[VOLUME 16: THE FIRES OF GENESIS][ARC 1: THE ASHEN WAR]
"Pay up, monkey."
Elara heard the deep, smug rumble of Aldren's voice before she even rounded the final bend of the canyon path.
She stepped into the shade of the dead-magic zone, brushing a stray lock of silver-tipped hair from her sweat-dampened forehead.
Sun Wukong was scowling, grumbling under his breath as he dug into a pouch at his belt. He pulled out ten gold coins and slapped them into Aldren's outstretched, scorched palm.
"I don't understand," Wukong complained, crossing his arms. "Zephyra hates everyone. She once turned a minor river god into a potted fern just for looking at her sideways. How did she get out of there without crying?"
"Because," Li Wusheng said, his voice a smooth, proud purr as he leaned gracefully against the canyon wall, "our Queen does not ask for permission."
