Chapter 12: Splendid Robe and Coarse Cloak

The Taoist and the Rakshasa were both brought back to Huaguo Mountain by Sun Wukong.

The Rakshasa had not been transformed for long and still had a rebellious streak, squabbling with the Monkey King several times on the way. Upon arriving at Huaguo Mountain, she was confined by the Taoist.

"Do you realize your mistake?"

After a few weeks, the Taoist questioned the Rakshasa.

The Rakshasa had become much more obedient but still held a bit of defiance: "Master once told me that the Bull Demon King is the greatest demon of today. Why then did you suddenly take interest in that monkey?"

The Taoist couldn't help shaking his head: "The Bull Demon King possesses vast divine skills, is generous and just, and is known by everyone in the Demon World. If we were to align with him, you and I, master and disciple, would not have to worry about any devil's harm in the future."

Hearing this, the Rakshasa grew even more defiant: "If that's the case, then why come to Huaguo Mountain?"

"The Bull Demon King is after all a demon."

The Taoist answered: "Being a demon, one must avoid the Immortals above."

"That Wise Monkey is different; his mana is boundless, and his divine skills are perhaps not inferior to the Black Bull Demon King. Moreover, he walks the righteous path, does good deeds, transparent and upright. He is destined to become an Immortal or even a Buddha in the future. How can the Bull Demon King, just a demon, be compared to him?"

One is a Demon Saint who can wander unchallenged in the Mortal World; the other a Demon Immortal who may attain the status of Immortal or Buddha. Naturally, we know whose coattails to grasp without even thinking.

"From now on we will stay on Huaguo Mountain and focus on our cultivation peacefully, without fear of demons or the Deities above. How wonderful is that."

The Taoist spoke.

The Rakshasa pursed her lips: "That doesn't mean we should have handed over the Palm Leaf Fan."

The Taoist shook his head, then led the Rakshasa out of the cave: "I'll give you a tour around Huaguo Mountain."

As the two walked into the forest, a burst of laughter came from above. The Rakshasa looked up to see several Monkey Spirits, standing on tree trunks, whispering and gesticulating at them.

"Eh?!"

The Rakshasa saw something behind the Monkey Spirits and couldn't help exclaiming incredulously, her eyes wide open with disbelief.

She saw dispersed amidst the towering trees charming little treehouses. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a verdant glow on the treehouses, creating an enchanting scene.

Those treehouses, beautiful enough to fulfil every girl's fantasy, some even adorned with colorful flowers, evoked envy in the Rakshasa.

"Quite rare, aren't they?"

Seeing his disciple's envy, the Taoist said: "Demons usually prefer to live in caves, but only that Wise Monkey would think of building treehouses."

He had stayed here for a few days and had seen many rare things.

Besides the Monkey Spirits' treehouses, there were beautifully made wooden houses established along the streams, constructed by the cooperation of Deer Demons and Beavers.

"I heard that the Leopard Demon King also wanted to build a city."

The Taoist stroked his beard, saying: "Unfortunately, he was sent back by the Wise Monkey."

Having acquired technology from humans, the demons were the first to apply it to housing.

Sun Wukong supported the demons in constructing different houses, even assisting in design, as well as providing rewards.

Regrettably, his requirements for the environment of Huaguo Mountain were too high; he did not allow the demons to recklessly destroy the trees, resulting in no proper demon city yet being built.

"Let's go have a look by the seaside."

The Taoist led the Rakshasa toward the sea, where there was a small human town, a special area designated to settle humans.

"Stop right there!"

At the checkpoint outside the small town, little demons stopped a giant python: "Your appearance is too fierce, and you haven't transformed. You cannot enter."

They drove the python back into the forest.

The Taoist and the Rakshasa walked past without being stopped.

"There are many humans here teaching their skills."

The Taoist told the Rakshasa: "To avoid frightening those humans, the demons who look too scary can't go in."

The Rakshasa nodded, curiously surveying the town.

The bustling town had people coming and going, just like a human nation, with trade happening everywhere. However, besides humans, the town was filled with humanoid demons; the few not walking on two legs weren't terrifying in appearance either.

Not far from the Rakshasa, a quadruped Deer Demon, the upper body female, was haggling with a Rabbit Demon vendor, trading the things she made for some of the Rabbit Demon's floral perfume water.

"The fragrance of those flowers and water is truly delightful."

Rakshasa thought to herself, inadvertently bumping into a long-nosed demon.

"Be careful," the Elephant Demon scolded her: "Don't knock down my bananas."

Rakshasa took a step back and noticed a bunch of bananas curled up on the Elephant Demon's trunk.

"Do not stir up trouble."

The old Daoist held back Rakshasa who was about to get angry.

Rakshasa huffed coldly, but the Elephant Demon ignored her, conversing with a companion while walking toward the forest.

"I originally wanted to leave with the Great King, but I really can't bear to part with the deep-fried bananas here."

"Just the thought of the delicious food that appears here often, I decided not to leave with the Great King."

"Human flesh is certainly not as tasty."

The Elephant Demons chatted among themselves and quickly disappeared.

The old Daoist, looking toward their vanishing figures, smiled at his disciple: "Isn't this place quite interesting?"

"A bit..."

Rakshasa reluctantly admitted.

She had never seen such a civilized gathering of demons elsewhere.

"But the most important thing about this town is the transfer of skills."

The old Daoist pointed to a little demon carrying a bookshelf taller than a man, walking along: "The little demons here have already learned a lot from humans."

Rakshasa was puzzled: "Master, why does the Monkey King want demons to learn?"

"Don't you see?"

The old Daoist patted Rakshasa on the head: "That Wise Monkey is cultivating the demons, he will let the demons master the skills of mankind."

Sun Wukong has ruled Huaguo Mountain for two years; there are now tens of thousands of little demons who have learned human writing, and even more little demons have mastered crafts, agriculture, and other such skills.

The old Daoist couldn't help but ask: "Have you ever seen the Bull Demon King doing these things?"

Rakshasa thought for a moment, then shook her head: "No."

She finally realized that the Monkey King was different from other demons.

Rakshasa knew that aside from the Dragon Clan, no other demon had thought to let little demons learn from humans.

"This brings limitless merit; that Wise Monkey teaching myriad demons will please the Immortals, and his ascension to the ranks of Immortals is imminent."

The old Daoist stroked his beard: "I believe that a hundred years from now, Huaguo Mountain will be as prosperous as the nations of mankind."

"The same? Daoist friend, you are mistaken."

A voice came through.

Teacher and disciple turned to look and saw an old man.

The old man, though he resembled a human, was majestic and bearing, probably a transformation of a devil at first glance.

"I have observed that Monkey King for a long time, what he is building is not a human nation."

The old man said: "Most humans here are engaged in production as craftsmen, and you can't see the various schools of thought; clearly, the Monkey King has other intentions."

Thinkers and philosophers from the Kingdom of Aolai are not considered talents by Huaguo Mountain, which values, apart from teachers who instruct in literacy and mathematics, are mostly the technical talents of various trades.

"The Monkey King has recently been recruiting talents extensively, absorbing skills in all kinds of production; it is said that there will be major developments soon."

The old man's voice carried a hint of expectancy: "That Monkey King is the wisest among our Demon Clan; in a hundred years, Huaguo Mountain will surely be a Holy Land, and how could such a trifling human kingdom compare with it."

"As for the Bull Demon King you just mentioned—"

The old man shook his head: "Compared to the Monkey King, he is but coarse cloth to magnificent silk."

Coarse cloth when set against magnificent silk, their distinction is immediately apparent.