The four giant flags attached to Sun Wukong’s back Beijing opera style that spell out his self-bestowed title “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” is such a recent addition from Stephen Chow’s 2013 journey to the west movie, but it is so ostentatious, so extra, so impractical, so dramatic I don’t know how I ever lived without thinking he wore these flags doing the biggest visual power move when facing down heaven.
(Part 3 translations of the comic. Final 2016 chapters.) Chapters 20-28
True and False Monkey King
—
Chapter 20
(The Buddha, surrounded by his many disciples.)
Disciple, upper right bubble: “Lord Buddha, I’ve heard that that demon monkey went to cause trouble in the Heavenly Kingdom again.”
“The seal you put over him, is it really…..”
Buddha: “That is not possible. Judging by that demon monkey’s ways, he doesn’t have the power to have broken the seal I placed upon him. But…”
(Buddhists sitting on lotus seats, hovering.)
Buddha: “My follower’s previous incarnation, ‘Jingchanzi’s’ memories are still sealed away. In addition to that demon’s uncanny creation by the sky and the earth.”
Buddha, looming over Jiang Liu’er: “It is true that the seal is becoming weaker and weaker. When the time comes, I fear that it will be very hard to control him again…”
(The Buddha reaches out a giant, gilded hand.)
Disciple: “Lord Buddha, then should we not…right now…?”
Buddha: “No. Unless it gets to the dire point where there are no more options, we cannot act so crudely.”
Buddha: “This present demon is similar to that demon monkey, in that they share the same roots…”
(A demon, haunched over and brutishly shackled down with rods in his back.)
Buddha: “If the day comes that that control cannot be implemented, the consequences will be catastrophic.”
(Rods stuck into the back of the demon, sparking.)
Buddha: “To keep that demon under control…the buddhist seal must not waver…”
(Another monkey demon bares his teeth, with six visible ears.)
Six Eared Macaque: “I…”
“I…am…Six-Ears.”
“Not…am not…”
“Sun…”
“Wu…”
“Kong…”
(Either Six-Eared Macaque is freed from his bonds, or he imagines staring at the back of — or standing in the shadow of — the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.)
Author notes: Looks like I dug myself into this hole. (At the start I said I was only doing quick one-shots of daily life.)
Translator notes: This is a spin on the existing 真假猴王 ‘True and False Monkey King’ story. In the original, Sun Wukong goes away and is replaced by a hostile and aggressive version of him who hurts Tang Monk. The fake has the exact same power-set and strength as real Wukong. When two Wukong’s show up, the crew has to figure out who is the real one and get rid of the fake, Six-ears. In the end the Buddha helps reveal the fake and Wukong kills him with his staff.
‘Jingchanzi’ is the name of Jiang Liu’er/ Tang Monk’s previous reincarnation, who was Buddha’s important second disciple. There are different interpretations of why the Buddha sent Jingchanzi back to the mortal world to get the scriptures, especially since the journey west is kind of a giant redemption arc for the demon disciples. The most popular one goes like this: during one of Buddha’s sermons, Jingchanzi fell asleep like a rebel. Thus, Buddha sent Jingchanzi back down to earth so he could appreciate his teachings better. The end.
‘Jiang Liu’er’ was the childhood name of Tang Monk/ Xuanzang/ Tang Sanzang/ Tang Seng (wow he has a lot of names I didn’t even realise…). It means ‘child who flowed down the river,’ referring to how he was found by the monks as a baby.
—
Chapter 21
(Wukong, perched on a ledge, his eyes glowing.)
(Jiang Liu’er reaches out his hand doing something uneasy.)
(He’s picking lots - a little game to make decisions. Whoever picks the straw with the mark on it is ‘it.’)
Jiang Liu’er: “Hoo…it’s not me.”
“Who’s turn is it to get food this time la….”
(The straw with the red mark says “food.”)
White Dragon, Xiao Bai, to Sa Yatou: “Told you not to play with them already…”
Zhu Bajie: “Sa Yatou, looks like you’re it.”
Sha Yatou: “It’s ok, I wanna go.”
Sha Wujing, crouched to see Sa Yatou, right bubble: “You have to be very careful going by yourself, alright, safety first…Remember when you cross the road you need to…”
Sa Yatou: “Uhuh. I know already.”
Zhu Bajie, right bubble: “Do your best and get heaps of meat back here. *Cough.* …Because you’re still in the growing phase….”
Sa Yatou, snickering: “Ok, Pig Uncle.”
Xiao Bai: “If anybody dares pick on you then you tell Xiao Bai immediately, you hear that? We’ll…”
Sa Yatou: “Uhuh, yeah.”
Sa Yatou: “Big Brother Monk, you want anything in particular?”
Jiang Liu’er, glancing back: “Nothing really……it’s just that…”
“Never mind. I’ll come with you, we’ll go together.”
Sa Yatou, left bubble: “But…this time I got picked…”
(The straw lot disappears out of Sa Yatou’s hand.)
Sun Wukong: “Getting some food isn’t complicated enough for you guys to chit-chat and push-pull over. With that amount of energy, I’d already be there and back.”
(Sun Wukong takes off, leaving wisps of cloud in his wake.)
Sa Yatou: “The Great Sage….is he angry…?”
Jiang Liu’er, bottom bubble in black background: “No. He’s currently happy in that heart of his.”
—
Chapter 22
(Flight trails streaked through the air.)
(Someone descends and lands.)
(The golden band sparks.)
Either Bajie or Wujing: “Head Brother, back so fast?”
Sun Wukong, suspicious: “…”
Zhu Bajie: “This time it’s not all peaches again is it?”
Jiang Liu’er, silhouette: “Hahah, who told you guys to leave it to him and not go yourselves. As long as we have something to eat, there’s nothing to complain.”
“Right, Great Sage?”
Sun Wukong: “Jingchangzi…”
Voice, middle bubble: “You….you’re not the Great Sage…”
“!”
(It’s Sa Yatou. She hides behind Jiang Liu’er.)
Jiang Liu’er, faded into the background as Sun Wukong grips his weapon: “What’s wrong? Sa Yatou? If he’s not the Great Sage who else would he be?”
(It’s quite clear that this is the six eared macaque, not Sun Wukong.)
Six-ears: “Oh?”
(White dragon horse, Xiao Bai.)
Xiao Bai: “You — where did a imposter demon like you crawl out from? You dare masquerade as the Great Sage?”
Six-ears: “Heh, heh. Imposter?”
“Even if I’m an imposter, what can the likes of you do?”
(Bajie attacks.)
Zhu Bajie: “Old Sha…”
Sha Wujing: “Hm.”
(Jiang Liu’er and Sa yatou shield themselves from the impact.)
Zhu Bajie: “That damned monkey turns out to be an imposter?”
(The golden band seems to be sparking amidst the dust.)
(He attacks.)
Six-ears, right: “Little girl. How did you recognise me?”
Sa Yatou: “People you’re close with…the feelings you get around family.”
“You won’t understand.”
Six-ears, raising his weapon: “Maybe I really can’t understand it.”
“But…”
“You’re wrong.”
“I am him.”
(Translator note: It seems that Six-ears wears the golden band, but real Sun Wukong does not.)
