Roll to Dodge IX: Monkey King's Misfits

> Continue following Mister Sun, whilst internally questioning what Mister Sun is planning.

Sister Crow sips the tea, and responds to the Monk's question.

"While sitting in a tavern, a man calling himself Mister Sun, although I am not sure he is a normal man, entered and told us about these demons that were coming from a place called Scarlet Mountain to ravage the city. I wished to help, but as you can see I am not as well equipped for fighting as some, and thought I might see how many they were and in which directions, and took flight. This Mister Sun was fighting the demons on the ground, and gave one a mighty kick which landed the unfortunate in my path. I am sure it was accident."

> Sing a work-song while marching to keep our (or at least, my) spirits up.

Edited by dvorak on Nov 9th 2020 at 11:07:45 AM

> Approach the monk and short old man and say:

"Venerable elder and gentleman. Sorry to bother, but have you two seen any demons on these lands?"

Edited by Baisteach on Nov 24th 2020 at 12:02:07 PM

Huang Shouling looks at the woman that has approached him and the Earth God. "Demons, you ask? This humble monk has in fact seen some. Just now, a pack of four yellow furred beasts came down upon this farm. I and another fighter were able to take them down before any further damage was done. This fighter, however, happened to be a demon himself. While this humble monk cannot say anything about his intentions, what I can say is that the battle disturbed the Earth and City Gods within this region."

"Old Immortal Earth has told me of Scarlet Mountain, where an army of demons is preparing to invade the city. I was about to look for a skilled fighter he told me about to assist in defending this city. Why do you ask?"

"Please," White Bull asks to the City God. "Open up the city walls here so I may pass through and lead my brethren to the safety of the wild."

>“Hmm?” Junpei peers an aside glance. “Oh, these old things? A wizard did it.”

...A beat. Seeing the monk still staring expectantly at him, he laughs. “I’m only kidding. Made them myself, as a matter of fact.” He shifts his hand from where it’s propped up under his chin, and reaches for one of the tubes hanging from his belt. “Copper refined, cord intertwined, equals protection divine... Would make a lovely ballad, if you ask me. But creating them wasn’t nearly the hardest part.”

He turns the tube he’s holding around in the light, the surface of its metal glittering across the reflections in his teacup. The mizuhiki tassels hanging from the tube sway a little. Was it just an illusion, or was that the sound of a bell chiming just now?

“It’s that no one had thought of it before. ‘Course, everyone knows about paper charms and seals. Exorcise this, ward off that. Blah-blah-blah—but old ways won’t give rise to new ideas. And I thought it was about time someone took the matter into their own hands.”

Junpei gives a shut-eyed smile, not unlike the one so akin to yoko demons. An innocent gesture, seemingly, but he’s carefully studying the monk’s reaction to his words out of the corner of his eye.

The Monkey King's Misfits: Chapter 12

The story tells of how after the tall and fat monks asked the crow how she had ended up near them, she sipped the tea, and responded to their question.

"While sitting in a tavern, a man calling himself Mister Sun, although I am not sure he is a normal man, entered and told us about these demons that were coming from a place called Scarlet Mountain to ravage the city. I wished to help, but as you can see I am not as well equipped for fighting as some, and thought I might see how many they were and in which directions, and took flight. This Mister Sun was fighting the demons on the ground, and gave one a mighty kick which landed the unfortunate in my path. I am sure it was an accident."

"Mister Sun?" Exclaimed the monks, as if they had heard a familiar name. "The Mister Sun who is less than five chi tall, dressed always in yellow with a blue jacket and a peach flower green fan, and who sometimes screeches like a monkey's cry?" Asked the fat monk.

"He's been around for about fifteen years, has never aged, and has great powers. He's clearly an immortal of some sort. Third Brother believes he's a god from Heaven who descended to the mortal world, and we believe he's a living Buddha." Said the tall monk.

"I still remember the first time of many we met him." Said the fat monk. "It was fifteen years ago. We were still small kids then. A demon had been around attacking people then. Some brave men had tried to fight him, but they all were stabbed with the demon's trident and in terrible pain and agony they had to flee. The doctors saw that it was poison, but their methods could not help. It was then when a traveller calling himself Mister Sun arrived. From a gourd he got some pills and after they were taken the men's pain quickly easened. He told us kids to borrow some of the roosters in the city and to meet him outside the southern gate, and then he borrowed a spear from my father's armory. When we arrived, he had already been fighting the demon for ten rounds. It was truly a fine battle what they fought.

