Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 31: Old Sun Also Wants to Sue

Why does Lord Qin Guang feel guilty?

Sun Wukong realized at once—it must be like when he destroyed the Dragon Palace; he had stirred up trouble in the underworld in quick succession.

Therefore, Lord Qin Guang went back on his word, did not resign from his position as Lord of the Netherworld, but instead, in league with Ao Guang, came to lodge a complaint against him, aiming to erase his own sin of ensnaring the soul of a Daluo Golden Immortal.

Now, realizing something was amiss, he felt guilty and regretful!

At that moment, all the immortals could see Lord Qin Guang’s guilt, and they all speculated about the reason, but no one dared to speak, for the Heavenly Emperor had not spoken yet.

His Majesty the Jade Emperor sat aloft on the Nine Heavens throne, his tassels veiling his face, still expressionless, did not respond to Lord Qin Guang’s petition, instead, he gently tapped on the armrest of the throne with his finger.

The atmosphere within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall seemed to have frozen.

"Hehe..." Sun Wukong, with a swift rotation of his spirited eyes, suddenly exclaimed loud, "Your Majesty, I also wish to lodge a complaint!"

Lord Qin Guang was startled, his soul nearly fled; from where he mustered the courage, he shouted, "Sun Wukong, you, you, you have not been exonerated of the suspicion of destroying the Dragon Palace and causing chaos in the underworld; how have you the right to lodge a complaint here!"

Tai Bai Jin Xing stepped forward, smiling genially, and said, "Lord of the Netherworld, even a prisoner has the right to seek justice."

The Jade Emperor above also spoke, asking, "Sun Wukong, what grievances do you have?"

Sun Wukong stood up straight, indignantly said, "Your Majesty, I accuse Lord Qin Guang of having ghosts lure away my soul, nearly causing my Daluo enlightenment to crumble and plunge me into the cycle of reincarnation!

Your Majesty must cast such a deceitful and cunning person into the eighteen layers of hell to prevent him from ensnaring the souls of other Daluo Golden Immortals in the future!"

As soon as this was said, all immortals’ faces changed; this was no small matter.

Lord Qin Guang was even more terrified, hastily kneeling on the ground, kowtowing and saying, "Your Majesty, there is more to this matter!"

The Jade Emperor ignored him, continued expressionless.

"Lord of the Netherworld, I am just a Golden Immortal; surely I have never offended you before?" a divine general sneered coldly, "In the future, don’t send ghosts to snatch my soul; I can’t bear it."

"I must be wary in the future as well," another divine general agreed.

"Lord of the Netherworld, I, Ne Zha, am also a Daluo Golden Immortal, curious to try what it feels like to have my soul snatched," Ne Zha said, full of anticipation, "Have your ghosts snatch my soul at my residence tomorrow; I definitely will not resist!"

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"I’ve been wanting to visit the underworld; being snatched for the soul would work too."

Other Immortal Officers and Divine Generals chimed in in agreement.

Lord Qin Guang knelt on the ground, shivering, dared not lift his head.

He had offended not just the Daluo Golden Immortal but all the immortals!

"Lord of the Netherworld, do you have anything to say?" the Jade Emperor finally spoke.

"Your Majesty discerns clearly," Lord Qin Guang hurriedly said, "This humble official wrongly snatched the soul of Daluo Golden Immortal Sun Wukong due to an error in the Book of Life and Death; it was not intentional!

"Now that things have come to this, are you still concealing something?" the Jade Emperor said calmly.

"This humble official..." Lord Qin Guang was stunned. So His Majesty knew everything!

And yet he was here, playing clever tricks, causing the immortals to watch a farce.

"Your Majesty, I feel the weight of my sins, willing to resign from the position of Lord of the Netherworld." He kowtowed repeatedly, making a last struggle.

"I have given you an opportunity already," the Jade Emperor’s imposing gaze fell and he looked down at the immortals, saying, "Upon investigation, the accusation by Sun Wukong holds true,

Lord Qin Guang, who presides over the human life and death, should administer justice, but he has conducted an injustice due to personal grievance, snatching the soul of a Daluo Golden Immortal, disrupting the order of reincarnation.

Furthermore, deceiving his superior, his crimes are unpardonable; he shall be stripped of the position of Lord of the Netherworld, instantly cast into the cycle of reincarnation, not to attain immortality for a hundred lives."

