Chapter 101: Great Battle With Red Boy
However, the Little Flood Dragon was unwilling to go to Heaven to take up his divine position.
Ao Tu advised him, “Ninth Brother, you are young and vigorous, unaware of the benefits of those places.”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “Being controlled by others and driven by them, what benefits could there be?”
Ao Tu said, “Take Dou Shuai Palace as an example; that is the place where Lao Jun does alchemy. If you enter there, even if just washing pots, the water you wash out is holy water; if stoking fire, the ash you dig out is divine ash; a single furnace brick from there, falling to the ground, becomes the eight hundred li Flame Mountain where the Great Power Bull Demon King now resides. Think about it, isn’t that beneficial?”
Ming Niang, listening on the side, had eyes full of longing.
For a river god’s daughter like her, going to Heaven was truly a dream come true opportunity. Even as a palace maid, it would be among the heavenly immortals, incomparable to this mortal water’s turbid flow. What’s more, going to Dou Shuai Palace was a fortune she wouldn’t even dare dream of.
However, the Little Flood Dragon on the side said:
“Fifth Brother, even if Dou Shuai Palace has a thousand benefits, I cannot go.”
Ao Tu said, “Why not?”
The Little Flood Dragon said:
“Fifth Brother, think about it. Even in this Black Water River, I cannot stay idle; if I go to Dou Shuai Palace, could I settle down? If I accidentally anger Lao Jun, it would be bad. Better to stay in this Black Water River, free and unfettered, with Ming Niang by my side.”
As he spoke, the Little Flood Dragon looked at Ming Niang.
Ming Niang lowered her head, her downcast eyes full of disdain.
What she despised most about the Little Flood Dragon was this point. No great ambitions, no divine position at all, content to be a wild monster here—how could he match her?
If such an immortal opportunity were given to her, she would surely seize it and steadily gain a foothold in the Heavenly Court, earning recognition.
After hearing the Little Flood Dragon’s words, Ao Tu nodded and said:
“Ninth Brother, in that case, Dou Shuai Palace is indeed not suitable for you. How about I send you to Jade Pond? The Queen Mother often gathers immortals there; you could accumulate some connections.”
Hearing this, Ming Niang’s heart longed even more.
What she wanted most was Jade Pond; even as a tray-bearing immortal maid there would suffice.
But the Little Flood Dragon refused, saying, “Fifth Brother, I won’t go to Jade Pond. Jade Pond is a place for female immortals; how could I, a man, go there?”
Ao Tu said, “Though Jade Pond has mostly female immortals, there are male immortals too. I’ll send some gifts and ask for favors; I can surely get you in. Even as a gatekeeper, you could form good karma with many great gods.”
The Little Flood Dragon kept his head down, still unwilling to agree.
Ming Niang, anxious on the side, almost wished she could stand up and agree on behalf of the Little Flood Dragon.
Ao Tu said again, “Ninth Brother, since you don’t want to go to Dou Shuai Palace or Jade Pond, how about I send you to the Dipper Department?”
This time, the Little Flood Dragon hesitated somewhat.
Among Ao Tu’s nine brothers, the Little Flood Dragon was the youngest, pure in character, good at fighting and fond of battle.
And the Dipper Department was precisely the Heavenly Court’s highest martial force department.
If it were before, the Little Flood Dragon would have agreed directly.
But now, because of his father the Dragon King of Jing River’s death, the Little Flood Dragon was unwilling to be under others, thus hesitating.
Ao Tu said, “Ninth Brother, your brother has some connections in the Dipper Department; I can send you in. There, befriend many Star Lords for me, so they can assist me in the future, alright?”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “Fifth Brother, you have connections in the Dipper Department too?”
Ao Tu said, “Your brother has only occasionally made some friends; it hardly counts as connections. If those friends are not contacted for long, the relations fade. That’s why I want you to go up and keep in touch with them for me.”
The Little Flood Dragon said with his head down, “Fifth Brother, I’m afraid I’m not good at dealing with people and might ruin your relations.”
Ao Tu laughed, “No need to worry. Once you’re in Heaven, if you meet the Twenty-Eight Mansions, Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends, Nine Luminaries, etc., no need to fawn deliberately; just treat them as equals. Treat them with sincerity, and they surely won’t trouble you. If you meet Their Majesties Zi Wei and Gou Chen, just respectfully say ‘Your Majesty.'”
Hearing this, the Little Flood Dragon said, “This… Fifth Brother, didn’t you say you only have some friends?”
Ao Tu said, “Yes, only some.”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “Fifth Brother, let me think it over carefully.”
Ao Tu said, “No rush; think it through slowly.”
The Little Flood Dragon pondered absentmindedly, occasionally looking at Ming Niang with reluctance in his eyes.
But Ming Niang paid no attention to him at all; her body leaned closer and closer to Ao Tu, her seductive eyes melting like water, frequently pouring wine and picking food for Ao Tu.
Ao Tu ignored her.
After a long while, the Little Flood Dragon, as if having made a major decision, stood up, somewhat afraid to look at Ao Tu, but still earnestly said:
“Fifth Brother, I’ve decided; I still want to stay in the Black Water River.”
Ao Tu’s expression unchanged, asked, “Why?”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “Fifth Brother, I’m not good at treating people or socializing, afraid I’ll do poorly and ruin your relations. Sixth Brother and Seventh Brother are also in Heaven; they are always meticulous in thought, far superior to me. Let them help you. Moreover… if I go to Heaven, Ming Niang won’t see me anymore.”
Ao Tu said, “Eat first.”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “Fifth Brother, it’s my fault toward you. I’ll drink.”
The Little Flood Dragon picked up the wine pot and drank it dry.
Ao Tu said, “No need for that; eat.”
