Chapter 925

In Hindu mythology, besides the superimposed numerical values mentioned earlier, there is another very important rule: the asceticism rule.

Hindus believe that the suffering in the entire universe has a limit; if one person bears more suffering, then other beings will bear less suffering, and those who bear more suffering accumulate more merit, which may allow them to choose a good path in the six realms in their next rebirth, or in this life they may be a Shudra and in the next life become a Kshatriya.

In DND, the Lady of Pain in Sigil is similar.

All writings under heaven are largely plagiarized.

Of course, now everyone knows that if you like to eat bitterness, you will have endless bitterness to eat; if you like to eat bitterness, many people will enjoy blessings for you. But many Indians truly believe this, and even not a few people in the Celestial Dynasty also believe this.

There's no way; people living always need to have some hope.

In Journey to the West, there is also a very subtle similar plot: when Sun Wukong caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, Wukong said the Jade Emperor takes turns ruling, and next year it will be my turn. At this time, the Tathagata said, "He surnamed Zhang, cultivated since childhood, has undergone one thousand seven hundred fifty kalpas, each kalpa lasting one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years," thus enabling him to enjoy the position of Jade Emperor.

And have you suffered?

Finally, the master and disciples four also experienced the eighty-one tribulations before being granted the Fruit Position, promoted to become protectors of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

This is the residual ascetic culture in Hinduism within ancient Chinese culture, and to some extent it coincides with the ascetic culture in Eastern Orthodoxy, forming a strong cultural imprint that some modern states still hold.

In many female-oriented web novels, the female lead, upon appearing, must endure eight hundred degrees of boiling water, be repeatedly cut open six hundred times, be dragged by the male lead driving a car at five hundred miles per hour on the highway for four hundred kilometers, and give birth to three hundred children all aborted—similar logic: having already endured so much suffering, whatever enjoyment or action afterward is justified.

According to the above theory, Hindu mythology further reveals a mature story progression: I undergo long asceticism—I, through asceticism, move the creator god Brahma to obtain his blessing—I wish for immortality—I expand to rule the three realms and six paths—I am then found by the other two major gods of Hinduism, Vishnu and Shiva, who exploit the wish loophole to kill me.

Because Brahma in Hindu mythology differs from other creator gods; although Brahma is the creator god, he is not omniscient or omnipotent, and he must also respect cosmic laws. Therefore, when a successful ascetic wishes for immortality, Brahma will say, "Sorry, I cannot do it; cosmic laws do not allow me to create a completely immortal being; your immortality needs conditions."

Thus the rule-based weird tale begins.

These wishers, without exception, will become immortal and invincible due to obtaining invincible power; as the creator, Brahma is utterly helpless, and finally Shiva and Vishnu come out to clean up and find the loophole.

One wishes to be killable only by a child born within seven days—killed by Shiva's son—done.

One wishes to be killable only by a woman (Vishnu and Shiva are both male gods)—Shiva's wife is the supreme warrior goddess—done. One wishes to be killable only by the sons of Vishnu and Shiva (how can two male gods have children?)—two male gods really did have a son—done.

One wishes not to be killed in heaven or on earth—one is placed on the thigh and beheaded.

One wishes not to be killed by gold, wood, earth, or stone—killed by Indra's great club made of bones.

One wishes not to be killed by day or night, dry or wet—killed by people using foam at dusk. Also, one wishes not to be killed by gods, humans, asuras, or yakshas—result: forgot the animal realm, killed by Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. The culmination is the Asura King Golden Bed; the Asura King Golden Bed, through extremely perverse asceticism, moved Brahma, and he wished to Brahma: I will not die by day or night, not die indoors or outdoors, not die in heaven or on earth, not die in any of the six paths, and will not be killed by weapons nor by bare hands.

Brahma agreed to this extremely harsh condition; soon the Golden Bed began trying to rule the world, while Brahma could do nothing. Then this fellow was seized by Vishnu's lion-headed humanoid avatar, placed on the door threshold and on the knees, and slain at dusk using the lion's claws. And Ahiru before our eyes is obviously following this logic.

Through asceticism, he condensed all his achievements and spirit into a gleaming Olympic trophy; only a trophy that can truly harm him can truly harm his core as the embodiment of Mahakala, Shiva! And to make him reveal the golden cup, the opponent must also surpass him in desire and not lose face before Shiva's lingam incarnation.

In Ahiru's view, such a person simply cannot exist!

But Uesugi Muneyuki is right here!

Moreover, this brat doesn't play by reason! We are clearly true men having a one-on-one battle? Why did you call for reinforcements?

"Uesugi Muneyuki! Have you already lost the Olympic spirit?" Ahiru roared angrily: "What man is a two-on-one fight?" "What damned Olympic warrior spirit, abandoned tens of thousands of years ago!" Uesugi Muneyuki twitched the corner of his mouth: "Besides, I'm not even an Olympic athlete; I'm just a passing forensic pathologist, remember that!"

