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墨書 Inktalez
Yama's Wedding
"Report, Yama King has summoned Wheel King to the palace." Hearing the ghost's announcement, Xue felt a strange sensation. Everyone in the Underworld knew that he rarely participated in matters of other halls and seldom conversed with the other kings of hell. After thousands of years in the Underworld, summons from Yama King were rare; he wondered what important matter could have prompted this call. Puzzled, Xue rose and made his way to Yama King's hall.
At that moment, Yama King was also feeling troubled. Wheel King was different from the other kings of hell; although he was one of his subordinates, everyone knew that Wheel King originally served under the Western Buddha. For some unknown reason, he had been assigned to the Underworld. Over the centuries, he had rarely spoken to anyone and spent most of his time in his own palace, fulfilling only his necessary duties. However, this matter arose because of Wheel King, and as fate would have it, he had no choice but to summon him.
Along the way, Xue encountered numerous ghosts. After crossing the Bridge of Helplessness, he arrived at Yama King's palace.
"Master, Master, please save me! I don't want to be boiled in oil!" A ghost broke free from the chains of a Ghost Messenger and rushed in front of Xue, pleading desperately.
Lowering his gaze, Xue looked at the ghost. In a flash, he saw through its past life. This ghost was once a wicked spirit who had killed countless people and committed many atrocities in the mortal realm. Eventually, karma caught up with him; one day he climbed a mountain and was unfortunately bitten to death by a tiger. That tiger happened to be the reincarnation of a vengeful soul from among his former subordinates.
Seeing that the wicked ghost had escaped his control and charged at Wheel King, the Ghost Messenger hurriedly pulled him back. "My lord, please forgive me! I failed to keep this ghost in check; please punish me."
The wicked ghost continued to plead with Xue, banging its head against the Bridge of Helplessness with loud thuds.
People are often like this; they are unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. Xue used to believe that human nature is inherently good. However, after witnessing countless heinous crimes committed by wicked spirits over thousands of years in the Underworld, he had grown accustomed to their behavior. At first, he was always willing to give them a chance, but countless failures taught him about the ugliness of human hearts. Each act of forgiveness often led to deeper harm for some innocent souls. Thus, he began to adapt to the rules of the Underworld.
Xue gestured for the Ghost Messenger to rise. The messenger wiped away sweat nervously; everyone knew that Wheel King was the most serious king of hell in the Underworld. He blamed himself for not keeping a close watch on the wicked ghost but was relieved that Wheel King did not seem angry.
Without casting another glance at the wicked ghost, Xue turned and left quietly, leaving behind a few words: "After serving your punishment, you will be handed over to Meng Po and sent down to the path of beasts." With those words, he sealed the wicked ghost's fate. Upon hearing his sentence, the wicked ghost became even more frantic.
Arriving at the entrance of Yama King's hall, Xue felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him; it had been quite some time since he last visited this place. Although he held the position among the Ten Kings of Hell, it felt as if he existed outside of the Underworld. Aside from his daily work, one thing he often did was gaze up at the sky of the Underworld. The sky there revealed no stars or moon; it was filled only with darkness and the wails and cries for justice from tormented spirits—never a moment of peace. How long had it been since he enjoyed tranquility?
"Wheel King pays respects to Yama King."
Although there were Ten Kings of Hell in the Underworld, Yama King was regarded as their leader—commonly known as Lord Yama—and all affairs were handled by him.
"Wheel King, you have arrived," said Yama King, peering out from behind a thick stack of documents. The affairs of the Underworld were numerous, and those concerning Yama King were particularly burdensome.
"May I ask why you summoned me, Yama King?"
It was this calm tone that left Yama King at a loss every time he called upon Wheel King. Looking at Wheel King, dressed in white and standing there, it seemed as if the world had nothing to do with him. He appeared so out of place in the dark Underworld, yet there was an undeniable sense of solitude about him.
"No need to be so formal. It's rare for me to have some free time, and I wanted to chat with you," Yama King said, choosing his words carefully.
"I dare not impose. If there is nothing urgent, I shall take my leave," Xue replied, his demeanor all business as he began to turn away.
"Wait a moment," Yama King quickly called out to Xue. "You see, yesterday was March Third. When you opened the gates of the Underworld, a ghost slipped out, and now we can't find it."
Upon hearing this, Yama King looked apologetically at Xue.
"Impossible. If a ghost had gone missing, I would certainly know about it. I confirmed everything multiple times when I returned to the Underworld yesterday," Xue replied firmly, leaving Yama King hesitant about whether he should reveal the truth.
Noticing Yama King's indecision, Xue began to wonder if this ghost had some hidden secret.
"Please tell me the truth, Yama King."
At this moment, Yama King felt trapped. The situation regarding the ghost was quite complicated, but he knew Xue's temperament well enough that he couldn't easily deceive him. Resolute, Yama King slowly began to explain the truth of the matter.
