Legend has it that in the year Tang Xuanzong ascended to the throne, a scholar named Zhong Kui went to the capital, Changan, for the imperial examinations. He achieved the best results, but the corrupt examiner failed him merely for his disfigured appearance. Enraged by the unfair snub, Zhong hit his head against a pillar, killing himself right in the court. The Jade Emperor of Heaven was moved by Zhong's sacrifice, thus making him a god. From then on, Zhong Kui and his sworn brothers began fighting demons, monsters, and injustice in the mortal world.
