Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Boom!

A bizarre rumbling sounded in the sky of the Netherworld, and the faces of the nine Yama Kings atop the ruined Senluo Hall changed simultaneously, horrified, they looked up at the sky above.

"Divine thunder rumbles, the Two Realms are sealed... Oh no, that bastard King Qin Guang!"

Yama King abruptly stood up and rushed to the corpse of the left Judge, and after checking, his expression grew even uglier, "As expected, the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn is missing!"

"What happened?"

Sun Wukong also furrowed his brow, sensing the unusual fluctuations in the Netherworld, but not understanding what exactly it was.

"King Qin Guang has used the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn and the Book of Life and Death. All the passages between the Netherworld and the World of the Living have been sealed, now you can enter but cannot leave!"

Yama King gave a bitter smile, and the expressions of the other Yama Kings were not looking good either.

"Can enter but cannot leave? What do you mean? Explain it clearly to me, old Sun!"

Sun Wukong instantly flared up, leaping forward to Yama King, grabbing him by the collar, and glaring menacingly at him, "Speak!"

"Immortal, the one who sealed the passages between the two realms is King Qin Guang; getting angry at me is useless!"

Yama King weakly smiled and pleaded, "Please, Immortal, calm your anger, let me go, and listen to my explanation slowly!"

"Fine, old Sun will give you a chance to explain, but you better give me a satisfactory answer, otherwise, don't blame old Sun for tearing down your Netherworld!"

Sun Wukong snorted coldly, his anger not fully subsided as he released his hold, turned, and sat down by a desk that was missing a leg, throwing one leg over the other, he coldly swept his gaze over the nine Yama Kings, waiting for their explanation.

Yama King sighed in relief, wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead, and after exchanging few glances with the other Yama Kings, he shook his head with a wry smile, "I wonder if the Immortal has heard of the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn?"

"The Human Book, one of the three books of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, old Sun has naturally heard of it! When combined, they form a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure; separately, each is a superior-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. The Book of Life and Death controls the cycle of life and death for all beings who haven't reached the Earth Immortal Realm.

The Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn can alter the Book of Life and Death and is also a powerful divine weapon. However, old Sun has already transcended the three disasters and achieved an immortal body, rightfully outside your Netherworld's jurisdiction. Why then is old Sun's name still in the Book of Life and Death, and why did you send those two ghost messengers to reap old Sun's soul?"

Sun Wukong said, lifting his eyes. The records in the Scripture Pavilion of the Three-Star Cave about the divine treasures and other matters within the Three Realms were very clear. He hadn't thought much about it before, but now he felt there was something very peculiar about this situation.

"Immortal, your extensive knowledge and literary breadth, impresses me!"

A hint of amazement flashed in Yama King's eyes; Sun Wukong's understanding of the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn was profoundly deep!

Initially, Yama King had thought to find an excuse to placate Sun Wukong and keep him stable. But now, it seemed that any lie would be exposed the moment it was spoken, and when this monkey flew into a rage, there might be no one present who could stop him!

He sighed, Yama King decided to tell the truth, "However, Immortal might not know that this Human Book, as the treasure that governs our Netherworld, is not merely as simple as an Innate Spiritual Treasure!"

Sun Wukong's eyes suddenly narrowed, his expression turned solemn, and he did not interrupt Yama King, nodding for him to continue.

"The Human Book was born together with the Netherworld. The Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn combined can control the barrier between the Netherworld and the World of the Living. The fluctuation just now was the sign of the sealing of the great formation of the barrier between the two worlds, sealing all the passages from the Netherworld to the Mortal Realm."

A glint of cold light flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes, and he clenched his fist suddenly: "You mean, old Sun can't go back?"

"Not just you, Immortal. Right now, no one in this Netherworld can cross the barriers between the worlds to the World of the Living, not the Soul-Reaping Messengers, nor I or my fellow kings. Only souls from the World of the Living entering the Netherworld are unrestricted. This is what I meant by there being entry but no exit..."

Yama King's voice trailed off, with only sighs remaining, and the other Yama Kings also had bitter smiles on their faces.

"Entry but no exit..."

Sun Wukong's temples twitched, "According to what you said, Yama King, if we get the two Spiritual Treasures, the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn and the Book of Life and Death, can the seals be undone?"

Yama King and the other Yama Kings exchanged a look, all shook their heads and laughed bitterly, making Sun Wukong's eyelids twitch again: "What, it won't work?"

"Immortal, once the Human Book is activated, it's not so easy to unseal..."

"Hmm?"

Sun Wukong's brow shot up, and Yama King hurriedly corrected himself, "It's not that there's absolutely no way, but right now, we must first retrieve the Judge's Brush of Spring and Autumn and the Book of Life and Death, otherwise, there indeed is no hope..."

