Chapter 7: Heavenly Chaos - (1)
Even after a month had passed, Subhuti had not returned.
Led by the eldest disciple, all the disciples gathered in the Cave of the Four Bright Stars to discuss the situation.
“Could something have happened to him on his way back from Xitian?” “Master is not someone who would fall to another so easily.” “A man who commands all kinds of mystical arts and rides on the Somersault Cloud wouldn’t succumb to mere demons so easily...”
As they sat in a circle, voicing their concerns, an anomaly occurred.
Rumble—!!!
A bolt of lightning tore through the dry sky, followed by ominous dark clouds.
A sinister energy rippled across the world. A chill spread down their spines, and an inexplicable sense of unease grew stronger.
Yet, strangely enough, I felt an overwhelming surge of energy.
Which only made me feel more uneasy.
“T-This... What is this feeling?” “What kind of disaster is upon us to make us feel this way?” “The sky... something is happening in the heavens.”
Even the senior disciples, who had mastered the mystical arts and devoted themselves to Buddhism, could not ignore the growing dread. Some hastily pulled out their wooden divination sticks, seeking answers, while others murmured verses from sacred scriptures.
My instincts as a demon were screaming that something terrible had happened. Even when some of the senior disciples attempted to divine the truth, nothing was revealed.
Could this be related to our master’s disappearance?
As I clutched my head in thought, the eldest disciple approached me.
“Hey, Wukong.” “Yes, Eldest Brother?” “I truly hate to ask this of you, but... could you ride your Somersault Cloud to the Heavens and investigate Master’s whereabouts?
Something is terribly wrong.”
I was the only one here capable of reaching the Heavens using the Somersault Cloud.
That must be why he was asking me. But I wasn’t sure if it was wise for a demon like me to step foot in the Heavens.
“P-Please, Wukong. Something has undoubtedly happened to Master.” “Even breathing feels strangely heavy… Could something have befallen the celestial beings?” “I can’t shake this unease. What in the world is going on?”
“Understood. I will go to the Heavens and find out. In the meantime, you all should remain inside the cave.”
With a nod, I chanted a spell and summoned my Somersault Cloud.
Brimming with an inexplicable vitality yet accompanied by an ominous premonition, I soared toward the sky.
Even if the Heavens were to send hundreds of thousands of soldiers against me right now—I was confident I could escape unscathed.
No matter what awaited me, with this much power, I could handle it.
The Heavens, the realm where celestial beings resided, was vast.
It was home to countless divine armies, guardian deities, Buddhas, and celestial immortals.
Thus, normally, if one continued ascending, they would eventually reach the Heavens.
Knowing this principle, I rode my Somersault Cloud ever higher until I soon found the entrance to the celestial realm.
But then…
“Nezha! Why are you attacking me?! Can you not see the Pagoda in my hand?!”
“You speak of that Pagoda as if it were proof of reconciliation? True enlightenment comes from following one’s heart!”
“Jialing Shen! Get a hold of yourself! Why are you—Ahhh!”
“Hurry! Report this to the Heavenly Emperor! The cultivators of the Buddhist path have gone mad!”
Boom! Crackle!
The Heavens were in the midst of war.
All around, the cries and screams of celestial beings filled the air. A warrior with three heads and six arms rampaged wildly.
In one part of the battlefield, an enormous divine general with bloodshot eyes was slaughtering soldiers. Meanwhile, the immortals desperately cast their spells to subdue him.
Even the towering structures that reached beyond the skies were engulfed in flames, the acrid stench of fire and something distinctly demonic filling the air.
Was I seeing things?
What had happened to the Heavens?
Could this be the great calamity that Subhuti had once warned of?
“Kraaahh! Nezha! My son, Nezha!”
“Do not call me your son with that repulsive mouth, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing!”
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King? Nezha?
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.
The Pagoda is a sacred tower used to enshrine the relics of deceased monks. The deity who guards such a tower is Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.
Even I was familiar with the tale of Nezha, his son.
When Nezha was born to Li Jing, he was a prodigious child—so powerful that, as an infant, he played with dragons in the sea.
Fearing his own son, Li Jing attempted to kill Nezha. In response, Nezha tore off his own flesh and bones, returning them to his parents before taking his own life.
His spirit then ascended to Shakyamuni Buddha, who resurrected him using lotus roots and leaves.
Later, when Nezha sought revenge on his father, Shakyamuni Buddha intervened, hoping for reconciliation. As a symbol of peace, Li Jing was given the Pagoda, and so long as he held it, Nezha acknowledged him as his father.
Which meant that…
“W-Why? Why is this happening even though he holds the Pagoda?!”
“The Buddha has enlightened me and told me that I may finally slay you!”
Nezha, attempting to kill Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing despite the Pagoda being present.