"Your Majesty, mercy, mercy!" Lord Qin Guang wept bitterly, extremely terrified.

Ever since he took the position of Lord of the Netherworld, he had controlled human life and death, always held high above, also accustomed to the suffering of reincarnation.

"How can he withstand reincarnation now?"

"If he is reincarnated incorrectly, who knows what he might become."

Alas, his fate was sealed the moment he thought he was being clever.

Two celestial generals shackled him and dragged him out.

Witnessing this scene, Ao Guang finally came to his senses from his grief and indignation, realizing that he was drenched in cold sweat, and after careful thought, confirmed that he was merely a victim.

"Justice, His Majesty is indeed just," Sun Wukong bowed with his hands clasped, feeling extremely delighted.

"Sun Wukong, did you truly not act unruly in the underworld?" the Jade Emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, if Old Sun had caused trouble in the underworld, may the heavens strike me with lightning!" Sun Wukong exclaimed, pounding his chest with resolute assurance.

The immortals were momentarily speechless, all looking towards the Thunder God and Lightning Mother, daring them to take action first.

The Jade Emperor did not pursue further but nodded, saying, "Investigate the matter of Sun Wukong causing havoc in the underworld alongside this case; Taibai Jinxing will still supervise from the sidelines."

Taibai Jinxing quickly bowed, "This old official receives the decree!"

Sun Wukong then bowed his hands, "Your Majesty, rest assured, Old Sun will investigate clearly and report back to heaven."

However, the court meeting did not disperse right there, as it seemed the immortals were also waiting for something else.

Suddenly, an immortal officer stepped forward from the ranks and bowed, "Your Majesty, the Lord of the Netherworld governs the life and death of humans, and now the position is vacant; a worthy minister should be appointed swiftly."

"Your Majesty, this official recommends King Chujiang for the position of Lord of the Netherworld," another immortal officer stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, King Taishan is quite respected and could serve as one of the Ten Kings of the Netherworld," a divine general stated as well.

"Your Majesty, King Song Di..."

"Your Majesty..."

The crowd of Immortal Officers and Divine Generals eagerly made their recommendations, turning the majestic Lingxiao Treasure Hall into a place of chaos.

"Interesting, very interesting," Sun Wukong scratched his face, truly witnessing what those experienced predecessors talked about regarding the bureaucracy.

Now that there was a significant vacancy, the various factions of the celestial officers and divine generals couldn’t sit still.

Yet, what was strange was that nobody mentioned recommending Lord Yama.

Though Sun Wukong had only met Lord Yama once, he could tell that he was an upright and dignified good ruler of the netherworld.

Perhaps, as the experienced predecessors said, Lord Yama did not adhere to the so-called bureaucratic norms and was therefore constantly suppressed; despite being a good official, no one recommended him.

While pondering this, Sun Wukong suddenly saw Taibai Jinxing step forward and say, "Your Majesty, this old official believes that Lord Yama can take up this heavy responsibility, as he was the first choice for the position of the Lord of the Netherworld back in the day."

The previously tumultuous Lingxiao Treasure Hall suddenly fell silent, abandoning their respective recommendations.

The Jade Emperor, looking over the immortals, declared authoritatively, "Following Taibai Jinxing’s report, appoint Lord Yama to the position of Lord of the Netherworld effective immediately."

"So that’s how it is." At this moment, Sun Wukong finally understood; the Jade Emperor and Taibai Jinxing, these monarch and official, had always been coordinating their actions.

Furthermore, it could be seen that Lord Yama was endorsed by the Jade Emperor.

That raises a new question; with such a powerful backing, how had Lord Yama not ascended to be the Lord of the Netherworld before? Was it because the Jade Emperor was inferior to the Ksitigarbha King?

Sun Wukong found it interesting but had no inclination to delve deeper, perhaps he would ask those knowledgeable predecessors for advice when the opportunity arose.

After all, he came to the celestial court to seek leisure and joy, not to entangle himself in these scheming affairs.

Just like Lin Daiyu, the senior who spoke of uprooting willows, had said, "Lay low, be a Great Sage Equalling Heaven in name only!"

Of course, since he had already made his statement, he needed to first clear up the matter of the Destruction of the Dragon Palace and the chaos in the underworld, eliminate the treacherous Six-Eared Macaque, and then he could officially join the celestial bureaucracy.