[Note: some stories may connect with others. In this case, this part takes place in the same universe as the one-shot "Laughter."]

The night before, Wukong had kept his word and visited Erlang, but when he found him in a small makeshift shelter, he noticed that he was already asleep, so he decided not to bother him—yet. He also noticed there was no food anywhere, so he wanted to surprise him the next morning. After telling his little ones he was going on an expedition alone, he returned to the shelter where the young dark-haired man was and leaned on a log inside, looking down at him with a wide smile.

"Good morning, young Erlang! Did you spend the night here? Doesn't look like much, but..." he paused, grabbing his handful of peaches and letting them drop on top of him, "I brought you breakfast because I'm a compassionate king to those who visit the Mountain~"

"Huh?...!!!" As the fruit started to fall on him, Erlang quickly caught them before they hit his face. Although he hadn't expected this invitation from the monkey, he found it rather pleasant. "Ah... thanks. What made you come back here again?"

"Well, last night, as I promised, I was going to visit you to see how you were doing. It took me a while, but I finally found you, and when I got here... you were already asleep," he explained, scratching his ear. Among the peaches he brought, he didn't hesitate to take a big bite out of the one in his hand, letting the juice drip and overflow over his lips, speaking unashamedly with his mouth full. "Mph... As the Monkey King, I don't need anyone's permission to come and go as I please~ What should we do today? Get more fruit? Hunt something bigger?" he asked, tail wagging with intrigue.

Erlang took the fruit and looked at it for a moment, feeling a bit doubtful, but he couldn't let himself starve and needed to lower his expectations to what he was used to, so he took a bite while listening to the monkey.

"Hmm... I thought about doing some fishing... want to join?" he asked after swallowing the fruit, then suggested it, knowing the monkey might agree. "I imagine there must be fish here and other things besides fruit, right?"

"Fishing?" Wukong tilted his head curiously, hopped down from the log, and stood on his two feet. He wasn't fully used to it yet, but his hands were occupied. He paused, giving his back to Erlang while he chewed. "It's quite difficult to fish here... catching those slippery fish is tricky! That's why we hardly try; they slip out of our hands! But if you insist..." He threw his head back to look at him. "I'll accept your proposal, young Erlang~ Let's see how you do it!" He smiled challengingly, tail swishing.

Erlang looked at him, barely believing he accepted so quickly, but he had something else in mind. "Alright, but..." He stood up from his seat and looked at the monkey seriously, wanting to make a deal with him. "If I manage to catch something here, you'll take me to where your people are."

"Huh?" Wukong replied dryly, feeling confused by the odd request, and turned to face him. "I give you peaches for breakfast, and you demand that I take you to my home? Hmm... let's raise the stakes~" He smiled, baring his teeth in a challenging grin and finished the fruit, spitting out the pit. "If you manage to catch more than ten fish today... I'll take a few for my little ones and take you to see them, right where we live, at the heart of the mountain~ That's my final offer." He extended his hand to seal the deal.

"Deal."

Erlang didn't hesitate to accept, taking his hand to seal the deal. He knew the basics of survival, so fishing wouldn't be difficult for him. When they reached the lake Wukong led him to, where one of the eastern rivers of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits flowed, he looked around for materials to improvise a fishing rod as they went. "How exactly did you go about fishing? Did you use anything special?"

Wukong looked around, slightly hesitant, and turned back to see Erlang assembling something unfamiliar. "We didn't usually... fish here in the lake, but rather in the rapids up the river. But I suppose all the fish come down here... well thought, young Erlang. And... do you use anything besides your hands?" he asked, having no idea about a device that could help with fishing, but he got the hint and leaned forward on all fours, curious. "What are you doing?"

Erlang listened to the monkey while finishing his makeshift rod, which would at least serve for the moment.

"It's... a fishing rod. It makes it easier than using your hands. Come on." He said as he stood up, walked to the lake's edge, and put on some bait before casting it far. Erlang sat cross-legged and let out a small sigh.

"I'm surprised that someone with as much power as you... doesn't know how to use it."

Wukong tilted his head, intrigued by what he had just made with a single long stick and a piece of vine, but hearing that it would make catching fish easier, he sat down beside him at the lake's edge. He watched him cast it far, waiting for something extraordinary to happen, but nothing did. "Huh?! What do you mean by that? I use my strength for the sake of my little ones; I protect them and get food. What more should I do?" he asked incredulously, feeling indignant that he'd say he didn't know how to use his strength, but in the peaceful life of the mountain... he hadn't thought of using it in other ways either.