(In canon, the golden band controls Sun Wukong’s behaviour by causing excruciating pain when one recites the ‘band-tightening’ mantra.)
—
Chapter 24
(The Jingou Bang, poised before Sa Yatou.)
Six-ears: “Little girl. You’re not afraid?”
Sa Yatou: “No. I trust the Great Sage. He’ll come to save us…”
Six-ears, bottom right bubble: “Heheh. Your precious Great Sage isn’t coming back. From now on I am…”
“Sun…”
“Wu…”
“Kong…”
“He can’t even save himself right now…..”
“Close your eyes. I won’t let it hurt.”
(Sa Yatou closes her eyes.)
(A huge blast of power, of gods descending, turns Six-ear’s attention.)
The god: “I’ve always hated owing people favours…”
“Since you’re not that monkey, looks like I can use this chance to return it.”
Six-ears: “Nezha. I’d advise you not to butt-in on my business. Not that you’re able…”
Nezha: “This business — is mine to butt-in.”
Six-ears: “You really think I don’t have the guts to take you?”
“Five hundred years ago you couldn’t win me, today, you can’t win all the same.”
(Image of the crew behind Nezha.)
Six-ears: “Even if all of you come at me at once.”
“Take my word for it. As if the few of you have a chance…”
A Voice: “Shouldn’t make your word so final, don’t you think?”
“I’d advise that you hand the monkey back over to us…”
(The Howling Sky Dog, Xiao Tian Quan.)
“I couldn’t care less about other people’s business. But he has to at least give me back my post money.”
(Upon the god’s forehead is his closed third eye, the truth-seeing “Sky-Eye.”)
(Erlang Shen has landed in the mortal world.)
Translator notes: Erlang Shen was the god that did win Sun Wukong in an uneven match and apprehended him back to Heaven. (Uneven because Sun Wukong was fighting Erlang Shen one-on-one when his powerful dog and Laozi got the jump on him.)
Erlang Shen is referring back to Chapter 14 last chapter of first translation at the end of the White Bone Demon arc. Sun Wukong posts him bones labelled as ‘dog food’ but I guess he didn’t pay beforehand so Erlang Shen had to pay on his end. He’s here for his money back!
—
Chapter 25
(Heaven’s True General, Erlang Shen and the Marshal of the Central Altar, Li Nezha.)
Six-ears: “This…can’t be possible.”
“You two can’t possibly be this powerful……..”
(Erlang Shen looks at Six-ears through his truth-seeing eye.)
Erlang Shen: “It’s not us that has become more powerful, but you who’s become weaker……It seems I can’t discern what is off but…”
“You are not Sun Wukong. Or shall I say, you are not ‘that’ time’s Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”
(‘Great Sage Equal to Heaven is in red. Referring to the Havoc in Heaven.)
Nezha: “Elder Brother, what does that mean? Even the Sky-Eye can’t see through it?”
Erlang Shen: “Hm. Can’t see it. But — I can confirm he’s a fake.”
Six-ears: “IMPOSSIBLE! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE…”
(Six-eared Macaque flies away, the crew and gods brace in his wake.)
Zhu Bajie: “Ran…he ran away…”
Erlang Shen, pinky in his ear: “I…can’t catch up. If you want to chase, you chase.”
“Tch…”
Zhu Bajie: “Heh! Erlang! Why’d you let that demon get away?!”
Jiang Liu’er, silhouetted behind Bajie: “Wuneng, curb your rudeness.”
“Esteemed god, if you are able, I ask that you please help the Great Sage.”
Nezha: “Elder Brother. Think of some ideas. Because that monkey….”
Erlang Shen: “Even if I want to help him I’m all out of ideas. Don’t even know when that shitty monkey dropped off the face of the earth.”
Sa Yatou, leftmost bubble: “Just then — the Great Sage went to find food. He was gone for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.” (About an hour.)
“When he got back it was the fake one.”
Erlang Shen, right: “Oh? Like that…”
(Erlang Shen commands Xiao Tian Quan to follow the trail.)
“Then that’s something to go on.”
“You can’t have eaten all those dog treats for nothing, right, Xiao Tian?”
(Translator notes: Nezha refers to Erlang Shen as ‘cousin’ in the comic but they’re not...cousins. And they’re not related. So I opted to put ‘elder brother’ to show seniority etc.)
—
Chapter 26
(On the cliff of a mountain, Xiao Tian takes Erlang Shen and Jiang Liu’er to the find the real Great Sage.)
Erlang Shen: “Xiao Tian. The monkey’s here, is he?”
Xiao Tian: *Barks.*
Jiang Liu’er, probably: “This…this is a buddhist seal.”
(Probably Jiang Liu’er reading the mountainside seal.)
“Six words true from the heart…”
“To undo the buddhist seal.”
Erlang Shen: “Little Master. Looks like we really can’t do anything else. We’ve got our hands tied for this matter.”
Nezha: “What’s so high and mighty about it? Let’s break our way in and then talk…”
“Someone able to take down the monkey within the time of an incense stick burning to its end — I really do want see them.”
Jiang Liu’er: “Third Prince, please refrain.”
Jiang Liu’er, hands held together in prayer form: “For you two to escort this humble monk here, I am already grateful to no end. Since this business is from my own sect, and since your identities in Heaven are…”
“I simply cannot trouble you for this affair. Please forgive this humble monk’s discrepancies. I’ll go in alone…”
Nezha, right bubble: “Monk, but we…”
White Dragon, Xiao Bai: “Monk, you’re insane! You’re not doing anything but looking for death going in alone! We’ll go in with you….”
Jiang Liu’er’s silhouette: “I said…”
“Alone.”
Xiao Bai: “……..”
Zhu Bajie, right: “The little Monk’s a little different today.”
Sha Wujing, left: “A little…scary.”
The seals in red: ‘Oṃ’
‘Maṇi’
‘Padme’
‘Hūṃ’
(Image of a chained monkey’s hand.)
Sun Wukong: “Heheh. Buddha, you imprisoned this Old Sun for five hundred years…why this again?”
Buddha, black bubbles: “Sun Wukong, your demonic nature has yet to be cured. How are you to protect the pilgrim who goes to collect the sutras?
Sun Wukong, white bubble, left: “I don’t protect him because he happens to be the pilgrim.”
Buddha: “These affairs are no longer any of your concern. The Buddha has decided…”
(The real Sun Wukong, strung up upon a giant buddhist seal.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Da Seng!”
(‘Great Sage.’)
Sun Wukong: “Jiang…You, why are you….”
Jiang Liu’er: “Don’t you worry, I’m going up there to get you down right now.”
Sun Wukong: “Monk, just go. This time the seal isn’t so easy…”
Buddha: “Jingchanzi…”
“You have a great responsibility upon your hands. Do not be brash. The Buddha has already commanded the other half of this demon to aid you upon your travels…”
“Those who become one with the greater good enlightens oneself, but they cannot adhere to the rhythm and whims of the small, this is how the Mahayana doctrine comes to be…”
(i.e One must detach themselves from personal loyalty and individuals in order to serve a greater purpose.)
Jiang Liu’er: “I do not understand. What do you mean by his ‘other half…?’”
