Chapter 42: Tang

(A/N): I'm so sorry for the late update I didn't realize how long it was, but here it is.

P.S: How do you guys feel about Azure Lion? I'm conflicted because I get his point of view to make a peaceful world like Thanos. However, it's not all black and white. He's definitely prideful and lionizing himself (pun intended). Anyway, for those that dislike Azure. Sorry for making reader like him. What do you guys think of him? I want to know more about him in this summer's special.

You marvel at your surroundings to find every bit of detail real; from the gravel to the sounds, and scents. It's as though you have hopped back in time. And you're not the only who believes the same. It's no wonder anyone would be eager to risk everything for a chance to revisit the good days. It's a writer's paradise for sure. However, it's not entirely as fascinating for Mei who is searching for signal while M.K. ran straight into trouble for providing "demonic accessories".

"Um...Mei?" You signaled.

"On it!" Mei drags M.K. as far away from the guards as possible into a dead end alley.

"M.K!" You started. "You nearly got us in trouble, and we haven't even begun searching."

"Sorry. I thought I could take souvenir with me." He sheepishly rubs the back of his head.

"I don't even think you can take anything from this place." You touch a wall as you recall what Azure said. "This world is literally a figment of imagination. A memory."

A ghostly figure startles everyone as they materialize into Azure Lion. "You made it in safely. Great!" He chirped. "Guys, welcome to seventeenth century Chun'an."

'So that's where we are.' You thought.

I trust you've experienced astral projection before?" You recognize the ability. It's how the Monkey King communicates during long distances. It amazes you that even in different realms it's accessible. Almost like radio contact. It makes sense considering the supernatural doesn't necessarily follow the rules of nature. "Listen, I don't have much time. Remember how I told you the scroll has a protective curse?"

"How could we forget something so life-threatening?" M.K. stated.

Dismissive, Azure proceeds, "good. Try not to draw too much attention to yourselves. The curse will detect any imperfections within it's stories."

"Like any interaction?" You inquired.

"Yes. Whatever strays off the story's path." You turn your immediate attention towards the brunette chuckling nervously. "For starters, we need to do something about your clothes to blend in."

"New outfits?" Mei's eyes shape into stars excited for a makeover.

"Yes. I found some in a trash pile nearby." He points to mountain of garbage. You scrunch your nose in disgust unwilling to dumpster dive for clothes. Thankfully, he pulls you aside and says, "you fit fine in those robes." He leans closer admiring the color coordination. The design itself is nostalgic from decades ago in his youth. He can't quite put a finger on where it comes from.

"Thank you. It was a gift from Sun Wukong." You clasp the fabric, smiling fondly on the memory. It was unexpected, yet thoughtful. "One of his favorites." You raise your head and to find Azure's gaze averted, pained to hear you speak so warmly about someone he once worshiped. There is an uneasy silence lingering in the atmosphere. You're aware you brought unwarranted information, but whether or not it was on purpose is undetermined. Part of you has been on edge since Azure's arrival. Nothing makes sense. Forced to trust a stranger because no one has any knowledge of what kidnapped Sun. Yet, the way Azure talks about Sun makes you wonder if he's a threat because you don't know him or insecure about rekindling an old flame. Whatever the case, you shouldn't judge, right?

'So why the hell did I say that? It was so rude.'

"I see." Azure simply said. You can hear the somber tone in his words. Guilt consumes you, oddly in the form of a chill. You rub your arms to thaw away the cold. Unbeknownst to the lion, M.K. undresses in front of everyone without warning. Flustered, Azure protests, "At least let me turn around first!" You couldn't help but giggle at the priceless reaction.
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Finding Tang was like finding a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, there were several clues pointed directly to not Tang but his incarnation, monk Sanzang. Although the stories about the legend isn't as awesome as it's cracked up to be. The way Sanzang carried himself is completely different from Mr. Tang. His divine aura to his articulated dialect. It was beyond weird to say the least. After saving him from a pair of orcs, rather than praise Mei and M.K. for their heroic deed he relays a piece of advice to show how he's above violence. You never thought you'd see the day when Tang would piss annoy you. "Is it just me or does Tang sound all weird?" M.K. queried.

"I don't think so. I don't even think that is Tang, but his previous incarnation." You deduced.

"Tang's past life guy?" Mei asked.

