#Go West to Subdue Demons

[the-monkey-ruler]

Journey to the West: Go West to Subdue Demons (1991) 西行平妖

Director: Zhang Che Screenwriter: Zhang Che / Chen Baoxun Starring: Jia Yongquan / Chen Jiming / Du Yuming / Mu Lixin / Dong Zhihua / Wang Yuqing Genre: Action / Fantasy / Martial Arts / Costume Country/Region of Production: Mainland China / Hong Kong, China Language: Mandarin Chinese Date: 1991 Duration: 86 minutes Also known as: Go West to Subdue Demons / Westbound Flat Monster IMDb: tt8395472 Type: Retelling

Summary:

On the way to learn Buddhist scriptures, Tang Seng (played by Jia Yongquan) and his four disciples encountered a leopard spirit (played by Wang Yuqing) who came to Yuan Wai's house to snatch his bride. After a fight, the outnumbered leopard spirit died violently and Yuan Wai's family was very happy. The next day, a group of four people passed by the Bull Demon Palace and saw the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan doing some housework. Wukong (played by Dong Zhihua) made rude remarks and offended Princess Iron Fan and the master and apprentices continued to travel west. On this day, they came to Chechi Kingdom which is controlled by monsters. Tang Monk and his disciples stayed here for several days, destroyed the monster caves, and restored the peaceful life of the past. Red Boy (played by Mu Lixin) receives a letter from his mother, Princess Iron Fan, and learns that Sun Wukong has insulted his mother, and he is determined to avenge his mother. Guanyin Bodhisattva learned that Tang Monk and his disciples were in trouble, so he sent his disciples Mu Zha, Jin Zha, and Nezha to help, and finally surrendered Red Boy...

The story is based on Wu Chengen's famous work "Journey to the West".

Source: https://chinesemov.com/1991/Go-West-to-Subdue-Demons

Link: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1o3k9j

[ryin-silverfish]

I understood that Fox spirits with gold and white fur are normally heavenly foxes. But Su Daji in the versions we know, killed people before the events of the story. So, will any type of fox spirit get this color when it already has its nine tails? even if they are already foxes that killed people?

I am kinda confused by the wording of this question. Correct me if I'm wrong:

-Heavenly foxes = foxes with gold/white fur and 9 tails

-Heavenly foxes are "good", or at least work for the establishment

-Su Daji of the Pinghua version is a heavenly fox, judging by her appearance

-But she kills people and isn't good

-Does that mean gold/white fur color and 9 tails is merely a signifier of power in fox spirits, and has nothing to do with their alignment or allegiance?

Well...time to dive into some fox spirit lore.

In the oldest Chinese legends, nine-tailed foxes are very much divine beasts. The Girl of Tushan, for example. Nine-tailed foxes also appeared in Han dynasty grave reliefs and paintings as part of Queen Mother of the West's worship:

They were very much auspicious beasts, like Qilins or Phoenixs. Same goes for white foxes.

The exact point in time where "Auspicious Foxes" started shifting into "Demonic Foxes" is unclear, but it probably had something to do with the change in ways people conceive of yaoguais: namely, the idea that anything that grow old enough can become a yaoguai.

Foxes seemed like a prime candidate for that kind of stuff, because unlike dragons or phoenixs, they were just too common, mundane, and eerie. Divine beasts don't sneak into your chicken coop under the cover of darkness.

By the Northern and Southern dynasty, in Ge Hong's Baopuzi, there was already the idea that animals that reached a certain age could transform into humans, and he cited foxes, wolves and jackals as an example:

"...They can live up to 800 years old, and when they reached 500 years old, these beasts transform into human shapes."

Around the same time period, Guo Pu's Xuanzhong Ji gave an even more elaborate account of fox spirits' transformation:

"Upon reaching 50 years of age, foxes can transform into women. 100 years, beautiful women, divine shaman, or men in order to charm women. They can know things from thousands of miles away, are masters of the arts of charms, able to make people lose their minds...at 1000 years old, they can commune with Heaven, and are known as heavenly foxes."

This concept of heavenly foxes had a renaissance in the Tang dynasty, where folk worship of foxes were very popular, and Daoist influences meant that many foxes in Tang folklore were practitioners of the Daoist arts.

If foxes could cultivate, it was only natural that the best cultivators among them could become immortals, just like human Daoists, and get a job in the Celestial Bureaucracy.

Curiously enough, all Tang dynasty heavenly foxes were male foxes, and the troubles they got into often stemmed from their own lust and entitlement to human women.

Heavenly fox status also offered them protection from death sentences: when they were subdued by Daoist masters or immortals, the punishments were either beating with a rod or exile.

However, only one Tang text connected heavenly foxes with nine-tailed foxes and a specific fur color: You Yang Za Zu, which I cited in a previous answer.

In a sense, this fusion of nine-tailed foxes with heavenly foxes was really going back to the roots of "Nine-tailed Foxes as Auspicious Beasts".

But it didn't last, and by the Song dynasty, nine-tailed foxes had undergone full yaoguai-fication like the rest of their kind.

This is just my speculation, but "Nine-tailed Foxes as Demonic Spirits" could perhaps be traced back as far as their more auspicious associations: the nine-tailed foxes of the Book of Mountains and Seas were just another type of man-eating fantastic beasts, after all.

Anyways, it is at this point that the idea of Daji being a nine-tailed fox first appeared, and FSYY Pinghua went a step further by merging Daji with the "heavenly nine-tailed fox" of You Yang Za Zu, turning the auspicious divine beast back into the demonic.

But, back to your question: a white/golden fox, or a nine-tailed fox, is not necessarily a heavenly fox. In the Qin-Han era, that's just an auspicious beast.

By Guo Pu's definition, a heavenly fox is just an incredibly powerful 1000 years old fox. By the Tang dynasty definition, a heavenly fox is a long-lived master of the Daoist arts who managed to get a job in the Celestial Bureaucracy.

They absolutely can be assholes (though shielded from the worst punishment). The idea that a heavenly fox is also a nine-tailed fox of unusual fur color is specific to that one passage in You Yang Za Zu and FSYY Pinghua.

Having nine tails/white or golden fur doesn't say anything about a fox's alignment or morality either. Rather, it says more about people's general conception of foxes during that specific era, and what was auspicious in one dynasty could easily become markers of the demonic in another.

[luminouslumity]

Another year, another season, another post going into Chinese mythology (mostly in how it pertains to Journey to the West).

LI JING (李靖) is someone I've actually already discussed a bit here in terms of his and Nezha's backstories, but for JttW specifically, he's sent by the Jade Emperor to subdue Sun Wukong, and of course things don't go well in his favor. Later, he attempts to help Sun Wukong in apprehending the One-Horned Rhinoceros King and later shows up to arrest the Bull Demon King, and again after Tang Sanzang is kidnapped by the GOLDEN-NOSED WHITE-HAIRED RODENT-SPIRIT (金鼻白毛老鼠精), otherwise known as LADY EARTH FLOW (地涌夫人).

The SIXIANG (四象), or Four Signs, include ZHUQUE (朱雀), XUANWU (玄武), BAIHU (白虎), and QINGLONG (青龍) are the guardians of the four cardinal directions (South for the Vermillion Bird/Zhuque, North for the Black Tortoise/Xuanwu, West for the White Tiger/Baihu, and East for the Azure Dragon/Qinglong). In JttW, they are referenced towards the end in a poem:

One Real Body dropped to the dusty plain

Fuses with Four Signs to tend the self again.

In Five Phases terms forms are dead and void;

The fiends' vain names one should all avoid.

Great Bodhi's the right Candana fruition;

Appointments crown this rise from perdition.

Gracious light of scriptures now worldwide dilates,

As five sages live within Advaya's gates.

Much like the dragon family he'd married into, the NINE-HEADED BEAST (九頭蟲) is a thief, having collaborated with his father-in-law, the Wansheng Dragon King (萬聖龍王), into stealing a Buddhist relic—known as a Śarīra—from Jisai's Golden Ray Monastery. Erlang Shen's dog bites one of his heads off, but he manages to escape otherwise.

Like in many other religions, NÜWA (女媧) is said to have molded humans from clay, having initially creating what would become the nobility by hand before resorting to mass production for the rest. One day, when the heavens began to crumble—its cause depending on the source—she gathered five colored stones to patch up the sky, while a tortoise's legs would be used as pillars for support.

The Underworld in Chinese mythology is said to be divided into several hells and overseen by YANWANG (閻王) alongside nine other kings: QINGUANGWANG (秦广王), CHUJIANGWANG (楚江王), SONGDIWANG (宋帝王), WUGUANWANG (五官王), BIANCHENGWANG (卞城王), TAISHANWANG (泰山王), PINGDENGWANG (平等王), DUSHIWANG (都市王), and ZHUANLUNWANG (转轮王). Most infamously, Sun Wukong erased his name and that of every monkey he knew from the Ledger of Life and Death and to prevent them from dying.

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Chapter Recap: Chapter 20: At Yellow Wind Ridge the Tang Monk meets adversity; In mid-mountain, Eight Rules strives to be first

This chapter beings with Xuanzang, that “master of law,” reciting a gatha (Sanskrit for “song” or “verse”) he had composed after mastering the Heart Sutra, and through it he had “broken through the gate of his understanding.” And at this point the seasons have turned to summer. They have been camping outside for a few days since they left Gao Village until late one day the spot a hamlet. Tripitaka suggests that they ask for lodging there for the night, Zhu Bajie says they should also beg for food, as the pig yaoguai, unlike Sun Wukong, “can’t imbibe the wind and exhale the mist.” The Monkey King calls Zhu Wuneng a “family-hugging devil” on hearing this, and Tang Sanzang tells his second disciple that if his heart “still clings to the family, you are not the kind of person who wants to leave it. You may as well turn back!” This so shakes Zhu Bajie that he “fell on his knees and said, ‘Master, please do not listen to the words of Elder Brother. He loves to put blame on others: I haven’t made any complaint, but he said that I was complaining. I’m only an honest moron…What do you mean, I’m not willing to leave the family?” Tripitaka tells the pig yaoguai that if that’s the case he can get up.

Still muttering, Zhu Bajie had “no choice but to follow his companions with complete determination up to the door.” Tripitaka takes point on begging for shelter, and looking in the door of the hamlet sees “an old man reclining on a bamboo bed and softly reciting the name of Buddha.” Tang Sanzang gives the old man a greeting, tells him his situation, and requests shelter for the night. The old man expresses doubt that the Tang monk would be able to make it to the Western Heaven, embarrassing Tripitaka so much that he’s unable to reply. But Sun Wukong, “who had always been impulsive and mischievous,” strides forward and loudly chides the old man for “trying to intimidate us with discouraging words.” There’s the usual exchange about how hideous the Monkey King is with his “pointed chin, shriveled cheeks, a thunder-god mouth, and blood-red eyes,” with the monkey replying that he’s a person with the “passable” abilities of being able to “apprehend monsters, subdue demons, tame tigers, capture demons—in sum, I know a little about all the matters that a person needs to know to go up to Heaven or to descend into Earth.” The old man “roared with laughter” on hearing Sun Wukong’s speech, but he tells the pilgrims that they may rest in his hut. He agrees to this even after seeing Zhu Bajie, all while remarking that they are “One monk uglier than another!” Though the pig yaoguai notes that they “may be ugly, but we are all useful.”