Buddha, left: “The day I subdued the demon beneath Five Elements Mountain, I split his spirit from one into two. The first half remains the demon you see before you. The second is ‘Six-ears.’
“And now the opportunity has come to command his use. He will help you finish your buddhist journey….”
“Even if you cannot fathom this, based upon the power you have, if you try to release the seal your own spirit will…”
Buddha, in red: “Smother like smoke and disappear.”
Six-ears, right bubble: “Smother and disappear? Sounds so scary.”
“The thing I want to know — If I originally was half of him, then how am I supposed to smother and disappear?”
Jiang Liu’er: “You….”
Six-ears, eyes glowing red behind Jiang Liu’er: “Step out of the way, little monk. Saving him is not up to you.”
(Six-ears, hearing the truth, leaps to save his original self.)
(The seal shatters.)
Sun Wukong: “…Spirit fragment…”
(Jiang Liu’er is now in possession of the part-spirit of Sun Wukong.)
Buddha, left black bubble: “Jingchanzi. His split spirit must not be returned into the hands of the original body…”
“It cannot be allowed for the Demonic King to return to the height of the power, to the days of…”
“The Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”
Jiang Liu’er, left: “Lord Buddha. Your enlightened ways and exalted words are wasted upon me. I cannot yet understand your greatness….”
“The greater good is of course of the highest importance. But doing smaller acts of good cannot be neglected. Human nature is spilt into potential for good and evil. I would rather live this life of good and evil.” (I think.)
(Image of Jiang Liu’er close up, under the straw hat.)
Jiang Liu’er, right bubble: “And one more point. Lord Buddha, my name is Jiang Liu’er. I’m a humble, simple monk…..”
“—Not your pilgrim, Jingchanzi.”
Sun Wukong: “Jiang Liu’er…”
(Jiang Liu’er returns Sun Wukong’s other half back to him.)
(Sun Wukong regains the body and soul of his heyday.)
—
Chapter 27
(Outside the mountain, the crew is startled by a shockwave.)
Zhu Bajie: “This is…”
Nezha: “So much demonic aura…!”
(Sun Wukong reclaims his Ruyi Jingou Bang staff, now exactly as he was when he took heaven five hundred years ago.)
Buddha: “Jingchanzi. Do you understand — the demon monkey has regained his vitality from the days where a sky filled with heavenly gods, and buddhist celestials, stood as his opponent?”
“Should he rise up and take the Heavenly Kingdom again, should he shake the Palace of the Underworld, can you shoulder this degree of sin?”
Buddha, lower black bubble: “Make haste, crown him with the golden band, curtail calamity.”
(Sun Wukong lashes out, swiping the Jingou Bang staff above Jiang Liu’er.)
(The gargantuan image of Buddha is wiped away.)
Buddha: “The golden band is the only thing left in this world that can control his demonic nature….”
(Sun Wukong faces Jiang Liu’er.)
(Suddenly, Sun Wukong falls to his knees.)
Sun Wukong, bowing over the headband: “Should I become a buddhist, the world will see no monsters; should I become a monster, what now can buddhists do to me?”
“To be monster or to be buddha; it is your will by reciting the words.”
Jiang Liu’er: “Da…Seng…”
Sun Wukong, top bubble: “Okay la, okay la. Let’s go, stop crying your nose off…”
Jiang Liu’er: “Who said I was crying — I am not.”
Sun Wukong: “Look at you. Your snot is all getting onto my Jingou Bang staff…”
End.
Author notes: The art style and background looks I’ve now definitely got down. But I can’t promise that it won’t change.
Translator notes: The seals in chapter 27 show the band-tightening mantra ‘Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ.’ Sun Wukong trusts Jiang Liu’er so much he accepts the golden band and hands him the key to keep him in check.
Big thanks to @dorkshadows for translating the part about the Mahayana doctrine. :D
Erlang Shen: “Still want to play, Xiao Tian Quan?”
Xiao Tian Quan: “Uhuh <3”
End.
Author Notes: Now I can sigh out loud at the end. I can’t believe I stuck with it and drew so much. Of course my motivation comes from all of you readers and your support. It’s still that same line from me — as long as you like it, I’ll keep on drawing~~~
Translator notes: Xiao Tian is Erlang Shen’s loyal, deified dog. Thank you for reading and please support DENGANG on weibo. I’ll continue translating the 2017 chapters after a short break. Also, disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the author and this is not my work. I only do the english fan translations.
Qu Mo Lu － Part 2 of Translations, 2016 chapters, chapters 15-19
Treacherous Sea.
Chapter 15
Follow bubbles right to left.
(Lanterns blinking on boats out at sea.)
Girl: “Grandad, the rain’s gotten heavier again. Are we still able out to sea tomorrow?”
Grandad: “No, no going out on these waves. A typhoon is coming. Let’s clear up and go.”
Girl: “Grandad, on that rock ledge — I think there’s someone there.”
Stranger, standing on rock: “This water splashing upon my body, I feel none of it. But then why is it that it feels so familiar?”
Girl and Grandad: “Young man, don’t do it, don’t do anything stupid! Hey, you, hurry and get down, it’s so dangerous!”
—
Girl: “Hahah, so you weren’t trying to end your life, phew. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
Grandad: “Judging on your smooth skin and unmarked body, you must be from of a family with money. A young master, right?” *Cough, cough.*
“Yingzi, go find some clean clothes for him to change into.”
(Yingzi is the name of the girl.)
(As the stranger changes into new clothes, he shows a glimpse of his intricately tattooed back. A lotus flower is in the middle.)
—
Chapter 16
(A cult-like gathering. Note: keep in mind that any magical/religious terms used in this comic has no relation to christianity. The word ‘priestess’ here is used to denote someone who has contact with the sea gods.)
Priestess: “In this unwell world the gods are angry; us mortals are suffering! I have received word from Tongling Sea-God, his highness, just now. If we want peace and mercy there is only one way, there is no other choice. You should discuss about it amongst yourselves.”
Civilian: “Priestess, even the sky has forsaken us this year. This time the typhoon will stop us from being able to go out to see for many days!”
Head Fisherman: “Are you saying we have to sacrifice again? It’s not as if we have limitless fifteen-to-sixteen years old girls in this village.”
Multiple Civilians: “Yeah, Old Head.”
“But Head, You — your Yingzi, isn’t she at that age now? If you can’t we’ll…”
“Yeah, yeah…”
(The Head Fisherman is the grandad of Yingzi.)
Head Fisherman, middle bubble: “No! Yingzi’s parents are all gone. In this family, I’ve only got this one niece left.”
Multiple Different Civilians: “Head Fisherman, you can’t be so selfish like that! This is for the sake of our entire village.”
“Yes, it’s a great responsibility.”
“You have to do it for the lives of everybody. It’s for the best.”
—
(In the house.)
Yingzi: “Achoo!”
Stranger: “Ying…”
(At fish.) “Oh.”
Yingzi: “Ok la. You don’t have to stare at me like that, with that silly look. Last fish on the plate, you eat it.”
(Bowl and chopsticks fall and break.)
(Yingzi holds out her hand to the stranger as she’s taken away.)
—
Stranger: “I’ve never understood. Being a mere puppet to be used like me, what’s the point of living at all?”
