Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 563 Yang Jian's Decision

Inside the vast Palace of the God of Justice, divine lamps gleamed, burning eternally.

After a busy day, Kang Anyu had just finished collecting the "Heavenly Mirror Boxes" scattered throughout the heavens.

The leader of the Meishan brothers, along with his other sworn brothers, was carefully sifting through the numerous and complex secret letters.

Kang Anyu opened each of the sealed letters, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper, finally culminating in a helpless sigh:

"Ugh……"

"Second Master, as always, it's all trivial and unfounded matters. You're really not up to any great task."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian smiled slightly and said confidently:
"The gods in the heavens have been divided into factions for tens of thousands of years, with their interests intertwined and extremely complex."

"Right now, they seem to be a united front, but in reality, they are only sticking together for now because of the pressure I have just taken charge of the criminal law."

"Human hearts are like water, with undercurrents that have their own direction. Such a tense state is difficult to maintain for long."

"We only need to wait patiently, and the cracks will surely appear on their own. In time, those snakes and rats will show their tails."

at this time.

Another Meishan brother, Yao Gonglin, casually picked up an inconspicuous giant clam shell and, without much thought, used his magic to open it.

In an instant, there were breaths of exquisite allure, whispers that stirred the heart, and moans that made one's ears burn, heart flutter, and soul sway...

It burst out of the shell without any obstruction.

The words suddenly echoed throughout the vast and solemn main hall of the Palace of the God of Justice!
"Serve the incense..."

"The affairs of the Pixiang Palace are very busy..."

"Hush... I, Kui Mulang, am not such a reckless person. This is the wonderful technique of 'distinguishing fragrance through clothing,' a refined and elegant pursuit..."

"Ugh... Kui Lang... be gentle... my palace gauze can't withstand this..."

"It's alright, I'll just lightly brush the surface, that's all, I won't go inside..."

"what!"

"Oh!"

"Hmm...you nemesis...you really are my nemesis..."

"What Heavenly Demon Star? I am Kui Star!"

……

"puff--!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Boshi, who was about to drink from his cup, suddenly spat out a mouthful of the celestial tea and coughed repeatedly.

……

Yang Jian's Heavenly Eye suddenly opened, its silver light flashing like lightning, shooting straight at the giant clam shell.

But then, an illusory image appeared inside the shell:
A silver-armored general, his battle robe half-undone, was pinning a disheveled, palace-dressed fairy against a vermilion palace pillar, her snow-white skin and tattered clothes mingling on her shoulders…

"W-what?!"

Li Huanzhang, Guo Shen, Zhi Jian, and the others all stared wide-eyed, their gazes all fixed on the giant clam shell that was still making a sound.

Kang Anyu was the first to come to his senses, his face filled with astonishment and disbelief:
"This... there are actually people engaging in illicit affairs in the Heavenly Realm."

"Hiss... Kui Lang? Kui Mulang, could it be the newly favored Kui Mulang Star Lord who commands the Twenty-Eight Constellations?"

Yao Gonglin was so startled he almost dropped the snail shell. A blush crept onto his old face as he looked at Kang Anyu incredulously and asked:
"Old Kang, this...this is the voice of Lord Kui Mulang?! Is it right?"

Kang Anyu focused intently, carefully discerning the man's calls and solemn promises mingled within the snail shell, delivered through breathless moans. He nodded gravely and said:
"Indeed! This is the name 'Kui Mulang', no mistake."

"How many Kui Mulangs are left in the Heavenly Realm?"

"But who is this woman?"

"Judging from her title, she seems to be a jade maiden who serves incense in the Hall of Fragrant Breeze?"

Guo Shen said indignantly:
"Kui Mulang has some nerve! How dare he commit such a despicable act in the Heavenly Realm!"

"An affair... with Kui Mulang, the Jade Emperor's newly appointed trusted minister who commands the Twenty-Eight Constellations..."

Yao Gonglin frowned, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes:
"This matter is of utmost importance! However, the way this evidence came about is so strange... We've just entered the Heavenly Court, and our footing is not yet firm, yet someone has already stuffed this hot potato into our hands?"

