Five Hundred Years East of the River, Five Hundred Years West-Never Bully a Young Monkey!

"Hey, is that dozing fool really Sun Wukong?"

"Must be. A furry face and a thunder-god's mouth—he looks about like the rumors say."

"Tsk, look at him sleeping like a dead pig. Where's the cleverness in that?"

"He's just a wild monkey that sprang from a crack in a rock. What could he know?"

"Shh! He may not know much, but I heard that Mischievous Monkey's cultivation has reached the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. We'd better be careful and not let him get away."

"Right, right. Let's hook his soul first. Luckily, the Soul-Hooking Lock the Buddhist Sect gave us is empowered by Tathagata's Dharma Seal. It can hook even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!"

"Enough talk. If we botch this assignment, Judge Cui will skin us alive!"

At that very moment, two sinister-looking Ghost Soldiers stood before the sleeping Sun Wukong. One had a bull's head and a human body, eyes as big as bronze bells, and steam puffing from his nostrils. The other had a horse's face, a long mane, and tusks just showing beneath his lips, with a chilling wind swirling around him.

These two were the infamous soul-capturing duo of the Netherworld: Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

Ox-Head flicked his wrist. A dim blue light flashed between his fingers, and a jet-black chain engraved with incantations shot out, latching onto Sun Wukong's brow in an instant.

The chain quivered slightly, and a hazy spirit was forcibly drawn from his body.

Horse-Face had already opened a black cloth sack. The Soul-Binding Rope coiled like a snake, wrapping the soul up tight.

Sun Wukong's soul was dragged along, stumbling and lurching until it drifted down outside a gloomy ghost city. A cold wind howled, and the alcohol haze cleared at once.

He opened his eyes, still groggy, and saw a rusty iron plaque hanging above the towering gray-black city walls. Six characters, carved into the metal, sent a chill through him:

"Underworld City of Fengdu"

At the sight, the Handsome Monkey King sobered up completely. Understanding dawned on him:

Just as I thought. I read Journey to the West at my master's place long ago.

This trouble in the underworld was part of Old Sun's fate.

The Buddhist Sect is probably behind this scheme too!

Hmph, Tathagata! Five hundred years east of the river, five hundred years west—never bully a young monkey!

Old Sun has already reached the realm of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. I'm no longer within the Three Realms or among the Five Elements, and my lifespan is equal to Heaven and Earth. How could a few strokes in the King of Hell's Book of Life and Death decide my fate? Unless some great power is pulling the strings, even King Yama wouldn't dare pluck a single hair from my head.

Fortunately, Old Sun is sharp and always careful. Ever since I began cultivating, whenever I slept or dozed off, I left a clone behind on the surface while my true body hid inside a barrier.

What Ox-Head and Horse-Face have dragged away is nothing but a wisp of my clone's soul. Let's see what tricks you've got up your sleeve, Netherworld Ghostly Manor!

As it turned out, ever since Sun Wukong had read Journey to the West, he'd known that the various Saints were scheming against him, so he'd always acted with caution.

Unaware of the truth, Ox-Head and Horse-Face escorted the soul through the ghostly path, where sinister winds swept through, straight toward the pitch-black Yama Hall.

Inside the hall, more than a dozen Yin Iron Pillars supported the roof, while the candle flames flickered like blood.

Seated high at the front was the ruler of the underworld, King Yama. His face was black as lacquer, and he sat in silence with his eyes closed.

Judge Cui stood to one side, holding the Book of Life and Death and the Reincarnation Brush.

Black and White Impermanence stood on either side.

A hundred Ghost Soldiers stood in orderly ranks, their bells ringing as a chilling aura filled the hall.

Judge Cui cast a cold glance at Sun Wukong, his voice wrapped in frost:

"Sun Wukong, Stone Monkey of Flower-Fruit Mountain in Aolai, Eastern Continent of Divine Sands. Your lifespan was three hundred and forty-two years, and it has run out. You must enter the cycle of reincarnation at once. Do you object?"