“Maybe the meaning of my life is to do battle and kill enemies. But then what’s the meaning of fighting?”
“I remember now. The meaning of having to fight is to protect the people that I want to protect.”
“It was like that in the past…it will be like that in the future.”
(Yingzi is tied as a human sacrifice to a post.)
Stranger: “Yingzi…”
“Don’t be afraid. I will protect you. Just like before — like the people of Chen Tang Guan.”
(Chen Tang Guan is the ‘stranger’s’ hometown, a great city. The golden bracelet he wears on his wrist enlarges into the Universe Ring 乾坤圈.)
—
Chapter 17
This chapter is left to right.
Priestess: “Are you…you’re really the Marshal of the Central Alter, great god…”
“Th…Third Prince, Nezha.”
(Nezha breaks the bonds, freeing Yingzi.)
Civilians: “The Great God has descended! Help us!”
Nezha: “You mortal humans’ weakness and smallness is not an excuse to do evil.”
“No…”
(He summons the Fire-tipped Spear 火尖槍)
“Humans are just like this…”
“Gods. Humans. Demons. They all have their own code and ways to follow. If you do something wrong, then you have to pay the price.”
“Demons are so…”
(Nezha takes down the sea monster with his spear in a flash of gold.)
“And Gods and deities are so…”
(Nezha’s silhouette.)
“Now that I’ve shown my true form, I’ve got nowhere left to hide.”
(Gold lightning crashes from heaven.)
“Anyhow, I’ve committed many sins. Doesn’t matter if I add one more to the lot.”
(The golden pagoda, recognisable as Nezha’s father’s prison. It is used especially to subdue Nezha. The pagoda falls to imprison him.)
“At least I could protect those that I felt like protecting.”
(Nezha, holding hands with Yingzi.)
“At least I truly lived my life as my own for once…”
“The fish you cooked was really delicious…if there was…”
“...a next time…”
“.……”
End.
Author Notes: Third Prince’s story was supposed to end here. But then everybody seemed to be so glum~~~~
Translator Notes: I heavily suspect that because the author gave Sun Wukong that awesome big billowy red cape (like the movie) he couldn’t give Nezha his Red Armillary Sash 浑天绫 because it’ll look too similar hahahahahahahahhahaa!
—
(More Translator notes, can skip: The story of Nezha is pretty well known and readers would be able to guess his identity from the hints given in the first chapters.
(An important part of Nezha mythology is the ‘Havoc in the Eastern Sea.’ The people of Chan Tang Guan begged the Eastern Dragon King for rain and depending on the version, the King either snatches children to eat or the people put out human sacrifices, etc. After one of Nezha’s friends were taken, he goes to upheave the sea kingdom and cause trouble for the King. Nezha gets into a fight with the King’s third son. Nezha is, like, 7 years old when he murders the King’s third son, prompting a huge siege over Chen Tang Guan by the King and his dragon brothers in revenge. They create devastating tsunamis, typhoons and floods.)
(Nezha’s father Li Jing thinks that Nezha has shamed the family and doomed Chen Tang Guan. To save his people, and in the ultimate show of filial piety, young Nezha takes his father’s sword and commits suicide. Li Jing burns down Nezha’s temple that was created after his death, saying that he’d been nothing but trouble for the family.)
(Nezha is then bought back to life by his teacher, Taiyi Zhenren, from the roots and essence of a lotus flower. He becomes a deity after rebirth, becoming the ‘Third Lotus Prince.’ Li Jing and Nezha then have a terrible relationship and have many fights. Because Nezha was more powerful than Li Jin, the gods give him a magical golden pagoda than can grow and shrink — created to subdue Nezha.)
(Nezha is always depicted as a young child with two hair buns, but in this comic he looks much older. The images of Nezha in the rain on the sea, as well as the tattoos of the lotus on his back, evoke his past.)
—
Chapter 18
(The title page shows Nezha’s Universe Ring and a lotus.)
(People are praying in a temple.)
(Yingzi has been praying to/for Nezha.) (Read left to right, up down.)
“Excuse me, Madam.”
Young Jiang Liu’er: “Please, Madam, stop just a for a moment.”
Yingzi: “What’s the matter, Young Master?”
Young Jiang Liu’er: “Forgive my forwardness…”
Yingzi: “This…”
Young Jiang Liu’er: “The bracelet you wear on your wrist, may I ask where it comes from?”
“Madam, please don’t misunderstand. It’s just that your bracelet is much like something that an old friend of mine has. It reminded me of them, so I asked.…”
Yingzi: “Young Master. This bracelet is also my good friend’s. Once he comes back, I’ll like to return it to him…”
Young Jiang Liu’er: “No matter. It was this monk that misjudged. Sorry for the trouble. Sanzai (‘there is good’).”
“Farewell.”
(Young Jiang Liu’er’s eyes glow fiery gold.)
Young Jiang Liu’er: “Looks like our dear friend is the same person ay…”
“Just that this one parting ended up being five hundred years…”
—
Chapter 19
(Sun Wukong in armour with his feather crown, perched on a rock looking up at Heaven’s gate.)
(Clear skies and boats peacefully out at sea.)
Head fisherman/ Grandad: “Yingzi, recently you’ve been running to that temple non-stop…”
“The bloke is a heavenly deity, are you still thinking he’s going to come back?”
Yingzi: “Alright, Grandad, stop talking about it…”
Yingzi, after something descended onto her boat lightning fast: “Why is it…you, Young…Young Monk?”
Sun Wukong, in the form of young Jiang Liu’er: “Madam, we meet again.”
“This one here is that old friend of mine I was talking about. But right now I have some errands to run. I’ve got to leave some trouble in your hands…”
Yingzi: “Ah…okay…”
—
(Eyes open.)
Yingzi: “You’re awake.”
Nezha: “Yingzi…”
“How could this…”
Yingzi: “Don’t move. I’ll tell you, it all went like this….”
(She tells him what happened.)
Nezha: “…A monk…”
Yingzi: “Before he left he told me to give you this…”
(She holds out the pagoda, the only thing that can imprison Nezha.)
“He said he was borrowing it from someone. And that ‘you can give it back when you feel like giving it back.’”
Nezha: “….”
Yingzi: “That friend of yours — is he a really strong god…? How did you guys meet?”
Nezha: “He…is very powerful. But he’s not really a god or deity. Us two fought a match back in the day, five hundred years ago.”
In Heaven -
Li Jing, Nezha’s Father: “Oh Jade Emperor! That demon monkey stole my seven-jewelled pagoda!”
“And…and beat me up in the process, you must—”
Jade Emperor: “What! That demon monkey came up here?! Where is he now?”
Li Jing: “After he hurt me…he…he just left.”
Jade Emperor: “Oh, so it’s like that…Then that’s good. That’s good.”
End.
Author notes: So I drew a sequel. Got to put some stress on Sir Li Jing and the Emperor la.
Translator notes, can skip: (Tbh I can’t read what the extra bit is, sorry. It’s congratulating someone on something.) Five hundred years ago when Sun Wukong was wrecking havoc in heaven, Nezha was a marshal sent down with the army to apprehend him. In the book, Nezha fought Sun Wukong one-on-one and lost.