"Could it be that someone deliberately set a trap, using us as pawns to deal with the rising star, Kui Mulang?"

"Are we... being used as pawns?"

Kang Anyu, standing to the side, analyzed the situation:

"Using someone else to do the dirty work... If you want to know who is the one who borrowed the knife, just look at who most wants Kui Mulang to suffer misfortune."

"Perhaps it was the Horned Dragon, the former leader of the Twenty-Eight Mansions?"

"His position was taken by Kui Mulang, so it's no wonder he harbors resentment. If he were to find an opportunity to get rid of Kui Mulang and reclaim his former power, it would be a logical step for him."

Guo Shen stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then said:
"The letter writer has gone into hiding, clearly intending to use someone else to do his dirty work."

“If the True Lord punishes the matter severely, he may offend the Jade Emperor; if he lets it go leniently, the authority of the judiciary will be completely undermined.”

Li Huanzhang, who had been silent all along, suddenly took a step forward.

His voice was not loud, but very steady:
Who cares who handed him the knife? Does it matter?

Li Huanzhang's gaze slowly swept over his brothers, finally settling on Yang Jian with an unwavering resolve:

"The one sitting on the throne of the God of Justice right now is Second Master!"

"Now, it is we who hold the reins of the laws of heaven!"

"We can investigate and handle such matters, no matter who brought them!"

He pointed heavily at the giant clam shell on the table:
"With this tridacna shell recording the sound, it can be proven that Kui Mulang did indeed commit wicked deeds in the Heavenly Realm, violating the Heavenly Laws and celestial rules!"

"If this is true, this is the perfect opportunity to break through the veil of secrecy surrounding the Heavenly Realm!"

"We only need to muddy the waters and bring the undercurrents to the surface. At that time, the immortals will be suspicious of each other, and people will be in a state of panic. They will be busy protecting themselves and even biting each other. The old monolithic structure will naturally be difficult to maintain."

"Their old pattern of sticking together for mutual support naturally crumbled!"

"This crucial turning point has come at just the right time!"

"A golden opportunity! How can we let it slip by?"

Li Huanzhang's eyes gleamed, clearly indicating his preference for seizing this readily available opportunity.

Kang Anyu took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and once again turned his questioning gaze to Yang Jian, who was in the main seat:

"Second Master, look at this... This matter is far-reaching and unpredictable. How should we deal with it?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Ugh... Kui Lang... be gentle... my palace gauze can't withstand this..."

"what!"

……

Only the lingering, enchanting fragrance emanating from the giant clam shell seemed to still linger, mixed with a sense of impending storm.

Yang Jian sat upright behind the altar, his usually cold and stern face now covered with a layer of ice, and the aura emanating from him made even the ever-burning celestial lamps in the hall seem to dim slightly.

His sharp gaze slowly swept over his sworn brothers, setting the tone.

"What Huanzhang said hits the nail on the head."

Yang Jian nodded slightly, affirming Li Huanzhang's judgment, and his steady voice echoed in the hall:

"Regardless of where this giant clam came from... and what its purpose was?"

"But one thing is clear: Kui Mulang's filthy deeds in the Heavenly Court have fallen into the hands of the Judicial God's Palace."

"This case falls within the purview of the Heavenly Court of Justice."

Yang Jian turned his gaze to Li Huanzhang:
"Huanzhang, in your opinion, how should we proceed?"

Upon hearing this, Li Huanzhang's gaze swept sharply over the giant clam shell:

"Second Master, if the stories and events described in this item are verified to be true, then it is an undeniable and serious crime!"

"Kui Mulang, the current leader of the Twenty-Eight Constellations and a close advisor to the Jade Emperor, has broken the law by having an affair with a celestial maiden, thus violating the Heavenly Laws... This is the most pressing and powerful fact at hand."

"With this certificate in hand, Second Master, you are already fully entitled to uphold justice and have a clear moral high ground!"