As this groups is speaking, a group consisting of two young men, an old woman, and several young children arrive, all returning “after a day’s planting of young shoots of grain.” They’re all briefly scared off by the sight of Zhu Bajie, but are quickly calmed down by Tripitaka and the old man. Sun Wukong tells the pig yaoguai to “fix your ugliness, and while being chided by Tripitaka for his words the monkey then suggests that the junior disciple “Take that rakelike snout…put it in your bosom, and don’t take it out. And stick your rush-leaf-fan ears to the back of your head, and don’t shake them. That’s fixing it.” Zhu Bajie does so, and everyone is mollified.

The pilgrims are served tea and a vegetarian meal, and only then does Tang Sanzang ask what their patron’s surname is. He discovers the old man is Wang, who has two sons, three grandchildren, and is now sixty-one years old. Wang also tells the Tang monk that while the scriptures “are not hard to get…the journey there is filled with hazards and difficulties.” He then warns the pilgrimage that some “thirty miles west of us there is a mountain called the Yellow Wind Ridge of Eight Hundred Miles” which is infested with monsters. Yet both he and Sun Wukong agree that since “this little priest [the Monkey King] claims that he has many abilities…you may perhaps proceed after all.” Sun Wukong even boasts that with “old Monkey and his younger brother around, we’ll never be touched, no matter what kind of monster we meet.” They then have their meal—with Zhu Bajie eating “all the rice in that household, and then he said he was only half full,” before everyone goes to bed.

The pilgrims depart early the next morning, and after they had traveled for half a day “they did indeed come upon a tall mountain, exceedingly rugged.” As they’re carefully navigating their way through this mountain, a sudden violent whirlwind arises. It alarms Tripitaka, and despite Sun Wukong’s assurances the monk insists that there’s something frightening about it. Zhu Bajie also insists that they shelter until the wind has died down. The Monkey King tells them all to settle down and let him “seize the wind and smell it.” And since he has the power to do so, the monkey is able to tell that it’s not a good wind, “for it smells like a tiger or else like a monster.”

No sooner had he finished this sentence “when from over a hump of the mountain a fierce striped tiger with a whiplike tail and powerful limbs appeared.” Tripitaka immediately falls of his horse and “lay beside the road, half out of his wits.” Zhu Bajie runs to confront it, and the tiger stands up on its hind legs and strips off his own skin, revealing his true “hideous form.” He then announces himself as the “vanguard of the forces commanded by the Great King Yellow Wind,” and that he’s on patrol to “catch a few mortals to be used as hors d’oeuves for him.” Perhaps foolishly, Zhu Bajie tells the tiger yaoguai that they are “the disciples of Tripitaka…who by imperial decree is journeying to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from the Buddha.” Yet the pig is able to put up a good fight, and chases the tiger vanguard away from Tang Sanzang. After settling his shifu back on the horse Sun Wukong likewise joins the battle against the tiger yaoguai, leaving Tripitaka “trembling all over” and reciting the Heart Sutra.

Now pursued by two ferocious yaoguai, the tiger vanguard, in a panic, eventually throws his tiger skin over a large rock “while his true form changed into a violent gust of wind heading back the way he had come.” Finding Tang Sanzang unprotected, the tiger yaoguai snatches him away and immediately takes him to the cave of the Yellow Wind Monster. The Tiger Vanguard presents the monk to this Cave Master “for your culinary pleasure.”

The Yellow Wind Monster, however, is startled rather than pleased with this news. For he had heard the rumor that the Tang monk was accompanied by “a disciple whose name is Pilgrim Sun and who possesses tremendous magical powers and prodigious intelligence.” He thus decides that Tripitaka won’t be devoured just yet, for while “There’s nothing wrong with eating him…I’m afraid his two disciples may come to our door and argue with us.” The Cave Master decides that the monk will be tied to a post in their rear garden for three or four days, and if no one shows up to claim him, then “we can do what we want with him, whether we wish him boiled, steamed, friend, or sautéed; we can take our time to enjoy him.” The Tiger Vanguard is pleased with this assessment, and other yaoguai firmly bind Tripitaka in ropes before taking him away. The monk can do nothing but cry and wish his disciples would find him.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, having realized how they were tricked, quickly discover that Tripitaka has been spirited away. The Monkey King bellows “like thunder” while Zhu Wuneng cries, but soon enough Sun Wukong states that they “have to be somewhere in this mountain” and that they should be able to find their missing shifu. And sure enough, after traveling and searching for a long time, they find a formidable cave. Sun Wukong instructs Zhu Bajie to hide their luggage and go graze the horse, while “old Monkey” goes to fight with the monster. He doesn’t have to tell the pig yaoguai twice. Rushing up to the cave, Sun Wukong sees a sign designating it as the “Yellow Wind Cave, Yellow Wind Peak,” and cries out at the kidnappers to return his shifu, “lest I overturn your den and level your dwelling!”

Every one of the little yaoguai of this cave are left panic-stricken, and rush to the Yellow Wind Monster to report that “a monk with a thunder-god mouth and hairy face” is “demanding the return of his master.” Now somewhat fearful, the Cave Master chides the Tiger Vanguard for bringing the Tang monk to their cave. The tiger yaoguai, however, tells his king not to worry, for he will lead fifty soldiers to battle the Monkey King and “bring in that so-called Pilgrim Sun as a condiment for your meal.” The Yellow Wind Monster lets the Tiger Vanguard know that if he succeeds he’ll make him his bond brother, but that he mustn’t blame his king if he gets hurt.

The Tiger Vanguard selects “fifty of the toughest little demons,” and taking up his two bronze scimitars leaps out of the cave to confront Sun Wukong. After exchanging insults, the Monkey King leaps at the Tiger Vanguard with “grinding teeth and fiery eyes all ablaze,” and the two engage in a ferocious battle. Yet the Tiger Vanguard is no match for Sun Wukong, and, because he “dared not go back to the cave” after making his boast, flees towards the mountain slope. The Monkey King relentlessly chases the tiger yaoguai until they reach the fold of the mountain, where Zhu Bajie is grazing the horse. Joining in the fight, the pig yaoguai brings his rake down hard on the side of the Tiger Vanguard’s head, a blow which “produced nine holes, from which fresh blood spurted out, and the brains of the monster’s whole head ran dry!” Zhu Bajie hits him once more for good measure on the spine, which pleases Sun Wukong greatly.

The pig and monkey yaoguai then catch up, with the Monkey King concluding that the death of the Tiger Vanguard is to Zhu Bajie’s merit. He then gives his junior disciple the option of remaining behind to guard the horse and luggage “and let me drag this dead monster back to the mouth of the cave to provoke battle again.” Zhu Bajie agrees, and also tells Sun Wukong to drive the head monster his way to “let old Hog intercept and kill him.” So holding his as-you-will cudgel in one hand and dragging the tiger’s corpse with the other, the Monkey King returns to the Yellow Wind Cave. And here is where the chapter ends.

[poggieking3]

i have another AU circling in my head like a rotisserie chicken and have been DYING to tell people about it so HERE WE GO!!! info under the cut :)

i have a sort of demon AU where both smg4 and meggy are once again targeted by winston (i guess that's the name the fandom chose for the TV adware). since both were victims some months ago on separate occasions, winston decides that they aren't done yet and wants to kick 'em around some more.

like with every arc, things start peaceful. domestic. everyone's having fun and whatnot. it slowly starts with smg4 and meggy having strange, vaguely discomforting nightmares in their sleep. they develop headaches and are slightly irritable towards the others. smg4, being the extremely reserved guy he is about his problems, shrugs them off and doesn't tell anybody. meggy, on the other hand, will immediately complain to mario. mario obviously takes this seriously and tries his best to help her and understand what she tells him.

smg3 is the first one to notice smg4's pain and shift of mood. smg4 resists his concerns, but you know. smg3's as stubborn as a mule.

these nightmares become more frequent and worsen with more graphic visions and hallucinations. smg4 still thinks he's fine and meggy is the first to begin cracking under the stress of this. she just left the wild west after wren traumatized the shit out of her. she was psychologically and mentally vulnerable, hence why winston also went for her. they're crazy like that!

both smg4 and meggy complain that they hear static in their heads. it's loud static. neither of them can focus, or think. it's driving them crazy. sometimes they experience flashes of color in their vision. bright, neon colors. it disorients them and makes them dizzy, not to mention causes them migraines. smg3 and mario take them to a hospital. winston eagerly continues watching the show amidst the shadows.

doctors can't figure out their situation. it's a one of a kind to them. they can't help them. they prescribe smg4 and meggy some really strong painkillers, and for a bit it helps. privately, smg3 heads out to pay professor e. gadd a visit. while gadd's strong suit is making inventions for ghosts and other paranormal activity, he agrees that he can make something according to smg3's explanation of smg4 and meggy's situation.

meggy thinks wren is in her head again and quickly loses herself. smg4 tries and tries his best to resist the pain but he eventually can't take it anymore. smg3 and mario take them to e. gadd to give them a full evaluation. he takes their blood pressure, checks their heart rate, yadda yadda. he's a professor but i like to think he doubles as a doctor just because.

their results are... concerning. very concerning. while e. gadd has never heard of something like this before in anybody in the mushroom kingdom, he tries his hardest. he invents something that will aid smg4 and meggy's cognitive triangles. it's like CBT, but without the therapist part. should there be a disturbance, the invention will try to "correct" their cognitive function, aka subdue the hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and paranoia.

for a while things seem hopeful, but winston mustn't be forgotten! they're still here. there's a halt in their progress only because they're so deeply entertained by the situation with e. gadd helping smg4 and meggy. they think it's mildly humorous, perhaps not in a good way. they know they're more powerful than such a pitiful little invention.

just when smg4 and meggy feel like the invention has rid them of their nightmares, extreme irritability, physical pain, etc., he goes all out on them one fateful night. while they're both asleep he torments them, enveloping them with defeaning TV static in their heads and an increased amount of colors flashing before their eyes. meggy sleeps alone at her house so she has nobody to crawl to as she suffers under winston's power. smg4 is immediately rushed to by smg3 and mario, all while he writhes and cries in pain.

then there's the transformation. so simple, how it happens at the snap of winston's fingers. both of their forms are terrifying. meggy escapes her house and into the wilderness. she terrorizes anybody she can get her claws on. almost every member of smg4's gang tries to restrain him as he turns into a horrific, furred beast, and he snarls and snaps at them as they try to hold him down.

strangely, smg4's eyes flicker from his deep blue eyes to a solid image of the standard "no signal" image of TVs. six solid, bright colors, which lack his eyes. it so easily connects to winston's schemes at play.

smg3 and tari find out what's going on immediately.

[mx-lamour]

Ezra couldn't help everyone.

[tw: Children in peril. CoS spoilers.]

We had dodged a lot of Vallaki early on. We’d spotted Izek down the road after noticing an array of Ireena look-alike dolls in Blinsky’s shop and booked it out of town as fast as possible. But now Izek had finally heard that the party had Ireena, and he was going to take her from us.

He was sitting on the bridge cresting the river on the road toward Vallaki from the west. The bridge was rigged to explode. And there were children underneath the bridge, he told us, and they would not be released until we handed over Ireena (who wasn't actually with us at the time). They would either blow to bits or simply starve.

Ezra had made himself invisible, to creep up close while the bard was talking with Izek, to look for an opportunity to either disable the explosives or take out Izek himself. He didn't know what Izek wanted with Ireena, but what he did realize, up close, was that the man literally did not have a soul, and that was especially off-putting in conjunction with his mysterious demon arm. On overhearing there were children under the bridge, the trajectory of Ezra’s tentative plan quickly changed.