In the 1999 journey to the west tv show and 05 lotus lantern they added an incredible addition where Nezha and Sun Wukong fight but they bond over each other’s skills and their mutual making-fun of the Eastern Dragon King, whom they both dislike. Sun Wukong invites Nezha back to his mountain to enjoy a hearty meal and they stop mid-fight to do just that. Then Nezha waves goodbye and runs back to Li Jing and the army at the end of the day after the hang-out, looking fake-disheveled, pretending to have suffered a defeat. They tell no one of this and no one ever knows. (I really really like this addition hehehee.)
This is a fan translation of the 2016 chapters of DENGANG’s Monkey King: Hero is Back fan comics. Please support DENGANG on weibo, three of his Hero is Back comics can be purchased here and here, as well as heaps of his art, prints, phones cases and other products. If you click on the links (in the link, lol), it’ll redirect to Taobao.
Please read bubbles and panels right-to-left (To follow the speech bubbles, read up-down from the right.)
Chapter 1
A monk opens to the door to a cottage on a rainy day.
Thugs: “En?”
“Venerable Master, what are you doing so late in the night?”
“Is the Master wanting to stop an injustice by saving this girl?”
Monk: “No…”
“I am here to save you guys…”
Thugs: “Ol’ Seven, go check the merchandise.”
“Hey Boss, can’t you see she’s still right there?”
Captured woman: “Venerable Master, you are headed west, I am headed east; from the very beginning, the well water will never impede upon the water in the river — why must you make such a scene and ruin my good work?”
‘Captured’ woman: “Do you really think I’m scared you?”
Thugs: “She was fucking-actually a demon this entire time!”
“Cut it down!”
(Green demon takes down thugs, pulls out spines.)
(Green demon goes in to kill the monk.)
Monk: “This monk has never said…
“That I…
…
“Had come alone…”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong (Black bubbles): “Every time — you always have to waste your breath and run your mouth chit chatting, why must you humour these kinds of ants?”
Sun Wukong: “Jiang— ehem…Monk. These wild thugs, how should they be punished?”
Jiang Liu’er: “Let’s go. In these harsh times, (let us hope they can sort themselves out?).”
“Just then when you ascended from the sky, wasn’t that a little too amazing?”
“In this story I’m the main character, ok?”
Sun Wukong: “Sucker.”
End.
Author Notes: This is my first time drawing longer stories, the art style is a bit harsh. I’m not even sure if I can keep it up. This is to whet your appetite (literal - spice up your eyes?) I will kneel/bow now.
———
Chapter 2
Jiang Liu’er on horse. The horse is clearly one morphed from a dragon.
Jiang Liu’er: “Xiao Bai, I’ll go and get us some food. You wait outside the village for me.”
“Hm. I know. On the off-chance a stranger sees you, it won’t be good if you scare them off.”
Xiao Bai, White Dragon Horse (Black bubbles): “Master. There are dark enemies in this place, and they are heavy. It does not feel like a place where the living reside. It’s better to be careful.”
(Jiang Liu’er goes off with Lantern.)
“Mas…ter…”
Little girl: “Please…wait…”
“Master. Pleas slow down.”
(A young, blind girl tugs on Jiang Liu’er’s robes.)
Little girl: “Master, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot, you misunderstand. Please hear me speak.”
Jiang Liu’er (white bubble): “Really. You think you can trick this monk just like this? By tying yourself to this dying girl’s body? What are your intentions?”
Little girl: “Please help me. I beg of you, take me out of this village. This place is so full dangers. We should leave immediately.”
Ghost in little girl’s body: “Us mother and daughter have had it very harsh. My daughter was so unfortunate to lose her sight. But I could not sustain our livelihoods by being a beggar. These starved, desperate villagers, starved for years, singled me out as an outsider, and cut me down to share my flesh between them…”
“My grudge saw me take form as a spirit tied to my daughter’s body. I protect her from harm. But the villagers — they’ve changed and become even more virulent, and I am losing strength. Soon I will be nothing but dust and smoke and my daughter will be hungry and cold for the rest of her days. She will learn to resent even with the short time she has left in this world…”
“Venerable Master, please see with the kindness and compassion in your heart. Please save my daughter — leave quickly, or the villagers will discover you…”
Cannibals: “Flesh…”
“Flesh…there’s fresh flesh to eat here…”
“Kill…eat flesh…”
“Kill…kill them all, and then we eat tonight…kill…kill…”
Ghost Mum: “Great Master, take my daughter away from here! Even if I turn to flying dust and dissipating smoke, I will still kill these animals!”
Jiang Liu’er: “There’s no use. You can’t stop them. They can’t see you, and you shouldn’t add to your sins. Do you really not wish to reincarnate?”
Ghost Mum, dissipating: “Esteemed…Venerable Master, then you take my daughter and go. I’ll disappear now — you have to hold up, alright?”
“Mas…”
Jiang Liu’er, out of breath: “Hah…Hah…how great…I can’t run anymore…but…”
“Hah…White…”
“Dragon.”
(White horse looms out.)
(An explosion-like scene, White Horse morphs into a towering dragon, red eyes shining and looking down on Jiang Liu’er.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Xiao Bai. You hungry? I bought the food back to you.”
Xiao Bai, slithered close to Jiang Liu’er, red eye larger than Jiang Liu’er’s entire head: “Master…These villagers are living…”
Jiang Liu’er: “They’re live people?”
“Oh. Oh. I couldn’t tell.”
Sun Wukong, lounging on a tree: “Little Monk. You really favour Xiao Bai, don’t you? Under these pretty circumstances when would you ever stop to think of me?”
Jiang Liu’er: “I was just worried that you’ll go ahead and break the sky again…”
Sun Wukong: “What about this silly girl, Sa Yatou? You going to keep her with you on your travels?”
Jiang Liu’er: “Sa Yatou…”
End chapter
Author’s notes: Chapter 2 I did a long while after chapter 1. The style is still experimental and fumbly. Though it’s more rigorous/strict than before.
———
Chapter 3
Jiang Liu’er leading Sa Yatou on the white dragon horse.
Sa Yatou: “Hungry.”
Jiang Liu’er: “You’re hungry?”
*horse neigh*
(Wukong waves a peach above Sa Yatou.)
*Sniff, sniff*
Sun Wukong: “Want to eat?”
Sa Yatou: “Uhuh.”
Sun Wukong: “Open your mouth…”
(Wukong is holding a magical pill.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Hey!!! Don’t you spoil her before lunchtime!”
(Sa Yatou eats whatever Wukong gave her like a rebel.) “What the heck did you give her to eat?!”
“Sa Yatou!! Stop eating it, spit it out quick!!!”
Jiang Liu’er: “Your eyes…”
Sa Yatou: “Ah….?”
“!!!”
Sa Yatou, able to see for the first time (No bubble): ‘Monk…Monk…’
Jiang Liu’er (No bubble): ‘Hahah…yeah…’
Sun Wukong with scarf: “Tch…”
In Heaven. One of the disciples of Taishang Laojun/ Laozi: “Old General, Old General, just then when I was counting the celestial pills, I counted one missing.”
End Chapter.
Author’s Notes: My intentions were to make short stories on daily life. And I was determined to get this image out after watching Monkey King: Hero is Back… (shamelessly warms my heart).