It turned out that the missing ghost hadn't actually gone missing; it had slipped away on its own.
In fact, Xue was familiar with this ghost—it was none other than the Seventh Son of Big Dipper—Star Lord Yao Guang. As a Star Lord, Yao Guang had violated a rule and should have faced dire consequences. However, his mother, Lady Ziguang, requested leniency for him. Along with the other six lords of Big Dipper pleading with Jade Emperor for mercy, it was decided that he would descend to the mortal realm to undergo trials until he repented and could return to his celestial duties.
As Xue listened to the unfolding story, the name Star Lord Yao Guang lingered on his lips. So it was that girl.
Xue's acquaintance with Yao Guang had been quite unexpected. Years ago, he had been tasked by Buddha to search for the reincarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva in the human realm. During his journey, he encountered a war between two nations and initially thought it was merely a struggle for power among mortals. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed a dark aura lingering in the midst of it all. If it were merely demons causing chaos, that would be one thing. But when Xue approached to investigate further, he unexpectedly discovered that this dark aura emanated from a young girl. Though it appeared dark, it lacked any demonic essence; instead, it subtly hinted at an otherworldly presence.
After some investigation, Xue realized that this girl was indeed Star Lord Yao Guang from among the Seven Stars of Big Dipper.
At that moment, Star Lord Yao Guang was at a loss for the chaos she had inadvertently caused between two nations. Upon seeing the person before her radiating golden light, she mistakenly thought a celestial being had come to her aid and rushed into Xue's embrace.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I don't even know why they started fighting!"
Looking at the girl clinging to him, Xue couldn't bring himself to scold her. He figured she probably didn't understand that she shouldn't descend to the mortal realm so easily.
Though Star Lord Yao Guang was the last of the Seven Stars, she was also the final main star of the Purple Star Astrology, commonly known as Po Jun. Po Jun, which also bore another name—the Star of Destruction—governed warfare and change in the mortal world. The transformations of Po Jun were about discarding the old and renewing the new; it required first destroying the existing order before starting anew. The extreme nature of Po Jun's changes often began with war, which is why Star Lord Yao Guang should not descend lightly to avoid calamity among mortals. The previous Star Lord Yao Guang had been King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty.
This time, however, it was unexpectedly a girl. Observing her flustered demeanor, one couldn't help but wonder what fate had led to such a heavy responsibility being placed upon her.
"Star Lord Yao Guang," Xue gently pushed away the weeping Yao Guang in his arms.
Only then did Yao Guang truly see the man she had been clinging to while crying. She looked him up and down, and suddenly felt her face flush. She had been holding a man and crying for such a long time, and he wasn't even someone she recognized from her court.
"You know me? Who are you?" Yao Guang wiped her tears and tried to guess who this man was. He exuded an ethereal presence, dressed in flowing white robes that concealed his slender frame, making him appear even more delicate. Yet he radiated an aura of righteousness, though his long peach blossom eyes added a hint of charm. Undoubtedly, he seemed like a celestial being.
"I am Wheel King," Xue simply introduced himself. With her tears dried up, Yao Guang looked more like a child now; her round face still bore traces of redness from crying, and her almond-shaped eyes gazed at him with an innocent demeanor.
"So you are from the West; no wonder I have never seen you before."
Suddenly, a piercing battle cry echoed in her ears, causing Yao Guang's expression to turn sorrowful once more. She didn't understand what was happening; just moments ago, she had been observing two nations engaged in conversation and exchanging many items. It seemed lively to her, so she had come down for a closer look. But for some reason, they had started fighting fiercely, resulting in many casualties.
Seeing that things were going awry, Xue quickly took hold of Yao Guang and left the area.
They arrived in a forested area where Xue released Yao Guang. He intended to clarify the situation but found himself unsure of where to begin.
"It’s because of me, isn’t it? Those people fought because of me, right? That's why so many died?"
Facing Yao Guang, who was seeking answers, Xue couldn't bear to deceive her and nodded.
"I knew it. No wonder Mother and Brother always forbade me from coming to the mortal realm. No wonder the people in the court avoid me; I secretly overheard the maids talking. They all say I'm a demon star, a Star Lord that brings disaster. Although my Brothers all like me, I know that's how it is."
Xue furrowed his brow. He wasn't very clear about the affairs of the court, but this child before him had clearly suffered a lot of grievances. If he hadn't discovered her just now, she would probably have faced unknown punishments. Although she was the Star Lord Yao Guang, that was not something anyone could decide, especially since this current Star Lord Yao Guang was just a girl.
"Yao Guang means the brilliance of Yao Guang." Xue squatted down and gently patted Yao Guang's head. "Your elder brother Shu Tanlang Star Lord represents strength, Xuan Jumen Star Lord represents courage, and Jilucun Star Lord represents happiness. Your Brothers each have their own powers and symbols, while you, Star Lord Yao Guang, represent rebirth after calamity, a sincere prayer for the past. Only by bidding farewell to those old days can you have the chance for rebirth. Therefore, you are hope, you are light."
