The approaching Qi signatures were erratic—wild, unbalanced, like swords sharpened without skill. Wukong sniffed the air and grimaced. "These aren't sect cultivators. They're scavengers."
Xuanzang nodded. "Looters. Searching old ruins for spirit cores and fragments."
A moment later, a group emerged from the mist—seven of them, all wearing mismatched robes and talismans. Their leader, a sharp-eyed man with a crooked nose, raised a hand.
"Well, well. Didn't expect competition here." He looked at Xuanzang's robes. "A monk? Thought your kind stopped existing."
Wukong stepped forward. "We're just passing through."
"You lit up half the mountain with that staff trick. Now we're here to collect what's left."
They didn't ask permission.
[Hostile Encounter Detected: Rogue Cultivation Faction – "Vein Reapers"]Threat Level: Moderate (Peak Foundation – Early Core)]
As the group moved to encircle them, Xuanzang's system pulsed.
[System Option: Engage diplomacy → risk reduced karma reward][Alternate Option: Divine Judgement Path – Reveal hidden karma scars of enemies (1,000 karma required)]
Current Karma: -8,138
Too steep. He chose silence.
Wukong shifted slightly, readying his staff—but then something changed.
The looters all stopped mid-step, frozen, staring behind Xuanzang.
"…What the hell is that smell?" one of them muttered.
A deep, wet crunch echoed from beneath the ruins. Stone cracked. Something stirred.
The looters turned to run.
Too late.
The stone altar behind Xuanzang exploded upward—shards flung like shrapnel. From the hole emerged a monstrous figure chained in six directions—arms, legs, neck, and belly. His skin was pale pink, eyes sunken yet intelligent, and his breath—hot and fetid—reeked of blood and spirit marrow.
[Entity Unsealed: Zhu Bajie – War Glutton / Sin Node: Greed]Status: Soul-locked Prisoner | Cultivation Suppressed: Late Core Formation (Sealed)]Threat Level: Catastrophic (Unsealed)]
"...Food," Bajie growled, fangs extending. "You brought… fresh Qi meat."
He moved like a thunderclap—grabbing the nearest Vein Reaper and biting straight through his spirit core. The man didn't even scream—his soul was devoured mid-gasp.
The rest scattered, screaming.
Wukong moved to intercept, but Xuanzang raised a hand. "Wait."
The monk stepped toward Bajie. "You're not just hunger. You're memory. Pain. Punishment."
Bajie froze.
"...You speak like the last one," he growled. "That golden monk who locked me in here."
"Xuanzang," the monk said quietly. "I am his reincarnation."
The chains rattled violently. "Then you're my jailor."
[System Option Available: Bind Companion – Sin Node Zhu Bajie]Cost: -500 Karma + Soul Chain Negotiation Roll (Passive: Fo Affinity)]
Success Chance: 36% | Risk: Soul backlash, fatal.]
Xuanzang hesitated.
Then accepted.
He pressed his palm to Bajie's forehead. "Not as a prisoner. As a companion. One last journey to balance your karma."
Light flared between them.
The chains shattered.
Bajie gasped, collapsing to one knee. Golden scripture marks swirled across his arms as a binding seal formed between them.
[Companion Bound: Zhu Bajie – Sin Node of Gluttony (Tier 1)]New Ability Unlocked: "Soul Furnace Devour (Lv. 1)"]Special Trait: Eats Qi cores to recover HP, convert to stored cultivation energy.]Karma Cost Paid: -500 → Total Karma: -8,638
Wukong approached slowly, eyeing Bajie like a ticking talisman.
"You sure about this one?"
Xuanzang nodded. "He's not evil. He's broken."
Bajie wiped blood from his chin. "You'll regret freeing me, monk. But... I'll follow you west."
A heavy wind swept across the ruins.
In the distance, black birds circled — not scavengers, but scouts.
Someone else had seen Bajie's awakening.
Someone interested.