RETURN OF THE MONKEY KING
Howling Tailwind - 1
[ BREAKING NEWS: Tonight, at approximately eleven-forty-five, a mysterious yet miraculous event occurred at the city's National Art and History Museum in the Minato Ward. A total of thirty-six missing persons dated from early March last year to just last week were discovered in the museum's storage level and wandering around within.
An anonymous tip notified police and other rescue workers around half an hour ago. Authorities are currently on scene, assisting and identifying the missing people. Aside from the odd bruises and scrapes, paramedics have deemed most of them unharmed and healthy, at least physically. Psychologists have also been called in to evaluate the victims' mental health. If there are no issues, they should be able to reunite with their families in the morning after all the essential check-ups have concluded.
The mystery behind their reappearance and why they were all discovered in the museum in the first place is still up in the air. Investigators are already hard at work, bringing the truth to light. The National Art and History Museum will be closed to the public for the foreseeable future until all the investigations have concluded.
For more updates, follow NHK-World on our social media or tune into tomorrow's early morning program. Thank you. ]
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Flashing blue and red lights and their respective vehicles filled the nocturnal streets. The howling of sirens could be heard in the distance, growing louder as they drew closer.
The police had set up a border around the museum, effectively blocking off the entire street and only allowing authorized personnel entrance.
From beyond the partition, civilians still awake at that hour, walking around the city and enjoying the iconic Tokyo nightlife, gathered to see what all the commotion was about. The crowd was small initially but tripled in size only a few minutes later. News agencies, both commercial and the smaller independent kind, rallied around from all available angles, trying their best to get a shot of the latest scoop.
Within the barrier, ambulances and police cars formed a second layer, effectively blocking off a majority of the crowd's line of sight. Joining them were multiple on-foot police patrols, ensuring no nosey pedestrians or journalists barged in and caused a commotion. It was likely for the best, as the cluster of former missing people were still rattled and overly sensitive to their surroundings. They were wrapped in blankets and sat on the museum's front steps, some being examined by the paramedics while the police lightly questioned others.
Wukong kept his eyes on the scene from a distance, his mouth busy fiddling with the straw in a small bottle of banana milk he bought from a nearby convenience store not too long ago. He was leaning against the backrest of a bench on the borders of a public park a little ways away from the museum.
For the average human and even some supernatural beings, seeing such precise details from this distance would be considered unnatural and a superpower. The Monkey King was a forever stranger to such issues since his trained eyesight could be deemed one of the best in all the realms. A statement further strengthened if he activated his [ Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils ] but there was no need for that now.
"So this is where you were,"
Wukong hummed a response, already knowing who had approached him.
A pale-golden tabby cat bounded onto the bench and expertly balanced on the backrest as it padded to his side.
"Lesser Demons again?" the tabby cat continued, "What's the reasoning this time? Did you stumble upon them? Were you looking to exercise, or perhaps you felt a little virtuous this fine evening?"
"A bit of everything, really," Wukong replied, "I sensed something weird radiating from one of the packages at the delivery place, so I decided to track it down. Turned out to be a clash of cultures trying to adapt themselves in a big city but messed up big time and allowed for their primal instincts to take over,"
"A clash of cultures?" the cat echoed.
"A Gorgon and an Oni,"
The cat's ears flicked, "That is an unusual pairing… You killed them, didn't you?"
"Mhm," The Monkey King took another sip of his drink before answering, "What gave it away?"
"I can smell death on you…and because it's you,"
The boy performed a quick, playful bow, "Guilty as charged,"
"The Tang Monk will not be happy if he hears that you've been killing more frequently as of late,"
"The Tang Monk is probably too busy reciting his scriptures," Wukong countered, "He probably doesn't even know about my current predicament let alone me taking out two minor monsters,"
"Besides, everything I've slain in the past year has killed and eaten innocent humans," stated the black-haired teenager, "They're no different to any of the tens of thousands Lesser Demons that Bajie, Wujing, and I slayed during the journey. The reincarnation of Golden Cicada had no qualms about it then and wouldn't now,"
The cat shrugged, "Well, if you say so. I'm more worried about other things, though,"
"Like what?"
"If you did something stupid, like revealing your identity," the tabby told him, "Especially if you did it with overly dramatic flair like all the other times,"
"Shouting something weird like…," The golden cat puffed up his fair, making himself look larger and formidable, and then he yowled, "Once you've descended to the Ten Courts of Hell! Remember to tell everyone about the one behind your ultimate departure—me! The Great Sage Equal to Heaven! Sun Wukong!"
The Monkey King choked on his spit and averted his gaze awkwardly, mumbling, "How the hell did you get it word for word?"
"Don't ask me. You're the one who uses the same line every time," the cat replied matter-of-factly. His fur fluttered back into place, and he started to groom himself, "You're one of the most creative geniuses I know when it comes to battle, but thinking up one-liners isn't your thing, huh,"
"It's not that I can't think of some; it's just that I can't find situations to use them," the amber-eyed boy retorted, "I mean yelling 'I will set the stars ablaze!' while bashing some heads with my staff, doesn't really match up, y'know,"
"How about… 'Be torn to oblivion!' ?"
"Eh, I'm kinda liking 'I will have order!' a bit more,"
"Drown in the sea of retribution!"
"Commencing extinction protocol!"
"I weep for the departed!"
"Rules are meant to be broken!"
The cat sat still for a moment before he meowed, "Shit, that's good...Damn it…I can't think of any more,"
"So what were we talking about again?" asked Wukong.
"You. We were talking about you and your bad habit of recklessly letting your true identity leak out of your mouth,"
The monkey groaned and continued quietly sipping on his banana milk, "...Ah, right…yeah. Old habits die hard, I guess,"
"I understand that but you should strive to be more vigilant," the cat chided, "We don't know the perpetrator behind who attacked you that day, nor do we know who's on our side in this era…especially with how you are now, it's important that we take those two major factors into consideration every time we act,"
"I know, I know," Wukong sighed, "Let's not mention my regression. I get annoyed at the mere thought of it,"
"It's the reality, though," the golden cat reminded him, "You don't have to like it, but the sooner you accept and adapt to it the better,"
"I'm trying, Nimbus!" The Monkey snapped, "It's just hard, okay? It's like losing parts of myself that I don't know if I'll be able to get back. In the past I could leap to the edge of existence in a second, hold mountains that embodied the weight of the universe on my shoulders, and disperse the seas with a flick of my tail!"
Wukong slumped onto the bench and continued, "But now I can't do any of that. The unfortunate reality is… I'm no longer in my prime, heck I don't even know if I'm still immortal,"
"To some extent, you should be. Otherwise, you would've instantly crumbled to dust since you've lived long past your natural expiration date. It's just not the same as before. I'm not a cat that gambles, but I'm guessing there's a set of limitations bound to it now," Nimbus leaped down and sat next to him, "You still have most of your abilities, though. They didn't get taken away, and are still reasonably…useful,"
"...Yeah, but there's a clear difference between when I used them back then compared to now," Wukong raised his left arm and glared at his wrist. A shimmer of light in the form of a certain golden circlet briefly materialized before disappearing, "No thanks to this stupid thing,"
"At least it's not around your head this time," commented Nimbus.
"That's true," the monkey mumbled.
"Well, if there's one bright side, at least the Jingu Bang stayed with you…a shard of it, anyway,"
Wukong brightened a little and slightly straightened up, "That's also true,"
"Anyway, the two Lesser Demons I killed today don't have the power to retain their memories in death," the Monkey added, "So you don't need to fret about that,"
"I won't. Now, if you're done with your weekly dose of useless moping, we should head back," Nimbus yawned and stretched his back, "I'm hungry,"
Wukong rolled his eyes but even he could not deny the sense of hunger.
"Fine, let's go," he said, getting up from the bench and strolling back onto the street.
Nimbus bounded off and followed him closely, "What are we eating?"
"No clue," Wukong shrugged, "Maybe that late-night ramen place on the way home,"
"Ah, that one. They make the most delightful Takoyaki," Nimbus purred.
"Affordable, too,"
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's go,"
"Ahh~, that was great," Nimbus meowed contently, trotting alongside Wukong down a quiet path, dimly lit by streetlights.
Wukong hummed in agreement as he picked his teeth.
"Got any plans for tomorrow?" asked Nimbus, "It's the weekend,"
"Dunno," Wukong replied, "Work, maybe,"
"Oh yes, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven would rather hand out parcels across the city rather than do more important things,"
Wukong furrowed his brows, a little peeved at the cat's tone of voice, but already expected as much.
