Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Three: The Queen of Hell's Equality

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Queen of Equal Hell

When the multitude of celestial beings heard Lord Yama Muxiuloutuo issue a challenge to the Great Dragon Elephant King Ilopona, excitement surged among them. Only now did they realize that some matters truly had been overlooked: for instance, the steward of the Fragrant Heaven Feeding Garden hadn’t even been mentioned, and the Great Dragon Elephant King, who had injured the little dog, seemed to have escaped everyone’s notice.

These celestial beings, so long accustomed to a life of ease, had been too preoccupied with fear and celebration moments ago. Only now did it dawn on them that a certain great figure had not only failed to make an appearance but had also received no punishment at all.

This crowd was even more expert at spectating than the bystanders in Tu Zhe’s former country. What could they possibly discern from the spectacle? And even if they did, it wasn’t their place to intervene.

Only Tu Zhe sneered inwardly, knowing that there were deeper meanings at play here, ones he could not easily fathom.

This time, Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao did not seem surprised, as if he had already anticipated such a development. In fact, Lord Indra had long seen that there was some entanglement between Muxiuloutuo and the little dog, and that the Great Dragon Elephant King could not simply avoid it. He had thus instructed Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao through divine thought to refrain from mentioning Ilopona, and instead observe Muxiuloutuo’s next move.

Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao now spoke, “Lord Yama, do you have a personal grievance with the Great Dragon Elephant King?”

Muxiuloutuo frowned slightly. “A personal grievance? None at all.”

Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao feigned surprise. “Then why does Your Lordship wish to duel the Great Dragon Elephant King, and moreover, with no regard for life or death?”

Muxiuloutuo replied coolly, “I simply find him displeasing. Judge, are you saying this is not permitted?”

Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao hesitated. “Without a special reason, such a request seems a bit... questionable...”

Muxiuloutuo’s gaze swept over Indra. “You need a reason, do you?”

Indra responded calmly, “A contest without cause seems inconsistent with propriety. I ask Lord Yama for understanding.”

Damn it, Tu Zhe thought, it’s one thing for a Realm Lord to throw his weight around here—after all, he is the Realm Lord. But another Heavenly Lord, equal in rank to me, wants to do as he pleases on my own turf?

Muxiuloutuo turned to look at the little dog, his eyes full of tenderness and unspeakable pain. He murmured, almost to himself, “She followed me for many years, and later was with her brother. She has been far from me for a long time now...”

Upon hearing this, the celestial beings were all shocked and pale.

Yama’s pet dog? Could it be...?

Tu Zhe held the little dog in his arms, a sudden dread overtaking him at the thought that someone might come to take her away. It filled him with fear and desolation.

No—

No, no!

No one will take the little dog from my side. She is my sister, my family. Whoever tries, I’ll fight them!

Sensing Tu Zhe’s fear, the little dog reached out a tiny paw and grabbed a lock of his hair, whispering, “Don’t be afraid, Big Brother. I don’t even know that so-called Lord. Who does he think he is, saying I followed him for years? He must be crazy...”

Muxiuloutuo heard the little dog’s words, and a trace of pain flickered across his face. He turned to Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao and said, “She has forgotten me now. Do you know what happened? She was always like... a daughter to me...”

Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao jumped up in shock, and even Indra straightened with solemnity.

Muxiuloutuo continued, “My lord Judge, is this reason enough?”

Indra strode up before Muxiuloutuo. “Lord Yama, are you saying this little dog is the Mistress of the Infernal Mount Chakala? The Queen among the Kings of Equality?”

Muxiuloutuo nodded. “Her brother is the Lord of Hell, Yanmolosha. She is Nyamoloma. The brother governs the male ghosts, she the female—the siblings together are called the Kings of Equality. But... I do not know what has happened; how has she appeared here, and why does she not recognize me?”

Indra flung out his sleeve, deeply vexed.

Damn it, another powerhouse has appeared. The Great Dragon Elephant King is surely done for now.

Muxiuloutuo’s words threw the celestial assembly into an uproar.

Heavens, she was the Queen of the Infernal Mount Chakala! No wonder the Great Dragon Elephant King was in trouble now.

Tu Zhe lifted the little dog under the armpits and held her up, studying her closely.

He asked suspiciously, “So, my dear dog, are you really that Queen?”

The little dog shook her head pitifully. “I don’t know... I just remember some places that feel familiar, like Mount Chakala, the Great Black Rope, Black Cloud Sands, and so on. Do those have something to do with hell?”

Tu Zhe knew then it must be true. Something strange had happened to her, causing her memories to become muddled.

At that moment, Muxiuloutuo gazed at her tenderly, startling her so much that she burrowed into Tu Zhe’s arms and shrieked, “Ah! I don’t know you—don’t look at me!”

Muxiuloutuo’s eyes darkened, but within that shadow, a cold, fierce fire began to burn. He murmured, “Whoever is behind this, whatever their motives, I will kill them!”

Zhuan Chi Yuan Beigao’s jaw dropped, his eyes frozen, not knowing what to do.

Muxiuloutuo looked to Lord Indra. “Indra, Ilopona injured Nyamoloma. Am I to let this go?”

Indra was on the verge of tears. Damn it, I, a mere Lord of Trayastrimsha, am up against you, a Lord of Yama, and now also the Infernal Mount Chakala? Am I in a hurry to die or what?

Ilopona, it’s not that I won’t stand with you, but... I hope you understand.

At that moment, the voice of the Great Dragon Elephant King Ilopona rang out from afar:

“Lord Yama, Ilopona awaits you twenty thousand yojanas above Mount Sumeru to settle this score—”

Muxiuloutuo laughed heartily. “Very well, wait for me—”

With that, he strode forward, stepping into the void. With a casual tear, space split like paper; he darted through, and the rift closed instantly.

All the heavenly beings gazed skyward, looking toward a place they could not see.

At such a height, with the space sealed, who could possibly witness what transpired?

Heaven and earth fell silent, so still a pin drop could be heard.

The little dog poked her head from Tu Zhe’s embrace and whispered, “Brother Rogue, did the strange Lord leave?”

Tu Zhe gazed at her in silence, gritting his teeth, as if speaking to her, or perhaps only to himself: “Damn it, nobody will ever...”

Looking into the dog’s eyes, pure as a heavenly jewel, Tu Zhe sighed inwardly: My dear friend, what unimaginable things have happened to you?

But no matter who is behind this, I will uncover the truth. If anyone seeks to harm you, forgive me—for if anyone offends me, I will kill them!

Far away, in a space twenty thousand yojanas distant, the Great Dragon Elephant King and Muxiuloutuo faced off.

Ilopona now assumed human form—a tall, imposing, bald man.

He bowed to the cold-eyed Muxiuloutuo and spoke:

“In the age of Kashyapa Buddha, countless eons ago, I once made a mistake. I pulled up a stalk of fragrant grass from the Buddha, and thus became the nearly immortal Great Dragon Elephant King, forever destined to serve as the mount and protector of Lord Indra for the sake of the Dharma. Living so long, loneliness is inevitable. Though Hulu Zhina is mischievous, he has always treated me kindly, and I took him as my disciple. When he was wronged, I intervened. Even if it was a mistake, for me it was unavoidable.”

Muxiuloutuo sneered. “So you admit your mistake, but think it justified, is that it?”

Ilopona shook his head, his expression tinged with sorrow. “Lord, you misunderstand. I do not seek to absolve myself. I simply understand your feelings for Nyamoloma, just as I feel for Hulu Zhina. Whatever choices we make, right or wrong, we have no other options. Fate—sometimes it blesses, sometimes it destroys.”