After a nice warm dinner, our group of protagonists were full and ready for a good night of rest. Monkey and Nian Zhen were eager to go to bed and so they were already in their room, whereas (Y/n) and Qiuyu just entered the hallway. In truth, she was going slow on purpose.
"Say, Qiuyu?" she stopped.
"Mmh?" he did as well and faced her.
She glanced around for a second, hesitating.
"I... I don't want you to feel forced into talking about your past. But I do want to ask this one thing..." she finally looked at him, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Was it the crowd that got you like this? I'm just asking so that we can avoid it next time." she quickly clarified.
He blinked twice. He wasn't expecting that. But from her, he thought maybe he should have. He smiled.
"Nah~." he shrugged, looking away. "I'm just so used to the silence of nature. I just gotta get used to it is all."
"Okay..." she nodded. "I get it. It was a shock for me too. From my small village to a grand city." she chuckled.
There was a moment of silence, during which they kept walking.
"You know," she spoke again once they reached their respective doors. "the journey to the West will take a really long time. If we're really going to spend all that time together, I truly hope we become friends." she smiled.
He looked at her for a moment before smiling faintly.
"'Night lady."
Her smile tightened, but she nodded.
"Goodnight."
The next day, they said goodbye to their musician friends. Qiuyu apologized for what happened, they were very understanding.
"What's the name of your band anyway?" Nian Zhen asked.
"Jia, Dishi and company."
"Huh. Go figure." Qiuyu nodded.
"I thought band names were more...poetic?" she tilted her head.
"Sometimes, something simple is much more effective." Jia smiled. "It adds pizzazz to the group."
"...Should we get a name?" (Y/n) asked, looking over at her traveling companions.
"Nope." Monkey immediately said.
"You guys don't need one." Dishi pointed at the group with a mocking smirk. "You're a bunch of weirdos, you're already too much- Aow!" he exclaimed when Jia smacked him behind the head.
"Wait." (Y/n) suddenly said with a clear voice before thinking to herself.
Her own group leaned a bit closer, seeing her look of intense focus.
"Much more effective..." she mumbled. "A bunch...too much. Much bunch- The Much Bunch!" her face lit up and she pointed at herself. "That's us!"
All four of them took a step back, groaning or rolling their eyes.
"What?"
"We are not naming ourselves (Y/n)!" Monkey folded his arms. "We're barely even a group!"
"And even if we are, you won't be the one naming us!" Nian Zhen shook her head.
"What's wrong with the Much Bunch? I think it sounds cute."
"Exactly." Qiuyu said.
"We don't do cute here!" Monkey added. "We kick ass!"
"Yeah, the Much Bunch packs a punch!" she nodded to the rhythm of her sentence.
"...You're kinda winnin' me over right now." Qiuyu smiled.
"Still no!" Monkey and Nian Zhen said at the same time, them and the Horse facing the other two.
"Even you Horse?!" (Y/n)'s eyes widen. "I thought you'd like it!"
"The Horse is a warrior (Y/n)!" Monkey pointed at him, who huffed and puffed up his chest. "He's not into kids stuff!"
"Kids stuff?!"
"I think you guys have enough pizzazz already." Jia laughed.
Our group of protagonists were walking through a meadow, along a large dirt road. With the Sun shining, the fresh air, the leaves starting to turn yellow, Nian Zhen on the Horse's back, the walk was silent but not less nice. Then, a convoy of multiple carriages came by, making them move out of the road. The largest one was particularly fancy, and they got a glimpse of who was inside: a group of elegant-looking young women.
"Wow," (Y/n) thought out loud as they watched the carriages roll past them. "are they princesses? They're so pretty."
"You're prettier." Monkey clarified so quickly that no one noticed.
"They must be, with a protection squad like that." Nian Zhen said.
The human then noticed Monkey looking around with a frown.
"What's wrong Monkey?"
"Someone's coming."
"Uh, yeah. A whole squad of them did." Nian Zhen pointed at the carriages. "Are you serious?"
"Nah, I feel it too." Qiuyu said. "Someone powerful."