"Hmm, you must have more than just strength... powers that you haven't awakened or don't yet know how to control." Erlang spoke as he watched the scenery, but the rod soon began to move, so he gave it a firm tug, realizing he'd caught a fish. "You're lucky to have been born with a gift like that. You need to learn to use it for what it is... not to put on a show." Erlang removed the fish from the hook, placed it out of the water, and cast the rod again.

"Huh..." Wukong murmured, starting to ponder what the other had said, and for a moment, he stopped paying attention to the rod. The dark-haired one seemed wise—could he have many more powers he wasn't aware of? Or... was he not using his strength well? He didn't fully understand it, but if he could have more than just strength, he would definitely do something about it. He snapped out of his thoughts, shaking his head when he noticed they already had a fish beside them and looked at it in surprise.

"Huh?! You caught one already?! ..." He paused to look at him with the rod, feeling an increasing urge to learn how to use it. "Can I try?" he asked, extending his hand toward him.

Erlang turned his head to look at him, bewildered. He stayed silent for a while but, after thinking it over, sighed lightly and handed the fishing rod to the monkey.

"Alright, here's what you need to do. Now that it's cast, you have to wait--"

Erlang cut himself off as he saw the monkey suddenly yank the rod back, sending the hook flying until it landed back near them, without a fish.

"Aw... why didn't I catch anything? I did what I saw you do!" Wukong complained, looking at the empty hook.

Erlang rolled his eyes, sighing deeply as he handed back the vine that served as the line. "Silly monkey... you have to wait a while for a fish to bite the hook. Once you feel it tugging hard, then you pull it towards you. Got it?"

Wukong's eyes brightened as he understood better and nodded excitedly. He raised the rod and made a big swing to cast the hook far, almost reaching the other side of the lake.

Erlang raised his eyebrows, once again impressed by the Monkey King's strength in his hands, and settled beside him to wait.

"Hm... this waiting for something to happen... how long do we have to do this?" Wukong asked, tapping his foot impatiently.

"It depends on the fish... go ahead, start slowly pulling the line back to us." Erlang responded, gently pulling the line to show the monkey how it was done. Wukong followed closely, concentrating carefully until the dark-haired man left all the work to him. Wukong slowly pulled the line as Erlang had taught him, holding the rod with his feet, until suddenly, he felt the line tug in the opposite direction. He'd finally got a bite!

"Oh! I feel it, young Erlang! Now what do I do?!"

"Pull the line with all you've got!" the dark-haired one replied.

Wukong grinned challengingly, grabbed the rod with both hands, and gave it a mighty pull, leaving the fish on the hook with no chance. It flew out of the water towards the two of them, finally landing on the ground and flopping around, but Wukong caught it firmly and looked at it with amazement over his accomplishment. He showed it to Erlang with a proud, excited smile.

"Look, look! I did it!"

"Yes. You just caught a fish," Erlang agreed, nodding with a soft expression, though he wasn't smiling yet.

"When the fish bites the hook, it's fun to pull it up. Again!" Wukong demanded, adjusting the hook and casting the rod back into the lake.

The new game was that every time one caught a fish, it was the other's turn with the rod. This way, the ten-fish bet was quickly fulfilled, and the count only grew. The Monkey King was enjoying himself like never before, and Erlang... he felt at peace. After catching enough fish with the rod, Wukong started to get bored but soon had a new idea, smiling mischievously as he stood up from the lake's edge and looked at the dark-haired man.

"Now come, I'll show you how I fish!" the monkey said, gathering his energy and making a big leap to cross half the lake, landing on a rock. Wukong raised his hand, gesturing for him to come along. Erlang had no other option, and though he didn't want to get wet, the monkey wouldn't leave him alone until he went, so he strapped the rod to his back and entered the water, unaware of what awaited him.

The clothes... they weighed him down a lot, too much... he couldn't swim well and felt himself sinking too easily. Damn! This was nothing like the Heavenly waters, so light even with the heaviest armor, yet here on Earth, even with thin robes, he felt like he was drowning, so he spat out water, trying to swim towards the rock. Then he felt something furry on his face and realized it was the monkey's tail.

