In the New Past AU would Tang still be obsessed with JTTW? And would MK be featured in the JTTW book since he hangs around with the pilgrims at times? (If yes would that mean Tang would think MK is super cool at least at first lol)
It wouldn't be Tang if he's not obssessed with JTTW😔 (to answer: yes he's still obssessed with it and also about the royal monkey family) And to MK surprised, he is in fact mentioned and talk about in the book!!
The book now talk about the Prince of Flower fruit Mountain, Qi Xiaotian, who would often accompanied the Monkey King during his Journey to the West. So yes, Tang do find him very cool and would ask him a million question when he would learn MK is Qi Xiaotian. Because when MK go around Megapolis in the Present era, he's disguised with glamour and shapeshifting as a human and goes by the name MK. So when he first talk to Tang and Pigsy, they have no idea he's the prince of FFM✨
Imagine, the way Tang and Pigsy first find out that MK is 'The Prince of Flower Fruit Mountain, Qi Xiaotian' starts when Tang is retelling one of the many stories in JTTW and the story is just so incorrect that, MK, having quite literally lived and experienced the whole situation first hand, just kinda snorts to himself and goes, "That is not even close to what actually happened."
Tang just kinda stops and stares at MK, who keeps eating his noodles, like he didn't just imply that he actually saw what happened. The same MK that has sat and listened to Tang tell the stories of JTTW and never once made a comment like that before. Then again, when he really thinks about it, he really doesn't know much of anything about WHO MK actually is.
Tang now finds MK to be sus. Thus he must find out the truth behind MK.
This leads to increasingly ridiculous situations as Tang searches for clues on MK's true identity. Tang gets Pigsy dragged into the conspiracy, who after seeing MK actually being kinda sus, and realizing that Tang might be onto something and is not just finally losing his mind; decides to also bring in his old friend Sandy.
By this point, they're all too invested in this mystery to NOT figure out the truth.
Que, these three around a conspiracy board with all this red yarn connecting points that really have no connection. When the truth is eventually revealed, it turns out that despite the many theories and ideas, they never actually come to the correct conclusion.
MK finding out what they are doing early on, (four ears benefits) decides to pull out his inner gremlin (inherited from Wukong, with extra drama from Macaque) and just starts doing and saying extra strange things to feed the conspiracy. He even pulls Mei and Red into the chaos, who go along with it because it's funny(Mei) and to make sure the others don't do something dangerous(Red).
There is no way this WON'T spiral out of control and end up as a huge, though absolutely hilarious mess.
Possibly a big enough mess that MK is forced to call in the last resort. His parents. This is how Tang, Pigsy, and Sandy learn who MK actually is, when these two legends after stopping the mess, immediately rush to MK's side and are checking if he is alright and just being worried parents.
MK is just reassuring them like "Baba, Dad I'm fine. This just got a bit out of hand."
Red Son standing behind him next to Mei, bluntly deadpans, "Understatement." As Mei starts cackling at MK's offended sound. Macaque asks what happened and MK reluctantly explains.
The explanation ends with Wukong and Mei laughing hysterically on the ground, Red Son deadpan, Macaque facepalming, and MK standing in the middle nervously rubbing the back of his neck, a little embarrassed.