"I remember it was still alive when Mister Sun left the city." Said the tall monk. "After returning to the city with the demon subdued he paid offerings in all the Buddhist and Daoist temples, and put the centipede in a bag. Then he bid farewell to all of us, and after we all turned our eyes away for a moment, he had already disappeared as an auspicious cloud."

"The entire city was full of rumors and theories for a while then. The only common thing we all thought was that Mister Sun would never return, at least for some several decades, but he came back every few years, and we saw him many times. He's one tricky fellow, and we haven't managed to know too much about him." Finished the fat monk.

"So, Lady Bodhisattva," they both said at the same time, "he's back again and now recruited a group of people to help him fight the demon king and his army?"

As for the demon-concealer, he peered an aside glance at the short monk. "Oh, these old things? A wizard did it."

Some seconds passed. Seeing the monk still staring expectantly at him, the demon-concealer laughed. "I'm only kidding. Made them myself, as a matter of fact." He shifted his hand from where it was propped up under his chin, and reached for one of the tubes hanging from his belt. "Copper refined, cord intertwined, equals protection divine... Would make a lovely ballad, if you ask me. But creating them wasn't nearly the hardest part."

He turned the tube he held around in the light, the surface of its metal glittering across the reflections in his teacup. The tassels made of what the Sun's Risers call mizuhiki hanging from the tube swayed a little. Was it just an illusion, or was that the sound of a bell chiming just then?

"It's that no one had thought of it before. 'Course, everyone knows about paper charms and seals. Exorcise this, ward off that. Blah-blah-blah—but old ways won't give rise to new ideas. And I thought it was about time someone took the matter into their own hands."

The demon-concealer gave a shut-eyed smile. An innocent gesture, seemingly, but carefully studying the monk's reaction to his words out of the corner of his eye.

The short monk stood in silence for a while, then snorted with laughter and said: "So what you're innovating is the use of poison against poison and fire against fire. I'm more of a "Beat it yourself" person, but what you're doing is quite nice. Say, what about after this tea and my brothers finishing their conversation with the Lady Bodhisattva, I grab some dry food and some gourds and go and beat the demons with you?"

We will say no more of the group at the monastery as we go and check on the spirit-protected woman, the eldery monk and the Earth God.

The spirit-protected woman approached the eldery monk and the Earth God and said: "Venerable elder and gentleman. Sorry to bother, but have you two seen any demons on these lands?"

The eldery monk looked at her. "Demons, you ask? This humble monk has in fact seen some. Just now, a pack of four yellow furred beasts came down upon this farm. I and another fighter were able to take them down before any further damage was done. This fighter, however, happened to be a demon himself. While this humble monk cannot say anything about his intentions, what I can say is that the battle disturbed the Earth and City Gods within this region."

"Old Immortal Earth has told me of Scarlet Mountain, where an army of demons is preparing to invade the city. I was about to look for a skilled fighter he told me about to assist in defending this city. Why do you ask?"

We will say no more of the group near the farm as we go and check on the White Bull Spirit and the City God.

"Please," Said the White Bull Spirit. "Open up the city walls here so I may pass through and lead my brethren to the safety of the wild."

The City God, trembling, bowed again. "This little god obeys your commands."

A great rumble was heard then. As if lightning was flashing and thunder was roaring, the city wall slowly cracked open and left a two zhang wide opening.

"Please be as swift as possible. If the Jade Emperor knew of this I would be beaten to death for opening the walls for a demon." And as the City God finished these words, he bowed yet again and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

We will say no more of the White Bull Spirit as we go and check on the travellers and Mister Sun.

The farmer sang a work-song while walking, the foreign monk continued walking while internally questioning the man's plans, and the scribe asked, still a bit dazed: "What happened to you?"

"What happened to me? In what sense do you mean?" Replied the mysterious man. "If you're asking what happened to me to be born I wouldn't be able to answer your question very well.

"And if you're asking me what happened to me to be here, well, that's fine as lace! The saying says that just as a fence needs the support of three stakes, an able fellow needs the help of three other people. No one alone could beat the demon and its army, so that's the reason I seeked for a group of people."

