Chapter 400: Eating and Taking in the Flat Peach Garden; The Demon King's Invitation to the Azure Waves

Flat Peach Garden.

Fallen petals carpet the path, peach shadows interlace.

Fang Longye followed Sun Wukong inside, lifting his gaze to see Flat Peaches weighing down every branch—the ripe ones, bright red; the unripe, shrouded in a hazy green—shimmering with brilliance in the sun, lush and verdant amidst the mist.

Immersed within it,

the scent of peaches permeated, filling the air above and below.

Just by taking a breath, one felt refreshed and invigorated, as if the body itself were unfolding.

It was truly worthy of the renowned Flat Peach Garden—even with the composure Fang Longye had tempered over these many years, seeing this before his eyes made his spirit sway.

Yes, he had obtained quite a few Flat Peaches back and forth, but what stood before him now was an entire garden of them!

If this were in his past life, it would be equivalent to having an entire national bank vault laid out before one.

Who wouldn't feel dizzy?

Even if the Flat Peaches were of little use to his current cultivation, they remained rare and wondrous treasures of heaven and earth.

Not only could they be used for those around him to cultivate, but they could also be exchanged via his Golden Finger for other heavenly treasures beneficial to his own practice.

Thinking of this, Fang Longye couldn't help but look at Sun Wukong, who was showing off to him, and smile: "The Flat Peach Garden is indeed a fine place. It seems there are quite a few nine-thousand-year Fairy Peaches?"

"That goes without saying!"

Hearing this, Sun Wukong acted as if the Flat Peach Garden were his own, brimming with pride.

Fang Longye deliberately revealed a look of longing, gazing at the peaches filling the garden, then sighed and said: "It's a pity one can only look, not eat!"

"Why can't you eat them?!"

Sun Wukong grew anxious upon hearing this.

He was bold and daring, having long since treated the Flat Peach Garden as his own; he had already stolen and eaten many in his daily life, and now, in front of his own elder brother, he certainly wouldn't lose face.

"Big Brother, this is my territory, and I call the shots. Since you've come, I, your younger brother, must certainly treat you well!"

He looked around with an imposing air and waved his hand grandly: "Big Brother, just eat to your heart's content. The Flat Peach Garden has nothing else, but there are plenty of peaches!"

Seeing the Monkey's attitude of not taking the Flat Peaches seriously, Fang Longye couldn't help but twitch his lips—you really do treat the Flat Peach Garden as your own home! However, he didn't stand on ceremony and simply confirmed: "Really?"

After all, opportunities to eat and take Flat Peaches to one's heart's content were rare; if he missed this village, he wouldn't find this shop. He couldn't miss the chance to sponge off the Monkey's peaches.

"Of course!"

The Monkey patted his chest and said magnanimously:

"When you gave me those few Flat Peaches before, Big Brother, I said that I would definitely return a great gift to you later. This is it!"

"People often say, 'A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.' Now I am returning the favor with a whole garden of Flat Peaches, letting you eat your fill, Big Brother! It doesn't matter if you can't eat that many; just take some more with you when you leave!"

"Let my sisters-in-law have a taste too!"

Having said this, Sun Wukong said no more, leading Fang Longye directly into the depths of the Flat Peach Garden, where he expertly plucked a few Flat Peaches and placed them before him.

"Here, Big Brother, nine-thousand-year Flat Peaches!"

"Then, I won't be polite~"

Fang Longye picked up a Flat Peach, paused for a moment, and seeing no reaction, felt relieved to start eating.

Clearly, while he seemed to be speaking to the Monkey, he was actually showing courtesy to the Queen Mother of the West in the shadows, to avoid being held accountable later.

That's right, he didn't believe that his and the Monkey's actions wouldn't be seen by the Queen Mother of the West; this was the Flat Peach Garden, her territory.

"Mm, let's eat peaches~"

Sun Wukong, unaware of Fang Longye's thoughts, gave a shout and began to eat heartily, full of joy.

"This monkey head truly has great fortune~"

Fang Longye glanced at Sun Wukong while eating a peach, secretly sighing; he had only come to sponge off a few, while this monkey had contracted the entire garden, eating whenever he pleased.

Just looking at how familiar he was with plucking the peaches, one knew he hadn't stolen few since he began managing the garden.

Thinking this,

his heart stirred, and a strand of hair fell, transforming into a speck of dust that attached itself to the Monkey.

With this opportunity, he wouldn't just eat and take this one time; he had long planned to split off an avatar to stay in the Flat Peach Garden for a while.

He wouldn't steal too much—for every peach the Monkey ate, he would steal two, taking advantage of the Monkey's cover to make a good profit.

Yaochi Precious Realm.

The Cloud Platform was towering, the Treasure Pavilion filled with agarwood.

Purple-green mist swirled within the half-man-high Black Dragon Cauldron, the smoke curling, dense and unmoving.

The Queen Mother of the West wore a brocade cape and a green-feathered skirt, her hair coiled in a cloud bun, sitting in the hall.

