1. THE HOUSHIN LIST ------------------------------ 5. Houshin Engi... One of China's four ancient mystical novels along with "Saiyuuki" (XiYouJi, "Journey to the West") "Sangokushi Engi" (SanGuo Yanyi, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms") "Suikoden" (ShuiHuChuan, "The Water Margin Chronicles") One - The Houshin List Over three thousand years ago --- 11th century B.C. China The closing years of the Yin Dynasty The story takes place in a chaotic world where Sennins, Doushis and monsters mingle... ------------------------------ 6. One - The Houshin List ------------------------------ 9. Sennins live in the sky Humans live on the land [Sennin world] [Human world] The Human world was in the days of Yin --- China's oldest dynasty which lasted from 16th to 11th century B.C. The 30th emperor was young King Chu, a wise ruler proficient in both scholarship and the martial arts (King Chu - Emperor Zhou of the Yin {or Shang} dynasty) Everyone thought that he would be the one who would be able to develop Yin even more But... after he took the beautiful Dakki to be his wife King Chu became quite a different man ------------------------------ 10. She was a Sennyo (female Sennin) with evil intentions Dakki was one of the most distinguished Sennins of the Sennin world King Chu was under her spell in no time and became her marionette After Dakki gained the authority of the Human world in this way she called her accomplices to the palace --- And the evil Sennins started the domination of the dynasty... -Man: King Chu...! -Man: The people are starving to death because there is no rice or wheat!! Please lower the taxes!!! ------------------------------ 11. -Dakki: How silly! If there is no rice or wheat, let them eat cake*! (*Actually, she said Dim Sum ^_~*) -Man: ! -Man: You evil whore!! It's because you're here... -Man: Die, Dakki!!! ------------------------------ 12. -Man: Aaaaaaaaaaggh!!! -Servant: .....Dakki-sama, are you hurt? -Dakki: No, thank you! The Yin Dynasty which had continued for five hundred years was ruined They had parties every day and lived extravagantly *Drink and Sing!* On the other hand, the people were pushed into the low depths of poverty because of the high taxes The country was in chaos ------------------------------ 13. [The Sennin world KongRong Mountains] -Bird: Shishu. *Shishu... an honorable title to address your master's disciple -Bird: Taikoubou Shishu! ------------------------------ 14. -Taikoubou: Why, if it isn't Hakutsuru Douji. What is it? -Hakutsuru: Genshi Tenson-sama is calling you. -Taikoubou: Genshi Tenson-sama is? One who finishes their training and has acquired the "way" is called a "Sennin", and one who is still in training is called a "Doushi" The KongRong Mountains is a sacred mountain range where Sennins and Doushis live By the way, Genshi Tenson is on of the Sandai Sennin (Three Great Sennins) along with Tsuuten Kyoushu and Daijou Roukun -Taikoubou: I wonder what he wants? This is a story which takes place over three thousand years ago from the present ------------------------------ 15. [The Sennin world KongRong Mountains Main Temple Gyokukyokyu] -Taikoubou: Your first disciple Taikoubou is here before you. -Genshi Tenson: Hmm. -Genshi Tenson: So? Is your training going well? -Taikoubou: Uh... Of course it is. -Genshi Tenson: ....... -Taikoubou: ....... ------------------------------ 16. -Genshi Tenson: Stop lying!!! *Kamakiriken* (Fist of the Praying Mantis) -Taikoubou: Aaaaaahh!! -Genshi Tenson: I know you're always sleeping, only pretending to be meditating!! You can't fool my eyes!! -Genshi Tenson: ..... Look at the other Doushis. They're training hard to be Sennins. Why don't you?? -Genshi Tenson: Don't you want to become a Sennin? -Taikoubou: For the time being, my wish is to be a Sennin. ------------------------------ 17. -Genshi Tenson: Listen carefully, Taikoubou. Not everyone can become a Sennin. They need to have Sennin-kotsu (Sennin bones), which only appears in one in a million people. [This is Sennin-kotsu! -The head is long -The bones are strong -Doesn't have much bone marrow You can become a Sennin too!] -Genshi Tenson: One who has those bones are scouted and brought here to be trained. *Genshi Tenson: Hey, you wanna become a Sennin?