If you want to know what happened next, listen to our next chapter to know.

Story time at the monastery, some talking around the farm, walls moving and some information about Mister Sun! What's not to like? What shall you do next?

Glossary:

• Gourd: Also known as the hulu, calabash, or bottle gourd. Has a distinct shape that looks like two balls, one on top of another; but can be also long. The classic shaped one is typically used as a container of water, or if you're a Daoist/immortal/god, elixir and pills.
• Grandpa: Not necessarily your own grandpa, a close eldery male relative or any old man. Calling yourself "Old man/woman" or "Grandpa/Grandma" is a way to assert your own superiority or to indicate contempt at someone. Same as calling someone "my boy/girl/child" when you are not a kind and caring elder. Someone calling you "Grandpa/Grandma" admits their own inferiority. "Gramps" is still pejorative, though.

Notes:

• The monks' Mister Sun flashback story time takes place at the same time as Junpei and Juedi are talking.
• Rhyming is cool.
• No, travellers, you are not hearing that wall cracking. None of you are allowed to talk about that.

Edited by JTTWlover on Nov 24th 2020 at 9:33:07 PM

"I ask you, venerable sir, because I was recently in an altercation with demons of a similar sort. May I ask how big this army is?"

Sister Crow has been listening to the Monks' story, transfixed. "Your prose is elegant! And quite a story. Yes, that sounds like the Mister Sun we met." The tea is making her feel better; she drinks any that is left in the cup. "I wish you would not call me a Bodhisattva, however; I'm sure I'm nothing of the sort. You may call me Sister Crow, or Wu Yuya if you please."

"I need some rest, lot lately'" Yanzi mutters. "That fight... I need a place to recover my health and strength, as well to focus my faith."

> Find shelter and rest

>"Are we done for the day, Lord Sun?"

After hearing that, Jotaro decides to:

> Ask Mr.Sun "Were you always known as Mr.Sun, or was it a name you recently acquired?"

And thus, the venerable White Bull Spirit led his cattle through the wall and out into the wild, to freedom. Never again would they be bound to the world of men, and never again would they suffer the toil of laborious work for those that did not appreciate them. At long last, the White Bull Spirit could sleep.... Peacefully.

Huang Shouling answers the woman; "As this humble monk has been informed, it is an army of eight thousand demons, led by a being calling himself the Yellow Furred Demon King. If you were also involved in an alteration with these demons, it must mean that they have become bold. But it also must mean you can hold your own against these beasts."

"Old Immortal Earth has informed me of another fighter, a vigilante who lives in the mountains. This humble monk was about to search for this combatant; would you like to join?"

>“I’d be charmed, really.” Junpei stretches out in his seat at seeing the others wrapping up their introductions, finishing off the last dregs in his teacup. “Let’s just hope that the forecast for us isn’t lightning storms this time... Wouldn’t want to get worn out from scurrying all the way back to this place in need of healing, after all, hmm? And there’s still a bounty in need of collecting. I could hardly take my leave for nothing.” He stares at his own burn scars with an ironic grin. They’re healed up enough for now, probably, but hell if charring yourself alive isn’t a public... experience.

Edited by unfortunatezorua on Nov 30th 2020 at 10:58:14 PM

The Monkey King's Misfits: Chapter 13

The story tells of how after the monks had finished their story, the crow, who had been listening to it transfixed, said: "Your prose is elegant! And quite a story. Yes, that sounds like the Mister Sun we met."

She finished the rest of the cup of tea, and then continued: "I wish you would not call me a Bodhisattva, however; I'm sure I'm nothing of the sort. You may call me Sister Crow, or Wu Yuya if you please."

"It's not that much, Miss Wu. Just engraved bugs and little sprigs." Said the fat monk. "My father just insisted that I must have some poetic knowledge to become a great general, but I made his plans into dust when I left the family years ago."

"Sister Crow, this humble monk has a question. May he humbly ask you, what did Mister Sun tell of the demons?" Said the tall monk.

As for the demon-concealer, he scretched out in his seat and finishing his tea. "I'd be charmed, really." He said. "Let's just hope that the forecast for us isn't lightning storms this time... Wouldn't want to get worn out from scurrying all the way back to this place in need of healing, after all, hmm? And there's still a bounty in need of collecting. I could hardly take my leave for nothing." He then stared at his own burn scars with an ironic grin.