The two men then looked up. (Y/n) followed their gaze and gasped when she saw a fireball coming towards them at rapid speed. Nian Zhen started to freak out, tugging on the Horse's mane to make him run away, but he stood his ground, ready to fight. Upon closer inspection, (Y/n) realized that it wasn't an actual fireball, but a little boy with black hair, flying on two golden rings on fire."
"Is that...?" her face lit up. "Oh my Lord it is! Hey~!" she waved her arms with a big smile. "Nezh-!"
Her breath was caught in her throat when he tackled her to the ground, covering her mouth with both his hands.
"Hey!" Monkey exclaimed.
(Y/n) mumbled, confused, staring at the immortal child with big eyes. He ignored her and looked ahead of the road with an intense stare. He then sighed and relaxed.
"What gives brat?!" Monkey picked him up by the back of his collar and glared at him. "Is that a way to say hello?!"
"Put me down you asshole!" he struggled.
"Hey, language young man." (Y/n) said as she stood up.
"I'm on an important mission and you almost blew my cover!" he pointed at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that." she dusted off her clothes. "But you didn't have to tackle me, did you?"
"I had to think fast! I knew you'd shout my name like an annoying grandma."
"Grandma?!"
"Yeah, don't insult her like that!" Monkey shook him. "She's old-fashioned."
"Monkey!" she glared.
Nezha poked him with his spear, making him wince in pain and let go of him. He snickered and kicked him in the ankle once he was on solid ground. (Y/n) sighed as the two of them started to bicker like children.
"Um, excuse me." Nian Zhen raised her index. "Why are we addressing the Third Lotus Prince like he's our annoying little brother?"
"Gotta say, I'm confused too." Qiuyu nodded. "You know 'im?"
"Yes, we've met before. Me and Monkey got separated and Nezha and I were lost and had to find our way back together." she smiled. "We became friends after that."
Having someone proudly say they were friends with him wasn't something the little prince was used to. He blushed and looked away with a frown and his hands in his pockets.
"So anyway," she turned to face him. "what is this mission you're talking about Nezha?"
"Strictly confidential." he raised a hand, raising his chin. "It's one of personal matter."
"Oh my, nothing too serious I hope."
"I can handle it."
"Cool good luck with that. Bye~!" Monkey walked away with big steps.
"Pleasure meeting ya your Highness." Qiuyu bowed his head.
"Hey aren't you that guy who tried being Emperor?"
"I see my reputation precedes even my name." he placed a hand on his chest. "The name's Qiuyu."
"And this is Nian Zhen, and this is the Horse." (Y/n) pointed at one, then at the other. "He doesn't have a name, so we just call him Horse."
Nezha leaned closer to look at him. He blinked a bunch of time, it actually produced little flames. An ability he had that has the same effect as Monkey's eyes. He frowned.
"You know your horse is a dragon, right?"
"I know," she nodded. "it's a long story. Maybe I'll tell you all about it when you're done with your mission. Bye now, good luck!" she waved as her and her group walked away.
Nezha opened his mouth, but couldn't think of anything to get the conversation going. He thought for a moment, then something clicked.
"Hey! Wait!"
He quickly flew to face them, stopping them in their tracks and making Nian Zhen and the Horse jump in surprise.
"Maybe you could help me actually."
"Oh, I'd be happy to!" (Y/n) smiled while Monkey raised a suspicious eyebrow. "What is this mission?"
The small prince glanced back.
"First and foremost, we gotta follow that carriage." he pointed behind him. "We can't lose it."
"Got it!" she nodded before rushing ahead with him, the others following behind.
They followed the convoy for a while, keeping a safe distance, before it stopped for a break, although the ladies wouldn't come out. The group watched from afar, laying down on top of a small hill (yes even the Horse) within the tall grass. Nezha intently stares for a moment, with his hands above his eyes - almost pressing down on them like that would help him see better - as the rest of the group looked at him, some more patient then others.
"So what? They're all just humans." Monkey rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, what are we doing creeping on ladies like that?" Nian Zhen asked, uncomfortable with this situation.
"Okay." Nezha ignored them and addressed (Y/n). "You see that girl over there?" he pointed.
