Chapter Text
“We have a guest, Baihe.”
Looking up from her planner (writing pad), Baihe pauses in her note taking to meet eyes with death itself. Numinous violet stares down at her with patience and an understanding that she still can’t quite fathom. “We… We do?”
“Yes,” he replies simply. He inclines his head toward the right, the black and blue crystals on his red hat move with him, and the sound of them clinking together is soft and pleasant. “In one of the shade chambers.”
Baihe quickly flips back through her planner to look for the note she missed, but surely she’d remember if something like this was mentioned. “I’m sorry, I’m not seeing anything about that in my notes, Master.”
“That is because it was a recent, spontaneous decision,” he tells her. His left eye gazes at her evenly from beneath his hat, carrying no frustration or malice. “An emissary of the Jade Emperor visited me today, which was a foolish mistake on both their parts.” Then, he goes silent, leaving her with implications and no elaboration.
Baihe swallows and turns a couple of pages of her planner to return to the agenda for today. “I see. I’ll try to fit in a discussion with them in here somewhere…” He has a full docket today, but she’ll try to reschedule something to accommodate for —
“There’s no need for that,” he tells her, lifting a hand to calm her growing panic. “I’m aware I have several matters to address today.”
Confused, Baihe closes her planner and gives him her undivided attention.
He turns to face her fully, brushing his long, red cape behind him as he crouches down to her level. From this angle, Baihe can make out a few details of his features: his midnight hair and light brown skin. There’s some kind of marking or coloration around his eyes, but she’s never seen him in quite the right lighting to feel confident in her observations. The crystals hanging on the brim of his hat are an obstruction as well.
“Baihe,” he says, and she quickly refocuses. “Can you see to his needs while I’m away?”
She blinks rapidly, startled. “Me, Master? Wh-why not Savage or—?”
“They do not possess the delicacy required to handle this matter tastefully,” he replies. He opens his mouth for a moment, violet smoke drifting out into the cold air of the Diyu, but hesitates to speak. This behavior is unlike him. Baihe isn’t sure whether his trepidation concerns their sudden guest or something else.
Either way, he does voice his thoughts after another quiet moment. “Are you comfortable attending to him until I return?”
Baihe bounces on her feet at the request, smiling with determination. “O-of course, Master!”
He shows his gratitude subtly. His demeanor softens just the slightest bit, and Baihe swears that the shape of his eye suggests an expression of relief. “Thank you,” he says, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The touch of death is cold and merciless. It would terrorize any other being, but Baihe is one of the few who has been a recipient of his affection, as rare as it is. A pat on the head, a tap on her shoulder, and…a hug that she’s certain no one else has ever experienced. Because of that, she believes they share a close bond.
Baihe bows her head in respect. “It is an honor to serve you, Master.”
He says nothing, but Baihe feels as if her dutifulness is always appreciated. He removes his hand and stands to his full height, towering over her with his violet eye peering through the shadows. His silhouette is imposing and mysterious with his floor-length cape draped over his shoulders and his hat hiding most of his face, but Baihe only feels safe when she’s around him.
“If there is an issue, contact me immediately,” he tells her.
“Yes, Master,” she replies, bending over fully to give a proper bow this time. When she lifts her head and stands up straight, he’s gone, leaving swirling smoke in his wake.
Deep in the bowels of the palace, the shade chambers await both prisoner and guest alike. Though…the Realm of Death doesn’t see many visitors, so they’re primarily used for imprisonment. They’re directly tied to the gate of the Diyu and serve as a sort of waiting room until the Master is ready to make his final decision regarding their fate.
The rooms themselves are well-kept and comfortable despite the bleakness of their purpose. Violet, navy, and maroon plush cushions and pillows of silk and satin, a mahogany tea table, and lighting provided by candlelight. The candles are, admittedly, floating eerily around the room, but Baihe personally finds their blue light to be fascinating.
Baihe walks down the spiral staircase that leads to the shade chambers. The steps are illuminated by chandeliers made of thick, black metal and cobalt embers, so there’s no need for her to be overly cautious, but it’s been a while since she’s had to walk here herself. Her Master would usually teleport them directly into a shade chamber, but since he’s seeing to other business, Baihe has to go about this the old-fashioned way.
Thankfully, the staircase isn’t that long, so she reaches the depths soon enough. The corridors curve in a downward spiral, much like the stairs, and the shade chambers line the walls on either side. Their surprise guest is being held in shade chamber three. Baihe steps in front of the wooden door and hesitates. Just who will be waiting on the other side? She prepares herself as best she can, but if he’s an emissary, he must be kind, right? Or perhaps he isn’t and wound up imprisoned here because of some offense.