Ezra ducked under the bridge and managed to calm the children despite his sudden appearance. He was in Sergei’s armor, and he looked like the genasi he was; for once, he hoped they would take him as the morninglord. He set about untying one, then two. The children huddled there beneath the bridge, waiting for a signal to run.

There were two more on the other side, across the river. Heart in his throat, Ezra stepped in to wade carefully across while the bard continued to stall Izek above him.

In the middle of the river, something grabbed his foot. It tugged him down under the water with a quiet plip. For a blinding instant, Ezra thought that was the end. Then he Blinked.

The undead beneath the water couldn't touch him in the Ethereal plane. The water itself could hardly keep him in its grasp. He ran to the other side of the river and popped back into physical being.

But the time for stalling had run out. Things above the bridge had gotten dicey. The undead were climbing up out of the river after him, but he remembered his divine ability to turn them forcefully away. They crumbled. Ezra was dripping wet, fumbling with shaky fingers to untie the third child, when a sudden violent wave of heat slammed into him, flinging him back into the river.

Gasping and spluttering, Ezra’s first thought was still locked on the children, to return to the task his hands had not yet finished. His second thought, as he raked through the rubble, was No. He found a small severed arm in the debris. Bits of charred and bloody flesh.

Izek and the barbarian were struggling in the water. By the time Ezra reached them, Izek was already subdued. He had been dragged onto the shore and was bleeding out. Blood mingled with the water in thin rust-orange swirls. There was a tense moment as the seconds ticked by, and Ezra only stared down at him. They still wanted information. The bard suggested that maybe Izek deserved to die.

Ezra finally stabilized him. “There are worse things than death," he muttered.

The party helped Ezra search for the two children he had managed to untie. They found them in the wreckage. One was still alive, and Ezra managed to revive the other. Guards from Vallaki had heard the explosion and come to investigate. As he handed over the traumatized children to the guards, wondering if the four of them had been friends or siblings or strangers, or if it really mattered, he speculated again: There are worse things than death.

The party imprisoned Izek at Argynvostholt, where Ireena had been staying during that whole ordeal. They amputated and (with some difficulty, despite Ezra's bolstered flames) incinerated the demon arm. But then they let Izek speak with Ireena, and found out what he really wanted with her...

He just wanted his sister back.

[kaerdd]

Black Myth: Wukong Synopsis

"Black Myth: Wukong" is an action role-playing game based on the Chinese classic "Journey to the West". The story of the game takes place on the journey of Tang Sanzang and his four disciples to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

The protagonist of the game is Sun Wukong, who was originally a stone monkey living in Huaguo Mountain. By chance, he learned the skills of 72 transformations and immortality and became the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. However, due to dissatisfaction with the oppression and restraint of the Heavenly Court, he led the monkey group to rebel and was eventually suppressed by the Buddha under the Five Elements Mountain.

Five hundred years later, Tang Monk Xuanzang was ordered by the Buddha to go to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. When passing by the Five Elements Mountain, he rescued Sun Wukong and accepted him as his apprentice. From then on, the four masters and apprentices embarked on the journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

In the game, the player will play the role of Sun Wukong, follow the footsteps of Tang Monk and his disciples, go through 81 difficulties, slay demons and monsters along the way, and subdue various monsters and monsters, including classic characters such as Bull Demon King, Red Boy, and Six-eared Macaque.

The game also introduces new characters and story lines, such as Erlang Shen Yang Jian, Nezha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, etc., so that players can have a deeper understanding of the world view and story background of Journey to the West.

On the way to obtain scriptures, Sun Wukong not only has to face various difficulties and challenges, but also has to face inner struggles and contradictions. On the one hand, he must abide by the precepts and protect the safety of Tang Monk; on the other hand, he must fight against the authority of the heavenly court and safeguard his freedom and dignity.

The plot of "Black Myth: Wukong" is rich and fascinating, combining action, adventure and role-playing elements. As the game progresses, players will gradually uncover the secrets behind Journey to the West and experience a journey to the West full of challenges and surprises. Reprinted from this page：sqhub

[lesfeldickbiblestudy]

What are the attributes of Satan? Editor's Note: The following teachings show that Satan is "an angelic personality with tremendous power", "god of this world", the "Master Counterfeiter" that can appear as the "angel of light". He is "a liar, and the father of it". He controls "demons and evil spirits", and "his (Satan's) ministers are also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness". (That is, Satan's ministers can appear as ministers of God). "We know he has the power of the universe at his disposal with only the sovereign power of God to control him!" [convertplayer id="q84pwOnyo" width="700" height="525"] Satan, Paul tells us, can transform himself into an angel of light (II Cor. 11:14). Don't just delegate Satan to some little monkey in a funny red suit with a tail and horns and a pitchfork! That is not the Biblical picture of Satan. He is an angelic personality with tremendous power. The Apostle Paul tells us that Satan can transform himself into an "Angel of Light." We know he has the power of the universe at his disposal with only the sovereign power of God to control him! So this Cainitic civilization is going to be driven by the powers of Satan and not by the powers of God. [convertplayer id="pWCeqQDYs" width="700" height="525"] Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and said unto them (that is Adam and Eve, although Eve hasn't been created, she is still in Adam. So He is addressing them both.), `Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have (what?) dominion...'" In other words Adam was to have rule over the whole creation under God. He had total dominion. He was going to be literally God's second in command. When Adam sinned, what happened to that role as having dominion? He lost it. He dropped the ball. Who picked it up? Satan did. From that time on Scripture makes it so abundantly clear, who is the god of this world tonight? Satan is. Another Scripture says, "The world lieth in the lap of the wicked one." Satan is the god of this world. Everything that mankind accomplishes, whether it's good, beautiful, ugly, or bad, who has prompted it? Satan has. God is not in the business of a material world. And so the world is truly in the lap of that wicked one. Satan has total dominion. Let me show you another good example. Go to Matthew Chapter 4 if you doubt me. Here we have the temptation. And Satan is trying every ploy, trying to get Jesus to bow down to him. [convertplayer id="qsvsbWkY8" width="700" height="525"] Matthew 4:8-9 "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, 'All these things will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.' Then saith Jesus unto him, 'Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.'" This was the time of the Roman Empire, an empire that governed everything from the British Isles on the north and west to the Ganges River in India on the East. In essence, Satan says "Everything you can see or think of as far as material possessions are concerned can be yours, Jesus, if you'll just fall down and worship me. I'll give them all to you." Remember, Scripture teaches that Satan is the God of this World, and this passage really confirms it. If these kingdoms had not been his to give, this would not have been a temptation to Jesus for He would have known that. But at that time they did belong to Satan - he just didn't know that Jesus would possess all of them, not by bowing down to him then, but later, by right of conquest, after completing His work on the Cross and defeating him totally at the resurrection. Satan didn't know that one day Jesus will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! [convertplayer id="pSGKALvoI" width="700" height="525"] Even though Cain had turned his back on God and was out of the presence of God, he did have a motivating power. When Cain pushed God out of his life, the power of Sa

tan entered in. You can't create a vacuum. There is no such thing as having absolutely no spiritual influence in one's life. If God is pushed out, Satan is going to come in! Just because we speak of Satan as being evil, and representative of wickedness, he doesn't always do awful things. He is very well qualified to promote good, even beautiful things in order to accomplish his purpose. When Paul said that Satan could transform himself into an angel of light, Paul was explaining that Satan is the "Master Counterfeiter!" He is a counterfeit of God at every opportunity. If he can make something look like an original, he'll do it. When the U.S. government hires people to work in the Treasury Department, particularly in the area of counterfeit, they don't show them lots of counterfeit bills. Instead, for six months those people study nothing but legitimate American currency. The idea is that if they know meticulously how the original looks, when they see something that is counterfeit, they'll recognize it immediately. That's what we as believers must do with the Scriptures - be so profound in our knowledge of the Scriptures that when the cults come along, or when people come to our doors with something less than the truth, we'll recognize it immediately as a counterfeit. Because Satan, the "master counterfeiter" is so capable of making his fake look like the original, we must know the genuine article so we can recognize the difference. [convertplayer id="nP0qT8duo" width="700" height="394"] Romans 3:20b "...for by the law is the knowledge of sin." All the Law can show mankind is their sinfulness, not their salvation. Isn't it amazing how Satan can totally counterfeit the issue? Now today, Satan has convinced millions, probably billions, that if they do the best they can, if they keep the Law, at least as much as possible, somehow they'll make it. They've got that idea and it's just stuck in their craw and they refuse to see what the Book says. The Book says they're never going to make it. Because by the keeping of the Law, is no flesh justified. But we have to experience that price of redemption, which is by having our faith in that shed Blood of Calvary. [convertplayer id="qiiQRcw6s" width="700" height="525"] John 8:44b "...for he (Satan) is a liar, and the father of it." Now let's see what Satan says to the woman. Turn with me to Genesis 3 and verse 4 and following. Genesis 3:4-5 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5. For God doth know (doesn't that sound like the false teachers of today using the Scriptures? Oh they give credit to the Holy Spirit, and make it sounds so official, but it's just as much the power of Satan as this was. So Satan can say) that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, (small "g" of course) knowing good and evil." Now is that what God had said? Come back to chapter 2 again for a moment, we've got to compare Scripture with Scripture. God is speaking. Genesis 2:17a "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:..." See that's exactly what God called that tree. Do you see how meticulous Satan can be when he gets ready to deceive somebody? Oh he didn't goof it up, but rather Satan said it to Eve just exactly the way God said it. Now coming back to chapter 3 and verse 5 [convertplayer id="mfiov0USs" width="700" height="525"] Galatians 5:8 "This persuasion (to come away from Paul's Gospel of Grace) cometh not of him that calleth you." Who called them? The Holy Sprit of God. Well if the Holy Spirit did not lead them away then what spirit did? The evil spirit. Remember we've only got two spirits in the world. It's either of the Holy Spirit or of the satanic evil spirit. Let's go back to John's little epistles. I don't like to say anything unless I can show it from the Book. Go back to I John Chapter 4, and this is what the world is up against tonight just as much as when Paul wrote to th

e Galatians. The human race hasn't changed one iota, not one bit. I John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." And then you come on down to verse 3. I John 4:3 "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." So what are we up against? The two spirits. It's either of the Holy Spirit or of the evil spirit. Now of course Satan has his demons, but nevertheless it's going to originate in the satanic powers, and this is what the world is up against. I mean it's up against everything that Satan can throw at them. You know I always remind people, don't get the idea that all Satan can promote is what we call skid row behavior. Satan will promote the most beautiful things, Satan will promote that which we think is culture and enlightening as long as he can keep people from the truth. He doesn't care what he uses as long as people fall for it. With Satan the end always justifies the means. Satan will use good things but it will be of the evil spirit rather than the Holy Spirit that is speaking. [convertplayer id="sYIx2CTOU" width="700" height="525"] Exodus 7:10-12 "And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: (the Lord is in full control) and Aaron (with the Lord’s instructions) cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: (these are Satan emissaries) now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: (where are they getting their power? From Satan, and his evil spirits. Now here is the comforting part of this whole passage) but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods." Which of course shows us that God was still supreme. But never fail to understand that the spirits of the Satanic powers are real, and numerous, and it’s up to us to determine which spirit are we dealing with. Now I’m comfortable with the fact that as believers, the satanic spirits cannot have any kind of control over us, because our Spirit power is sufficient to withstand all the powers of the evil one. But we have to understand that they are there, and we have to deal with them. In fact jumping ahead a little bit in Ephesians let’s look for a moment at chapter 6, and maybe this will make my point. This tells us that the satanic powers are out there. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Now the Scripture could just as well have said it the other way around. "Put on the whole armour of God, so that you can stand for God." But the Scriptures don’t say that. Instead it tells us to prepare for our adversary. Then go into verse 12, and here’s the reason we’re to put on that armour. Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Do you see how plain that is? Now these are all spirit powers that you and I have to discern, "The only one we should be directed by is the One and only Spirit that has anything to do with us, which of course is the Holy Spirit." [convertplayer id="qiVUzXVqU" width="700" height="525"] Ephesians 4:27 "Neither give place to the devil." In general terms how much print does Paul give to Satan? Very little. He’ll just make a statement about Satan here and there, and we’re going to look at a couple of them here in a bit. Turn with me to II Corinthians chapter 4, verse 3. Now these aren’t the only two instances, but this is the way it usually pops up. The reason I want to take time to do this is because we see so much lately of where the so called Christian community is being ad

