power, we surely won't refuse!"

Jiao Demon King and Peng Demon King exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious. Wukong rarely asked for help so seriously; it must be something important.

"Actually, it's nothing big. I just want to check the situation of the underground dragon vein beneath Flower-Fruit Mountain. I need to activate a secret technique that consumes a lot of mana and cannot be disturbed. I hope you can help me keep guard."

"Keep guard? Will you be causing a big commotion, or is someone likely to cause trouble?"

"That's not the case. It's just a precaution, to have you stand by and watch."

Now in Flower-Fruit Mountain, Bull Demon King and the others were all busy setting up their dwellings, but only Jiao Demon King and Peng Demon King's dwellings were ready, and their subordinates had joined in the everyday cultivation of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Race.

The two spent their days wandering around Flower-Fruit Mountain, looking here and there, making it reasonable to ask them for help without any guilt.

"No problem, just guarding? That's easy! As long as we are here, no one will be able to disturb you, boss!"

Peng Demon King had always been interested in the Nine Dragons Gathering Stars Formation. Hearing that Wukong wanted to investigate the dragon veins, he immediately agreed without hesitation.

"Besides guarding, is there anything else we can help with?" asked Jiao Demon King.

"Prepare some food and drinks to replenish energy, and also, don't tell anyone about this. The fewer people who know, the better!"

With that, the matter was settled. Wukong planned to officially investigate the underground dragon veins three days later. Perhaps then, he could uncover why Flower-Fruit Mountain, integral to the Nine Dragons Gathering Stars Formation, did not exude the auspicious qi like West Kunlun and Western Heaven Spiritual Mountain.

After leaving Jiao Demon King's dwelling, Wukong headed towards Water Curtain Cave Heaven. Arriving outside the cave at the waterfall's pool, he saw the princess of the Jade Fox Tribe, Sun Xiaoqing, squatting by the pool, throwing stones into it one by one, her expression somewhat melancholic, which made him curious enough to approach and sit beside her.

"Little girl, what are you doing here all by yourself?"

"Big brother!"

Sun Xiaoqing turned her head in surprise and saw Sun Wukong sitting right next to her. A delighted smile immediately bloomed on her face, and she leaned cozily into Sun Wukong's arms, acting coquettishly as she spoke, "Big brother, what have you been busy with? Qing'er has not seen you for such a long, long time!"

"Big brother has, of course, been busy with alchemy. Qing'er, being so clever, how could you not know that? You seem a bit unhappy. Why don't you go play with Wushuang and Sun Tong?"

With an indulgent smile, Sun Wukong gently ruffled the hair at the back of Sun Xiaoqing's head and asked.

"Big Brother Wushuang and Big Brother Tong are just busy with their cultivation, and they want to drag Qing'er into it too. But Qing'er doesn't like their rough and violent ways!"

Sun Xiaoqing pouted and shook her head. The Eight-Nine Profound Skill, a cultivation method for Physical Body Sanctification, suited the Monkey Tribe but not her. She preferred to cultivate quietly, not swinging spears and staffs all day long. Moreover, being with the other monkeys from Flower-Fruit Mountain was far less comfortable and cozy than being with Sun Wukong.

"I heard you've been quite close with Leng Xuan lately, why not go and talk to him?"

A flicker of regret passed through Sun Wukong's eyes. He had indeed been neglecting Sun Xiaoqing a bit, busy with alchemy, and it had almost been three years since he last saw the little girl. In three years, the little girl had grown considerably, her once childish face beginning to show a hint of youthful allure.

"That jerk Leng Xuan, Qing'er doesn't want to deal with him!"

As Sun Wukong asked this, Sun Xiaoqing's face suddenly flushed, but she quickly pouted and huffed in dissatisfaction.

Huh, seems like there's a situation here?

A strange light flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes. Was Sun Xiaoqing, this little girl, suddenly showing signs of young love? Could it be something had happened between her and Leng Xuan?

However, Sun Wukong wasn't sure, since his own experience in matters of the heart was practically zero, even somewhat dull-witted—the little knowledge he had was from memories of alternative dimensions in the Life and Death God Talisman. Nevertheless, the expression on the little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing did seem a bit odd.

Turning his eyes, Sun Wukong decided to ask, "What did that guy Leng Xuan do to upset our Qing'er? Tell me, and old Sun will take care of it for you!"

"Yes, yes, big brother, you should definitely give Leng Xuan a good lesson. He has some nice things and he hides them, not letting Qing'er play with them!"

The little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing clapped her hands happily, her watery big eyes gleaming mischievously as she looked at Sun Wukong.

"Leng Xuan has nice things? What are these precious things that he keeps hidden?"

Sun Wukong wondered. When Leng Xuan first came to Flower-Fruit Mountain, he had nothing but the clothes on his back, claiming to be as poor as a church mouse. What good things could he possibly have?

"Really good stuff!"

The little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing said earnestly, "I heard Leng Xuan talking with Big Brother Wushuang and Big Brother Sun Tong. He said he knows a powerful Dual Cultivation Technique and can teach it to Big Brother Wushuang and Big Brother Tong. Qing'er wants to learn too, but Leng Xuan just won't teach me!"

"Big brother, why don't you talk to Leng Xuan, and ask him to teach me the powerful Dual Cultivation Technique? It must be fun! By the way, what is Dual Cultivation Technique?"

"…"

Sun Wukong was speechless. He, of course, knew what the Dual Cultivation Technique was—it was a method only intended for Taoist companions. Leng Xuan had mentioned that the top Dual Cultivation Technique in the Three Realms was possessed by the Qingqiu Nine-Tailed Fox Tribe, even surpassing the Buddhist Sect's Joyous Union Technique.

The cultivation of Dual Cultivation Technique required openness and the merging of spirit and flesh. Leng Xuan could share the Oral Incantation with Sun Wushuang and Sun Tong, but how could he possibly explain such things to Sun Xiaoqing? She was still a little girl!

"Ahem! Well, the Dual Cultivation Technique is, um, a very special technique. You're still young, Qing'er. How about you wait until you grow a bit more, grow your third tail, and then learn it? Once you have your third tail, big brother will make sure Leng Xuan teaches you properly!"

After a light cough to cover the awkwardness, Sun Wukong tried to keep his expression as natural as possible, chuckling as he persuaded her.

"Is it that I won't be able to learn it now?"

The little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing blinked her eyes.

"Yes, you're not yet of age and don't meet the cultivation criteria. Learning it now could hurt you!"

Sun Wukong nodded, "How about big brother teaches you a powerful and fun technique instead? I guarantee you'll be interested!"

"Okay, as long as big brother teaches it, Qing'er is willing to learn!"

Phew!

Seeing that the little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing was no longer fixated on the Dual Cultivation Technique matter, Sun Wukong inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He taught her a technique named Phantom Divine Art, a technique stored in the Three-Star Cave Heaven Scripture Pavilion, tailored towards illusion techniques, and perfectly suited for the little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing's Jade Fox Physique.

She would definitely excel in it.

Excited about the new technique, the little fox demon Sun Xiaoqing followed Sun Wukong back to the Water Curtain Cave Heaven and then returned to her room to cultivate. After Sun Wukong heaved a sigh of relief, he walked into his room and soon came out, leaving the Water Curtain Cave Heaven, heading towards the highest peak of Flower-Fruit Mountain.