"And what would you suggest I do? I'm starting to like this quiet life,"
"How about start looking for ways to regain your lost power, and start searching for clues as to where the missing pieces of your staff are?"
The Monkey King remained silent, contemplating his companion's suggestion.
"I know you constantly think about it. Why not stop procrastinating and get started already," said Nimbus,
Wukong still hadn't spoken, and the golden cat continued.
"The longer we wait the more unpredictable and dangerous things will get. Besides, you know the current generation of demons and monsters don't pose a threat to you. Now is the right time to act before the old generation catches on,"
The Monkey suddenly stopped and whipped his head to the side, staring into the distance.
"Remember, you're not alone in this ordeal. I'll be there every step of the way, and who knows, we might even find new allies as we—"
"Do you sense that?" Wukong interrupted. His amber eyes still locked onto whatever had caught his attention.
"Don't change the subject, this is important!"
"Yeah, I know, but focus on this Qi Signature for now,"
Grumbling, Nimbus padded back to him, "Fine, but we're not done with this conversation,"
The cat remained still. His ears twitched and his mouth parted slightly to taste the air. Focusing all of his senses, he blanketed out the area with an invisible pulse.
"Woah," Nimbus's yellow eyes sharpened and his fur bristled before he settled down. "That's some potent Demonic Qi,"
"Right?" Wukong agreed, "It doesn't feel like something from the current generation either,"
"No doubt about it," Nimbus nodded, "In the land of the Yokai, a predecessor to their entire race has poked itself out of the shadows of history,"
"Yaoguai," The Monkey King confirmed.
"Shall we pursue?"
"Of course, you know I'm too curious for my own good," Wukong cracked a grin as he began speed-walking in the direction of the energy signal before breaking out into a full sprint with Nimbus racing by his side.
It only took them a few seconds to cross the city district, but their dash to track the Qi Signature came to a halt as they skidded to a stop before a fork in the road.
"It stems from both ways," remarked Nimbus.
"You go left, I'll go right. If you find anything, don't engage. Just observe and we'll share our findings back at the apartment,"
"Got it," The cat nodded and swiftly bounded in his assigned direction.
Not wasting another second, Wukong sped down the path on the right.
The surroundings were pitch black. The howling of the nocturnal wind and rustling of the undergrowth echoed all around Nimbus as he ran through the thick, lush undergrowth.
The darkness of night wasn't an obstacle thanks to his natural night vision, and he bounded across minor streams, hopped over boulders, and slid under overgrown roots with ease.
He kept his ears perked, and his mouth was slightly apart to take in any scents in the vicinity and identify them more accurately. All the while, he stayed alert for any changes in the unknown Qi Signature he was tracking.
Before long he leaped out of the bushes and came upon a winding cobblestone path.
Nimbus lowered his head and sniffed the ground.
His whiskers twitched, "That Yaoguai Qi is stronger here,"
The golden cat turned his head, following the trail with his eyes.
"Up that path…on that hill…if I'm correct, there's a shrine there,"
Following the trail, Nimbus bounded up the stairs with trained silence. A single, red Torii gate greeted him at the top, and the cat cautiously passed through, keeping vigilant with every step.
'A Shinto Shrine, eh? I wonder who it's for?' The cat wondered as he trotted around, scouting out the vicinity.
The place was smaller than most shrines in Tokyo, which wasn't a surprise seeing that it was in a more quiet, suburban part of the city. But it would still be considered large when compared to the shrines in the countryside.
The crickets sang as usual, and the trees in the vicinity rustled gently with the soft breeze.
A squirrel skittered across the pavement foraging the ground for food. Nimbus's instincts took over as he instantly locked onto the smaller mammal before he settled down and the rodent continued on its way, allowing the golden cat to focus on more pressing matters.
A swift patrol around the shrine's grounds later, and Nimbus gained a near-precise mental map of the location's layout.
The classic Torii gate at the front led to a cobblestone courtyard. Maple and Oak trees were neatly planted around the shrine's border, creating a natural barrier, and their fallen green and orange leaves decorated the ground. The main shrine sat in the middle of the courtyard, and adjacent to it on both sides were another two buildings.
From what Nimbus had seen through the windows, one was for storage and the other was residential.
Standing tall in front of the primary shrine was a stone pedestal, and on top of it, was a statue of a wolf. The fur, tail, eyes, and expression were all expertly carved with intricate detail, which gave the statue an uncannily realistic appearance.
Almost as if it could howl at the moon and jump down to start its nocturnal prowl at any given moment.
For being known as 'Protectors against misfortune,' shrines dedicated to Wolf Spirits are uncommon, but not unheard of with one of the most well-known being Mitsumine Shrine.
Bizarrely, Nimbus hadn't seen a name when he passed through the gate and despite his speed, he knew he hadn't run out of Tokyo to the bordering prefecture where the aforementioned Mitsumine Shrine was located.
The lack of any visible modern technology around the shrine was also a cause of interest. But on the other hand, many shrines across the country have a preference to be closer to nature so Nimbus decided not to think about it too much.
Then there was also the chance that this was the classic illusionary trick used by the Yaoguais and Yokais alike to disguise their lair as a harmless human building.
"That Monkey's eyes would be such a big help right about now," Nimbus meowed under his breath.
Sniffing the air, the golden cat padded around the courtyard again, flaring out his sense to track the Yaoguai Qi more accurately.
After scouring around the perimeter a second time, the cat paused and remarked, "The trail has grown faint,"
Suddenly, he sensed a presence behind him, and at the same time, the door of the residential building swung open.
Nimbus immediately bounded up a nearby maple tree. His fur blended in perfectly with the red, yellow, and orange leaves providing an additional layer to his stealth.
His belly fur was pressed against the branch as he steadied his breathing and remained as still as stone; although his golden eyes were observing the door with a predatory focus.
"Onii-san, you're back!"
A young, teenage girl, wearing the traditional red and white garments of a shrine maiden, ran out of the building.
Joy was spread across her face as she raced across the courtyard to meet her brother in the middle.
"You're still up?" Her brother looked astonished though it didn't stop him from instinctively patting her head.
He was a rough-looking young man, with scruffy, dyed blonde hair, and the black leather jacket and white vest combo he wore, one would easily mistake him for a gangster.
"Mhm," the girl chirped, "I still had some homework to do after finishing the chores around the shrine,"
"The volunteers helped too, right? You didn't push yourself too hard?"
"Of course they did," the young shrine maiden replied, "You worry too much,"
The older brother rubbed the back of his neck, "I just feel bad leaving all the work to you, especially after mom and dad…y'know,"
The thought of their parents brought a small frown to the younger sister's lips though she recovered swiftly and shook her head, "It's alright. I know you're working hard making money in the city to support us. So it's only right that I work hard, too. Like I said Onii-san, don't worry,"
The brother sighed and pinched her cheek, much to her annoyance, "Well look who grew up in my absence,"
High in the maple tree, Nimbus padded softly through the canopy, expertly avoiding putting too much weight on each branch to stay as silent as possible, and shifted his position to observe them closer.
Strands of the Yaoguai Qi he had sensed were curiously wrapped around the older sibling.
It was like the lingering traces of a scavenger on a carcass it left behind, or the marks of a predatory beast to reinforce its territory.
As the brother-sister duo entered the shrine's residential building, chittering as they went, Nimbus hopped down from his hiding place.
"One can change their appearance, but it is impossible to change the nature of one's Qi," he meowed, "Those two kids are undeniably human,"
Nimbus turned his head and sniffed the air, slightly gaping his jaws to allow more scent to be collected.
The Yaoguai Qi was clearer than it had ever been, almost visible as it slowly wafted through the night air.
"The amount of Qi that was wrapped around that boy is too potent for it to have been a one-off encounter," the golden cat mentioned, "No doubt he had interacted directly with the Yaoguai,"
With a flick of his tail, Nimbus began trekking along the new route this trail of Qi provided.
As he left the shrine's area and descended the steps, he cast a glance over his shoulder and his whiskers twitched with concern.
In the past, whether they were aware of it or not, humans were known to assist Yaoguais in their demonic affairs. Like all things, there were levels to it. From minor issues such as people leading passing travelers to the den where they were then captured and eaten, to planting seeds of insanity into the minds of humans and watching them break and destroy the world around them just for their twisted idea of entertainment. There were even cases of Yaoguais manipulating whole kingdoms and turning an entire country into their puppets and playgrounds.