monished to war against Satan. We have to fight against Satan, we have to do things against Satan, but Paul doesn’t teach that. Paul recognizes his power, but he doesn’t spend long verses at a time telling us how to fight a war against Satan. Now we’ll see this a little bit in Ephesians chapter 6, but all he does is let’s us know that he’s there. Paul’s emphasis is not Satan, but rather is the Christ of glory. And when Christ rules our life, and when He’s in control, Satan can’t touch us, and we don’t have to worry all that much about fighting against Satan if we center on Christ and His work of the cross. And I think for this reason Paul doesn’t give a lot of ink to Satan. II Corinthians 4:3-4 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4. In whom (the lost of this world) the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Now for goodness sakes who’s the god of this world? Well Satan is. See how subtle Paul puts this in here? He could have just came right out and said, "Satan had done it." But he doesn’t, but rather he gives him another term, "the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." Now still in II Corinthians, turn over to chapter 11. II Corinthians 11:13-14 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; (don’t let this surprise you) for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Do you see that? Oh he’s the god of this world back here in the earlier verses, and keeps people blind from the truth, but many times he blinds people with his light. And it’s a counterfeit light, and people are so gullible and will say, "Oh that must be the work of the Spirit." But you see it isn’t. but rather it’s the work of the evil spirit, it’s the work of Satan the counterfeit, the impostor, the deceitful individual. So keep these things in mind, "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Now look at verse 15. II Corinthians 11:15a "Therefore (since Satan can do this, and we know he does) it is no great thing if his ministers also (human being that he’s using) be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;..." That’s what they try to tell people that they’re the ministers of righteousness, but Paul tells us they’re emissaries of Satan. So what do we have to know? The truth from the false! And the only way we can do that is just keep our nose in the Book, and when we do that then the Holy Spirit will certainly do His part to be able to keep us discerning truth from error.  

[fangsofdestruction]

( ☾ ) Moved because the thread got wonky and wouldn't let me cut. Not havin' that.

----------------

It would be unwise for Toga to be querulous towards the young pup’s disobedience and stubbornness. This was no act of rebellion nor is it a provocative attempt to undermine his authority both as the youngling’s father and the Lord of the West. Merely, a pup whose loyalty and preference resides more at his mother’s than the absent father. Patience would surely be something that should triumph in this endeavor. 

Without sound, the elder dayoukai merely leaned past the barrier and took hold of the young pup by the scruff of his neck. Lifting the smaller dog demon up and off the walls, a subdued growl before diving past the clouds and onto the skies. 

Given that this would indeed merit a squabble behind closed doors, he had planned to make the entire journey as humbling as possible. Not to mention, one that would rile up his wife a little too over the edge for reasons he would rather not dwell in.

As they soar through the skies, he had thought of dropping Sesshoumaru to test if he had gotten around the skill of flight without the safety of plummeting onto Kimi’s opulent gardens or servants rushing to ensure the young prince is unharmed. 

Jaw now slowly unhinged, he peered down at the pup to elicit a reaction that would determine the next course of action. Whether to drop him through a confident response or be swift enough to catch him should the very second he’d hear him whine in fear or worry.

There was wisdom found in the notion that patience was a virtue, especially for in the case of an absent father. Sesshomaru had been told many things about his Father, how wonderful and powerful he was. How he was an excellent general, and that Sesshomaru had big shoes to fill in. Of course, there was pride to be found in having such an exemplary Father.

This and disobeying his Mother’s direct orders were a different matter. As the parent who had more presence in his life, he would listen to his Mother. Not only that, it was normal for most children to be obedient to their Mother, as it was important for survival.

He’d been picked up by the scruff and the pup tensed, his body curling like a cooked shrimp when his feet no longer touched solid ground. Sesshomaru was quite upset by this, but the subdued growl heard behind his ears prompted his ears to be pulled back, tight against his head. It took no genius to know by body language that he was nonplussed.

Now past the barrier, despite Sesshomaru’s obvious actions to not go past the barrier as per his mothers directives, Toga had taken it upon himself to do as he pleased, without so as much as even explain his thoughts. All he’d done thus far was to vaguely speak and leave Sesshomaru questioning and theorizing what was going on.

When he felt the jaw holding him loosen slightly, Sesshomaru made no move to react, still quite stiff. He wasn’t quite sure what was Toga’s intent, but he was schooled enough to know that remaining calm and collected was paramount to keeping yourself safe and levelheaded. Whatever Toga had decided to do, he’d come to find out.

The question has ever been the same for the past while: was Toga ready to accept the outcome for all the actions he’s decided upon thus far?

@fluffyinupapa

[patrineptn]

Far From Home

Summary: Kagome is never too far from trouble, it seems. After moving to America to start over, she ends up in Hawkins just as strange things start to happen. Fandom: Inuyasha x Stranger Things (Ch 4) Crossover

Also available on FF.Net and AO3

Chapter 04

Kagome’s house wasn’t prepared to receive so many visitors. The couch was too small and there were barely enough chairs to fit everyone. In the end, Kagome decided to stay standing and had enough freedom of movement to pace around.

The others waited, some more patiently than others. Lucas worried over Max. Dustin looked ready to jump from his seat. Eddie, Steve, Nancy and Robin followed Kagome with their eyes. 

"I was fifteen when a demon attacked me for the first time. I was looking for my cat when a youkai - that's what we call some types of demons in Japan - Mistress Centipede, ripped open my side to take out a magic jewel I didn't know I carried." She lifted her top until the remaining scar showed up. "It was the Shikon no Tama, the Jewel of Four Souls, that vanished from the world five hundred years ago." Dustin bent forward, his mouth open to question something, but Steve stopped him. "From that moment on, nothing was the same. I was dragged down a well into a portal that took me to the past, to a time when demons roamed free and people were born with powers to fight them. I'm the reincarnation of the former guardian of the Jewel, who was fatally wounded when protecting it. I was born a priestess but was never trained to be one. At first, all I could do was keep the Jewel pure by touching it. Then, youkai found out about the return of the Shikon no Tama and came after it.

"The Shikon no Tama could increase any demon's power by infinite folds and it was believed to grant a wish. I've met a hanyou, half-human half-dog demon, that wanted to become a full youkai. The sister of the previous guardian helped me to subdue him. Then a crow demon tried to steal the Jewel. In an attempt to stop it from getting away, I shoot an arrow that broke Shikon no Tama into hundreds of pieces.

"This half-demon was called Inuyasha. We joined in a quest to get back all the shards. He wanted his wish, I wanted to fix my mistake. In our journey, we met a fox demon, Shippo, whose dad died because he had a Shikon shard; then a Buddhist Monk called Miroku whose family had been cursed by Naraku, the same demon that cause the death of the former Jewel's protector. Finally, the last members of our ragtag group were a demon slayer, Sango, that had her entire village slaughtered by Naraku, and her loyal companion Kirara, a two-tailed cat demon.

"My life was split in two. When I jumped down the well, I was a warrior priestess in training, searching for the shards and fighting against Naraku to stop his reign of chaos. Here, I was a student that missed most classes due to mysterious illnesses. I would come home every once in a while to take tests, but studying isn't a priority when you are fighting for your life. My grades sank, I failed that year and barely got into high school in the next.

"In the past, I had to learn how to shoot a bow, how to hide, how not to be a hindrance. They were my second family, brothers in arms, as you say in the west. I loved them so much." Tears cascaded down her cheeks. "Once all the shards were located, we found Naraku. We had gotten powerful enough to defeat him, but he had one last trick. He trapped me inside the Jewel and tried to deceive me into wishing to be free, but Inuyasha found me and I knew I had to make the right wish. I wished for the Jewel to disappear from existence. A blinding light surrounded us and the next thing I knew I was in my room. 

"My mother told me Inuyasha brought me unconscious and that the quest was over." She took a break. No one said a word. "For three years, I waited. I went to the well house every day, hoping to feel a slight hint of magic, hoping to go back to where I thought I belonged." Kagome closed her fists and gritted her teeth. "I… All I have left are my memories.” Her face softened. “And my powers.”

The glow started on Kagome’s hands and spread through her body. The lilac shine was fascinating and terrifying. At the same time, it could soothe someone's soul and burn them to death if they were corrupted enough. Kagome walked and stopped in front of Max. Lucas tensed but the ginger girl held him back. Kagome placed a finger on Max's forehead.

"A demon once tried to control me. He used my fears and insecurities to trap me inside my mind. I could break out once I accepted they were part of me and that there's nothing wrong with feeling that way." Max lowered her gaze. Kagome stepped back.

The people in the room stared mutely at Kagome. Dustin had his mouth open, with the corner of his lips turned up. Nancy, Steve and Robin just winked a few times. Lucas squeezed Max's shoulders. Eddie bit his nails, his face reflecting a hundred questions running through his mind, but he said nothing at the moment.

"So…" said Robin, "what can you do, exactly?"

Kagome put a hand on her chin and looked up. It has been a while since she really had to use her powers other than the eventual meditation and some aura expansion. “I can infuse my powers into an arrow, but I’m not sure how effective it can be against these things from the upside-down world.” ‘And I hope I won't have to test it,' she mentally added. "Oh, and don't fall for illusions, magic barriers or mind control. One of the perks of the holy powers, you know? Mind-related stunts usually don't work on me."

"Maybe that's why Vecna was so interested in you," said Max. "Perhaps he tried to enter your mind like he did with me and failed. Now he's wondering what makes you different."

"We can use it to our advantage," said Kagome. "How long between the symptoms and the attacks with Chrissy and Fred?"

"They died less than a day after seeing the clock." Max shivered. "I don't have much time."

"What about Viktor Creel? He survived the curse," said Nancy. "I have a plan. Robin and I will talk to Creel in the morning and find out how he made it alive."

"Only the two of you?" Asked Steve. "I'm going too."

While Robin, Nancy and Steve discussed, Eddie pulled Kagome aside. Concern splashed over his face, with his eyebrows in a constant frown.

"How are you? Everyone's worried about Max, but you've been there with Vecna too."

"I've survived much worse." Kagome patted his arm. "Thanks for asking."

"You didn't tell us everything."

"It's complicated," she said. "I never expected anyone to believe it, so I never prepared myself to tell the whole story. Not even my mother knows all the gore details. She would freak out if she did."

"You can tell me. I'll believe every word, no matter how absurd." Kagome looked at him, questioning. "You are a gold mine of ideas for my campaigns. I am already planning the next Hellfire Club adventure. A cursed stone being chased by friends and foes alike. How good are your drawing skills? You will need to tell me all the details about the folks you've met. Kagome Higurashi, I deem you my muse."