No one had ever spoken such words to Yao Guang. Mother and Brother would only comfort her; although they spoiled her, Yao Guang knew that Mother often sighed behind her back. But as for the Wheel King, she was hope, she was light. She was not the disaster star that those fairy sisters spoke of; at least there was someone who saw her as hope. The loneliness and grievances of a hundred years seemed to find an outlet.
Just when he thought he could comfort Yao Guang, he didn't expect such a scene to unfold. In the silent forest, only the sound of Yao Guang crying remained, seemingly even more sorrowful than before.
A man in white stood helplessly patting the back of a girl in his arms, his expression cautious. Xue had never been so patient with a junior fairy before; his thin lips occasionally uttered comforting words. At this moment, it seemed that only the two of them existed in the forest.
Lady Ziguang, caught off guard, let Yao Guang slip into the mortal realm. When she realized it, she hurriedly rushed to find her, only to see the battlefield everywhere, which made her anxious as she searched for Yao Guang.
When she finally found Yao Guang, this was what she saw: the Wheel King was holding Yao Guang under a tree resting while Yao Guang sweetly slept in his arms. Lady Ziguang was taken aback.
"Greetings to you, Wheel King." She stepped forward and bowed, anxiously glancing at Yao Guang. However, in front of this Wheel King, she dared not act recklessly.
Xue made a shushing gesture and stood up, handing Yao Guang over to Lady Ziguang. "She was frightened earlier; I happened to pass by and brought her here. This child seems to have suffered quite a bit; she cried herself to sleep."
Lady Ziguang looked at Yao Guang, her heart aching as she gently touched her. The usually bright eyes were now swollen from crying. In truth, Lady Ziguang knew that the court ostracized Yao Guang, but what could be done? This child was kind-hearted yet bore the fate of becoming the master of the Broken Army Star. Unlike the previous master of the Broken Army Star, King Zhou, who was cruel and powerful enough to instill fear in others, this child faced all grievances pushed onto her after taking over. Although she was weak, her stubborn character meant she never spoke of her grievances; this time must have truly scared her badly. Perhaps it was also because she had been too strict in her teachings. With a sigh, Lady Ziguang lamented.
"Thank you, Wheel King, for saving my child. I will remember your kindness in my heart; I must take my leave now."
Watching as Lady Ziguang took away Yao Guang, Xue felt disheartened. Had the court decayed to such an extent? For a child, it had reached an intolerable level! It seemed that peace would not be spoken of in the future; he could only hope that this mortal realm would not suffer from unwarranted disasters.
A hundred years passed, and eventually, I was also sent to this hell by Buddha, becoming one of the feared Ten Kings of Hell. Since then, I had not heard any news about Yao Guang. This made Xue curious about what crime that girl had committed back then to warrant such a heavy punishment from the Emperor.
"I wonder what fault Star Lord Yao Guang committed to receive such a severe penalty," Xue asked out of curiosity. This seemingly casual remark triggered the beginning of countless disasters. Thus, even as a deity, there are moments of helplessness and unexpected turns.
Xue's question put Yama King in a difficult position; this was precisely the challenge at hand.
Seeing Yama King's predicament, Xue did not wish to press further and changed the subject. "Is my task to recall Star Lord Yao Guang and bring her to the Underworld for retribution?"
"That's correct," Yama King sighed in relief, genuinely fearing that Xue would dig deeper into the matter. "However, Star Lord Yao Guang's powers are currently weak, and her soul could easily attach itself to someone else. If she were to possess a human, her own aura would be faint and overshadowed by that of the human, making it exceedingly difficult to find her—like searching for a needle in a haystack. Therefore, while you search for Star Lord Yao Guang, your Ten Halls will be managed by your judges; you can rest assured and focus on your search in the mortal realm."
"Then I shall take my leave and set off immediately after arranging matters," Xue replied, feeling somewhat puzzled. It seemed that Yama King was very eager for him to leave, which was unusual.
After leaving Yama's Hall, Xue pondered for a moment before exiting the Underworld and soaring into the sky.
Meanwhile, within Yama's Hall, after Xue departed, Yama King turned and walked toward the back courtyard.
"Manjushri Bodhisattva, I truly do not understand why you instructed Wheel King to seek out Star Lord Yao Guang. You must know that Star Lord Yao Guang is..." The words trailed off as Yama King hesitated.
"Yama King, every cause has its effect. The affairs of this world begin in chaos and end in chaos; it is a cycle that cannot be spoken of," Manjushri Bodhisattva replied with a smile while playing with a flower.
Seeing Manjushri Bodhisattva's serene demeanor, Yama King could only remain silent, praying that Wheel King would return safely from this endeavor; otherwise, he would have a hard time explaining himself to Buddha.
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