"Here, hold on!" Wukong offered, extending his own tail to him so he wouldn't sink. Erlang didn't hesitate, grabbing it firmly as the Monkey King pulled him quickly towards the rock, though he let out small whimpers of pain. The tail was his most sensitive spot, and having it gripped like that, he couldn't help but feel discomfort. But he finally gasped in relief as the dark-haired man reached the rock safely.

Erlang climbed onto the rock, panting heavily, trying to catch his breath. His body felt so fatigued on Earth, he thought he should train more often... "I... I made it... was it really necessary to be here?" Erlang asked, still catching his breath.

"Completely necessary, young Erlang~ All the fish gather here in the center. Now watch and learn!" Wukong said, gathering energy for a jump and landing back in the water, still standing where the rocks reached his feet. Erlang sat on the rock, curiously observing the monkey, who tensely scanned his surroundings for any fish swimming nearby. Spotting a perch between his feet, he didn't waste a second, plunging his hands into the water, but the fish was too quick.

"Damn it!" Wukong cursed and tried again, and again... all the fish kept slipping through his fingers, and he was getting frustrated, so much so that he let out a huff, tail twitching. Erlang tilted his head with curiosity, then sighed heavily. He took the rod and removed the line, leaving only a stick.

"Monkey," he called out so the monkey would turn and see him, "Here." Erlang tossed the sharpened stick to him, which Wukong caught, looking at it in confusion. "Use it to catch the fish."

The Monkey King's eyes lit up, holding the stick firmly and looking down for a fish. Spotting another perch in the water, in a blink, Wukong stabbed the stick into the water, skewering the fish. Lifting it up, he gazed at the squirming fish with delight and pride.

"It worked! It really works! Now let's fish!" Wukong exclaimed, hopping with excitement, and the true fishing began. The Monkey King's agility was impressive and innate. After tossing his freshly caught fish onto the lake's edge with the others, he'd return to stab another.

Their provisions kept growing, and Wukong was having fun and joyfully discovering the art of fishing. After a while, seeing Erlang sitting idly on the rock, he paused, broke the stick in two, and handed him one half. Erlang looked at the gesture, unsure.

"Come on, let's fish together, young Erlang!" Wukong invited him with a smile and continued happily spearing fish. Erlang, surprised by the invitation and the monkey's willingness to share, rolled up his pants and waded into the water with the Monkey King.

"Quickly, or I'll catch more than you!" Wukong challenged, and the two began spearing fish between them. Though it was just simple fishing, something about it filled Erlang with energy, who couldn't stop once he made his first catch. They both tossed fish far to the edge, piling their haul into a small mountain of food.

At one point, Wukong squealed with excitement after catching a fish, licking his lips before taking a big bite, blood splashing into the water.

"Hey!" Erlang called out, jabbing him with the stick upon seeing him eat one of the fish, and they exchanged astonished but stern, annoyed looks.

Wukong chewed the fish meat slowly, not understanding why his friend looked so displeased. "...What?"

"Stop doing that; it's disgusting!" Erlang scolded, irritated. "Don't you know how to cook with fire?"

Wukong stared for several long moments in silent amazement, his eyes wide and tail flicking with excitement. "Can fire be used for cooking too?!"

Erlang could hardly believe it and brought his hand to his face with a heavy sigh. "Ugh... we still have so much to learn, Monkey..."

Wukong's only response was a mischievous chuckle as he swallowed his bite, and soon they resumed fishing. After a while, the Monkey King observed Erlang with intent, his curiosity growing until he sneakily crept closer. Finally, when he was right behind him, Wukong let out a big splash with his arms, soaking the dark-haired one.

"Ha!"

Erlang gasped, startled as the cold water hit his clothes and skin. He spun around, only to see the monkey laughing playfully in the water.

He looked at him in disbelief, quickly frowning and splashing him back with his hands, drenching Wukong's face. The Monkey King fell silent as the water hit his face, then stood up, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes. Erlang's tension eased as he saw him calm down, but he hadn't anticipated the monkey's response.

"Hyaa!" Wukong launched himself forward, splashing him with water, soaking him from head to toe. Erlang opened his eyes, forgetting about the stick as he lunged at him.

"You're in for it, Monkey!" Erlang shouted, but Wukong leaped out of his way with a laugh, splashing back, both of them forgetting their sticks.