———
Chapter 4
(Translator Note: There’s a change in this chapter and you now have to read panels and bubbles from Left to Right. Like normal/ not in manga format.)
The crew is travelling and flies circle around Jiang Liu’er’s head.
*Sniff, sniff.*
Sun Wukong: “Oi…Little Monk! Are you still not going to take her for a bath?! She stinks!!”
Jiang Liu’er over image of Sa Yatou: “I’m a monk here. How can I bathe with a female child?”
Sun Wukong: “And here, I’m a monkey.”
Jiang Liu’er: “Then who else is there…”
(White horse, Xiao Bai, stands majestically.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Wait…”
Sa Yatou: “Xiao Bai…Xiao Bai!”
(Xiao Bai huffs.)
Xiao Bai: “C’mon then. Let’s go bathe.”
Sa Yatou (No bubble, text over head): ‘Xiao Bai is so pretty…”
Xiao Bai: ‘Haha…”
Thug: “Big Brother, someone’s bathing there.”
Other Thug: “Heh heh…looks like it’s a beautiful woman…”
Xiao Bai: “Let’s play some hide and seek…would you like that? Close your eyes now.”
Sa Yatou: “Ok.”
“One…
“Two…”
End.
Author’s Notes: After I finalised the ‘cool’ version of Xiao Bai the White Dragon Horse, the monk never rides her again. (After this chapter may everybody please supervise. This is now an official comic/ manhua.)
———
Chapter 5
(Note: Continue reading from Left to Right.)
(Name of cave next to demon which I have trouble reading sorry.)
Demon (black bubble): “There’s…there’s people coming…”
“My King — they’re coming! My—”
Demon King: “Who’s coming?”
Demon subordinate: “It’s…a monk…just…just two humans…”
Demon King: “Hahah…Since that monkey isn’t here…”
(Skulls) “Even if Heaven itself tries to stop me…”
“The monk still dies…”
(i.e The Demon King wants to eat Jiang Liu’er because legend says eating his flesh would make you immortal.)
‘Ahchoo…!’
Xiao Bai: “Even idiots can get a cold?”
Sa Yatou: “Is the monk done yet??”
(Jiang Liu’er is working on something.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Er…just wait of nightfall, then it’ll be finished…”
Sa Yatou: “Oh…ok then…”
Demon King: “Tonight you two will be the gourmet food of yours truly, the King…”
“Do you want to be eaten from the head first or the feet?”
Demon subordinate: “My…My King… (??idek sorry)”
Demon King: “Huh?”
Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie stare down the demons.
Demon subordinate: “My Great King…is asking youse…oi.”
(King sweat drops, a nervous wreck.)
(Sa Yatou, Xiao Bai and Jiang Liu’er watch the paper lantern that Jiang Liu’er made. The lantern reads ‘buddhism’ or ‘buddha.’)
Sa Yatou: “Wah! <3”
Jiang Liu’er: “It’s so silent…it’s pretty, right?”
Jiang Liu’er: *Very pleased with himself for his one lantern.*
Xiao Bai: “Look over there, quick.”
Jiang Liu’er: ‘?!!’
Zhu Bajie (Pigsy): Now make your Pig Elder another hundred lanterns…or (?) you’ll regret it.
End.
Author’s Notes: I’m not great doing long serious topics (actually I can’t stop my own silliness from getting into it…oh, it’s my fun personality.)
———
Chapter 6
*Spin…spin…*
Swordsman: “There’s a strong smell of demon around here. Disciple, choose a good house.”
Disciple child: “Then let’s stay in this one. Let’s see if this time…there’s really people here…!!”
Disciple child knocks on door: “Anybody home?”
Behind door: “Coming…”
Disciple child: “Excuse me, but may I ask if the homeowner has seen any strange guests?”
Behind door: “……..Us lot are temporary guests here…”
Swordsman, startled: “En?!!!”
“The stench of demon is rife!”
Swordsman, a Taoist exorcist, chants: ….. (Very archaic language. Not sure which direction it’s supposed to be read in so can’t translate…forgive me…it’s Mumbo Jumbo…)
“Command!”
Talismans circle the Swordsman as he uses his technique: ‘Demon-ridding seal!’
Disciple child: “Heavens!…He’s using so many seals…Does Master not want to live through the next half year? [Because we’ll be out of seals.]
(Inside the house, the three figures loom with seals stuck everywhere.)
Zhu Bajie: You bastard! If you want to seal demons then seal your damn demons — what’s the meaning of this?!!”
(On Baijie’s necklace is the word “Gao,” the surname of his wife and the house he briefly married into before the journey to the west.)
Xiao Bai: ‘So noisy…’
Swordsman (right bubble): “Such an immensely strong pig demon…Heads up for my magical artefact…!”
“Arggh!!”
Zhu Bajie (left bubble): “Motherfucker…this Old Pig is going to waste you…!”
(Left to right)
Jiang Liu’er: “This was all a great misunderstanding, Taoist master, I ask for your forgiveness.”
Swordsman/ Taoist master: “Venerable Master, your words are too heavy. It was this one that was at fault.”
Disciple child: “Master…you’re bleeding…” [insinuating he actually fought Bajie? XD]
End.
Author’s Notes: You didn’t guess wrong if you recognised the swordsman was based on 燕赤霞, Yan Chixia, a character I adored as a kid. (If you don’t know it, check out 倩女幽魂, Qiànnǚ yōuhún/ ghost story.)
Translator notes: I haven’t seen that at all^ it must be good though.
———
Chapter 7
(Read right to left, up-down.)
Beyond the window is a person, their face white, their body fiery red, smiling inwardly.
(I’m sorry there’s too many words I don’t recognise so I won’t be able to translate this intro.)
Swordsman: “By the promise of Heaven and Earth…(?)…”
“Explode.”
“Watch me flagrantly spill blood today — heh!”
Word above the surprised demons: *scared*
Disciple child: “Master…be careful…that’s…”
Swordsman: “Haha…they must be frightened by my great Taoist powers.”
(The Ruyi Jingou Bang, wreathed in clouds, towering high above the atmosphere like a colossus, falls.)
Disciple child: “C’mon now…let’s go get our money…[for ridding the demons.]”
Swordsman: “Wh—what the heck?”
End.
Author Notes: I originally wanted to have the Great Sage have a little go, but then I thought — these are just a couple of small fry. Not nearly enough for the Great Sage to pick his teeth with.
———
Chapter 8
(Name Xiao ‘Yu’ as in ‘jade.’)
Nine-tailed fox: “Xiao Yu, is it really worth doing this for a man? Just because he helped you on one instance.”
Two-tailed fox, Xiao Yu: “Older Sister, I understand. But — this debt I owe is something I must pay back.”
“I cannot help that I have no other powers, I’ve only this body of blood and bone I can rely on to pay the debt. Please, sister, understand.”
“That year I was captured by hunters, if it wasn’t for him, I would have long been skinned and sold off to the market.”
(She has the sister cut off one of her tails.)
Xiao Yu: “Up until today I’ve endured misfortune and hardship!”
*Sigh.*
“This is the only way I can pay back the kindness shown to me.”
Nine-tailed fox, sister: “But even if you have a thousand tails, that won’t help you gain people’s trust…”
Xiao Yu: “Ah.”