"Gold dazzles, silver is white and stupid, and copper coins stink." Smirked the short monk. "Keep the bounty for yourself, I'm there for smashing skulls." Saying that, he walked out of the room. When he returned, he was wielding a brow-high staff. He let out a cry, and swung the staff fiercely and showed his skill for some minutes. When he stopped, the fat monk sighed, and said:

"Oh, Fourth Brother, why bother with you? Your agressive nature is hard to change. Don't you remember what the elder always says? 'Those who have left the family must defer to people every time and cherish kindness in every thought. They must keep ants out of harm's way when they sweep the floor, and put shades on lamps for the love of moths.'"

"And why bother with you, Elder Brother?" Angrily said the short monk. "You said it yourself, you turned your father's plans into dust when you left the family. I'm nothing but a farmers' kid. You were from a general's family. You know what should have happened instead of all of us leaving our families to become monks just because Mister Sun inspired us to do so? You should have gone to the Imperial Examination and passed it, eventually becoming a general like your father, or more. Second Brother should have continued being a woodcarver like his father, and Third Brother, the dandy son of an official he is, should have just lived off his father's wealth. What about me, you ask? The rivers and lakes should have became my home instead of letting me being stuck in this muddy monastery."

At this the fat monk leaped up with rage, and yelled: "A fine lad you are, Fourth Brother! The monastery is a place of meditation and sutra-reading, and not that of cursing it! I may not be the elder, but on the little respect that I may or not still have of being your eldest sworn brother, leave, now."

The short monk gave a snort of contempt. The two sworn brothers stared angrily at each other for some seconds as the tall monk failed to convince any of them to not break their bond over a simple quarrel. The short monk looked at the demon-concealer. "If you want that bounty, come with me and tell me where I can find those demons' old nest." He spit out, and then he grabbed his staff, and stormed out of the monastery.

We will say no more of the group at the monastery as we go and check on the eldery monk and the spirit-protected woman.

"I ask you, venerable sir, because I was recently in an altercation with demons of a similar sort. May I ask how big this army is?" Said the spirit-protected woman.

"As this humble monk has been informed," replied the eldery monk, "it is an army of eight thousand demons, led by a being calling himself the Yellow Furred Demon King. If you were also involved in an alteration with these demons, it must mean that they have become bold. But it also must mean you can hold your own against these beasts."

"Old Immortal Earth has informed me of another fighter, a vigilante who lives in the mountains. This humble monk was about to search for this combatant; would you like to join?"

"Bamboo Grove Mountain is only twenty li at the east. The path is fairly easy to find. Silver Wind Monastery is not hard to find in the forest. It should not be a hard task to convince the Flood-Dragon-Trapping Willow to come and help. This little god has to leave, so venerable elder, young woman, he bids his farewells." And with this, the Earth God bowed to both of them, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

We will say no more of the two near the farm as we go and check on the White Bull Spirit.

The venerable White Bull Spirit led his cattle through the wall and out into the wild, to freedom. Never again would they be bound to the world of men, and never again would they suffer the toil of laborious work for those that did not appreciate them. At long last the White Bull Spirit could sleep peacefully. And as the walls behind them joined together again, the demon and its brethren left under the autumn sun.

We will say no more of him, and we will go and check on the travellers and Mister Sun.

"I need some rest, lot lately'" Muttered the scribe. "That fight... I need a place to recover my health and strength, as well to focus my faith."

"Are we done for the day, Lord Sun?" Asked the farmer.

The mysterious man laughed. "Done for the day? It's not even been half of the way to Scarlet Mountain yet!"

"But I guess some rest is deserved." He waved the peach flower fan at himself and then pointed forwards with it. "There is a small temple nearby. Let's spend some time there and be in our way again later."

It was not even one li when after a small curve, a temple truly appeared in front of the travellers.

Mister Sun carefully put apart the brambles around the door and entered the temple. He smiled at the Southern Sea Guan Yin statue along with the Pilgrim Hui An and the Pearl-Carrying Dragon Girl, burned incense and bowed to them, and after that he sat cross-legged in the cold dirt floor.

"Were you always known as Mister Sun, or was it a name you recently acquired?" Asked the young foreign monk.

