Chapter 102: Great Battle With Red Boy
However, Ming Niang lied that she was deeply in love with the old monk.
This huge shock instantly sobered the Little Flood Dragon from his drunkenness.
The Little Flood Dragon only felt it was extremely hard to accept in his heart.
The woman he had admired for so long and could not obtain, now actually wanted to…
Just thinking of that scene, the Little Flood Dragon felt intense pain in his chest, nearly going mad.
The Little Flood Dragon angrily said: “Ming Niang, I won’t let you go! You’re not allowed to go anywhere!”
Ming Niang said: “Great King, why force me like this? My husband will come to pick me up soon. If Great King insists on keeping me, I’m afraid it will only lead to harm.”
The Little Flood Dragon said: “I’m not afraid. If he dares to come, I’ll beat him to death!”
Ming Niang said: “If Great King wants to beat my husband to death, please beat me to death first!”
The Little Flood Dragon retreated three steps in anger and said: “Ming Niang, you! You actually love an old monk so much, just because he is under Manjushri Bodhisattva?”
Ming Niang said: “Great King, I have no feelings for you. These years you’ve imprisoned me in the palace, yet never forced yourself on me. I know you’re a good person, so please fulfill my wish!”
Hearing this, the Little Flood Dragon felt his chest even more stuffy.
Suddenly, the Little Flood Dragon thought of something and said: “No, how can an old monk marry you? Wouldn’t that violate the monastic precepts?”
Ming Niang said: “He won’t marry me. He just takes me home and secretly does husband-and-wife things.”
Hearing this, the Little Flood Dragon nearly spat blood and said:
“Ming Niang, you’d rather follow that old monk without even a title, than be my wife?”
Hearing this, Ming Niang smiled lightly. Although she didn’t say it explicitly, her expression showed disdain.
At this moment, an elderly voice suddenly came from outside.
“Where is Ming Niang? This old monk has come to pick you up!”
Hearing this, Ming Niang moved to walk outside.
The Little Flood Dragon hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed Ming Niang’s hand, and said: “Ming Niang, please don’t go!”
Ming Niang shook off the Little Flood Dragon’s hand and turned to leave.
The Little Flood Dragon tearfully said: “Ming Niang, don’t go. I’m willing to go to heaven to be an official. Please don’t go!”
Ming Niang shook her head and said: “Great King, you’re a good person. But someone like you, even in heaven, couldn’t become a high official. If I follow you, I’ll never have a bright future. Great King, take care.”
With that, Ming Niang left directly.
The Little Flood Dragon collapsed on the ground, clenched his fists, and his eyes gradually turned fierce.
He picked up a bamboo-jointed steel whip, leaped outside, and saw an old monk standing in the air, with all white hair and beard, full of wrinkles, and extremely aged.
Ming Niang emerged from the water and nestled into the old monk’s arms like a little bird depending on a person.
Seeing this, the Little Flood Dragon’s eyes nearly split with rage.
So pitiful!
Although he had imprisoned Ming Niang in the Water Mansion for several years, he had never even touched her hand. Now, she was taken by an old monk…
At that moment, the old monk actually disdainfully pushed Ming Niang and scolded:
“Cheap woman, full of water vapor, don’t dirty this old monk’s kassaya!”
Hearing this, the Little Flood Dragon lost control of his mind, held the steel whip, and flew toward the old monk.
The old monk glanced at the approaching Little Flood Dragon and said:
“Where did this mountain spirit or water demon come from?”
He held up his hand and chanted: “Om Mani Padme Hum!”
Buddhist Sound rang out in the air, six golden Buddha characters appeared, struck the Little Flood Dragon, and directly made him spit three liters of blood, falling into the water.
The old monk laughed loudly and took Ming Niang far away.
Halfway, the old monk revealed his true face; it was Ao Tu.
Ming Niang refused to change, burrowed into Ao Tu’s arms, and rubbed against him to seduce him.
Ao Tu mercilessly slapped her.
