Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Sun Wu Kong stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at the temple high above. He had come in search of Qin Shi Huang, but unexpectedly stumbled upon such a peculiar temple in this desolate wilderness. It was strange for two reasons: first, the location of the temple was neither in a picturesque area nor in a bustling street; it stood alone in this remote mountain, resembling a forgotten corner. Second, the style of the temple was neither solemn like Buddhism nor tranquil like Daoism; it looked more like a makeshift stage built by common folk, exuding an air of oddity and absurdity.
As Wu Kong pondered this, he suddenly spotted a figure seated atop the high platform. The person had a black face, and it was unclear whether it was the original color of the clay statue or if it had been darkened by the sun and wind of the mountains. From a distance, it resembled a large black pot turned upside down, creating an unsettling sight. Unable to contain his laughter, Wu Kong remarked, "Is there really a bandit in this Ancient People's World? Has he painted himself this way to avoid being recognized as a thief? And what is he doing up on that high stage? Is he trying to show off or just reveling in his own glory?"
He stepped closer for a better look. As he approached, he realized that the black-faced figure was actually a deity statue, albeit one that had been crafted rather crudely. Aside from its blackness, it only had a pair of large eyes that stared straight ahead as if they could draw someone in. Wu Kong scratched his head and mused, "Could this black-faced figure be Zhang Fei from the Three Kingdoms? After thinking it over, he is indeed the only one who looks so fierce and intimidating. But with such a shabby temple, I wonder which deity is being worshipped here?"
Just then, Wu Kong performed a somersault and landed beneath the platform. A stone pole stood prominently before him, with a white flag fluttering atop it bearing six large purple characters: "Famous Scholar Xiong Yu."
"Hahaha..." Sun Wu Kong burst into laughter, clutching his thighs as tears streamed down his face. "This truly is the height of absurdity! As I journey through this land, I've seen countless clay statues but have never encountered such a ridiculous misidentification! This black-faced figure is mistaken for the Overlord of Chu who met his end at Wujiang? Just think of how heroic Xiong Yu was—able to lift heavy weights and command vast territories—how could he possibly have such a crude appearance?"
After laughing, he found it amusing and leaped onto the high platform to circle around the statue several times, marveling at it. "Indeed, this world is full of intrigue; right and wrong can be turned upside down by mere words from later generations. Consider Xiong Yu—what grandeur he possessed in life, yet in death, he ended up dismembered and couldn't even preserve his own reputation. How tragic!"
Then another thought crossed his mind: "Oh dear! I came to this Ancient People's World specifically to borrow that 'Mountain-Driving Bell' from Qin Shi Huang. Now that I've encountered Xiong Yu here, why hasn't Qin Shi Huang appeared yet? Perhaps I should visit Xiong Yu on that stage and inquire about Qin Shi Huang's whereabouts; I might find some clues."
While Wu Kong was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a soft voice filled with sorrow calling out for "Lady Yu."
Wu Kong squinted into the distance and saw beneath the high pavilion a lush green area with red railings where birds chirped among blooming flowers. There sat a beautiful woman—it was Yu Ji. She was accompanied by several maidservants.
Listening closely, her voice was hauntingly beautiful as if expressing endless longing and sorrow. Wu Kong felt a stir in his heart and thought to himself: "Yu Ji is indeed a devoted woman; she willingly gave up wealth and status for Xiong Yu, following him through life and death until her tragic end. It's unfortunate that while she has feelings for him, fate remains indifferent; heroes often struggle with matters of love yet fail to cherish those before them."
He looked up towards the horizon where the setting sun painted the sky red as if igniting endless battles and heroic dreams. A wave of melancholy washed over Wu Kong as memories flooded back—his own fate intertwined with past glories that had ultimately turned to dust.
The embarrassing farce at Green Pearl Tower still lingered vividly in his mind; why were there so many tales of lovesick men and women everywhere? Wu Kong mused: "Here I am again after all that happened at Green Pearl Tower! Well then, let it be; I won't concern myself with him!" Since he was already here, he might as well join their performance.
Transforming himself into Yu Ji's likeness, he donned simple attire that accentuated his graceful form and ascended the high platform. He took out an ice silk handkerchief from his sleeve to partially cover his face while wiping away tears. His beautiful eyes seemed filled with resentment and anger as they gazed at Xiong Yu—an expression complex and difficult to decipher—as if holding countless words yet unsure where to begin.
Upon seeing this beautiful woman weeping, Xiong Yu was taken aback and hurriedly knelt before her, repeatedly asking: "My lady, what troubles you? Have I done something to hurt you or made you sad?" Though he was once a towering hero, at that moment he felt as insignificant as dust—only wishing to earn her smile.
Wu Kong turned away from him and ignored him completely while continuing to weep openly as tears soaked his garment. The sound of crying alternated between soft sobs and deep gasps that could break anyone's heart.
