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Tang wasn't stupid.
He knew that Macaque was playing with them instead of leading them to Lady Bone Demon. He quickly learned to spot the black monkey watching them from the shadows. At first, the man was terrified for obvious reasons. His first official encounter with the demon ended with bruises from being kicked and hit against the wall of a lantern, and the next time the monkey threatened Mei. Over time, however, the scientist stopped being afraid of Macaque's presence, despite his tendency to step out of his shadow and scare him in the process. Each meeting of the whole group, which Mk insisted on, meant that Tang had the opportunity to get to know and discover his less sadistic and mean side. More opportunities for contact also arose when Pigsy and Wukong started a strange relationship, much to everyone's surprise.
The cook and the king swore about their mutual dislike and about trying to overcome it for Mk, who was probably the only one who did not see it as an excuse for further meetings between the two. Tang was amused by his friend's behavior, especially remembering how sincerely he disliked the monkey at the beginning of their quest for the Samadhi fire rings. The advantage of the interest of these two stubborn individuals was their constant complaining about each other, which in Pigsy's case involved overcooking, which Tang shamelessly took advantage of by eating his friend for free. However, it also had its disadvantages, usually when meeting with a larger group.
“Please, show me how a great sage equal to heaven would do it better.” snorted Pigsy when Wukong commented on the way the cook was preparing the barbecue.
“I will and you will have to admit that I am right.” replied Monkie King with a confidence that was missing in his eyes.
“I really can't wait to see it.” snorted the pig demon, folding his arms over his chest.
“They're slowly getting boring.” Macaque announced, emerging from the shadow of the scholar sitting by the fire.
“I'm not sure who they're trying to fool.” Tang agreed, moving a little to make room for the demon to sit down.
“Mk? Although the kid would probably be delighted.” Macaque muttered, turning his gaze to the young monkey demon who was organizing some sort of competition with Mei and Red Son.
"Definitely." Tang replied with a smile before moving closer to the monkey. “I'll tell you a secret that when Mk was younger, he asked me if Wukong could get together with Pigsy and become his dad.”
"Really? This kid seems to be predicting the future.” the demon laughed.
"Yes." Tang muttered with a smile.
“Ha! I told you this is how it would end!” laughed Pigsy loudly as Wukong panicked and tried to extinguish his burning creation.
“When did he...?” the black-haired man asked in surprise.
“I don't know, but Wukong has always been a culinary anti-talent. This is probably an additional reason for their relationship.” replied the monkey demon.
“Oh.” Tang replied, watching the kids and the secret couple.
“I always thought there was something going on between you and the dangerous chef until those two started jumping around each other.” Macaque confessed, spreading out along the entire length of the trunk, almost lying on top of his companion.
“No, Pigsy was never interested in me.” the reincarnation of the great monk shook his head.
"And you?" the demon continued.
“And I'm used to being just a friend.” Tang smiled melancholy. “I got over it a long time ago, although sometimes I wondered what I lacked to make Pigsy want me. Now I know it's a lot.”
“Pffff. To Wukong? Don't be an idiot.” Macaque just snorted at this joke.
“Hmm?” the scholar turned to him.
“Wukong may be a legend, but you are still better than him. You may not have his skills, but you have your own skills that you use for good. In the lantern you told me you were going to become someone your friends could rely on. In my opinion, you were that person even back then, even without magic and strange spells.” the demon explained, pushing his head into the scholar's lap and closing his eyes.
"Thank you." Tang replied warmly, thinking about something. “You mentioned me and Pigsy, what about you and Monkie King?”
"NO. Maybe in another life or in the past if he hadn't gone to war with Heaven. Too much has happened between us now.” the shadow master replied, relaxing completely as the scholar began to play with his hair.
"Good to know." Tang said, and the surprised demon opened his good eye.
“What was that supposed to mean?” Macaque asked as the human's cheeks turned red.
“I was just worried.” the scientist lied quickly, feeling that he was entering dangerous waters.
“Your heart rate increases.” the demon informed, matter-of-factly.
"You're wrong." Tang lied again.
“You're blushing.” Macaque pointed out, starting to grin.
“The fire made me feel warm.” again the scholar tried to lie.
“And that's the third lie, you're out of the game.” the demon laughed.
"Very funny." the black-haired man muttered in response, looking away.
“Hey, I'm just teasing.” the shadow master replied happily, reaching for his companion's face.
"I know." Tang whispered, snuggling into the outstretched hand, enjoying the peace.
"What?!" Mk's scream immediately pulled the two out of their little world.
It didn't take long to find the perpetrators of the young man's shock, one glance at the embarrassed Wukong and the uncomfortable Pigsy was enough to learn that the teenager had finally learned what everyone had known for a long time.
“Mk, I know this may not be what you expected, but…” the cook began to explain as Monkie King continued to feign interest in everything except his student and the situation.
“Are you kidding me?! It's amazing!" the boy rejoiced aloud.
"What?" asked Wukong, who suddenly came back to life.
“Two of the most important people in my life are together! Of course I'm happy!” the young hero announced, jumping up and down.
“It didn't hurt at all.” Tang whispered sarcastically to the demon next to him, who almost started laughing.
“But since when? How? Who? I want to know everything!" demanded Mk.
"Me too! And can I change your statuses on the Internet, since Mk already knows?” Mei asked, taking out her phone.
“Wait, you knew?” Mk asked in surprise, and Pigsy and Wukong looked equally outraged.
"From where?" Pigsy asked suspiciously.
“Even my father found out, you're not as discreet as you think.” Red Son added.
“The most important thing is that you are happy, the rest is just an addition.” Sandy said, avoiding answering.
“What can I say, my genius allowed me to decipher you immediately.” Tang said slightly cockily, adjusting his glasses with a practiced movement.
All eyes turned to Macaque, who surprisingly had not spoken yet, but seeing the attention focused on himself, the demon smiled. Adjusting his scarf with a practiced gesture, the monkey leaned on the black-haired man, examining his claws.
“Of course I knew. You both reek of each other from a mile away and your hearts play a ninth symphony when you're around each other.” the shadow master said with a wicked smile and Tang lightly poked him in the side.
“As if they behaved a little better.” Red Son snorted at Mei, but somehow Tang managed to hear it too.
“So everyone knew?” Monkie King asked confused, starting to discuss how obvious they were.
“Do you think we could keep it a secret longer?” the demon suddenly asked.
“Hmm, we can check.” Tang said, blushing again.
“How could I say no to any chance to date you?” Macaque asked rhetorically, smiling predatorily.
“You haven't even invited me anywhere yet.” the scholar reproached him.
“It needs to be fixed. Tomorrow suits you, or do I have to kidnap you like I would have done a few centuries ago?” the demon asked, and Tang felt a shiver run through him, and he didn't have to have his interlocutor's super hearing to know that his heart sped up significantly at the vision presented.
“Aren't you in a hurry?” the black haired man just asked.
“Would it bother you?” the demon asked more seriously.
Tang wasn't stupid. He knew that being kidnapped by a demon when a monkey was young meant death or marriage and nothing in between. And observing Macaque's hungry gaze on him, the scholar was sure it was the second option.
"No. Not even a bit.” Tang replied, giving the demon a challenge that Macaque would surely accept and fulfill.
Maybe Tang was stupid after all?
Or maybe it's love that makes you stupid?