Chapter 6 : Peng Demon King
“That’s... The truth is, the situation in the Eastern Victory Dongsheng Shenzhou hasn’t been great lately... I, too, was driven from my home by another demon... If the merciful Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal would accept me, I’d like to stay here...”
Yeah. Let’s leave Hunshi Demon King alone for now.
Nothing major should come of it. More importantly, maybe it’s time to return to my master, Patriarch Subhuti, and continue training in magic techniques.
Even falling off the cliffs of Spirit Fangcun Mountain and summoning my Somersault Cloud is turning into a useful exercise.
Just as I was considering returning to the Southern Jambudvipa, a massive monkey came rushing in.
“Ookikikik!
“Great King! A giant bird has invaded! He calls himself something like Peng Demon King!”
Peng Demon King?
One of the seven great demons whom the original Sun Wukong acknowledged as equals and swore brotherhood with?
But demons always go around calling themselves kings and rulers, so I can’t be sure.
Even before I became the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal, the monkeys kept babbling nonsense about “Golden-Furred Monkey King” and other such titles.
“Everyone, take shelter inside Water Shuilian Cave. I’ll go out and check.”
Grabbing my Ruyi Jingu Bang, I summoned my Somersault Cloud and rode it out of Water Shuilian Cave.
Sure enough, a colossal Peng had landed in front ofHuaguo Mountain.
The enormous bird made no effort to conceal its overwhelming demonic aura. It fixed its blazing, piercing gaze on me.
Each time it flapped its wings, its massive feathers rained down, crushing the trees ofHuaguo Mountain beneath their weight.
What are you staring at?
“Are you the so-called Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal who has taken roost here?”
“‘Roost’ is your word, but yeah, I’m the Great Sage.”
“The Monkey King? Hah, what a pitiful sight. One strong flap of my wings, and I could send this entire mountain flying.”
Yeah. That’s just how things work in the demon world.
If they sense weakness, they devour you. If they sense strength, they cower.
And if that thing really starts flapping its wings here, the monkeys will be slaughtered.
Fighting a Great Peng of that size means that, win or lose,Huaguo Mountain and Water Shuilian Cave will be reduced to rubble.
Fighting in a place I need to protect is a disadvantage.
It’s better to intimidate and drive it away instead.
I steeled my mind, gathered my spiritual power, and spoke.
“Let’s see if you can really blow me away along with the mountain.”
“Hah! A mere rat like you?”
Titanic Form Technique.
Reciting the incantation correctly, my body swelled larger and larger—so did my Ruyi Jingu Bang.
As I grew, the Peng Bird’s eyes widened slightly, and it took a step back.
When my head reached the clouds, allowing me to look the Peng Bird directly in the eyes, it spread its vast wings.
Swinging my Ruyi Jingu Bang, I unleashed a surge of demonic energy. The bird scowled, seemingly irritated.
“Go ahead. Try flapping your wings.”
Under Patriarch Subhuti, I learned countless spells. I can shrink to the size of a fly or expand to reach the mountains and stars.
It may not be the pinnacle of divine transformations, but if it’s just to threaten this overgrown bird, this should be enough.
The giant bird’s beak opened slightly, unleashing a fierce vortex.
Of course, to beings of our size, it was merely a gust of wind.
“Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal, I have no intention of fighting you. Calm yourself.”
“Then why have you come here? Are the rumors about me spreading so far that even the Peng Bird is listening?”
Luckily, my bluff worked. No signs of hostility.
“You seem to be quite a powerful demon yourself. Have you not sensed the shift in the currents?”
“What do you mean?”
“The heavens are falling, and the age of demons is coming.”
...What nonsense is this?
The Peng Bird continued speaking.
“The laws of the world, once tilted toward the heavens, are shifting toward us—toward those who have long been oppressed.”
“...Could you speak plainly?”
“Even your minions down below are no longer mere monkey demons. Just look at yourself.”
So, demons are growing stronger more easily?
Here, demons are not highly regarded. They possess power greater than humans, but that’s about it.
Some demons are fallen celestial beasts, cast down from heaven. Others were once divine beings, punished and exiled to the mortal realm.
“I have traveled across the world and witnessed many things. I came here merely out of curiosity, so don’t be so quick to anger. Unless... you truly intend to fight me to the death?”
“...If you have no intention of invadingHuaguo Mountain, then I have no reason to fight you.”
“Hmph. I am no celestial general, nor do I wish to fight my fellow demons.”
If I had looked weak, this guy would have devouredHuaguo Mountain whole.
First Hunshi Demon King, and now this. IsHuaguo Mountain cursed or something?
“If you ever feel like joining me, come to the Southern Abyss! A demon as strong as you will always be welcome!”
“Southern Abyss? The Celestial Pond?”
Whooosh—
The Peng Bird flapped its wings with great force, whipping up a violent storm aroundHuaguo Mountain.
You crazy bastard. You’ll blow my whole mountain away!
