The Somersault Cloud shot across the sky like a golden storm, sweeping a fierce gale downward until the pedestrians below felt as though they might be lifted clean off the ground. Hair, clothes, and loose papers scattered everywhere, tossed about as if caught in a small typhoon.
Edward—bearing the complete appearance of Sun Wukong—stood atop the little cloud, quietly laughing to himself, shoulders trembling as he tried to hold back his amusement. His tail swayed lightly, as though he were genuinely enjoying the sight of humans panicking below.
The sudden arrival of the golden cloud rushing overhead shocked everyone. Some screamed. Some stumbled. Others managed to lift their phones just in time to record the bizarre phenomenon.
A few Awakened who happened to be nearby immediately leapt onto the buildings, attempting to give chase.
But all they could see was a streak of golden light flashing past their eyes—like a living bolt of lightning.
The Somersault Cloud's uniqueness was truly extraordinary: it required no commands at all. The moment Edward stepped onto it, the cloud read its master's intent, understanding direction and purpose without a single spoken word.
It soared straight toward Edward's destination.
"We're here… drop me down over there," Edward said, pointing at a dilapidated building that resembled an abandoned warehouse.
The Somersault Cloud descended instantly, landing gently in front of the structure.
"Master, there are a few people guarding inside," Fay reported inside Edward's mind.
"Don't worry, Fay. I'll take out all those buffalo followers right now."
Edward—still in his full Sun Wukong form—leapt down and strolled slowly toward the entrance, tapping the Ruyi Jingu Bang against his shoulder. His steps were calm, his arrogance obvious.
Not long after, ten burly guards with the look of thugs stepped out of the building, blocking the doorway.
"Whose monkey is this lost thing?" one sneered, laughing mockingly.
"Hey, dude! This isn't a circus. Leave now if you don't want to die."
"Why don't we rough up this monkey first? I'm bored," another added.
Their laughter echoed—unaware that Edward was already standing right in front of them.
"Hey, moron," Edward said with a crooked smile. "What are you waiting for?"
"Damn monkey!"
At the same instant, all the thugs charged at him.
Edward yawned lazily. "So slow."
Without a shred of mercy, he swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang—and with a single strike, a wave of energy exploded outward.
BOOM!
All ten thugs were thrown far, crashing against the building walls in a series of heavy impacts. Some got stuck in the windows, others fell unconscious, sprawled across the ground.
"Wow, Master, that was amazing!" Fay praised, amazed.
"Hahahaha!" Edward laughed heartily. "Those buffalo kids are too weak, Fay. One armpit hair of mine is ten times stronger than all of them combined."
A few moments later, more thugs poured out of the building. One after another appeared, until Edward was now surrounded—like a horde of street zombies.
"Sixty in total, Master," Fay reported.
"That's quite a crowd…" Edward scratched the fur on his head casually. "Where's your leader? Bring him out."
"Face us first, monkey!" they shouted in unison.
"Alright, alright. If that's what the buffalo kids want, Father will oblige," Edward replied with a sly grin.
Without hesitation, he plucked a few strands of hair from his head. The pluck sound made some of the thugs wince, as if feeling the pain themselves.
Edward blew gently on the strands.
"Monkey Crazy Clone."
Instantly, the hairs floated into the air, releasing thick smoke—and BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—dozens of Edward clones appeared one by one, each wielding a Ruyi Jingu Bang.
All the clones smiled simultaneously in Sun Wukong's signature mischievous and ferocious style.
The thugs could only swallow hard.
Edward raised his staff.
"My children, teach these buffalo kids how to behave in front of Father."
The moment Edward gave the order, the dozens of Sun Wukong clones charged. They leapt, twirled, and swung their staffs without mercy. Screams of pain echoed, and the sound of breaking bones cracked like rotting wood underfoot.
Yet Edward didn't even glance back.
He sauntered into the building with a lazy, arrogant stride, as if the chaos behind him were merely background music.
A few thugs tried to pounce from the doorway's sides, but before they could touch Edward, his clones appeared and slammed them into the walls, leaving them unconscious.
"Where's the elevator…?" Edward whispered, glancing left and right. "Argh! Why am I standing here?"
He slammed the Ruyi Jingu Bang onto the floor.
"Ruyi Jingu Bang… rise!!"
In an instant, the golden staff grew massive with a BOOOOM, smashing through the ceiling—KRASH! KRASH! KRASH!—piercing through the upper floors and straight up to the roof. Dust and debris flew everywhere.
