Volume One, Chapter Twenty-Five: The Merit of Killing

Chapter 25: The Merit of Killing

After that, Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao lost all interest in announcing any more rules. He went straight to declaring the start of the trial and ordered both parties to enter the courtroom.

Tu Zhe hugged his dog, paying no heed to the resentful glare shot at him by Hulu Zhi. He appeared carefree and untroubled, serene as a lotus. Compared to the anxious Jin brothers and the cold-faced Qin Lei, or to the leader of the Shudra, Tu Zhe’s bearing was truly transcendent, effortlessly graceful, provoking the envy of all the celestial kings and causing the heavenly maidens to give little cries of admiration from within the clouds.

The dog stretched her petite form in Tu Zhe’s arms, her little head turning this way and that with leisurely curiosity, as if to say: “You all know, right? I’m the dog sister of Brother Scoundrel!”

At this moment, Mara turned to Muxiu Liutuo. “Old Mu, don’t you think this little dog is rather interesting...?”

Muxiu Liutuo glanced at the dog with a complicated expression. “She’s very cute...”

Mara laughed. “Such a cute little dog—may I hold her for a bit?”

The dog stiffened her neck. “Hmph! Who wants that—”

Mara roared with laughter, while Indra frowned in displeasure. Damn it, can’t you be serious? Do you think my court is a dog park?

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao slammed the gavel. “This is a public prosecution; there is no plaintiff or defendant. Both parties, step forward for questioning, and observe the court’s discipline.”

Both sides entered in an orderly line.

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao began the questioning according to procedure. From the outset, the atmosphere was tinged with strangeness. Questioning the Eight Princes first, he kept it simple and finished within minutes. But when he turned to Tu Zhe, his tone was noticeably harsher.

“Suspect Tu Zhe, state your origins and past life, leaving nothing concealed.”

Tu Zhe fixed his gaze on Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao. “I recall that the presiding judge addressed the other party with the honorific ‘Eight Princes,’ did he not? Why, when it comes to me, am I called a suspect? Has the judge already decided my guilt before the trial is over? Are you certain I am a criminal?”

A flash of malice appeared in Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao’s eyes. “Take note, I use the term ‘suspect.’ Do you not understand what that means?”

Tu Zhe shot back, “Of course, you are free to call me a suspect. But why, then, address the other side as ‘Eight Princes,’ an honorific? May I ask if you are applying a double standard in your forms of address? And could this double standard be regarded as discrimination?”

Oh—

Stars sparkled in the dog’s eyes once again. Qin Lei, nearby, listened in admiration. The Shudra clenched his fist with a triumphant “Yeah—,” a habit he’d picked up from the dog, who, in turn, had learned it from Brother Scoundrel.

The watching celestial audience grew noisy. Indeed, both are princes—why honor one and belittle the other? This young prince is no ordinary character; clearly, something exciting was about to unfold.

Mara looked at Tu Zhe with a smile, his gaze thoughtful, as if recalling something.

The Jin brothers straightened their backs, determined not to disgrace the boy.

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao was left speechless. “Well... very well, Prince Tu Zhe, may I ask you to state your origins and past life?”

Tu Zhe beamed. “Certainly! I am the son of the Lord of Li Xian’an Heaven, and in my previous life, I was a butcher in China of Jambudvipa—in other words, a pig killer—”

The celestial audience erupted in laughter, some good-natured, some mocking.

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao eyed him askance. “Aside from killing, did you perform any other merits? What kind of merit allowed you to be reborn as a prince of heaven?”

Tu Zhe replied lazily, “Why not? I just killed a few people, that’s all.”

What—?!

The merit of killing?

The crowd was in an uproar.

Killed a few people? And that’s all?

An even greater uproar.

In the Hamurabi Code, Vinaya section, of over five hundred precepts, the first is to refrain from killing. Not only did this Prince Tu Zhe kill, but he was reborn atop Mount Sumeru as a celestial prince—how could that be? Present consequences arise from past causes; if killing leads to heavenly rebirth, what of karma and retribution?

Clearly, this prince’s origins were questionable.

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao smiled in genuine delight.

He spoke almost tenderly. “If that’s so, how did you manage to be born on Mount Sumeru?”

Tu Zhe replied languidly, “The same way you did. Unless the presiding judge did not accumulate merit to be born here?”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao sneered, “My merit is not for you to question. Speak for yourself. According to the Hamurabi Code, any new celestial prince must clarify their past-life merit, or else be deemed a heretic—at best expelled, at worst executed.”

Tu Zhe scoffed. “From what I know, the heavens of Mount Sumeru oversee the karma of all four continents, and for half the month, are tasked with inspection duties. I have a question for the judge.”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao’s voice chilled. “Does this relate to your merit?”

Tu Zhe replied gravely, “I would not speak without reason.”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao wished to cut him off, but Mara interjected with a chuckle. “Judge, you must let all beings speak. Freedom of speech is an essential mark of democracy. Without words, there is no clarity; without debate, no understanding. The heavens have always prided themselves on giving all beings a voice—shouldn’t that voice be heard?”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao felt as if a bone were stuck in his throat, rolled his eyes, and had to say, “Speak, then...”

Tu Zhe said, “Let me ask you, Judge—who is responsible for inspecting the four continents?”

“The Chief Inspector of the Vinaya Court.”

“And how many subordinates does the Chief Inspector take on these inspections?”

“There are a billion celestials assigned to each of the four continents.”

Tu Zhe smiled, gazing at Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao with deep meaning. “Then tell me, Judge, in each half month, do forty billion souls reincarnate or ascend in the four continents?”

Gah...

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao was dumbstruck, his bulging eyes blinking as he swallowed hard. “That... should not be the case...”

Tu Zhe pressed on. “Should not? May I take it that the judge, as head of the Vinaya Court, is not clear about his own department’s work?”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao wasn’t about to let Tu Zhe catch him out. His eyes darted. “Not forty billion!”

Tu Zhe smiled, “Then how many?”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao was nearly driven mad. What was this, a census? Why so detailed? What’s he getting at?

He glared at Tu Zhe. “The Vinaya Court’s affairs are complex and divided. Do you want me to call in the Chief Inspector to answer you?”

You really think you’re that important, kid? Do you even know who you are?

Tu Zhe smiled, “My question is finished.”

At this, the dog piped up in a childish voice, “I know the number of souls who reincarnate or ascend in the four continents each half month—it’s about ten million, give or take, not much more or less.”

Zhuangchi Yuan Beigao stared at the dog. What kind of dog was this, to know even that?

Tu Zhe nodded and suddenly spoke up, “Forty billion celestials sent out to inspect, ten million souls reincarnating or ascending. Judge, I believe I need not explain why killing was the merit of my past life. Wouldn’t you agree?”