In modern times, such occurrences were practically non-existent. One could thank the Journeying Pilgrims for that, as they had cleaned up most, if not all, of the most predominant and notorious Yaoguais who enjoyed utilizing humans for their nefarious deeds. Added with the fact that nowadays, it seems that everything and everyone from every Pantheon and mythical realm is trying to find a place in the Human World.
Written and unwritten rules had been carved into the system and an age of relative unity, peace, and prosperity had begun.
Then one day, centuries ago, without rime or reason, the Jade Pantheon isolated themselves, going dark on the supernatural map. It was so abrupt and bizarre that not a soul knew what led to this event and why or how it occurred. Only that it did. It was an event that devastated and sent shockwaves of unparalleled disturbance to all the realms in ways that words cannot describe and for the minds of many, both divine and mortal, to comprehend. The consequences of this decision by the Jade Emperor can still be found and felt today.
The Yaoguais vanished shortly after this event, only for their niche spot to be quickly and comfortably filled by their less destructive Yokai cousins.
This was why it was crucial to get to the bottom of this and discover who or what the owner of this Yaoguai Qi is. There are world-changing questions that need to be answered.
"I'll leave those two kids alone for now, but the boy is a suspect," Nimbus murmured, speeding up until he broke into a full sprint, "I'll follow him around tomorrow, but now, I need to see what's at the end of this trail,"
The glimmering, colorful neon lights of Tokyo were a shining tunnel as they skimmed past Wukong's eyes. He raced across the city, leaping from roof to roof, expertly and nimbly maneuvering through the canopy of this cyberpunk, concrete jungle like the monkey he is.
He didn't know how things were on Nimbus's end but for the trail that he followed, the Yaoguai Qi was behaving strangely.
It would spike then plummet erratically and it was constantly on the move, stopping and starting at random intervals.
Wukong also noticed a sprinkle of human Qi in the mix, traveling alongside the Yaoguai. Gradually growing in size until the Monkey King was certain that the Yaoguai and the group of humans were on the move together.
Now with his infamous speed, he expected to catch up to this unseen living relic in no time. But it was as if it knew someone was trailing it, as it would extinguish its energy signal and reignite in a chaotic but patterned manner all across the city districts, in a potential attempt to throw him off.
Unfortunately, despite its attempts the Yaoguai didn't know who they were dealing with.
"I'm closing in," Wukong said to himself, "Be better if I continue on the ground, that way I can lower my energy and camouflage it amongst the people,"
In one swift movement, the Monkey King slipped off the roof's edge and slid amongst the wall before dropping softly onto the ground in a dim alleyway.
He released a quick exhale, relaxing every nerve and muscle in his body, controlling his natural energy output until it was close to a human's.
This was the usual level at which he held his energy levels. It was the most optimal in his day-to-day life, allowing him to simultaneously blend in perfectly with human society while hiding himself from anyone from the past that perhaps wanted to 'finish the job'.
But during the chase, he must've leaked more of his Qi than intended and alerted his target. He couldn't risk that anymore, since he was getting closer to finding out who and what this living relic was.
He stepped out of the alley and instantly recognized the area of the city he was in.
The Red Light District. Kabukicho
The rowdy streets were filled to the brim with a non-stop flow of people. Obnoxiously bright, flashing, electronic signs were plastered on every inch of every wall, and music from nightclubs and bars blasted unashamedly from behind their doors. The myriad of sounds of the bustling district layered on top of each other until it was nothing but ambient static noise.
Young men and women handed out flyers while dressed indecently, abiding by certain themes to arouse certain fetishes as they stood outside of their respective workplaces; host and hostess clubs, and facilities offering other seedy services.
Love hotels stood on every corner, and each one of them was packed with people pouring in and out.
Yakuza also patrolled the district like wolf packs keeping order in a forest. Some hid in plain sight while others were fully clad in the stereotypical gangster attire consisting of a blazer, a loosely buttoned shirt underneath, gold chains, and sunglasses even though it was a little over midnight.
As Wukong started to pace after the energy signal, even he had to admit that with how uncontrolled and debaucherous Kabukicho presented itself, it was prime territory for a Yaoguai, Yokai, or any other types of beasts and monsters.
He wouldn't be surprised if there were regular skirmishes over control of this district. Territorial battles between the supernatural, unseen by human eyes.
The more he thought about it, and based on the movements and patterns of the Qi he sensed. The possibility of this Yaoguai participating in the aforementioned territorial dispute was rather high. Whether it was defending or invading, the Monkey King had no idea, but would no doubt, find out soon enough.
Blending his Qi Signature amongst the condensed crowd of people turned out to be the right move as Wukong sensed the unknown Yaoguai's movements becoming lethargic until at last, it stopped.
Wukong, however, kept his pace as he followed it. The last thing he wanted was for his energy to leak out again the moment he sped up even the slightest bit and scare away his target.
The trail eventually led him to a notorious part of the district, known for having a high concentration of gang activity, from drug deals, prostitution, and murders, all done in the shadows of society where rumors remain as rumors.
"This place is pure paradise for any Yaoguai…that or an all-you-can-eat buffet," Wukong commented quietly as he approached a pair of heavy metal doors.
Above the doors was a flashing purple, blue, and yellow sign—artistically stylized to resemble a wolf's head—that read, [ Howling Night ].
Two bouncers, one foreign and one native guarded the entrance. Both men stared down the black-haired youngster standing before them.
[ Howling Night ] was a nightclub. The biggest and most prominent one on this side of the district.
The Qi Signal was undoubtedly seeping from within.
Wukong's eyes flicked between the two imposing men while formulating strategies to get inside.
He could paralyze them and slip inside but they would still see and remember his face as he hypothetically walked past them. Not a good idea if he wished to remain anonymous.
There was always brute forcing his way in, but if that was the route he wanted to take, he would've acted upon it long ago during the chase.
Perhaps, simply acting as a normal civilian going in for a good time might work?
'Wouldn't hurt to try. Y'know what they say, simple is best…sometimes,'
With his decision made, Wukong greeted them with a faux grin, strolling up to the bouncers, and giving them a quick wave.
"Good evening,"
"Back off, kid. This place ain't for the likes of you," The bouncer responded immediately, gesturing for him to halt with a raise of his hand.
"I'm sure we can figure something out, you've both been young once and crazy, haven't you?"
"Tonight's invitation only," the other bouncer stated, "There are plenty more places in Kabukicho for you to mess around in so why don't you go to one of those,"
"But I heard this place is the best. C'mon, just a peek, I'll stay on the down low while inside,"
"Clearly you didn't hear me when I said that tonight is invitation only," the bouncer growled, "Don't make me repeat myself again,"
"We're just doing our jobs kid. We don't want to get physical with you, so this is your last chance to walk away,"
Wukong quietly clicked his tongue before backing away, shrugging, "Fine, I'll leave you guys to it and go somewhere else,"
He continued walking down the path and turned the corner into a cramped alleyway. As soon as he was out of sight from the bouncers and couldn't sense anybody watching him, he leaped onto the rooftops.
"As if I'm actually gonna leave, that place just got even more suspicious," Wukong strolled his way along the rooftops until he returned to the [ Howling Night ] nightclub.
He spotted a conveniently placed air vent and made his way toward it, "Well, well, look at that, a secret entrance. Probably should've done this from the start… Stealth Mode: Activate,"
In an instant swirl of golden, flame-like particles, Wukong transformed himself into a cicada and slipped inside.
It didn't take long for the whirlwind of scents to slam him in the face; tobacco, alcohol, perfume, and other questionable substances.
Light beamed into the dark tunnels up ahead, illuminating that particular of the air vent's insides.
As Cicada-Wukong fluttered by, he momentarily paused and looked out through the gap in the vent.
Strobing, rainbow lights bounced off the walls and electronic music blasted louder than a launching rocket. The floor was nigh invisible due to the heavy machine-made fog blanketing the area, all the while, the strong scent from before multiplied to gargantuan proportions. But the hundreds of customers didn't care one bit as they danced, drank, sang, and all in all, went wild inside the nightclub, embracing their innate human madness and forgetting all about the world outside.
To say it was rowdy would be the understatement of the year.
Nevertheless, Wukong continued on his way, flying deeper into the nightclub.
Navigating the air vents was like traveling through a maze, a mostly pitch-black maze that smelled like a sundried garbage dump, and Wukong was getting annoyed at the amount of dead ends he ran into.
