The Legend of Zhong Kui: Chapter Ten - The Demons Vanquished, Zhong Kui Ascends to Heaven

After cleansing the entertainment district, Zhong Kui received an official summons from King Yama himself. The mystical scroll materialized in golden flames: "Your earthly mission is complete. Return to the underworld for your final judgment."

The mystical scroll from King Yama materializing in golden flames

Fu Qu and Han Yuan exchanged glances of concern. "Final judgment?" Fu Qu asked. "But we've succeeded in every mission."

"Success in duty doesn't always mean reward," Han Yuan observed quietly. "The Jade Emperor's justice is beyond mortal understanding."

The Five Ghosts, now fully reformed, knelt before Zhong Kui. "Master, let us accompany you. Whatever judgment awaits, you shouldn't face it alone."

But Zhong Kui shook his head. "You have your own redemption to complete. Continue protecting the innocent. That is your path now."

As they descended through the mystical gates between worlds, the landscape transformed from earthly reality to the supernatural realm of the dead. Rivers of forgetfulness flowed beside paths of judgment. In the distance, the great palace of King Yama rose like a mountain of black jade.

Along the way, they encountered souls of those they had saved—the courtesan Sai Xishi, the reformed Chen Shimei (now in his monk's robes), the townspeople freed from the Filthy and Nitpicking Ghosts. All bowed deeply as Zhong Kui passed.

The great palace of King Yama in the underworld

"Look," Han Yuan marveled, "our work has changed the very fabric of the afterlife. These souls arrive purified rather than corrupted."

The throne room of King Yama was vast beyond mortal comprehension. The walls showed the deeds of every soul, constantly shifting like living murals. King Yama himself sat upon a throne of judgment, his face neither cruel nor kind but absolutely just.

"Zhong Kui," the King of the Underworld intoned, "you have exceeded all expectations. The demons you were sent to destroy have been either obliterated or reformed. The balance between the mortal and spirit worlds has been restored."

"I merely did my duty, Your Majesty," Zhong Kui replied humbly.

"No," King Yama corrected. "You did more. You showed that justice need not be blind vengeance. You transformed several demons into forces for good. You taught humans to resist corruption rather than simply punishing them for falling to it. This wisdom transcends simple duty."

King Yama stood from his throne, and his form began to shimmer and change. Suddenly, Zhong Kui found himself face to face with the Jade Emperor himself, ruler of all Heaven.

The Jade Emperor revealing his true identity to Zhong Kui

"This was a test," the Jade Emperor revealed. "Not just of your ability to fight demons, but of your capacity for true divine justice—which includes mercy, wisdom, and the ability to inspire redemption in others."

Fu Qu and Han Yuan fell to their knees in awe. They had been in the presence of the highest divine authority all along.

"Your companions also have proven themselves," the Jade Emperor continued. "Fu Qu, your loyalty and strength protected the innocent. Han Yuan, your wisdom and strategy prevented unnecessary bloodshed. You are all to be rewarded."

"Zhong Kui," the Jade Emperor announced, "you are hereby appointed as the Eternal Guardian Against Evil, with dominion over all demon-quelling forces in both the mortal and spirit realms. You will ascend to Heaven but maintain authority over earthly corruptions."

Zhong Kui felt his form changing, divine power flowing through him. His frightening appearance remained—for evil should fear justice—but now it radiated divine authority rather than mere supernatural power.

"Fu Qu," the Jade Emperor continued, "you are appointed as the General of Celestial Arrows, protecting the gates between worlds."

"Han Yuan, you become the Keeper of Divine Knowledge, teaching both mortals and spirits the wisdom to resist corruption."

As they ascended to the Celestial realm, Zhong Kui looked back at the mortal world below. The demons were not completely gone—evil could never be entirely eliminated while free will existed—but they were controlled, balanced by forces of good.

Zhong Kui and his companions ascending to the Celestial realm

The Five Ghosts continued their redemption, becoming protectors of temples and schools. The White-Browed Immortal established new monasteries teaching true wisdom. Liu the Sot wandered the earth, using divine drunkenness to confound demons and delight the righteous.

"Will we ever return to the mortal world?" Fu Qu asked as they entered the Celestial Palace.

"Whenever justice requires it," Zhong Kui replied. "Our duty is eternal, but so is our purpose. Evil evolves, but so does good. We are now part of that eternal balance."

In Heaven, Zhong Kui established the Department of Demon Suppression, where spirits and gods worked together to monitor and prevent corruption in the mortal world. His fierce visage became a symbol painted on doors during New Year to ward off evil spirits—a tradition that would last thousands of years.

Han Yuan wrote the definitive Manual of Demon Recognition and Redemption, which was secretly distributed to worthy scholars and monks throughout the mortal realm.

Fu Qu trained celestial warriors in the art of precision justice—striking evil while protecting innocence.

Together, they had not just completed a mission but established a new cosmic order where justice was active rather than reactive, where redemption was possible even for demons, and where the boundary between good and evil was constantly guarded but compassionately administered.

As the story concludes, Zhong Kui offers a final teaching to all who would hear: "Evil is not a foreign invasion but a corruption of good. Every demon we faced was once something pure—love became lust, ambition became greed, rest became sloth. The truest victory is not destroying evil but transforming it back to good, or at least preventing good from becoming evil in the first place."

Zhong Kui's fierce visage becoming a symbol of divine justice

"Remember," he added, looking directly at the reader through the veil of story, "every human has the potential for both divine virtue and demonic vice. The choice, always, remains yours."

Thus ends the tale of Zhong Kui's first great mission, though his work protecting humanity from supernatural corruption continues eternally, his fierce face still watching from doorways and altars, a reminder that justice, though it may sleep, never dies.