"Even His Majesty would find it difficult to comment on this matter!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Anyu looked at Yang Jian again and asked:

"Second Master, how should we decide on this matter?"

Yang Jian suppressed all his smiles, sat up straight, and scanned the hall with divine light in his eyes, finally settling steadily on the giant clam shell.

Yang Jian said resolutely:
"There is no need to worry about guessing. Since I am in the position of the God of Justice and have the power to enforce the laws of Heaven, why should I look back and be timid?"
"Since someone has delivered the evidence of the crime to the Heavenly Court of Justice, I, the True Lord, will uphold the law impartially and without any leniency!"

His words were resounding and powerful, like the sound of a tripod being set in motion, echoing throughout the solemn hall and announcing that a storm sweeping across the heavens was about to begin.

As Yang Jian finished speaking, the atmosphere within the Palace of the God of Justice instantly shifted from surprise and embarrassment to a tense, impending deadly tension.

"Yes, True Lord! We swear to follow you to the death!"

The six brothers of Meishan clasped their fists together, their expressions resolute, with no trace of their previous doubts or hesitations. Under Yang Jian's decision, they instantly transformed into swift and decisive action.

Yang Jian slowly walked back behind the desk, his robe sleeves fluttering even without wind.

"Howling Sky Dog!"

Yang Jian called out in a deep voice.

"Woof woof woof, woof woof woof..."

"Owner!"

A sudden gust of wind arose, and a white figure, as silent as a ghost, crouched before Yang Jian's desk. It was none other than the exceptionally handsome Howling Celestial Dog, whose eyes gleamed with a cold, eerie light.

"Immediately track down Kui Mulang Li Xiong! I must know his every move, every single moment!"

"Remember to conceal your presence and do not disturb him."

"As you command, Master!"

The Celestial Hound growled in response, its nostrils flaring rapidly. In an instant, it detected the extremely faint yet unique aura of Lord Kui Mulang on the giant clam shell.

next moment.

The Celestial Hound transformed into a streak of white light, almost invisible to the naked eye, and silently disappeared outside the palace into the vast sky.

"Soaring Eagle!"

Yang Jian summoned.

"Wow!"

A clear, melodious eagle cry rang out, followed by a dazzling golden light. A magnificent eagle with golden feathers, an iron beak, and piercing eyes hovered before Yang Jian.

"Closely monitor the Hall of Fragrant Incense!"

"The movements of the incense-serving maidens in the hall, especially who they come into contact with, must be carefully investigated! If anything unusual is found, report it immediately!"

"Yes, True Lord!"

With a flap of its wings, the eagle pierced through the air with a sharp cry that seemed to split rocks and shatter gold, transforming into a golden streak of light that shot towards the direction of the Fragrant Pavilion before disappearing into the clouds.

Li Huanzhang frowned slightly, stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"True Lord, Kui Mulang is ultimately a trusted confidant whom His Majesty the Jade Emperor has recently relied on. Should we report to the Jade Emperor first before taking action directly?"

"No need."

Yang Jian suddenly raised his hand, interrupting Li Huanzhang.

He stood up, his gaze piercing through the palace walls and landing deep within the majestic Heavenly Court.

After a while.

Yang Jian said:
"Heaven has its own laws."

"The judicial deities act only according to the laws of heaven, not according to the will of the gods."

"Li Huanzhang, listen to my command!"

Yang Jian's instructions followed immediately, without any hesitation.

"My subordinate is here!"

Li Huanzhang's expression turned solemn, and he bowed to accept the order. He already understood and there was no need to ask any further questions.

"You shall immediately take the seal of the prefecture and personally go to the Secretariat of the Spirit Officials! Review all the case files and records involving the Jade Maiden of the Fragrant Pavilion!"

"Investigate in detail the origins, backgrounds, succession of celestial positions, and daily interactions of the involved celestial maidens!"

"We must be thorough and meticulous, leaving no room for further investigation! This is the key evidence to solidify the case, and we must not overlook it in the slightest!"

Yang Jian gave the instructions.

"Order!"

