Journey to the West 015

The villagers appearing in the dream this time were already numb. In the broad daylight, facing the bear demon that had begun to move again, they didn't even think of resisting, only mechanically begging for mercy. Fang Zhiyi did not listen, executing them one by one as before.

Some still survived. These people seized the chance to conspire, throwing caution to the wind.

While Fang Zhiyi was dealing with the others, they took action.

A Cui was combing her grandmother's hair when villagers burst through the door and grabbed her arm. The grandmother, fumbling, stood up to block them, but a villager pushed her to the ground: "Out of the way, old blind woman!"

A Cui struggled. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

"What are we doing? Handing you over to the demon to buy our lives!" a villager said viciously, dragging A Cui outside.

The grandmother lay on the ground, crying out, "A Cui! My A Cui!" No one paid her any mind.

A Cui was pushed before Fang Zhiyi. The remaining villagers knelt in unison, kowtowing incessantly: "Great Demon, we've brought her to you! We beg you, spare us!"

Fang Zhiyi looked at the humans before him and shook his head, his tone full of pity. "You didn't have to die."

The villagers didn't understand. They looked up blankly, followed by screams and the sound of shattering bones.

Chen A Cui covered her mouth in fright. But when Fang Zhiyi looked at her, she did not lower her head or flinch. Just like the first time Fang Zhiyi had seen her, she remained brave.

"You can kill me, but spare the children. They are all innocent."

Fang Zhiyi smiled, a grin that looked quite ferocious to Chen A Cui. "I do not kill children."

She closed her eyes, quietly awaiting death.

But the imagined death did not come. She heard a Buddhist chant. Chen A Cui opened her eyes in surprise to see several strangers who had appeared behind her at some unknown time.

At the head was a monkey covered in fur, eight feet tall, holding a golden staff that shone with dazzling light; beside the monkey was a fat monk with a bulging belly, holding a nine-toothed rake; behind them was a bearded monk carrying luggage and holding a demon-subduing staff; and at the very back, a monk riding a white horse, dressed in red kasaya robes, with a kind and compassionate face.

"Amitabha. This demon dares to commit such slaughter. Wukong." Tang Seng pressed his palms together.

Sun Wukong acknowledged and strode towards Fang Zhiyi.

Fang Zhiyi tilted his head, meeting Sun Wukong's gaze without fear.

With just one look, Sun Wukong's expression gradually grew complex. He planted his staff on the ground.

“Young lady! Come over here!” Seeing his elder brother blocking the way, Zhu Bajie immediately stepped forward, snatched A Cui away, and shielded her with his rake. “Don’t be afraid, Old Zhu is here!” The black bear demon seemed intimidated by the elder brother and did not obstruct.

"You... are a true man," Sun Wukong spoke.

Fang Zhiyi was somewhat surprised. "Is that how the Great Sage gives praise?"

"What I promised you, I have done." Sun Wukong glanced back at Chen A Cui, her face full of relief at surviving a catastrophe. "At the very least, for this tribulation, you bore it for her. You should know, I called in quite a few favors."

Fang Zhiyi offered a quiet word of thanks.

"It's a pity that after all you've done, she knows nothing of it, and never will. Instead, she will resent you. Was it worth it?"

"Great Sage, you endured eighty-one tribulations, all to become a Buddha in the end. Was it worth it?"

Sun Wukong looked deeply at Fang Zhiyi, then also laughed, twirling his golden cudgel in his hand. "You bear demon, you're rather interesting."

A monkey and a bear stood in the blood-soaked center of Chen Village, smiling at each other. Their laughter held a touch of free-spiritedness and a hint of helplessness.

"I will use my full strength." The aura around Sun Wukong suddenly surged. Golden light radiated from his body, coalescing behind him into a colossal giant ape manifestation, dozens of feet tall, its eyes like lightning, its majesty intimidating all directions.

Zhu Bajie in the distance was startled, nearly dropping his rake. "Good heavens! What origin does this demon have? To actually force the monkey to use his Heaven and Earth Manifestation?"

Fang Zhiyi dared not be negligent either. The demonic power within him churned madly. The form of a black bear materialized behind him. Although considerably smaller than the giant ape manifestation, it was still fierce and imposing, its black fur bristling, claws gleaming coldly.

"Well met!" Sun Wukong roared. The giant ape manifestation raised its fist and smashed towards the black bear manifestation.

Fang Zhiyi did not yield. The black bear manifestation met the attack. Two colossal hands collided with a thunderous "BOOM," a shockwave sweeping out, sending gravel on the ground flying.

However, the disparity in strength was ultimately vast. Though Fang Zhiyi's demonic power was pure and he had strengthened himself threefold, it was still not enough before Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong raised his golden cudgel. Fang Zhiyi took a deep breath. He too wanted to know how far he could go.

The first strike: Sun Wukong swung the golden cudgel, aiming for Fang Zhiyi's chest. Fang Zhiyi blocked with the arm of his black bear manifestation. With a "CLANG," the cudgel struck the arm. The manifestation shuddered, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of Fang Zhiyi's mouth.

"That stings a bit," he said, wiping the blood from his lips, but his eyes grew brighter.

The second strike: Sun Wukong moved faster. The golden cudgel, trailing afterimages, smashed towards Fang Zhiyi's shoulder. Fang Zhiyi tried to dodge but was still hit. With a "CRACK," the bone in his shoulder fractured. He grunted, stumbling back several steps.

"That really stings," he said through gritted teeth, charging forward again.

The third strike: Sun Wukong gathered his full strength. The golden cudgel transformed into a beam of golden light, striking towards Fang Zhiyi's forehead. Fang Zhiyi mustered all his power, using the black bear manifestation to grapple the cudgel while simultaneously throwing a straight punch. For a moment, he held, but was then sent flying by the immense force. He spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering on the ground, staining the dust red.

Sun Wukong put away his golden cudgel, rubbing his own chest. That final counterattack from Fang Zhiyi had actually made his own blood and energy churn a bit. He ambled over to Fang Zhiyi, looking down at him. "Not bad. Not only can you take three strikes from me, but you can also wound me... You demon, you're truly interesting."

Fang Zhiyi lay on the ground, gasping for breath, and let out a bitter laugh. "That's about all I can do." He knew he had given his all.

"Yeah, that's about all," Sun Wukong's tone carried a trace of melancholy. He felt an inexplicable nostalgia for the old days.

He raised the golden cudgel, aiming it at Fang Zhiyi's forehead. "Safe journey."

Fang Zhiyi smiled, looking at the sky. "That makes a full four strikes! To withstand four strikes from the Great Sage Equal to Heaven—I can brag about this for ten lifetimes back home!"

Sun Wukong's hand trembled, the cudgel nearly missing its mark. He couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You rascal, still cracking jokes even at death's door!"

Even as he said this, he brought the cudgel down. With a final "THUD," Fang Zhiyi's body went limp, devoid of breath.