Besides her,

there were several other female immortals—some quiet, some slender and beautiful, some exquisite, some petite, some lively—their colorful skirts fluttering, their skin like ice and bones like jade, their bearing extraordinary.

The female immortals in the hall were none other than the seven troublesome daughters of the Queen Mother.

"Great events have been happening in the world recently; all of you, behave yourselves!"

The Queen Mother of the West's expression was not good, for she had vaguely glimpsed the future, and someone was harboring ill intent, planning to scheme against her daughters. Yet, seeing the future was one thing; even a Hunyuan Saint could not be omniscient, and facing a future mastermind no weaker than herself, she could not completely eliminate this hidden danger.

She could only raise her vigilance, warn these girls in advance, and prepare defenses.

"If any of you girls dares to run around again, I will lock her up and make her count the stars in the Heavenly River for ten thousand years! Do you hear me?"

"We hear you, Mother."

The seven fairies answered in unison, some charming, some cold, some crisp—all very pleasant to the ear.

"Little Seven!!!"

The Queen Mother of the West saw at a glance her youngest daughter's distracted look, her slender brows arching; she thought to herself, no wonder you were the first to be schemed against and fall into the mortal world in the future vision.

She was about to properly lecture her most troublesome youngest daughter when, at that very moment, she sensed something and swallowed the words she was about to speak.

"In any case, you must all remember my words, especially you, Little Seven."

"Do not blame me for being overly strict; there are too many people in this world who harbor ill intentions toward you! Think of the plight of your sister Longji; with such a precedent, one cannot help but be on guard."

Xiwangmu Niangniang waved her hand, signaling for her daughters to withdraw, then her slender fingers moved, and the clouds before her swirled, suddenly forming a mirror.

Within the golden-patterned mirror light, the scene of the Flat Peach Garden was revealed.

In the Flat Peach Garden, aside from the various Flat Peaches, there were only Sun Wukong and Fang Longye; the two of them were eating with great delight.

Especially Fang Longye, who was eating and taking at the same time, stealing three for every one he ate, making the corner of Xiwangmu's mouth twitch.

"Niangniang,"

A female historian appeared, just about to report something, but she froze upon seeing this scene.

She was a confidante of Xiwangmu and knew more than Xiwangmu's daughters, so she immediately pointed at the precious mirror and said, "Was it not agreed with the Brahma sect that the Flat Peach Garden was to be handed over to that Sun Wukong?"

"It is handed over to Sun Wukong."

Xiwangmu smiled, graceful and luxurious, and said, "But what that Monkey does, or how he wishes to wreak havoc, is not something we can control."

The female historian nodded; that was true. She also understood the extraordinary nature of the Water Origin Holy Lord, so it was no big deal to let him steal some of the ripened Flat Peaches this time.

It was better than letting that Monkey ruin everything. Xiwangmu stopped worrying about the affairs of the Flat Peach Garden and looked at the female historian, saying, "Speak, what is the matter?"

"Reporting to Niangniang, the Great God Lu Wu has sent a message inquiring about the affairs of Little Mistress Longji, asking if she needs his help." The female historian straightened her expression and replied hurriedly.

"Lu Wu?"

Xiwangmu's gaze shifted, and she began to smile.

"It seems he has recovered well, to actually have the energy to care about Longji's affairs?"

Back during the Lich War, as a party of the Demon Court, she had not failed to participate, and the forces she established had likewise not been spared.

Among them, Lu Wu, as her most capable subordinate, had contributed much in that great war, and by the time the war ended, he was left hanging by a single breath.

He had almost lost half his life. Over these years, Lu Wu had been in seclusion healing his wounds; although he would occasionally come out for air, that was the extent of it, and he had never left West Kunlun again.

Regarding matters outside, he had never intervened again—not because he was unwilling, but because the Dao Injury on his body did not allow him to intervene in other matters.

This showed the severity of the injuries Lu Wu had sustained.

And now, Longji's matter was neither big nor small; while it appeared to be only between her and that Hong Jin, it actually involved quite a few figures with Great Divine Ability behind the scenes.

That Lu Wu could come to ask if help was needed clearly showed he had the confidence to face other great powers.

It was evident that even if his injuries had not recovered to their original state, they were mostly healed. At a time when the chaos of the world was approaching, this was indeed good news.

"Tell him that Longji's matter does not require his concern," Xiwangmu shook her head and said to the female historian, "Now that the Great Calamity of the world is approaching, all he needs to do is conserve his strength." Speaking of this, she changed her mind and said, "Forget it, I shall speak to him personally!"

"Right!" Xiwangmu had originally waved her hand to signal the female historian to withdraw, but she suddenly called her back and said, "I almost forgot, with the Pan Tao Banquet being prepared recently, fellow Daoists from the Four Seas will be arriving one after another; you must not let any mistakes occur."

"Yes, Niangniang."