* In a sense, they could be called human elites! -Genshi Tenson: ---But you...you're just being lazy... -Taikoubou: ..... -Taikoubou: But Genshi Tenson-sama, is it okay for us to just stay like this? -Taikoubou: In the Human world, Dakki and her followers are doing as they like. Is it not wrong for us to stay up here for training and just leave them like that? ------------------------------ 18. -Taikoubou: Thinking of that, I can't put my thoughts into training so I fall asleep. -Genshi Tenson: Stop that. -Genshi Tenson: ..... I guess you're not cut out for regular training. --- So I thought up a special menu for you! -Taikoubou: Special menu? [Top of Mt. KongRong] -Genshi Tenson: This is it! I will entrust you with this scroll. -Taikoubou: That's... ------------------------------ 19. -Genshi Tenson: The Houshin List! (Houshin - to seal into divinity) -Genshi Tenson: I don't intend to leave Dakki to do as she pleases. -Genshi Tenson: A few years ago I had a Sandai Sennin summit to talk over what to do with this problem. -Taikoubou: And? -Genshi Tenson: Of course we will disperse of them from the Human world... but we can't bring them back to the Sennin world, either! -Genshi Tenson: So we'll make a new world, the Divine world between the Human world and Sennin world --- And we'll seal them in there!! [Sennin-kai (Sennin world) *KongRong Mountains Kingou Island*] [Shin-kai (Divine world) Unknown] [Ningen-kai (Human world)] -Genshi Tenson: The names of the ones being sent to the Divine world is written on that List. ------------------------------ 20. -Genshi Tenson: ---And I want you to get rid the 365 people that are on the List!!! -Taikoubou: What??? -Taikoubou: Why should I have to be the one to do that!? -Genshi Tenson: Hm. -Genshi Tenson: You tend to become lazy when you don't have a goal. I will make this part of your training. -Taikoubou: But...but killing is forbidden for Sennins and Doushis! -Hakutsuru: It doesn't become a killing! -Hakutsuru: Please take a look at that. -Taikoubou: Mm. ------------------------------ 21. -Hakutsuru: That is called a Houshin-dai. (Houshin Tower) It works like this -- when you kill an evil Sennin in the Human world, their spirit will fly into the tower and will be confined there. As long as the spirit is alive, Sennins and Doushis will be able to regenerate. -Taikoubou: Wh... when was that made...? -Hakutsuru: I have no clue. -Genshi Tenson: ---So that's the story. Good luck! -Taikoubou: I won't do it! -Genshi Tenson: Are you still talking like that, you idiot?? -Taikoubou: You are the idiot, Genshi Tenson-sama! You are going to make someone like me do something that important? -Taikoubou: Shouldn't YOU just go and get rid of Dakki? *Huh, Sandai Sennin-san?* -Genshi Tenson: Uhh... But if I do that, the story will be over... -Genshi Tenson: ---But this has been decided already!! If you're not going to do it, Taikoubou, you will be excommunicated!!! ------------------------------ 22. *EXCOMMUNICATION* -Taikoubou: ......That's not fair... excommunication... Please let me think about it for two or three days. -Hakutsuru: ...... -Hakutsuru: Will Shishu do it? Considering his character, he might choose to be excommunicated!! -Genshi Tenson: .....No! He WILL do it. -Hakutsuru: Huh? -Genshi Tenson: Taikoubou has a fate which will make him do it. ------------------------------ 23. ---60 years ago In this period of China the three main races of Yin, Zhou and Kyou existed, but the dominating Yin race thought the other races as the same as livestock... [B.C. 11xx China Kyou Zhou Yin] [60 years ago During the reign of Emperor Taitei The western village of the Kyou