Chapter 408: Queen Mother: Xuanzang, it's time to take your medicine!

"Grandpa Sun, spare my life!"

A single "Grandpa Sun" made Sun Wukong feel absolutely delighted.

He had originally intended to give Leizhenzi three heavy strikes with his cudgel; after all, three strikes wouldn't kill Leizhenzi anyway.

But considering this "Grandpa Sun," he felt a bit embarrassed to take action.

One simply cannot have a grandfather bullying his grandson!

Having been in the Heavenly Court for so many years, Leizhenzi had long since understood the slick way of surviving by avoiding harm; he would avoid fighting if he could, and sometimes, why not sacrifice a little face to protect oneself?

Besides, losing to the Great Saint Equal to Heaven was nothing to be ashamed of.

Sun Wukong put away the Golden Cudgel, looked Leizhenzi up and down, and said:

"You bird-man, you certainly know how to conduct yourself."

Off to the side, Dianmu shivered, not daring to speak.

"But while the death penalty can be waived, living punishment is hard to avoid. Why did you strike me, old Sun?" Sun Wukong demanded.

"Great Saint..." Leizhenzi prepared to explain.

"Smack!"

Suddenly, Sun Wukong slapped him across the face and said earnestly:

"Call me Grandpa Sun."

"!"

Leizhenzi was stunned; this damn monkey was really getting ahead of himself, and he immediately felt a surge of anger.

He was, after all, a deity in the Heavenly Court in charge of the Thunder of Renjian; did he not have his pride?

But thinking that Sun Wukong was a monkey, not a human.

His anger vanished instantly, and he smiled obsequiously:

"Ahem, Grandpa Sun. Actually, this can't be blamed on us. In this stormy weather, trees are naturally prone to attracting lightning. Look at how many trees are struck on rainy days; it's all just a coincidence."

"Absurd! Old Sun has already cultivated the Immortal Body of Longevity, and the Seventy-Two Transformations can avoid the Three Disasters and Nine Calamities. No matter how the thunder strikes, it is impossible for it to strike old Sun. You were clearly doing it on purpose," Sun Wukong said.

The facts were indeed as he said; for an existence at his level, one should avoid heavy rain and lightning at all costs, so how could it possibly strike him directly?

"Great Saint, it really was an accident," Leizhenzi explained, but his words were pale.

"It was you who played these tricks!"

"If you won't give an explanation, then we shall go see the Jade Emperor."

Having said that, Sun Wukong grabbed Leizhenzi by the ear and flew straight up to the Nine Heavens, heading for the Southern Heaven Gate.

Dianmu followed closely behind, feeling that this monkey was about to stir up trouble.

Although Lei Gong and Dianmu had left, the rain on the ground continued to fall.

"This plague-ridden monkey, who knows where he went to have fun, leaving us few to soak in the rain. Heavens!"

Bajie cursed and grumbled, his heart cold, without a shred of warmth.

Heavenly Court, Southern Heaven Gate.

Sun Wukong dragged Lei Gong straight inside. Strangely enough, the Southern Heaven Gate was not guarded by the Four Heavenly Kings today, only a few minor Heavenly Soldiers.

These Heavenly Soldiers saw Sun Wukong dragging Lei Gong by the ear, but they acted as if they had seen it and yet hadn't, standing motionless, absolutely devoted to their duties—the very models of the Ten Thousand Heavenly Soldiers.

In any case, Sun Wukong traveled unimpeded all the way to the High Heaven Palace.

At this moment in the High Heaven Palace, the Jade Emperor had a bit of a headache.

At a critical moment, the Exquisite Treasure Mirror could no longer show images, and a group of deities were anxious, not knowing what to do.

Taibai Jinxing, the Jade Emperor, and even Laojun had been invited to restore the Exquisite Treasure Mirror, but they still could not see much; it was very blurry.

"In such a vast Heavenly Court, is there no one who can repair the treasure mirror? I am very disappointed," the Jade Emperor could not help but say.

The deities lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

"Old man Jade Emperor, old Sun has arrived."

Sun Wukong had run into the High Heaven Palace as if it were an empty place. Upon entering, he discovered the atmosphere was a bit off, and there was a treasure mirror hanging in the central area of the High Heaven Palace.

