Chapter 100: Great Battle With Red Boy
Now, Red Boy tried to please Ao Tu and inquired about Ao Tu’s Third-grade Black Lotus.
Ao Tu laughed, “How did you know about this, little kid? My Black Lotus is a spiritual root of Heaven and Earth, with both offense and defense integrated. If placed under the body, it can neutralize all spells; if it falls on an enemy, it can instantly seal the enemy’s soul and body.”
Hearing this, Red Boy felt both wary and envious, and asked, “Great King, I wonder where you obtained this Black Lotus of yours?”
Ao Tu laughed, “Do you really want to know?”
Red Boy hurriedly nodded, “Yes! Yes!”
Ao Tu said, “I cannot tell you easily.”
Hearing this, Red Boy hurriedly bowed down and massaged Ao Tu’s legs, saying:
“Great King, I have already joined your sect and am loyal to you. Please tell me! I guarantee I won’t tell anyone else.”
Ao Tu said, “Then you cannot tell others, otherwise once it spreads, it will bring disaster upon me.”
Red Boy hurriedly said, “I guarantee I won’t tell anyone!”
Ao Tu said, “Alright, for your loyalty, I will tell you. Come closer to my ear, do not let outsiders hear.”
Red Boy hurriedly came closer to his ear.
Ao Tu said, “In the deepest part of the Four Great Continents, there is a Netherworld Blood Sea, the most yin and darkest place between Heaven and Earth. At the bottom of that blood sea, there is a Twelfth-grade Black Lotus; the lotus seeds of the Twelfth-grade Black Lotus fall and grow a Seventh-grade Black Lotus; the lotus seeds of the Seventh-grade Black Lotus fall and grow a Fifth-grade Black Lotus; the lotus seeds of the Fifth-grade Black Lotus fall and grow a Third-grade Black Lotus. My Black Lotus was picked from there.”
Hearing this, Red Boy said joyfully, “Since that’s the case, Great King, why not directly pick the Twelfth-grade Black Lotus?”
Ao Tu said, “Why do you want to eat Tang Sanzang’s flesh?”
Red Boy said, “Because it’s said that eating Tang Sanzang’s flesh grants immortality, saving years of arduous cultivation!”
Ao Tu said, “On Longevity Mountain’s Wuzhuang Temple, there is a Ginseng Fruit Tree, and the Ginseng Fruits on it are immortal treasures of Heaven and Earth. Why not go pick a few dozen to eat? Wouldn’t that be better than Tang Sanzang’s flesh?”
Red Boy’s expression stiffened, and he said, “Great King, I am not ignorant. My father told me about Great Immortal Zhen Yuan’s reputation. He is the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, titled Companion of the World. How dare I go pick his fruit.”
Ao Tu said:
“You dare not pick his fruit, but I dare pick that Twelfth-grade Black Lotus? That Netherworld Blood Sea is the dojo of an ancient great god, with Asuras guarding everywhere in the blood sea, and in the depths, two blood-colored long swords guard it day and night. Let alone touching those long swords, even being glanced by their sword light will instantly turn one into blood water and die. Who dares to provoke it?”
Red Boy said, “Then Great King, your Black Lotus?”
Ao Tu said, “It was my good fortune. Some days ago, for some reason, four guarding Asuras were missing, and one blood-colored long sword at the bottom of the blood sea was also missing.
I sneaked in and picked a Third-grade Black Lotus, not daring to pick more, and hurriedly fled. You must never mention this outside, or someone will surely come to hunt me down.”
Hearing this, Red Boy repeatedly guaranteed not to mention it outside.
On the other side, Ao Tu’s true body went to Black Water River.
This Black Water River is a small river, only a few dozen li wide, the territory of Ao Tu’s ninth brother Little Flood Dragon.
At the bottom of Black Water River, there is a Black Water River God Mansion, the residence of Black Water River God.
Ao Tu arrived outside the mansion and knocked on the door.
The guarding Shrimp Soldiers saw him and hurriedly went in to report.
