Still thinking about how before I even listened to the whole albulm I made my version of HIB!LEM ("Zhanzhi") basically Penelope of Ithaca - albeit Dasheng initially believes his wife to have died when the embers flung from Laozi's Furnace struck her and later the land of Alolai below.
Once the situation with Hundun and the kidnapped babies is sorted out; this Sun Wukong is zipping his way to Huagoshan immediately (missing powers or not). He doesn't care if he needs a favour from a dragon, or a sandy river demon, or a disgraced demigod to get home (foreshadowing).
When he does get home, he sees a siege of vile hunters on his kingdom's shores...
"Odysseus" starts playing.
Amongst the bloodshed; the kids are threatened, and Dasheng goes full Baba Monkey King to protect them.
Aside in the field of battle - as they had once before - the Monkey King and the Six Eared Macaque lock gazes. Neither sure if the other is a real or a mere vision.
The fiercesome Great Sage Equal to Heaven bares the neglect of his prison; thin, cold and filthy. The warrior that fought at his and his brotherhood's side, although marred with the burn of True Fire, has strengthened to carry the weight of their kingdom.
Their hearts burn for eachother as they did centuries ago.
"Would You Fall in Love with Me Again?"
The confusion from the King's new companions is palpable, only broken by the confusion shared between the two spiritual monkeys;
Zhanshi: "Why do you have human cubs?" Dasheng: "Why do you have a Egg-shaped Stone?"
One or two accusatory questions are tossed around before the rest of the companions - both the friends Dasheng made along the way home and the loyal Huaguoshan Stalwarts - clear things up.
Seems that both of the island's rulers accidentally became parents without knowledge of the other! XD