He was beginning to consider slipping out of the vents, into the club itself and continuing from there. The more he thought about it, the more he agreed that he should have done that from the start.
An eruption of Demonic Qi suddenly flooded his senses, catching the Monkey King off guard.
Without wasting another second, Wukong rushed in the direction it came from, keeping to the walls in case there was a vent cover he could exit from.
He felt a cluster of human life energy dropping like flies. First, it was just one, then two, then three, and now groups were being eliminated at a time, their Qi Signals extinguishing like candles in the wind. Meanwhile, the Yaoguai's energy was pulsing stronger than ever.
Wukong released a low growl. The Cicada form, while having its uses, was proving to be too slow.
He swiftly dropped the transformation, and turned into a wisp of smoke, billowing through the channels at a much faster pace.
In this ephemeral state, it didn't take long for him to drift through the compact labyrinth and reach the source of the energy fluctuations.
Unlike the other vent covers throughout the nightclub, the one before him was tiny. But that wasn't an obstacle for a stream of smoke and he easily passed through.
The Monkey King dispelled his transformation as he dropped into the middle of what seemed to be a private room, the owner's office was his best guess.
And a gruesome sight welcomed him.
Severed limbs, decapitated heads, and bisected torsos were scattered all across the room. Blood pooled across the ground, staining the expensive patterned rugs and forming large, crimson puddles on the marble floor, while streaks and splotches of the scarlet liquid painted the walls and ceiling red.
A droplet of blood fell onto Wukong's hand as he scrutinized the crime scene. He glanced up to see someone's headless, upper torso pierced through the crystalline chandelier. It was as if it was timed, as the corpse's innards dropped out, landing below with a splash.
"Well, that's…" Wukong furrowed his brows and commented, "...Nice,"
He stepped around, careful not to sink his shoes into the blood puddles, and proceeded to steadily examine the damage done to the private room and the injuries on the executed humans.
To describe the crime scene simply, it was chaos. The aftermath of a frenzied, deadly dance performed by a single unknown Yaoguai.
The furniture, from the couch to the desk, to a set of tables and chairs had been thoroughly destroyed. The wallpaper and paintings on the walls were torn. The floor was splintered in multiple areas and the ceiling mirrored the damage it had suffered. Shattered pots of Bonsai and luxury vases along with broken katanas and crushed firearms also littered the area.
Almost every corpse had been torn apart while they were still alive, though the bodies that remained intact sported what looked to be claw marks carved into their flesh. There were even some corpses that blatantly had their heads chomped off, further supported by the bite marks around their neck and collarbone area.
It wasn't the most disturbing sight he witnessed in his long life spanning multiple centuries—that honor belonged to [ Lion-Camel Ridge ]—but it was the first time he had seen such brutality since his awakening in the modern day.
Just as Wukong was about to continue his inspection, in the corner of his eyes he spotted something. Something dark and furry sticking out from under the pile of fragmented wood that were the ruins of the owner's desk.
Curiosity gripped him and he took a step toward it but paused when he sensed someone familiar. A thin, spiraling cloud sped out of the air vent and joined him by his side.
Nimbus materialized from the cloud and with a quick shake of his fur, dispersed any remaining particles clinging to his pelt.
"I felt that spike of Demonic Energy," he meowed, "Came as quick as I could,"
"Neither of us was fast enough, though," Wukong grimaced as he looked around at the violent aftermath of a Yaoguai attack and ran a hand through his black hair, annoyed, "Damn, and I just missed it, too,"
Unfazed by the bloodshed, Nimbus immediately started investigating. He padded around the room, prodding at the lifeless bodies with his paws and sniffing unseen marks as he went along. The golden feline circled the wrecked office three times, examining different areas with each lap.
After completing one final lap, Nimbus jumped and perched on a tipped-over sofa."These guys were Yakuza,"
"Yeah, that much is obvious," Wukong agreed, glancing down at a severed arm with an intricate and unique tattoo that spanned the limb's entire length, with a katana still tightly gripped in hand.
Nimbus flicked his ears, "I would think a Yaoguai would work with them, manipulate them, and use them as puppets for their personal gains instead of slaughtering them like this,"
"Maybe slaughtering them was their goal all along," the Monkey King suggested, "It's not odd for them to rid competition in their territory, especially if they're taking over and establishing a new one,"
"That's a possibility," Nimbus nodded and gave his shoulder fur a few quick licks, "We could always be overthinking this, and it might just be a classic case of a Yaoguai trying to gain power,"
Wukong hummed in concur although his orange eyes were once again drawn to the unknown furry object buried under wooden debris, "Hey, come take a look at this,"
"What is it?"
The Great Sage kicked the splintered wooden planks away, revealing the source of his curiosity buried underneath.
It was the freshly killed carcass of a canid-like creature with a gray and bronze pelt. Its mouth was slightly parted and its aghast, empty, dark eyes stared into the abyss. Its legs and tail were beginning to turn stiff while its torso had a notable puncture wound going from one end to the other. Blood was still pouring from the hole through its body, though the crimson liquid seemed to be slightly steaming.
"I saw this thing a couple minutes back," Wukong told him, "It's a…jackal…in Japan?"
Nimbus leaned forward and gave the canine's body a quick sniff, "Smells more like a wolf,"
"Is it a juvenile?" the black-haired male asked, crouching beside it.
"No," the cat shook his head and prodded at the body with his paw, "Look at its muscles and the head shape. It's full-grown,"
"Isn't it a bit small to be a mature wolf?"
"Must be a trait of the subspecies. I'm certain it's a Japanese Wolf, although that's…," Nimbus's ears twitched and his voice trailed off as he looked away, eyes aimlessly flicking around in contemplation.
"What's up?"
"Japanese Wolves have been extinct for well over a century now. Sure, there are sightings here and there but…," the golden cat revealed before focusing his sharpened gaze on the lifeless canid, "I doubt some Yakuza gang would coincidentally have the last living specimen or some lab-made clone lying around acting as their guard dog. Which can only mean one thing,"
Wukong caught on immediately, "It's a Yokai,"
Nimbus dipped his head, "Indeed. A Yokai that integrated with human civilization. It didn't choose a very virtuous path. I expected as much from their race…well, it's not like ours is any less malevolent. Though, with this discovery, it doesn't take a genius to piece together what happened here,"
"The Yaoguai suddenly appeared, decided that this plot of land would make a good home, sensed the reigning Yokai here, and snatched the territory the old-fashioned way," Wukong deduced.
"There's also the chance that we're simplifying the situation too much," stated Nimbus, "The truth hides in the shadows and the only way to be certain is if we can see what happened here with our own eyes,"
"Yeah, well. I almost had it," Wukong scowled, "It was like the thing knew I was coming, so it wrapped things up and fled as fast as possible. Can't believe I missed it by a second,"
"Perhaps, we're not dealing with an average Yaoguai," the gold feline suggested, "If it can hide its presence so well that it can hide from someone like you, then it must be more powerful than we thought,"
"Or experienced,"
"A Yaoguai Chief…maybe even King,"
Wukong folded his arms and his expression hardened as he pondered silently. His amber eyes swept across the room again, before landing on the Wolf Yokai's now slowly dissolving body.
"I'm about to suggest something a little nonsensical, but hear me out,"
Nimbus nodded, "I'm listening,"
"What if… What if this Yaoguai knows me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Every time I get close, it disappears in a hurry as if it recognizes my Qi and knows who I am," explained Wukong, "And as far as both of us are concerned, the Yaoguai haven't had a presence in the Mortal Realm for centuries. Even most of the Supernatural World assumes they're extinct. If there's been no new Yaoguai cultivated in the last several hundred years then that means—,"
"They're coming back from whatever shadows they slithered into. Well, at least some of them…at least one of them," Nimbus concluded.
"During the Journey, I showed mercy and few times and allowed some of the Lesser Demons to escape. I wonder if this one is a part of that batch,"
"How about Chiefs and Kings? Did you let any of them go?"
Wukong's brows furrowed and he scratched his head as he sorted through his memories, "A lot of the Yaoguai Kings were of Divine Origin so they went back to where they belonged. As for the Yaoguai Chiefs…I don't really remember. I think I killed half of them and let the other half run away. The pig took out some of them as well,"
"Then the possibility of them recognizing you is low but not zero," the gold-furred cat agreed, sitting on his paws, "While we're on the topic, is it possible that Reincarnation is also a method of their return?"