"No, it is Tang." M.K's eyes glow, activating his golden vision to see through to the monk. "I see him clearly. He's trapped inside."

"So what are we gonna do?"

M.K. takes a moment to ponder Mei's question before spouting the first thing that comes to mind. "Grab him!" You croak out "what" as both self-proclaimed scamps recklessly pounce the Sanzang when a brute counters their advances. "Oh no you don't!" He shouted. "Get away from the monk, demon spawn."

"Wait!" You step in between the man, "please don't hurt them. They're my idiot friends."

The man tilts his head quizzically. "What are you on about little Miss? These two are-" he takes a second look halfway through his sentence and realizes, "oh, you're just children so like regular spawn. Alright then." He shrugs, disregarding everything to check on the monk.

"Guys!" You whisper shouted. "What the heck was that about?"

M.K. sits up rubbing his aching head. "That was my fault. I thought it was a good idea." He groaned. His ears perk to the stranger's conversation. He shoots to his feet and inserts himself with an "we'd love to." You and Mei exchange a concerned glance. Once again, the brunette is spontaneously crafting a plan without consulting anyone.

Mei is the first to confront her friend, "Uh, M.K. what are you doing?"

"Go with me for a moment." He brings you into a huddle. "What if to wake up Tang we gotta let this story play out? We help whatever business the monk needs and we'll get back our Tang."

"M.K. that's..." You ponder the idea coming to the conclusion of, "...that is actually not a bad."

"Yeah! It's genius." Mei praised. All of you face the man and Sanzang. "You won't even know we're there." M.K. assured.
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The man's cottage was not far from the road. As he approaches the entrance, a woman named, Jean, opens the door to greet her husband, and monk. She notices three unexpected guests and scowls at her husband for not telling her. You don't need to read her to know she's not fine with the sudden intrusion. Regardless, she grants you the same hospitality by serving meat stew for dinner. You can't help being uncomfortable for taking advantage of the opportunity, but you also couldn't refuse the host's cooking after rudely inviting yourselves the way the Sanzang refused meats claiming it's an "unvirtuous act to the body".

M.K. and Mei with their mouths full, "we can still eat it...right?"

Just then, a transparent old man laughs as he glides by. "Worry not, young sir. Allow me to fix you something else." You jump in your seat as a cold shiver slides down your back. The pale man picks up the bowl. It phases through, spilling onto the floor. You've come to the fruition the elder man was not pale by natural complexion, but a ghost. You blink a couple of times surprised to finally meet one. You don't know what to think. "Oh dear, clumsy old grandpa. I'll get a broom." What's strange is he's hovering around as though he were alive.

"The Monk's unfinished business is the ghost's unfinished business." M.K. gasped. "Two plots one stone baby."

Jean and her husband scurry out of their seats and onto the floor where they bow their heads in deep regret. "Forgive us. We lured you here under false pretenses, oh wise monk." Jean confessed. "It's my grandfather. He's a sweet ole thing, but we beg you in the hopes you might guide his spirit to move on. Don't get us wrong, he's an absolute treasure, but-" "-This has been going on for years." Jean interjected. "We love him, but he's got to go." Hearing the married couple's woes made you feel bitter. You would kill to have your mother roam in the mortal realm. "Oh it's all so hard when you don't have skin and bones anymore." Han commented. To think small inconveniences is such a problem that they want their beloved grandfather to go? You grit your teeth in frustration. "I guess I should leave, but it's just so hard to say good bye." Finally, the monk responds, "Earthly connections can only weigh us down. Of course I will help. It's the least I can do to repay your generous hospitality."

           Shortly after, the furniture was set aside wide enough for a ritual. All that is required is absolute silence. As minutes ticked by, no progress has been made. Little did Sanzang know, your friends are not the waiting type. You can tell how impatient the M.K. is growing. "Can't we blow through this a little faster?" He whined.

"Everything in it's right time and everything in it's right place." Sanzang assured before telling him the ritual is working so long as he doesn't touch anything. You sense an eerie energy in the room. A mischievous kind. You search for the source for any suspicious activity. As if jinxed, M.K. becomes startled into kicking the staff off the monk's hands. The once gold glyph changes blue causing Han's physique to enlarge. The transformation blows a hole through the roof as well as everything in it's wake. You can sense the burning rage seeping off him.

