Chapter 153: and translation of chapter title

Zhou Shuo stepped over the Ghost Gate; inside Fengdu Ghost City there were no homes, only a sunless dark grotto, a wailing chill rose, and before the gate lay a bottomless trench spanned by a black iron-chain bridge.

"Naihe Bridge?" Zhou Shuo eyed the black iron-chain bridge, his expression intrigued, but before he could cross, a clamor came from the far side.

Judge Zhong

"Where did this monster come from, daring to barge into the underworld?" Zhou Shuo hadn't yet listened closely to the distant scene when a wisp of smoke rose from beside the iron-chain bridge, forming a gaunt old woman with a headscarf, leaning on a wooden crutch and holding a ceramic bowl.

"I am a mortal cultivator who wandered here by chance, not trespassing; please make it clear, Lady Meng." Zhou Shuo looked at the old woman's visage, his brow twitching.

"What brings you to the underworld?" Meng Po planted her wooden crutch, glanced toward the noise at the bridge's end, then her cloudy old eyes locked onto Zhou Shuo.

"I had just encountered the Black and White Impermanence emissaries at Beizhen Town; they entrusted me to subdue a Black Mountain old demon and come here to find him. I was originally at Liangjie Mountain, unaware of this entrance, until a purple aura flew from the hills and I followed it." Zhou Shuo faced the pressuring old lady and candidly recounted the tale.

"You seek Xiaohei and Xiaobai, that Black Mountain old demon—I've heard of him, but the underworld is now overrun by monsters; I fear you won't see Xiaohei and Xiaobai anytime soon." Meng Po listened to Zhou Shuo, her murky eyes' intimidating gaze easing, showing assent.

"Is it alright if we wait here?" Zhou Shuo went along, saying it's fine, just a monster; the underworld should settle it soon.

"Meng Po, that monster fled into the underground labyrinth." As Zhou Shuo's words fell, two burly figures led several gloomy spirits and hopping zombies rushing forth, calling out from afar.

"Tsk!" Zhou Shuo lifted his gaze at the two approaching figures, involuntarily twitching his mouth; one bore an iron ox, human body with bull's head, the other dragged an iron chain, horse-headed human—plainly the Soul‑Seizing Emissaries Ox‑Head and Horse‑Face—but does the underworld below still have space, and a maze?

"Judge Zhong didn't catch them? What about the Yama Kings and the Bodhisattva?" Meng Po planted her cane; hearing her, Zhou Shuo's brow jumped again—Judge Zhong, that's Zhong Kui, wasn't he from Emperor Xuanzong's Tang? Seems now it's only the Zhenguan era!

"Those two monsters are sly, evading Judge Zhong; the Bodhisattva is in meditation, and today the Ten Yama Kings have gone to heaven to see the Jade Emperor—who is this yang person?" Ox‑Head and Horse‑Face, leading spirits and zombies, hurried to Meng Po to report, then caught sight of Zhou Shuo and exchanged a glance.

"This person is a friend of Xiaohei and Xiaobai, a mortal cultivator come for the Black Mountain old demon; right, young man, I almost forgot to ask—what sect do you belong to?" Meng Po suddenly recalled, turning to Zhou Shuo to ask.

"I have no sect, Granny; do cultivators still split into sects these days?" Zhou Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly; this Journey to the West world seems far more exciting than I imagined!

"Of course there are sects; all beings honor humans as chief, immortals as supreme, demons as title—countless immortal and demon adepts have founded schools; our Netherworld Judiciary takes the Earth Store Bodhisattva as teacher, together with Lion Camel Ridge, Devil King Stronghold, and Silk Web Cave forming the four great demon sects—how can you, a little cultivator, not know these?" Meng Po's brow twitched; his cultivation looks formidable!

"I've long secluded myself; the last time I met the two Impermanence divinities, I was unaware of worldly changes." Zhou Shuo pursed his lips, MMP—human, demon, immortal—where does Journey to the West have such classification? And the Earth Store Bodhisattva founding a sect? You sure she isn't a gang boss? This is turf war, not the Journey to the West I know.

"Never mind that you don't know humanity's major sects; how can you not know our Netherworld Judiciary? It's fitting—you cultivators neither take orders from heaven nor obey underworld doctrine, hiding away for centuries, ignorant of worldly shifts, never reaching the four quarters of heaven and the underworld; perhaps you truly don't know." Meng Po sized Zhou Shuo up and down, first surprised, then a flicker of bewilderment.

"Meng Po, Master summons someone to the rear hall." As Meng Po hovered in a haze, her mind dulled from years in the underworld, a clear voice rang in the air; Zhou Shuo's eyes twitched twice, on guard, scanning all around—no aura at all—who could it be?

"Oh, I see, young sir, the Bodhisattva calls for you." Meng Po heard the sudden sound, nodded, and politely addressed Zhou Shuo.

"Please lead the way." Zhou Shuo's gaze shifted slightly, seeking where the voice had come from—could that fellow be using a thousand‑mile transmission?

"Where are you looking?" The clear voice sounded from nearby, tinged with mirth, making Zhou Shuo's heart leap—this wasn't a transmission, but genuine invisibility.

"Enough, Bone Sprite, quit fooling—this is a guest, young sir, follow me; oh, right, I haven't asked your name." Meng Po, seeing Zhou Shuo's ghost‑struck reaction, shouted, led him across the iron‑chain bridge while asking, after all this talk we still haven't exchanged names.