So shameless.

Beside him, Shosuke Menou watched the two lechers, still clutching their crotches and kneeling on the ground, cold sweat dripping, grinding their teeth, still talking about Olympic warrior spirit, and became even more speechless.

She even unconsciously pinched her nose.

Two lechers, stay away from me.

However, considering Uesugi-san revealed his true nature to save me, he is probably a good person.

Probably?

But at this moment, Mai Xuejie's Breaking Evil Arrow had already struck the trophy; that gleaming trophy, upon contact with the Breaking Evil Arrow, instantly cracked, the crack rapidly expanding in the arrow's white light, from a fine line to a spiderweb, from spiderweb to countless intersecting fissures.

Golden fragments began to flake off piece by piece, like a city wall being chiseled from within, collapsing block by block.

Ahiru stood at the center of the Dharma Image, watching the trophy shatter before his eyes.

He reached out to grab those fragments, but his fingers passed through them; the fragments had no substance, merely shadows of light. He roared: "Unfair! This isn't fair! You said it would be a one-on-one true man's duel! You actually called for help!"

Uesugi Muneyuki stood beside Mai, having already adjusted his breathing: "Dealing with you heretical demons, fairness is unnecessary! Besides, I originally came to solve the case, so"

Ahiru's Mahakala Dharma Image began to collapse completely; the massive black body started to crumble from the edges, flaking off piece by piece, those fragments turning into black powder upon touching the ground, blown away by the breeze leaking from the ceiling cracks, as if it had never existed. The last fragment of the golden trophy also fell from midair, vanishing into the deep red carpet.

"Ah Ah Ah!"

The palace vanished.

They returned to the bedroom of the Shosuke household.

The night light was still on, the bedsheet still scattered, the Zwilling kitchen knife had fallen to the floor, its blade reflecting warm yellow light.

Ahiru lay on the ground, his body curled up, his face pallid as if all blood had been drained, his lips twitching slightly, as if saying something, but making no sound.

Shirakawa Mai stood by the window, no longer holding the bow in her hand; moonlight streamed in from outside, tracing a silver-white outline on her shrine maiden robe.

She turned her head to glance at Uesugi Muneyuki, beamed: "One lecher will fall, one lecher will rise! Junior Student, congratulations!" "Likewise, likewise, thank you, Senior Student, for your support." Uesugi Muneyuki forced out a smile, still clutching his crotch.

After clashing head-on with Ahiru, I shattered his lingam, but my own Vajra Pestle also shattered into dregs.

Damn, it hurts so much!

This blow, my Seishokurin nearly shattered!

"Kukuku, it seems Junior Student's hardness is still quite good, no wonder he's the man I fancied!" Shirakawa Mai giggled, patting Uesugi Muneyuki's shoulder: "Ooh la la la la, didn't expect Junior Student to have such a day too? No problem, no problem, cultivate dual with me more, help you recover." "Then I'll trouble you, Senior Student." Uesugi Muneyuki pressed his lips together, knowing that asking Mai Xuejie for help means this result.

However, between the two of us, it's also a kind of special fun; today Uesugi overwhelms Shirakawa, tomorrow Mai rides Muneyuki, we spar, endless joy. But someone doesn't see it that way.

Shosuke Menou curled up in the corner of the room wrapped in a feather quilt; she had never in her life experienced a night more bizarre than this.

First, someone sneaked into her bedroom to kill her, and it turned out to be the former Olympic champion, acclaimed as the Judo Emperor, Ahiru!

Then Uesugi Muneyuki emerged from the shadows, seized that person, then the lights went out, then she found herself standing in a palace piled with glass jars and organs, then that assassin turned into a six-armed, three-headed blue-skinned monster, then Uesugi Muneyuki summoned five burning Buddha statues, then the two of them clutched their crotches and screamed in agony, then one after another, Shirakawa Mai walked out of the darkness.

Her idol, even the idol of all Japanese women—Shirakawa Mai!

In Shosuke Menou's eyes, this national actress, Head of the Kanto Shrine Alliance, on screen she is forever dignified and elegant, never showing teeth when smiling, wearing haute couture gowns walking the red carpet, like a celestial descended icy thunder gauze fairy.

But at this moment, standing before her, Shirakawa Mai wore a red-and-white shrine maiden robe, her hair scattered over her shoulders, her feet clad in pure white Baroque-patterned velvet silk stockings paired with a pair of red high heels, holding in her hand the already vanished divine bow, which originally looked somewhat like that. However, Shosuke Menou's gaze shifted from her perfect profile to her mouth.

Shirakawa Mai's mouth corner held an arc, completely unlike her restrained smile on television; it was the kind Shosuke Menou had only seen at some nightclub entrances, bearing "I know what you're thinking," languid and sly.

