61. That Guy I Know.
The pilgrimage of Tang Sanzang was far more perilous than anyone had imagined. It was filled with trials and tribulations. Countless obstacles blocked the way: vast forests, enormous lakes, endless swamps, scorching deserts under the blazing sun, and towering mountain ranges that pierced the sky.
Powerful demons clashed with the Earth Deities, even pushing them aside and claiming their territories to rule like kings. The attacks by demons never ceased, surging like a tidal wave. It wasn't just brute-force demons that charged forward. Cunning demons who used all sorts of tricks to deceive and lure Tang Sanzang were also abundant. If Sun Wukong stepped away for even a moment, Tang Sanzang would immediately fall into danger.
Tang Sanzang's safe journey to India without a single scratch was nothing short of the Buddha's blessing. "It was truly the great blessing of the Buddha."
Tang Sanzang was originally a disciple of the Tathagata in his previous life.
"Yes, the one who was already a Buddha. Yet he became foolish enough to return as a human and spread his teachings among humans." He could have just lived as a Buddha. But because of that guy, he had to go all the way to India.
Sun Wukong grumbled. Myodu-eung smiled bitterly and said,
Even the most impartial Tathagata couldn't just stand by while his most beloved disciple set out on this grueling pilgrimage in a fragile human body.
"You're right. Haji, Ojeong, Baekryong, and I. We all had to protect Tang Sanzang."
Not only that, but all the gods in the Heavenly Court had always watched over Tang Sanzang. Every protection and blessing had been directed toward him.
Sun Wukong stared silently at Myodu-eung without replying. Myodu-eung, feeling the gaze, hesitantly continued.
Indeed. I was also tasked with protecting Tang Sanzang.
"After all..."
Although demons disappeared after U-mawang was captured in the Heavenly Court, one can never be too sure.
"Then you know who Tang Sanzang is."
Sun Wukong's eyes sparkled. But contrary to expectations, Myodu-eung shook his head.
I don't know.
"You don't know? Then how can you protect him?"
I could vaguely sense Tang Sanzang's presence. The flow of spiritual energy around me had completely changed. The only certainty is that it was in the area I govern.
Sun Wukong stared at Myodu-eung. The fact that he could appear in the human world and speak even though he was dead and in the afterlife. That alone made the previous Myodu-eung seem old and powerful.
"Guanyin didn't just casually throw Tang Sanzang into the cycle of reincarnation without thinking."
Sun Wukong twirled his hair. He had placed Sun Wukong's three brothers and Baekryong under Tang Sanzang. He had sent down countless divine protections to safeguard him. Just like then, the Tathagata and Guanyin were still protecting Tang Sanzang.
Perhaps every time Tang Sanzang reincarnated, there was a powerful Earth Deity around him.
"Yes, now it makes sense."
Of course, we can't interfere if Tang Sanzang is harmed by human conflicts.
Sun Wukong understood what he meant. Tang Sanzang had reincarnated as a human. He was living a human life. Experiencing the joys and sorrows of life. A life filled with countless emotions was just life. If he fought with humans and died by the sword, that too was fate, a conclusion written in the book of life and death. He couldn't avoid it.
"The Earth Deity protecting Tang Sanzang is to guard against things like demon attacks. Demons are beings who stray from the rules of the mortal world."
That's right.
Myodu-eung slowly said, half-closing his eyes, as if recalling the past.
Countless evil demons have always disrupted the world and destroyed rules. Just like you did.
"..."
The protectors of all that ignores the principles of nature and the rules of the world are us, the Earth Deities.
After hearing that, Sun Wukong suddenly pulled out his steel rod and slammed it into the ground.
Boom!
A vibration that made the ground tremble as if about to collapse. Myodu-eung's face turned deathly pale.
"I heard what your role as Earth Deities is. Why are you rambling about things you know? I'm curious what you're trying to excuse."
Myodu-eung was momentarily stunned by Sun Wukong's low, deep voice. He stared at Sun Wukong with trembling eyes for a moment. He took a deep breath.
The human soul and spirit can only be influenced by the judges of the underworld. Anything else is straying from the principles and rules. The disappearance of Tang Sanzang's soul is no different.
Sun Wukong gripped the steel rod planted in the ground tightly.
Crunch.
The incredibly dense steel rod, denser than anything in the world, seemed to bend slightly from how hard he was holding it. Sun Wukong growled in a low voice.
"You couldn't do your job properly, Myodu-eung."
Your position is Earth Deity. Your role is to protect Tang Sanzang from beings that stray from the rules.
"I didn't do anything at all."
A faint anger appeared on Sun Wukong's face. Myodu-eung, who read the expression directly, couldn't say a word. His words were choked. His mouth wouldn't open under Sun Wukong's gaze. His tongue felt stiff.
The qi that was protected by spiritual energy suddenly changed. Myodu-eung unconsciously closed his eyes tightly. Clearly, Sun Wukong was a demon now. Not a god from the Heavenly Court, but the Great Sage Sun Wukong standing before him.
Even in this place where I can fully exert all my power as an Earth Deity, I can't even have a slight influence!