Ming Niang covered her reddened face and said aggrievedly:
“Fifth Master, this servant truly likes you. Can’t you take this servant? Although this servant was occupied by Great King for several years, my body is clean. He never even touched my hand. If you don’t believe me, please inspect! Besides, you’ve gone to all lengths to get Great King to go to heaven, isn’t it also to have him help you build connections? Leave these to this servant; this servant can do better than him!”
Ao Tu sneered: “Ninth Brother is my blood brother, born of the same mother. What are you, daring to babble? Do your job honestly, and this king won’t make things hard for you. After it’s done, there will naturally be rewards. But if you dare to sow discord between us brothers again, I’ll make your soul and spirit scatter to ashes!”
Hearing this, Ming Niang saw that Ao Tu truly didn’t care about her beauty at all, so she didn’t dare to act out again.
On the other side, the Little Flood Dragon was knocked into the water bottom by Ao Tu’s Six-Character Mantra.
Ao Tu actually hadn’t used much force, so the Little Flood Dragon wasn’t seriously injured.
But for the Little Flood Dragon, compared to the physical injury, the mental shock was even more painful.
Young as he was, he endured a heaviness unimaginable to ordinary people.
The Little Flood Dragon silently shed tears, sinking at the bottom of the Black Water River.
The pitch-black river water was just like the gloom over his heart.
After an unknown time, he limped back to the Water Mansion.
Ao Tu pretended to have just sobered up, walked out of the room, and seeing the Little Flood Dragon like this, hurriedly asked:
“Ninth Brother, what happened to you?”
Seeing his kin, the Little Flood Dragon could no longer hold back, hugged Ao Tu, and sobbed loudly:
“Fifth Brother, Ming Niang left. She doesn’t want me anymore. She went to be, be a maid for an old monk!”
The Little Flood Dragon cried heartbrokenly, snot and tears streaming.
Ao Tu was somewhat disgusted but couldn’t push him away.
After the Little Flood Dragon had cried enough, Ao Tu used magic power to shake off the filth and said:
“What are you crying for? No backbone! Who took away your wife? In broad daylight, how could he be so brazen? Come on, let’s go save her!”
Hearing this, the Little Flood Dragon’s recently held-back tears flowed again. He pounded his chest and stamped his feet in anger: “Ming Niang left willingly! She’d rather follow an old monk than be with me! Me! Ah!”
Ao Tu silently waited for the Little Flood Dragon to vent.
The Little Flood Dragon knelt on the ground, smashing the floor until it cracked, until he smashed the water-avoiding formation of the water palace, and river water surged in.
After a long time, the Little Flood Dragon finally vented enough.
He looked at Ao Tu, gnashing his teeth:
“Fifth Brother, I understand now. A man can’t be without power! I want to go to heaven to be an official. Please send me to the Dipper Department.”
Ao Tu said: “Alright. Since you want to go to the Heavenly Court to be an official, I’ll first teach you the most basic way of being an official.”
The Little Flood Dragon said: “What is it?”
Ao Tu said: “Giving gifts. Go to Uncle’s house and ask him for some treasures as gifts.”
The Little Flood Dragon said: “Good! Fifth Brother, aren’t you coming with me?”
Ao Tu said: “It’s not convenient for me. You go alone.”
The Little Flood Dragon nodded and went to the West Sea, explained the situation to his uncle Ao Run, and asked for several treasures as gifts.
When the Little Flood Dragon returned, Ao Tu examined the gifts and asked:
“Did Uncle help you choose these gifts, or did you choose them yourself?”
The Little Flood Dragon said: “Uncle helped me choose them. After I told him what happened, he directly selected gifts from the Treasure Vault for me. But they were too light. Sigh, I told him, but he…”
Ao Tu said: “No, these gifts are just right.”
The Little Flood Dragon said in surprise: “Ah, for such a big matter, just these gifts are enough?”
Ao Tu smiled:
“These gifts aren’t too many or too few. I have some favors in the Dipper Department; these are sufficient. Even I think they’re a bit heavy. You must know that relationships require give and take. They owe me favors, and I ask for their help—that’s give and take. Sending heavy gifts casually would be improper.”