"Sorry, go away, grandpa ghost!" M.K. shooed.

"Go?" The old man said. "I'm not going anywhere"

His anger is immense like an endless stream of scorching fire raining down on you. You use your powers to keep it from overwhelming you. If only you were strong enough to neutralize him the way your mother could. Sadly, the thought further fuels the ghost. You have to focus on finding your equilibrium. M.K.'s comment irks you. You find yourself snapping at the boy. "Why did you have to go and spazz out?"

Astonished he replies, "why are you yelling at me for? It was an accident." You can see the hurt in his eyes.

"Because he's furious!" You growled.

Instantly, he recognizes the implication. "Oh, right…empath powers. I'm guessing he's that upset, huh?"

"Well duh! Can't you see the guy is all big and nasty-" Mei freaks out as she's lifted off the ground. She instinctively clasps her sword only to be discouraged by the monk. No violence. What else is there to use against a supernatural emergency? Jean and her husband's cries to calm Han certainly caught his attention.

'Maybe Tang is right? Perhaps talking to the ghost is a better option?"

Suddenly, you find yourself floating. Han's anger rises and with each passing moment grows stronger. You begin to see festered by anger. The voices become inaudible. You want to scream to the heavens for what they've taken from you. A warm aura emerges. You shift towards the golden light. Like a moth to a flame, you reach out to it, allowing it to envelop you. You know what the emotion is. Resolve. You raise your head to the monk…no…Mr. Tang finally reverted to his former self. He emits a pulse releasing everyone from Han's blight. You let out a grunt upon impact. "My glasses!" Tang screamed. "I can't see a thing." Yep, the old man is back. You pick yourself up to join the others for a group hug.

"Welcome back." You cooed.

"Now we can die together." Mei chimed. As morbid as it sounded, she is right until Tang stepped in to lecture Han.

"Listen you!" Tang started. "Stop holding on to the past. It's time to go. What was it again? Earthly connections can tie you down? Well, I don't believe it. Your time with your family is precious. The memories we make with the ones we love they're what lifts us up." You steal glances of your friends. The journey you went through together to get a point knowing that no matter what, no one is truly alone even though, on rare occasions you feel that way. "Your time here is over." He's right. Your mother is gone, forever this time, yet some part of you thought a piece of her remained but the truth is, it's just you and your thoughts now. A selfish, painful reminder that it's over. Quietly, you wipe the pinpricks from your eyes. "But that doesn't mean your story is finished. You're not being cast down or pulled down. You're being lifted up. The next chapter is calling you to start a new adventure. It's time to answer the call."

"I know." You whispered to yourself. You feel your hands squeezed by none other than M.K. and Mei. You're touched, soothed by their kindness, but mostly grateful. You raise your head and feel the great relief off Han's back. Tang's beautiful speech certainly has a way of inspiring people. "Well done. That was a hell of a pep talk."

"You're right. I can't keep holding on to the past when I can't even hold on to a plate." He sniffled. "Ok, bye~!"

You deadpan at the morning sky. "Did he seriously just go duces?" No answer was given as it was simply accepted as is.

"Bye! Bye! Skinless, boneless grandpa." Mei waves to the empty space.

"I can't believe that worked." M.K. proclaimed.

Tang shrugs and says, "if it was destined to go wrong then it would have."

        Now with Mr. Tang in the picture, it was time to depart. You're glad he's the first person to retrieve given the instructions Azure provided for him. A fast way to skip through chapters in order to find the rest of the team. You read the letter then shudder from another draft. You look behind you and find nothing except M.K. who comforts you with pat on the back. You sense his powers have grown and much like Sun it's familiar. "Alright, Mr. Tang, you ready for this?" He queried.

Tang hums as he reads through the scroll. "Azure's instructions seem clear enough, but if our bond of friendship is strong, we'll always find our way back to one another."

"It's precisely what he says. It's the key to locating them." You commented.

"Right! So all I have to do is keep them in mind as we warp." He shoves the scroll in sleeve then takes a deep breath and taps the end of the staff onto the ground creating a metallic noise. Glyphs emerge under his feet creating followed by a golden bubble around everyone. In an instant, you're all holding on for dear life transported to the next episode.

(A/N): Does anyone know if the L.M.K. special has already came out dubbed in English? I haven't heard any news.

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