The Rotting Buddhas of Journey to the West - chapter 11

“Sigh…”

Gu sighed helplessly, as if facing a child.

After a moment, it spoke in a low voice:

“It truly doesn’t matter anymore, because that moment is coming soon. I sent you on the westward journey to gradually reveal the secrets of the Three Realms to you. I hope that before the end arrives, there will be a living being in the Three Realms who knows these things.”

I had been lying lazily, but these words piqued my interest again.

“Uh… I’m all ears, if you’re willing.”

Gu sat down on the chair next to me. The two of us seemed like old friends reunited after a long time. Then, it slowly began to tell me a story:

The world knows two things: first, that Pangu created the heavens and earth; second, that humans are born before they die.

But something was off from the very beginning. Before Pangu, there was something else-it was the dead Pangu, a corpse with a pale face and black lips. In fact, mortals look like this after death as well.

So the starting point of this world was strange: first came the corpse of Pangu. No one knows how long it lay there, but eventually, the corpse gradually turned into a living being, and only then did the true great god Pangu exist.

The great god Pangu split open the Three Realms and transformed himself into all things. After that, there were humans, gods, demons, ghosts, and immortals.

But one thing remained: the original Pangu was a bizarre corpse. So after the world was created, it too gradually became strange.

This strangeness was like poison in the human body, slowly corroding the world. Later, the consciousness of this strangeness awakened and became aware. This consciousness called itself Gu. It wanted to save the Three Realms, and eventually came up with a solution-

Restart!

If things went on as usual, this battered world would gradually dissolve into nothingness. At that point, even ten Pangu could not recreate the heavens and earth.

So Gu thought, why not use its own strange power to hasten the world’s destruction, then absorb that power and take control of the Three Realms?

Thus, it selected some pawns and changed certain events. Later, a Scripture-Seeking Team, carefully chosen by Gu, set out on their journey.

A monkey who drowned three days after setting out to sea.

A reincarnated monk who brought disaster to his family from birth.

And at the bottom of the Flowing Sand River, a water demon who had eaten the Nine Lifetimes Scripture Seeker, resulting in nine personalities tormenting Sha Wujing day and night.

And at Gao Village, on the day of the wedding banquet, everyone saw a monster covered in phoenix eyes. Gao Cuilan wasn’t frightened by the pig, but by those eyes.

This team was transformed by Gu into the source of strangeness. Wherever they went, they spread corruption.

Mortal Kingdoms, the Heavenly Court, the Underworld, the oceans, Vulture Peak-they went everywhere, and nearly the entire Three Realms was polluted by them.