Kagome released a heartfelt laugh. For the first time since her adventures ended, she felt normal. She was around people of her age who had experiences somewhat similar to hers. That alone gave her the strength to do her best to help this group she just met.

It was morning again when the group moved to the Wheeler’s basement. Some of them were able to take a short nap, while others stayed in vigil. Neither Dustin, Lucas nor Eddie stepped outside during the night in case Jason happened to drive over. Before leaving, Kagome grabbed the bow she had carved and some arrows. When asked about it, she said it never hurts to be prepared.

Once Nancy and Robin left to meet the Hospice’s Director where Viktor Creel was being held and try having a talk with him, Max handed Steve, Dustin and Lucas a letter, with three more to be given to Eleven, Mike and Will. She insisted for them to open it only if Vecna’s curse got her, much to their groans and reassurance that everything was going to be fine. Kagome and Eddie were left out of the moment, not wanting to interfere with their friendship.

“I wasn’t expecting Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington to be like this,” said Eddie.

“Like what?” 

“Like a nice person. He had quite a reputation before graduating. The typical high school jerk. Henderson idolizes him and I always second-guessed his heroism. Now I’m second-guessing myself for judging him without actually knowing him.”

“He is a nice guy. His aura shines whenever he’s around the kids. It feels warm and comfy, almost fatherly. And I don’t think he’s any jerkier than any good-looking guy of his age.”

“Good-looking? So you’re falling for Harrington too?”

“Not at all. I’m into guys with long hair.” She winked and stood, following Max, who headed out with the others on her tail. 

Kagome checked the surroundings before signaling Eddie to come out too. Max wanted to visit some places in case it was her last day alive. They cramped Steve’s car, with Eddie keeping his head down. They reached the trailer park and Max went inside.

From the distance, Eddie saw his uncle by their front door.

“Don’t even think about it,” warned Steve.

“Come on, Steve. Uncle Wayne must be dead worried. He's the only family I have.”

“And he might be the only Munson left if Jason catches you. He could be hiding anywhere just waiting for you to show up. If you want to get beaten up so bad, you can do it after we leave.”

Kagome was already halfway when they stopped discussing. She rushed to the older man’s location, feeling the intense malice coming from inside the house. It overwhelmed her senses that she had to stop and take a short break before approaching him. She was still getting used to the upside-down world’s energy signature.

“Mr Munson? Wayne Munson?”

“If this is about Eddie, I’ve told everything to the police. I’m not talking to reporters anymore.”

“Don’t worry, Eddie is clean. The Sheriff knows he was with me that night. He can’t leave the city for now, but otherwise, it’s fine.” Wayne Munson finally looked at Kagome. “Do you see that car over there? Eddie wanted to come, but some guys still think it was him who killed Chrissy so it’s better if he stays under the radar.”

“Who are you? My nephew never mentioned fancying a girl.”

Kagome plastered a thin smile. Her cheeks burned under the stare he gave her. “We have some classes together. I’m Kagome, Kagome Higurashi.”

“Listen, Kagome,” he toned down his voice, “I know Eddie came home that night. Please, let me talk. And I don’t know why you lied, but I have a feeling that Eddie won’t be safe if he comes back now. Can I trust you to keep my nephew safe?”

“You can count on that!

[thateldribitch]

Wukong: Evil, Evil Family Man

So like any normal person, I've been reading Journey To the West after I watched a Lego show--hyperfixations go brr, etc. But I just want to say I am fascinated by young Sun Wukong.

This man is arguably evil. Or at the very least, he's a metaphor for impulse and the ID. He largely does whatever he wants, and to an extreme degree of passion. He doesn't really have self-control.

First thing he does when he lands in a place that has humans? Beat up a guy and take his clothes. First thing he does when he gets all his powers? Murders a demon that dares to take his monkey subjects. And his solution? Terrify a kingdom and robs it of all its weapons.

But there is a genuine, passionate love and kindness to him as well. While not much else matters to him, it is so easy to see that he loves his people so much. At every opportunity, he tries to better their lives.

He gets genuinely excited when he finds the stone palace beyond the waterfall. He immediately shares it with the monkeys, and actually rules them as a kind king. He's never cruel to those closest to him.

After the Monstrous Demon King attacks, he trains them to defend themselves, after the first big demon attack on Flower Fruit Mountain. He makes sure they can be armed properly, too (again, by robbing a kingdom.)

At every opportunity, Sun Wukong tries to extend the lifespans of his monkeys as well as his own. First case? When he strikes all of their names from the records of the Dead. I also haven't gotten to this point, but I also know he steals a bunch of immortal peaches for the same reason.

(For context, I only recently reached the point where SWK gets outraged at his low rank in heaven and wants to be known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.)

Regardless, I think all of the above were done to make SWK a more sympathetic character. Because these are not the actions of a creature that is solely a monster. He loves his people fiercely. He will do anything to protect them and care for them, be that violence or crime. This man saw a bunch of monkies and his first thought was that he loved them.

So by all accounts, at this point before the Journey? Sun Wukong is a villain. He has one redeeming feature, and that is he loves his people so much.

Because even though we might want to call all the generals and rulers of Heaven assholes, we see Sun Wukong, in Lego Monkie Kid, after the Journey. After he's learned from all his mistakes, and after he's had his heart broken and his temper tamed. Before the Journey? He is a monster.

He's powerful enough to subdue dragons and demons, to the point where they fear his mere presence. He can fight gods, intimidate kings of the dead, and he is greedy. No matter how much power he gets, he's not satisfied (he will never be satisfied🎶.) He gets layers of immortality because he just wants it. He gets power because he wants it, terrorizes dragons for armor and weapons because he wants it, and he wants, wants, wants like a black hole.

Heaven was not wrong for thinking of him as a threat. Because he didn't care for anyone but his monkies. They tried a non-violent approach. They tried to give him a small role, just to test him out. Even if it was just a stable boy, essentially, it was still an honor. Were they awful to do it just because he looked like a monkey? Yeah, pretty messed up when you think about it.

Communication could have been better all around. But still. He denies his appointment out of sheer arrogance.

This Sun Wukong is dangerous. He guards what he has with ferocity, and only wants more.

The Lego Monkie Kid Wukong is a depressed little skrunkle who can't communicate to save his life--but is a whole lot more controlled and level-headed.

[the-monkey-ruler]

Monkey War (1982) 孙悟空大战飞人国

Director: Chen Junliang Screenwriter: Yao Qingkang Starring: Liu Shangqian / Zhou Shaodong / Pang San / Fang Fangfang / Lu Yilong / Xu Shuyuan / Li Zairong / Wei Pingao / Sun Yue Genre: Fantasy Country/Region of Production: Taiwan, China Language: Mandarin Chinese Date: 1982-08-14 (Taiwan, China) Also known as: Sun Wukong vs. Flying Man / 孫悟空 孫悟空大戰飛人國 IMDb: tt0089614 Type: Retelling

Summary:

During the Zhenguan period, Master Xuanzang was ordered by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, to go to the West to seek the Mahayana Sutra. Along the way, he recruited the Great Sage Sun Wukong, Marshal Zhu Bajie of the Heavenly Reeds, and the General Sha Seng as his disciples. He went through countless hardships and subdued many demons and monsters. One day, he arrived at Chechi Kingdom. Seven years ago, a rare drought occurred in this country. At this time, two Taoists, Lu Li Daxian and Yang Li Daxian, who could call the wind and rain, appeared. The two immortals prayed for rain, which caused the king to abolish Buddhism and detain monks. Tang Seng was entrusted by the elders of Zhiyuan Temple to plead for him. With the help of Wukong, he prayed for rain and defeated the two immortals. The two monsters failed to rebel and fled all the way. They first instigated the spider spirit to confuse Tang Seng, and then used the monsters of the Flying Man Kingdom to change many times to provoke the relationship between Tang Seng and his disciples. One test after another came, and the road to seeking the scriptures was long and tortuous...

Source: https://chinesemov.com/1982/Monkey-War

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwvFYwGhvTo

[ryin-silverfish]

Chapter 39: The Mystery of the Blue Feline

"Is it the same lion, or a different lion?"

Hmmm…a mystery for the ages.

Context: Manjusri/Wenshu's Azure Lion appears twice in JTTW, first here, then in the more well-known Lion Camel Ridge arc, both of which ended with Wenshu showing up and dragging his steed back to Mt. Wutai.

On the former occasion he was actually a good king, despite pushing the actual king into a well and taking his place, as stated by Wenshu himself—a stark contrast to his later apperance, where he had gone full demon-king and started eating people, and the Azure Lion of LCR shows no sign of having recognized SWK from before.

This naturally rise some questions. Are these two the same lion? If not, is Wenshu basically the Big Cat Dad of Bodhisattvas, who adopted a whole pride of lion cubs as his steeds /j

Well…the best theory I can come up with is that JTTW novel is a compilation of Journey tales over the years, and two stories happened to involve Manjusri's lion and the final author-compiler just put both in, without much thoughts about making them logically consistent.

Like, JTTW in folk storytelling and opera format had a lot of "episodes" that could be told in different places and time, out of sequence, with only the barest knowledge of context needed.

And unlike novel written by one author from the beginning and exists first and foremost in book format, if you are a Ming Precious Scroll preacher or opera play writer, you can tell Lion Story A in one place and Lion Story B in another place and the two group of audiences would never overlap.

Or, you could tell both to a single group of audiences, but bc so much time have passed between the two performances, they had already forgotten about the previous one.

The "Wuji Kingdom Lion" story certainly appears first in the evolution of the JTTW story cycle, though: in the folk opera collection 礼节传簿, there was an excerpt of a play's act names called "Tripitaka Seeks the Scripture in the West" (唐僧西天取经), which already included the "Wenshu Subdues the Lion at Wuji Kingdom" story.

Also, there was an entire Zaju play about Wenshu subduing the lion by the Ming prince Zhu Youdun that I could not find any digital version of, only summaries, and Nezha and his embroidered ball was somehow involved.

Sidenote, we also see how SWK's golden vision has limits here. When the lion transforms into Tripitaka, SWK had trouble telling them apart, and stated outright that it was because "his Qi and body are the same" (气体相同). This supports the theory that SWK's golden vision doesn't actually see through demonic glamor and perceive their true forms, but merely the aura they are radiating.

On a more annoying note: popular modern reading of JTTW tends to see Wenshu as this petty asshole in the Wuji Kingdom chapter. "Sure, the king might have dunked a disguised Bodhisattva into the palace canal for three days, but you insulted him first, and besides, that's no reason to make your pet murder him and leave his body at the bottom of a well for three years!"

Which…is a lot of presentism, and people just not getting the saying that "Each peck, each drink, is predetermined" (一饮一啄，莫非前定). It is very much going by the popular understanding of karmic retribution, where every consequences have a cause.

But I do have a HC about this. In the text, the King of Wuji was known as a generous and pious ruler, who greatly venerated Buddhism and priests, and it was because of this that the Buddha sent Wenshu to evaluate him for potential Arhat-hood.

Wenshu, in the disguise of a poor priest, met the king, got dunked into a canal for cheek, yadda yadda yadda. Fast-forward, a great drought had descended upon Wuji kingdom, and no amount of prayers seemed to help, until Azure Lion showed up in the disguise of a Daoist sage, summoned a much-needed storm, and became the king's sworn brother.

But what if Wenshu had come to the kingdom with another goal in mind?

As the wisest Bodhisattva, he knew a drought was imminent, and if the king was virtuous and faithful enough to be a potential candidate for Arhat-hood, he would certainly use this knowledge well. Yet, upon a closer observation, cracks began to show.

