From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

Jiang Liu looked towards the western woods and saw two ghost kings emerge. One was green-skinned with red hair and a single horn, while the other was red-skinned with white hair and two horns. Together they carried a sword about two zhang long on their shoulders.

thereafter.

A loud singing voice came from the forest, singing: "What ghosts are there in this world? Demons and monsters all arise from the heart. Demons below the stage and immortals on the stage, what a pair of two faces! Inside the gate is a mess of muddled affairs, outside the gate, who is calling for justice?"

The sun and moon hang in the sky, rising and setting; who holds the power of life and death?

To go against human sentiment and principles, to not strive for fame and fortune, and to not curry favor.

"Draw your sword! Draw your sword! I must distinguish between the pure and the impure!"

This song perfectly captures boundless pride and ambition.

A magnificent tiger, about ten feet tall and three feet long, emerged from the forest, carrying a man about two feet tall on its back. The man had a leopard-like head, bulging eyes, an iron face, and a bushy beard. He raised his head, looked at the river, and said in a voice like thunder, "Where did you wild demons come from? How dare you trespass on Pingding Mountain?"

"You bastard!"

Before Jiang Liu could speak, Bajie couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Judging from your clothes, you're an official, a celestial being from the Heavenly Court. How can you be so blind that you can't even recognize me, the Clean Altar Messenger Bodhisattva appointed by the Buddha of the Western Paradise?"

"Could it be Marshal Tianpeng?"

The man remained riding on the tiger's back, glanced down at Pigsy, and then focused his attention on Jiang Liu, the "chosen one."

"You do have some discernment."

Seeing that he was being ignored, Bajie didn't want to waste any more time arguing with the brat. He snorted and said to Jiang Liu, "Brother, this kid is so big that he doesn't even get off his tiger to pay his respects to you. He's extremely rude."

They've probably allied themselves with that white crane and don't take us seriously anymore!

Instead of forcing him to listen, teach him a lesson and show him that there are always people more capable than himself!

Having said that, he picked up the rake, ready to kill the tiger and teach it a lesson!

Hu Yuan and Hu Jue were enraged to see the black-faced giant riding their own kind on his crotch. Their eyes flashed with bloodlust as they wanted to teach this arrogant "deity" a lesson.

"Don't get angry."

Jiang Liu stood up, persuaded Bajie to stop, and then laughed, “You are a monk, and I am a wandering monk. We are both practitioners, and we do not hold any official positions. Moreover, in terms of status, we cannot be considered ordinary people. We are just hooligans because we have no fixed abode and no family property.”

He was an official.

When people see an official, they must bow down.

What about us scoundrels?

He didn't even reprimand me; that already makes him a refined and good official.

Upon hearing this, the giant riding the tiger's eyelids twitched, finally witnessing just how formidable the legendary Monkey King's "eloquence" truly was.

Insulting without using profanity!

wrong!

That Monkey King, who constantly curses people as "dogs," is quite different from this chosen one...

Chapter 1450 A Disagreement Leads to War

"You monkey, don't try to be clever with your words!"

The giant on the tiger's back roared, jumped down, grabbed his sword, took three steps to Jiang Liu, looked down at him, and asked in a booming voice, "Do you recognize me?"

"Look at what you're saying, young man. We're neither relatives nor old friends with you, so how would we know you?"

Bajie, carrying his rake, muttered, "Do you really think that just because you've become a heavenly official and received offerings from the mortal realm, we have to recognize you? I, Old Pig, am the Clean Altar Messenger Bodhisattva! There are statues of me in temples! You should be the one who recognizes me!"

The giant ignored the pig's boasting and kept his eyes fixed on Jiang Liu.

"I recognize it! I recognize it!"

The river flowed around the giant, circling three times to the left and three times to the right, before leaping up and jumping three times over his head before returning to its original position. Shaking its head, it said, "Aren't you Zhong Kui, who was born in Zhongnan Mountain in Yongzhou and has a narrow mind?"

"Short-tempered?"

When his real name was revealed, Zhong Kui was slightly surprised. He thought to himself that this chosen one was indeed the reincarnation of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, and had the ability to know the past five hundred years. But when he heard him say that he was narrow-minded, his expression suddenly changed, and he roared fiercely, "You monkey are so rude! Since you have heard of my name, you know how upright I am. How can you say that I am petty?"

As for my stature, although I am not as tall as the Giant Spirit or the Four Heavenly Kings, I am still two zhang tall!

The implied meaning.

He is at least superior to Jiang Liu, the chosen one!

"Heh heh, you're quite the judge of appearances, aren't you?" Jiang Liu revealed the root of Zhong Kui's misunderstanding.

"Hmph! Appearance reflects the heart! What's wrong with judging people by their looks?" Zhong Kui glared at Jiang Liu and questioned, "Let me ask you, how can you say I'm petty? If you can't give me a reason, I'll kill you with my sword! To prevent your mouth from causing trouble in the world and turning cause into effect!"

"Turning cause into effect? ​​The immortals and Buddhas of this primordial world are masters of this, and this primordial world itself is a product of 'turning cause into effect'."

Jiang Liu revealed the origin of this primordial world, but said little else. He simply added, "You don't believe me when I say you're petty? I heard your legend when I passed through the Southern Continent."