"It's definitely possible," Wukong mused, "The Wheel of Reincarnation has messed up in the past so a Demon coming back as a Demon again while keeping its memories wouldn't be out of the question,"
"Especially if it was powerful in its previous life,"
"But still, if the Yaoguai we chased knows who I am and has met me before…then it's still hard to narrow it down," The Monkey King mentioned, "I mean…I am a bit infamous,"
"A bit is putting it lightly," snorted Nimbus, "But yes, you're right,"
"Well, guess we should wait until the thing's Qi spikes again before pursuing it," Wukong shrugged and prepared to make his exit as he checked his phone, "Hey look, it's already past 1 AM. We should go home and get some sleep,"
"Now?"
"As a feline, you're a nocturnal animal. On the other hand, I am a monkey, a genus that just so happens to be diurnal. So yes, now I need to go recharge,"
Nimbus blinked with astonishment, "Wait… You're not in a rush to unveil the truth? To uncover its identity and motives?"
"Well sure, I admit, it does pique my interest, but honestly, it hasn't done anything out of the ordinary for us to obsess over it so I say we leave it for a while,"
The cat stared at him momentarily before flicking his tail and padding beside him, "If you say so. Before we depart, should we clean this place up or leave it for the humans to discover and deal with?"
The Monkey King glanced around at the carnage before them, then answered along with a yawn, "I say let the humans deal with it. A little bit of conspiracy to spice up their mundane lives. There's nothing here for us, anyway,"
"Very well, shall we be off?"
In an instant, the duo transformed into two clouds of pale smoke and left the nightclub the same way they entered.
Once they returned to the rooftops, they dispelled the transformation and went back to normal.
Wukong dusted himself off while next to him, Nimbus stretched his spine and gave his fur a quick shake.
"Although, if you ever want to find out what happened here," the golden cat said in between grooming his fur, "I think I know a way,"
"What is it?" Wukong replied, not paying too much attention and already starting the trek back to his apartment via the city's canopy.
"The Remembrance Flower,"
The black-haired monkey stopped and spun around.
"The what now?" he inquired with a confused look.
"The Remembrance Flower," repeated Nimbus.
"Yes, I heard you the first time but that doesn't help because I have no idea what that is,"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah,"
"You didn't do any bit of casual reading in the Heavenly Archives during the two periods you were working in the Jade Pantheon,"
"No, because I was Keeper of the Divine Horses the first time and the Keeper of the Garden of Immortal Peaches the second time. Both of those places are conveniently on the other side of the entire Realm, so forgive me if I didn't go to the Archives for some 'casual reading',"
The golden feline hopped onto a nearby rooftop air conditioner, "Well, would you like to know?"
Wukong narrowed his eyes, "I'm guessing you're gonna tell me, either wa—"
Nimbus cut him off with a dramatic yowl, "The Remembrance Flower! Long ago, near the Dawn of Time, during the Age of Imbalance—"
The Monkey King deadpanned, "Right, okay, just pretend I didn't say anything,"
"—A flower so rare that its status is mythical even in the entire supernatural world. Its radiant beauty paired with its mystifying power is said to have been the catalyst of war among the Gods themselves,"
"Is this gonna be one of those stories—?"
"And so! The Jade Emperor sent the Four Heavenly Kings to defend the Heavenly Gates of the Four Cardinal Directions. But he was still struck with a lingering sensation of unease, thus he called upon Prince Nezha and Erlang Shen, to meet with Jiang Ziya—-!
"Wait… This kinda sounds like the beginning of the Investiture of the—?"
"Calamity! Befell the world as the Demon Realm launched a sudden assault!"
"...This is gonna take a while," The Monkey quietly groaned and leaned against the rooftop's railing.
Wukong had no idea how much time had passed as Nimbus rambled on and on, telling the tale of Gods, Monsters, and this unknown blossom that was apparently, going to be of help somehow… this supposed vital item was only mentioned twice in his agonizingly long anecdote. The Monkey King had completely zoned out, the words of the cat and the sounds of the city blended into constant waves of white noise.
Once his senses returned, he clicked his tongue and released an exasperated exhale before he marched up to Nimbus and flicked the feline on the back of his head, "Can we fast forward to the part where you mention why we should seek out this apparently legendary plant?"
"Because…," the cat began, his fur bristled as he rubbed his head with his paw, "When this flower blooms, once every thousand years, it releases a peculiar type of pollen that has the ability to replay the 'memory' of its surroundings for a brief period of time,"
"So we use this pollen to find out what happened back in the nightclub," summarized Wukong.
"A simple way to put it, but yes,"
"You couldn't have said that straight from the start?"
"I work up to things,"
Wukong shook his head but cracked an amused grin as he leaped to the next rooftop, "Right, I'll put finding this thing on my bucket list then. But for now, it's time to go home,"
"I don't think that's a good idea," Nimbus added, following the Monkey and soaring across the air before touching down silently.
The Monkey King slowed and scrutinized his feline companion, "Why not?"
"There's a catch to the flower. It only plays events within a twenty-four-hour window upon blooming," informed Nimbus.
"Of course it does," Wukong grumbled before he relented and raised his voice, "Alright then! So tell me, where in this fine city will we stumble upon such a mystical thing?"
"We could start with the botanical gardens," proposed the golden-pelt cat, "Some dryads moved in there a century ago, perhaps they may have a clue,"
"There's like ten or more botanical gardens in Tokyo. Which one are you talking about?"
"Shinjuku Gyoen,"
"Are you certain?"
Nimbus nodded, "I visit the place often for the scenery and I'm friends with the dryads there,"
"Then let's make our way over, the sooner we find this thing, the sooner I can enjoy my weekend,"
When they reached the edge of their rooftop route, the Monkey peered down at the dark alleyway below, scanning the narrow path for any possible witnesses. After determining the passage was safe, he dropped down several stories and landed as soft as a feather.
Nimbus joined him shortly after.
"Remember that it's a task easier said than done,"
"Don't need to tell me twice. Let's just hope your leafy contacts have some intel," responded Wukong as they headed out onto the main street, before he added under his breath, "Kinda wanted to just chill tonight, but looks like that's not happening,"
His complaint however was picked up by Nimbus's ears, "You need to get out more and I mean properly. And don't try making excuses like early tonight with the museum incident. I know bashing a few Lesser Demon's heads from time to time is equivalent to going to the arcade for you. This is the perfect opportunity for you to stretch your legs properly and get back into the rhythm of things,"
"Ugh, I'm really doing this, aren't I?"
The golden cat's whiskers twitched and his tail leisurely swished around, "Whatever happened to the old you? The one that liked bouncing around, poking his nose in any business that was supernatural-related, and picking fights with anything that had a speck of intelligence?"
"Oh him?" Wukong shrugged as he picked his ears, "Yeah, that guy's on vacation…a long, long vacation,"
"What for?"
"I dunno. I guess that's what happens when you've been sealed away for most of your life,"
Wukong went silent afterward, and Nimbus glanced up at his companion with a tinge of concern. The Monkey King's expression was ruminative; his once energetic, flame-colored eyes were now clouded with an unknown fog of deep thought. It seemed that the past and his lost power were sensitive topics, and the feline knew to respect that.
Nimbus simply meowed, "...Yeah… That'll do it,"
Two beings wearing business suits watched as blood dripped from the ceiling, rolled down the walls, and slipped onto the floor, converging with a larger puddle.
One of them tore their eyes away and instead poked at the nearby corpse of a gangster with his foot.
The other soon diverted his attention away, too, sauntering up to the carcass of the Wolf Yokai near the broken desk with half of its body already disintegrated.
With the body shape of a man but the defining features of a crow, such as a beaked, feathery head, two pairs of large wings folded close to their body, razor-sharp talons in place of fingers, and black plumage all over its body, the two Karasu-Tengu patrolled the nightclub's private office, carefully studying the carnage that occurred.
The Tengu kneeled before the wolf's lifeless body and lifted it by the scruff. His white, avian eyes narrowed, and he slid his knuckles against and around the puncture wound in the canid's torso.
"Our suspicions were correct," he announced to his partner, "Genma is dead,"
The other Tengu approached his side, "What killed him?"
