The Legend of Zhong Kui: Chapter Two - The Alliance of the Wronged

As Zhong Kui and his supernatural army crossed into the mortal realm, his two lieutenants rode alongside him in contemplative silence. Finally, Han Yuan, the wronged scholar, spoke up with barely contained bitterness.

Zhong Kui's supernatural army crossing the boundary between worlds

"Lord Zhong Kui, we've heard your story of injustice. Allow me to share mine. I spent thirty years mastering the classics, writing essays that my teachers called brilliant. But at every examination, the corrupt officials passed over my papers in favor of those who bribed them with gold. I died in poverty, watching incompetent fools take positions I deserved."

Fu Qu, the denied warrior, gripped his reins tighter. "And I trained since childhood in martial arts and military strategy. I could split arrows with my bow, lift cauldrons with my bare hands. But because I had no connections at court, no family name to trade on, I was never even allowed to demonstrate my skills. I died knowing I could have defended our borders, saved countless lives, but was never given the chance."

Zhong Kui nodded gravely. "Then we three are bound by more than duty—we're bound by shared injustice. The living world creates demons not just through evil, but through wasted potential and crushed dreams. We understand what drives humans to become monsters."

Their bat guide suddenly squeaked a warning. "Demons ahead! Three of them, gathered at a crossroads tavern!"

Through the morning mist, they saw a rundown tavern where three figures sat drinking, their voices carrying on the wind. As Zhong Kui's party approached invisibly (being spirits, they could choose when to be seen), they overheard an extraordinary conversation.

The Three Boastful Ghosts gathered at a crossroads tavern

The first figure, dressed in tattered official robes, was boasting loudly: "I am the great Pretender Ghost! In life, I convinced an entire province I was a imperial inspector. I lived like a king for three months before they discovered the truth!"

The second, wearing expensive but mismatched clothes, laughed harshly. "That's nothing! I, the Swindler Ghost, once sold the same bridge to seventeen different buyers. They each thought they owned the toll rights. The fighting went on for years!"

The third, thin as a rail despite the feast before him, sneered at both. "Amateurs! I, the Miser Ghost, accumulated three mansions' worth of gold and died counting it, refusing to spend a single coin on medicine that would have saved my life. Now I feast eternally but can never taste the food!"

Zhong Kui materialized before them, his terrible appearance making even these ghosts recoil. "Your boasting ends now!"

The three ghosts tried to flee, but Han Yuan and Fu Qu blocked their escape routes. The Pretender Ghost attempted to talk his way out: "Great Lord, we're already dead! What more can you do to us?"

Zhong Kui's divine intervention against the boastful ghosts

"You think death ends accountability?" Zhong Kui's voice thundered. "You three represent the corruption that poisons the living world. The Pretender—you show how false authority destroys trust in real governance. The Swindler—you represent how greed multiplies into chaos. The Miser—you embody the stupidity of valuing gold over life itself."

Fu Qu stepped forward, arrow nocked. "Lord Zhong Kui, let me end them properly this time."

But Han Yuan raised his hand. "Wait. Remember King Yama's words—not all deserve destruction. Perhaps redemption is possible?"

Zhong Kui considered, then made his decision. "You three will serve as examples. Pretender Ghost—you'll return to the living world as a truth-revealing spirit. Whenever someone attempts to claim false authority, you'll expose them. Swindler Ghost—you'll guard bridges and crossroads, ensuring fair passage for honest travelers. Miser Ghost—you'll become a warning spirit, appearing to those who value wealth over life, showing them their future fate."

The three ghosts prostrated themselves, grateful to avoid complete annihilation. As they departed to their new roles, the bat guide chittered excitedly. "That was merciful, my lord. But not all demons will submit so easily."

"I know," Zhong Kui replied grimly. "These were minor demons, corrupted by their own foolishness. The real monsters—those who actively spread evil, who delight in others' suffering—they will receive no such mercy."

As they continued their journey, Han Yuan noticed something troubling. "Lord Zhong Kui, look at the living humans we pass. See how many carry the seeds of demonhood? That merchant waters his wine. That official takes bribes. That husband lies to his wife. The corruption spreads like plague."

Fu Qu added darkly, "And see how they look at each other with suspicion? Trust dies, and when trust dies, humans become less human."

Zhong Kui realized the magnitude of his task. "We're not just hunting individual demons. We're fighting the demonification of humanity itself. Every act of corruption, every betrayal, every injustice creates another potential demon."

The bat guide suddenly shrieked in alarm. "My lords! I sense a great disturbance ahead. In the next city... something terrible is happening. A powerful demon, one from the registry—the Slobbering Ghost—is corrupting an entire district!"

Storm clouds gather as the real battle approaches

"Then that's where we go next," Zhong Kui declared, spurring Bai Ze forward. "And this time, we show no mercy."

As they rode toward the city, storm clouds gathered overhead. The real battle was about to begin. The three wronged spirits, united in their quest for justice, would soon face their first true test against the forces of corruption that threatened to transform the entire human world into a living hell.

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Continue the epic journey in Chapter One: The Ugly Scholar's Curse and discover more about Game Science's modern interpretation of Zhong Kui mythology.