Mister Sun laughed. "Is a year recent to you, or a month for a zongjiao kid? Ten years for an old man, or a thousand for the immortals living in the mountains?"

"The term of recentness depends on whom you ask, and a good answer I would not be able to give you." He covered his face with the fan and then replied: "You could say I was able to use this name since the moment I was named. Any more questions, my faithful travellers?"

If you want to know what happened next, listen to our next chapter to know.

Conflict at the monastery, a team-up forming around the farm, the farewell of the bull, and some questions in the temple. What shall you do next?

Glossary:

• Engraved bugs, little sprigs: An Chinese idiom, used to say your own literary talent or poems/prose is/are insignificant.
• Sister Crow's "Sister" and "Crow" parts: In Chinese, we have separate ways of saying sister depending of if she's older or younger than you. (Chinese honorifics and Chinese kinship is hard.) The sister who is older than you is called Jiejie, the sister who is younger, Meimei. Sister Crow's name back in Chinese I use to build the narrative in the setting is Wuya Jie, aka "Crow Older Sister". The monks assume she's younger than them, so the Sister Crow Juetian is using is Wu Meimei, aka "Younger Sister Wu", with no direct mention of her being a crow, but I'm "translating" it as Crow.
• "Those who have left the family": The term of becoming a monk/nun in Chinese, chujia, literally translating to "leaving the family".
• Imperial Examination: Greatest exam in Ancient China, ever. If you wanted to become an official, this is one of the few ways to go.
• Rivers and lakes: The jianghu, or Ancient Chinese wandering vigilante world. Populated with martial artists, swordpersons, monks and more. Also called wulin, or "Warriors' Forest(s)".
• Hui An: Also known as Muzha, Nezha's second brother. Guan Yin's disciple along with Dragon Girl.
• Zongjiao: Literal meaning of kids' twisted hair knots, refers to a kid around eight and fourteen years old, or childhood in general.

Notes:

• Our monk conflict has gone hard. This has not ended up well.
• I'm kinda expecting some praying to the Guan Yin statue. Pray to her.

>Sensing the goddess' attention from the Guan Yin idol, the farmer says his prayers in thanks that he has survived yet another day, and that he has found a kind and just master to direct him towards his new life. He takes his meager funds (in fact, all of what he didn't spend on lunch at the tavern and all of what he found scavenging the slain demons) and places it on the altar in sacrifice, having remembered the teaching of a philosipher-king from the mysterious West he had heard some foreigners speaking of many years ago; that all that you have, given in faith, no matter how small, is worth more to the gods than the leavings of a rich man, no matter how great. He thinks back on his cottage and fields, now scorched and ruined, the petty jealousy he felt towards his richer neighbor who kept many oxen, and feels foolish. Perhaps he is being turned out because he has a grander destiny than farming. Perhaps he is being punished for his sins. Perhaps both. He prays for forgiveness and another day of safety, for himself and his new companions.

Edited by dvorak on Dec 11th 2020 at 9:19:30 AM

"I'm curious, what was your earliest memories?" Yanzi thinks. She is praying to Guan Yin quietly as she waits for her turn to speak to Mister Sun.

> Tell Mister Sun to explain about his life and origins.

Edited by AdeptGaderius on Dec 4th 2020 at 12:03:52 PM

Sister Crow watches the monks' fight with a sinking feeling. But when the short monk has left, she addresses the tall, elder monk who had asked her the question earlier.

"To... to answer what you were asking me, honorable monk sir, Mister Sun told us that Scarlet Mountain is fifty four li to the southwest of the city, and that the army of demons is ten thousand strong." She pauses, shuddering. "It frightens me, but if I am healed enough, I would go with your skilled brother and find Mister Sun and the others intending to do battle against the evil demons again.

...A poem I was inspired by in the Western hills. Despite their skill, I am afraid for those I met, including your brother, which is why I must rejoin them. Will you and your other brother not come with us? Brotherhood entails obligation, and despite your quarrel, I believe it was one of caring, perhaps too much.

> Attempt to persuade the remaining monks with her rhetoric

Edited by PointMaid on Dec 6th 2020 at 7:36:31 AM

Jotaro is simply listening to the conversation between the two, when he felt the sudden - yet brief - urge to attack them for no reason at all. He made sure to keep that discreet, so as to not let the other two notice it happened.