You once achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations but failed to pass. Your appeals were fruitless, and you had no way to serve your country. In anger, you struck a palace pillar and died. The emperor buried you with the honors due to your status as the top scholar. He appeared in your dream, exorcised the ghost, and cured Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's illness. He bestowed upon you the title of "Holy Lord Who Bestows Blessings and Protects the Home," and issued an edict throughout the land, ordering the widespread display of the "Zhong Kui Bestows Blessings and Protects the Home" painting to protect you from evil spirits and ensure peace.

Because you had no way to serve your country, you committed suicide by crashing into a palace pillar.

Isn't that just being petty?

That's utterly foolish!

If you ask me, that emperor who didn't employ you because of your ugly appearance must be a foolish ruler who only brings disaster to the people. You should raise an army, rebel, seize the capital, and become emperor yourself. Wouldn't that still serve the country?

Upon hearing this, Zhong Kui's eyes widened to the size of copper bells, and his mouth opened wide enough to fit an adult's head. He was so angry that his three corpses exploded and smoke billowed from his seven orifices. He cursed, "You monkey, how arrogant you are! How dare you utter such deceitful and treacherous words!"

Damn!

Damn it!

"hehe!"

Jiang Liu just chuckled twice.

It was because he had already seen through Zhong Kui's true nature.

Upright!

Honest and selfless!

These are all good.

But in the end, he was a loyal subject to his ruler!

Not daring to disobey the emperor, and feeling manipulated, he realized he had no way to serve his country, so he committed suicide by hitting his head against a pillar. He was very strong-willed, but also a bit silly and cute.

In this primordial world, after Zhong Kui died, his obsession remained. He was saved by Taishang and entered the Taoist sect, obtaining the body of a ghost immortal. He fed on ghosts and gained supernatural powers, so he captured and ate ghosts in the mortal world, trying to distinguish between the pure and the impure.

But what is meant by "pure"?

What then is meant by turbidity?

What he wanted to distinguish was the purity and turbidity as defined by the Supreme Being.

Or is it the purity or impurity he defines in his own mind?

I'm afraid even they themselves don't know!

Upon hearing those two laughs, Zhong Kui's brows furrowed. He instinctively sensed that Jiang Liu seemed to be mocking his blind loyalty, and a surge of anger rose within him. However, he acted according to principles, and without discerning whether Jiang Liu was good or evil, he could not take action.

It wasn't that there were any specific rules restricting him, but rather that he had his own path of purity and impurity in his heart. Even though he himself didn't know whether that purity and impurity was defined by the Supreme Being who saved him, or by his own thoughts, there was still a path he was willing to follow. He was unwilling to go against his conscience and directly fight like those demons, immortals, and Buddhas who only relied on strength to dominate.

This is why Jiang Liu would immediately attack any immortals or Buddhas he encountered in Heaven or on Mount Ling.

If you don't see eye to eye, even half a sentence is too much.

As for Zhong Kui—

He was willing to chat a bit more, whether it was teasing or admonishing, hoping that this upright and unyielding man would finally wake up and embark on the true righteous path.

Although Zhong Kui is within the Heavenly Court's system, he is influenced by his surroundings. Even though he is still as upright as he was in his previous life, seemingly distinguishing right from wrong, he is actually making a living for the Supreme Lord!

"A master!"

At this moment, the exquisite ghost cried out, "The treasure you are looking for has been taken away by this monkey and this pig-headed man. We are willing to go to heaven with you to be punished!"

The clever insect chimed in, "They stole our treasure! We're willing to be punished! Punished! Just to save our lives!"

Go to heaven to be punished...

A narrow escape from death.

Five hundred years ago, they were demon soldiers of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn sects. They knew that their two kings came from heaven. If they went to heaven, their two kings would still remember their old friendship, and they might actually be able to save their lives.

But in the hands of this monkey and this pig—

With the monkey's cruel methods of cutting down mountains and burning caves, they are sure to die!

Instantly.

Zhong Kui looked closely and saw the gourd and jade bottle at Bajie's waist. He shouted, "You monkey! I thought you were some great man, but I never expected you to be a treacherous scoundrel who tricked me!"

I will not argue with you; just return the gourd and the vase!

Find your six sense organs!

I distinguish between the pure and the impure!

Let's not bother each other!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu smiled and reached out his hand to Bajie.

The latter handed over the clean bottle and gourd.

Jiang Liu tied the two treasures to his left and right sides and said with a smile, "Back then, my great-grandfather, the Great Sage, exchanged a gourd that could hold the sky for these two treasures that could hold people from these clever ghosts and nimble insects. He even swore to the heavens that if he went back on his word, he would be plagued by plague all year round."

I am a descendant of the Great Sage, and it is only right that I inherit the treasures he obtained from the clever ghost and the nimble insect.

Therefore.

These two treasures already belong to the Sun family.

Hearing such shameless words, Zhong Kui was so angry that he drew his twelve-foot-long sword and shouted, "You silver-tongued monkey, today I will kill you!"

Without a word, a sword slashed down, its cold light gleaming in the sun, aimed straight at Jiang Liu's head.

"How dare you!"

Pigsy became angry and swung his rake to block the sword.

The brothers Hu Yuan and Hu Jue were not to be outdone. Fearing that Bajie would steal the credit, they drew their monk's knives and charged at Zhong Kui, determined to kill the iron-faced, black-haired man once again.