Inside, Little Flood Dragon was drinking alone.
The Shrimp Soldier came in and said, “Report to Great King, Fifth Master has arrived!”
Hearing this, Little Flood Dragon was overjoyed and said, “Fifth Brother is here, quickly follow me to greet him!”
At that moment, someone said, “Wait!”
A woman walked out from the side room, dressed in a brocade skirt, quite attractive, and said to Little Flood Dragon:
“Great King, your fifth brother has been sending monsters into the water mansion these years, turning the fine god mansion into a smoky mess. Do not let him in.”
Hearing this, Little Flood Dragon angrily picked up the wine cup: “What did you say? How dare you speak of my fifth brother like that!”
The woman said defiantly, “What? What do you want to do? You drove away my father and occupied the water mansion, now you want to drive me away too? Fine, I’ll leave!”
Little Flood Dragon gripped the wine cup tightly, his arm trembling, but finally helplessly put it down on the table and said, “No matter what, I must welcome my fifth brother in!”
The woman said, “If you let him in, I’ll leave!”
Little Flood Dragon paced angrily: “Beauty, you… alas!”
At that moment, a figure strode in from outside.
Ao Tu smiled and said:
“Ninth Brother, why haven’t you come to greet me yet? Forgive Brother for being rude and entering uninvited.”
The woman turned to look upon hearing the voice, and seeing Ao Tu’s appearance, she was utterly shocked.
This fifth brother of Little Flood Dragon was completely unlike Little Flood Dragon, his appearance like a heavenly divine being, tall and straight, perfect features, a pair of Golden Eyes bright and dazzling, Dragon Horns raised high, every gesture carrying an air of dignity and majesty, making her unable to stop swallowing saliva.
She had never seen Ao Tu before. If she had known Little Flood Dragon’s brother was like this, how could she have obstructed?
Previously, Ao Tu had actually come to Black Water River once.
But at that time, Little Flood Dragon had just arrived at Black Water River and imprisoned her in the water mansion, so she had not seen Ao Tu.
Later, she feigned compliance with Little Flood Dragon, giving him some favorable looks, and Little Flood Dragon released her, allowing her to move about the mansion. It happened that time she had seen one of Ao Tu’s subordinates, a fierce Tiger Demon, so she had a very bad impression of Ao Tu.
Now seeing the man himself, she realized Ao Tu was actually like this!
Seeing Ao Tu enter, Little Flood Dragon hurriedly came forward to bow and said, “Brother, upon hearing of your arrival, I did not have time to greet you.”
Ao Tu helped Little Flood Dragon up and laughed, “We brothers need no formalities. And this is?”
Little Flood Dragon was a bit embarrassed: “She, she is…”
The woman proactively stepped forward, curtsied to Ao Tu, and said:
“This little woman pays respects to Fifth Master. This little woman is named Ming Niang, daughter of Black Water River God.”
Little Flood Dragon said in surprise, “Beauty, didn’t you just say…”
Ming Niang hurriedly interrupted, “Great King, I will go prepare wine and dishes for you and Fifth Master first.”
Ming Niang hurriedly went down.
Ao Tu went forward and sat with Little Flood Dragon, smiling as he asked, “Your woman?”
Little Flood Dragon said embarrassedly, “Not yet.”
Ao Tu said, “What happened?”
Little Flood Dragon explained somewhat awkwardly:
“Some years ago, Uncle told me to come here to cultivate my mind and nature. But how could I settle down? I saw a water mansion in the river and wanted to occupy it, train the navy, hoping one day to avenge Father.
I drove out the original Black Water River God, Ming Niang is that river god’s daughter, and I… I admire her a bit, so I kept her in the mansion, wanting to ask her to be my wife.”
Ao Tu said, “Did she agree?”
Little Flood Dragon said, “She didn’t at first. But these years her attitude toward me has been quite good, and she has even smiled at me!”
Hearing this, Ao Tu helplessly shook his head.
Just now, he could tell at a glance that Ming Niang had no interest in his ninth brother.
