Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

The rear hall of Vientiane Palace was shrouded in darkness.

Yun Zhao stood with his hands behind his back on the jade steps, dressed in a black casual robe with only a white jade belt around his waist, which made his figure look tall and slender like bamboo, and his handsome features were almost otherworldly.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of golden light flew out from his sleeve. Using the Lesser Five Elements Technique, he created another "Yun Zhao" in mid-air, with the same voice and aura.

"These days, I've entrusted the affairs of state to you," the original body said calmly.

The avatar cupped his hands, his voice low and deep: "Rest assured, I will not fail in my mission."

With a flash of golden light, the avatar sat upright on the dragon throne in the Zichen Palace, opening the memorial, its expression identical to that of the original.

None of the palace servants, guards, or ministers of the six ministries noticed anything amiss.

Its true form transformed into a streak of azure light, escaping the palace and heading straight for the Wave Moon Cave on Wanzishan Mountain, three hundred miles from the capital.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, at the foot of Wanzishan Mountain.

The night wind rustled through the pines, torches flickered at the cave entrance, and dozens of small demons with blue faces and fangs patrolled back and forth.

Yun Zhao appeared, walking with ease, his robes spotless.

The little demon on guard shouted, brandishing his spear, "Who goes there! How dare you trespass into my Great King's cave!"

Yun Zhao smiled slightly, his voice gentle: "Please inform him that I, Yun Zhao, an old friend, have come to pay my respects to your king."

The little demon looked him up and down. He was dressed in fine clothes but had no demonic aura whatsoever. She was puzzled, but dared not be negligent. She quickly ran inside to report.

A short while later, a low, sneer echoed from inside the cave: "An old friend? I'd like to see which blind fool dares to call himself my old friend."

The footsteps were heavy as drums. A man nine feet tall, with a face as blue as a rump, wearing a yellow robe and with a demonic mark between his eyebrows, strode out. He was none other than Kui Mulang, one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, descended to earth.

His gaze swept over Yun Zhao, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"A celestial being? What past have I ever had with a celestial being? Little demon, are you blinded by him, or are you deliberately making fun of me?"

A demonic aura erupted suddenly, causing the surrounding pine forest to rustle, and a chilling murderous intent filled the air.

Yun Zhao, however, seemed oblivious to the oppressive aura capable of crushing a golden core. He merely raised his eyes, smiled gently, and spoke in a voice that, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of the yellow-robed monster:

"Why should the Yellow-Robed King be angry? Among the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the second mansion of the Western White Tiger is the Kui Wood Wolf Star Lord, who descended to earth to repay a karmic debt. You have been the son-in-law of the dragon in the Kingdom of Baoxiang for fourteen years, and Princess Baihua Xiu is still in your back cave, isn't she? In the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor is already furious. He is just waiting for the pilgrims to pass by on their journey to the West, and then he will make you reveal your true form and return to your position to be punished."

In short, the yellow-robed monster's pupils shrank sharply, and his demonic aura froze instantly, as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water from head to toe.

"How...how did you know?!"

Yun Zhao did not answer, but only sighed softly: "If you don't believe me, you can try it and see if I, a mere celestial being, can really not withstand a single finger from you."

Cold sweat beaded on the yellow-robed monster's forehead.

In all the years he's been on earth, what he fears most is his former celestial subordinates coming after him.

He thought he had kept his secrets perfectly, even keeping Baihua Xiu locked in the back cave with the Soul-Capturing Bell, forbidding her from revealing a single word. But this person before him had spilled his entire secret!

After a long pause, he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, forced a smile onto his face, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Brother, since you know where I come from, why didn't you say so earlier? Come, come, please come into the cave! Men, hurry up and prepare the wine!"

"Prepare a feast for my brother!"

The little demons looked at each other in bewilderment. How could their king, who had been so murderous just moments before, suddenly change his expression?

Yun Zhao did not refuse and followed the Yellow-Robed Monster into the cave.