Regardless, Baihe wipes some dust off of her robe and brushes her hair back to ensure she looks presentable. Then, she knocks on the door twice. “May I come in? I’ve been sent by the King of the Diyu to attend to your needs.”
There’s a shuffling sound on the other side of the door, followed by some loud, panicked noises and quick footfalls. Something thuds against the door, and Baihe jolts with surprise.
“Yes!” says the voice in the shade chamber. “You may! I thought the door just vanished, but I guess it was just hidden behind all this…shadowy stuff.”
Baihe smiles at this. From the inside, it seems as if the shade chamber has no walls or exits. That’s shadow magic at work, and those unfamiliar with its deceptions will find themselves constantly in shock as to what can appear and vanish in an instant. She reaches down to turn the lock on the door and pushes it open with a firm hand. She moves slowly to prevent startling the person on the other side.
The shade chamber is…a mess. Pillows and cushions ripped to shreds with their stuffing littered across the floor, the low table has been thrown across the room — everything is in disarray, and it becomes apparent why when she looks to find the Emissary staring at her with a desperate expression.
“It’s so good to see someone else!” he says, placing his hands on Baihe’s shoulders in an overfamiliar gesture. “It feels like I’ve been trapped here for years!” He blinks and looks at Baihe with a worried smile. “It…hasn’t been years, right? Please tell me it hasn’t.”
Baihe doesn’t immediately answer because she’s quite surprised by the appearance of the unexpected visitor: red-gold eyes, curly amber hair, and a shuhe hanfu. The robe is gold with red accents — a color pairing likely chosen to enhance the appearance, but the teal sash tied around the waist and the plain, red pants paired with it don’t elevate the ensemble to a divine status.
But…his smile, though nervous, carries warmth. He has an energy she isn’t used to. It feels like the direct opposite of her Master.
“It hasn’t been years,” she slowly replies, taking a step back so that her shoulders are freed from his grasp. “Maybe a couple hours at most.”
Immediately, the Emissary lets out a relieved breath and places his hands on his hips. “Thank the divine for that.”
Baihe observes his outgoing personality and lack of decorum with curiosity. Why would her Master be interested in this person? Someone so…undignified? For as long as Baihe has known him, her Master has always exemplified grace, meticulousness, and efficiency. Perhaps this visitor has some secret information, or he’s being kept here to barter with the Jade Emperor, or perhaps he’s the key to something important.
Such things aren’t for her to know, but Baihe’s mind wonders nonetheless.
“So, I’m lookin’ for a way outta here.” He crouches down to nudge her shoulder with an elbow. “Any way you could help smuggle me out?”
How unbecoming. For an emissary to ask her to turn traitor is ridiculous. Baihe frowns and takes a step to the left this time. She thinks it would be wise to keep some distance between them. “It’s pointless to try and leave. The King is aware of all happenings in the Realm of Death.”
The Emissary groans with frustration. He falls back to lie in the mess of torn pillows and fabric, his arms outstretched and expression twisted with annoyance. “Ugh, wonderful.”
While that is going on, Baihe turns her attention to the room and the state it’s in. Her Master isn’t fond of messes, and she’s inclined to clean it up, but perhaps it’s best if the room is kept as it is. The havoc this guest has wrought needs to be seen by others.
Baihe steps over the splayed out Emissary on the floor and moves toward the flipped over table. She picks it up easily and returns it to its proper place in the center of the room, sweeping ripped satin and silk off its surface. “Did he say anything specific to you?”
The Emissary quickly hops to his feet, turning around to look at Baihe. “No. He just waltzed outta here after tellin’ me I’m stuck here until he lets me leave!” he replies, waving his hands animatedly. “So, I’ve basically been kidnapped!”
Furrowing her brows, Baihe tries to think of a time when something similar happened, but nothing comes to mind. Her Master tries to keep his dealings with the Celestial Realm to a minimum.
“That’s strange,” she mutters, sitting down beside the table. “Master hasn’t done anything like this before.”
With a resigned sigh, the Emissary plops down on the floor next to Baihe and joins her at the table. He rests his elbow on the wood and props up his chin with a palm. “Really?”
Baihe shrugs. “Well, only to those who have crossed him. Did you say or do anything to—?”
“No! I just met the guy five minutes ago!” he interrupts, anger returning in a bright spark.
Baihe doesn’t jump at his loud voice this time. She must be getting used to it. “I see…” And for some reason, despite his lack of manners, she does feel a tiny bit bad for him. She grimaces on his behalf. “I have no idea why he did so. I’m sorry.”