In terms of bloodline and status, though his ninth brother Little Flood Dragon’s cultivation was not high, he still had pure Dragon Clan bloodline, being the nephew of the Four Seas Dragon Kings, more than enough to match a river god’s daughter.
However, Ao Tu saw that Ming Niang had high aspirations and looked down on his ninth brother. People have their own ambitions, which was fair enough.
A forced melon is not sweet. Ao Tu wanted to persuade Little Flood Dragon to let her go, but as a brother, he could not directly interfere in such matters.
After all, matters of emotion were difficult even for the Jade Emperor to force. If handled poorly, it would backfire.
He needed to think of a proper way to make Little Flood Dragon see the situation clearly and let go voluntarily.
Ao Tu pondered.
His purpose in coming to Black Water River this time was to arrange for Little Flood Dragon to leave this place.
With his interference, the Westward Journey road had become extremely perilous.
With Little Flood Dragon’s cultivation, he could at best match Sha Seng evenly in the water.
If Ao Tu obstructed Tang Sanzang and his disciples here, set up some formation, and fought with divine generals or Buddhas, the aftermath might kill Little Flood Dragon.
Therefore, Ao Tu wanted to arrange for Little Flood Dragon to leave.
As for Black Water River itself, Ao Tu did not care about anyone’s schemes or great powers’ games here. He already carried enough burdens, what was one or two more? Whatever karma there was, he would bear it alone, just to get his brother out and preserve his life.
At this time, Ming Niang came out and said, “The wine and dishes are ready!”
Clam Girls carried exquisite delicacies, placing them in a row:
Silver fish sashimi, jade branch soup, lotus root silk stew, roasted cloud wings, divine treasure stew, Buddha’s hand pastry, Jiao Zhu Wan, braised fragrant elbow, a total of eight delicacies.
Ming Niang said, “Fifth Master, the ingredients in the river are scarce, and it was hard to gather them quickly. Please do not mind.”
Ao Tu laughed, “This is already very good. If Ming Niang does not mind, please join us at the table.”
Ming Niang said joyfully, “I don’t mind!” and took small steps forward.
Little Flood Dragon hurriedly yielded the seat beside him.
Ming Niang ignored it, pretended to look around demurely, then plopped down right next to Ao Tu.
Ao Tu ignored it and just ate the dishes. After a few bites of Jiao Zhu Wan, he said:
“Not bad! Not bad! Ninth Brother, you eat!”
Seeing Ming Niang sitting next to Ao Tu, Little Flood Dragon was a bit distracted. Hearing Ao Tu call him, he reacted and said, “Brother, please.”
Ao Tu raised his cup, and Ming Niang hurriedly poured wine beside him.
Ao Tu and Little Flood Dragon drank a cup, and Ming Niang hurriedly refilled it.
Ao Tu did not drink again and went to eat the dishes.
Ming Niang struck up a conversation, “Fifth Master, this Jiao Zhu Wan you like is made from shark fish tendons. During the preparation…”
Ao Tu said, “Ninth Brother, Brother came this time to discuss something with you.”
Little Flood Dragon was listening to Ming Niang’s explanation when Ao Tu interrupted her. He was stunned for a moment before responding, “Fifth Brother, what do you want to discuss?”
Ao Tu said, “I want you to go to Heaven and take a position.”
Hearing this, Ming Niang’s attention was instantly drawn.
Little Flood Dragon refused outright, “No way! Go to what Heaven? Heaven is not as free as here!”
Ao Tu said, “Brother has some connections in Heaven and plans to arrange for you in Dou Shuai Palace, Dipper Department, Jade Pond, or such. Is there none you like? Or even Wuzhuang Temple of Great Immortal Zhen Yuan is fine.”
Listening to the places Ao Tu mentioned, Ming Niang’s beautiful eyes sparkled with delight, wishing she could take his place and agree immediately.
But Little Flood Dragon said, “No, no, what broken places are those? I’m free and easy in this river, why go there to be ordered around?”