At his words, the hundred shadowy eyes in the hall all turned toward Sun Wukong.

Only now was the underworld's little play finally getting underway.

Sun Wukong saw through it all, but put on an innocent, bewildered look. He sneered inwardly:

If Old Sun flies into a rage, smashes this Yama Hall, and tears the underworld apart, that's exactly what the Saints are trying to provoke.

It's only a wisp of my soul, anyway. Let's see how you play this out!

So he remained perfectly calm, clasped his hands, and answered politely, imitating a mortal:

"Life and death are fated, and reincarnation is only proper. Old Sun has no complaints. I'll leave everything to your arrangements."

But the moment those words left his mouth, all the actors in Yama Hall were dumbstruck!

That wasn't right!

Had this monkey picked up the wrong script!?

NG! Start over!

King Yama's eyes snapped open. A flicker of suspicion crossed his ghostly blue gaze, and he whispered to Judge Cui:

"Has this monkey really lost his mind? He's a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. His lifespan should be equal to Heaven and Earth. How could he actually believe his time's up?"

Judge Cui was just as baffled:

"He does seem a little dim... Maybe the sight of the ghost halls in the underworld has frightened his soul out of its wits?"

"Don't rush. Let him come to his senses and see what he does next."

"Very well. We'll play it by ear."

At King Yama's command, Judge Cui closed the Book of Life and Death, cleared his throat, and put on a friendly smile:

"Someone, bring him a seat and serve him tea."

Several little demons with green faces and fangs hurried over with a carved blackwood chair. They lit a ghost-flame lamp and brought over a steaming bowl of tea, placing it in Sun Wukong's hands.

Judge Cui smiled broadly:

"Good monkey, there's no need to rush into reincarnation. Think it over carefully. If you're reborn, all your past cultivation will be lost and your memories wiped clean. If you're careless and end up as a bird or a beast, you'll regret it for the rest of your life..."

Sun Wukong lifted the tea, took a sip, and smacked his lips.

"Not bad. Old Sun follows the rules. I'll go along with whatever you arrange, so hurry up and get things moving. No need to waste time."

At that, Judge Cui nearly threw out his back. King Yama couldn't help coughing twice, secretly wiping away a bead of cold sweat.

Seeing this, King Yama simply dropped his stern facade, his voice turning sweet and coaxing:

"Sun Wukong, I hear you've cultivated a Grand Unity Golden Immortal's body and become as long-lived as Heaven. If you're willing to have your name struck from the Book of Life and Death, the underworld will never seek you out again. You'd be free to live as you please, without restraint. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

King Yama coaxed him patiently, his tone dripping with temptation!

He was certain Sun Wukong was just an ignorant Rogue Immortal.

He'd fall for it, without a doubt!

At once, Judge Cui understood. He flipped to a page in the Book of Life and Death and laid the Reincarnation Brush on it, his voice soft enough to melt:

"With just one stroke, you and all the monkeys on Flower-Fruit Mountain can escape the suffering of reincarnation. Your descendants will endure for generations, never dying out. Doesn't that tempt you?"

"Here, look! Page seventeen thousand eight hundred and sixteen!"

"I've already found it for you! This page has the names of every monkey demon on Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

"All you have to do is make one little stroke, and every one of these monkeys will be free from reincarnation..."

In an instant, countless shadowy figures in the hall fixed their eyes on the monkey, holding their breath as they waited for him to reach out!

Monkey!

Get angry!

Roar!

Pick up the Reincarnation Brush and the Book of Life and Death. Strike out the names! Raise hell!

You're the star of this show!!!

But the next moment!!!

Smash!

The teacup shattered!

Sun Wukong shot to his feet, his fur bristling and golden light blazing in his eyes. He pointed at King Yama and Judge Cui and roared:

"Old Sun is heartbroken beyond words—furious beyond measure!"