The Little Flood Dragon nodded and said: “Fifth Brother, I remember. When do we go to heaven?”
Ao Tu said: “Change your clothes, and we’ll set off now.”
The Little Flood Dragon changed into a brocade robe, and Ao Tu took him, flying up to the ninth heaven.
At the South Heaven Gate, the Little Flood Dragon tried to enter, but Ao Tu pulled him back: “What are you doing?”
The Little Flood Dragon said: “Aren’t we going in?”
Ao Tu said: “Your Fifth Brother is a famous demon dragon in the Three Realms. How can I enter through the main gate? We have to sneak in.”
The Little Flood Dragon said, somewhat puzzled:
“Fifth Brother, why, even though you’re wanted throughout the Three Realms, do you still have so many connections in the Heavenly Court?”
Ao Tu smiled: “Being wanted is one thing; favors are another. This is also a way of being an official—called separating public and private matters clearly.”
Ao Tu led the Little Flood Dragon, sneaking into the Heavenly Court. In front of the Lingxiao Palace, there was a Sky-Supporting Pillar with a dragon coiled around it.
The Little Flood Dragon happily said: “Fifth Brother, look, it’s Seventh Brother!”
Ao Tu said: “Don’t involve him. Let’s go.”
Ao Tu took the Little Flood Dragon, not directly to the Dou Niu Palace, but straight to the Dou Shuai Palace in Li Hen Heaven beyond the Thirty-three Heavens.
The Little Flood Dragon said: “Fifth Brother, what are we doing here? I want to go to the Dipper Department, not the Dou Shuai Palace.”
Ao Tu said: “I know. But I’ve received much care from Lao Jun, so since we’re in the Heavenly Court, we can’t not visit first.”
Ao Tu took out his ginseng fruits, used a golden vessel to knock down two fruits and put them in a dish.
To Lao Jun, these two fruits might be nothing.
But Ao Tu couldn’t not show this gesture.
The Little Flood Dragon stood obediently to the side.
Ao Tu stepped forward, and before he could knock, two boy servants came out to greet him.
Ao Tu happily said: “Two virtuous younger brothers.”
Golden Horn and Silver Horn said: “Eldest Brother! Grand Master had instructions early on that Eldest Brother would come today, and told us two to welcome you here.”
Ao Tu said: “The Dao Ancestor has wonderful calculations.”
Golden Horn and Silver Horn invited Ao Tu and the Little Flood Dragon into the palace.
Ao Tu took out two fruits and said: “A small token, to express my heartfelt wishes.”
Golden Horn calmly accepted the gifts. Silver Horn served tea to Ao Tu and the two.
Ao Tu took a sip of tea, felt refreshed, and said: “Is the Dao Ancestor not here?”
Golden Horn and Silver Horn said: “Our Grand Master has gone out on business.”
Ao Tu said: “In that case, we two won’t stay long.”
Golden Horn and Silver Horn said: “Eldest Brother, wait. Grand Master instructed that if Eldest Brother comes, please go to the back hall.”
Ao Tu said: “What instructions are there for going to the back hall?”
Golden Horn and Silver Horn said: “Eldest Brother will know when he comes.”
Ao Tu thus had the Little Flood Dragon wait a moment and followed Golden Horn and Silver Horn to the back hall.
The back hall was empty. Passing a screen, Buddha’s Light suddenly appeared ahead, and a thirty-three-story Precious Pagoda materialized before Ao Tu.
Ao Tu’s eyes widened, immersed in it.
Strands of dark yellow qi surrounded it.
After an unknown time, Ao Tu came back to his senses, and the scene before him was already empty.
Ao Tu bowed to pay respects.
Golden Horn and Silver Horn beside him stopped him:
“Eldest Brother, don’t bow. Grand Master instructed early on not to bow to him. Grand Master has something else for you to do.”
Ao Tu said: “What instructions does the Dao Ancestor have?”
Golden Horn took out a Treasure Box and said: “This is the elixir that Grand Master refined for the Queen Mother. Please help deliver it on the way, Eldest Brother.”