The first Tengu stood up and passed the corpse to the second Tengu for him to inspect, "See that injury? Based on the direction of the shattered bone inside, he was impaled through the front by something solid like a pole or some other blunt weapon. He's missing his heart and a large chunk of his lungs too. Crushed during the strike most likely. There's no way he would've survived. Must've died shortly after, and there wasn't even time for a counterattack,"
"Genma wasn't the strongest in the region but he wasn't a pushover either. Must've been something or someone deadlier," the second Tengu deduced.
"Whatever it is, no doubt it's related to that spike of weird, ominous Ki not long ago,"
"Whoever it belongs to must be vigilant. I can no longer sense that aura,"
The first Tengu agreed with a curt nod, "Troublesome indeed. Nurarihyon will want to know about this,"
"Should we not investigate further before reporting back? In the case that this is a one-off and nothing that he should worry about," the second suggested.
"The possibility of it being nothing does exist. But my instincts are telling me not to take any chances. I'm guessing you are the same,"
"Indeed,"
"Then let us return," The two Tengu reached into their pockets and pulled out a vial of vibrant blue liquid, "After we clean this place,"
For the next few minutes, the two crow-feathered Yokai walked around the room, meticulously dripping small amounts of the unknown liquid onto the bodies, blood, bloodstains, and broken furniture. As soon as the droplets made contact, whatever they landed on slowly but surely dissolved into steam, leaving no evidence of their existence and replacing it with the refreshing aroma of fresh lemon and mint ice tea on a hot summer day.
Before long, the office was emptied of any sign of the slaughter that transpired.
The two Karasu-Tengu morphed their appearances into that of a human, appearing as two regular businessmen before making their exit.
A pair of owls silently glided through the night sky before descending upon a miniature forest.
Once they cleared the thick blanket of leaves, the two owls dematerialized in a spiral of clouds revealing them to be Wukong and Nimbus as they landed on the neatly-trimmed grass with a soft thud.
"This is the place," the cat announced.
The Monkey King looked around.
The lush greenery of the trees, shrubs, and all other manner of visually appealing flora surrounded them, each expertly arranged and pruned. There was a comforting sheen on the leaves and petals of the plants and flowers, signifying that they were well taken care of. Some trees and flowers of the botanical garden were grown akin to what they would be like in the wild while others complied with a more artistic and stylized life.
The duo stepped out of the undergrowth and onto the pebble path. In front of them and at the center of the entire garden was a large circular pond. Clusters of water lilies and other aquatic plants floated on the surface. In contrast, fallen leaves and other minor natural debris leisurely drifted along the current created by the minor fountains placed around the pond. Smaller streams branched out from the flanks, heading to other parts of the botanical garden to act as a water source for the other plants and small animals that inhabited this space.
"You think it'll be here? The Remembrance Flower?" Wukong inquired.
"I don't know. But if anyone does know it'll be Phoebe,"
"Phoebe?"
"She's the sole Dryad Matriarch in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. One of the first Dryads to travel this far east, in fact,"
"Couldn't have been an easy migration," the Monkey commented, "The Tree and Plant-based Yaoguais and Yokai would've made life difficult with competition,"
"Or they mixed and matched," Nimbus suggested, "But luckily for them, there were no Plant Yaoguais anymore by the time of the migration. It's a recent thing,"
"Are you implying that our kind was the reason why it was so difficult for the supernatural races on the otherside of the world to visit the East?"
"It's less of an implication and more of an unspoken fact. The destructive and adaptive capabilities of Yaoguai, along with their innate ability to harness Qi proved to be a massive, sky-high wall for anything or anyone that wasn't familiar with interacting with them or anyone overly powerful," the gold-pelted cat explained, "Which is why we must hasten our steps. If it was indeed a Yaoguai who slaughtered those men in the club then we need that Flower to confirm it. The world will be faced with a colossal shift in peace and order if their return strikes as suddenly as a tiger's ambush, especially if we're all unprepared,"
As the Monkey King followed the golden cat, he couldn't help but shoot several glances at a tiny shrine erected in the middle of the lake. Its notable Chinese design caught his attention considering that every other building in the area was constructed in traditional Japanese and contemporary architecture.
Perhaps it was a gift between countries, yet the more he viewed it, Wukong couldn't shake off the feeling that he had seen this specific shrine before.
Without warning the ground erupted beneath his feet, severing him from his thoughts. The Monkey King dived forward and scooped up Nimbus before jumping back a safe distance as the frenzied roots chased after them.
"The hell?" Wukong uttered as he dodged one assault after another, yanking the cat with him each time, "Hey, you didn't pull on any strange plants did you?"
"No," Nimbus replied before his eyes widened, "Wait! I think I know these—"
"Stop right there!"
A new voice pierced through the commotion.
Wukong kicked away the attacking plant before turning to the source of the voice.
It was a young woman in her twenties with long blonde hair. She was smartly dressed in a skirt and blouse with a florist's apron over the top. Her outstretched hands were cloaked in a mystical green aura that matched the glow of her irises.
'She must be the one controlling these roots,' the Monkey deduced while avoiding another strike as the roots seemed to lash even more wildly than before, 'Just gotta take her out, and then they'll stop,'
"Nimbus, I'll be back in a sec," he announced, tossing the cat high in the air.
"Hey! Wait! Stop! Don't—!" Nimbus exclaimed.
In a sudden burst of speed that whipped up a gale where he once stood, Wukong vanished from sight before reappearing behind the unknown assailant.
The girl gasped, she turned to look back and was instantly greeted by a fist.
But it never made contact as a turbulent tornado of leaves crashed into Wukong's side, sending him flying a few feet away. He spun himself midair, landing softly on his feet and recovering swiftly as if it were nothing.
Another green-eyed young woman stood between him and the blonde he had targeted. She had red hair in a bob-cut that fluttered from the swirling wind and leaves around her feet, and she donned a botanist's outfit identical to her companion's.
"Calantha, you let your guard down. I don't recall you having that habit," said the redhead.
"I didn't, Daphne, it's just…," the blonde clicked her tongue, "He's faster than I expected,"
"Is that so?"
Wukong stared at the newcomer and brushed some stray leaves from his shoulders, 'And now there's two of them…doesn't make a difference anyway,'
"I'll charge in and you support me from behind as usual," the red-haired girl ordered. The leaf cyclones around her legs sped up and the grass beneath the two girl's feet quivered violently while flattened against the ground from the sheer force of the wind.
"Got it," The blonde jumped back several places and raised her hands which were once more cloaked in the mystical green energy.
'Do they know I can hear them?' The Monkey King wondered as he scrutinized the two young women, 'Eh, well. It's not like they had some complex plan of attack. Just a basic strategy, effective if done right, but also dangerously simple,'
The redhead kicked off the ground, closing the gap between them with immense speed.
Just as Wukong was about to counter, a gold blur zipped between them.
"I said stop!" yowled Nimbus, his ears back, fur bristling, and tail lashing back and forth.
Immediately, the girl came to a skidding halt, though her guard was still up.
Wukong lowered his fist and cast an probing glance at the cat.
"Hey, isn't that…?" the redhead mused.
"It is! It's Nimbus," The blonde chirped, bounding up to the feline, and picked him up before profusely running her hand through his sleek golden fur.
Nimbus purred and side-eyed Wukong with a knowing look.
"You know them?" The Monkey King then put two and two together, "Are these those dryads you mentioned?"
"Bingo," Nimbus confirmed while continuously receiving pets from the blonde dryad.
"You couldn't say anything sooner?"
"I did, you just didn't listen…like usual,"
Wukong rubbed the back of his neck, a tinge of self-reproach dripping down his spine, "Yeah, that or you didn't speak fast enough,"
"So, you must be a friend of Nimbus?" The redheaded dryad approached the monkey who nodded in response, "I apologize for attacking you, this misunderstanding is our fault for not figuring out the situation first,"
"Eh, it's fine," Wukong waved off her concerns, the air of hostility from seconds prior had completely dispersed, "You two were simply defending your territory, it's only natural,"
"Now," Nimbus wiggled out of the blonde's arms and dropped to the grassy ground, "I believe introductions are in order, so we're more familiar with one another and won't attempt another assault,"
With a flick of his tail, the golden cat gestured toward Wukong, "Calantha, Daphne, this is my friend, Satoru,"
Wukong shot a glance at his furry companion, then quickly scanned the dryad siblings, 'Right, even though these two are well acquainted with the cat, it's still better to use my alias,'
"Well, as he said, you can call me Satoru," Wukong reiterated, "I'm not his owner nor is he my familiar or anything similar, but I am currently living with Nimbus,"
"Nice to meet you," Calantha chirped, sheepishly rubbing her arm, "And I'm sorry about before,"
"Likewise," agreed Daphne, before she continued, "I am Daphne, and this is my little sister, Calantha. It is as you assumed, we are second-generation dryads and also the caretakers and guardians of this grove,"
"Second-generation?" the Monkey King repeated inquisitively.