The Jade Emperor was already in a foul mood; suddenly hearing someone call him "old man Jade Emperor," his anger flared, and a terrifying pressure was suddenly released as he shouted:

"Audacious! Who dares to be so insolent!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the deities bent their waists even lower, breaking out in cold sweat.

Because everyone was looking down, they didn't notice Sun Wukong at first.

Yang Jian secretly glanced over, his face showing shock, thinking to himself: "Why is it Sun Wukong? How did he get here? And Leizhenzi, why is he being dragged by the ear? He truly shames the disciples of the Chan Sect."

The High Heaven Palace was silent, with the Jade Emperor's terrifying pressure descending!

Sun Wukong, who had just arrived at the High Heaven Palace, was stunned by the pressure; his Primordial Spirit trembled, and he felt as if the incoming pressure would crush him into fragments, leaving him unable to even muster a thought of resistance.

"Damn, this Jade Emperor is actually this terrifying?"

"Is this still the same Jade Emperor who was scared into hiding under his chair by old Sun back then?"

"No wonder that fool Bajie kept saying he was flooded. I had my doubts before, but now it's confirmed."

"This fellow, the Jade Emperor, is playing the pig to eat the tiger!"

Looking at Leizhenzi beside him, the man was sprawled directly on the ground, buried by the overflowing immortal Qi.

Although Sun Wukong was almost scared out of his wits, his eyes rolled, and he laughed:

"My good brother Jade Emperor, don't be angry, it's me, it's me!"

The Jade Emperor naturally saw Sun Wukong, but he hadn't been able to hold back just now; he immediately straightened his face and said:

"Sun Wukong, you are not off on your Scripture Seeking. Why have you come to my place?"

Sun Wukong said: "Brother Jade Emperor, it has been five hundred years; our relationship has grown distant and cold. Can I not come to see you just because I am on the Scripture Seeking?"

Hearing this, those deities with their heads bowed could not help but laugh out loud; this monkey was truly excessively clever.

The Jade Emperor could not help but be amused, his expression softening considerably as he said, "Very well, all you ministers, relax a little. Do I really seem so difficult to get along with?"

"Brother Wukong, you never visit the Hall of Three Treasures without a reason, so just tell me what the matter is."

The immortals straightened their backs, one after another letting out a sigh of relief.

Sun Wukong, however, took this opportunity to embellish the story of Lei Gong:

"Old Brother Jade Emperor, I, Old Sun, have abandoned darkness for light, accumulated Merit, and am single-mindedly escorting my master on the Scripture Seeking journey. It's one thing to get no rewards, but this fellow Leizhenzi actually used lightning to strike us brothers; tell me, isn't that infuriating?"

Leizhenzi poked his head out from the immortal Qi on the ground and stammered, "Your Majesty, it was an accident, an accident."

The Jade Emperor smiled indifferently and said:

"What a small matter."

"Many thanks for your understanding, Your Majesty." Leizhenzi immediately expressed his deep gratitude.

"Be more careful in your next life!"

"??" Leizhenzi.

"Guards, cast Leizhenzi into the cycle of reincarnation and demote him to the mortal realm." The Jade Emperor waved his hand, his gaze stern.

"Your Majesty, spare my life!" Leizhenzi cried out, feeling as if the sky were collapsing and the earth sinking.

"?" Sun Wukong was stunned; he had not expected the Jade Emperor to punish him like this, as he had not intended for things to go this far.

"Your Majesty, although Leizhenzi made a mistake, it does not warrant demotion to the mortal realm. I beg you to retract the order," Yang Jian pleaded.

"Yang Jian, would you like to go and keep Leizhenzi company?" the Jade Emperor said.

"..." Yang Jian fell silent and returned to his position.

"Old Brother Jade Emperor, give him a chance, don't be like this; isn't this too harsh?" Sun Wukong said.

"A Monarch has no idle words, especially since I am the Great Heavenly Venerable, the Lord of the Three Realms," the Jade Emperor said.

Hearing this, Sun Wukong shook his head and said:

"Brother Lei, don't blame me. I never expected things to turn out this way."

Leizhenzi's expression was numb, and he only nodded woodenly.

In the mortal realm, inside the Chen Mansion, in an antique-scented bedroom, the air was filled with the pleasant fragrance of peonies.

Wangmu Niangniang walked over gracefully, carrying a bowl of nourishing chicken soup brimming with spiritual energy, and said softly:

"Xuanzang, it is time to drink..."

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