She leaned closer with one eye closed to accurately followed where he was pointing.
"The one by the window?"
"Her name is Minhua."
"So what?" Monkey smirked. "You got a lil kid crush on her?"
"Eww! No!" he glared at him. "That's my niece!"
"Your niece?!" (Y/n) exclaimed as they all looked at him with big eyes.
"Well, not really."
He sighed and stood up, taking a few steps back so that the convoy wouldn't see him behind the hill. The group stayed seated and just turned to face him.
"You remember when I said that I was born mortal?"
(Y/n) nodded while everyone else were even more confused.
"Well, during my time as a mortal, people were very shitty to me." he said in a solemn tone.
"Language!" she exclaimed.
"They'd always mistreat me and call me names." he ignored her. "Just because I was born from demonic energy."
"Then you weren't exactly human either." Nian Zhen commented. "You were more like a-"
"Excuse me. Can I finish?" he glared at her.
"You finished your sentence already." she glared back. "But go ahead."
He huffed.
"Immortal brat is immortally annoying." she mumbled, bringing her knees close to her chin.
"I know right?" Monkey snickered.
"In my whole immortal life, I've only had two friends that weren't my parents." Nezha continued with that same solemn voice. "Ao, and a little human girl from a village. Even when I became immortal I'd still visit her, and I'd visit her family even after she passed away. I'm like their gardian or so they say." he puffed up his chest.
"Sure they do." Monkey and Nian Zhen rolled their eyes.
"And that young lady," he pointed beyond the hill. "is the only child of the youngest generation of that family."
"Oh~ I see!" (Y/n) nodded. "And where is she going with all these other ladies?"
"The Emperor's looking for new concubines."
The group let out a collective and impressed 'oh~' except the Horse, he looked confused, like he didn't know what that was.
"The Emperor's concubines?!" (Y/n) beamed, lightly clapping her hands. "Good for them!"
"I know, I know." he nodded. "So right now, they're being taken to some hidden secondary location where they'll meet the Emperor. But he always comes a few days *after* the girls."
"Wow, you've done your research." Qiuyu said, impressed.
"Of course I did! And here's the thing: the Emperor can very well decline them and send them back home."
"Oh I know where this is going." Nian Zhen nodded. "There's this really competitive test and these gals are actually very manipulative and back-stabbing and they're gonna try and be number one."
"And you want us to protect your niece?" Monkey added.
"What? No, I need you guys to take out the competition!"
The group was taken aback, they didn't expect that from him.
"You want us to kill them?" (Y/n) asked, concerned.
"No!" he shook his head. "Just use whatever shenanigans you guys do to make them go away!"
"And you can't do that yourself because...?" Monkey raised an eyebrow.
"I just can't. Minhua knows me, she'd recognize me even if I disguise myself. I don't want her to think I don't trust her."
"Uh, okay? And how are *we* supposed to-"
His eyes widen and he slowly gasped as he stood up.
"We could pull a reverso on them."
"A what?" (Y/n) frowned.
"What if..." he slowly said, smiling widely. "We make them drop out of the competition... Willingly."
"Willingly? How?"
"By threatening them?" Qiuyu asked.
"By seducing them!"
He noticed (Y/n)'s frown and spoke before she could.
"Now hear me out!" he raised his indexes. "We split into two teams: one who infiltrates the harem, one who infiltrates the soldiers. One does the manipulation, the other does the seducing-"
"I don't want to do either of those things!" she folded her arms.
"Don't you worry Peaches." he reached a hand and caressed her cheek. "You know I love you more than anything, and vice-verca."
She slapped his hand away.
"It's for a good cause (Y/n)!" Nezha stood beside him. "Minhua would be an awesome Empress but she's just too naive and nice. She'll be eaten alive by these mad women! Do it as a favor for a friend."
She softly gasped.
"You just said we're friends." she said under her breath, stars in her eyes.
He seemed to just realized what he said and looked away, blushing with a deep frown. Monkey ruffled his hair and Nezha would've bitten his hand if he hadn't moved his hand back just in time.
"He sure did!" he smiled widely. "So what do you say?"
(Y/n) thought intensely for a moment, frowning, clearly conflicted. Finally, she sighed.