From that exchange alone, I could immediately tell something was wrong.
Shakyamuni Buddha, the one who seeks to save all beings, would never command Nezha to kill his own father.
Nezha had lost his mind.
Whoosh! Clang!!!
“Who goes there?!”
The thought struck me, and I immediately stepped in to stop Nezha from driving his sword into the fallen Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.
Even after striking with my Ruyi Jingu Bang, the weapon remained intact. Was this the legendary Demon-Slaying Sword? There was also the Demon-Cleaving Blade.
“Are you Nezha? Say that again. Did you just claim that the Buddha commanded you to kill Li Jing?”
“Monkey demon? Do not interfere in my rightful vengeance!”
He brandished his six weapons and lunged at me ferociously.
That iron cudgel, shaped like a pestle, was the Demon-Subduing Staff. The flaming wheel spewing fire was the Fiery Wheel. And that flying snare was the Demon-Binding Rope...
These were the treasured artifacts wielded by celestial immortals.
Though Nezha charged at me wielding these sacred weapons, I felt no intimidation whatsoever.
“You’ve lost your mind, haven’t you? Let me knock some sense into you with my Ruyi Jingu Bang.”
After all, I was the disciple of Subhuti.
I am the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong.
With his three heads and six arms, Nezha charged fiercely. Any ordinary demon facing him would have been sliced apart in moments.
As one of the most formidable celestial generals in the Heavens, his strikes were sharp and relentless.
With a whoosh, the Demon-Subduing Staff and Demon-Slaying Sword hurtled toward me. I easily parried them with my Ruyi Jingu Bang, but then the Demon-Binding Rope flew toward me, aiming to restrain me.
The Fiery Wheel let out a fierce spinning sound, spewing flames, while the Demon-Cleaving Blade targeted my legs.
“Damn you, monkey! You’re quite nimble!”
But I dodged everything with ease.
“W-What? A monkey demon?!”
“Li Jing, do you mind if I subdue Nezha?”
“...I don’t know who you are, but please, do so!”
Even in the heat of battle, I had time to glance back and get Li Jing’s permission.
Now that I had his approval, and with the situation in Heaven growing dire, it was time to put an end to this quickly.
“Chatting with your enemy mid-battle? Do you dare look down on me, Nezha?!”
Oh, yes, I do, you brat.
Gripping my Ruyi Jingu Bang tightly with both hands, I gathered my strength and struck down the Demon-Slaying Sword as it came flying toward me.
Clang—
The sword was sent tumbling from his grip, crashing powerlessly onto the ground. Nezha’s eyes trembled as he watched his sacred weapon fall.
The Demon-Binding Rope failed to capture me. The flames of the Fiery Wheel were nothing more than a warm breeze.
As I swung my Ruyi Jingu Bang wildly from left to right, from top to bottom, Nezha could barely stand his ground, retreating step by step…
Smack!
A pre-prepared clone of mine swung its Ruyi Jingu Bang, smashing down onto the back of Nezha’s head.
With a groan and foaming at the mouth, the celestial general collapsed unconscious.
Watching all of this unfold, Li Jing turned to me and asked,
“To have taken down Nezha in an instant... Who are you?”
“I am a disciple of Subhuti, the Monkey Demon Sun Wukong. For now, let’s focus on resolving this crisis before we continue our conversation.”
“Understood! You must subdue Jialing Shen and Zixian, one of the Eight Vajra Guardians!”
Li Jing pointed toward a towering warrior who was slaughtering soldiers and a wrathful guardian deity, adorned with a jeweled crown and baring his fangs.
I dashed toward them like lightning, lightly tapping their heads with my Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Both collapsed, subdued instantly.
I still didn’t understand why Nezha, Jialing Shen, and Zixian had gone mad, but they were no match for me.
With Li Jing staggering toward me, I had many questions to ask.
He pressed his hands together in gratitude.
What was this? Wasn’t this the martial arts gesture? I should probably follow suit.
“...Thank you. You say you’re a disciple of Subhuti? Though a demon, you follow the righteous path.”
“My master left to attend Shakyamuni Buddha’s great sermon, yet he has not returned for a month. I came to Heaven to ask why. What is happening here?”
“Hmm... I do not know. My son Nezha has always seen me as his enemy, so that is understandable. But Zixian and Jialing Shen...”
“Think carefully. Nezha mentioned something about the Buddha’s sermon.”
What kind of lunatic Buddha would preach something like that?
Clearly, Nezha had lost his mind, or he had been deceived by a demon impersonating the Buddha.
But why were Zixian and Jialing Shen affected too?
As I pondered, Li Jing bit his lip and spoke gravely.
“Now that you mention it... they all have something in common. They all attended Shakyamuni Buddha’s month-long sermon in Xitian’s Pure Land.”
What... did you just say?”