Edward looked up. "Fay, try to locate them."
"There are three people on the top floor. But… one of them is extremely strong."
"Ha. That must be the buffalo boss." Edward gave a thin smile. "Let's pay him a visit."
He slammed his staff once more. The enlarged Ruyi Jingu Bang shrank slowly, lifting Edward upward like a Monkey King-style elevator.
The moment Edward reached the top floor, a sharp gust of wind suddenly swept across his neck—like a phantom blade attempting to decapitate him.
Yet Edward merely swung his staff from top to bottom.
CRACK!
The cracking sound echoed through the room. The attack stopped instantly, and at the same time, a man's figure was thrown to the floor, landing face down, completely motionless.
"Oh… this is what they call an Awakened," Edward whispered, a faint smile on his lips.
To ordinary eyes, the strike had been invisible. But to Edward—it had moved at a snail's pace.
Edward continued forward. This time, he was blocked by a scarred Chinese man, holding a long sword, standing firm to block the path.
"Come on, attack already. I'm really bored," Edward said, yawning.
But the man made no move to strike. He simply walked slowly… passing by Edward without ever raising his sword.
"The buffalo boss is inside," he said calmly.
"That was easy," Edward replied with a smile.
The man then knelt, bowing his head.
"I pay my respects to the Monkey King."
"Yes, yes… no need to kneel. Wait here. Don't go anywhere."
"Understood, my lord."
Edward grinned widely. "Lucky to have followers."
"Why did Master tell him to wait?"
"There's something I want him to do after I deal with the buffalo boss," Edward said, lifting his staff toward the room at the end of the corridor. The tip of the golden staff gleamed.
"Extend!"
BOOOOM!
The Ruyi Jingu Bang shot forward instantly, piercing through the office door like a colossal spear.
Inside the office, a bald man, massive like a bull, was standing firm. His muscles tensed, eyes glowing red—clearly ready to face Edward.
But he didn't have time to wait.
BOOOOM!!!
The entire doorway exploded as the tip of the Ruyi Jingu Bang smashed in like a giant staff. Concrete debris flew across the room.
The bald man was shocked but reacted quickly.
He roared, stomping his foot, and swung a fist that transformed into a giant punch—huge like a horned buffalo's head—a special attack of a high-class Awakened.
But…
KRAAACK!
The giant fist collided with the tip of Edward's staff—and in an instant, the man's hand shattered into pieces like glass struck by a hammer. Blood splattered.
Before he could even scream, the impact from Edward's staff launched his body like a rocket.
The massive figure flew through the back wall of the office—KOOM!
And was hurled out of the building, disappearing from sight, leaving only swirling wind and dust in the air.
Edward ran into the office and rushed toward the wall that had been blasted open.
"Where did the buffalo go?!"
"He managed to escape, Master," Fay replied. Neither of them knew what had happened to the bald guy.
"Damn… cowardly buffalo! Hope he didn't manage to take all the money!"
Edward turned sharply. "Hey, scarface! Come here, quickly!"
"Yes, my lord!" The scarred man immediately ran into the office.
Edward scanned the room, looking for something. His eyes landed on a large safe, still tightly shut.
"Do you know how to open it?"
"Yes, I do, my lord. I'll open it now."
Edward, in his Sun Wukong form, watched as the scarred man twisted the handle.
Not long after, the safe door opened, revealing stacks of money inside.
"Did the buffalo escape without taking all the cash?"
"Maybe he was scared, Master," Fay replied.
"Could be."
"My lord, what do you want me to do with this money?"
"Put all of it into the bag. Faster."
"Yes, my lord."
Wasting no time, the scarred man opened a cabinet and pulled out a large black bag. All the money from the safe was stuffed into it.
"Done, my lord."
"You work fast."
The scarred man placed the black bag in front of Edward.
"Good. Now get out of here quickly. But if you have nowhere to go, head to Tan's restaurant. Just say my name."
"Yes, my lord. I'll leave immediately."
"Our job's done, Fay. It's a shame we didn't get to fight the buffalo boss. Didn't expect him to escape," Edward muttered, brushing dust off his shoulder.
"Maybe he realized Master is too strong. Better to run than fight you," Fay replied.
"True. Didn't expect that buffalo to use his brain after all."
"Master, there's some noise outside."
Edward paused. "The police have arrived. Better we get out quickly."
He slung the black bag over his shoulder and stepped toward the collapsed wall.
"JINDOUYUN!"