Sure, the king loved Buddhism, but his way of showing it was building all these lavish temples and golden statues and spoiling the clergy, with no regards for the burden placed on commoners and the corruption he fostered. As such, his kingdom would be woefully unprepared for a natural disaster.

Which was exactly what Wenshu told him; just like how Vows are but empty promises without Practice, Practice without Wisdom and Mercy, without the awareness of causes and consequences and what people truly need, is a receipt for disaster. If you spent half the money you used to construct these temples on irrigation projects and new granaries, you'd have done more good than all the prayers of your monks combined.

Annnd the king didn't take it well, bc how dare this lowly monk bit the hand that fed him, and, egged on by some equally pissed-off monks, ordered the fateful three-day-long dunking. If the monk was a regular monk he wouldn't have survived that, and in true karmatic fashion, the attempted murder was going to come back to him.

That tangent aside: when Wenshu defended his steed by saying it had not committed any crimes as a king after the murder-replace thing, SWK was like "But he sleeps with the queen while disguised, right, how's that for 'No crimes committed'?" And Wenshu responded with "Oh no worries, my pet is neutered", and Bajie actually checked by trying to grab its nonexistent balls…

Funny. As. Hell.

@journeythroughjourneytothewest

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Chapter Recap: Chapter Twenty One: The Viharapalas prepare lodging for the Great Sage; Lingji of Sumeru crushes the wind demon

This chapter begins with the fifty little demons, which Sun Wukong had soundly trounced in the last chapter, fleeing back to their cave and telling the Yellow Wind Monster that “the Tiger Vanguard was no match for the hairy-faced monk.” The “old monster…was terribly upset” by this news, and becomes even angrier when informed that the “Tiger Vanguard was beaten to death by the hairy-faced monk and dragged up to our door to provoke battle.” Calling for his armor, the Yellow Wind Monster states that even if the Monkey King “has nine heads and eight tails, I’m going to take him in here to pay for the life of my Tiger Vanguard!” And so the old monster grabs his steel trident and leads the rest of the yaoguai out to do battle.

The find Sun Wukong resting “one foot on the carcass of the Tiger monster and the compliant iron rod in his hands” and demanding that they release Tang Sanzang. The Yellow Wind Monster, however, laughs when he sees “the diminutive figure of Pilgrim—less than four feet, in fact,” and proceeds to call the Monkey king “only a sickly ghost, with nothing more than your skeleton left!” Sun Wukong laughs in turn, telling his opponent that “if you have the courage to hit me on the head with the handle of your trident, I’ll grow six feet at once.” And he does, which both alarms the Yellow Wind Monster and compels him to begin battling the Monkey King in earnest. The two fight for thirty rounds without either one being able to gain the upper hand. So Sun Wukong uses his trick of “body beyond the body” to use his hair to create “more than a hundred Pilgrims; all having the same appearance and all holding an iron rod, they surrounded the monster in midair.” Yet the Yellow Wind Monster now reveals his “special talent”; he “turned to face the ground to the southwest and opened his mouth three times to blow out some air. Suddenly a mighty yellow wind arose in the sky” that was so ferocious it “blew away all those little Pilgrims formed by the Great Sage’s hair and sent them reeling through the air like so many spinning wheels.” Sun Wukong, for his own part, grows alarmed enough to both retrieve his hairs and to try to attack the yaoguai himself, “only to be met by a mouthful of yellow wind right on his face. Those two fiery eyes with diamond pupils of his were so blasted that they shut tightly and could not be opened.” The Monkey King is thus forced to flee in defeat, while his opponent retrieves his wind.

Meanwhile, Zhu Bajie had led Bai Longma and the luggage to a place of refuge “when he saw the violent yellow windstorm arriving and the whole of Heaven and Earth growing dim.” During this episode he had “crouched on the ground and refused to open his eyes or raise his head, his mouth incessantly calling on the name of Buddha and making vows,” but when it is over he peeks out in deep distress and uncertainty until he sees “the Great Sage approaching from the west, grunting and snorting as he came.” Sun Wukong tells his swinish companion what happened, including on how in terms of the martial arts the Yellow Wind King is “just about the equal of old Monkey,” and further can’t stop exclaiming on the power of the wind. Concluding that they’ll “have to wait to rescue Master,” Sun Wukong also wonders if there’s any eye doctor around who can help him with his “sorely blasted” eyes. He also doubts that “the monster has the gall to harm out master,” and so the Monkey King proposes that he and Zhu Bajie find a family to stay with for the night, and that they’ll “return to subdue the monster tomorrow when it's light.”

As dusk is setting in, the pair come across a small cottage. Calling out, they are soon confronted by an old man and “several young farmers, all holding rakes, pitchforks, and brooms.” Sun Wukong explains their situation, and the now sympathetic old man apologizes for their suspicion, as their location “is a place where clouds are more numerous than people, and when we heard you calling at the door just now, we were afraid that it might be someone like a wily fox, a tiger, or a bandit from the mountain.” Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie are thus invited in and given tea and a vegetarian meal. Yet before they lay down to sleep, Sun Wukong inquires as to whether there’s anyone around who sells eye medicine, and goes on to explain the reason behind why he’s “weeping constantly.” The old man, however, wonders why a “young priest like you” would lie, and goes on to explain that the Great King Yellow Wind wields the Divine Wind of Samadhi, which kills mortals instantly. Sun Wukong merely says that while he “may not be an immortal (for they belong to the younger generation, as far as I’m concerned) …it will take some doing to finish me off!”

Now seemingly convinced of the monkey’s merits, the old man offers Sun Wukong the “three-flowers and nine-seeds ointment,” which is “capable of curing all wind-induced eye maladies.” He dabs some onto the Monkey King’s eyes and tells him that he will be well by morning. After some squabbling with Zhu Bajie and exercising “to cultivate his magic power,” Sun Wukong does fall asleep, and wakes up the next morning with sight “a hundred times better than before!” The pair then look around and find that the cottage had disappeared and that they were “actually lying on a green grass meadow.” It’s soon concluded that it was the deities who were ordered to guard Tang Sanzang which were behind this, and while Sun Wukong is annoyed at their trick he’s soon mollified by Zhu Bajie reminding the monkey of all the help they just gave. They soon go back to their bickering, however, when Eight Rules tells the Monkey King that he should “find out whether Master is dead or alive; if he’s dead, each one of us can tend to our own business; if he’s not, we can do our best to discharge our responsibility.” With that final spat, Sun Wukong goes back to confront the Great King Yellow Wind.

When he arrives at the Yellow Wind Cave, the Monkey King finds all its inhabitants “sound asleep.” He thus transforms himself into a “tiny and delicate” spotted-leg mosquito and gives a ferocious bite to the yaoguai “who was supposed to guard the door [and] was lying there asleep, snoring.” After this little yaoguai opens the first door upon finding that it’s dawn another door inside is opened, “Pilgrim immediately flew in.” He finds the old yaoguai king “giving orders to all his subordinates to be especially careful in guarding the various entrances while they made ready their weapons,” as if the Divine Wind of Samadhi hadn’t killed Sun Wukong, “he will certainly come back today. When he comes, we’ll finish him off.”

The monkey turned mosquito flies further into the cave, and crawling through a crack in a door near the back, discovers “a larger garden, in the middle of which, bound by ropes to a pole, was the Tang Monk. That master was shedding tears profusely, constantly wondering where Wukong and Wuneng were to be found.” The Monkey King “stopped his flight and alighted on his bald head,” and tells Tripitaka that they “must first capture the monster before we can rescue you,” and that while “the wind of the old monster is a powerful weapon…we should be able to capture him today. Relax and stop crying.” Message relayed, Sun Wukong takes off.

The monkey turned mosquito finds the Great King of Yellow Wind at the front of the cave “making a roll call of all the commanders of his troops.” Yet a little yaoguai soon rushes in with the information that he encountered “a monk with a long snout and huge ears…But I didn’t see the hairy-faced monk who came here yesterday.” The Great King of Yellow Wind concludes that Sun Wukong must either be dead or off trying to find help. He then hubristically reveals his only weakness; in reassuring his troops that he’s not afraid of any “divine warrior,” as only “the Bodhisattva Lingji can overcome the power of my wind,” he handed the Monkey King the key to his defeat. And sure enough Sun Wukong immediately goes back to Eight Rules to inform the pig about his discovery, though there is still the problem of neither one of them knowing where the required bodhisattva lives. Yet fortuitously an old man suddenly comes along, which both soon realize is the Gold Star of Venus, and who gives Sun Wukong the precise location and direction for where to find the Bodhisattva Lingji, who resides on the Little Sumeru Mountain. Having given the directions, the Gold Star of Venus transforms himself into a gentle breeze and vanishes, and Sun Wukong tells Zhu Bajie to hide himself and guard the luggage and the horse. Eight Rules agrees to do so, stating that “Old Hog has mastered the law of the turtle: withdraw your head when you needn’t stick it out!”

Pilgrim Sun travels at an astonishing speed to the Little Sumeru Mountain, where he finds a temple where a Daosit is “reciting the name of Buddha.” After they bow to each other, the Monkey King inquires as to the whereabouts of the Bodhisattva Lingji, and is soon led to the room where the bodhisattva is worshipping the Buddha. After Sun Wukong explains his plight, the Bodhisattva Lingji in turn relates how he “did receive the command of Tathagata…to keep the Yellow Wind Monster here in submission. Tathagata also gave me a Wind-Stopping Pearl and a Flying-Dragon Precious Staff.” We also learn that after the bodhisattva had captured the Great King Yellow Wind for the first time, he had “spared the monster his life only on the condition that he would retire in the mountain and abstain from the sin of taking life. I did not know that he would want to harm your esteemed teacher and transgress the Law.” Recognizing that the situation is “my fault” (especially since it was confirmed this yaoguai had a habit of regularly snacking on humans), the Bodhisattva Lingji takes up his staff and travels with Sun Wukong to the Yellow Wind Mountain.

In no time at all they arrive. Bodhisattva Lingji tells the Monkey King that as “this monster is rather afraid of me,” Pilgrim Sun should lure the yaoguai out of his cave so that the bodhisattva can work his magic. Sun Wukong agrees to this plan and, whipping out his iron rod and smashing the door of the cave, demands that the Great King Yellow Wind return Tang Sanzang. This causes the old monster to take up his armor and steel trident as before, but now with the intent to “use that divine wind to blow [the monkey] to death.” The two fight for a few rounds before the Great King Yellow Wind resolves to summon the Samadhi wind again, but at that moment the Bodhisattva Lingji “threw down the Flying-Dragon Precious Staff as he recited some kind of spell. It was instantly transformed into a golden dragon with eight claws, two of which caught hold of that monster’s head and threw him two or three times against the boulders beside the mountain cliff. The monster changed back into his original form and became a mink with yellow fur.”

Sun Wukong is about to kill this small animal, but the Bodhisattva Lingji stops him before then telling the Monkey King the story of this yaoguai: originally, “he was a rodent at the foot of the Spirit Mountain who had acquired the Way. Because he stole some of the pure oil in the crystal chalice, he fled for fear that the vajra attendants would seize him. Tathagata thought that he was not guilty of death, and this is why I was asked to capture him in the first place and banish him to this region.” Yet now that this yaoguai attempted to kill and eat Tang Sanzang, the Bodhisattva Lingji will take him back to the Buddha “so that his guilt may be clearly established.” This decided, the Bodhisattva, after receiving Sun Wukong’s thanks, leaves for the West, mink in tow.  

