Volume One, Chapter Twenty-Eight: If Others Wrong Me, I Shall Cut Them Down

Chapter 28: If They Wrong Me, I Will Cut Them Down

Tu Zhe drew a deep breath, his voice ringing out, impassioned and thunderous, echoing across Mount Sumeru:

“Is it possible that, with forty billion celestial envoys patrolling the Four Great Continents, something could be overlooked? Then, for these hundreds of years, my lords and gentlemen of the Discipline Court, my dear young celestial kings and honored uncles—are you truly ignorant of the fact that my father and uncle have subsisted on the food meant for celestial slaves? Are you really unaware that a mere celestial slave from the Exquisite Artisans’ Celestial Treasure Pavilion could, on his own whim, exchange the vessels and wine cups meant for my father and uncle for discarded, unworthy refuse that not even a single hair of a celestial beast would touch?

All I asked was to visit the steward of the Exquisite Artisans’ Celestial Treasure Pavilion to inquire about the whereabouts of the celestial treasures owed to my father and uncle. I wished to ask the Celestial Fragrance Feeding Grounds whether my brothers and I, too, were condemned to consume the rations and drinks of celestial slaves for the rest of our lives.

And so, I was scorned by a celestial slave; my father and uncle were likewise disregarded by this very slave. Then, as the former master of this slave, the Eighth Celestial Prince—regardless of right or wrong—brought his men to argue with me, shouting, ‘Here in the Sword-Edged Celestial Kingdom, I am the law. If you wish to reason with me, you had better have the strength. Now—go to hell!’

Thus—

When my family rose up in resistance and did not, as the Eighth Celestial Prince wished, die, his master, the great Maha Dragon Elephant King Ilopona, struck out at my family and me. Had it not been for the kindness of those who spirited me away, had it not been for my dog-sister’s desperate resistance, had it not been for the righteous and noble King of the Golden-Winged Great Roc’s intervention...

Would we be witnessing this bizarre trial today? Would a dozen young celestial kings be absent from the jury due to a mere cold? Would the Exquisite Artisans’ Celestial Treasure Pavilion have been so mysteriously plundered?

Before I conclude, I have this to declare: If none wrongs me, I wrong no one. If they deceive me, I will cut them down. If they would kill me, no matter how exalted—retribution will be theirs!

My statement... is complete...”

At that moment, the Jin brothers clung to each other, weeping; Shudra wailed openly; Qin Lei’s eyes were bloodshot with rage; the little dog burrowed into Tu Zhe’s arms, sobbing softly.

Meanwhile, the judges and elders were so stunned, it was as if feathers and teeth littered the courtroom floor; the jury fell into a collective, speechless silence.

At that instant, the Lord of Mount Muxiulou’s gaze shone, his thoughts racing; the Lord of Desire’s Realm, Mara, smiled with a glint in his eye, nodding in approval.

All the celestial listeners trembled, their faces ashen; Huluzhina’s eyes burned with hatred and murderous intent, yet deep within, there was fear.

If none wrongs me, I wrong no one. If they deceive me, I will cut them down. If they would kill me, no matter how exalted, retribution will be theirs!

This was a blatant, unvarnished threat. Who would dare offend someone like this? ‘No matter how exalted, retribution will be theirs’—that is an oath of undying vengeance, an unrelenting pursuit to the ends of heaven and earth...

Just then, Mara burst out laughing. “Little Celestial Prince, there’s no need for such dramatics. Things haven’t yet reached the point of no return! This trial, ha ha, it can certainly continue. Is there any reason not to proceed? I see none. Lacking evidence, is it? Speaking of evidence, I’d like to say a few words to our assembled celestial audience, hmm...”

Mara turned to the celestial crowd: “As the Buddha once said, among the ten perfections we are to uphold, one is honesty. Isn’t that so? Therefore, let us state things plainly, and tell the truth as it is. Right? Now, as for that fellow Zhan Chi Yuan Beigao—what an odd name, eh? It sounds as though he devours both plaintiff and defendant, which isn’t exactly in line with our Discipline Court’s image, ha! I suggest the judge consider renaming him. Lei Feng, for instance, is a fine name, don’t you agree? Ha ha, just a suggestion—no big deal.

What truly matters is this: On the day in question, among you who were present, is it possible that none of you witnessed the events? It’s fine if you’re not honest, ha ha, but I recall that the ‘Code of Hammurabi’ contains a provision: all celestials have a duty to provide witnesses, testimony, and material evidence to the court. This duty, I believe, is mandatory. Refusal to comply is treated as obstruction, yes? Ha ha!

Think carefully—if evidence emerges that some of you were present, perhaps a great many will be called to account, ha ha...”

At this, the celestial audience cursed inwardly—surely he’s speaking of you. But could there truly be evidence?

They all looked at one another in suspense.

The trial had become a tempest of twists and turns, its outcome unpredictable.

By implication, the Lord of Desire’s Realm, Mara, was hinting: you lot had better recognize the situation—he might as well have said outright that he either possesses evidence or can substantiate certain events.

In a flash, the faces of the celestials shifted through myriad expressions, their minds roiled with confusion; the tribunal whispered urgently among themselves, scrambling for a solution; Indra, his eyes usually closed, now opened them a sliver, a cold light flickering within; Huluzhina bowed his head, wishing he could tear Mara apart, but dared not let Mara see his expression. For what was Mara? Even his own father, Indra—let alone three, five, or ten more like him—would be helpless before Mara.

How infuriating, Mara, you demon king! What business is there between me, Tu Zhe, and you?

Beside him, his second brother Quboji watched with cool amusement, thinking, Aren’t you always so capable? Isn’t everything under your control? Well then, keep playing your tragic tune—my joy is mine alone, ha ha!

Hearing Mara’s words, Tu Zhe’s family was instantly rejuvenated.

The little dog turned toward Mara, pawing the air and whining, “Big Lord of the Realm, if you have evidence, bring it out, won’t you? My rascal brother is about to be crushed under the weight of injustice—show us the evidence, please?”

Mara rubbed his great belly and laughed, “Evidence, you say? If I say I have it, then I have it. But—what’s in it for me?”

The little dog immediately stood up on its hind legs, paws on hips, and cried, “Big guy, have a little decency, why don’t you? Do a good deed! If you keep asking for rewards, don’t you know my rascal brother’s family is so poor that the left—um, the left thing hits the right thing and both hurt?”

Mara laughed heartily, more mirthful than ever before, until he was nearly out of breath, pounding his chest and coughing, “I say... little dog, are you still a proper lady dog, hmm...?”

The celestials in the audience were caught between laughter and tears. This Lord of the Realm isn’t behaving at all like a lord, and the dog isn’t behaving like a dog; everyone is desperate to know whether there is evidence or not, and here you two are, left and right, bantering away! Don’t you know anxiety can be deadly?

If not for Mara’s presence, given Zhan Chi Yuan Beigao’s temperament, the dog would have long since been charged with ‘roaring in court’ and ‘contempt of the law,’ and promptly detained. As it was, he could only glare helplessly.