I hastily summoned a counter-wind spell, colliding my gust with the Peng Bird’s.
The bird let out a long cry before soaring into the sky.
Even if I rode my Somersault Cloud, I’d be nothing compared to the speed of that monstrous bird.
A creature said to fly 90,000 li in a single day, tearing through the heavens—
The other birds scattered in fear, diving for cover as it streaked across the sky.
That speed... truly remarkable.
It’s already gone from sight.
‘Peng flies ten thousand li in an instant.’
A Peng.
A bird born from the transformation of Kun, the great fish of the cold northern sea.
Said to live on nothing but spider silk and bamboo fruit, spreading its wings across three thousand li.
This one’s strength and presence were no joke.
I don’t know much, but Peng Demon King’s insight isn’t likely inferior to mine.
IfHuaguo Mountain’s monkeys really are growing as strong as gorillas, and this is some kind of omen…
Could it have anything to do with my master taking me in and teaching me magic?
* * *
The Peng Bird had left, and as I shrank my body back down from the Titanic Form Technique, the monkeys erupted into cheers.
Hunshi Demon King was banging his head against the ground repeatedly—at this rate, he might end up creating a crater.
Not that I care about a demon’s thick skull.
“Ookikik! Ooki!!! Ookikik!”
“The Great King has driven away the giant bird!”
“Long live the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal!”
“As expected of the Great King! Even someone who looked that strong tucked his tail and ran!”
Listening to the gorilla-like monkeys cheering in their monkey cries filled me with a strange sense of unease.
No, really... Is it normal for something that looks like a gorilla to sound like a monkey?
“I get it, so quiet down. I’m heading back to Southern Jambudvipa for now.”
I halfheartedly calmed down the screeching monkeys, who whined about me leaving so soon, and summoned my Somersault Cloud.
The Peng Demon King’s words, my master’s divination, and the strengthened monkeys ofHuaguo Mountain—is something really about to happen?
“I’ll return once I’ve fully mastered my magic in Southern Jambudvipa. Until then, take care of yourselves.”
I should ask Master Subhuti if he can divine the future once more.
The words of the Peng Demon King and my master’s foreboding prophecy seem to be drawing closer.
“Great King! Leave this place to us and go without worry!”
“Don’t worry about us!”
This has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the monkeys have started looking more and more like gorillas.
With that, I rode my Somersault Cloud and returned to my cave in Southern Jambudvipa.
Passing by the inscription ‘Cave of the Four Bright Stars’ at the entrance, I searched for my master.
Then, a senior disciple whose name I couldn’t remember approached me.
“Disciple Sun, are you looking for Master?”
“Yes, senior brother.”
“Master left a while ago, saying he was going to attend Buddha Shakyamuni’s Dharma lecture.”
“Buddha Shakyamuni’s Dharma lecture?”
Now that I think about it, I remember hearing that Buddha Shakyamuni often gathers his disciples to give lectures.
I’d like to attend one someday. What kind of teachings does he share?
Come to think of it, I’ve never even met the famous Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva , Manjusri Bodhisattva, Supreme Lord Lao, or Erlang Shen.
I’d really like to meet some of the prominent figures of Buddhism and Daoism.
Maybe I should ask Master to take me to the Heavenly Realm next time.
“Yes. It’s one of the Dharma lectures held periodically in the Western Pure Land. I’ve heard that sometimes the lectures go on for quite a while...”
I nodded absentmindedly as I listened to my senior brother’s explanation.
But wait, if it’s the Western Pure Land, then isn’t that the place where the original Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang arrived when retrieving the Buddhist scriptures?
“Did Master mention when he’d return?”
“Buddha Shakyamuni finished his last lecture not too long ago, so this time he should be back within a week.”
“A week, huh? That’s not too long. Thank you, senior brother.”
“Think nothing of it. If you’re really grateful, why not show me a transformation technique? Haha!”
Though he said that, he quickly left to continue his Buddhist training.
Unlike me, who had learned hundreds of spells, the other disciples of Patriarch Subhuti had only mastered one or two techniques.
Well, humans do have their natural limits…
For the next week, I focused on training, riding my Somersault Cloud around the Cave of the Four Bright Stars.
After spending an entire week living atop the clouds, I felt like I had finally become proficient in cloud-riding magic.
But Master still hadn’t returned.
“Senior brothers, Master hasn’t come back yet.”
“Perhaps he stayed behind to speak with Buddha Shakyamuni’s other disciples?”
“Maybe...”
And then, two weeks passed.
Still, Master had not returned.
Could something have happened to him?
“Senior Brother, are you sure Master really left for Buddha Shakyamuni’s Dharma lecture?”
“Of course, Disciple Sun. Here, Master even left a letter before departing.”
The delicate strokes of Patriarch Subhuti’s writing emanated a faint spiritual energy.
It clearly stated that he would return within a week after attending the Dharma lecture.
Maybe I should wait a little longer.
Then, a month passed.
By now, everyone sensed that something was wrong.