This is Myodu-eung's nest. The complete domain of Myodu-eung, the place where the Earth Deity's spiritual energy surges the most. It was shocking. Unbelievable. The protective barriers were gradually breaking down, and in the end, Myodu-eung faced Sun Wukong. The fact that nothing could stop Sun Wukong made his breathing quicken. The gaze of Sun Wukong looking down on him was chillingly cold.
"Myodu-eung. Come on, explain more."
Sun Wukong's voice was different from usual. It wasn't cheerful or laced with laughter. It was just coldly and deeply lowered. Myodu-eung's body trembled. Even though he was already dead in the afterlife.
Great Sage Sun Wukong...!
The fear of death digging into his very soul. Yes, he had heard it from the afterlife. The Yama was rampaging, saying that he had dared to ignore the judges of the underworld and personally judge and destroy two souls. The Yama who had been about to summon the judges of the underworld to drag them up, who had turned white upon learning the culprit's identity, had seen it all.
The judge who can destroy even the soul of the already dead.
The authority and power of the judge of the underworld, all the power held in the hands of the only judge in the Heavenly Court. Myodu-eung's soul in the underworld trembled with fear. The judge had sentenced Myodu-eung for failing his duty and destroying his soul, which was not impossible. Who would dare say otherwise. The Great Sage Sun Wukong, who couldn't be stopped by anyone except the Tathagata, even against the naughty stone monkey. Now he had the authority guaranteed by Guanyin and the Tathagata.
Myodu-eung trembled in the terrible fear that even his soul could be destroyed, and finally opened his mouth.
I have died.
It had changed to the most respectful speech from the opposite side. It wasn't flattery. It was just that his mouth moved on its own.
I fought to protect him. He was not human. Although he wore a human disguise, his soul was definitely an evil demon. A vicious evil demon!
"..."
It was the day of the demon's reincarnation. The one who knew his own previous life. He came straight at me and attacked.
Is he cleaning up around him before capturing Tang Sanzang. Sun Wukong frowned. Even Myodu-eung didn't know who Tang Sanzang was. He only vaguely knew that he was born in the area. Yet the one who knew he was a demon in his previous life, clearly knew who Tang Sanzang was, and attacked after figuring out the Earth Deity's existence? Sun Wukong's mind was getting more tangled. He had guessed, but there was something even more incomprehensible about the villain than expected.
I couldn't win. He was really powerful. It felt like seeing the greatest of the great demons in the demon world.
Sun Wukong relaxed his grip on the steel rod.
I couldn't win. I died like this.
Myodu-eung let his shoulders droop as if he had nothing more to say. Sun Wukong sighed.
I tried to do my job, but it was too much. This is what happens when you're lacking in strength.
It was a lack of power. Sun Wukong glared at Myodu-eung for a long time and said.
"Tell me."
...Yes?
"The guy's face, smell, appearance, build, habits, footsteps, everything."
A flash of light appeared in Sun Wukong's eyes. Myodu-eung's heart seemed to drop with a thud under the burning gaze. Myodu-eung swallowed dryly. This was the first time he had seen Sun Wukong burn with such anger. It made him feel how great the heavenly gods like the Heavenly General Langjin who had opposed Sun Wukong were. Myodu-eung desperately tried to think. The reason he had brought Sun Wukong here. To say everything. Everything he had seen and heard.
He had thoroughly hidden his appearance, delved into the darkness, and even used the mysterious martial arts of humans. His movements were like shadows.
"Shadow."
Sun Wukong put the word "shadow" in his mind. Myodu-eung nodded and continued.
Although it was hard to discern because he hid everything, there was one thing. I remember that he burned the body of this Myodu-eung, who could fly farther and higher than the phoenix for hundreds of years.
"Burned?"
A light flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes. He burned the spiritual body of the Earth Deity. A single word suddenly came to mind. Sun Wukong's lips curled up. His tightly clenched teeth were visible under his lips. A fire that couldn't be escaped even though it didn't burn. There was only one in the world.
"Samadhi True Fire..."
It was the Samadhi True Fire. The hellfire that burns the entire world and even the flesh of the Earth Deity.
Sun Wukong let out a dry laugh involuntarily. Samadhi True Fire. The terrifying flames were rising here. The vicious hellfire that nearly burned even Sun Wukong's golden fur was blazing. Sun Wukong exhaled deeply. His half-closed eyes opened wide. A cold light flowed out.
"That guy I know."
...Probably.
Sun Wukong chuckled. He understood why Myodu-eung had called him. It was a story that could never be buried in the world. Myodu-eung had done his duty well. Sun Wukong spat out a deep breath. A faint anger appeared on his face. Now he knew who it was.
"That little brat dared to bother this uncle of mine."
The Samadhi True Fire technique was the strongest obstacle Sun Wukong had faced on the pilgrimage. But Sun Wukong rather laughed. The image of that young face came to mind.
"But it wasn't his solo act."
Myodu-eung's body trembled once upon realizing the meaning of Sun Wukong's words. The forgotten and vanished past, the era of evil demons, became clear as if appearing before his eyes.
"If it's the Samadhi True Fire, then it's that guy Honghaea."
And...
"Brother..."
A voice suddenly came from Sun Wukong's mouth.
"Brother, please hope that the one who took Tang Sanzang is not you."
A sorrowful light appeared in Sun Wukong's pupils. Honghaea's father, U-mawang. Sun Wukong realized the true identity of the enemy.