The Emissary looks at her with a pensive expression. She wonders if he’s doubting her sympathy. When in an unfamiliar place, it’s common to be distrustful of every being in sight, but in the Realm of Death, Baihe is one of the few who remembers the emotions of mortals. Whatever regret and sympathy she expresses is genuine.
Accepting this with a heavy sigh, he glances away. “… It’s alright. Not your fault.”
Baihe nods but belatedly realizes he isn’t looking at her, and the gesture was wasted. She places her hands in her lap and tries to think of what to say to divert his attention from the present situation to something more uplifting, but she’s not sure what that could be.
The Emissary huffs suddenly. “Sorry about the room. I lost my temper.” He waves his left hand dismissively, but the damage down is quite substantial. “I have an apprentice up there waitin’ for me. He’s probably worried sick. Not to mention Nezha and Erlang, if they even know.”
Interesting. Baihe perks up a bit at this knowledge. She didn’t know emissaries could take apprentices, and Erlang and Nezha must be friends or family. Or perhaps other emissaries? Her Master did hint to their being more than one. The only position the Realm of Death has that resembles an emissary are the demon shades that collect souls, so she’s not sure what’s customary for celestial beings.
She deeply contemplates sharing more information. What she was given wasn’t anything notable, so it can’t do any harm. Maybe. “Master did mention it was foolish of the Jade Emperor to send an emissary to the Diyu, but that’s all that he told me.”
The Emissary crosses his arms and huffs petulantly. “No shit it was foolish, but I didn’t have a choice.”
Are emissaries allowed to be so vulgar? The more time she spends in this shade chamber, the more she doubts this person is telling the truth. Baihe makes a displeased face before she hears a strange sound to the right of her. Glancing down, she notices a long, amber rope that leads directly to…the Emissary?
It’s quite fluffy for a rope. Baihe narrows her eyes and gets a closer look. It’s not a rope but…a tail. A curly, fluffy tail that matches the appearance of his hair. This causes an avalanche of questions to flood her mind. Are there animals in the Celestial Realm? When she was alive, there were a few stories of animals entering Heaven. Could he be one of them?
A celestial animal — a monkey! She’s always loved animals. Baihe has absolutely no clue what’s going on, but she’s invested now.
Bouncing with energy from the new information (and from noticing the other features on the Emissary that hint to his species), Baihe places her hands on the table and leans forward. “Is there anything you’d like to eat or drink? I was asked to make you feel more comfortable.”
He turns his head slightly to look at her, arms still crossed. “Asked by who?”
“My Master.”
“Your ‘Master’?” he repeats with a tone of disapproval. “What, has he kidnapped you, too?”
So rapidly it freezes Baihe in place, her excitement about recent events evaporates into furious offense. To make assumptions like that is beyond rude. His first impression of the Master and the Realm of Death as a whole might not have been perfect, but he hasn’t been harmed in any way or made to suffer. And to involve Baihe in his displeasure is uncalled for.
Baihe frowns and crosses her arms, too. “I know we just met, but I won’t allow you to speak ill of my Master. He’s done many things for me.” She glares at him sharply. “I wasn’t kidnapped; I chose to stay here of my own free will.”
The Emissary straightens and looks at Baihe with surprise. Perhaps there’s a sliver of regret in his eyes, but Baihe cares little for that. The fact that he felt comfortable enough to speak that way while in a realm he’s never been to before — he’s either incredibly fearless or terribly stupid.
Either way, Baihe turns up her nose and looks away. She won’t say anything else until she gets an apology of some kind.
The Emissary clumsily fumbles through this. “I—” he huffs and shifts awkwardly. The silence stretches on, and Baihe doesn’t offer any aid to ease the discomfort between them. Surprisingly, he tries again. “I’m…sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. That was rude of me.”
“It was,” Baihe agrees quickly. She expects more from an emissary from the Celestial Realm, but he seems to be unconventional in nearly every way. But…that apology was serviceable. She looks toward him again, though she’s still a bit agitated.
He offers her a sheepish smile as he fidgets nervously. His tail curls into a coil beside him. “Mind if we start over?”
A peace offering. Perhaps he does know something of diplomacy after all. Baihe shifts to face him properly and nods. “Fine.”
And in seconds, the embarrassment vanishes from his face as he smirks with pride. He puffs out his chest and points to himself. “I’m Sun Wukong, the Celestial Emissary of Affairs in the service of the Jade Emperor.” He extends his right hand toward her in a proper greeting. “What’s your name?”