Knowing that time was of the essence, Li Huanzhang said no more and strode away.

"Yao Gonglin and Guo Shen, listen to my command!"

Yang Jian said.

"exist!"

The two men stepped forward, their voices booming like bells.

"You, bearing the tokens of the Heavenly God of Justice, must immediately muster a squad of elite soldiers from Meishan, immediately enter a state of combat readiness, weapons in hand, ready for battle!"

Yang Jian's gaze swept over the two of them like lightning:

"Once Howling Dog and Soaring Eagle have secured the evidence and determined the opportune moment, execute the arrest immediately! Target: Kui Mulang, Li Xiong!"

"Those who obstruct the way shall be punished for defying the laws of Heaven!"

At this moment, the murderous aura of the God of Justice was no longer concealed.

"As ordered!"

Yao Gonglin and Guo Shen exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity and determination in each other's eyes. They bowed, accepted the order, and quickly withdrew to prepare.

"Kang Anyu, Zhijian!"

Yang Jian said.

"exist!"

"Kang Anyu, Zhijian, you are responsible for monitoring the movements of the celestial constellations, especially those near Kui Mulang such as Shenshuiyuan, Biyuewu, and Weituzhi, to see if there are any unusual movements! If there are any abnormalities, report to us immediately!"

"understand!"

Kang Anyu and Zhijian also hurried away, each going about their own business.

"Zhang Boshi!"

"exist!"

...As the tasks were assigned one by one, everyone began to take action.

In an instant, only Yang Jian remained in the vast main hall of the Heavenly God of Justice.

He stood quietly in the hall, the Judicial God Seal, a symbol of supreme power yet also imbued with profound loneliness, faintly radiating a cold, mysterious light from his waist.

The sunlight streaming through the windows cast long, solitary shadows on the ground.

The filthy whispers from the giant clam shell seemed to still echo in my ears, intertwining with the phantom of my mother being captured by heavenly soldiers when I was young, and the resolute departure of my younger sister Yang Chan, forming a jarring clamor.

Yang Jian slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again. All complex emotions were frozen deep within his eyes, leaving only a fierce, pure, and unquestionable will.

"Law enforcement...must not be based on personal interests at the expense of public duty! It must not be based on the individual!"

Yang Jian muttered to himself.

Whether it's a trap from old enemies, a scheme from those gods who are watching from the sidelines, or the potential pressure from the supreme being beyond the nine heavens... at this moment, none of it matters anymore.

The Heavenly Rules are a double-edged sword; while maintaining order in the Three Realms, they also bring about many injustices and tragedies.

Some heavenly laws are too harsh, causing many innocent lives to suffer unnecessary punishment.

They may have made a trivial mistake due to momentary carelessness or ignorance, but because of the severity of the heavenly rules, they paid a heavy price, and their fate was changed forever.

In sharp contrast.

Some people who commit heinous crimes are able to escape justice and avoid the severe punishment they deserve by using various excuses.

Among these, the decisions of the Heavenly Laws often depend on the Jade Emperor's "momentary will".

It can be said that the Heavenly Rules of the past were more of a "one-man show" for the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor's intentions are elusive and unpredictable, rendering the impartiality of the Heavenly Laws meaningless.

Law enforcement officers must at least be fair and impartial, and ensure consistent sentencing. This is the first and crucial step.

First, establish the authority of the Heavenly Laws, then find an opportunity to amend them, so that there will be less injustice and tragedy in this world.

He knew his uncle, the Jade Emperor, had a bad temper.

Even the Jade Emperor, high above all others, has his own selfish desires and biases.

If the Jade Emperor knew about this, he would most likely protect Kui Mulang.

He took over the position of "God of Justice" to cut through the corrupt atmosphere that permeated the three realms and restore clarity to the world.

This first blow begins with the Jade Emperor's trusted and beloved general, Kui Mulang Li Xiong!
The divine lamp in the Palace of the God of Justice seemed to be burning even brighter.

The flickering light and shadow reflected the lonely figure of this celestial "sword-bearer".

(End of this chapter)