​​Chapter 51: Epilogue · The Name and the Grilled Fish​

Aurora‌
Sun Wukong, having eaten his fill and found everything thoroughly uninteresting, finally decided to leave this "boring" world. He mounted his Somersault Cloud and soared into the heavens, his form transforming into a streak of golden light, instantly piercing through the firmament, about to vanish beyond the Ninth Heaven.
Just as he was on the verge of completely escaping the atmosphere, his form becoming difficult even for satellites to capture—
A faint, hoarse voice, carrying one last trace of unwillingness and stubbornness, struggled to rise from the ravaged ruins below:
"Wai... Wait!"
Sun Wukong's form paused slightly, his cloud slowing. His Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils glanced downward.
Steve Rogers, Captain America, was using a broken fragment of his shield to支撑着身体 (zhīchēng zhe shēntǐ -支撑着身体), swaying as he stood up. He was covered in blood, his uniform in tatters, but his steadfast blue eyes were fixed intently on the golden figure in the sky. With his last ounce of strength, he shouted:
"You... who are you?! Where are you from?! Why... are you so powerful?!"
This question voiced the final, desperate confusion in the hearts of all the survivors.
Hearing this, Sun Wukong laughed heartily from atop his cloud, his voice shaking the wilderness:
"HA HA HA HA! A good question! This old Sun conducts his affairs always坐不改名，行不改姓 (zuò bù gǎi míng, xíng bù gǎi xìng -坐不改名，行不改姓)!"
He turned around, standing proudly on the cloud, hands on hips, his voice clear and resonant as a great bell, spreading across the entire silent battlefield:
"Listen well, all of you! This old Sun is the Lord of the Water Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit in the land of Aolai, on the Continent of Divine Victory in the East! The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Handsome Monkey King! Five hundred years ago, I wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace! I protected the Tang Monk on his journey to the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures! Personally封为 (fēng wéi -封为) the Victorious Fighting Buddha by the Tathagata! I am Sun Wukong!"
Each of these titles and names carried stories that shook heaven and earth and backgrounds足以颠覆此界想象 (zúyǐ diānfù cǐ jiè xiǎngxiǎng -足以颠覆此界想象), exploding like thunderclaps in the ears of every survivor!
The Continent of Divine Victory? Mountain of Flowers and Fruit? Water Curtain Cave?
Great Sage Equal to Heaven? Havoc in the Heavenly Palace?
Protected the Tang Monk? Journey to the West?
Victorious Fighting Buddha?!
Sun Wukong?!
These names and titles were strange, bizarre to them, yet carried an indescribable, terrifying weight, as if来自神话源头 (láizì shénhuà yuántóu -来自神话源头)!
"Passing through your world today, I found you all聒噪 (guōzào -聒噪), so I played around a bit! Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning at all! HA HA HA HA HA—!"
Amidst the狂放的笑声 (kuángfàng de xiàoshēng -狂放的笑声), Sun Wukong lingered no longer. With a single somersault, he vanished without a trace! His speed was such that even the world's most advanced monitoring satellites only captured a模糊的金色轨迹 (móhú de jīnsè guǐjī -模糊的金色轨迹) that abruptly断断裂于近地轨道 (duànliè yú jìndì guǐdào -断断裂于近地轨道), then lost the target completely, as if he had merged into the cosmos, leaving no further trace.
Where did he go?
Deep in the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles away, on a small, uninhabited island.
Sun Wukong materialized,收起筋斗云 (shōuqǐ jīndǒuyún -收起筋斗云), and stretched comfortably. The sea breeze brushed his face, the sound of waves filled the air—a world apart from the apocalyptic battlefield moments before.
"Hmm, this place is quiet, perfect for getting some food." He nodded in satisfaction, walked to the shore, transformed his golden-hooped staff into a fishing rod, and used his tail as a fishing line, lowering it into the sea. Humming an unknown tune, he began钓鱼 (diàoyú -钓鱼) leisurely.
Soon, a large tuna was caught.
"Heh heh, not a bad catch!" He built a fire, skillfully grilled the fish until it was golden and glistening with oil, the aroma wafting everywhere. He then proceeded to大快朵颐 (dàkuàiduǒyí -大快朵颐), as if nothing had ever happened.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Earth, amidst the ruins of Washington D.C.—
The surviving heroes gradually regained consciousness, bearing the physical wounds and psychological震撼 (zhènhàn -震撼), looking at each other in沉默无语 (chénmò wúyǔ -沉默无语).
However, merely a few hours later.
News channels and online media across the globe were suddenly flooded with铺天盖地的 "捷报" (pūtiāngàidì de "jiébào" -铺天盖地的 "捷报")!
"...A great victory! Under the wise leadership of the President, our nation's brave metahumans have once again successfully repelled the恐怖外星入侵者 (kǒngbù wàixīng rùqīn zhě -恐怖外星入侵者)! Safeguarding Earth's peace!"
"...Although the White House suffered severe damage, this is a symbol of the Beacon of Liberty's fearless resistance against tyranny!"
"...Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and other heroes fought a bloody battle, ultimately forcing the invader to flee Earth! They are America's pride, the守护神 (shǒuhùshén -守护神) of humanity!"
"...Let us celebrate! Cheer for our heroes! Cheer for the American spirit!"
Grand庆祝活动 (qìngzhù huódòng -庆祝活动) were held simultaneously in places like New York's Times Square. Confetti flew, crowds cheered and jumped for joy, as if they had truly won a great victory. Politicians smiled as they delivered speeches,接受着民众的崇拜与媒体的追捧 (jiēshòu zhe mínzhòng de chóngbài yǔ méitǐ de zhuīpěng -接受着民众的崇拜与媒体的追捧).
Reports from other regions around the world mostly转载或附和 (zhuǎnzǎi huò fùhè -转载或附和) the American narrative. After all, no one wanted to believe or传播 (chuánbō -传播) the truth that "all heroes were crushed by one being, and the world was nearly destroyed." That was too terrifying and despairing. A "successfully repelled invasion" was far more鼓舞人心 (gǔwǔ rénxīn -鼓舞人心).
Thus, amidst the狂欢气氛 (kuánghuān qìfēn -狂欢气氛) of having "survived a catastrophe," the name "Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong," along with the true fear and powerlessness he brought, was quickly buried under official rhetoric and selective amnesia, becoming yet another语焉不详 (yǔyānbùxiáng -语焉不详), gradually尘封的 (chénfēng de -尘封的) "unsolved mystery."
Only the heroes who had personally experienced it would be jolted awake in the dead of night by the memory of the heaven-propping golden-hooped staff and the狂笑 (kuángxiào -狂笑) of the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven," their bodies drenched in cold sweat.
On the small Pacific island, Sun Wukong finished his grilled fish, patted his stomach, looked at the setting sun, and yawned.
"Hmm... Taste was alright, just the seasoning was a bit lacking. Tomorrow, I'll find another place to have some fun."
The喧嚣 (xuānxiāo -喧嚣) and celebrations on Earth had nothing more to do with him.