"I can't deny a favor for a friend." she stood up with her hands on her hips with a determined look. "And if Minhua *is* in potential danger, then we have to help her. Let's do this."
"Ooooh yeah!!!" Monkey punched the air. "Another undercover mission! Those are the most fun!"
"I agree." Qiuyu stood up with a smile. "I get the feeling this will be interesting."
"Um... Here's the thing though:" Nian Zhen raised a hand. "I still don't wanna do this. Can't I be your guy on the outside?"
"Nah that's gonna be me." Nezha pointed at himself.
"And potentially also the Horse." Monkey added before facing her. "Come on kid! I can't do the manipulation all by myself, I need a sidekick! Someone to balance out my experienced brillantness!"
"That's not a real word- Are you saying I'm an inexperienced dumbass?!"
"Wait." (Y/n) frowned. "If you two are the manipulation team...That means-"
Before she could finish her revelation, the convoy started moving again and the group had to follow them quickly. They watched from afar as the carriages rode up a rocky mountain and into a big castle.
"*That's* the secondary location?" Qiuyu raised an eyebrow. "Royals have very little sense of subtlety it seems." he slowly shook his head.
"You want me to be Mei-hui again?!" (Y/n) exclaimed after Monkey spelled out his plan to her.
"Yeah, why should she crossdress?" Nian Zhen pointed at her. "That's just wasted energy. You could just switch roles, it'd be much easier."
"Trust me, it'll work better that way. And besides," he whispered to her. "she's way too nice to manipulate anyone."
"But," they all looked at (Y/n). "is that okay with you? Pretending to be a woman?"
Monkey just laughed.
"I used to do that all the time remember? I'm the master of disguise!" he struck a pose, then giggled.
"You're seem really enthusiastic for this." she blinked twice, a bit unsettled.
"'Course I am! It takes me back, to the good ol' days!"
"The...journey to the Wes-?"
"My human-eating era!"
"Monkey!" she frowned and hit his arm. "We're not eating anyone!"
"Sure we are, emotionally! And from the inside!" he snickered. "You know, beating bad guys' fun and all, but scheming just hits different! Oh." his grin became larger. "'Hits', get it? D'you get it?" he made finger guns.
"You are in a childish mood today." she shook her head.
"Because I just *know* it's gonna be fun!" he giggled.
"You sure it's not 'cause you'll be surrounded by pretty ladies?" Qiuyu raised an eyebrow.
(Y/n) gasped.
"How dare you?" Monkey glared at him as he hugged her. "To me there is no other but her!"
She blushed and hugged him back, hiding her face.
"Well anyway, how are we gonna do this?" Nian Zhen asked. "'Cause we got a lot of things to do, Wukong has his powers but (Y/n) has to go through a whole makeover. Me and Qiuyu have to dress up too. And we gotta find a way to get in! And I gotta *act*?!" she began to panic, holding her head in her hands.
"Woah there, one thing at a time." Qiuyu began to look around the grass. "You're gonna explode that tiny head of yours if you keep going like this."
Everyone watched as he eventually picked up a thin long leaf and began to stretch it, as if it was an endless scroll. (Y/n) let out an "ooooh" of admiration as he kept going. Finally, he stopped and handed it to her.
"You can use that as a binder."
"Thank you." she took it. "But...Is it really okay to do this as Mei-Hui?" she looked at Monkey again. "I don't believe he'd do this to Ai Chow. Entering a harem I mean."
"Ah-" he burst out laughing. "This has nothing to do with that, you'll just use the name again. And honestly, I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing him again." he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Who's Ai Chow?" Nian Zhen frowned. "What happened with her and you two?!"
"I'll tell you later." Monkey pulled out a few of his hair and turned them into three outfits. "Time to change!"
"For the love of everything and everyone, *please* make changing rooms!"
[With my job and all, my writing progress is much slower than usual. But I didn't want to make you guys wait too long, so I'm testing out smaller chapters. I prefer to write one complete adventure so that you get the whole package with one update so ngl, this hurts me a bit ð© Still I hope you bear with me on this!
Love y'all~ ð]