race] -Woman: ......? Ryobou-sama? *Taikoubou's real name* -Woman: What are you, the Kyou's chieftain's son doing all the way here? -Ryobou: Taking care of the sheep. -Ryobou: I'm already twelve. I'm at an age where I should be able to work enough. -Woman: But... you came all the way here by yourself...? -Ryobou/Woman: !? ------------------------------ 24. -Ryobou: Yin's army..... -Ryobou: It can't be... -The village!!! ----!! -Woman: Nooooo!! The village!!! -Ryobou: !! Wait!! -Ryobou: ..... ------------------------------ 25. -Women: I heard that the neighboring village was hunted. -Women: The emperor died of sickness, right? So they bury a couple of people from neighboring villages with him to be his attendants to his afterlife. It's called immolation. -Women: But hundreds of people? Isn't it usually five or six people? -Women: Usually! But the selfish Empress wanted it to be that way. -Women: What an evil woman, the Empress!! -Women: Is she saying that she doesn't mind killing people from foreign races?? -Ryobou: Yin's Empress. -Genshi Tenson: Yin's Empress was once a Sennyo (female Sennin) from the Sennin world. She has an immortal body and an unequaled beauty that could destroy a country. -Ryobou: Sennyo? ------------------------------ 26. -Genshi Tenson: That Sennyo has lived in the palace since she came down to the Human world a few hundred years ago. -Genshi Tenson: She has been here the Xia Dynasty period before the Yin Dynasty, by changing her name and changing her appearance --- *Bakki (Meixi) of the Xia Dynasty* -Genshi Tenson: She has been deceiving the successive emperors with her beauty and continuing to have a extravagant life. -Genshi Tenson: The reason why your village was attacked all started with the Empress' words... -Empress: I always love everything to be showy! Let's make the Emperor's afterlife attendants to be a hundred times as many people this time! -Subject 1: A hundred times as many!? That's impossible!! -Subject 2: If we do something like that, the people will revolt!! ------------------------------ 27. -Empress: ---So go capture people from the foreign races. As long as they're not from the Yin race, it's okay, isn't it? -Subjects: ....... Yes... -Genshi Tenson: It seems like Dakki has learned a strange new magic recently. This nonsense can't just be blamed on her beauty! -Genshi Tenson: And.... People who resisted were killed and the rest of them were buried with the emperor. -Genshi Tenson: ...... My name is Genshi.... head of the KongRong Mountains. -Genshi Tenson: I have come for you. You have Sennin-kotsu! You should become a Sennin. -Ryobou: Sennin... ------------------------------ 28. -Ryobou: Father and Mother and Nii-sama (elder brother) and my little sister were all taken away and buried. That empress is evil! If I become a great Sennin will I be able to kill all the bad people!? -Genshi Tenson: Taikoubou is very gifted! He has learned a lot after he arrived here in KongRong. -Hakutsuru: Yes, he has gained Sennin-class powers in his first 30 years here. Though he hasn't been doing much recently. *I wonder what he's thinking.* -Genshi Tenson: He probably thought that if he started acting lazy, I would send him down to the Human world for training. -Genshi Tenson: He will be one of the top Sennins in the future. We should let his abilities grow! ------------------------------ 29. -Doushi: The Houshin Project... It sounds very interesting. -Tiger: What should we do, Shinkouhyou? Should we inform Dakki-chan? -Shinkouhyou: Of course! -Shinkouhyou: I live off the juices of Yin just as Dakki does. -Shinkouhyou: Of course, I don't think that Doushi named Taikoubou would be able to defeat Dakki. ------------------------------ 30. ---Three days later Taikoubou said he would carry out the Houshin Project. -Genshi Tenson: So you will... -Genshi Tenson: Then I will give this to you. A Paopei that controls the air..."Dashinben"!! -Taikoubou: P...Paopei!! The secret weapon that amplifies a Sennin's power!! -Genshi Tenson: And one more thing. *Hakutsuru!