The female historian's posture was like a crane, she bowed gracefully, her voice like pearls and jade; this was something they naturally dared not neglect.

The immortals and gods of the world were not all in the Heavenly Court.

Some immortals and gods were not bound by the Heavenly Court and yearned for freedom, and only on the occasion of a grand event like the Pan Tao Banquet would they come to the Heavenly Court to gather.

Not to mention,

Other forces in the Heavenly Realm and certain figures in the Earth Immortal Realm all had to travel from elsewhere. Such a grand event naturally required them to act with caution.

Of course, most importantly, as a confidante of Niangniang, she knew that this Pan Tao Banquet was not that simple and was related to the subsequent Great Calamity.

At such a juncture, if any mistake occurred, it would be courting death.

"You may go."

Seeing that her subordinate had understood, Xiwangmu waved her hand to dismiss her, then walked to the window alone and looked outside.

Next, the Primordial World would become chaotic again; with dragons and snakes rising, it would depend on who was more skillful and who could occupy more chips in the coming changes.

In the Flat Peach Garden.

Fang Longye sat up straight and said to Sun Wukong with a smile, "Many thanks for your hospitality today, brother."

"What are you saying, big brother!"

Sun Wukong continued eating a peach, waving his furry arms, and said nonchalantly:

"The Flat Peach Garden is under my command, what does it matter if I let you eat a few peaches?"

"Hmm."

Fang Longye nodded. The purpose of coming to the Flat Peach Garden this time had been achieved, so he would not stay long to avoid suspicion; as for the one stealing peaches on the surface, the Monkey was enough.

He stood up immediately and said with a smile, "I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first. When you have time, come to my mansion, and we brothers shall drink a few cups together."

Sun Wukong spat out a peach pit with a 'pfft' sound before saying, "I will certainly go when I have time, little brother."

Fang Longye thought to himself, just looking at your appearance of being so happy you've forgotten home, I feel you won't have the time.

And the Pan Tao Banquet would begin in a few years; by then, the Monkey would have time, but at that time, the Havoc in Heaven would also unfold.

How would he have the chance to visit the Shuiyuan Shengjun Mansion and drink with him in the Heavenly Court? I fear the next drink will only be at Huaguo Mountain.

Well, by then, with many eyes watching, he might not necessarily go to Huaguo Mountain again; this drink might have to wait until after the Monkey is pressed under the Five Elements Mountain.

After some internal grumbling, Fang Longye greeted Sun Wukong again and left the Flat Peach Garden, swaggering back to Cangmang Mountain, returning fully loaded.

Returning to his own Daoist field,

Before Fang Longye could distribute the pile of Heavenly Court local specialties he had smuggled back to those around him, he received an invitation.

Opening it, he saw that the invitation actually came from Niu Mowang; it was for the old dragon of Bibo Tan, who had previously mentioned he was selecting a son-in-law for his daughter, and had specially invited people to attend the ceremony.

"A son-in-law selection conference held by the Dragon King of Wansheng? Interesting. How does Niu Mowang have the heart to get involved in such things? Is he that fond of watching the excitement?"

After grumbling, Fang Longye thought about it; he had nothing to do anyway, so he would go and join in the fun. In a few years, when the Pan Tao Banquet arrived, he would not be this free.

After making up his mind, Fang Longye rested in his Daoist field for a few days, distributed the stolen Flat Peaches to those around him, and when the day stated in the invitation arrived, he did not take a cloud chariot, but rode a cloud directly toward Xiniu Hezhou.

Now that Fang Longye resides in the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, even without directly traversing the void, his speed when riding the clouds and mist is incomparable to ordinary immortals and deities.

Therefore, it did not take long for him to arrive at Bibo Tan, which is far away in Xiniu Hezhou.

It was just past noon, and the waves were shimmering.

The crystal-clear sky fell from above into the water, blending with the jagged blue stones to create mottled shadows by the hundreds, which seemed to dance gracefully when the wind blew.

All around, the chirping of birds and the sound of cicadas were faintly audible.

"Eh? What is this~"

From atop his cloud, Fang Longye saw hundreds of young and handsome-looking immortals and deities gathered on a flat piece of land outside Bibo Tan, and he could not help but let out an "eh."

Logically speaking, these people should be here to be selected as the prince consort, so why are they not going in? Is it because not everyone has arrived yet?

Seeing immortals, demons, and gods landing on that flat ground from time to time, Fang Longye understood.

At the same time,

he could not help but shake his head and sigh: "I didn't expect there to be so many fellows wanting to live off a woman, all of them harboring the intention of gaining both the person and the wealth; truly, public morality is declining, and people are not as they used to be!"

After taking several looks, he did not see anyone among them suspected to be the Nine-Headed Insect; they were all just handsome, effeminate young men who looked good but were useless.

Fang Longye naturally lost interest and instead went directly into Bibo Tan, parting the water, pushing through the waves, and heading toward the location of Wansheng Longgong that he had sensed.

(End of this chapter)