That wine was not mortal wine; after drinking a pot, the Little Flood Dragon was somewhat drunk, slumped on the table, muttering, “Ming Niang, Ming Niang…”
Seeing this, Ming Niang on the side, fearing the Little Flood Dragon would say nonsense, quickly called Clam Girl to carry him back to rest.
Clam Girl carried the Little Flood Dragon down to rest.
Ming Niang didn’t glance at the Little Flood Dragon, instead continuing to serve Ao Tu.
Ao Tu leisurely enjoyed the various delicacies.
Ming Niang served carefully; seeing Ao Tu had almost finished eating, she cautiously probed, “Fifth Lord, the Great King is not interested; please don’t be angry with him.”
Ao Tu laughed upon hearing this, “He is my brother; how could I be angry with him?”
Ming Niang said, “Great King, this little woman has admired Heaven since childhood and is most skilled at treating people, welcoming and seeing off guests…”
Ao Tu interrupted, “I need to rest. I always have a habit of eating a late night snack; at midnight tonight, have someone send some over.”
Ming Niang thought it a hint and was overjoyed, “Fifth Lord, I will prepare it carefully.”
Under the servant girls’ arrangements, Ao Tu rested in the side hall.
Time reached midnight.
Ao Tu’s room door was pushed open.
Ming Niang entered slowly holding a bowl of late night snack.
Ao Tu was lying sideways on the couch and slowly opened his eyes upon hearing.
Ming Niang was draped in a cluster of thin gauze, nothing else; her curvaceous figure faintly visible through the gauze garment.
Ming Niang said, “Fifth Lord, I’ve brought your late night snack.”
Her voice was warm and soft.
Ao Tu asked, “Why did you come personally?”
Ming Niang said, “Replying to Fifth Lord, I feared those Clam Girls would be careless and not serve you carefully enough, so I came personally.”
Ao Tu nodded, “Then put down the late night snack and go.”
Ming Niang stepped forward, holding the jade bowl in her hands, half-kneeling and saying, “Fifth Lord, let me feed you!”
Ao Tu said, “No need; put down the late night snack and leave.”
Ming Niang bit her lip, softly saying, “Fifth Lord, still let me feed you! If the Great King knows I neglected you, he will surely scold me for not serving Fifth Lord wholeheartedly.”
Upon hearing, Ao Tu didn’t even lift his eyes, saying:
“If you have nothing else, leave.”
Ming Niang hesitated a moment, put down the late night snack, squeezed to sit beside Ao Tu, displaying her graceful figure close to him, and said:
“Fifth Lord, I do have one thing to ask.”
Ao Tu said, “Speak.”
But Ming Niang was unwilling to say directly; instead, she reached out her slender jade hand to pull Ao Tu’s hand.
Ao Tu’s hand lay flat casually; Ming Niang pulled, but it didn’t move an inch.
Seeing this, Ming Niang simply pressed her warm soft body against him.
Ao Tu gave a cold snort, and with a divine thunder, shocked Ming Niang flying out.
Ming Niang painfully fell to the ground, her gauze garment torn, revealing her naked body.
However, there wasn’t much alluring spring scene inside; Ao Tu’s thunder hum had made her unable to maintain human form—her white tender skin turned rough and black, shell appearing on her body.
Ao Tu sneered:
“Vile wench! Back then, Guanyin Bodhisattva and I shared a room for months, and I never glanced at her extra half-eye. What are you, daring to seduce me?”
Ming Niang fearfully knelt and kowtowed, saying:
“This slave was blindly delusional and offended Fifth Lord; please, Fifth Lord, for the Great King’s sake, spare this slave!”
Ao Tu said, “What did you come to find me for tonight?”
Ming Niang said, “Seeing the Great King unwilling to go to Heaven, this slave delusionally thought to ask Fifth Lord to give me the chance to go to the Heavenly Court.”
Ao Tu said, “Get up. If you’d said so earlier, why end up in such a mess? Put on your clothes.”
Hearing this, Ming Niang hurriedly put on her clothes.
Ao Tu said, “My brother occupied your family’s Water Mansion and imprisoned you here; that was his wrong. As his brother, I apologize on his behalf.”
Ming Niang hurriedly said, “I dare not!”
Ao Tu said, “I already know what you seek. As long as you help me with one thing, not only will I agree to your request and give you a chance to enter the Heavenly Court, but I will also return the Water Mansion to you father and daughter. What do you say?”
Ming Niang was overjoyed, “Fifth Lord, what do you want this slave to do?”
Ao Tu said, “This matter is not difficult for you; just say this to my ninth brother…”
The next day, the Little Flood Dragon groggily woke up.
He saw Ming Niang waiting on the side with luggage.
The Little Flood Dragon said in shock, “Ming Niang, what are you doing?”
Ming Niang said, “Great King, Ming Niang is leaving.”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “Where are you going?”
Ming Niang said, “My father found me a marriage outside; he told me last night. After learning that person’s family background, I am also very fond, so I came to bid farewell to the Great King.”
The Little Flood Dragon said angrily, “Who is it! Who is that person! I won’t allow you to leave; you can’t go anywhere!”
Ming Niang said, “That person is an old monk who stokes fire under Manjushri Bodhisattva; I am already fond of him. Why does the Great King insist on obstructing?”
The Little Flood Dragon said in shock, “An old monk? Ming Niang, you’ve betrayed my kindness; now you want to marry an old monk?”
Ming Niang said, “Great King, he is not an ordinary old monk, but the old monk who stokes fire under Manjushri Bodhisattva!”
The Little Flood Dragon said, “What’s the difference?”
Ming Niang said, “Great King, don’t you understand? He is a monk under Manjushri Bodhisattva; even a stoking fire old monk has his own power, incomparable to a wild monster water creature like you.”