* -Hakutsuru: Yes, sir! ------------------------------ 31. -Hakutsuru: A Reijyuu, (Spiritual Animal) SiPuXiang. Please use him to ride on! -SiPuXiang: Are you Taikoubou-san? I'm SiPuXiang. Nice to meet you! -Taikoubou: There, there. To ride on a Reijyuu.... A kind of a status for Sennins and Doushis... *Hakutsuru: Wow...* -Taikoubou: And? What else are you going to give me? ------------------------------ 32. -Genshi Tenson: Hurry up and leave!!! -Taikoubou: Aaaah!! -Dakki: Houshin Project? A comedy, I'd say! -Dakki: A nameless Doushi named Taikoubou... Is going to come kill me, a Sennyo who controls over 300 Doushis and Sennins? -Shinkouhyou: I think you're right. Your power does rank second, only behind me. -Shinkouhyou: ---So? What are you going to do? ------------------------------ 33. -Dakki: I spend hundreds of years completing the magic "Temptation." With this magic, I have attained the highest rank in society! *King Chu: Ah, Dakki...* -Dakki: Taikoubou is just an unimportant Doushi in the eyes of a powerful ruler like me... I think there is no harm in leaving to do as he wishes. -Shinkouhyou: Well--- that is true. But I'm a little concerned so I think I will go see what kind of powers he has. -Subject: Hey Shinkouhyou!! Dakki-sama said to forget about it!! Are you going to go against her orders?? ------------------------------ 34. -Shinkouhyou: I am here as Dakki's guest and not her servant. Let's not get the wrong idea. -Dakki: That's right! -Shinkouhyou: So let's pay Taikoubou a visit! And I'm sure this, the Ultimate Paopei "Raikouben" would be bored if we don't use it once in a while. -Taikoubou: How far is it to Yin's capital city, Chouka? -SiPuXiang: We're not there yet, it's a huge country! -Taikoubou: Mm? ------------------------------ 35. -Taikoubou: Look! Shepherds, SiPuXiang!! -Taikoubou: Western nomads... so they must be of the Kyou race. They're dressed in rags. *Shepherd: It's a Sennin-sama! Hey! Hey!* -Taikoubou: ....... -SiPuXiang: Oh yeah, Goshujin (master), did you ever take a look at the Houshin List? -Taikoubou: Oh yes. -Taikoubou: We should read it before we arrive at Chouka. Can you stop for a second, SiPuXiang? -SiPuXiang: Roger! -Taikoubou: Let's see... "Shinkouhyou." -SiPuXiang: Shi...Shinkouhyou-sama!? His name is on the List, too!? ------------------------------ 36. -SiPuXiang: This isn't good!! He's rumored to be stronger than the Sandai Sennins themselves!! He's the strongest Doushi riding on the strongest Reijyuu "Kokutenko" and owns the strongest Paopei "Raikouben"!! -Taikoubou: What?? Then there's no use fighting with him! -SiPuXiang: That's right! Let sleeping dogs lie! -Taikoubou: Does this List go from the strongest to the weakest? ---So Let's see who the weakest one...... -Taikoubou: IS...!!? ------------------------------ 37. -Shinkouhyou: Nice to meet you, I am Shinkouhyou. I live in the imperial palace as Dakki's guest. -Taikoubou: Shi... Shinkouhyou? This guy? -SiPuXiang: Shinkouhyou-sama! Why is an honorable person like you doing on Dakki's side? -SiPuXiang: !! ------------------------------ 38. -Shinkouhyou: No, no, Kokutenko, it's not nice to glare. -Shinkouhyou: Let me tell you something first. I'm not on anyone's side. I'm at the palace because it's just a nice place to live. -Taikoubou: So you're not an enemy! Bye! *Let's go!* -Shinkouhyou: Wait!! -Shinkouhyou: Aren't I on the list? So shouldn't you kill me!? -Taikoubou/SiPuXiang/Kokutenko: *thinking* I think he just doesn't want to be ignored. -Taikoubou: ...Shinkouhyou. I'll just say one thing. -Shinkouhyou: Wh... what is it? -Taikoubou: Your clothes--- you have no taste. -Shinkouhyou: ...Taikoubou... I can't forgive you now. To be told that I have no taste... ------------------------------ 39. -Shinkouhyou: ...I hate more than anything!!! -SiPuXiang: I shouldn't have teamed up with such a moronic Doushi!!! *It's only chapter one and I regret it already!