She placed one hand on Uesugi Muneyuki's shoulder, rested her chin in his shoulder hollow, her whole body nearly pressed against his back, like a great cat coiling itself around its master.

She turned her head, her lips brushing Uesugi Muneyuki's ear, her voice low enough only he could hear: "Was my arrow just now accurate? Like not like your drama partner said 'thebestshot'? Next time I'll give you a solo shot. No charge. Shoot wherever you want." Then Mai Xuejie smirked and placed her hand on Uesugi Muneyuki's buttocks: "I've been thinking, if Achilles' heel were set not at the ankle but at the anus..."

"Please don't make such a nasty joke!" Uesugi Muneyuki didn't move, but his ears turned red.

Shosuke Menou wrapped the feather quilt more tightly around herself, erasing all her previous impressions of Shirakawa Mai in her heart and replacing them with a new note: this is not some aloof, icy fairy of sheer fabric, but a bad senior student.

Genuine and authentic, the real deal, laughing like a cat that had just stolen a fish.

How could she have such a lascivious demeanor?

This world, how terrifying!

The Olympic champion is a murder maniac, the national goddess is a lascivious senior student, the national forensic examiner, the Japanese police's ultimate weapon, the Metropolitan Police pervert……or rather, the Metropolitan Police pervert!

Uesugi Muneyuki broke free from Mai's arm, walked up to Shosuke Menou and squatted down, pulled the Zwilling kitchen knife from his pocket and placed it on the ground, pushing it within her reach: "Miss Shosuke, tonight's events, we hope you won't speak of them. Especially those……that don't quite conform to the laws of physics."

Shosuke Menou looked at the knife, then at Uesugi Muneyuki, and nodded: "I won't say anything. Even if I did, no one would believe me."

She paused: "But now I know what kind of person you are."

Shirakawa Mai turned her head from the window, the hem of her shrine maiden robes sweeping the floor, moonlight plating a layer of silvery-white light along the edge of her hair: "What kind?"

Shosuke Menou's gaze shifted from her face to her own fingers: "Pervert, Metropolitan Police pervert."

"Hahahahaha ahahahahahahaha!" Mai Xuejie burst into laughter: "Fantastic, you finally saw through everything!" "Well, in any case, thank you, Mr. Uesugi, for saving me." Shosuke Menou said helplessly.

Uesugi Muneyuki stood up: "You're welcome, Miss Shosuke, you're Okada's friend, and also mine."

Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway.

The iron gate downstairs was pushed open, someone shouting "Police," someone shouting "Miss Shosuke," the stairs creaking under the weight, Shirakawa Mai glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki, she stepped back, her whole body blending into the night outside the window like a drop of water falling onto a surface, leaving no trace.

Okada Masayoshi was the first to rush into the room, wearing a dark gray trench coat, collar open, hair somewhat messy, as if he had jumped down from a vehicle without time to tidy himself.

His gaze swept the room, first landing on the Zwilling kitchen knife on the ground, then on Ahiru huddled in the wall corner, then on Shosuke Menou squatting in the corner wrapped in the feather quilt.

He quickened his steps, half-kneeling, his hand pausing above her shoulder: "Are you alright? Any injuries? Did he touch you?" Shosuke Menou looked into his eyes, those eyes holding anxiety and urgency, pure and clean, with nothing extra. She recalled Shirakawa Mai's posture just moments ago, draped over Uesugi Muneyuki's shoulder, recalled that whisper near the ear, recalled that "aim wherever you want to shoot." She shook her head, her voice soft and steady, just enough to reveal a hint of shyness: "I'm fine. Mr. Uesugi arrived in time."

Kai Toru, Date Nagamune, Maeda Toshihide entered in single file, someone taking photos, someone recording, someone dragging Ahiru from the ground. Ahiru's body was soft as a sack of sand without bones, when he was lifted his head drooped, his eyes unfocused, his lips still moving, yet he made no sound. He was dragged out of the room.

"Hey, isn't anyone going to ask me?" Uesugi Muneyuki said, covering his groin, feeling uncomfortable.

"Uesugi-san, you handle things, we can relax!" Date Nagamune said earnestly.

"This isn't our concern, let Section Chief Minami and the others worry about it!" Maeda Toshihide said with a wicked laugh, shaking his head.

The person has been caught, the Special Mission Division personnel are preparing to withdraw.

Just then, Shosuke Menou suddenly stretched out a hand from under the feather quilt, lightly gripping Okada Masayoshi's trench coat cuff: "Mr. Okada……I'm a little afraid……tonight, could I……walk with you?"

Okada Masayoshi's body visibly stiffened at that moment.

His gaze moved from Shosuke Menou's hand to her face, the light in his eyes under the lighting like two lit lamps, staring at him intently, Okada Masayoshi hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "I'll send you back to the main family, or to a hotel. You choose."

"I……."