Seeing this only heightened Xiong Yu's anxiety; disregarding his heroic demeanor, he crawled forward on his knees until he reached Wu Kong's side and pleaded desperately: "My lady! Please have mercy on me! We are husband and wife; just say something so I can understand!"
Wu Kong remained silent, tears streaming down her face. Once the unruly Great Sage, she now feigned a fragile and helpless demeanor, leaving Xiong Yu in a state of turmoil, unsure of how to respond.
Seeing the beautiful woman weep inconsolably only heightened Xiong Yu's anxiety, yet he felt powerless to help. Here he was, a man of stature, reduced to the helplessness of a child, allowing his tears to flow freely.
When Wu Kong sensed the moment was right, she turned around and pointed at Xiong Yu, her voice soft and delicate. "You heartless one, how can you call yourself the Hegemon-King of Western Chu? You can't even protect a weak woman like me; what face do you have to sit upon this high platform?" With that, she burst into another fit of tears, her sorrow evident.
Xiong Yu listened in silence, unable to respond as he continued to cry. He felt guilty towards Yu Ji and found himself at a loss for words when faced with such accusations.
Seeing his distress, Wu Kong's heart softened. She reached out to help him up and gently said, "As the saying goes: 'A man’s knees are worth gold.' We are husband and wife; you must not act like this anymore!"
Upon hearing this, Xiong Yu finally stopped crying. He looked up at Wu Kong and asked, "What do you mean by that? I see your brows furrowed and your heart in pain. This seven-foot frame of mine is worthless if I can't help you! Please tell me what has happened so I can share your burden!"
"My king does not know..." Wu Kong hesitated, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears that seemed ready to overflow. She gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, but for every drop she brushed away, another followed—like a string of pearls falling one by one onto Xiong Yu's heart, leaving him flustered.
"Who is it? My beloved, please tell me quickly; do not let yourself become too distressed!" Xiong Yu urged anxiously as he watched her sorrow.
Wu Kong choked on her words. "Just now, I was resting on the couch when I heard strange noises outside the window. When I got up to check, I saw a monkey with a hairy face and a thunderous mouth leap down from the Yulan Tree and come straight for me!"
At this point, she paused as if engulfed in immense fear, her delicate body trembling slightly.
Xiong Yu's anger flared instantly. "What? Such a thing happened! I will fetch my Tiger Head Dragon Spear right away; I want to see which fool dares to bully me!" He turned to grab his weapon.
"Wait!" Wu Kong grasped his arm urgently. "That monkey is cunning and treacherous; you must not underestimate him!"
"What does he want?" Xiong Yu seethed with rage, wishing he could tear that monkey apart.
Wu Kong bit her lip as if making a significant decision before finally saying, "That monkey... that monkey... he was lewd towards me..."
"What?!" Xiong Yu felt as if struck by lightning; his eyes widened in fury as rage threatened to erupt from him. "He dares to be so bold! I will flay him alive to quench my anger!"
Seeing him so furious, Wu Kong felt a surge of joy in his heart, but still put on a pitiful appearance and continued, "That monkey not only disrespected me, but... but..."
"What else did he do?!" Xiong Yu asked anxiously.
Wu Kong took a deep breath, as if using all his strength to utter a single sentence: "He... he even transformed into my likeness, trying to deceive the king! He said... he said that you, my king, are just a mere mortal unworthy of me, and he wants to take me back to Flower and Fruit Mountain to make me his concubine..."
"What?!" Upon hearing this, Xiong Yu felt as if struck by lightning; darkness clouded his vision, and he nearly fainted. He never expected that the monkey could be so despicable and shameless, concocting such a vicious scheme! As the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, how could he swallow this humiliation of being toyed with by a mere monkey?
"My king, you must seek justice for me!" Wu Kong sobbed, choking on his words.
At this moment, Xiong Yu was already consumed by rage and had lost all rationality; he could hardly hear anything else. With a roar, he shouted, "Kill this scoundrel!" He leaped down from the pavilion and rushed to the flower-shaded couch, striking down Yu Ji with a single blow.
Blood gushed forth, staining the pristine sheets and coloring Xiong Yu's vision red.
"My king..." The maidens covered their mouths in shock, their faces pale as they knelt trembling on the ground. The luxurious silk skirts spread out like rippling water, highlighting their terror and helplessness.
"Do not cry! This is a fake; I have already killed it!" Xiong Yu's voice boomed like thunder, yet it could not mask the tremor in his hoarse tone. "The real one is up there in the pavilion!" He tossed aside his bloodied sword and staggered towards the distant high platform, as if it were his last lifeline.
He was like a wounded beast, struggling at the edge of madness, searching for that final shred of solace—a glimmer of hope to prove that he was not irreparably wrong.
Comment 0 Comment Count