Chapter 7.

                                    

                                          
The monkey king even woke up early. He didn't pay attention to the headache, he was more concerned with the visions he had seen in his sleep. He understood that there was going to be a war or some kind of battle, but with whom? What could that glow mean? He did not know. What he didn't like the most was the cold. It was a terrible feeling. Enough of these questions, it's time to get up - said the king to himself. He shifted from a lying position to a sitting position, then tried to get up, but to no avail. He tried a few more times, but failed. Unfortunately, the Macaque was nowhere to be seen and the pilgrims were also absent. Fear seized him that he had been abandoned by them because of this stupid disease. But no Liuer would not have left him. I'm sure he'll be back soon.. right? The pilgrims couldn't go like that either because they left the thing, he felt they'd be back soon too? - thought the king. He pulled his staff out of his ear. With all the strength he had, he tried to get up. He made it. He stopped, but only for a moment. He couldn't stand on his feet. "What's wrong with those legs?!" he said to himself. He got the idea that he would summon his cloud and quickly get up and sit on it. And so he did. He placed his legs crosswise. The pilgrims have returned. The king avoided looking at the monk. He asked "Where have you been?"''We were looking for something for breakfast. We didn't want to wake you. And where is Macaque?" said Ao Li."I don't know, I'm sure he'll be back soon." And the king added quietly, "he must return." The pilgrims looked glum. "Sorry friend, but he doesn't seem like a trustworthy person..." said the dragon"I don't like it, he's hiding something," said Pigsy. The pilgrims nodded. Wukong didn't believe them. His partner hardly has any secrets from him. Maybe he does, but that's his business."Wukong, we don't want you to be harmed by him," said the monk.Wukong began to tremble at the monk's voice. He did not look at the monk. He looked away."Says the one who made Wukong hurt." Macaque stepped out of the king's shadow.At which the king beamed and the rest got scared.''but how..'' said Pigsy"Shadows are my specialty," chuckled the warrior."Where have you been?" Wukong asked smiling.''I checked the mountain to see if it was safe. Forgive me for coming so unannounced, but you were sleeping so sweetly that I couldn't interrupt you,' replied the warrior. It was half true. The mountain was safe, but that wasn't his main goal. Teleported to Guain if she found a cure, but unfortunately not. And time was getting shorter. ''We'll be back soon. The tribe missed the king,' added the warrior."Me too," said the king."Why are you on a cloud?" asked Macaque."Because it's convenient, do you want to join?" Wukong replied"Hmm?" He looked at the king with a raised eyebrow. And then at the pilgrims and he said "Don't you guys have anything better than staring at us?" to which the pilgrims suddenly started organizing things for the onward journey."Wukong, you can tell me the truth" he took his king's hand."'Uhh.. I know.. I just... have no feeling in my legs"''Such things are said right away''"Yeah, but you weren't there and I was afraid that...""Do you have that little faith in me?" he smirked playfully.''No, but..''"I said I wouldn't leave you right?"Wukong nodded."Would you like some tea?"Wukong nodded. Macaque took a skin of tea from a small shadow portal and handed it to his sun. The king drank some and gave it to the warrior. The tea wasn't the tastiest drink, but he knew it was only temporary and he'd be able to function normally once it was over."Will you try to get up?" asked Macaque. The king embraced the warrior's arm so that if he could not stand his moon would support him. He stood up and was able to walk again. It was amazing for Wkong. He was very happy about it."So you will have to drink this magic tea every day." Macaque said.The king sighed. "You know it's bland?" The warrior laughed and kissed the king's head. "Coming soon," said the warrior quietly, hoping in his heart that the goddess would find a way to cure this disease.This scene was closely watched by the pilgrims, they felt that the monkeys were not telling them everything. Especially the dark haired monkey. Macaque approached them and asked, "Can we go now?" "Yes," replied Ao Li and transformed into a horse. Which surprised the warrior greatly. ''Why? Uh whatever, let's go."The warrior walked beside Wukong. Behind him walked the Aoli as a horse and on him rode a monk. And last were Sandy and Pigsy, who were talking about Macaque and how they didn't trust him. The warrior heard it all too well, but he didn't care. He focused on listening to the heartbeats of his king, who looked radiant. And so they went. At the end of the day they took a break to sleep. They set up camp, built a fire, and Pigsy cooked the noodles again and gave everyone a bowl of noodles. Demon Pig still felt remorse for how he had treated Wukong before. He was as worried about him as any of the pilgrims. Everyone was tormented by remorse. The evening passed peacefully. Wukong thought about how great it would be, once  this crown will disappear, he will regain his strength and he will be able to fulfill his functions as the king of the flower fruit mountain. He fell asleep in his warrior's arms. Macaque took off his scarf and covered his sun to keep him warm at night. This time Pigsy wanted to keep watch at night. He wanted to find out what this dark-haired monkey was hiding, but he was a bit of a failure because it was dark and how was he supposed to find out what this monkey was up to. All he saw was the dark-haired monkey disappearing into the shadow portal, but where Pigsy didn't know. Just before sunrise, the monkey returned and lay down on the ground next to Wukong, cuddling up to him. He must be cheating on Wukong, Pigsy thought.Macaque spent the night at Guain's, helping her research both the crown and the disease. Unfortunately, they still haven't found anything. Guain instructed Macaque that if the symptoms of the disease began to worsen, that Wukong should drink more magic tea.Monkey King woke up with a terrible headache, but claimed that it was the result of sleeping on hard ground. His legs were not paralyzed that day, but he lacked the strength to stand or even to sit."Wukong what's going on?" the warrior asked."Nothing, sleep is too early," replied the king.''I can hear you''''It's really nothing. Just a temporary headache from sleeping on the ground, that's it.''That's it. sit down. I'll give you tea''"uh.. all right." The king sat up despite the pain he was feeling. He took the waterskin and drank some."Drink some more," ordered Macaque.''Why?''''Because I say so, and besides, Guain recommended that you need to drink a little more.''"When were you at her place?""Don't talk, just drink some more." The king did so. He handed the waterskin back to the warrior. And he cuddled up to him."When were you with her?" asked the king."At night," replied the warrior.''But..''"I can't sit idle while you're getting tired"''You worry too much''"Wukong what if they don't take it off you?""Don't even say that."''But if.. or the disease doesn't go away, it will only get worse..''''I told you, you worry too much. Everything will be fine. I know they will take this crap off my head. They have to that was a deal...Unfortunately, Macque did not calm down. His fears grew with each passing moment as they approached the damn west.