Affairs… That could be why her Master sought to keep him here. Baihe places her right hand in his, giving it a firm shake. “My name…is Baihe, and I’m the assistant to the King of the Diyu.”
Wukong tilts his head suddenly and retracts his hand. He looks confused by something, but she spoke clearly. Surely there are assistants and attendants in the Celestial Realm as well? Then again, she doesn’t know their rules and etiquette, and she’s not sure what to make of it with Wukong being her first impression of the place.
“I apologize if this question is too personal, but I’m curious…” Wukong preemptively prepares for the worst by smiling apologetically. “Why did you choose to stay here?”
Baihe gasps and holds her breath. Her eyes widen at Wukong’s courage, but she did open the door to such questioning by giving too much information earlier. But that’s a story she hasn’t told anyone, not even Savage or Rumble or any of the other demon leaders. So…why does she feel this push to answer?
Maybe to offer more insight into how her Master operates and the Realm of Death as a whole. Perhaps she’s defensive and feels the need to justify herself and her position. She’s unsure of what it is. Though she can still feel emotions, that doesn’t mean she can understand their complexities.
But she feels compelled to say something. The answer doesn’t have to be detailed, but it should be honest.
Baihe releases that breath and takes another for good measure. When she meets Wukong’s eyes, it is with all the confidence she has garnered over her time in the Diyu. “Because sometimes…the life you’re given is worse than the death that awaits you. Being here is a mercy.”
Wukong narrows his eyes, brows furrowing. He leans forward and rests his elbows on the table. “And your Master granted you that mercy?”
“Yes,” she replies. A smile touches her lips at the memory. It was a show of kindness she’ll never forget. “He gave me a choice. Not every soul is granted that.”
A quiet settles between them as the weight of Baihe’s words is understood. Just from their short time together, it’s obvious that Wukong’s expressions are very loud and obvious. And now, he’s frowning slightly, eyes full of sympathy.
Baihe looks away, a tad embarrassed. She doesn’t regret what she said, but she feels particularly vulnerable after sharing information about her past. Should she excuse herself? No, she needs to see to Wukong’s needs until her Master returns. They’re also in the middle of a conversation. Isn’t that impolite? Baihe hasn’t had to worry about social behavior like this for a very long time.
“Baihe…” Wukong starts quietly, and automatically, she turns to look at him again. He’s now looking down at the table contemplatively. “With your knowledge of your master’s temperament and your experience with this place, would you say he’s likely to…keep me trapped here forever?”
She needs to be careful here. She’s not aware of her Master’s plans for Wukong, but she also doesn’t want to lie. All she can do is give her best guess with the little information she’s been given.
“If you were any other soul, I would say no. But since you share a connection with the Jade Emperor, there’s no telling what my Master has planned for you,” she answers, feeling a trickle of pity for Wukong. Though he’s brash and more laidback than she expected, he is…kind, to a certain extent.
Wukong sighs with exasperation and runs a hand down his face. “Great.”
Though the outcome is uncertain, Baihe tries to think of some encouraging advice to give. She knows that her Master is kind and thoughtful, so…maybe there is comfort to be had in knowing that, whatever happens, there is solid reasoning behind it. But there’s also the possibility that her Master did this out of spite or revenge.
It’s best to give Wukong only truths. Baihe swallows and speaks words of warning. “There is nothing in all the realms that my Master loathes more than the Jade Emperor. If I were you, I’d regard him with the utmost respect and do anything necessary to keep my head above water.”
Those words only seem to sour Wukong’s mood. His tail flicks back and forth as he crosses his arms once again. His lips are down turned into a firm frown. “Right. Guess that’s my only choice.”
Baihe offers a humble shrug. There’s nothing else she can tell Wukong to soothe his fears, but good food and drink may brighten his mood. She taps her right forefinger on the wooden table, and black and stormy blue shadows heed her call. The shadows follow her finger as she draws a circle. Once it’s complete, the magic begins to coalesce in the center and a portal is created. This is about the only shadow spell she knows, but it’s the only one she needs.
The portal leads to the kitchens located elsewhere in the palace. Reaching inside, Baihe feels for a plate or bowl and smiles when she feels a familiar object. She quickly grabs hold of it and pulls it through the portal to place on the table.
An assortment of cookies and hard candies are arranged pleasantly on the ornately decorated plate she took. Timidly, Baihe pushes them toward Wukong, hoping to cheer him up. “It’s a little late for me to say, but… Welcome to the Diyu, Sun Wukong.”