They splashed back and forth, laughing and exchanging playful splashes. Erlang had to admit... it was infectious. Instead of teaching the monkey a lesson, he found himself joining in on the game.

"I'm here!" Wukong called from in front of him. Erlang splashed him, but in a blink, Wukong was behind, splashing again. "Over here!"

Erlang turned to splash him but found himself bombarded with water on his face, forcing him to shield himself. When the monkey finally stopped, he looked up, seeing Wukong laughing uncontrollably, splashing the ground with excitement. The Monkey King's joy was contagious, and the fun and energy were shared between them... Just hearing his laugh and seeing him so happy made Erlang tilt his head back and, for the first time in a long while... he allowed himself to smile and laugh with him.

Unaware of what had just happened, Erlang stopped laughing, noticing the monkey had also fallen silent. Opening his eyes, he met Wukong's golden gaze, staring at him with a look of pure joy and pride, as if they'd finally truly connected after spending the day together. They felt... like they had strengthened a bond they didn't know they had. It was as if the walls between them were finally falling.

Erlang's expression softened as he cleared his throat, a bit flustered, erasing the smile from his face. Wukong's eyes narrowed playfully as he looked up at the lake.

"Stay here and watch this~" Wukong told the dark-haired one, gathering energy for a sprint before leaping into the lake's depths. He swam further down, finally reaching a rock at the lake's bottom. Once there, he looked up, seeing the fish swimming peacefully above. Wukong grinned confidently, propelled himself off the rock, and spun to create a swirling vortex behind him, enveloping the fish. He shot up, seeming to aim for the sky.

Erlang watched, jaw-dropping in awe as Wukong emerged, showering him in water. Next, fish began to rain down from above.

"Wuu!! How's that, huh?! A fish rain!" Wukong exclaimed, landing beside him, extending his arms to catch the falling fish. Erlang blinked, recovering from his shock just in time to catch a perch.

Copying Wukong, Erlang caught fish falling from the sky until his hands were full. The Monkey King's enthusiasm knew no bounds; after filling his hands, he caught one with his tail, finally opening his mouth to grab an even bigger fish. He looked at the dark-haired one, proudly grinning, fish in his mouth, and began to hop happily, howling over the large, successful catch. Erlang watched him, then let out a soft laugh, smiling for the first time. At that moment, he let go of the expectations the gods and Heaven had for him and simply... enjoyed the present.

The two friends returned to the lake's edge, leaving behind the fish they had caught together. Wukong squealed with delight, leaping high in joy, seeing they had enough food to feed the entire mountain for months.

"So many fish! This has been the best fishing trip of my life, young Erlang! Oh, my little ones will be so happy to have fish again~ Thank you so much for teaching me! I'll always owe you one." Wukong bowed to him gratefully. "Now let's bring all this food to the waterfall; I'll take you to my home, young Erlang~"

"Wait, Monkey... we're not done yet," Erlang stopped him, shaking his head and pointing to the nearest palm tree. "We'll need several of those..."

Wukong wasn't entirely sure why they needed palm leaves, but he complied, climbing the tree easily and pulling off several leaves with a single tug. Erlang caught them in the air and sat cross-legged, beginning to weave them together. Wukong returned and sat beside him, watching closely, soaked to the bone. Erlang quietly handed him a leaf, and together they began making baskets from the palm leaves.

At first, Wukong was clumsy, leaving many open or incomplete knots, but Erlang stayed beside him, correcting and teaching him until the Monkey King got the hang of it and continued on his own.

The day moved on, coloring the sky orange as it neared the horizon. Wukong held up his finished basket, admiring his handiwork with bright eyes and an excited expression.

"This... is a basket. We can store the fish here," Erlang explained as he tied the straps so it could be carried over his shoulder.

"Oh, well thought, young Erlang!" Wukong agreed, nodding as he began loading as many fish as he could into the basket. They divided the load evenly, and as Erlang slung his fish over his shoulder, he watched the monkey shake off the last water droplets, being slightly splashed himself.

"Monkey... stand up." 

"Huh? Alright, alright..." Wukong huffed after shaking off and rose to his feet, hanging the basket on his shoulder, and together they began the journey toward the waterfall, to the home of the mountain's monkeys, just as Wukong had promised Erlang.