Soon after, the Monkey King reunites with Zhu Bajie and relates everything that happened. The two then go to the Yellow Wind Cave together and “with their rake and rod slaughtered all the wily hares, the vixen, the musk deer, and the horned deer.” They then rescue Tang Sanzang, who thanks them profusely. Reunited, the pilgrims then enjoy some vegetarian food they found in the cave along with tea and rice before going back on the road West. What struggles they face next is a question that will have to be left for the next chapter.

[wisteriashouse]

stranded.

pairing: rengoku kyoujurou x reader

genre: fluff

word count: 1960

The mission was a success.

Although it is more common for Pillars to work alone to make full use of their manpower, Oyakata-sama had assigned you and Kyoujurou on a joint mission. There was a disturbance in a remote village in the far west, rumored to one of the Twelve Moons devouring people. Luckily, the two of you had managed to subdue and slay it before it could kill and feast on even more victims before proceeding to clear the surrounding forests of any more demons.

However, the both of you had gotten snowed in due to an avalanche blocking off the mountain pass, and hence are to be stranded there for the next three days.

The second you wave off the last villager come to thank you for saving her child, you promptly make your way into your room, slide the door shut and proceed to collapse onto the tatami on the spot. Every bone in your body is aching as if you’ve been run over by a train and all its carriages; you have no idea how Kyoujurou still has the energy to help the villagers bury the rest of the bodies. You had tried to insist on helping as well, but your fellow Pillar had cheerily shooed you off to rest, reassuring you that’d they’d be done in no time.

Rolling over into a more comfortable position, you wince when fresh pain blooms across your shoulder blade and immediately scramble to your knees to take stock of your injury. The adrenaline from the battle earlier must be wearing off, because the moment you try to look over your own shoulder, about ten different muscles howl at you in protest. You groan. 

“That���s just wonderful.”

Shrugging the haori off your shoulders, you study the dark red stain on the fabric contemplatively and consider if this is an injury you can simply shrug off. Common sense and your desire to actually live beyond thirty tells you no, so you sigh and drag yourself to your feet.

You could do with another pair of eyes. 

Stepping out barefoot onto the engawa, you tip toe your way to the room next to yours. The candles aren’t lit, and you briefly wonder if Kyoujurou is still not back or if he’s already retired for the night. While you’re pondering this outside, the door slides open all of a sudden, startling you.

“Kyoujurou! You scared me!” You tell him, one hand over your chest. Your friend smiles at you brightly from the doorway.

“My apologies! I was wondering why you were dawdling about outside instead of entering!” He’s in a slight state of undress, his Flame Pillar haori absent and two buttons on his uniform undone. He must have been in the middle of changing out of his clothes and getting ready for bed. “Do you need something from me?”

“Sorry for disturbing you, I just wanted to know if you made it back safely.” You shake your head, intent on just checking out your injury tomorrow. It’s not like you’ll die overnight, will you? “I’ll leave you to your rest now.”

With a wave you turn to leave, but before you can, Kyoujurou’s voice stops you in your tracks.

“I wish that you would be more forward with me!” Kyoujurou declarers loudly out of the blue, and you whirl around to look at him with wide eyes. He’s smiling at you, hopeful and genuine. “As fellow Pillars, we should help and rely on each other! Furthermore, you’re a precious friend of mine. I’d love to help you out, if you need me!”

Red colors your cheeks, and you glance to the side, embarrassed. “Of course. My apologies.” You mumble, “It’s just been so long that we’ve met that it feels a little awkward. You’re a precious friend to me too, Kyo.”

At your words, Kyoujurou practically radiates happiness in the dim hallway. “That makes me happy to hear! Come on in!” He ushers you inside quickly, sliding the door shut behind you. You take a seat on the floor and make yourself comfortable, watching him move around the room to light the lamps. Soft candlelight springs to life, bathing the room in a dim orange glow, and he turns back to you once he’s done. “What is it that you need?”

“Well, I might have gotten an injury on my back, but I can’t see how severe it is. I need you to help me take a look.” You explain, and his eyes narrow in concern. In a few quick steps he’s by your side, kneeling behind you to examine your injury. 

“Your uniform appears to have been slashed, but I am unable to take a closer look as your clothes are in the way.” Kyoujurou says, and you frown. This is going to be a pain... “Perhaps you should...” His words trail off, suddenly hesitant, and you laugh quietly under your breath. It’s been awhile since you’ve seen him being flustered. “I can call one of the women from the village to help you instead-”

“No need to, it’s late and they’ve had a long night. Besides, I trust you.” You say, a little amused as you reach up to undo the buttons of your top. “Turn away for a bit.”

“Of course!” His voice quavers just so slightly, and you can’t help the soft laughter that escapes you. Rengoku Kyoujurou, Flame Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, is endearing cute in your eyes, you think. Pulling off your top and wincing when the dried blood tugs at your injury, you use it to cover your front before calling to him.

“You can look now.”

You hear him shift to face you, and then there’s a little intake of breath as he sees your back. “There’s a cut on your left shoulder blade, about the length of my palm.” He explains seriously as he checks over your injury. “It doesn’t appear to be bleeding very much, but you should get it treated as soon as possible before infection sets in.”

“Ahh, got it. I’ll go to the village tomorrow morning and ask for some medicine.” You turn around to smile at him. “Thanks for your help, Kyoujurou.”

“I have medicine!” Kyoujurou announces enthusiastically before you can so much as think about leaving. “I visited Kochou’s estate before this mission, so I happen to have some ointment from her. I’m sure it’ll make you feel better! Give me a moment.” He rummages through his belongings and pulls out a distinctively lacquered container proudly. “Here it is!”

“Shouldn’t you keep that for something more important, Kyoujurou?” You ask him, worried. He’s headed out for another mission right after this one, after all. “I could always just get patched up at the village tomorrow. It doesn’t hurt much.”

“Nonsense!” Kyoujurou insists. “You are a precious friend, it would not be wasted on you.” When he sees your hesitance, his voice softens slightly. “Please, let me take care of you.”

Cheeks heating up slightly, you nod and turn around to hide your face from his gaze. “If you want to, then go ahead.” You say softly under your breath, and you can feel Kyoujurou’s smile behind you.

Demon Slayers are no stranger to injuries, and Kyoujurou has certainly faced his fair share of them before. He prepares the gauze and disinfectant liquid with practiced movements, raising them to your back with cautious hands. He’s clearly mindful of your injury. 

“This might hurt a little,” he warns you, and you hum in acknowledgement.

“I trust you.” The words leave you easily. Kyoujurou’s fingers are warm against your skin.

When the disinfectant touches your gash, you bite back your wince at the sting, but of course Kyoujurou hears it. “Does it hurt?” He asks, clearly upset at the thought of causing you any pain, but you shake your head.

“No, I’m fine. I honestly didn’t think I was going to get injured, but today’s demon was really quite interesting.” You think aloud as Kyoujurou wipes down the area around your wound carefully. “I can’t believe I let myself get hurt by a Lower Moon. Embarrassing, don’t you think?”

“You’re not weak at all!” Kyoujurou pauses in treating your wound to scold you, and you turn around to see him smiling encouragingly at you. “You sustained it saving a little boy, did you not? It is not something to be embarrassed of!”

You laugh, turning back so that he can tend to your injury. “Thanks, Kyoujurou.”

“It’s not a problem! I simply spoke the truth.” He tells you as his fingers resume work once more, dabbing ointment on your wound. The faint smell of antiseptic tickles your nose. “It’s been a while since I’ve last seen you.” Kyoujurou’s voice is a hint softer than usual. “You’re just as selfless as I remember.”

His words make you smile, a light fluttering in your chest. “I’m glad I got to come on this mission with you too, Kyo. Since you became a Pillar, I rarely get to see you aside from Hashira meetings. Maybe getting snowed in was a blessing in disguise for me.” You laugh a little at your own words.

“I feel the same.” Kyoujurou’s breath dances across the back of your neck as he leans over to reach some of the smaller cuts on your shoulder. Content and safe with him, the exhaustion from today starts to catch up with you and you feel your eyelids getting heavier with each second that passes.

“I’m done.” Kyoujurou announces after a few minutes as he secures the knot on your dressing. “Although the wound is not severe, but it’d be good for you to get it changed daily to prevent infection. You should head back to your room now and rest properly-” Your head tilts forward and Kyoujurou pauses mid-sentence to realise you’ve already fallen asleep.

He briefly wonders if he should wake you, but his hand hovers over your shoulder when he catches sight of your sleeping face. Letting out a soft sigh, he murmurs to himself. “Falling asleep in a man’s room like this, you’re truly are cruel for making me suffer in this way.” 

Instead, he averts his gaze and slips his arms beneath your knees and back, careful to avoid your injury, and carries you to the bedding he’d set out earlier for himself. Gently laying you out on it, he makes sure to cover you with the thick blanket so that you don’t catch a cold, and then brushes the hair out of your eyes with a tender hand as he looks down at you with a pained smile.

“You’re so defenseless around me.” He says softly into the quiet of the room, silent except for the sound of the winter wind outside. “I wonder if it’s because you trust me, or because you don’t see me that way at all...”

With a slightly self deprecating sigh, he makes to get up, intent on heading over to your room to sleep instead. Before he can leave, however, a smaller hand wraps around his wrist, holding him in place.

“Kyo...” Kyoujurou looks down to see you pressing his hand to your cheek, a content smile on your face as you sleep. “Warm...”

His heart stumbles in his chest. Despite the winter chill in the air, Kyoujurou feels unbearably warm.

He settles back onto the ground, back against the wall as he looks at you with a resigned smile. “What am I to do with you, really...” His own eyes slide shut, but his hand remains tightly held in yours throughout the entire night.

The two of you fall asleep together, each dreaming of the other even as the sun begins to rise over the mountaintops.

[oathofoaksart]

YOUNG JUSTICE OC: KITSUNE 

bio under the cut!

BASICS Name: Leiko Ara A.K.A: Kitsune; Lei, Kit, L.A [only by Charlie] Age: 16 [S1 Era], 21 [S2 Era] Gender: Cisgender Female Orientation: Grayromantic Bisexual

Skin: Fair Hair: Plum-Black Eyes: Black, fully golden and slit-pupiled as Kitsune Height: 5'6”, 6’1” in platforms Build: Lithe, built like a dancer Distinctions: Distinctly pretty. Sharpened canines and nails. A sharp dresser, obviously wealthy, rarely seen without some type of heel.

RELATIONS Parents: Ryuu Ara and Cho Miyamotou [estranged] Siblings: N/A Friends: Wally “Kid Flash” West, Zatanna Zatara, M’gann “Miss Martian” M’orzz, Raquel “Rocket” Irving, Kaldur’ahm “Aqualad”, Dick “Robin” Grayson, Conner “Superboy” Kent, Artemis Crock, Haley Overbea [OC] Partner/s: Wally “Kid Flash/Flash III” West (ev. post-S3) Misc.: Charles “Scribe” Jenson [OC], Penelope “Poppet” Caskett [@PoltergeistPrincessa] Affiliations: The Spiral, The Team

PERSONALITY Personality Type: ENTP-A [Assertive Debater] Temperament: Choleric-Sanguine Alignment: Chaotic Good Clever | Self-Assured | Driven | Arrogant | Spiteful

Aristocratic in both upbringing and nature, Leiko likes to carry herself with regality. Her confidence and well-honed charm makes her a popular figure among her school peers, even though she keeps everyone at a cool arm's length. Her social aloofness leaves her with little to no close friends, which she figures is just as well, since she finds friends to be a waste of time.