Daughter: “Mother, I’m back!!”
Mother: “I told you to go up the mountain and get (?), why are you back so late?”
Daughter: “It’s…because the mountain path is hard to walk.”
Mother: “Why is the wife of the man in the mountains so pompous? Look at you — you go up the mountain once and come back looking like this. No wonder it’s been all this time and you don’t have a single child.”
“Ugh! But at least this luck you’re having is good. Every time you go up there you’re just in time to bump into this white fox…(?)”
Xiao Yu: “Is…may I ask…”
Jiang Liu’er: “Hello, Madams, may I ask if you may spare us some food?”
End Chapter.
Author Notes: It’s a cameo of ‘Liaozhai fox goddess showing gratitude’ story. But the monk is chucked into the chaos.
Translator Notes: In chapter 9 this ‘Mother’ is suddenly changed to a Grandmother and idek?? So I’m going to keep it as ‘Mother.’
———
Chapter 9
(Read panels right to left again, lol).
Jiang Liu’er: “This humble monk hails from the Eastern Mainlan—”
The Mother: “—Monk, in these kinds of times how are we supposed to have spare food for you?”
Jiang Liu’er: “……”
Mother: “And speaking of, since when did buddhist monks harbour small girls and take them running all over the world? Or are you a kidnapper? A criminal?!”
Jiang Liu’er: “If I am, then at least let me get this child a bite to eat.”
Mother: “I already said — there’s no food in the house we can spare. Hurry up and leave, do you hear…”
Mother: “Xiao Yu!! What are you doing?! Get these people out of here already…”
(Daughter bobbing to talk to Sa Yatou.)
Daughter: “You hungry?”
Sa Yatou: “Uhuh.”
Daughter: “…But this Venerable Monk and poor little girl look in need…”
Mother: “You failed housewife!! Already married for half a year and still can’t conceive a child and now look — I don’t know where you learned to lure this wild man to the house…a;lsdkfja;ldskfj…”
(Jiang Liu’er’s poker face.)
(Sa Yatou.)
Voice: “Stupid old hag! This mistress cannot stomach your hullabaloo taking up half the damned day! I see that you must be about done with your life!”
(Daughter, shocked!!)
Mother: “You little brat!! What did you say?!”
(White Dragon Horse, Xiao Bai, flies off of Sa Yatou’s shoulder, morphing back into her human form while rolling up her sleeves for a fight.)
Xiao Bai: “If this mistress doesn’t break your mouth today I’ll—!! Sa Yatou, stand back! Very Far! Don’t get splashed by blood…”
Now-one-tailed fox, Xiao Yu: “You are not to touch my household!!”
Xiao Bai, dragon form: “The likes of a small fox dares to stand in my way…”
Xiao Yu: “I dare not. But these people have been kind to me and I owe them a debt. I beg you, great goddess, to spare them. I’m willing to give my life.”
Jiang Liu’er: “……..”
Jiang Liu’er: “I don’t really want to butt-in to your private affairs, but perhaps…you should consider looking after the ‘point’ of your conversation…”
Xiao Yu: ?! “Grandma!!”
Mother, overwhelmed: “Demons…”
Daughter: “Xiao Yu! What’s wrong with my mother here?!”
Mother: “Shut it. You unfilial child, if it weren’t for Xiao Yu your mother would have gone to see the King of the Underworld. After today if you dare be anything but good to Xiao Yu…I’ll…I’ll axe you alive…”
Daughter: “Ok…Mother…”
End.
Author Notes: The plot ran away from me. Don’t know how I ended up with cranky mother-in-law, took a while for me to come around.
———
Chapter 10
(Read left to right here…it keeps changing between chapters lol.)
(Gods of Death, collectors of spirits to the Underworld who work for its King, Yenwan.)
Black death god: “Sir Seventh…lately…our overtime work has gotten extensive…Once we finish up this round, let’s go drink.”
White death god, Sir Seventh: “Aye…the time is right. Let’s hurry up and finish up.”
Sa Yatou: “zzZZ.”
White death god: “Oh, it’s a little girl. How sad…look how young this one is…”
(Top right corner, White death god reads the death register.)
White death god: “En?! According to the registry…this girl should have died months ago…”
Black death god: “That’s alright.”
“Let’s take her spirit and then talk.”
Black death god: “Your life-force has been all used up. Come with us now…”
White death god: “Don’t be afraid, little girl. We’re ghost collectors. You need to come with us.”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong: “We’re not about to go anywhere.”
Black death god: “Eh?…How dare you…you have the audacity to hinder the Underworld Constabulary?”
Sun Wukong: “You two ghost officers have such a flimsy memory.”
“I wonder if Ol’ King of the Underworld still remembers This Old Sun…”
Death gods: “…Great…Great Sage…”
Word next to Sun Wukong: “Fuck off.”
King of the Underworld: “You two idiots, you’re to leave that monkey alone, far, far away!”
Death gods: “Yes…yes…”
King of the Underworld: “…nearly scared me to death…”
End.
(Translator note - This part is alluding to Sun Wukong’s exploits before he upturned heaven. He went to the underworld and turned everything upside down there too — including wiping his name off the death registry. So he wrecked the Underworld once. Not something the King would forget hahaha.)
Author Notes: King of the Underworld is here to be shy and cute. Not sure if he’ll appear again after this~~
———
Chapter 11
(This chapter heavily alludes to another chinese folklore: The Cowherd and Weaver girl, or Niulang Zhinü. Basically it’s a story about forbidden love — Cowherd and Weaver girl loved each other but were not allowed to be together. Weaver girl’s mother banished them to opposite sides of the silver river. But the birds began to pity them, so once a year and only once a year the birds fly and form a bridge over the river to reunite the lovers. They spend one day together before they must part again until the next year. Bittersweet tragedy.)
(Read right to left again please.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Is it pretty? It’s better than the lanterns we put up.”
Sa Yatou: “Uhuh! But there aren’t as many as the ones we put up…”
Festival goer: “Baby, let’s buy you this cloth doll, yeah?”
Child: “Ok Mother! I want to buy a Weaver girl doll!”
(Image of silhouettes of Sa Yatou on Jiang Liu’er’s shoulder and the mother holding her child’s hand.)
Child: “Mother dear…Do Cowherd and Weaver girl really only get to see each other once a year? I wish I could see how they meet….”
Festival mother: “Silly child…We’re but mortals. How can we possibly see that…”
(Sa Yatou.)
Jiang Liu’er: “What’s wrong? Sa Yatou…are you thinking about your Mom?”
Sa Yatou: “N…No…”
Jiang Liu’er: “I’m sorry…this I truly cannot help you with…but……”
(Jiang Liu’er turns his head.)
Jiang Liu’er: “I can give you my personal protective charm. It has intense super powers…I’d say, maybe it can help you grant your wishes.”
“Though it is a bit old…Want it?”
Sa Yatou, hands up: “I want it!”
Sa Yatou: “I really just wanted to have Mom be with me for one more festival.”
“Just one more would have been good…”
(Great Sage Equal to Heaven plushie.)
(Epilogue: silhouettes of Cowherd, Weaver girl, Sa Yatou, Sa Yatou’s Mom’s ghost and Sun Wukong all standing on the bridge made of birds.)