"It means we were born here, in Japan," Daphne answered,
"Or y'know sprouted here," Calantha added, "However it works,"
"Wow. The mythical world is globalizing faster than I expected," thought Wukong, "I'm not surprised, though. Our world always adapted to the changes of human civilization so it was only a matter of when,"
"So what are you two doing here?" asked red-haired dryad, "If you want to view the gardens, then I recommend coming back in the day. It's more beautiful then,"
The blonde dryad nodded, "But the night has its own charm, too"
"We're here to see Phoebe," Nimbus replied.
"Mother?" The two sisters looked taken aback, "What for?"
"We need to ask her something," said Wukong, "It's important,"
"Please, we have a bit of a time limit," Nimbus meowed.
The sisters exchanged glances, a silent conversation passed between them before Daphne spoke, "Well, if it's that important to you, we'll take you to her,"
"Thank you," Nimbus purred as Wukong gratefully dipped his head.
Led by the dryad sisters, the four of them traveled across the park, through a colorful, fragrant flower field, an artistic hedge tunnel, and around the shimmering pond where the Monkey King glanced at the tiny, odd shrine again before pushing thoughts of it to the back of his mind. There were more important things right now and he could always investigate it later.
Soon, they arrived at the doorstep of a huge greenhouse. The humidity within fogged up the glass and a thick blanket of mist permeated throughout every corner, making it difficult to see what was inside.
"She's in there," informed Daphne, "Tending to some of the more fragile species of plants, I believe,"
Calantha stepped up and opened the door, and a wave of mist spewed out, "We still have duties to attend to so we'll leave you on your own,"
"Thanks again," Wukong mentioned.
"Don't mention it," Calantha smiled.
"It's not much but take it as our apology for the misunderstanding earlier," her redheaded sister added before the two dryads bid their farewell and left.
The Monkey King stepped inside, the hazy surroundings instantly swamped him and the smell of flowers, fertilizer, and wet soil filled his nostrils.
"Hey Nimbus, you coming?" He called when he didn't sense his feline companion joining him inside.
"No, I'm going to go with them," The cat meowed, gesturing to the leaving sisters with a flich of his tail.
"What, why? I thought we were in this investigation together,"
"We are. But you haven't done anything like this in two thousand years so I'm giving you this chance to warm-up and get back in the game,"
Wukong deadpanned, "Wow. Thank you,"
"Don't mention it," Nimbus snickered as he dashed away.
The Great Sage could only shake his head and sighed with irritation, though he knew that his companion's words held truth.
Sooner or later, whether it be by his own choice or not, he would have to act and be dragged back into the chaos that thrived in the shadows of humanity. For someone like him, it is an inevitable future. Better to begin and adapt to the myriads of alterations in the current era on his own terms, than suddenly being sucked in like a tumultuous whirlpool.
"Hello?! Phoebe!... Miss Phoebe!?" Wukong strolled through the greenhouse, announcing his presence with every step, "Your daughters let me in! I would like to speak with you! I'm a friend of Nimbus! Y'know, the talking cat will yellow fur that apparently visits this place a lot!"
From the mist came the voice of a sophisticated, mature woman. Her tone was gentle yet confident like the simultaneous rustling of thousands of leaves upon an ancient tree.
"Oh, yes, I know who Nimbus is. That brilliant little feline,"
Wukong's gaze swept across the greenhouse's interior until his eyes settled on Phoebe's silhouette hidden through the fog. Without hesitating, the Monkey made his way toward her.
The haze seemed to disperse the closer he got to the Wood Nymph until she finally appeared clearly before him, seated elegantly at an intricately-sculpted, marble and gold accent table. On top of the table was a brewing porcelain teapot along with a cup of tea and beside it were a pair of trimming scissors
Phoebe was a beautiful, middle-aged, brunette, Greek woman with her hair styled in an updo. Like her daughters, her eyes were an emerald green but she lacked the youthful glimmer present in her daughters' eyes, instead, hers glowed dimly with centuries of knowledge, wisdom, and experience. The matriarch sported a green and purple Victorian-era dress, complete with a matching colored parasol, and a wide-brimmed hat decorated with multi-colored flowers.
"You must be Phoebe," Wukong greeted with a polite nod, "My name is Satoru and I—"
"That's Madam Phoebe to you, young man," the Dryad Matriarch interrupted sternly before relaxing, "And you needn't explain, I already know why you're here,"
Wukong raised a brow, "You do?"
"I know of everything that goes on in this garden," revealed Phoebe, "Every tree, every flower, every sapling, and even every blade of grass. They all act as my eyes and ears to ensure that the botanical garden is at peace and undisturbed. Tokyo is too turbulent of a supernatural hub for me not to be aware at all times,"
"Yeah, I agree on that last bit," the Monkey King snickered, "And that's why I'm here. I'm currently investigation a recent murder…well it's more like a massacre, but you already know that,"
"You want to know whether I have information on the Remembrance Flower or not, yes?"
"That's right,"
Phoebe mused as she stared into Wukong's flame-orange eyes, she could see the sparks of resolve and excitement that were held back by the chains of doubt and uneasiness.
"Satoru," she began, "You're not human, are you?"
Wukong was taken aback for a moment before he steadied himself and shook his head, "No madam, I'm not,"
"Then, may I ask, what you are?"
"I am a Monkey…Yokai," he told her, cautious not to spill anything that could jeopardize his cover.
"Really now? Where is your tail? Or does your subspecies not have one?"
On cue, he summoned his dark, furry appendage and lashed it from side-to-side.
"I hide it, y'know, because I regularly interact with humans and my tail would no doubt, freak them out,"
"I see," The Dryad Matriarch's gaze lingered on his tail before she shited her sight to stare at him once again as if analyzing every detail on his face before she closed her eyes. Her expression hardened, deep in contemplation.
"Is there a problem, Madam?"
A quiet minute rolled by with nothing but the wind and crickets filling the empty ambience.
"The Remembrance Flower is indeed hidden within this garden," Phoebe suddenly revealed.
Wukong's eyes widened, "What?!"
"Three hundred years ago, when I first became the guardian of this territory, the gardens were in its initial phases of cultivation. It was nothing but a young grove with a crystal pond in the center. The humans were establishing themselves in the surrounding lands, often they visited to admire the scenery but no more than that. I saw no need to interact with them, and they didn't know of my existence either," Phoebe recounted as she leaned back in her seat. She took a sip of her tea before she continued.
"But one day, a young man came up to me, as silent as the night but his aura shone brighter than all the stars in the sky. I do not remember his face yet the authority and warmth in his voice echoes in my mind. He gifted me two items and an offer,"
"The Remembrance Flower," Wukong concluded.
"Yes, the flower," The Matriarch confirmed, "Along with the pot and soil it would be planted in. It is the little Chinese Shrine in the middle of the lake. The one you kept glancing at on your way here,"
'But that thing was empty and overgrown with moss… Wait, could it be—?' Wukong wondered before pushing that topic to the side and asked, "And what about the offer?"
"A guardian of his choosing would be sent to protect the flower and to an extent, the garden if anything were to happen to me,"
"Doesn't sound like you got much out of it,"
"It may seem that way now, but back then, the area was rife with malevolent Yokai and all manner of other supernatural creatures that had begun migrating from distant lands. The humans were no better as their fear of the unknown made them dangerous. That alongside the war and other conflicts they regularly manifested, established themselves as threats to the serenity of the grove," explained Phoebe, "To keep what little I had, the deal that man offered seemed like gold,"
"So why tell me all of this?"
"Before that man left, he told me—"
[ "In a few centuries time, a little monkey will come running in search of the Remembrance Flower. He'll be a bit rude, impulsive, and by that point, perhaps even doubtful of his own ability. But he's innately righteous and means well.
This task of his will be the spark that ignites hope for the universe. I believe that he will become a Hero again someday. A Hero for mortals and immortals alike. So please, the day he arrives, just give him a little push in the right direction," ]
"Someone said that?" Wukong murmured in disbelief, racking his brain for clues on who the mysterious man could be, 'The Tang Monk? Gold Star of Venus? Master? I've had to have met them somewhere before, right?'
