"Damn it all! Old Sun is heartsick!"
Sun Wukong looked at King Yama as though bitterly disappointed in him.
"Back then, Empress Houtu sacrificed herself to open the Six Paths of Reincarnation, saving all living beings and benefiting countless lives!"
"And you? Every last one of you has a hidden agenda! You know the law, yet you break it. How dare you undermine the reincarnation of all living beings?"
"Is there no justice?"
"Is there no law?"
The Handsome Monkey King's aura surged. Golden clouds seemed to gather behind him as his voice shook the ghostly hall.
"Think about sustainability. If every monkey on Flower-Fruit Mountain lived forever, one would become two, two would become four, and their descendants would multiply without end! In ten million years, wouldn't they eat the entire Primordial Continent bare?"
"Think about ecological balance. We monkeys need to protect the environment and conserve resources too. Flower-Fruit Mountain's green hills and clear waters are its true treasure! If every monkey lived forever, it would destroy the ecological balance and devastate other species!"
"And think about personal ambition. Old Sun crossed the seas in search of immortals and the Dao. After more than ten years of hardship, I finally mastered the art of eternal life! But the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain would gain immortality without enduring any hardship. Handing it to them would only breed laziness. They'd give up, do nothing, and drift through life! A monkey without the drive to better himself might as well be a walking corpse!"
"We cannot sacrifice the happiness of future generations for a moment's pleasure!"
King Yama and Judge Cui stared at him, speechless in the face of this grand lecture.
The Ghost Soldiers were just as dumbstruck. They blinked their wide eyes at Sun Wukong in disbelief.
What the hell?
This isn't how the script goes... again!
How does this monkey know so much?
He's got an argument for everything!
King Yama found himself nodding along. He almost wanted to rush over, seize Sun Wukong's hand, and shout:
"A kindred spirit!"
"After all these years, a monkey finally understands the work we do in the underworld!"
"Reincarnation is the greatest blessing a living being can receive!"
But King Yama couldn't say any of it. He didn't dare. Instead, he turned and blinked furiously at Judge Cui.
Old Cui, this monkey's a better actor than we are! Think of something, quick!
Judge Cui was stunned too.
If the scene had followed even a shred of the script,
he could have improvised and kept the show going.
But the monkey had gone completely off-script!
For fuck's sake!
An unruly monkey is one thing. An educated one is far worse!
Old Ancestor Bodhi!
What the hell did you teach this monkey!?
Sun Wukong's performance now reached its climax. His face twisted with grief as he pointed at Judge Cui and King Yama, righteous indignation ringing in his voice.
"King Yama, you rule the underworld, yet you lead the way in breaking its laws! How do you answer for that?!"
"Judge Cui, as his assistant, you've helped him commit these crimes! Your guilt is beyond measure!"
"Old Sun is deeply troubled by how the underworld is run!"
"Your lack of principle grieves Old Sun even more!"
"And Old Sun is terribly worried about the underworld's future!"
"Old Sun's heart... aches!"
Faced with Sun Wukong's righteous accusations, King Yama opened his mouth but couldn't force out a single rebuttal. His face turned pale, then flushed. It felt as though a mouthful of blood was stuck in his chest.
All he could do was curse through gritted teeth in his mind.
Troubled, my ass!
What the hell are you grieving for?
Worried about what, you hairy bastard?
Your heart aches? Bullshit!
Around him, everyone from Judge Cui to the lowliest ghost stared in disbelief.
What's going on?
This isn't in the script!
We're supposed to be the actors here!
Why does it feel like this monkey's better at it than we are?
Cold sweat broke out on the Ghost Soldiers' foreheads as the same thought crossed their minds.
Heavens!
This monkey's acting is unbelievable!
If the Three Realms ever gave out an award for best actor, we'd vote for him. Give the monkey a golden statuette!
Sun Wukong's "acting" was so outrageous that a few sentences had left the entire underworld helpless.
Seeing the ghosts exchange glances, none daring to move, King Yama finally shot Judge Cui a furious look and made up his mind.
Fine. Very well! You want to act? Then we'll see this through. Let's see what kind of trouble you can stir up! Don't think I can't keep one monkey in line!
He exchanged a knowing glance with Judge Cui, then spoke in a low voice.
"Sun Wukong, since your principles are so lofty, good! Guards, take him to the Six Paths of Reincarnation and have him reborn at once!"
The words had barely left his mouth when four or five cold-faced Ghost Soldiers stepped forward with iron chains, reaching from all sides to drag Sun Wukong toward reincarnation.
But every one of them was nervous. Are we really going to push this Mischievous Monkey in? Will he actually agree to be reborn? As if! He'll probably turn everything upside down!
King Yama was just as uncertain. Afraid that any delay would bring trouble, he followed with Judge Cui to make sure nothing went wrong.
Sun Wukong, however, remained unruffled. He ambled along with the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.
For me, this is only a wisp of my clone's soul!
Even if it enters reincarnation, it'll vanish without a trace in an instant!
Old Sun has nothing to lose. Why would I fear you lot?
The Ghost Soldiers escorted Sun Wukong down the dark path to the underworld, past swathes of red-glowing spider lilies. The flowers were in full bloom, and petals settled on his shoulders. He couldn't be bothered to brush them off. Whistling and bobbing his head, he looked more like a monkey out for a stroll.
Before long, they reached the Bridge of Helplessness. Mist curled around its entrance. A slender woman leaned against the stone railing, holding a bronze ladle as she quietly tended a pot of Meng Po's Soup. White steam rose from its eerie, roiling surface.
A light veil covered her face, revealing only a pair of cool eyes. A vermilion mark adorned her brow. Graceful in figure, she carried an air of aloofness.
She was the new Meng Po, named Sanqi.
"Drink a bowl of Meng Po's Soup, and your past will fade like smoke. No ties will follow you into your next life."
Sanqi slowly ladled out a bowl. White steam curled from it, carrying every sweet, sour, bitter, and painful taste of life.
She raised her eyes to Sun Wukong and held out the bowl.
"Here, monkey. Drink."
King Yama and Judge Cui stood nearby and exchanged cold smiles.
Go on, monkey. Weren't you putting on a show?
Let's see you keep up the act now!
Go ahead. Keep the performance going!
We'd like to see you dare to drink Meng Po's Soup!
They were certain Sun Wukong would finally lash out and wreak havoc in the underworld.
But Sun Wukong didn't even glance at them. Without a word, he took the bowl and raised it to his lips!
King Yama's and Judge Cui's hearts nearly leapt into their throats. Their cold smiles froze.
You've got to be kidding!
If the monkey drinks that, we're in serious trouble!
He's a pawn of the Buddhist School, tied to the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West and the Buddhist School's rise to prominence!
If he really enters reincarnation, those people from the Buddhist School will tear the underworld apart!
Before you continue