Around others in the heroic scene, Leiko allows herself to show off. She’s known for her theatrical and flamboyant attitude, topped with a haughtiness she cares little to subdue. She’s assertive, witty, and adores a challenge. She lets this completely unfurl as the vain and dramatic Kitsune, who views the world as her stage and anyone watching her audience.

Leiko struggles with unlearning a deep-seated cynicism against others and is often skeptical of actions claimed to be done out of good will, which clashes with the ethics of heroism. Her grasp on empathy leaves much to be desired as well; she can be condescending, sharp, and impatient when the situation calls for exactly the opposite.

Still, steadily Leiko finds herself learning humility, trust, and care from her teammates, along the way forming friendships no Swiss bank account could buy.

ABILITIES AND WEAKNESSES

Powers and Abilities:

Physiology:

Lei doesn’t possess a human soul, but of that of her namesake, a kitsune. Her “soul” is instead a Hoshi no Tama, usually referred to as her soul bead. It is a fist-sized pearl that resides within her body. This is the source of her magic as well as her heightened physical attributes.

Enhanced Senses: Lei demonstrates fox-like senses. She sees just as well at night as she does during the day, hears better than a normal human, and has a better sense of smell. This doubles in the supernatural side, she can see, hear, and smell beyond the mortal plane. 

Enhanced Physiology: Lei exhibits above-average speed, strength, endurance and rarely if ever comes down with diseases, viruses and the like.

Onmyodo: A traditional Japanese occultism

Illusion Magic: Lei’s strongest suit is her hold over illusion spells. Using a variety of paper charms, mirrors, physical cues, written and verbal spells, she's able to create confusion over her opponent. These illusions range from visual to audial, making it difficult to rely on one's own senses. Her illusions are often grandiose, jarringly colorful, with nods to the overall aesthetic influence of traditional Japanese art forms. In turn makes her relatively immune to similar tactics.  

Barriers: Can alternately use barriers as a sort of defense or a barring mechanism. Barriers set up by paper charms are stronger and more durable than barriers set by simple verbal spells, however combining both techniques grants the best results.

Pyrokinesis: Lei’s kitsunebi is a mystic fire she can conjure in the form of pillars and spheres. Notably different to “mortal” flame, as it burns exclusively supernatural/otherworldly beings, but brings the sensation of weakness and illness to the human body.

Weapons and Inventory:

Enchanted Parasol:

Kit’s go-to weapon. By reaching over her shoulder, the same way one would unsheath a sword, her oil paper parasol materializes into her hand in a burst of flame. It serves both as a defensive and offensive tool.

Closed: While in her hands it doesn’t appear to weigh any more than a regular parasol, in combat it carries an inexplicable weight, able to break concrete. She uses it as a melee weapon, much like a bat or a club. Kit also uses it as a makeshift wand/staff, for bigger and more complex spells. And a favorite stun tactic of hers is to mimic pumping the action to a shotgun, aiming her parasol and “firing” it. It creates a momentary illusion of being “shot” to whomever her target may have been. 

Open: Popping it open creates a quick-time personal shield, able to deflect various attacks and withstand a fair amount of explosive power. Ducking behind it obscures her from her opponent and she uses this window of time to work up a spell. Spinning the canopy of her parasol causes momentary dizziness. When jumping off of highland, the parasol allows Kit to glide for long distances (the amount of time and smoothness of the glide suffers when another person is in tow).

Ofuda: These paper charms can be used as delayed “bombs” affected by sticking them into walls, either simply timed or activated by touch. They also serve for warding spells. Gohei: A summoned short wand with a decorative paper trail, the length of the trail stretches during use. Lei uses it as a sort of weaponized gymnast ribbon, or a whip. Most effective against intaginable objects or enemies. Balance Charm: With Scribe's help and after many mishaps, Kit wears a beaded charm around her ankle which enables her limited enhanced movement. She appears to glide along, unweighted, making her movements seem feather light. It helps slow or cushion short distance falls and balance on unprobable surfaces. May also explain how she manages to fight in heels. Spellbook: Kit carries a small notebook with variant spells written herself for safe-keeping and for a quick reference check. Mirrors: Kit holds a small, two-faced mirror. The mirror serves to see through glamour illusions or create more intricate illusions of her own; more often than not, she uses it to admire a makeup job well done. Purification Salt: Ghosts in particular are vulnerable to salt, circles of it makes areas inaccessible to them. Calligraphy Set: A horse-hair brush, inkwell and a small stash of paper for written spells

Limitations and Weaknesses:

Water and Aquatic Environments: As host of a fire kitsune, Kitsune’s main and biggest weakness is water. Being around areas with large amounts of water dampens the potency of her magic, being doused in it cuts off completely until she dries off. While her parasol helps repel rain and small splashes, it can only do so much. The water effect includes any type, Lei incapacitaed by things such as baths and showers as well until she properly dries herself off.

Cynophobia: Lei’s “unprompted” fear of dogs, or really any sort of canine that aren’t foxes, can be traced back to Japanese folklore. Dogs were considered enemies of foxes, being used to hunt them down. People accused of being possessed by, or being kitsune, were sometimes forced to be licked head to toe by dogs in order to expel the demon to it’s true form. Dogs make Lei largely uncomfortable at best, aggressive dogs will either send her into a state of frozen terror or at worst, unabashed panic.

HISTORY [TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL HARASSMENT]

The only child of Ryuu Ara, a successful luxury hotel chain owner and president, Leiko grew up with the world served to her on a silver platter. She enrolled in the best schools, excelling in academics, popularity, and was starting to make headway as a teen model. Leiko formed into a pretty, precocious, if pretentious, girl.

At age 14, after wrapping up a student council meeting afterschool, the student body president forced her into a corner when she’d turned him down for a date. The boy grew increasingly aggressive, but was stopped from going beyond grasping at her blazer when a brilliant white flame unfurled from Leiko’s hands. She fled the second she found an opening, calling for help until she caught the attention of school security. The boy was found unconscious, but physically unharmed. (She would later find out, he complained of sudden illness and a downslide of rotten luck, with little to no memory on how he’d been knocked cold.)

Ryuu spared no expense on making sure justice was properly handed out, although that was simple when compared to the news Leiko gave him about her new ability to conjure flame. But he’d taken the revelation far easier than Leiko thought he would. Ryuu admitted it was something he’d been somewhat expecting, even dreading.

Leiko’s mother was something of a taboo subject. Outside of knowing her name was Cho (Ryuu never mentioned her maiden name) and that there had been an ugly divorce shortly after Leiko was born, she didn’t know much else. Even then, her father didn’t go into specifics beyond blaming Cho for Leiko’s newly discovered “peculiarity.” Ryuu ultimately decided it was best for Leiko to pretend she hadn’t discovered it. She had a bright future ahead of her as his heir and it wouldn’t be marred by her mother’s blood. Leiko obeyed despite her protests. They’d both come to realize, however, fire was just the beginning.

Over the following weeks, more abilities came to emerge, from heightened senses to supernatural awareness. She struggled under the pressure of maintaining the semblance of being normal. The weight of stress and desperation finally proved too much for Leiko, leading to a discussion gone sour, ending only when she noticed Ryuu backing away from the looming shadow of a four-tailed fox she cast on the wall. She would miss the following days of school when her eyes refused to revert back from their completely golden, slit-pupiled appearance.

Resigned, Ryuu took to looking into someone who could help Leiko with her magic troubles as this was beyond his reach.

That someone came to be a man by the name Scribe, a semi-public mystic who operated within New York. Scribe’s interest piqued at the mention of Leiko’s transformation and to the Ara’s slight relief, Scribe proved himself to be a sorcerer of true magic instead of a con-man looking for a quick buck. He’d confirmed their suspicions of Leiko being tied to the kitsune, fox spirits of Japanese lore, although he admitted he had little to no experience with said creatures.

Scribe refused to leave Leiko to sort things out on her own, however, and offered her a proposition. Scribe’s lifelong work dealt with a massive, mystical library he dubbed the Spiral, which housed knowledge from across space and time. Despite his years slaving away at discovering and archiving its secrets, progress was going at a crawl. He’d take Leiko under his wing, giving her access to whatever she could get her hands on and import what they couldn’t find from his various connections. In return, she’d take up being his personal assistant. Ryuu had been reluctant to let Leiko have a hands on approach and had made his dislike for Scribe apparent, but relented.

The world of magic was a far cry from the straight-laced, business-oriented life Leiko had grown in; it both terrified and fascinated her. Scribe, real name: Charles Mordichai Jenson (Charlie for short), proved to be an eccentric, but well-meaning guide where he could. As the two dove into research, Leiko let loose a sense of freedom and expression she stifled to fit her father’s expectations. Charlie was quick to help enable this. They were polar opposites in many ways, but Charlie saw a passion and potential in Leiko that mirrored his own at her age, and he fully intended to see it shine. It wasn’t long before Leiko wasn’t just checking inventory and jotting notes for both The Spiral and Jenson’s Comics (Charlie’s civilian pop culture store), but followed him out on relic retrievals and even the occasional “mystic field trip”. Charlie had been adamant on one thing when she stepped out of the safety of The Spiral however, much as he’d taken Scribe as his mantle, Leiko would have to make one of her own for the sake of her identity. It wasn’t a hard choice for her as it was practically staring her in the face, Kitsune took life. Over the next two years, Kitsune proved herself to be a capable magician despite being self-taught. Juggling her home, school and magic life was busy, but thrilling. Perhaps a little too thrilling. During an outing, Scribe and Kitsune were ambushed by a sorcerer named Felix Faust, who ultimately took Scribe prisoner. Well-aware of just how over her head she was, Kitsune went on a one-girl rescue mission to save her mentor anyway and was beyond relieved to find a young group of supers on the same trail.

The group, known simply as “The Team”, had been alerted of Scribe’s abduction through their resident mystic, Zatanna. Scribe had managed to send a distress signal before all communication cut off. Shoving down the twinge of jealousy that came with that revelation and of being out of the loop, Kitsune allied herself with the Team until Scribe was rescued. She was offered a permanent position on the Team, which she said she’d think over even though she had no interest in becoming a hero. She was more persuaded by the opposition placed by Scribe and the oddly genuine endearment shown by the Team’s speedster, Kid Flash.

Less than a few days later, an argument between Leiko and Charlie sparked by his confession of thinking she wasn’t right for the Team just yet sent her right to them out of spite.

Now taking a crash course in heroics, Kitsune tackles supercrime, training, self-reflection, team building and the frustrating, but integral importance of friendship.

NOTES

Kit has alternate versions of her Kitsune outfit and will switch between them mid-battle, either because she wasn’t feeling the one she was wearing, it got dirty, or a specific attack called for a wardrobe change

Because Lei’s brand of Onmyodo is largely “home-brew” given she’s self-taught, she incorporates other types of magic and styles to compensate 

Lei has the passive ability of being ridiculously lucky, she never loses games of chance such as coin flips and dice rolls

The nickname ‘Lei’ was originally coined by Wally West and it’s a nickname she only allows within the perimeter of the Cave

Lei is proud of her musical skill, it’s not uncommon to hear her singing to herself and will shred an electric guitar when given the chance

She has a pet Bearded Dragon named Prince. Prince was a at-Death’s-door rescue surrendered to Charlie, who gave him to her after she helped nurse Prince back to health and she wound up attached to him

Lei’s father is unaware she’s taken up heroism, as far as Ryuu knows, she’s studying under Charlie to get her curiosity of magic out of her system