The Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong, was crouched in his tiny assigned meditation room, scratching his ears and cheeks as he stared at a polished, mirror-like screen of water. A panel titled “Lingshan Merit Points System” glowed on it with a soft but icy light. His points balance sat pitifully in the four digits, accompanied by a brief comment: “Impulsive behavior, insufficient stability. We recommend further cultivation of emotional management.”
“Bullshit! Pure bullshit!” Sun Wukong muttered, angrily smacking his thigh with his furry hand. He swiped at the screen of water to bring up the points breakdown. Rows of glaring red deductions appeared:
“On [date] in the Zhenguan era, engaged in a verbal altercation with the patrol guards in the Southern Heavenly Gate commercial district and damaged one replica of the Demon-Reflecting Mirror, a surveillance treasure belonging to the Heavenly King Guangmu. Merit points deducted: 500.”
“On [date] in the Zhenguan era, openly challenged a superior, the Buddha of Sandalwood Merit, during Lingshan’s internal ‘Thoughts and Conduct Review Meeting,’ questioning the need for the ‘Upgraded Golden Headband Mantra, Psychological-Anchoring Type.’ Merit points deducted: 800.”
“On [date] in the Zhenguan era, made inappropriate remarks online, using an uncivilized meme in the ‘Journey to the West Tips Group’ to mock the newly gilded statue of the Envoy of the Pure Altar. Merit points deducted: 300.”
…
Tang Sanzang.
His master. The mild-mannered, bland, plump monk who usually did nothing but chant sutras and lecture, and had been protected throughout the journey. The one who had just been deducting points from him in the System for “challenging a superior”