"Yes. Now, there's not much time for you to waste. Return to the shrine in the lake, you'll get the rest of the answers there," Phoebe rose from her seat and patted Wukong on the shoulder as she strolled past him, deeper into the greenhouse and the mist enveloped her, "I have done my part. It's time for you to begin yours,"
Heeding the Dryad Matriarch's words, Wukong promptly left the greenhouse and dashed across the botanical gardens until he once again, stood before the crystalline lake, the reflection of the moon and stars glittered like gemstones upon the gently-rippling surface of the water.
The mossy and weathered Chinese Shrine stood in the very center of the lake as it had for centuries.
Focusing his Qi below his body, Wukong lifted off the ground and flew over to the peculiar structure.
He hovered circles around it, inspecting every detail from the splinters in the wood, to the fading paint, to what patterns the moss grew in.
Then he noticed a simple, gray, ceramic incense holder wedged inside the little structure. Wukong brushed aside the moss that had glued the tiny crimson doors together and pushed the entrance open.
"I wonder if…," the Monkey King reached behind his head and plucked out a small strand of hair.
A swish of the strand and in a puff of pale smoke, it transformed into an incense stick that was already lit.
Without hesitation, Wukong inserted the incense into the holder.
For a moment, nothing happened, and the Monkey wondered if he had done something wrong and missed a step, or perhaps he was too late and the flower had unknowingly been taken away already. But just when the uncertainty began creeping up on him, three loud gongs reverberated throughout the park.
Before he could even react, a blinding light engulfed the area.
"What the—?" Wukong stumbled back as the flash dispersed as quick as it came.
The mildly disorientated monkey immediately analyzed his surroundings.
The lake was still present, though it was notably shallower than before. The water level reached the middle of one's shin and the sandy lakebed was easily visible from an upright position.
Smooth, mossy rocks of all shapes and sizes, along with fallen logs, and beds of reeds decorated the edges of the lake while clusters of water lilies grew sporadically all throughout the clear body of water. Impenetrable forests of Mangrove trees and dense thickets of bamboo barricaded the lake, disencouraging anything or anyone from entering or exiting the lake.
The shrine hadn't exactly disappeared, instead it relocated to be situated on the edge of the lake, sitting cozily within the bamboo barrier. It had also expanded to a full-sized structure, and its expansion also came with some renovations and a fresh new paint job. The red-colored building was a vibrant landmark amongst the deep greenery.
"A pocket dimension," Wukong uttered and smirked triumphantly, "I knew it,"
Then something caught his eye.
Sprouting from a small group of lilypads in the center of the lake was the reason why he was here.
It's form was that of the Lotus Flower, only it's petals were translucent like the finest of quartz crystals and every color imaginable was sprinkled like glitter within each of the petals. The central stamen of the flower shifted, swirled, and morphed between every shade of purple, from a light lilac, then a vibrant violet, and then becoming a very dark purple that seemed to be nearing black.
The flower glowed brilliantly under night sky. It was almost as if a galaxy had shrunk and contorted into a simple lotus flower.
"That must be it," realized the Monkey King, "The Remembrance Flower,"
The water sloshed with every step as he waded toward it, elation filled his senses.
Until those senses abruptly fluctuated and went into overdrive.
'Something's here!'
His natural instincts were warning him of a threat.
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
Wukong leaped back just in time for a spear to crash into his previous position sending up a massive geyser as the blade impaled deep into the lakebed.
"Who dares disrupt the sanctity of the Bamboo Grove?!"
An ice-cold voice echoed through the dimension.
Wukong braced himself and blanketed out his senses, trying to pick up on the Qi of the unknown figure.
That very figure soon made itself known as it stepped out of the shrine.
It was a man with shoulder-length white hair, pale skin with reptilian scales everywhere but his face, and clad in all white attire that resembled the ones worn by noblemen in Ancient China. He had no eyebrows and slitted golden eyes. When the man blinked, it would expose an extra pellucid eyelid that moved horizontally.
The reptilian man hissed as he appeared beside his thrown weapon, revealing his sharp, needle-like teeth.
As easily as a hot knife through butter, he extracted his spear. The weapon was primarily made of jade with bronze making up the pole portion. The main blade was crafted with a subtle wave-like pattern and was large enough that it made up one-third of the polearm while a much smaller blade covered the opposite end. A white tassel was attached to the socket of the larger pointed edge.
"Answer me, mortal!"
Wukong's jaw dropped as the familiarity and deja vu he felt earlier overflowed his senses and he finally knew why.
"I know this place. I've been here before. Way back then when the journey first begun," The Monkey King realized. His head whipped from one side to the other and his fire-orange eyes widened to their limit as he steadily recognized the scenery bubbling up from his memories.
"This is…Black Wind Mountain. And you are—"
[ The Whiteclad Noble ]
白
衣
秀
士
…
…
…
So I'm honestly surprised by the reception of this. Honestly didn't know it would get this much attention and support. A massive Thank You to all those who supported this story from the start.
But yeah, here is the long-awaited Chapter 2 of [ Return of the Monkey King ].
Also great to see that some of you have migrated over from [ Great Sage Equal to Heaven ] after that fic's indefinite hiatus announcement. Hope you'll stay for this journey and enjoy the ride.
Honestly, there's not much to say in this A/N since the story just started.
( Yes, Wukong will eventually meet the main DXD crew, just not in the first arc. )
To clear up some potential confusion for the future chapters:
Whenever the scene is in Wukong's POV, he'll be referred to as Wukong, even if he is acting as 'Satoru'.
Whenever the scene is from someone else's POV who doesn't know Wukong's identity, Wukong will be referred to as 'Satoru'.
云 - Nimbus
A large cat with a pelt that shines like the sunrise, piercing yellow eyes that can see even the most intricate details from afar, and potent magical properties cultivated for millennia.
He has been by Wukong's side ever since his awakening in the new era and assists him whenever and however possible.
Acts as an advisor and a voice of reason as he is familiar with the Monkey's notable personality.
In the current era's supernatural terminology, Nimbus could technically be considered as Wukong's familiar. Although neither will or will ever, acknowledge this role.
He holds an eternal grudge against rats to the point he'll brutally execute any that cross his path due to the Great Zodiac Race Incident.
Wukong knows who sent him, but promised to never mention THAT PERSON's name.
妖怪 - Yaoguai Part 1
If there's one thing every scholar can agree on is that no one is clear on their origins.
Some say that they're the 'Physical Form' of condensed Negative Yin Energy. While others theorize that they're corrupted cultivators that eventually branched out into their own species.
The wildest of the theories is that they were created by the Jade Emperor's secret brother to act as his army for the battle for the Heavenly Throne eons ago.
Regardless, their first 'recorded' entry in human history came from the Xia Dynasty of Ancient China in the form of witnesses and storytelling. In the succeeding dynasty—the Shang—Yaoguai stories and legends stopped circulating through word of mouth alone and began to be officially recorded in writings and illustrations.
Due to the long and convoluted history of their existence, it is difficult to define what elements are required to classify what a Yaoguai truly is.
The most common interpretation is that they are animals, plants, or humans and even Fallen Divinity who have cultivated Demonic Qi for reasons of their own.
They are mostly malevolent or neutral but benevolent ones do exist. Some of the most known virtuous Yaoguai include the legendary trio: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.
气 - Qi
A form of energy found in everything whether it be animate or inanimate, mortal or immortal. Scholars believe it to be the life force of existence that runs through everything in the universe.
The Old Generation specialized in manipulating Qi for various uses from combat to comfort. Such as creating sturdy shelters tougher than steel from thin air to summoning waves of fire hotter than the sun.
Qi Reserves differ from being to being. Some are born with close to nothing while others are gifted with an exceptional amount. Fortunately, through training, one's Reserves can be increased.
However, the utilization of Qi has dwindled significantly throughout the centuries and the Modern Era might as well have forgotten how to channel that power. There isn't a specific date to when Qi stopped circulating as a power source but it's theorized that the combination of the creation of the Sacred Gears and [ Isolation of the Jade Pantheon ] played vital roles in the disappearance of Qi Cultivators.
Although cultivators have significantly dwindled, Yokai are known to use similar techniques and most of the supernatural world believes that Qi Cultivation lives on through them. But only beings who have fought or lived during the Old Generation know that this Modern Generation doesn't hold a candle to the Ancient Arts. A grandmaster in the New Forms would be nothing but an apprentice in the Traditional Style.