* -Taikoubou: I was trying to be helpful... -Shinkouhyou: RAIKOUBEN!!! -Taikoubou: If you're strong, why don't you dress like it??? ------------------------------ 40. -SiPuXiang: I'll dodge it, Goshujin!! -Taikoubou: Yes! -Taikoubou: No! Don't!! -SiPuXiang: What'd you say!? ------------------------------ 41. -Taikoubou: Close your eyes, SiPuXiang!!!! -.......!! ------------------------------ 42. -Shinkouhyou: ...Marvelous. -Shinkouhyou: And that wasn't even full power, either. -Kokutenko: I guess we didn't think that the Raikouben was this powerful. We never used it, after all. -Shinkouhyou: ---But we must be careful not to use this Paopei anymore. Even if we don't use it and just have it in our hands, no one will come challenge us. -Kokutenko: Shinkouhyou! Something's coming!!! ------------------------------ 43. -Shinkouhyou: ...... -Shinkouhyou: .....By the way, Kokutenko... What happened to Taikoubou? Please check with your Senrigan. (senrigan - clairvoyance. the power to see in the mind future events or things that are happening or existing out of sight) -Kokutenko: Looks like he was wounded and fell. He blocked the advancement of the lightning with some sort of Paopei so he looks like he's okay... -Shinkouhyou: So he's alive!? ------------------------------ 44. -Shinkouhyou: That's good---. -Kokutenko: Huh? -Shinkouhyou: This is the first time since I was born five thousand years ago I saw my own blood. Taikoubou... I have decided to make him my rival. -Shinkouhyou: I knew there was a small Kyou village behind him. He protected the village and managed to get back at me... -Shinkouhyou: Quite a staunch Doushi, don't you think? -Shinkouhyou: It would be a waste to kill such a person. ------------------------------ 45. The lightning that covered the skies of Yin shocked the Sennins and Doushis -Subjects: Wh... What was that lightning? -Dakki: It's the Raikouben... Amazing! -Subject: Raikouben... so is it Shinkouhyou? -Dakki: That's right! -Dakki: He would be difficult to deal with if he was our enemy, but he's great help when on our side. Even the Sennin world can't come interfere with our matters since they are scared of him... -Dakki: *thinking* Still, he can't completely be considered to be on our side... ------------------------------ 46. -Kids: Is he dead? -Kids: I dunno... -Kids: Wow! There's some weird animal here, too!! -Kids: They probably got hit by that lightning. I don't think they're alive. -Kids: But... it would've been horrible if the lightning hit our village... Hey! His eyes opened!! -Kids: He's alive! -Kids: Yaay! -Taikoubou: ! -SiPuXiang: I... I'm alive! -Taikoubou: ....... ------------------------------ 47. -Taikoubou: I was being over-optimistic. I need to be more careful next time! -SiPuXiang: ...What are you going to do now? Are you still going to continue the Houshin? ....Or... -Taikoubou: Well, it was bad luck that I had to meet such a guy that time, but the Project has already started. I can't quit now! -Taikoubou: This place... -SiPuXiang: Hm? ------------------------------ 48. -SiPuXiang: It's Yin's imperial tomb. ------------------------------ 49. *sheep* -Taikoubou: Father, Mother... The people of Qiang... Please rest in peace... *SiPuXiang: Huh?* -Taikoubou: Because of the ignorant Sennins and Doushis... People are suffering. -Taikoubou: I will make the Human world a safe place for people to live. Please watch me! ------------------------------ 50. -Taikoubou: But! I can't beat Shinkouhyou yet! He's the last one to go. The weakest one is--- -SiPuXiang: For a moment, you seemed so eminent. ---But I guess you're still a moronic Doushi... -Taikoubou: What was that!? ------------------------------ 51. -Taikoubou: Take that! -SiPuXiang: Aaah Goshujin, that's not funny at all!!! A story that takes place long long ago Taikoubou will finish the Houshin Project about ten years from now ---------- Translations 1999ŠAkane Araragi