"Then old Sun will go get the Human Book back himself!"

Before Yama King's words had completely faded, Sun Wukong's figure had already vanished in a flash, leaving only a cold snort echoing through the dilapidated hall.

"Yama King, where do you think King Guang will hide?"

Seeing that Sun Wukong had disappeared, King Biancheng approached Yama King, his face filled with worry, and asked.

"What do you think? In this Netherworld, is there any place safer than that lord's abode?"

Yama King gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "I'm afraid the chaos in the Netherworld is far from over. Oh well, these matters are now beyond our control; let's just wait and see how things unfold!"

"Yes, we can only wait and see now, but truly, the events of today shouldn't have happened—it's indeed strange!"

"Strange? Perhaps, it's just someone's game of chess, and we have all become mere pawns within it…"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"..."

Above the ruins of the Senluo Hall in the City of Unjust Deaths, the nine great Yama Kings and the Right Judge, among other Netherworld officials, fell into a thoughtful silence. Perhaps, they had really become mere pawns...

Inside the First Hall of the Netherworld.

"Swoosh!"

Sun Wukong's figure appeared in the hall's rear chamber. It was his first time here in this life, but in his past life, he had visited countless times. Familiar with the layout, he arrived without delay, but it seemed he was still a step too late; King Guang's figure was nowhere to be found.

"King Guang is quite the runner!"

Sun Wukong's eyebrows furrowed slightly; he had rushed to the First Hall immediately, yet he was still a step behind.

With a flicker of gold in his eyes, the Void-Breaking Divine Eye opened. Sun Wukong glanced around the rear chamber, abruptly froze, then returned his gaze to the statue of Yama Heavenly Son. A cold, harsh smile appeared on the corners of his mouth.

"So, the Book of Life and Death is kept here…"

The gold in Sun Wukong's eyes faded, but his pupils turned golden. An invisible gray line spread from the statue of Yama Heavenly Son, extending out of the rear chamber. This was the tracking ability of the Void-Breaking Divine Eye. All extraordinary treasures radiate a unique aura that normal means cannot track, but the Void-Breaking Divine Eye could clearly see it.

Since King Guang had not taken the Book of Life and Death long ago, the unique aura emanating from it had not yet dissipated; Sun Wukong's Void-Breaking Divine Eye could track it. Without delay, he activated the Shrinking Earth into Inches and followed the trail he saw.

In the Netherworld, at the boundary of the Eighteen Levels of Hell, on the banks of Hell's Yellow Springs, stood a temple—the Ksitigarbha Temple of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.

At that moment, inside the Ksitigarbha Temple, besides Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and Deva, there was another uninvited guest, King Guang of the Ten Yama Kings.

"Bodhisattva, that Demon Monkey wreaked havoc in the City of Unjust Deaths under the power of his divine abilities, destroying countless and causing many ghost soldiers and underworld officials to perish. Fearing his escape, I reluctantly used the Judge's Spring and Autumn Pen and the Book of Life and Death to seal all passages to the Mortal Realm.

The Demon Monkey cannot escape and will surely come after me. Please, use your divine powers to capture him!"

King Guang humbly knelt before Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, accusing Sun Wukong of his evil deeds while cleansing himself of any blame.

"King Guang, did you say you used the Human Book to seal the Netherworld?"

Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha raised his head and glanced at King Guang, a hint of sharpness flashing in his eyes as he lightly said, "The Human Book concerns the stability of the entire Netherworld. This is a grave matter; how could you be so bold?"

"Bodhisattva, it was only to capture that Demon Monkey that I resorted to such measures. Please lend your help!"

King Guang's heart clenched, and he stubbornly spoke, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. Did Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha already know the full story?

"Is that really so?"

There was a strange smile on the corners of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's mouth, making King Guang's scalp tingle, yet he still refused to back down. Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, originally from the Western Heaven, had taken the vow "until the hells are emptied, I shall not become a Buddha" and was conferred by the Jade Emperor as Ksitigarbha King, presiding over the Netherworld.

Now that the Netherworld was in trouble, as long as King Guang didn't confess, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha would not allow Sun Wukong to trouble him. King Guang was clear about this, hence his refuge in Ksitigarbha Temple.

"King Guang! Come out and face your old Sun!"

Just as he was about to persuade Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha further, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the temple. King Guang immediately shuddered—Sun Wukong had found him! Damn it, how did that Demon Monkey know his location and arrive so quickly?

"Bodhisattva, you see, I said that the Demon Monkey would not rest until he found me! He will surely chase me here! You must stand by me and not let him act arrogantly and recklessly in our Netherworld!"

In desperation, King Guang bowed again to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.

"Very well, I shall accompany you outside to see!"