"I am Zhou Shuo." Zhou Shuo warily scanned his surroundings; if not for his spiritual sense showing no reaction, he'd truly fear that invisible fellow would sneak‑attack him.

「Little Brother Zhou, don't worry, the bone spirit is a disciple of the Bodhisattva; although a bit mischievous, he is not……. 」 Before Madame Meng finished speaking, Zhou Shuo suddenly raised his hand, seized a demonic claw reaching toward him, only to see a graceful figure appear in the air, with blue short hair tied into a small braid hanging at the back of the head, a cute skull pattern tattooed on the forehead, and a round, pretty face showing surprise.

【Mama…】 Zhou Shuo looked at the pretty girl who had appeared before him, glanced at her whole body, seeing only a slender waist, a dark‑blue cloth skirt with a bandeau, and behind her a pair of bone wings; he looked at those wings, then turned his gaze to Meng Po.

【Hurry up and get out of the way, stop messing around.】 Meng Po struck her cane, Zhou Shuo released his hand, and the girl's round face puffed, her big eyes glaring at the one who had let go of her, reluctantly stepping aside, yet she secretly curled her lip, revealing a sharp canine; though it meant 【I'm fierce】, with her pretty face it gave a coquettishly fierce vibe.

【Heh.】 Zhou Shuo looked at the girl baring her teeth to show hostility, smiled and likewise ground his white teeth at her, then without looking at her startled expression, he straightaway followed Meng Po forward; however, just after taking two steps, he felt a strong gust of wind blast from behind.

【…】 Zhou Shuo swayed to dodge the gust of wind lunging from behind, but seeing the bone spirit making a face at him and flying straight off into the distance, he rolled his eyes; this girl had merely been trying to scare him.

【This child has been spoiled, sir, don't take offense.】 Meng Po looked at the bone spirit that had startled Zhou Shuo from behind, feeling a bit annoyed, but seeing that Zhou Shuo wasn't angry, she couldn't help laughing as she explained.

【She's not human?】 Zhou Shuo naturally had no need to take offense at a sulky little girl, but that lass was hardly an ordinary mortal.

【She is formed from undying white bone, naturally non‑human; though we demons are called demons, we in fact encompass monsters, ghosts, spirits, and sprites—some run amok doing evil, others subdue the strong and aid the weak. The Earth Store Bodhisattva, merciful at heart, made a great vow, opened wide the gate of goodness, universally taught and transformed, and, under the leadership of Yama, opened a realm in this dark, sunless netherworld to guard the cycle of rebirth.】 Meng Po coughed, nodded, and then related the origin of the demon tribe.

【Hell is not empty; I vow not to become a Buddha until it is. The Earth Store's great vow is truly admirable.】 Zhou Shuo nodded. The four great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism—Manjushri of great wisdom, Avalokiteshvara of great compassion, Samantabhadra of great practice, and Ksitigarbha of great vow—each have a great heart worthy of respect.

【Meng Po.】 Just as Zhou Shuo and Meng Po were speaking, a sturdy man with flowing beard, bulging nose and squinting eyes, clad in a great red official robe and wearing a soft hat, strode forward sword in hand with the gait of a dragon and tiger; behind him, the bone spirit floated low, arms crossed, its small wings fluttering.

【This is Judge Zhong, Judge Zhong; this is the young man Zhou Shuo who came from the mortal world, found by Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai, and the Bodhisattva wishes to see him.】 Meng Po introduced Zhou Shuo to Judge Zhong.

【Since the Bodhisattva wishes to see him, let's go quickly, but those two fiends have fled into the underground labyrinth; we ought to send someone to retrieve them promptly.】 Judge Zhong twirled his beard, speaking in a buzzing tone; his words and expression showed he was a man of few smiles.

【Hey girl, quickly take the Bodhisattva's guest away, don't cause trouble here.】 Judge Zhong glanced at the bone spirit; the girl instantly looked dispirited, only able to turn her head and fly low past Zhou Shuo's face, gesturing for him to follow.

【What is that underground labyrinth?】 Zhou Shuo followed the girl's silhouette and asked.

【What else could it be? A place full of wronged ghosts and zombies, hanging onto those unwilling to reincarnate! Damn annoying.】 The bone spirit gave a light hum, hovered, kicked off a leg, and knocked loose a skull exposed on the ground.

【Looks like even in this netherworld there are places you can't control.】 Zhou Shuo watched the girl kicking the skull on the ground to vent, and couldn't help curling his lips.

【Hmph, the netherworld has many places, and who could manage them all? The Yama uncles are busy just with the eighteen levels of hell, rushing about frantically.】 The bone spirit let out a light hum, shoulders drooping, flying low ahead.

【Human strength sometimes runs out. Right, what does the Bodhisattva want with me?】 Zhou Shuo looked at the listless, shoulder‑drooping girl and raised his eyebrows.

【How would I know? We've reached the Hall of Yama—go ask your master, don't try to pump me for information.】 The bone spirit snapped its head back, its short blue hair shaking, letting out a girlish hum and an expression that said 【I've seen through you.】

【Then we have no choice but to go see the Bodhisattva.】 Zhou Shuo looked at the coquettish girl, then lifted his gaze to the imposing black hall in the dark cavern.

"Then we can only go see the Bodhisattva!" Zhou Shuo looked at the willful girl, then lifted his head to look at the solemn black hall in the dark cave-heaven.