The Wave Moon Cave was far more luxurious than I had imagined. The cave walls were inlaid with luminous pearls, the floor was covered with Persian carpets, and in the center was a large ebony table, flanked by a dozen or so beautiful fairies, each dressed in thin gauze and with supple waists.

The Yellow-Robed Monster personally pulled out the main seat and invited Yun Zhao to sit down. He then ordered three jars of century-old monkey wine to be opened, their aroma filling the air.

"What is your surname, brother? How do you know about... that matter?" the yellow-robed monster asked tentatively, his eyes already showing a hint of genuine apprehension.

Yun Zhao picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and smiled nonchalantly: "My surname is Yun, and my given name is Zhao. As for how I know... although I am only a celestial being, I have some friends in Heaven who are well-informed. Although the Jade Emperor is angry about your descent to the mortal realm, he is hesitant to directly capture you and bring you back to Heaven because Guanyin specifically requested that the pilgrimage be used to train all living beings. If you trust me, I can guarantee that you will not be taken away when the pilgrims pass through Wanzishan, and you can continue to enjoy your time with the princess."

Of course, not now.

Yun Zhao added a sentence in his heart.

The man in the yellow robe was shocked, and his wine cup cracked with a "crack".

His biggest worry during his years on Earth was the uncertainty of when Heaven would seek revenge. If someone could truly protect him… even if that person was just a celestial being, it was worth the gamble!

"If Brother Yun can truly accomplish this, the Yellow-Robed Monster is willing to become sworn brothers with you, entrusting our lives to each other!"

Yun Zhao smiled and shook his head: "I dare not accept such praise as brother. If you do not mind, you can simply call me Yun Zhao. I came here only to befriend you. If you do not interfere with my plans, I will not interfere with yours."

The Yellow-Robed Monster was overjoyed and immediately offered three more cups of wine.

That night, the two drank until dawn, changing the candlelight in the cave three times and drinking nine jars of monkey wine.

The Yellow-Robed Monster, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, put his arm around Yun Zhao's shoulder: "Yun Zhao... I, the Yellow-Robed Monster, have cultivated for so long, and this is the first time I've seen such a strange demon as you! You, a celestial being... are no ordinary being!"

Yun Zhao just smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

From that day on, the two found they shared similar interests and became true friends.

Every ten days or so, Yun Zhao would come to Boyue Cave for a banquet.

The Yellow-Robed Monster reciprocated by sending him several boxes of South China Sea luminous pearls, sun-dried thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), and a short knife forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron, capable of cutting through iron like mud.

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the past two years, Yun Zhao's incarnation has governed Baoxiang Kingdom so well that no one picks up lost items on the road and no one locks their doors at night. The national treasury has so much silver that it can't hold it all, so it has to be used to repair roads, dredge rivers, and build schools. The people tell everyone they meet that "the Regent is the reincarnation of the God of Literature from heaven."

The main body, on the other hand, regarded Wave Moon Cave as its second home.

The Yellow Robe Monster went from being initially wary to later becoming completely open with him.

This day marked exactly two years since they met.

A grand banquet was held at Boyue Cave, and the aroma of roasted whole lamb wafted for miles.

The yellow-robed monster, drunk, pulled Yun Zhao outside the cave, pointed to the bright Kui Mulang star in the sky, and sighed:

"Yun Zhao, we've known each other for two years, and only now do I dare to speak from the bottom of my heart: If one day I am truly captured by the Heavenly Court, if you can save me, I, the Yellow-Robed Monster, will sell my life to you! If you need my help, just ask, even if it means going through fire and water, I will not hesitate!"

Looking at the yellow-robed monster reeking of alcohol, Yun Zhao thought that this guy could be considered to have a true character.

Yun Zhao truly considered him a friend, thinking to himself, "I admit I lied to you this time, but don't worry, it won't be long before I keep my word and leave you trapped in the mortal realm forever!"

Thinking this, he raised his wine cup:

"You flatter me, Star Lord. There's no need for friends to risk their lives for each other. I only hope that we can stay together for a long time, sharing drinks and laughter, and that will be enough."

Under the moonlight, two figures clinked their cups together, the crisp sound echoing through the valley for a long time.