Night fell quickly as the trio descended from the Hollow Light ruins into a valley veiled in mist and moisture. Pale blue will-o'-wisps flickered across the treetops. The scent of river mud, decay, and incense hung in the air.
Wukong squinted toward the horizon. "There's water ahead. Big river. Qi's twisted."
Zhu Bajie sniffed. "Something died in it. A lot of somethings."
Xuanzang paused as a ripple pulsed in his mind—his system was reacting before his senses did.
[System Alert: Domain Detected – Corrupted Dharma Zone: "Yinflow River"]Spiritual Hazard Level: Moderate to SevereLocal Karma Density: High (Unresolved Monastic Oaths)]
He knelt at the water's edge, touching the surface. It was cold as death—and yet… it hummed with scripture. Shattered mantras, prayers caught in the flow like ghosts with no temple to rest in.
Wukong crouched beside him. "This river... it remembers."
"Not just that," Xuanzang murmured. "It punishes."
From downstream came a gurgling chant—words mangled, yet laced with power. The water parted, and a figure walked forth, submerged waist-deep though the river was far deeper.
He was tall, draped in ceremonial rags soaked in silt and blood. A prayer wheel spun slowly in one hand, and massive iron beads hung around his neck like shackles. His eyes glowed faint blue, and where his feet touched, the river hissed.
[Entity Approaching: Sha Wujing – Bound Monk of the River]Status: Karma-Bound Revenant | Cultivation: Late Golden Core (Suppressed)]Sin Weight: 3,000 Karma | Unique Trait: "Burden of the Oath-Breaker"]
Zhu Bajie tensed. "That one's... like me. Chained."
"No," Wukong said. "Worse. He did it to himself."
Sha Wujing stopped five steps from them. His voice was low, gravel dragged through scripture.
"You are not the first to walk this path," he said to Xuanzang. "Others tried. They spoke of rebirth. Redemption. They drowned with their lies."
"I speak neither lie nor prophecy," Xuanzang replied evenly. "Only purpose."
The revenant's eyes narrowed.
[System Prompt: Companion Option Detected – Sha Wujing]Requirement: Complete Karma Rite – River of Vows]Warning: Failure results in soul cleansing (death)]
Wukong stepped forward, staff slung loosely. "He's testing you, monk."
"I know."
Xuanzang stepped into the water.
Immediately, spectral hands reached for his legs—ghosts of fallen monks, oathbreakers, corrupted disciples. His vision swam with images of betrayal, broken temples, and shattered scriptures.
Sha Wujing raised his prayer wheel. "Speak your vow. Or drown."
The river surged upward.
[System Engaged: Vow Interface Active]Craft Your Oath: Speak the nature of your burden. Declare your path.]
Xuanzang's voice rang out like a bell in fog.
"I vow to walk west.To gather what Heaven broke.To carry sinners beside saints.To weigh karma in all things.And to fall a thousand times—so others may rise."
Silence.
Then a sharp pulse of gold burst from his chest. The river screamed.
The spectral hands shattered into light.
Sha Wujing stared at him, unreadable.
Then, slowly, the beads around his neck snapped.
He dropped to one knee.
"I have waited long," he whispered. "For that vow."
[Companion Bound: Sha Wujing – Karma Guardian of the River (Tier 1)]Ability Unlocked: Oath-Forged Skin – Reduces damage from karma-based attacks, shields allies from soul erosion.]Karma Balance Affected: -300 → Total: -8,938]
As the water calmed, Wujing rose to his feet and turned west without a word. Bajie grunted. "You trust him that fast?"
"He never left this river," Xuanzang said quietly. "He punished himself every day. That's trust enough."
Behind them, the Yinflow River flowed silently.
But far above, in the clouds unseen—
A single golden eye opened.