Sa Yatou: “Mum! Look…it’s really the Cowherd and Weaver girl!”
Ghost Mum: “Great Sage…is this really ok?”
Sun Wukong, to the lovers: “Don’t mind us. You two continue.”
Weaver girl: “These people are so annoying…We only get to meet once and year!”
Cowherd: “Shh!…Please be more quiet. That monkey is someone even my father has to make an exception for.
King of the Underworld: “What the hell are you doing on the job?!!! Can’t even keep an eye on a ghost?!!!”
Death gods: “….But you said to keep far, far away from that…monkey…”
End.
Author notes: This one about Hero is Back is an official commission (?the translator thinks?) Thank you for the official support!
———
Chapter 12
(Translator note: This one takes place in the middle of a well known story in Journey to the West — the infamous White Bone Demon arc. White Bone Demon is vicious and sly and plots a way to eat Tang Monk by getting rid of Sun Wukong. She first turns into a beautiful young lady to get cosy next to Tang Monk and co. But Sun Wukong has this fiery eye technique that sees through disguises. So he of course sees through the facade and immediately ‘kills’ the demon.
(But the demon escapes and leaves a shell of a human body for Tang Monk to get extremely angry over. Because, to his human eyes, Sun Wukong just straight murdered a nice lady. Sun Wukong’s disciple brothers don’t have the ability to see through disguises either. They all think he’s guilty. White Bone Demon turns into two more people and this repeats. On the third kill, Tang Monk punishes Sun Wukong and then forces him to leave. Forever.
(White Bone Demon then gets her white, bony fingers on Tang Monk. The DENGANG version doesn’t play out or end the same way. But the ‘twist’ really relies on knowledge of the original lol.)
Demon lackey: “Mistress. The Tang Monk has been captured as you ordered.”
White Bone Demon: “So you’re saying that the monk really disowned the monkey? Hahaha.”
Lackey: “Mistress is cunning. That monkey has already been driven away back to Flower-fruit Mountain. It is unknown where Tang Monk’s other two disciples are.”
White Bone Demon: “Let me see myself. Have a look-see at this Tang Dynasty monk.”
(White Bone Demon looks over her shoulder, glancing at the painting of a beautiful woman.)
(Image of Jiang Liu’er.)
White Bone Demon: “Venerable Master. You’ll have to excuse me. This young woman has not shown you a proper welcome. Please do not fault me.”
“About my three transformations to play the monkey. What does the Venerable Master think of my little show, pray tell?”
White Bone Demon, human face: “I originally thought that you were hopeless. I didn’t want the Venerable Master to visit like this.” (Idek either. Best I could do for this line I don’t get, sorry.)
Jiang Liu’er: “On your selfish whims, you’ve ravished villages and sowed misery, murdering countless innocents. All of the surrounding villages have been maimed by your doing.”
White Bone Demon: “Oh Venerable Master, those words are too serious. This lowly one has only invited the neighbouring villages to be guest here.”
(Bones of the villagers carpet the caverns.)
White Bone Demon: “In just a short moment, when you’re in the Underworld, you can help them find salvation.”
Jiang Liu’er: “You repulsive bastard. You deserve no mercy.”
———
Chapter 13
White Bone Demon: “For many centuries, I’ve always been careful, careful. I’ve waited so patiently for this fortunate chance. All these years, all those villagers’ who were massacred and those who luckily escaped…”
(White Bone Demon’s mouth opens.)
“But now we’re here. It’s all alright now that I have you — flesh that will grant me immortality. I’ll become powerful enough to instantly achieve godhood.”
(White Bone Demon sucks Jiang Liu’er’s life out.)
Jiang Liu’er: “Tch!”
*Headbutt!*
Jiang Liu’er: “You really are pretty tricky. Otherwise we wouldn’t have had to act out this great extravaganza to trick you into revealing your true form.”
White Bone Demon: “What!?”
(The squad arrives.)
Either Sha Wujing (man with crescent blade) or Zhu Bajie (Pigsy): “Repulsive demon. Hurry up and repent. Do you really think monk meat tastes that good? You think we were going to be easy pickings?”
White Bone Demon, falling to her knees: “Venerable Master, please spare me.”
“Great Master, the truth is I am a piteous person. Murdered in cold blood by ruffians. My bones disintegrated. Please, I beg the Venerable Master, under the good grace of Heaven please forgive me this one time.”
Jiang Liu’er: “Amitofo. Sanzai. Sanzai. (There is goodness. There is goodness.)”
Jiang Liu’er: “Wujing. Bajie. Don’t hit her so hard that she shatters.”
———
Chapter 13
Please read right to left.
(Pic of Bajie.)
(Three distinct weapons can be seen beating the crap out of White Bone Demon: White Horse/ Xiao bai’s sword, Bajie’s nine-toothed rake, and Wujing’s crescent blade.)
White Bone Demon, escaping: “This lot of monks are brutal. Nothing like the stories.”
Jiang Liu’er: “Kid, don’t look.”
White Bone Demon: “Fortunate that I still have one more spirit-escaping technique. Otherwise I’d really have been ground into dust by them.”
“It’s time to leave my estate. Mistress I shall sink into the shadows. It’s no matter, sooner or later I’ll get my prize. Heheheheheh.”
Voice, golden eyes: “Oi. You’re thinking too much.”
“But this has been just my luck. My holiday back home was pretty sweet.”
White Bone Demon: “Sun…Sun…Wukong…”
White Bone Demon, running: “This Mistress cannot politely remain.”
Sun Wukong: “Want to run…….”
Zhu Bajie: “That Bimawen, stableboy’s back isn’t he? Hey Monk, didn’t you say he gets a three day holiday?”
Sha Wujing (probably): “Hm, yeah. I thought this time he was going to let us stretch our muscles.”
Silhouette of Erlang Shen: “Got mail…”
Xiao Tian Quan, his dog: <3
(The mail, typical delivery fill-out form etc.)
‘Tang Dynasty Fast Post.’
Person posting: Great Sage Equal to Heaven
(Can’t make out words in second line, sorry.)
Province: Boyue Cave (Where Yellow Robe Demon lives, a location where Tang Monk was supposed to be captured thanks to this white bone incident but never happened hahahahah. I guess they went to the next place and found a mail box.)
Receiver: Lord Erlang Zhen Jun (True General)
(Other stuff I can’t make out, too pixellated.)
Signature: Sun, 孙
Contents of Package: Dog Food.
(Insinuating that after they reduced White Bone Demon to bones Sun Wukong mailed her remains out.)
End.
Author Notes: Before when I watched Journey to the West, the two episodes of the White Bone Demon arc I hated. So I changed it~
———
Ending here for now, there’s still like ten or more chapters to go. About the halfway mark. Again, check out the art and comics DENGANG advertises here. He’s also done printed comics for ‘Chinese Paladin 3,’ art for 大唐魂/ Great Tang Ghost.
Also check out 老师身边的杰诺斯 ‘The Genos at Teacher’s Side’ account that logs all of DENGANG’s work -- right here.
(lol that’s alluding to Genos and Saitama wherein DENGANG is Saitama hahahahahaha)
